She got pregnant after the swap marriage, and the scumbag's family regretted it so much they cr

He couldn't help but recall the jokes made by those hooligans before, and the thirty-two loads of dowry that the Lu family had sent, piled high with gifts.

There are eight land deeds for the land alone, not to mention enough money for the Lu family to live on for a lifetime.

The set of ebony furniture alone in the new house is worth at least eight thousand taels of silver.

One daughter is only so many. If you marry two wives at the same time, wouldn't you be able to live on gold and silver for the rest of your life?

Moreover, Lu Ruyi's mother is the current mistress of the Lu family, so her dowry will likely be even more lavish.

Thinking of this, Gao Zhongbao's legs went weak with excitement, and he tentatively said, "I really can't bear to see my sister Ruyi die."

Perhaps I should inform my father-in-law later that I should take Ruyi as my second wife, so that both of you sisters can stay.

There's a reason for this. The eldest daughter of the Lu family is understanding, and you sisters have always been close; you should understand my actions!

Is this just self-praise?

Lu Huan was almost amused by Gao Zhongbao's shamelessness.

They want to enjoy the blessings of having multiple wives openly and legitimately, and they can even come up with so many high-sounding reasons.

They wanted both sides, but pushed the trouble onto the Lu family to handle.

There was no mention what would happen to the Li family if both Lu Huan and her sister married into the Gao family, or whether he, a mere scholar, could handle the situation!

Gao Zhongbao, you have truly opened my eyes!

Just as Lu Huan was about to make a sarcastic remark, he heard orderly footsteps behind him.

She was so angry with Gao Zhongbao that she completely forgot that she had only come to stall for time, and that Granny Gu would arrive shortly after.

The villagers who had been following Lu Huan to watch the commotion scurried away faster than rabbits when they saw the well-organized guards of the Prince's Palace.

However, they did not go far. Instead, they climbed over the wall of Gao Zhongbao's house and continued to watch the excitement from there.

The Gao clan chief also looked at the carriage that had just come to a stop.

The carriage's canopy reflected a soft light in the sunlight, and the palace lanterns at the four corners of the carriage made a crisp tinkling sound as the carriage came to a stop. Even the curtains were made of luxurious fabrics that he had never seen in the cloth shop.

What important person has arrived this time!

The clan chief gave Gao Zhongbao a wink and then walked out first.

Gao Zhongbao was about to follow when Lu Ruyi hugged him tightly, and the softness on the outside of her arms made him feel restless.

"Brother Zhongbao, shall we go together?"

The sweet, cloying voice melted his heart, leaving Gao Zhongbao momentarily stunned, completely forgetting where he was.

Lu Huan glanced at it quickly, cursed inwardly as a "lustful bastard," and went to meet him.

"Granny Gu, you've finally arrived! If you'd been any later, I would have been bullied to death!"

Gao Zhongbao and Lu Ruyi walked out hand in hand, and that's what they heard. The intimacy and coquettishness in her tone made Gao Zhongbao think about it more deeply.

Gu is the imperial surname.

Although the imperial court did not force ordinary people to change their surnames, there was only one person in Yanjing who could be called Granny Gu.

That was Granny Gu from the Prince of Yan's residence!

Gao Zhongbao was filled with regret. Why had he been so greedy for that little bit of dowry money and said something so stupid as to suggest taking a second wife?

If he could climb into the Yan Prince's household, what would that little bit of silver be! What would the small Lu family be! He could walk sideways throughout the entire capital city of Yan!

Gao Zhongbao's eyes were full of determination as he looked at Lu Huan: Lu Huan could only belong to him, Gao Zhongbao!

However, he didn't lose his temper again and repeat the same mistake. He broke free from Lu Ruyi's embrace and followed the clan chief and elders.

Granny Gu, supported by two young maids, stepped down from the carriage. She carefully examined Lu Huan's face, noticing the smile in her eyes and the absence of any obsequiousness or mercenary attitude, and nodded in satisfaction.

Although the princess asked her to step in and support this young girl, Granny Gu also had her own ideas.

You have to see it with your own eyes before you can make a decision.

The two maids serving Granny Gu were quite displeased to see everyone staring at them.

One of the maids winked at the captain of the guards beside her.

The latter immediately took out his waist badge and shouted, "I am the captain of the guards of the Prince of Yan's mansion. This lady is a sixth-rank female official personally appointed by His Majesty. You all must not bow!"

The old clan chief and several elders were quite old, and they were so frightened that they immediately knelt down on the ground.

Upon seeing this, the villagers behind them all knelt down in a rush, and even those who had climbed up the wall jumped down and obediently knelt on the ground.

Those standing there, besides the people from the Prince's Mansion and Lu Huan, were only Gao Zhongbao.

He had originally been secretly thinking: I don't even have to kneel before the county magistrate, so why should I, a mere female official...

The head guard quickly shattered his illusions: "Scholar Gao, this is not a courtroom. Are you trying to be disrespectful to the palace ladies?"

"Don't dare!"

Gao Zhongbao immediately knelt down, his lowered face filled with resentment.

Lu Huan, you have humiliated me so much! So what if you have the marriage certificate in your hand! If you anger the Gao family, we have plenty of ways to torture you!

Lu Huan was about to kneel down when Granny Gu grabbed her arm and said, "Good child, get up. Tell me, what's going on?"

The captain of the guards shouted, "Get up, all of you!"

Granny Gu's tone was very gentle, and her smile was warm, which made Lu Huan feel dazed for a moment.

For some reason, she thought of her deceased mother. Her nose tingled, and tears streamed down her face.

"Granny, the young master of the Gao family said he wants to take Lu Ruyi as a concubine!"

Granny Gu sneered, "I've only ever heard of such things as elevating a principal wife or taking a concubine in merchant families. I've heard that the Gao family are scholars and farmers, not merchants. How could they act so absurdly!"

This also included Lu Chengde in the insults, but Lu Huan did not intend to refute it.

Upon hearing this, the Gao family members all blushed.

Three generations ago, the Gao family were indeed merchants. Later, they accumulated a considerable fortune and then became private households.

However, there were also restrictions; only after three generations, up to Gao Zhongbao's generation, could one participate in the imperial examinations.

Gao Zhongbao's father and grandfather could not engage in business, nor could they take the imperial examinations, let alone work in the fields like ordinary farmers.

He only knew how to indulge in pleasure, and his family fortune was quickly squandered. Now, he desperately needs his daughter-in-law's dowry to supplement the family income.

Gao Zhongbao's father, Gao Shangzhi, was no different from Lu Huan's memory; he still had that same honest, sullen, and lifeless look when facing Granny Gu.

Gao Zhongbao gritted his teeth and tried to soften his tone: "Granny Gu, there's a reason for this, it's a last resort. Do you really want to send Sister Ruyi to her death?"

Despite Gao Zhongbao's veiled accusations, Granny Gu didn't take them seriously at all.

With the royal family and the Prince of Yan's mansion behind her, no amount of gossip could shake her or the Prince of Yan's mansion's position.

She looked around and asked the Gao clan chief with a smile, "Are we going to discuss this outside?"

"You're right!"

Chief Gao quickly gave his son a look, and the unrelated people were driven out.

Even so, many villagers still peered over the wall. Granny Gu remained silent, and Chief Gao dared not flaunt his power in her presence.

Five or six tables were set up in the courtyard. Because of the long delay, a thin layer of white oil had already formed on the surface of the meat dishes.

It looks very fatty, but in this rural area where oil is scarce, it is the most popular dish among the villagers.