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

Before, she couldn't see because of the veil, but now that she could see clearly, Lu Ruyi couldn't help but feel a little disgusted. However, with many elders present, she dared not act rashly.

She could only follow Gao Zhongbao around like a wronged wife, awkwardly and shyly.

This behavior was observed by Granny Gu, which further solidified her intuition.

She asked in a deep voice, "Huan'er, what are you thinking?"

What are you thinking? Lu Huan doesn't want to marry anyone; she just wants to live independently as a single woman!

But these words were too unorthodox, and the Prince's Mansion would never support her.

At the end of the previous dynasty, uprisings broke out in various places, resulting in countless deaths and injuries.

In order to rapidly increase the population, Emperor Taizu once issued an imperial edict to lower the marriage age, and even widows were encouraged to remarry, let alone unmarried young ladies like Lu Huan!

The reason why the marriage was delayed until the age of seventeen was entirely because Zhou was worried that getting married too early would distract Gao Zhongbao, so she kept delaying it.

However, there is one exception.

In the south, aristocratic families, influenced by traditional Confucian ethics, would petition the government to have a memorial arch erected to commemorate a widow if she did not wish to remarry or if her clan did not allow her to do so.

From now on, whether a widow changes her mind and wants to remarry, or if she is seduced by an outsider, she will be punished by her clan and the law, and her crime will be the same as deceiving the king.

Therefore, ordinary people dare not easily provoke such widows, otherwise, if trouble arises, at best the whole family will be confiscated and exiled, at worst three generations will be wiped out.

Although Lu Huan liked this way of life, he also felt that letting Gao Zhongbao die so early was too easy for him!

In his previous life, he used the crystal cores in the space to enhance his spiritual power, which made his studies progress rapidly. He also took advantage of the promise that the Prince of Yan owed to the Cheng family to avoid the suppression of the head of the Eastern Depot and smoothly entered the officialdom.

Aside from his stagnant official position, Gao Zhongbao's life was quite prosperous thanks to Lu Huan's help in managing things within the space, and the Gao family never lacked money again.

Gao Manting's sister-in-law, thanks to the rare treasures she acquired through the interdimensional trading system, filled the thirty-two dowry chests to the brim. Their abundance rivaled even the dowry Cheng left for Lu Huan.

You should know that the Cheng family used to be one of the top merchants in Yanjing!

Lu Huan was eager to see if Gao Zhongbao could pass the imperial examination again, just like in his previous life, without the help of the spatial dimension.

Will Lu Ruyi regret her decision to marry into the Gao family despite not becoming the wife of an official, even if it meant risking the reputation of coveting her brother-in-law?

However, Gao Manting did not have the title of "sister of a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination)" and did not have a generous dowry. Would she still be able to find a suitable husband as she wished?

Lu Huan didn't realize that in her mind, the major premise of "marrying Gao Zhongbao" was no longer there.

Just as she was sorting out her thoughts, the small door next to the Gao family's woodshed creaked open, and a young man dressed in a dark brown linen shirt walked in, his head almost touching the door frame.

Before entering the courtyard, he saw the villagers leaning against the wall, but he just assumed they were watching the commotion and didn't think much of it.

But then they discovered that there were only about twenty people in the entire courtyard.

Ten of them stood in front of the courtyard gate, looking menacing, while the rest sat on both sides, seemingly in a standoff.

Gao Shangzhi frowned. How could he have forgotten about that brat Gao Yan!

She couldn't help but vent her resentment on him: "Hurry up and go back inside after you've finished chopping firewood! Today is Zhongbao's big day, don't embarrass yourself outside!"

From the time Gao Zhongbao could remember, Gao Shangzhi had treated Gao Yan this way, and he didn't think there was anything wrong with it.

Lu Huan's eyes lit up.

She remembered this Gao Yan; he was Gao Zhongbao's adopted brother.

The Gao couple had been married for ten years but had never had children. They had consulted doctors in the neighboring village many times, but none of them could find anything seriously wrong.

Later, following the advice of the village elders, she had a son and gave birth to Gao Zhongbao, and later Gao Manting.

Other families treat their adopted sons, who have shown them kindness, very well, unlike the Gao family, who treat them like servants, ordering them around at will.

In her previous life, Lu Huan was somewhat puzzled when she first married into the Gao family. Later, due to natural disasters and fleeing, one thing after another happened, and she never thought about this matter again.

By the time she remembered, Gao Yan had already gone out hunting and never returned.

At the time, everyone in the village said he was likely dead and had died somewhere. Until his death, Lu Huan never returned to the Gao family home.

Seeing his deceased "brother-in-law" again now, Lu Huan felt a surge of joy.

Isn't this the person she's been looking for?

With less than two months until winter, and in her previous life, when she fled, it was more than three months later. She could use this time to get pregnant.

If the father leaves and the son stays, and a memorial arch for chastity is brought back, who would dare to risk beheading to force her?

Perhaps her gaze was too intense, for Gao Yan placed the firewood he had carried back by the door and was about to turn around and go back to his room when he subconsciously glanced in Lu Huan's direction.

I was stunned for a moment when I saw it.

Gao Yan had never seen such a beautiful girl before, not even in Yanjing City.

His face suddenly felt like it had been frostbitten in the dead of winter and then immediately moved into a warm room, burning hot and itchy.

Following Lu Huan's gaze, Gao Zhongbao looked towards the woodshed. Seeing Gao Yan's expression, he understood perfectly well, being a man himself.

"Hurry up and go inside! This is so embarrassing!"

Lu Huan pretended not to hear Gao Zhongbao's words and asked, "Who is this gentleman?"

Gao Shangzhi looked a little embarrassed and secretly glanced at Zhou Shi. Seeing that she didn't seem inclined to answer, and thinking that Lu Huan would find out when she married in, he didn't try to hide it.

“This is Zhongbao’s adopted brother, Gao Yan.”

Lu Huan bowed to Granny Gu and slowly dropped a bombshell.

"I want to marry him!"

"no!"

"Who?" Several voices rang out at the same time.

Lu Ruyi thought Lu Huan was determined to marry Gao Zhongbao and tried to stop her; the rest of the question was who this "he" was referring to.

"Huan'er, who is this 'he' you're talking about?" Granny Gu asked the question that was on most people's minds.

Lu Ruyi was also a little uncertain. If Lu Huan didn't marry Gao Zhongbao, would she really be willing to go to the Li family?

Before Lu Ruyi could even feel happy, Lu Huan said, "When my mother and Aunt Gao got engaged, it was a son of the Gao family. It could be Gao Zhongbao, or it could be Gao Yan."

Gao Yan had already walked halfway into the woodshed when he heard his name called, and his whole body stiffened.

What did he hear? That woman, like a mountain spirit, said she wanted to marry him!

He turned around in disbelief, only to meet Lu Huan's smiling gaze, and the burning sensation on his face returned instantly.

Granny Gu was somewhat surprised, not expecting this young girl to propose such a solution. Just as she was about to confirm it again, she saw Gao Zhongbao's eyes widen.

"Lu Huan, what did you say?"

“I said I want to marry Gao Yan. According to the rules of etiquette, the eldest brother should get married first, and then it will be the younger brother’s turn.”

That's generally true, but unfortunately, the Gao family never treated Gao Yan as a member of their family; they only used him as a free servant!

Gao Shangzhi was unsure of what to do, so he habitually looked at Zhou Shi, only to see that her face was flushed with an abnormal flush.