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

Everyone was startled awake and turned to the source of the sound.

Everyone knelt down.

"Greetings, Your Majesty. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace."

"Rise, all of you. I also wanted to try some riddles prepared by the Empress, but I ended up watching this spectacle instead." Emperor Taikang of the Southern Xia Kingdom strode forward.

Rong Yingluo and Ke Miaoran knelt at the very back. After they stood up, their view was blocked by the crowd, and they could not see the emperor.

Rong Yingluo tilted her head and peeked through the crowd to see what the emperor looked like. This was the first time she had ever seen the ruler of Nanxia.

In his forties, he had a few gray hairs, and his expression was dignified yet kind, with a hint of weariness that had lingered for years.

Judging from his appearance, Rong Yingluo could tell that Emperor Taikang was a conscientious and diligent emperor.

Gu Ce happened to be following behind the emperor, and Rong Yingluo felt that he looked somewhat similar to the emperor.

The fact that the emperor applauded just now shows that he listened to her words, did not blame her, but rather agreed with them.

"Which woman is talking so loudly?" Emperor Taikang asked.

He was hiding behind a tree listening intently and didn't see anyone.

The crowd parted to make way for Rong Yingluo, exposing her to Emperor Taikang.

Rong Yingluo stepped forward and curtsied, saying, "This humble woman greets Your Majesty."

"No need for formalities. You just said you're from the Rong family. Are you Rong Zhengqing's daughter?" Although Emperor Taikang had never directly summoned Rong Zhengqing, he knew that Rong Zhengqing donated 500,000 taels of silver to the Ministry of Revenue every year.

This man was the richest man in the capital. Considering his righteous business practices, he specifically instructed the Ministry of Revenue to make things easier for him when necessary, so that he could contribute more silver to the national treasury.

He did indeed make significant contributions to the state and prosperity of the Southern Xia.

"It is indeed my father." Rong Yingluo bowed again.

"Rong, what you just said is very true. Although merchants cannot serve as officials in the court, they pay a lot of taxes to the national treasury of Southern Xia. They are doing things for the country and the people in their own way."

Gentlemen and ladies here, you must never again say that businessmen reek of money.

In order to reward meritorious officials, I naturally need money. I cannot rely solely on tributes from various regions, so I also allowed the Imperial Household Department to operate some shops and industries. In this sense, I am also a merchant.

"Am I also tainted by money?" Emperor Taikang used himself as a metaphor.

In this way, who would dare to say that merchants are lowly, or that they are filthy with greed?

"Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. With your words today, we merchants of Nanxia will work even harder. Therefore, I can make the decision on behalf of my father to donate another 100,000 taels of silver to the national treasury to provide winter clothing for the soldiers on the border." Rong Yingluo was very generous.

The Emperor's words today are the greatest recognition for a merchant, and she is willing to pay the price for them.

"Haha! You think you can control your father?" Emperor Taikang laughed heartily.

"Yes, I will give you the silver now." With that, Rong Yingluo took out a thick stack of silver notes from her bosom and respectfully presented them with both hands.

Emperor Taikang was shocked by Rong Yingluo's actions.

Is this how people donate money?

This was the first time he had ever encountered it in his life.

Everyone present was stunned by her move.

One hundred thousand taels of silver can be taken out immediately upon request.

Who would carry so many banknotes around for no reason?

Is the Rong family member mentally unstable?

The expressions on everyone's faces were quite varied and fascinating.

Following behind the Emperor, Gu Ce stepped forward, took the silver note from Rong Yingluo, and personally handed it to Emperor Taikang.

Once Rong has spoken, she cannot take it back.

He was also shocked by Rong Yingluo's actions. What was her purpose in doing this?

When did she get so much money?

That night, she used a stack of talismans to outwit her second uncle who had stolen the silver. Did she really distrust the Gu family that much? She always carried silver notes with her.

Emperor Taikang glanced at Gu Ce. This kid's wife is so generous, so he's going to be generous too.

"Rong, you deliberately carried so many silver notes on you just to give them to me?" Emperor Taikang asked.

