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

Rong Yingluo: "We're not familiar with each other; this is the first time we've met."

Dong Si: "At least you know her better than I do."

The two spoke at the same time, but what they said was completely different.

"Dong Si, no, Fourth Prince, it might not be appropriate for us to have dinner together today. How about we reschedule?" Rong Yingluo said awkwardly.

She was caught red-handed by her husband while dining with another man.

"It's alright, Prince Gu can dine with us, what do you think?" Dong Si rarely got to meet Rong Yingluo, so he was unwilling to miss the opportunity to chat with her more.

"This..." Rong Yingluo couldn't make the decision for Gu Ce.

"Since Your Highness has extended an invitation, it would be disrespectful for me to refuse." Gu Ce seized the opportunity, eager to know how they met.

He still didn't understand what the Fourth Prince had said about her not getting married.

Gu Ce sat down next to Rong Yingluo without any politeness, facing Dong Sicheng.

"When did the Fourth Prince change his name to Dong Si?" Gu Ce feigned ignorance.

Rong Yingluo also wanted to know his real name.

Seeing Rong Yingluo's longing gaze, Dong Si coughed lightly and said, "My mother's surname is Dong, and she is the fourth child in her family, so her name is Dong Si."

"Then what is your real name?" Rong Yingluo was not as reserved as she was in front of the prince, and her eyes were still smiling as before.

"My name is Yuwen Zhang. Sister Rong, it was my fault for lying to you before. Today, I'm taking this opportunity to apologize to you. We are sworn siblings, so from now on, you can call me Brother Zhang." Yuwen Zhang deliberately spoke in a way that made his relationship with Rong Yingluo seem intimate.

Rong Yingluo was stunned. When did she become sworn siblings with him? How come she didn't know?

But in front of Gu Ce, she couldn't expose his lies, so they remained siblings. After all, he was a prince; she had come out on top.

Having a prince as an elder brother is an immense blessing.

Gu Ce's eyes swept back and forth between the two. The Fourth Prince remained calm and composed, and he couldn't see anything amiss with the Rong family.

It seems Zhong Sheng's information-gathering skills need improvement; he failed to find any information that was so important. He should be punished when we get back.

The waiter brought another set of bowls and chopsticks.

Yuwen Zhang was the first to pick up his chopsticks, taking a bite of stir-fried matsutake mushrooms. He didn't eat them himself, but put them in Rong Yingluo's bowl: "Sister Rong, this is a delicacy from the mountains. I know it's your favorite."

Rong Yingluo blushed. Was it appropriate to serve her food in front of her husband?

Turning to look at Gu Ce, sure enough, a coldness appeared on his unfathomable face.

Whether they like it or not, men care about their pride.

She quickly picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of green vegetable from the nearest bowl, and put it in Gu Ce's bowl: "Husband, you should eat too."

She picked up another piece of braised pork with her chopsticks and placed it in Yuwen Zhang's bowl: "Brother Zhang, you should eat too."

Don't offend either side.

Gu Ce's face darkened even more. His bowl contained vegetarian dishes, while the Fourth Prince's bowl contained meat dishes.

I don't like vegetarian food.

"Oh? Then I'll eat it." Rong Yingluo picked it up again and put it back in her own bowl.

Thinking of the agreement made last night, she had to appear to him as a loving couple in public. Like a diligent little bee, she picked up a big chicken leg and put it in Gu Ce's bowl, and even poured him a full glass of wine.

Not wanting to leave her elder brother out, Rong Yingluo filled Yuwen Zhang's cup as well.

Then pour yourself a full glass too.

"Sister Rong, I apologize to you." Yuwen Zhang raised his wine cup.

"No need for that. Actually, I've also been hiding something from you, so we're even now." Rong Yingluo also raised her wine glass and downed it first as a sign of respect.

She only told him that she was a Taoist doctor, but she didn't leave him a single word about where she practiced Taoism.

Given the vastness of the mountains and rivers, the chances of the two meeting again after parting are extremely slim, especially since they are a man and a woman.

When they parted, neither of them asked the other to stay and have more contact in the future. It was like a chance encounter, a fleeting connection that had a limited time.

