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

"Your Majesty..." Rong Yingluo was taken aback by the Empress's sudden change of expression and didn't know what to do.

What did she do wrong to anger the Empress?

"Pfft!" The Empress laughed when she saw Rong Yingluo's adorable dazed look. "You fooled me so much. You even went through all that trouble to guide me."

"If I weren't so clever, I'm sure you knew where my son was, otherwise I don't know how long you would have kept this from me."

The Empress spoke words of reproach, but she was actually very happy inside.

Fortunately, Rong gave her a hint, otherwise she would not have realized Rong's intention and thus reunited with her son sooner.

Rong Yingluo and Gu Ce laughed along.

"Your Majesty, I have done my best to come up with that method, and we have no evidence." Rong Yingluo pretended to be greatly wronged.

"Still calling me Your Majesty? I am your own mother-in-law." The Empress put on a stern face again, but in her heart she was extremely satisfied with Rong Yingluo.

Rong Yingluo was taken aback, her face flushed, but she still obediently called out, "Mother!"

"My dear daughter-in-law, here, take this. I'll give you some nice things later." The Empress took off a pendant from her neck; it was a jade cicada, and the craftsmanship looked rather rough.

Rong Yingluo immediately declined. Anything that the Empress could wear around her neck, regardless of whether it was a good thing or not, must have been of great significance to the Empress.

"This is a birthday gift that the Emperor personally carved for A-Ce when he turned one year old."

A-Ce especially liked it, and after A-Ce went missing, I always wore it. Now, it's most fitting for me to give it to you. This cicada carries my and the Emperor's blessings for A-Ce.

"Now that A-Ce has been found, you can wear this so A-Ce can see it every day." The Empress recalled the past.

This cicada had been with her for twenty-one years, and whenever she thought of her son, she couldn't help but touch it.

Now that she has found her son, she no longer needs to be reminded of him by looking at things.

The happiest person to be reunited with her son was none other than the Empress.

The three chatted for a while longer, easing the pain of the mother and son missing each other.

After calming down, Gu Ce regained his composure.

The three agreed to keep it a secret from the Emperor for the time being, and to return to the ancestral lineage after the matters concerning the Crown Prince and Prince Xuan were resolved. This would be most beneficial for Gu Ce.

The Empress naturally agreed, for nothing was more important than the safety of her son.

Having waited for so many years, the Empress wouldn't mind waiting a few more days.

She could see her son anytime she wanted, and with such a wonderful daughter-in-law by her side, she was content.

After their conversation, Gu Ce returned to the capital, pretending that he had only come to Huguo Temple to visit his wife.

The Empress and Rong Yingluo continued to live as they had for the previous five days. To outsiders, the Empress appeared to be earnestly praying for blessings every day, but the time she spent kneeling before the Buddha was decreasing day by day.

Rong Yingluo was very pleased to see the Empress's complexion improving day by day.

She has been taking care of the Empress's health these past few days.

The Empress has completely moved on from the past and is actively cooperating with Rong Ying's acupuncture treatment. She wants to recover her health as soon as possible, knowing that a bloody storm is inevitable in the future.

Once her energy and spirit returned, the Empress recovered much faster than when she was depressed.

On the day he returned to the capital, Gu Ce rode over again.

To the Empress's surprise, the Emperor was dressed in casual clothes and accompanied Gu Ce.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects." The Empress curtsied, a gentle and serene smile on her face.

Emperor Taikang was stunned. His empress seemed to have become a different person after leaving the palace.

Her complexion was much rosier, her eyes were much brighter, and she even had such a beautiful smile.

"Ah Xian, please rise without ceremony." Emperor Taikang personally helped the Empress up.

"Why has Your Majesty come?" the Empress asked, feigning ignorance.

"If A-Ce comes to pick up his wife, can't I come to pick up my empress?" Emperor Taikang joked.

He also learned from Gu Ce, coming to receive his empress and showing her great love and respect.

"Your Majesty, the Emperor is lying. It was I who deliberately mentioned to His Majesty that I was coming to fetch the Lady back to the mansion today, and that's how His Majesty was moved," Gu Ce exposed.

