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

"If he continues to stay in the manor, something bad will happen sooner or later. He is already eighteen years old and should bear the consequences of his actions." Minister Gao knew that his son had gone astray and that it would be too difficult to correct him.

One illegitimate grandson is no big deal, but fortunately there are two capable legitimate grandsons.

"Shi Xun, your father is getting old. You must uphold the honor of the Gao family."

The reason I arranged for you to marry Yunxia was for the sake of our Gao family. She comes from the Duke of Fuguo's mansion. With the support of the Duke of Fuguo's mansion, I was able to become a minister, and you also became a vice minister of the Ministry of Works.

"If I hadn't married her back then, my Gao family might not have achieved the glory we have today," Minister Gao lamented.

Having connections in the imperial court makes it easier to become an official—a timeless truth.

Back then, he knew his son had a girl he liked, but the girl's status was too low, and she could not help the Gao family at all.

"Father, I have already been disciplined by the family today. Please, Father, show leniency." Gao Shixun wanted to plead for mercy again.

The child was clever and charming in front of him, and knew exactly how to please him.

"Over the years, Yunxia has given birth to two sons and a daughter for you and managed the entire Gao family's household affairs. She has done a great job."

You love Yuan'er's birth mother, and she has accepted it. Aren't you satisfied?

"Don't forget, Yunxia is Consort Cao's younger sister, His Highness the Crown Prince's aunt, and the Duke of Fuguo's younger sister." Minister Gao said with exasperation.

Shi Xun was also indifferent to matters concerning the inner quarters.

The reason why Yuan'er has grown up to be like this is all because her daughter-in-law deliberately spoiled him, so that Yuan'er would be ruined. This is her method.

Aunt He thought that because she had won Shi Xun's favor, she could ride roughshod over the mistress. In the end, she didn't even know that her own son was being ruined without her knowledge. What a fool.

"Son understands." Gao Shixun lowered his head sadly.

With the youngest son so badly injured, once he's sent away, his aunt will naturally go and take care of him.

No matter how reluctant I am, I have to endure the pain for the sake of my family.

Gu Ce led Rong Yingluo out of the Gao family compound, and screams could be heard from afar.

Rong Yingluo's smile grew even brighter until she got into the carriage and saw Gu Qingyin's worried expression, at which point it faded.

"Sister-in-law, are you alright?" Gu Qingyin had the coachman drive the carriage to catch up with Gu Ce and waited not far from the gate of the Gao residence.

"fine."

The two wanted to say something more, but Gu Ce also got into the carriage.

"Big brother." Upon seeing her older brother, Gu Qingyin immediately sat up straight, twisting her handkerchief in her hands, looking like she was waiting to be scolded.

"You two are too reckless. Aren't you afraid something will really happen?" Gu Ce knew that Rong Yingluo was capable, but there was always an unexpected event.

What if Gao Zhiyuan uses some underhanded means to control her? How can she save herself?

"Big brother, I was wrong." Gu Qingyin wanted to take all the blame upon herself.

My sister-in-law helped her so much today, I can't let her get scolded too.

"Husband, I'm perfectly fine, aren't I?" Rong Yingluo felt she had performed her act very well today. She was even enjoying it; it was so much fun.

Helpless, Gu Ce once again doubted whether she was the daughter raised by the Rong family.

The richest family in the capital must raise their daughters very well; their upbringing should be no less than that of daughters from high-ranking families.

But no matter how he looked at her, he couldn't see that Rong Yingluo had received proper instruction from a good teacher. What she knew was completely different from what ordinary young ladies from wealthy families knew.

She doesn't care about her reputation. Even if this incident gets out, it will damage her reputation, but she seems completely unconcerned.

The clothes made for him took five whole days to complete, and it was only with the help of two servants.

"From now on, you must discuss anything with me first. You must not act recklessly like you did today." Gu Ce softened his tone, but his seriousness remained undiminished.

