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

"Red-striped toads usually live in very hot places, such as near volcanic lava or very hot springs. Corrosion Essence Powder is a yin poison, while the venom from the red-striped toad's back spines is an extremely yang poison, which can just stimulate the qi and blood that have been depleted in your body." Rong Yingluo had seen this in an ancient book.

The Corrosion Powder was actually a secret royal medicine of the Northern Cang Kingdom, specifically used to deal with disobedient military generals or those skilled in martial arts. It wouldn't kill someone quickly, but it could ruin them.

If it weren't for her master's great abilities, she wouldn't have known about such a thing.

With a goal in mind, Li Xuanye smiled brightly.

"You saved me again. If you ever need my help in the future, just ask. If Gu Ce treats you badly and you want to leave him, you can always come to me." Li Xuanye spoke boldly and directly.

"Okay. Don't tell me you can't do it then." Rong Yingluo smiled as well.

Of course, she said it as a joke.

But Pan Zhenming felt uneasy listening to this.

The young master wants to steal another man's wife? That's unacceptable.

But thinking of what the young master just said, Madam Gu saved him twice. This favor is too great. How can he repay it?

"Is this maid of yours a trusted confidante?" Li Xuanye asked a seemingly random question.

"Of course, she's the only maidservant I brought from my maiden home to the Gu residence." Over the past month, Rong Yingluo has been very satisfied with Yinghong.

Although she used to follow her eldest sister, Yinghong knew that she and her eldest sister had a very good relationship, so she naturally regarded her as her master.

"You're not Miss Rong. Tell me, who are you? Did the Rong family send you here to force you to marry into the Gu family in place of Miss Rong?" Li Xuanye's smile vanished, and he asked the question with great seriousness and solemnity.

"You investigated me?" Rong Yingluo's smile vanished.

"Yes, I was worried about you. Gu Ce has lost four brides, and I was afraid you were dead too. So as soon as I got back to the manor today, I asked Uncle Pan to inquire about you." Li Xuan Ye said truthfully, he did it out of concern.

"At least you still have some conscience. It wasn't for nothing that I pulled you out of the water nine years ago." Rong Yingluo laughed again.

Indeed, everything has a cause and effect.

"Tell me, was it the Rong family that forced you?" Li Xuanye asked again.

"No, I am Miss Rong." Rong Yingluo raised an eyebrow and told the truth.

"Impossible, the Rong family only has one young lady." Li Xuanye simply didn't believe it.

How could the young lady of the Rong family possibly follow Master Puyang to cultivate Taoism and learn medicine, and even travel all over the country? The real young lady of the Rong family is basically in the capital.

"Haha, I'm not lying to you. The Miss Rong you've been asking about is my older sister. We're twins. I left home when I was three to stay with my master." Rong Yingluo knew he wouldn't believe her, so it was better to tell him the truth to prevent him from continuing to investigate her.

"You're that daughter who died young?" Li Xuanye realized.

"right."

"Your eldest sister hanged herself, and you married in her place," Li Xuanye continued to guess.

"That's right."

"Do you know that you are deceiving the emperor?" Li Xuanye was worried about the Rong family's audacity.

"Do you want me to report you?"

"Of course not. What kind of person do you take me for?" Li Xuanye felt slighted and a little displeased. "Are you planning to keep using your sister's identity forever?"

"Things have come to this, and this is the only way for now." Rong Yingluo can only regain her identity after leaving the capital.

Li Xuanye felt sorry for her. Although she was the older sister, it wasn't her own identity, and she had to be careful at all times.

They could be exposed if they're not careful; the Rong family always has a knife hanging over their heads.

Unless her sister never comes home, she will always live under her sister's name.

Gu Ce has quite a few political enemies. Once exposed, the Rong family will be convicted, and Gu Ce will naturally not be able to escape either.

"Read me the contents of the imperial edict that granted us this marriage." Li Xuanye wanted to see if there were any loopholes in the edict.

"The Rong family has a daughter, a woman of noble birth, gentle and kind by nature, with a virtuous heart. She is dignified and elegant, a model for young ladies; intelligent and quick-witted, she is also well-mannered. She is hereby betrothed to Gu Ce, the heir of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion." Rong Yingluo recited this as if she were reciting a book.

