After being forced into a marriage with a wealthy family, the virtuous wife caused a huge uproar.

"Do you remember that tall lotus lamp stand we bought at Baibaozhai?" Gu Ce leaned back in his chair.

"I remember, I told you that it was a murder weapon and asked you to investigate it thoroughly." Rong Yingluo certainly remembered; it was something that had fallen from the Su family.

"After buying it that day, I gave it to Lord Qi and asked him to investigate the Su family thoroughly."

Since no one from the Su family reported the case, he only investigated it privately.

"Lord Qi just sent a letter saying that the matter has been basically investigated and asking me how I intend to handle it." Gu Ce took the letter out of his pocket and handed it to Rong Yingluo.

Rong Yingluo took it and read it carefully line by line, her eyes widening with each reading.

"My God, how could such a filthy thing happen?" Rong Yingluo almost exclaimed in shock.

The eldest son of the Su family, Su Chengyi, the elder brother of Su Jingyi, had been married for five years without conceiving, and none of his concubines had gotten pregnant either.

The Su family couldn't help but suspect that there was something wrong with their eldest son. Su Chengyi secretly invited a doctor from out of town to examine him, and sure enough, it turned out that his son had a problem.

Su Chengyi did not tell his son about this.

The Su family secretly killed the doctor on their way home.

Young Master Su is the eldest son of the main branch and the only male heir. If he has no children, he will have to be adopted by other children in the clan into the main branch.

In this way, the direct lineage fell into the hands of the collateral branches.

Su Chengyi had no desire to adopt someone else's child as his grandson and inherit the family business. So he came up with a brilliant plan: he secretly slept with his daughter-in-law and threatened her not to tell anyone. In this way, the eldest son's family had a grandson.

After Su Chengyi had an affair with his daughter-in-law, he couldn't resist the thrill of challenging taboos.

But the truth eventually came out, and his son discovered the truth. During the argument between father and son, the eldest son of the Su family used the tall lotus lamp stand that Rong Yingluo had found to beat his wife to death.

The pregnant woman was already more than seven months pregnant when she died.

The Su family claimed that she died in childbirth, thus covering up the truth.

Several months passed, and no one noticed anything unusual.

"What audacity!" Rong Yingluo couldn't help but curse.

Gu Ce took a deep breath.

He was incredulous when he saw it; truly, anything can happen in this world.

Such a disregard for human life could happen, especially since it involved the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo's own brother.

"What do you plan to do about this?" Rong Yingluo wanted to know Gu Ce's attitude.

"Of course, justice must be served for the deceased, and the Su family must be punished as they deserve." Gu Ce's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"But Madam Su is still the Duchess of the State, and the Lady of Dingxi Marquis won't sit idly by." Rong Yingluo thought that those two women were not to be trifled with and were ruthless.

"Don't worry, I will tell the Emperor about this. The Emperor will not tolerate such a thing."

This has greatly tarnished the reputation of the nobles in the capital. The Emperor will absolutely not allow it.

"As long as the Emperor demands a thorough investigation, the Ministry of Justice will be able to uncover the truth." Gu Ce was quite confident; he knew the Emperor's temperament well.

"Then who will take the lead in this matter?" Rong Yingluo hoped that this matter could be resolved as soon as possible.

"Of course, it's the family of Madam Shen, the eldest daughter of the Su family. Their daughter was not only violated like this, but also died tragically in the end. How could they tolerate it? They will definitely do everything they can to send the Su father and son to jail." Gu Ce revealed a wicked smile.

"Do you want to become the Shen family's backer?" Rong Yingluo's eyes lit up as she guessed Gu Ce's plan.

"Smart. I recently promoted an official from the Shen family, and the Shen family is now extremely grateful to me."

"I thought I was giving the Shen family a benefit through this roundabout way because of the Duchess's influence." Gu Ce sneered.

"So you'd been planning this all along." Rong Yingluo gave a thumbs up.

The two men looked at each other and smiled, thinking that once the Su family fell, they could deal with the Duchess.

At this moment, Madam Su was in her room writing an invitation to visit.

Consort Cao has been released from confinement and is now allowed to meet with other noblewomen.

Lady Su waited patiently, and finally Consort Cao was released from confinement.

November 3rd.

That day, Su Jingyi got up early in the morning, dressed herself up nicely, and took Gu Qingya to the palace.

