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

"Well, my husband, I don't think the Crown Prince of Liao's request is excessive. You have far too few people around you. If the Crown Prince of Liao can help you, you will definitely be able to rise through the ranks." Rong Yingluo said meaningfully.

Doesn't he want to be promoted to prime minister? Then he needs even more people to do things for him.

Since Li Xuanye had nothing else to do, he could help Gu Ce by running errands. Once Gu Ce was cured of his poison, he would be able to stand on his own with his martial arts skills.

Gu Ce understood Rong Yingluo's meaning, but he wasn't so easily convinced, so he asked, "Why don't you go find the Crown Prince?"

"I've been in the capital for a year, and the poison in my body still hasn't been cured. I've investigated and investigated, and it ultimately points to the Crown Prince. He doesn't want me to live. Tell me, in this situation, what is the most suitable choice for me?" Li Xuanye spoke very bluntly.

Whether the imperial physicians were truly incompetent or feigning incompetence is no longer important; the fact that the crown prince bribed the imperial physicians is sufficient evidence of his guilt.

"You are more straightforward than I am; you truly deserve to be called a military general."

Since you are so sincere, then I will assign you a task. If you complete it well, I will arrange a job for you.

Li Xuanye knew this was a plea for loyalty: "Alright, it's a deal."

"Gao Qiliang's third son, Gao Shiming, is the prefect of Qizhou. Qizhou is only four hundred li from the capital. I'll give you half a month to find evidence of him accepting bribes." Gu Ce had free labor at his disposal, so he didn't hold back.

Upon hearing this, Li Xuanye's gaze sharpened.

Although he did not attend court, the struggle between the Crown Prince and Gu Ce in the court had been going on for quite some time.

The emperor only has one son who can inherit the throne. Isn't Gu Ce afraid of ending up with his head separated from his body by doing this?

He had already written to his father about this matter, but his father replied that the emperor knew what he was doing and told him not to get close to anyone. He suggested that if absolutely necessary, he could get close to Gu Ce.

He didn't understand why his father made this choice, but he trusted his father's decision and just wanted to obey.

"I will accept this matter." Li Xuanye stood up and bowed. "Farewell, I will return to my residence now to make arrangements. Put today's tea expenses on my tab."

"He left so decisively," Rong Yingluo remarked as she watched his figure disappear through the doorway.

Gu Ce poured tea for the two of them: "You really don't know each other?"

"I just met him at the Imperial Ancestral Temple today. I ran into him while I was looking at famous scholars in the side hall," Rong Yingluo confessed honestly, otherwise it would seem too fake.

"Are you the one who wants to detoxify him?" Gu Ce already understood.

"That's right," Rong Yingluo readily admitted.

"Why are you helping him?" Gu Ce didn't believe she was being so kind for no reason.

"He is the heir apparent of the Liao King. The Liao King guards the border and is a hero in my eyes. And I respect heroes the most."

He later inherited the throne and became the King of Liao. Like his father, he guarded the border and protected the people of Southern Xia.

He said he was poisoned after being tricked by the enemy general from Beicang.

He has been in the capital for a year and still hasn't been able to get rid of the poison. If this drags on any longer, his body will become weaker and weaker. How will he be able to fight on the battlefield in the future?

"So I want to save him." Rong Yingluo said with righteous indignation.

"You're just a young girl, yet you have such a strong sense of righteousness. That's impressive. No wonder your father donates silver to the national treasury every year. Your Rong family truly deserves to be called loyal and righteous merchants." Gu Ce couldn't help but admire his father-in-law's foresight.

If it weren't for the restrictions imposed by their social status, the men of the Rong family might have already passed the imperial examinations and entered the court as officials.

"Every man has a responsibility for the fate of the nation, that's what my father said." Rong Yingluo used her master's words to fob off Gu Ce.

Just then, a familiar voice came in through the window.

Rong Yingluo looked up and saw two men passing by the window, one of whom was her elder brother.

"Big brother." It was a rare opportunity to see a relative, and Rong Yingluo raised her voice to call out.

Rong Zhixiu turned around and looked in. Seeing that it was his younger sister, he was very happy: "Little sister, what a coincidence!"

"Come in quickly." Rong Yingluo got up and opened the door for them.

