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

"You've been at the border for five years, so you must be quite familiar with the officers there. Every year, there must be quite a few wounded soldiers who retire from the barracks."

Being disabled due to injury does not mean being completely useless. For example, losing an arm, having a limp, or being blind in one eye still means having certain abilities.

But these people may not have an easy time back in their hometowns, and the meager salary they received will probably be spent very quickly.

These people were all trained, had been on the battlefield, and were determined.

If you gather these people together and form several escort teams, they will definitely be very popular.

Every year, our Rong family hires bodyguards to escort goods, which costs a considerable amount.

"I can write to my father and tell him I'll look for you later. What do you think?" Kong Yingluo left it at that.

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Zhang's eyes suddenly lit up like stars: "Sister Rong, as expected of someone from the Shang family, you even thought of this. Thank you, I understand what you mean."

Rong Yingluo smiled sweetly. Smart people are quick to react and understand immediately.

Once these people fall into Yuwen Zhang's hands, they become his people. On the surface, they are bodyguards, but in reality, they are his forces.

The bodyguards traveled all over the country and could bring him a lot of useful information.

Even if the emperor knew, he wouldn't say anything. He was trying to find a way for the disabled soldiers to survive.

With a way to make a living, there would be no trouble, and people could live a normal life. He was sharing the emperor's burdens in this way.

Even if the crown prince ascends the throne in the future, he won't dare to do anything to him.

If the emperor dared to make things difficult for a prince who was deeply loved by the soldiers on the frontier, they would not agree.

Rong Yingluo changed Yuwen Zhang's dressing before leaving, agreeing to come back in three days.

Back at Honghao Building, Rong Yingluo changed her clothes and went to buy some things to report back.

It took Rong Yingluo five days to finally finish making the clothes.

The men's outer robes were much more intricately crafted than the inner robes and Taoist robes.

The flowers on top still needed Yinghong and Granny Zhu's help to embroider.

Gu Ce returned from the outer courtyard and happened to see Rong Yingluo spreading out her clothes and holding them up against herself.

"Yinghong, Granny Zhu, isn't it beautiful?" Rong Yingluo was overjoyed.

This was the first time she had made a man's outer robe, a matter of pride for the man. If it wasn't done well, he would be laughed at. The laughingstock wouldn't be of the person wearing the robe, but of the person making it.

This was an experiment, something to practice on, but in Rong Yingluo's eyes it was already quite good.

"It looks great, it looks great. The young master would look even better in it." Yinghong was also very happy.

By making this dress, the young lady improved her needlework skills; if she were to learn embroidery, she would be even more perfect.

"Clothes made from good materials are just different," Granny Zhu said with a smile.

The fabric given by the Duchess was clearly a tribute item, likely a gift from the palace.

"What's the point of drawing on you? Since it's made for me, I'll have to try it on myself to see if it looks good." Gu Ce's voice rang out at the door, and he strode in, taking the clothes from Rong Yingluo's hands.

Rong Yingluo froze.

Yinghong and Granny Zhu quietly withdrew, leaving the couple alone.

Gu Ce took off his official robes, changed into new clothes, and twirled in front of Rong Yingluo: "How is it?"

"It's alright, I can make a few more." Rong Yingluo felt that she could present them presentably, and had already thought about what kind of styles to make a few more.

"Madam, you don't need to go to so much trouble," Gu Ce said gently, his heart softening. His wife was even going to make him a few more things; his thoughtfulness was enough.

"I'm not making it for you; I want to make it for my father and three older brothers. I've never made clothes for them before."

Gu Ce was taken aback, realizing he had misunderstood, and the faint smile on his face disappeared.

At this moment, Granny Zhao delivered an invitation.

All invitations sent to the Gu family had to be handed over to Madam Su first, so that she could review them.

Let's take a closer look at Rong Yingluo.

"It was Sister Ke who invited me to go to Jing'an Hall to offer incense with her."

"Which day?" Gu Ce asked.

"The day after tomorrow."

"I'll have Zhong Sheng take you there," Gu Ce arranged.

He now has five men given to him by the Emperor, so it's alright for Zhong Sheng to leave temporarily.

