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

Lu Huan took the book that Gao Yan handed her, saw the title on it, and nodded in agreement.

"By learning from the past, we can understand the rise and fall of dynasties. Reading more history books will also benefit you when you enter officialdom in the future."

"Didn't you used to envy Gao Zhongbao for being able to go to the academy? Now that this opportunity has been handed to you, why do you seem unhappy?"

Gao Yan snatched the book back, "Huan'er, why are you siding with my brother!"

Lu Huan pinched his cheek and said, "Alright! You don't want the kids to complain that you've read fewer books than they have in the future, do you?"

Gao Yan nodded subconsciously, then quickly realized what he meant.

"Huan'er, are you disgusted with me?"

As he spoke, he reached out and scratched Lu Huan's waist.

The two played around for a while until He Niang came over to clear the dishes, at which point they calmed down a bit.

In the backyard, Lu Ruyi glanced coldly at Yulan.

What did your man say?

Yulan shook her head. "The Du family has been keeping their doors closed to visitors for the past few days, and we haven't been able to get any information out of them!"

"How is that possible!" Lu Ruyi realized that her voice was a bit loud and subconsciously glanced in the direction of the inner room.

Fortunately, Gao Zhongbao didn't hear it. Or perhaps he did, but he didn't care.

Lu Ruyi pressed on, "Yesterday was Xin'er's third-day homecoming day, how could she have closed the door to guests?"

Yulan's expression was somewhat solemn.

“I don’t understand either. Logically speaking, a marriage between the Du and Chen families, bringing good fortune to both clans, should be a wonderful thing. But when Miss Chen returned home on her third day after her wedding, none of the three young masters of the Du family were by her side…”

"Really?" Lu Ruyi was surprised, but also a little gloating. "Back then, I was determined to marry Brother Zhongbao, but she looked down on me, thinking that Brother Zhongbao was just a poor, pedantic scholar. Humph, I don't think her life is going to be any easier!"

Just you wait! Once I'm in power…

She quickly changed the subject and asked, "What about the Li family? Um... any news about my older cousin?"

“No, not at all.” Yulan hesitated for a moment, then said, “It’s strange, the young master has been staying at home these past few days, and even when the magistrate sent him an invitation, he didn’t go out!”

Lu Ruyi frowned. "Has my cousin gone mad?! That's the Vice Prefect! In Yanjing City, besides the Prince and the Prefect, he has the most power."

He dares to be disrespectful to a high-ranking official who could destroy the Li family with a mere wave of his hand! I think my aunt has really spoiled him rotten!

Yulan didn't feel comfortable speaking about the Li family's private affairs. She simply kept her head down and didn't utter a single word.

Lu Ruyi chattered on for a while, but when she turned around, all she could see was Yulan's dark head, and she immediately felt a little bored.

"How's your man's investigation going with the carriage?"

"As Miss instructed, we have found horse merchants willing to cooperate. However, the price of the carriages ranges from tens to hundreds of taels; the price of the horses has no upper limit."

My husband is still undecided, so there hasn't been any progress yet.

Lu Ruyi glared at Yulan, "You came here to help me! You're so useless! Fine, fine, I'll go into the city myself tomorrow!"

After saying that, she twisted her waist and walked towards the main room.

After Lu Ruyi entered the house, Yulan dared to complain in a low voice, "You didn't even take out a single copper coin to buy a carriage! If you're so capable, why don't you carve one out of wood yourself!"

She glanced in the direction of the main house, then turned and went back to the room where the maids lived.

Four people lived in a small side room, a far cry from the life of the Lu family!

I shouldn't have believed Madam's nonsense in the first place and become Miss's trusted steward nanny!

What is this all about!

*

Having received the Prince of Yan's confirmation, Lu Huan did not delay and set off early the next day.

After Lu Ruyi finished her breakfast, she brought Yulan to the front yard.

"What? Lu Huan went out again?"

He Niang replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "That's right."

"When will you be back?"

"This...is not something a servant like me could know."

Lu Ruyi was about to lash out when Yulan gently tugged at her sleeve and shook her head slightly.

"Alright, Yulan, go out and hire a mule cart!"

Fortunately, the weather has warmed up, and it's not as cold outside as before.

On the other side, Lu Huan and the others were sitting by the roadside, each with a large bowl of wontons in front of them.

I don't know how these wontons are wrapped, but each one looks like a gold ingot, puffed up and covered with a thick layer.

It is garnished with finely chopped coriander, which is blanched in hot soup, making it even more fragrant.

Lu Huan scooped a spoonful of chili peppers from the table and added them to the soup. It was both fresh and spicy, and her stomach started rumbling in complaint.

She scooped up another spoonful, about to add it to her own bowl, when Gao Yan grabbed her wrist.

"Huan'er, don't forget you have a baby in your belly! You can't eat such spicy food!"

Lu Huan pouted, then flicked her wrist, adding a spoonful of chili directly into Gao Yan's bowl.

"You don't have a baby in your belly, so you can still eat!"

Gao Yan frowned, but ultimately said nothing. His thin lips, however, were burning red.

When Gu Chengbin saw the couple come in together, his gaze lingered on Gao Yan's lips for a long time.

"Ayan, did you get bitten on the face by a poisonous insect?"

He looked into the shadows and said, "Yiguang, hurry and fetch the imperial physician!"

"No need!" Gao Yan felt his face was hot, and he wasn't sure if it was because he had drunk too much spicy soup earlier. "I ate too much spicy food this morning, it's nothing!"

In the shadows, all was calm.

Lu Huan poured Gao Yan a pot of tea and then smiled at Gu Chengbin.

"Your Highness, what is your answer?"

Gao Yan held his teacup, not daring to blow on the tea, and listened intently to the conversation between the two.

Gu Chengbing abandoned his earlier familiarity with Gao Yan and put on a stern face. "Do you know that I could punish you for that question alone!"

"I know!" Lu Huan said casually, "but the fact that you didn't means you don't want to punish me!"

"Why?" Gu Chengbin's gaze remained fixed on Lu Huan's face, not moving an inch.

Gao Yan couldn't help but speak up, "Brother, you scared my wife!"

Gu Chengbing sneered, "Scare her? Your wife is incredibly bold!"

However, the atmosphere in the study was no longer as confrontational as before.

Lu Huan squeezed Gao Yan's hand, signaling him to calm down.

"Has Your Highness taken note of the reports from Jinling?"

"What a joke! If I wasn't paying attention, did you?"

Lu Huan didn't care about the sarcasm in Gu Chengbing's tone, and continued, "Yes, the Great Yue Dynasty has now produced ten vassal kings, and His Majesty has more than twenty sons."

Once the Crown Prince ascends the throne, he will certainly have more than just these few sons. When they come of age, they will all be enfeoffed as princes…”

"what do you want to say in the end?"

Lu Huan looked at Gu Chengbin, a smile playing at the corners of her eyes.

"What I'm trying to say is that the lineage continues endlessly, generation after generation. But how many emperors could tolerate their uncles and grandfathers occupying such crucial fiefdoms and keeping so many guards under their command?"

Is it possible to reduce the power of the feudal lords and withdraw their fiefdoms...?