All of them were exaggerated and overly flattering words; not a single word described her in any way.

After hearing what he said, Li Xuanye clapped his hands and laughed, "You don't need to worry about your identity being exposed. The Emperor didn't mention which daughter of the Rong family. Since you say you are a daughter of the Rong family, then you are not considered a substitute bride."

Rong Yingluo's eyes suddenly lit up: "So, our Rong family doesn't need to worry about committing the crime of deceiving the emperor at all?"

"Although everyone knows that the Emperor has bestowed the marriage upon your sister, the imperial decree does not mention her name, so it does not count as deceiving the Emperor. If the Emperor finds out, he will not hold it against you if you use this as an excuse."

"That's great. My eldest sister doesn't have to hide anymore. Thank you for clearing up my doubts, otherwise our Rong family would not know how long we would have to live in fear." Rong Yingluo laughed very freely at this moment.

She will write a letter to her eldest sister tomorrow.

Why didn't they think about it properly? An imperial edict could be interpreted in this way. They worried for over a month for nothing.

"I can call you Second Miss now without worry," Yinghong said, overjoyed. She was always on edge, afraid that she might accidentally let something slip.

"Not yet. It's not too late to reveal our identities once we've completely avoided it." Rong Yingluo still wanted to continue playing dumb to deceive others.

The eldest sister's nickname is still very useful.

"Regarding the poison in your body, I'll first prescribe a formula to replenish your qi and blood, and boost your essence. Acupuncture is useless against this poison. So, we'll wait until we find the Red-banded Toad before giving you a complete antidote. It's late autumn now, so it might be difficult to find one. Next spring would be the best time." Rong Yingluo wrote down the prescription in the carriage and handed it to Li Xuanye.

"Thank you, Yingluo." Li Xuanye addressed his sister affectionately.

"No, please just call me Mrs. Gu. Don't cause me any trouble." Rong Yingluo got goosebumps all over.

Apart from her older brothers and sisters, no one has ever called her "little sister."

She is usually called Little Fairy or Little Taoist Priest.

"Don't forget our meeting at Mingyue Tower the day after tomorrow," Li Xuanye said with a faint smile, preparing to get out of the carriage.

If she doesn't leave now, it will be too late for her to get back to the manor.

"I've already treated you tonight, so there's no need to see you again the day after tomorrow, right?" Rong Yingluo pretended to shoo her away.

"No, I'll wait for you until dark." Li Xuanye got off the carriage with a roguish grin.

After being delayed by Li Xuanye, they returned to the manor at around 7 PM.

Gu Ce had already returned to Yinliu Courtyard.

"Do you really enjoy going back to your parents' home that much?" Gu Ce was reading a book in his hand, having waited so long for his wife to return.

"Of course, it feels wonderful to have parents who love you, it's irresistible." She already has very little time to spend with her parents, so she seizes every opportunity to do so.

Gu Ce was stunned. He had never had a mother's love since he was a child, which was his biggest regret in life.

When Rong Yingluo saw Gu Ce's face darken, she realized that it was a bit unfair of her to flaunt her happiness in front of him, so she gave an awkward smile.

"I have good news for you," she said, changing the subject.

"What good news?" Gu Ce put down the book in his hand.

"I've figured out a way to cure the poison in your body."

"What method?" Gu Ce was taken aback.

"Use a poison that counteracts the poison in your body to raise a red-striped toad, that is, use the toad's body to synthesize the antidote." Rong Yingluo had thought about this carefully on the way back and had basically determined that this method was feasible.

"I'll send someone to look for it tomorrow." Gu Ce's eyes suddenly lit up; there was finally hope.

This woman is a good match.

But the smile on his face immediately faded when he thought of that agreement.

As a grown man, he couldn't very well ask to come back; it would be too embarrassing.

But he didn't know what the lady's attitude was, or whether she had developed feelings for him as husband and wife.

Thinking of her fiancé and the scene of them embracing, it was impossible for her to develop feelings for him as a wife.

He wanted to ask, but couldn't bring himself to say it.

"Um... when you went back to your parents' home today, did you see your ex-fiancé?" Gu Ce still asked cheekily.