As a result, the emperor and empress both glared at him.

Those who see through things but don't say anything won't understand.

The Empress prayed for the Southern Xia Kingdom at the Huguo Temple for ten days, during which she ate vegetarian food and chanted Buddhist scriptures, abstaining from any meat. This matter naturally spread throughout the capital, and on her way back to the palace, the Empress was praised by the people all the way.

The Empress's actions earned the royal family a good reputation.

As a result, Rong Yingluo also gained a good reputation.

Upon returning to the Gu residence, Granny Zhu was overjoyed, having missed her mistress after not seeing her for many days.

Without its owner, the Silver Willow Courtyard seemed empty and lifeless.

Rong Yingluo went to pay her respects to the old lady first.

"Granddaughter-in-law greets grandmother."

"Oh, my dear granddaughter-in-law, come quickly to your grandmother." The old lady was used to seeing Rong Yingluo every day, and she felt very uncomfortable after not seeing her for ten days.

Rong Yingluo took a few steps forward, and the old lady grabbed her hand, looking her up and down: "Why have you lost weight?"

"Grandmother must be mistaken. Where have you lost weight?" Rong Yingluo didn't like eating meat to begin with. During her ten days at Huguo Temple, she found the food there delicious and ate her fill at every meal.

"A-Ce, why don't you and your husband stay here for dinner with your grandmother?" the old lady said, inviting them to stay.

"Of course," Gu Ce nodded.

Gu Ce couldn't understand why the old lady had always treated him with indifference.

Since marrying Liuli, the old lady's attitude towards him has gradually changed.

Could it be that this is also due to the wife's influence?

As soon as Liuli married into the family, the old lady gave her the most important item in the Gu family, the iron certificate, to use.

In comparison, he did indeed benefit from his wife's influence.

However, he was naturally pleased that his wife was being pampered by someone in the mansion.

While the two held hands, Rong Yingluo took the opportunity to check the old lady's pulse.

There's nothing seriously wrong.

The old lady nodded to herself, her granddaughter-in-law always cared about her health; her love for her hadn't been in vain.

"Sit down and talk," the old lady said cheerfully, gesturing for the two to sit down.

"Grandmother, is everything alright at the manor these past few days?" Rong Yingluo had just returned and hadn't had time to chat with Granny Zhu yet.

"Everything is well, and there's even more good news," the old lady said with a smile.

"What happy event?" Rong Yingluo felt like she had missed something exciting.

"I've arranged a marriage for Qingling from the third branch of the family. I've betrothed her to the eldest son of the fourth branch of the Qi family. What do you think of this marriage?" The old lady was clearly seeking praise.

Since that day when she talked to Rong Yingluo about what she had done to the third branch of the family in the past, the old lady has completely let go of the past.

She found an excuse to send a lot of things to the third wife's family.

Madam Xiang came to thank the old lady, and then came several more times, naturally discussing her daughter's marriage.

When the old lady heard that the fourth branch of the Qi family intended to marry Gu Qingling, she specially wrote an invitation to invite the fourth wife of the Qi family to come to the mansion. The two chatted privately for a while and got along very well.

Therefore, the old lady personally arranged the marriage between the two families.

Both families were born out of wedlock, so it was an immense honor for the late Lady Zhenguo to personally negotiate the marriage.

"Grandmother is so wise! This marriage is wonderful. I've heard that Young Master Qi is very learned and will likely pass the imperial examination next spring." Rong Yingluo praised the marriage arrangement.

The old lady was even happier.

Gu Ce hadn't seen the old lady smile so happily in a long time. Since the lady entered the mansion, many things had changed in the Gu family.

The couple had dinner with the old lady and chatted for a while before leaving.

Stepping out of the main hall, Rong Yingluo saw Jin Zier, whom she had entrusted to Granny Ye for instruction.

Jin Zier's face was swollen and red, and her mouth was cut and bleeding.

"This servant greets Your Highness and Your Highness's Wife." Jin Zier knelt down to pay her respects to Rong Yingluo as if she had seen a savior.