"I understand," Rong Yingluo said, though she certainly wouldn't let him know what she was really thinking.

They were just business partners, and she didn't want him to interfere.

"Second sister, has Mother exchanged marriage certificates with the Gao family?" Gu Ce didn't care much about his half-sister's marriage; he had no say in it anyway.

He rarely saw his younger sister, so they couldn't be said to have a deep relationship.

"Not yet, but Mother said we'll be exchanging birth certificates in the next few days," Gu Qingyin replied truthfully.

"Husband, my second sister has a good personality, is gentle and lovely, and I like her very much. Why don't we help her find a good husband?" Rong Yingluo said with a smile.

"We can't interfere in this matter. Mother will find her another suitable husband." With his legal mother around, he couldn't make the decision.

"A solution can be found by people. I'll handle this, but you have to cooperate fully when I need your help. It's settled then." Rong Yingluo made the decision directly, not giving Gu Ce a chance to say anything more.

Back at the Gu residence, Granny Zhu was already waiting, her eyes filled with smiles.

"Granny Zhu, is there some good news?" Rong Yingluo asked.

"Miss, you asked me to keep an eye on the main courtyard. There's news."

"Let's go inside and talk." Rong Yingluo's eyes crinkled into a smile.

Upon entering the main hall, Rong Yingluo gulped down two glasses of water before signaling for Granny Zhu to continue.

"Miss, the maid who combed the Duchess's hair this morning was slapped. They said she accidentally pulled out a large clump of the Duchess's hair."

"It's working!" Rong Yingluo smiled triumphantly. "In three months at most, Su Shi will be like a nun, with no hair on her head."

Doesn't she like using poison?

Later, she will let her taste the various poisons in her hands.

Let's see how long she can hold out.

"Miss, if she asks the Rong family to help her find a doctor, would you still agree?" Granny Zhu smiled broadly.

She kept a detailed record of how the Duchess bullied her young lady.

"Please, of course. As long as she can afford it." Rong Yingluo didn't care.

"Miss, Doctor Qu has already left today."

"Oh? The Su family didn't keep him?" Rong Yingluo did not meet with Doctor Qu in private.

The first time she saw him administer acupuncture, she could tell that he and she were from the same school, so she stopped interfering and let him detoxify Su Shi.

Unexpectedly, he actually cured the poison, so he deserved the ten thousand taels of medical fee.

"I tried to keep it, but unfortunately I couldn't."

"Good riddance. When Madam Su realizes that her hair is thinning, she will surely make my Rong family hire someone again, and then it won't be just ten thousand taels." Rong Yingluo awaited that day.

Gu Ce returned from the outer courtyard at dinner time.

He saw Rong Yingluo sitting obediently at the table, waiting for him to have a meal together.

A warm feeling rose in Gu Ce's heart. Someone was waiting for him, someone was having a meal with him, and this feeling captivated him for a moment.

This is what it feels like to have your own little family.

Seeing the basket on the small table next to me made me feel a little uneasy.

She started making clothes again, and they were clearly in colors that men liked.

That wasn't made for him, but for her father and brothers. I wish it had been made for him.

"On the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, the Emperor will be going to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to offer sacrifices. Would you like to go and see the excitement?" Gu Ce asked after the meal.

"Can I go?" Rong Yingluo was a little tempted.

The Imperial Ancestral Temple is a place to enshrine the emperors, empresses, princes, and meritorious ministers who were the ancestors of the imperial family.

Only noblewomen who received the emperor's permission were qualified to enter the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

She had never been there.

"I can take you in. My great-grandfather is also enshrined there." Gu Ce spoke of the first Duke of Zhenguo with admiration and respect in his eyes.

Without him, the Southern Xia Kingdom might not exist; such merit is unmatched by anyone in Southern Xia since its founding.

"Then I'll go." Now that she's married into the Gu family, it's necessary for her to pay homage to the Gu family ancestors.