A man followed behind Rong Zhixiu. His clothes were very ordinary, just fine linen, but the style was the long gown that students often wore.

"Brother-in-law." Gu Ce stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and invited the two to sit down.

"Lord Gu, this is Zhou Haitao, a scholar who has come to the capital to take the imperial examination. We have arranged to meet with him today to discuss some matters," Rong Zhixiu introduced.

"Are you Lord Gu? My apologies for my rudeness." Zhou Haitao immediately bowed respectfully to Gu Ce again.

He had been in the capital for several months, and he naturally knew who Lord Gu was: the top scholar in the imperial examination five years ago, the current Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and a favorite minister of the emperor.

"Zhou Haitao?" Rong Yingluo pondered the name for a moment. Why did it sound so familiar?

Oh, right, my second sister's sweetheart.

Rong Yingluo remembered who he was and immediately whispered a reminder in Gu Ce's ear.

What a coincidence.

I was saying I'd find an opportunity to meet him and get to know his character, and now this has come to me.

Gu Ce's eyes flashed as he looked Zhou Haitao up and down.

"This is my younger sister, Mrs. Gu," Rong Zhixiu continued.

"Greetings, Madam Gu." Zhou Haitao bowed to Rong Yingluo again.

He was dignified, neither obsequious nor self-deprecating, and very proper.

He wasn't exactly handsome, but he wasn't ugly either; he was the kind of person whose looks grew on you.

"Big brother, how come you two are together?" Rong Yingluo asked curiously.

"The accountant at Honghaolou fell ill and is getting old, so he resigned. The manager couldn't find a suitable replacement right away, so he reported it to me. I also couldn't find a suitable person right away, so I asked a middleman to introduce me to an accountant, and that's this Zhou Juren," Rong Zhixiu explained.

"Isn't Scholar Zhou supposed to take the imperial examination next March? Why is he still out working?" Rong Yingluo wanted to hear why he wasn't studying at home.

"After the weather turned cold, my mother caught a cold and became seriously ill. The medicine cost a lot of money, and she still needs to continue taking medicine, so I need to find some work to earn some money for the family." Zhou, the scholar, spoke frankly and openly, as if there was nothing he couldn't say to others.

"Do you still have time to study? There's not much time left until next year's imperial examination," Rong Yingluo continued to ask.

"My mother's illness is more important." Zhou Haitao's simple statement clearly expressed his attitude.

Rong Yingluo nodded to herself. She was someone who knew how to manage a household, wasn't aloof, and was filial to her mother.

He has good character.

"Brother, have you examined Scholar Zhou?" Rong Yingluo asked.

"We just arrived, and here we are, the two of you." Rong Zhixiu said with amusement.

"Then you should investigate now, and I'll listen too. After all, you're looking for an accountant for me." Rong Yingluo hoped that Zhou Haitao could be competent so that she could bring her second sister to Honghao Tower to meet him more often.

The second sister only said that she had her eye on Zhou Haitao, but they didn't know what Zhou Haitao's attitude was.

Being near the water tower gives you an advantage; given enough opportunity, things will naturally fall into place.

Upon hearing this, Rong Zhixiu immediately began to test Zhou Haitao.

Rong Yingluo listened attentively.

She doesn't understand these things, so she can take this opportunity to learn.

Gu Ce didn't say anything to disturb him, and he took the opportunity to observe the man's abilities.

Throughout the assessment process, Rong Zhixiu asked about all the tasks that the accountant was responsible for, such as how to do the accounting, how to calculate, and how to make reasonable suggestions to the manager based on the daily changes in cash flow. He asked very detailed questions.

Rong Yingluo felt incredibly ignorant; this was truly an eye-opener.

An accountant needs to know so much.

In the end, Rong Zhixiu was very satisfied.

"Sister, what do you think?" But he still wanted to ask his sister's opinion.

"It's up to you, brother. I don't understand." Rong Yingluo refused to comment at all.

"Then it's settled. I'll go to Honghao Restaurant to see the manager tomorrow. I'll inform the manager." Rong Zhixiu decided immediately.

"Is Scholar Zhou married?" Gu Ce suddenly asked.

These words stunned Zhou Haitao.

Why did Lord Gu ask him this question?