"How did you two meet?" Gu Ce downed his drink in one gulp.

"Oh, I'll tell you when we get back," Rong Yingluo immediately replied, giving Yuwen Zhang a wink.

Please don't tell anyone.

Otherwise, her substitution marriage would not be a secret.

Seeing her flustered look, Yuwen Zhang knew what she meant and remained silent.

With Gu Ce around, Rong Yingluo didn't dare to say anything out of line, so the two men talked more, mostly about matters of the court.

After the meal, Gu Ce offered to escort Rong Yingluo back to her residence, not giving her a chance to be alone with Yuwen Zhang, and acted as if he was jealous.

However, Rong Yingluo still left a message: "Brother Zhang, I will definitely pay you a visit another day."

On the carriage.

"Can you tell me now? How did you and the Fourth Prince meet?" Gu Ce asked expressionlessly.

Rong Yingluo rolled her eyes at him. He really was persistent in getting to the bottom of things, determined to know the answer.

"A few years ago, I was shopping with my maid when some thugs tried to take advantage of my beauty. Luckily, the Fourth Prince happened to be passing by and saved me. It's that simple." Of course, Rong Yingluo wouldn't mention that they met at the border.

Gu Ce was skeptical.

"You must not meet with men alone from now on. This is the most basic rule for a lady of a respectable family," Gu Ce said in a reprimanding tone.

"Okay," Rong Yingluo resignedly.

"This outfit suits you very well," Gu Ce said, making no sense at all.

Rong Yingluo was taken aback. Was this a compliment to her or to the clothes?

"Natural beauty cannot be ignored." Rong Yingluo tilted her head back.

I originally planned to go out and buy a carriage and a soft couch, but I ended up not being able to buy either.

Rong Yingluo had no choice but to give the money to Granny Zhu and let her husband buy it.

Zhu Mama's husband, Wu Guishan, and son, Wu Dali, were both her personal attendants and were allowed to bring people into the Zhenguo Duke's mansion. No more than that was allowed.

Wu Guishan had bought the items before dark.

Rong Yingluo made a special trip to see that carriage.

"Miss, this carriage wasn't bought by me; it was a gift from someone." Wu Guishan found this very strange.

He went to buy a carriage, intending to choose one that was of moderate price.

After all, the young lady is not the Duchess of the State, so the carriage she rides in cannot exceed the standards for the Duchess of the State.

As a result, a young man approached him and said that his master had bought a carriage to give to his young lady.

He dared not accept a carriage whose origins were unknown, but the young man said that his master was the young lady's sworn brother.

After hearing Wu Guishan's words, Rong Yingluo already knew who had sent it.

They found out so quickly that she needed to buy something from someone; it seems like she was paying for the consultation in advance.

That evening, Gu Ce noticed that a larger soft couch had been placed in the room. His eyes darkened, but he pretended not to see it.

Just as Rong Yingluo was about to walk back to the soft couch, he coughed lightly and said only two words: "Agreement."

"I'm so angry! Who could have seen us with the door closed?" Rong Yingluo angrily spread the blanket on the bed again.

The next day.

As soon as Rong Yingluo got up, she was greeted by Granny Zhao.

"Greetings, Madam. The Duchess said that yesterday you went out in public without a carriage, which damaged the reputation of the Duke's mansion. The Duchess is merciful and has punished you by making you copy the Precepts for Women ten times. This is a small punishment to serve as a warning, and it will not be allowed to happen again." Granny Zhao solemnly conveyed Madam Su's instructions and handed over a copy of the Precepts for Women.

"Didn't I tell my mother yesterday that I was leaving the manor? She agreed." Rong Yingluo felt confused and wondered if she even wanted her to call a doctor.

"Madam agreed to let you go out, but why didn't you take a carriage?" Granny Zhao questioned.

"It's the housekeeper who won't make arrangements for me." Rong Yingluo felt like she had been tricked.

Granny Zhao continued, "The steward doesn't want to disturb the madam; it's because he cares about his mistress. Why don't you have someone hire a carriage before you go out?"

Rong Yingluo was speechless, effectively shutting down her defense.

These little twists and turns really stumped her.