Did she anticipate that he would hear what she said? That's unlikely.

"Your Majesty, no. This is all of my dowry money."

My banknotes have become public knowledge and I'm afraid they'll attract unwanted attention, so I keep them with me. I'll use them to pay you in advance.

"I'll ask my father for more when I return to my parents' home, but I can't give him this much at once. I'll ask him for as much as I need." Rong Yingluo thought of the benefits of doing this; once she handed it over, her second uncle from the Gu family wouldn't try to take her money anymore.

It's too much trouble to guard against thieves every day.

After all, she had just married into the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, and catching her second uncle red-handed might cause more trouble, as she didn't know much about the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion yet.

Whether there are others behind the second uncle is unknown.

But the fact that my second uncle had an antidote for the intestinal poisoning powder shows that he was no ordinary person.

She has to proceed cautiously, step by step.

Emperor Taikang accepted the silver notes, all of them were one thousand taels each, issued by the Tonghui Silver Shop in the capital, and could be used anywhere in the Southern Xia Kingdom.

"Then I will accept the Rong family's token of appreciation on behalf of the soldiers at the border." Emperor Taikang was in a good mood. "Rong family, please obey my decree."

Rong Yingluo was taken aback, but quickly recovered.

He immediately stepped forward and knelt before Emperor Taikang.

Gu Ce, as her husband, also knelt beside Rong Yingluo to receive the imperial decree.

"The Rong family, merchants of the capital, donated 100,000 taels of silver, which is of great merit to the country. I hereby bestow upon them a plaque inscribed with 'Loyal and Righteous Merchants' to commend their merit, and hope that they will set an example for the merchants of Southern Xia, and lend a helping hand when the country is in trouble."

"Rong Shi Liuli is a model of virtue for the women of the imperial clan. She is hereby granted the title of Third-Rank Lady of Virtue, with the salary of a Lady of Virtue, and is also bestowed with a set of imperial robes." Emperor Taikang announced this decree to the public.

"Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty." The couple bowed together.

"Get up. You may continue your enjoyment. Xiangyi, as a royal princess, you must set a good example and not bully others because of your status." Before leaving, Emperor Taikang reprimanded Princess Xiangyi.

"Uncle, Princess Xiangyi knows she was wrong." The Emperor caught Princess Xiangyi bullying someone, and if she didn't admit her mistake, she would be punished.

With the Emperor's verbal decree just now, who would dare to bully Rong Yingluo?

Gu Ce gave Rong Yingluo a deep look: "It's about time. Remember to go to Chonghua Palace. The banquet is being held there."

Before leaving, Gu Ce hurriedly gave a few instructions before catching up with the emperor.

Rong Yingluo rolled her eyes. This was unnecessary; of course she knew the banquet would be held in Chonghua Palace.

Gu Qingya harbored resentment in her heart.

That Rong family member actually gave away such a large sum of money like that, it infuriated her.

He dared to donate the things he brought into the Duke's mansion without his mother's consent.

If my mother found out about this, she'd be so angry she'd vomit blood.

"Hmph." Gu Qingya snorted heavily and left with Princess Xiangyi.

With the annoying person no longer in front of them, Rong Yingluo and Ke Miaoran continued guessing riddles.

I guessed over twenty questions and exchanged them for a small gift. It turned out to be a pair of adorable little porcelain birds.

"Rong-meimei, let's each have one. This is proof of our success in solving riddles," Ke Miaoran said happily.

Today, Rong Meimei's actions showed her magnanimity and broad-mindedness; such a girl is the most worthy of friendship.

Rong Meimei's performance today will surely become a popular topic of conversation in the capital.

"Great!" Rong Yingluo was also very happy. She had made a friend on her first visit to the palace today, so she wouldn't be lonely when going out to banquets in the future.

"Sister Ke, how many years have you been married?" Rong Yingluo asked casually.

"It's been five years." Ke Miaoran said, her eyes filled with a touch of melancholy.

"Sister Ke, what's wrong?" Rong Yingluo asked, puzzled. Had she asked a question she shouldn't have?