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

The back-and-forth shifting of responsibility between the two sides is undoubtedly rubbing salt into Gao Zhongbao's wounds.

That previous defense now seems increasingly weak.

He squeezed his eyes shut and, amidst their back-and-forth exchange, interjected, "Mother-in-law! Mother, the purpose of our visit today is not to investigate who spread the rumor in the first place!"

Using retreat as a means of advancement is a tactic not only employed by the Lu family, but also by Gao Zhongbao.

He took a piece of paper out of his pocket and placed it on the coffee table next to him.

"Previously, Madam Lu had committed one of the seven grounds for divorce: verbal offenses and disrespect for her mother-in-law. At the time, some elders in the clan advised her, and I also believed that since no one is inherently culpable, Madam Lu should be given a chance."

But this time she caused such a big disaster, bringing such great rumors and slander to the Gao family and me.

The Gao family probably won't tolerate her anymore!

Zhou looked at him in surprise. She hadn't mentioned this last night!

Lu Ruyi stared intently at the paper on the coffee table, as if she could set it ablaze with her gaze.

Lu Huan picked up her teacup, using the act of drinking tea to conceal the sarcasm on her lips.

At this time, Gao Zhongbao was still too inexperienced.

In other words, Li and Lu Ruyi were caught off guard at this moment. Otherwise, if they had been given more time to react, they would have discovered the loopholes in Gao Zhongbao's words.

Lu Ruyi couldn't understand where things had gone wrong, or why the seemingly favorable situation had turned out this way.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lu Huan sitting calmly in a chair on the other side of the flower hall, sipping tea with an air of nonchalance.

The shame she felt from being rescued in her previous life washed over her again.

"Lu Huan! What are you doing here?"

Lu Huan's eyelashes fluttered slightly, a smile playing on her lips. She placed the teacup back on the coffee table, making a soft, crisp sound.

"Why can't I, as the eldest daughter-in-law of the Gao family, or the eldest aunt of the Lu family, be here?"

Lu Ruyi didn't know how to refute for a moment, but she wanted to say something, so she just made a meaningless hum.

Lu Huan continued, "The female tutor that Li found for me said, 'Women have four roles.'"

However, her younger sister-in-law did not meet the moral standards expected of a woman in terms of virtue or speech.

So what your uncle said makes perfect sense, and you really shouldn't have done that!

"You!" Lu Ruyi never expected that the rules her mother used to restrain Lu Huan would one day be applied to her.

What she found even more unacceptable was that Gao Zhongbao actually nodded slightly and looked at Lu Huan with an approving gaze.

Was she really wrong? She just didn't want to be someone else's plaything again, like in her previous life!

She also longs for an imperial title, why is it so difficult!

Was it wrong from the very beginning?

"My dear in-laws! I, Lu, am late! I deserve to be punished!"

At that moment, Lu Chengde's strong voice came from outside the flower hall.

He was dressed in a dark blue brocade robe, which made his face glow even more. He walked with a vigorous stride, suggesting that good things had been happening to him recently.

Lu Huan nodded, concealing the cold smile on his lips.

Gao Yan and Gao Zhongbao stood up at the same time, cupped their hands and said, "Greetings, Father-in-law!"

Like a wounded little animal, Lu Ruyi ran towards Lu Chengde, "Dad! If you had come any later, I would have been bullied to death!"

Lu Chengde's smile froze almost imperceptibly as he slowly pulled his sleeve back. "What nonsense are you spouting about life and death! Don't you know you're breaking a taboo!"

He looked towards one side of the flower hall, "Huan'er is back too!"

Lu Huan stood up and performed a half-squatting salute, "Father!"

"Good, good, good!" Lu Chengde smiled again, thinking of the money the grain shop had recently earned.

He completely ignored Lu Ruyi and cupped his hands in greeting to Gao Shangzhi: "Father-in-law and mother-in-law, why didn't you inform me beforehand that you were coming? I'm sorry to have kept you waiting!"

Gao Shangzhi's smile was somewhat awkward; even if he was slow to notice, he could tell from the subtle rebuke in his words.

"It was we who were impolite."

Zhou stood up, picked up a piece of paper from the coffee table, and handed it to Lu Chengde.

“My dear in-laws, I won’t beat around the bush. We’ve come here today for two reasons: first, to issue the divorce papers, and second, to explain the reasons for divorcing my wife.”

Lu Chengde simply said "Oh" and took the light piece of paper.

He walked to the seat on the left, turned around and sat down. "You all sit down too! I need to see what's written on it!"

Everyone thought about it and realized that this made sense.

Lu Huan winked at Gao Yan and sat down first.

Lu Ruyi stood alone in the middle of the flower hall and noticed that everyone had sat down. She stomped her foot.

She didn't take Lu Chengde's perfunctory attitude to heart at all, and walked towards Lu Chengde again.

As he passed by Lu Huan, he even let out a cold snort.

"Father, what's so interesting! My brother Zhongbao wants to divorce me! You must stand up for me!"

In Lu Ruyi's heart, Lu Chengde was still the father who doted on her, but little did she know that times had changed and circumstances were beyond her control.

Lu Chengde ignored her and continued to unfold the paper in his hand.

After glancing through it, Lu Chengde chuckled softly.

The next moment, he tore the letter of divorce into four pieces in a few quick movements.

Gao Zhongbao's hand, hidden under his sleeve, clenched into a fist. "Father-in-law, why are you doing this?"

This unexpected turn of events put a huge weight off Lu Ruyi's mind.

She glanced smugly at Gao Zhongbao, then her gaze fell on Lu Huan's indifferent face. She knew it; her father would definitely back her up!

Lu Chengde did not explain his behavior, but instead asked, "Besides a small estate, the Gao family shouldn't have much money left, right?"

Zhou asked, her voice stern but her tone weak, "What do you mean?"

"It wasn't anything special, I just overheard an old friend telling me some interesting stories about the city."

Lu Chengde was secretly relieved, for he had been keeping a watchful eye on Li Shi ever since he began to suspect her.

Otherwise, under normal circumstances, he would have been completely clueless and would have believed whatever those two women said.

He beckoned to the servant by the door, who brought over a charcoal brazier that was burning brightly.

Lu Chengde threw the letter of divorce inside and asked, "Bianzhi, although you passed the county-level examination, you were among the last few in the rankings. You certainly won't pass the provincial-level examination this year."

Three years passed in the blink of an eye. Three years after three years, have you ever considered whether the Gao family's current wealth can support you to take the provincial examination a few more times?

Do you really expect my eldest daughter to support your whole family and even pay for your imperial examinations after you divorce Ruyi?

Or are you saying the Gao family will sell their last estate to fund your gambling spree?

Gao Zhongbao clenched his fists tightly. It was as if if he relaxed even slightly, his whole body would tremble uncontrollably.

It turns out that all my efforts these past few days were just a joke.

From the very beginning, he only had one choice.

Gao Zhongbao's previous confidence gradually turned to ashes. He became completely dejected.

Lu Ruyi felt a pang of pity and whispered, "Father, please don't treat Brother Zhongbao like this!"

"I'll talk about your matter later!" Lu Chengde's face darkened.

But when he looked at Lu Huan, he smiled again, "Huan'er, since you're here, don't rush back. Stay for lunch!"

“Okay!” Lu Huan replied sweetly.