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

"Not yet." Zhou Haitao's face flushed slightly.

When asked about marriage, both men and women become shy.

Gu Ce: "Who else is in the family?"

Zhou Haitao: "Only my mother."

Gu Ce: "Did you enroll in the academy?"

Zhou Haitao lowered his head, but he did not feel inferior: "My mother supported us by doing embroidery for the embroidery workshop. There was no extra money for me to go to the academy. However, I would go to the Wenchang Hall to read whenever I had free time. There were many books there, enough for me to read. I did not neglect my studies."

Wenchang Hall was a government-run bookstore. The books inside were donated by various prominent families in the capital and were exclusively for students who came to the capital to take the imperial examinations. They only needed to pay a small fee to read them.

The academy also had a literary exchange room where scholars from all over the country could discuss academic matters with each other. It was a place that literati loved to visit.

"Not bad. Let me test you." Gu Ce had already discerned some of Zhou Haitao's character; he hadn't lost his fighting spirit because of his poverty, and he was still trying to earn money to support himself and his mother.

Moreover, he has already passed the imperial examination at such a young age. In addition to being good at studying, he is also quick-witted, as can be seen from his answer to his brother-in-law's question just now.

Upon hearing that Gu Ce was going to test him, Zhou Haitao suddenly raised his head, his eyes burning, and stood up to bow, saying, "Thank you, Lord Gu."

Next, Gu Ce examined him from all aspects, asking increasingly tricky questions, even bringing up questions that would give the Emperor a headache.

Zhou Haitao initially answered fluently, but later on, he took longer and longer to think and became more and more cautious in his answers.

The last question Gu Ce asked was, "The Crown Prince is dissolute; how should we admonish him?"

Zhou Haitao dared not speak carelessly, wiped his forehead, and gave up answering.

Rong Yingluo found it amusing; wasn't this just deliberately trying to scare people?

How could a mere scholar like him dare to speak of the Crown Prince's affairs? If it reached the Crown Prince's ears, his life would be in danger. Therefore, Gu Ce had no scruples.

"Would you be willing to become my disciple?" Gu Ce looked Zhou Haitao over carefully once more.

He had never taken on a student before, so he decided to give it a try.

"What?" Zhou Haitao thought he had misheard and stared blankly at Gu Ce.

"Why aren't you paying your respects to your master?" Rong Zhixiu nudged him.

Ever since Gu Ce said he wanted to test his knowledge, he had a vague idea of ​​Gu Ce's purpose.

It was thanks to him that Zhou, the scholar, was able to meet his brother-in-law; it was truly a great joy.

Being chosen by Gu Ce is a blessing he has earned through three lifetimes of good deeds.

Zhou Haitao then realized what was happening and immediately stood up to perform the full kneeling ceremony, but Gu Ce stopped him: "I value talent. Seeing that you are quite learned and have the desire to improve, I will offer to give you some pointers. There is no need for such a grand ceremony."

Compared to those students from families with strong academic traditions, you are far inferior. With your current abilities, it will be very difficult for you to stand out in next year's imperial examination. Even if you pass the exam, you will be among the last few.

Gu Ce wasn't trying to hurt him; he was simply stating the facts.

"Thank you, my teacher." Zhou Haitao knelt down anyway. This was a blessing from heaven, and he had to perform a grand ceremony.

When he got up, there were two lines of tears on his face, from excitement.

Rong Yingluo was also moved by what she saw.

Gu Ce's actions were probably for the sake of his second younger sister.

But getting this marriage arranged won't be easy.

Rong Yingluo thought about it and realized that only her grandmother's intervention would make it possible.

Then we must quickly remove Madam Su from her position as mistress.

"From now on, you will come to the Duke of Zhenguo's residence every three days at Shenshi (3-5 PM)." Gu Ce set the time.

"The student will remember this." Zhou Haitao bowed again.

He then turned to Rong Zhixiu and bowed deeply: "I must thank you again today, Young Master Rong. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to meet my master. I have no way to repay this kindness now, so I can only remember it in my heart."

It's good that you know how to be grateful.

Rong Yingluo's opinion of this person's character rose even higher.

