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

She had never suffered like this in her entire life.

She was forced into a competition and pushed into the most difficult horse track, clearly a death sentence.

If it weren't for Gu Ce's timely reminder, she would have faced certain death if she hadn't been able to complete the competition so smoothly today.

"If I don't die today, the Crown Prince will die later," Rong Yingluo said through gritted teeth.

Gu Ce paused. Did she want the Crown Prince dead?

"You shouldn't say such things carelessly." Gu Ce paused for only a moment before continuing to apply the medicine, his words carrying a light hint of reproach.

The bleeding stopped quickly, and then ointment was applied and the wound was bandaged. Yinghong came in to help Rong Yingluo change her clothes.

On the other side...

An Yi remained at the finish line to confront Yuwen Yi and Yuwen Tai.

"Your Highness, Prince Tai, our Lady has won. Please honor your promise regarding the bet." An Yi remained composed, neither humble nor arrogant, with his hands clasped over his chest.

"Yes, Crown Prince, and Cousin Tai, pay up the bet now." Princess Jinyang was now full of confidence.

Madam Gu fulfilled the wishes of her elder brother, the Crown Prince, and not only completed the competition but also won.

If they dare to deny it, she will definitely take it to her father, the emperor.

The Crown Prince and his cousin Tai abuse their power and bully women.

Don't think that you can really control her by talking about marriage alliances; we also need to see who is in the right.

"Madam Gu did participate in the competition as I requested, but she cheated first, so the competition is invalid." Yuwen Yi's eyes darkened, but he couldn't help but curl the corners of his lips into a smile. Did she think he had no excuse?

"Your Majesty, we signed a contract. Are you trying to renege on it?" Princess Jinyang's eyes widened in anger.

"Mrs. Gu did come in first, but Gu Ce reminded her the whole way, which is cheating. Moreover, Mrs. Gu cut the bridge cable to stop Chen Ying, which is a despicable act that is even more contemptible." Yuwen Yi crossed his arms, looking like he was in the right.

"You..." Princess Jinyang was speechless for a moment.

"That's right, Your Highness is right. Madam Gu cheated, so this round doesn't count." Yuwen Tai, who had been feeling down, suddenly perked up.

When he saw Rong Yingluo reach the finish line first, he gritted his teeth in hatred, almost biting them off.

He lost. Not only did he not get back the Akhal-Teke horse he had worked so hard to acquire, but he also lost a villa. How could he accept that?

But the fact remains that Mrs. Gu won, and with everyone watching, no one can deny it. Unexpectedly, things took an unexpected turn for the better.

That's right, Gu Ce's reminder and her cutting down the suspension bridge were cheating.

"Your Highness, this is not the first time your guard has ventured onto the martial arts track today, and her martial arts skills are no less than those of a man. It is a serious injustice to have such a woman race against a pampered young lady."

"Our young mistress is riding on the martial arts trail for the first time, and she knows nothing about the conditions ahead. Today is also her first day learning to ride a horse. You are trying to kill our young mistress. As the crown prince of a country, how can you treat human life so lightly? Have you considered the consequences?" An Yi's tall figure took a step closer to Yuwen Yi, his words carrying an undeniable pressure.

Yuwen Yi was taken aback. The fact that a dog beside Gu Ce could have such an imposing presence made him feel a chill.

Only then did he take a closer look at An Yi.

He was around thirty years old, with a robust physique and a sharp, almost tangible gaze.

Looking at his face again, I felt like I'd seen him somewhere before. After thinking carefully, I finally remembered.

Is this someone close to the Emperor?

Once, when my father was assassinated, it seemed that this person was the one who led a group of Dragon Shadow Guards to protect him.

Half a year ago, the Emperor replaced the Dragon Shadow Guards with a younger batch, and the older batch were sent away somewhere by the Emperor.

The Emperor's Dragon Shadow Guards usually do not appear in public, but they will always protect the Emperor whenever he is in danger.

He had considered it when the older generation retired, but his mother advised him against it.