She had very little hair left, and relied entirely on a hairpin to cover it up.

However, her hairpin might fall off if she wasn't careful, thus revealing her ugly side.

This was also the day Rong Yingluo entered the palace to administer acupuncture to the Empress.

No sooner had Lady Su left than Qin, the nanny sent by the Empress to fetch Rong Yingluo, arrived.

Even the old lady had never enjoyed such an honor; the Empress bestowed it upon Rong Yingluo.

Granny Qin naturally had to go and pay her respects to the old lady first.

Only then did the old lady learn that the Empress had invited Rong Yingluo to the palace to treat her.

"Liuli, the palace is not like other places. You must act properly and never break the rules of etiquette," the old lady instructed gently.

"Grandmother, don't worry, your granddaughter-in-law understands." Rong Yingluo learned household management from the old lady, and the old lady also taught her many rules and etiquette carefully.

"Don't worry, Madam. Her Majesty the Empress is the most kind and benevolent. She likes Young Madam Gu very much and will protect her." Granny Qin was an old servant of the Empress.

The Empress had discussed with her everything that had happened at the Zhao residence after returning to the palace.

When she learned that the Second Prince would be returning, she was so excited that she cried on the spot.

The Empress was so happy that she cried again.

This matter could not be told to the Emperor; the Empress could only share it with her, a mere servant.

She was an old woman who had served the Empress for many years and understood the Empress's suffering best.

Rong Yingluo was personally led by Qin Mama, who was by the Empress's side, and entered the palace before Su Shi, who had set off earlier. She was led directly into the Empress's Qiwu Palace.

Neither of them knew that the other had entered the palace.

The empress wore only a simple dress, and her hair was simply tied up in a bun.

They seemed to be on good terms, without any haughty attitude.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace." Rong Yingluo bowed respectfully.

Before leaving, the old lady specifically instructed that etiquette must not be neglected at any time, especially in the palace.

Rong Yingluo kept this in mind.

"Please rise quickly." The Empress instructed the palace maids to help the person up.

Rong Yingluo stood up and looked at the Empress, smiling slightly, "Your Majesty's complexion is much better than when I last saw you."

"Thanks to the medicine Liuli gave me, I have been taking the medicine according to your prescription these days. I no longer spend my days chanting sutras and praying in front of the Buddha statue like before. Instead, I listen to you and often walk around the palace. My body is indeed much more refreshed than before." The Empress's smile was genuine.

Having hope makes all the difference.

"Your Majesty flatters me. It is Liuli's blessing to be able to alleviate Your Majesty's suffering."

"You child, so humble." The Empress grew increasingly fond of Rong Yingluo.

She has a clear sense of right and wrong, and a straightforward and unpretentious personality. She doesn't have the inferiority complex often associated with being born a merchant's daughter, nor is she petty. Nor does she possess the cultivated gentleness of most noble ladies in the capital.

The Empress felt that Rong Yingluo lived a particularly authentic and carefree life.

"Your Majesty, let's begin the acupuncture." Rong Yingluo took out her acupuncture kit from her bosom.

"Liuli is really straightforward," the Empress thought, and Rong Yingluo decided to take this opportunity to talk to her more.

This is an opportunity that many wealthy women would love, but Rong Yingluo wants to do things as soon as she arrives.

Rong Yingluo just smiled.

She wasn't actually familiar with the Empress, and for a moment they couldn't find anything to talk about.

"Let's go to her palace." The Empress stood up and led Rong Yingluo into her palace.

Rong Yingluo instructed a palace maid to help the Empress undress, as this would make it easier to administer acupuncture.

Then a palace maid was brought over a candlestick.

Begin acupuncture.

Just as the fifteen silver needles were inserted, Granny Qin came in to report: "Your Highness, the Lady of the Duke of Zhenguo has come to pay her respects."

"Have her kowtow outside the door, and have Xiao Linzi lead her to Consort Cao's place," the Empress ordered without even opening her eyes.

"Mother has also entered the palace?" Rong Yingluo asked in surprise.

"She sent a letter requesting an audience with Consort Cao the day before yesterday. I granted it yesterday, and sure enough, she came to the palace today." The Empress's attitude towards Lady Su was neither warm nor cold.

Rong Yingluo frowned slightly. What was Su Shi doing seeing Consort Cao?