The group chatted happily.

"Sister, today is the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. Would you like to go home and visit our parents? They may be leaving the capital for a while in a few days," Rong Zhixiu said.

Rong Yingluo immediately understood what it meant.

My parents are going to arrange my eldest sister's wedding.

"Husband, you go back first. My elder brother and I will go back to my parents' home." Rong Yingluo made the decision without even asking Gu Ce's opinion.

When Rong Zhixiu saw his sister talking to Gu Ce like that, he glanced at Gu Ce.

"Do you need me to go with you?" Gu Ce asked instinctively.

"No need. If you go, it won't be convenient for me to have a private talk with my parents. I will definitely be back before dark." Rong Yingluo wanted to reunite with her family and have a good talk when she returned to her parents' home. With Gu Ce there, it would be inconvenient to say anything.

Gu Ce's face turned cold, and he felt a tightness in his chest, as if he couldn't exhale.

He didn't know when it started, but he really enjoyed spending time with his wife.

Rong was neither pretentious nor affected, and unlike the previous women she married, she didn't try to cling to him.

As for Rong Shi, if it weren't for the constraints of assistance, he might not even be able to enter their bedroom, let alone lie in the same bed with her.

"Big brother, let's go now." Rong Yingluo pulled Rong Zhixiu away, as time spent with family was precious.

Zhou Haitao witnessed this scene, and his admiration for Lord Gu grew even stronger.

There are few men in the world who can pamper their wives like this.

If his father hadn't taken a concubine and had only his first wife, he and his mother wouldn't have had such a miserable life.

The old woman's inability to tolerate the mother and son, though contrary to moral principles, was also a consequence of the man's lustful desires.

His mother worked tirelessly, day and night, embroidering to give him the opportunity to continue his studies and support him to this day.

If his mother were a legitimate wife, and his father supported his education, why would his mother have to suffer so much?

He will treat his wife well from now on, and the two of them will work together to take good care of their mother and build the happiest family.

As soon as Rong Yingluo returned to her parents' home, she was like a bird set free.

"Father, Mother, I'm back."

"Old man, did I hear wrong? Is it our daughter who has returned?" Madam Rong was overjoyed.

"You heard me right, our daughter is back." Rong Zhengqing stroked his beard, his smile revealing his good mood.

"Mother," Rong Yingluo hopped into the main hall, just in time to see Madam Rong get up to greet her.

She jogged over and gave Madam Rong a tight hug.

The mother and daughter kissed for a long time before separating.

"Mother, have the kitchen prepare a delicious meal. Besides celebrating today's Double Ninth Festival, we also want to celebrate that I've survived a month, breaking Gu Ce's record of never surviving a month after getting married." This was Rong Yingluo's main purpose in returning to her parents' home.

The happiest moments should naturally be shared with the closest people.

But these words brought tears to Madam Rong's eyes. Her precious daughter was living on thin ice in the Gu family, and the fact that she had survived for a month was a great joy and something to celebrate.

"I'll give the order right away to prepare a table of your favorite dishes." Madam Rong wiped her eyes.

Rong Zhengqing's eyes also welled up with tears.

Rong Zhixiu's eyes reddened even more. His second younger sister was lively and lovely. She grew up in a Taoist temple, free and unrestrained, and was forced to fight against the monsters and demons in the Duke's mansion at a young age.

"Good girl, come with me to the study to talk." Rong Zhengqing hadn't spoken to his daughter alone in a long time.

Last time he went back to his parents' home, he was responsible for accompanying Gu Ce, while his wife accompanied their daughter, so they missed the opportunity. Today, Gu Ce didn't come, which makes it convenient for my daughter and me to have a good talk.

The father and his two sons went to the study, and Rong Zhixiu closed the door, shutting out the outside world.

"Yingluo, while you were at the Gu residence, did anyone discover your identity?" This was Rong Zhengqing's biggest worry.

The Crown Prince must not find out, especially.

Since his daughter married into the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, he has paid even more attention to the political situation.

He knew that Gu Ce was at odds with the Crown Prince in court, and that he was trying to check the Crown Prince's ambitions.