It would be difficult for those people to recruit him to their own side, and whatever they did would soon reach the ears of the Emperor.

How come this person is with Gu Ce?

Did Father Emperor give it to Gu Ce?

The imposing aura this man possesses can only be cultivated by spending a long time by the Emperor's side. Even his uncle, Prince Xuan, a first-rank prince, doesn't have such an imposing presence.

"Who are you? You're just Gu Ce's dog. How dare you speak to the Crown Prince like that?" Yuwen Taiqiang interjected.

Gu Ce was just a servant boy; how dare he speak to the Crown Prince like that?

"Your Highness, do you wish the Emperor to know about today's events?" An Yi didn't even glance at Yuwen Tai, waiting only for Yuwen Yi's reply.

His words were highly threatening.

Yuwen Yi became even more certain that this person was someone from his father's side.

The Emperor actually gave him to Gu Ce. How much does he spoil him? Yuwen Yi was so angry that he had to take a few deep breaths to calm his resentment.

"I was just joking. A bet is a bet, Brother Tai. Find another opportunity to race with the little princess, and let her play with that horse for a few more days."

"Don't be so stingy. Who knows, you might get another Akhal-Teke horse someday." Yuwen Yi quickly recovered, forcing a smile as he chuckled and pulled Yuwen Tai back from saying anything more.

"Since His Highness the Crown Prince has said so, I will truthfully reply to my young master." Once he received confirmation, An Yi demanded that the betting money be settled on the spot.

The young men and women who participated in the gambling simply gave a number, and those who didn't have enough money on them wrote IOUs.

Rong Yingluo naturally didn't bring enough 50,000 taels, but she was the winner, so not having money didn't matter.

At that time, the number of people betting on Chen Ying was only 38,000 taels, while the number betting on Rong Yingluo, Princess Jinyang, and the other two was 62,000 taels.

No matter how much money the losing side has, they must make up the difference.

Those who bet on Chen Ying to win were filled with regret and dejection.

But since the Crown Prince had spoken, they dared not disobey.

As the saying goes: if you gamble, you have to accept the consequences.

An Yi, holding a bunch of IOUs and the free food token of Mingyue Tower, walked away with steady steps.

Unable to contain his anger any longer, Yuwen Yi turned and slapped Chen Ying, who was standing behind him, hard across the face.

Chen Ying staggered from the blow, but could not cry out in pain. Enduring the burning sensation on his face, he knelt down and begged for mercy: "Master, I know I was wrong. It was my dereliction of duty. I will return to the manor and be punished with fifty lashes."

"Your Highness, Guard Chen has done his best. Who knew that Rong would be so powerful?" someone advised.

"Your Highness, this is definitely not the first time Rong has ridden a horse. She has deceived all of us," someone questioned.

"Well, regardless of whether she knew how to ride a horse before, today's competition is on the martial arts horse track. Even if she knows how to ride a horse, she is not familiar with the horse track, which is her disadvantage."

If it weren't for Lord Gu's constant reminders, she would have died long ago. If this matter really reaches the Emperor, His Highness the Crown Prince will definitely be implicated. Let's all just swallow this bitter pill." Someone spoke a fair word.

Yuwen Yi's eyes grew even more sinister.

He sent someone to inquire about Rong Shi. Before she got married, she only went out with her father to look at shops. She usually stayed at home embroidering and reading books. There was no mention of her being a good rider.

It is clear that she was indeed a very sheltered young woman.

But she beat Yuwentai in the game of pitch-pot, and today she even ran the entire horse track and managed to outwit him.

The crowd dispersed.

Chen Ying stood up and respectfully stood beside Yuwen Yi: "Your Highness, Madam Gu is not simple. She has someone helping her in secret. The first horse I rode, for some reason, only ran four miles before its legs went weak and it ran slower than it walked. I had to change to another horse."

After that, the horse would occasionally be hit by small stones, causing its rider to fall off twice.

"What?" Yuwen Yi exclaimed in surprise.