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

"Please be seated, everyone!"

In an instant, Gao Shangzhi felt as if he were being led to the execution ground. Even though he was unwilling, he still walked to the very center.

Zhou reluctantly walked in: "Hurry up! After you finish the prayers, I'll go to the backyard and keep an eye on those people, just in case any of them are up to no good..."

"Enough! Zhou, are you questioning the character of the matriarch of the Gao clan? Say one more word, and don't blame me for disrespecting Zhongbao. The ancestral hall is open today; do you want to go in and kneel as punishment?"

Making someone kneel in the ancestral hall as punishment is a very serious offense. If he were actually punished, Zhongbao would never be able to hold his head up high in the village again.

How could Zhou let her precious son suffer like this? Her eyes widened and her eyebrows shot up: "I bore children for Gao Shangzhi, why should I..."

Gao Shangzhi tugged at Zhou's sleeve, stopping her from saying anything more offensive.

"Alright, stop arguing!" he said ingratiatingly to the clan chief. "Clan chief, I've spoiled Zhou Shi, please don't take it to heart!"

Chief Gao snorted coldly: "You should stand up for yourself. It's not right for a dignified head of a family to be so spineless!"

He truly felt sorry for the Gao family ancestors, how could they have married such a wretched daughter-in-law as Zhou?

Lu Huan was also puzzled as to why her mother would arrange such a marriage for her.

She was just a child back then, and her mother passed away before she could finish explaining everything except for the secret arrangements her grandfather had made her memorize.

Granny Gu stood next to Madam Zhou and coughed lightly. Madam Zhou's legs went weak and she sat down on the armchair with a thud.

"The bride and groom perform the wedding ceremony!"

"Worship heaven and earth!"

"Two thanks to the high hall!"

"Couple greetings!"

Gao Yan felt like a puppet being sold at the market, being led to a wedding ceremony and being arranged to perform the rituals.

But when he looked up again and saw Lu Huan, who had looked up before him and was looking at him with a smile, his cheeks flushed red again.

However, it wasn't particularly noticeable against the backdrop of the wedding attire.

"Please invite the newlyweds to the ancestral hall to offer sacrifices to our ancestors!"

Today's events have finally come to a close.

Lu Huan walked to Granny Gu's side, took her hand, and stuffed the prepared purse into her hand.

Originally, they only wanted to invite a big Buddha statue to put on a good show, but they didn't expect that Granny Gu would be so cooperative and take the initiative to sing and drink.

Previously, when Lu Ruyi was getting married, the person who chanted and drank was just the matchmaker.

The difference in social status is immediately apparent when comparing the two.

The silver notes originally intended to thank Granny Gu were no longer appropriate.

She immediately found a pair of dark black pearls in her spatial storage. They weren't as large as the princess's pair of northern pearls, but they were roughly the same size and the dark black color was the rarest available at the time. They could easily fetch several hundred taels of silver at the Treasure Pavilion outside.

It would be perfect to give it to Granny Gu.

"Thank you so much, Your Highness and Your Highness, and Granny Gu! Otherwise, I really... I'm afraid the only path left for me is to live a life of seclusion and devotion!"

“Lu... Huan’er, you still have me from now on.”

Gao Yan finally said those words, but unexpectedly, they made both women laugh.

Granny Gu flipped her wrist, tucking the purse into her sleeve, and placed her other hand over Lu Huan's: "You two should live a good life together from now on. Come visit this old woman at the Prince's mansion when you have time!"

Everyone present heard the following sentence, and its meaning was self-evident: After she leaves, don't even think about bullying Lu Huan, because Lu Huan has the protection of the Prince's Mansion!

Lu Huan's smile deepened. Thinking of what Lu Ruyi had done earlier, she took out a few more golden peanuts.

"I am deeply grateful to all the guards for making this trip today. Please have the nanny pass on this small amount of money for tea."

When I return to the city later, I'll trouble my elder brothers to go and inform the Lu family that I've married into the Gao family and they don't need to worry about me. Also, please have Madam Li send my two maids, Bizhu and Ziyao, over to me.”

Taking advantage of everyone's attention being focused on the several golden peanuts in her palm, Lu Huan added quietly, "If my father has a headache about how to explain things to the Li family, don't forget, the Lu family has more than two daughters, there's also Lu Jinxiu!"

This idea was wicked, but Granny Gu liked it.

"You! Go on!" She reached out and tapped Lu Huan's forehead, then glanced at Gao Yan without leaving a trace, and said nothing more.

Lu Huan took Gao Yan's hand, and no one started to make a fuss, afraid of angering Lu Huan and not being able to take them along when there were good opportunities to make money in the future.

They followed behind the clan leader and walked outside, with Lu Ruyi taking Gao Zhongbao's hand.

"Brother Zhongbao, let's follow!"

What's done is done; there's always tomorrow.

Gao Zhongbao did not break free; instead, he grasped her hand and followed her.

He felt a deep sense of unease: when did Gao Zhongbao fall behind Gao Yan?

Looking at Lu Huan's slender back ahead, his hands clenched involuntarily. It was all Lu Ruyi's fault for ruining his plans!

Lu Ruyi felt the strength in his hand and assumed it was Gao Zhongbao's affection, so she lowered her head shyly. She completely failed to see the coldness in his eyes.

Lu Huan's commotion delayed the ancestral worship ceremony by more than an hour. By the time they came out of the ancestral hall, the villagers were starving.

Fortunately, the aunties who came to help with the cooking today saw that the dishes on the table had gone cold, so they reheated them. Otherwise, if the villagers had eaten them, the joyous occasion would surely have turned into a disaster.

Under the direction of Granny Gu, the west wing was completely renovated before they even returned from the ancestral hall.

One room was set up as the bridal chamber, and the other was used to store the dowry. Two guards were also thoughtfully left behind to help Lu Huan guard the dowry.

She was so moved that she didn't know what to say. She then took out two two-tael silver ingots from her sleeve and stuffed them into Gao Yan's hand, saying, "Please thank my two elder brothers for me!"

Gao Yan remained calm when facing others.

He cupped his hands to the two guards and said very politely, "Thank you for your hard work, brothers. This is a token of our appreciation for your help. Please don't find it too much."

"No, no!"

The ordinary guards in the Prince's mansion received two taels of silver per month. It was only because they had a good relationship with their captain that such a lucrative post fell to them.

They couldn't help but stand even straighter, exuding an aura that "they could stand all night."

On the other side, in the new house in the backyard.

Looking at the once festive and prosperous new house, Zhou saw it restored to its previous dilapidated state, with no trace of joy left.

Even the dowry list was taken by Granny Gu and placed in the west wing.

The thought of carrying out so many heavy boxes from the warehouse, and wondering how many wonderful things were inside as part of the dowry, is truly agonizing.

Since Zhou had already lifted Lu Ruyi's veil, there was no need for the veil-lifting ceremony.

Her gaze pierced the culprit's face with malice as she asked, "When will your dowry be delivered?"

Lu Ruyi clenched the handkerchief in her hand, hiding half of her body behind Cuizhu: "Mother, Yuzhu has already gone back to report the news, so it should be soon."

The thought that her parents were on their way made Lu Ruyi feel less panicked. And with Granny Gu gone, there would be no one to support Lu Huan anymore.

When my parents arrive, they'll definitely teach Lu Huan a lesson!

Unexpectedly, the Lu couple happened to encounter the Prince's carriage on their way.

The prince's carriages were already spacious, and with the addition of the guards, they occupied most of the official road.

The coachman, with great foresight, stopped the carriage by the roadside.