"Thank you very much then." Wu Guishan and Wu Dali, the father and son who accompanied Rong Yingluo from her family, did not know martial arts. Although she had some martial arts skills, she was far inferior to a master if anything happened.

Now that Gu Ce is at odds with the Crown Prince, who knows if the Crown Prince will turn his attention to her and make things difficult for Gu Ce.

Zhong Sheng's martial arts skills must be quite good.

She needs to prepare more good things on her to save her life.

"By the way, there's something I need to tell you." Gu Ce said with a smile in his eyes.

"What is it?" Rong Yingluo looked up.

"Your friend's father-in-law, Lord Qi, has been promoted. Not only him, but all three people who participated in the negotiations ten years ago have also been promoted." Gu Ce's smile deepened.

"Is it my doing?" Rong Yingluo asked happily, realizing what had happened.

"Yes, it was His Majesty's decree this morning. These past few days, His Majesty specifically instructed our Ministry of Personnel to thoroughly examine the performance of these three officials over the past ten years. I just wrote a memorial yesterday, and His Majesty gave his answer this morning."

"Haha, the three of them should thank me properly." Rong Yingluo was very happy to hear this news.

"That's right."

However, just then, Granny Zhu entered with a displeased expression.

"Granny Zhu, what's wrong? Who bullied you?" Rong Yingluo rarely saw Granny Zhu with such a face.

"Miss, I overheard something outside just now."

In addition to the invitation, the Qi family also sent a box of gifts, which they said were a token of their gratitude. However, the Duchess only sent the invitation and kept the gifts.

Two other families also sent gifts, specifically for the young lady, but the Duchess kept them all. "Granny Zhu had never seen such a shameless mother-in-law."

"Come on, I'll take you to get it back." Gu Ce said angrily, pulling Rong Yingluo towards the door.

Rong Yingluo stood still: "There's no need to go. It's no use going. She'll have plenty of excuses to fob us off. She's the mistress of the house, so it's fine if she keeps the gifts. If you accept a gift, you have to give one back. Since she took it, she should give one back."

I don't need to worry about that. I just need to know that the other two families appreciated my kindness.

Rong Yingluo is very generous.

How long can the Duchess remain the mistress of the house? Once the old lady recovers, she will leave Shousong Courtyard, and then she will have a powerful backer.

She will gradually wrest control of the household from the Su family, and those things will eventually return to her own hands.

Gu Ce was helpless.

"Who are the other two?" Rong Yingluo asked.

"It's the Zhao family, the Empress's family, and the Yu family, the Consort Yu's family," Granny Zhu replied to her mistress only after asking very clearly.

"Not bad." Rong Yingluo was even happier when she learned that it was one of these two families. Neither of them were part of the Crown Prince's faction, which was good.

She would be furious if any officials from the Crown Prince's faction were promoted because of her.

No, she didn't know what the Yu family's background was.

"Is Consort Yu's family the same as Princess Jinyang's maternal family?" Rong Yingluo was not familiar with the various families in the capital.

At the palace banquet that day, Ke Miaoran seemed to have mentioned it briefly, but I can't remember clearly.

"That's right, Consort Yu was selected into the palace later through the imperial concubine selection."

Her uncle was a military officer, a fifth-rank official, which qualified her to participate in the selection.

Her father disliked martial arts and passed the imperial examination. Ten years ago, he served as an assistant to Lord Qi. After Consort Yu gave birth to Princess Jinyang, the Emperor promoted her father to the rank of fifth-grade official. This time, I specifically recommended him for further evaluation, and he was promoted to the position of Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, a fourth-grade official. Gu Ce explained.

Rong Yingluo understood the meaning behind his words.

Gu Ce specifically mentioned that the Yu family benefited because of her.

A scholar who passed the imperial examination was able to rise to the rank of fourth grade official entirely because he had a good daughter who entered the palace and gave birth to a princess.

An assistant can only do paperwork during negotiations and can't contribute much. But Gu Ce, as the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, can easily make his resume look impressive.

Furthermore, Princess Jinyang was the youngest princess and enjoyed the emperor's favor. The emperor, naturally, would not hesitate to bestow gifts upon her.

On August 22nd, the autumn sky was clear and the air was crisp.

Rong Yingluo met Ke Miaoran outside the city as promised.

Little did they know that this trip would lead to two calamities.