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

"Is it because she specially bought a family to serve her father and mother, or because she bought a mule cart so that her father and mother would no longer need to hire a cart when they go out, or her second brother would no longer need to hire a cart when he goes to the academy?"

It just so happens that Huan'er is going to the Prince's mansion tomorrow, so I think Second Brother should go and borrow a mule cart himself!

After Gao Yan finished speaking, he turned and left.

Gao Manting tugged at Zhou Shi's sleeve, pointing at his retreating figure and complaining, "Mother, look at Gao Yan..."

"What about him? He's absolutely right! Don't let that vixen Lu Ruyi sway you with a few words and make you her pawn! Now look what's happened, your brother is going to take the village's mule cart to the academy tomorrow, and there's not a single shelter in the way. Are you going to make him freeze to death!"

Zhou's finger was almost poking Gao Manting's forehead. Her face was gloomy as she looked towards the west wing: "You shut your mouth. I'll speak when we have dinner!"

Gao Manting knew that as long as her brother Gao Zhongbao was involved, her mother would definitely take it seriously, so she repeatedly assured her, "I know, I know. Mother, as long as I enter the Prince of Yan's mansion, I can whisper in her ear, and we won't have to be afraid of Lu Huan anymore!"

"When the time comes, if my brother wants to enter the Imperial Academy in Yanjing, it will be a matter of just a word from the Prince!"

Zhou was filled with joy as she imagined the wonderful future Gao Manting had described. However, her dream didn't last long.

"What! She's not coming out for dinner? Manting only said a few unpleasant things, and she's giving us the cold shoulder!"

Despite Zhou's angry glare, Gao Yan said expressionlessly, "Mother, Huan'er is indeed feeling unwell and is already lying down."

Zhou's eyes darted around: "Since she's not feeling well, hand over the invitation and have Manting go to the Prince's Mansion in her place tomorrow!"

"But the invitation only has Huan'er's name on it. Even I can't go in with her, let alone Manting."

Aren't you afraid that with her temperament, she might offend someone important in the Prince's mansion!

"You!" Gao Manting pointed at Gao Yan's nose, almost wanting to rush up and hit him.

Gao Yan's expression, as if to say "I hit the nail on the head," made Zhou Shi feel even more embarrassed.

She had to soften her tone and gently persuade him, "Manting didn't go in just for fun. Zhongbao has always wanted to enter the academy, but he hasn't been able to pass the exam. Your wife has connections with the Prince of Yan's mansion, yet she didn't even try to get a spot for Zhongbao. It's clear her heart isn't with the Gao family."

"Ayan, you're the one we raised, and you and Zhongbao are like brothers. Don't be foolish and help Lu Huan deceive us. Only if Zhongbao passes the imperial examination can our Gao family truly change its fortunes!"

Gao Yan lowered his head, afraid that they would see the disdain in his eyes. When had they ever called him by his name so intimately?

However, he did not intend to cause trouble for Lu Huan, but emphasized in a low voice: "But... the guard who delivered the message said that he only invited Huan'er."

"Oh dear! This stubborn man!" Zhou Shi regretted not treating Gao Yan better back then, otherwise Lu Huan would never have escaped their grasp!

Gao Zhongbao did not expect that Zhou had such intentions, but he did not want to bow down to Gao Yan.

"Mother! I don't like resorting to such underhanded methods! I can get into the prefectural school through my own efforts!"

Lu Ruyi was delighted and advised, "What's so great about the prefectural school in Yanjing? Most of the best academies in our dynasty are in the south. Husband, instead of wasting your time trying to get into the prefectural school in Yanjing, you should try to get into the Imperial Academy or the prefectural school in Jinling!"

Zhou glared at her coldly and scolded, "Jinling, Jinling, do I look like Jinling?"

Speaking of Jinling, Zhou was reminded of the old hag who used to ride on her head, and her sister-in-law who was always at odds with her.

If it weren't for the fact that Zhou's family held minor official positions and Gao Shangzhi himself had a disability, she would probably have been divorced and sent back to her family long ago. How could she be like this now, lording it over everyone in the Gao family, with Gao Shangzhi not daring to utter a single complaint?

Gao Zhongbao took these words to heart. But the family's money was all in his mother's hands, and unless absolutely necessary, or if it involved his own future, he was afraid his mother wouldn't let go.

Everyone ate with their own thoughts on the meal. No one noticed that Gao Yan had taken a lot of meat and vegetables.

The ingredients for the Gao family are all purchased by He Niang at Lu Huan's expense, so eating less of them would be considered a bargain for outsiders.

After the elderly couple finished eating, Gao Yan also slipped away. As he passed by the chimney of the west wing, he didn't forget to stuff a few large pieces of firewood inside, which he had bought from the foot of Yanshan Mountain on his way back from buying the mule cart yesterday.

In the past, he would never have been willing to spend those copper coins, but his wife was right: he now had quite a few people under his command, and he could use his time to teach the villagers how to make charcoal, instead of wasting it on something that anyone could do, like chopping wood.

He dashed into the house like a whirlwind and informed Lu Huan.

Lu Huan felt a gust of cold wind rush in: "Hiss—it's so cold! Don't come any closer, go warm up over there!"

Gao Yan walked to the heated kang with a wronged expression and complained softly, "Wife, if you're afraid of the cold, you can sleep on this heated kang. It's very warm!"

Lu Huan winked at the backyard: "Did they go back?"

"They've gone back! Don't worry, they won't come in!"

Lu Huan hurriedly jumped off the bed, ran to the heated kang (a traditional heated brick bed) and sat down, feeling the warmth beneath her.

Her face lit up with joy: "Ayan, why don't we clean up the heated kang and sleep on it?"

"It's all up to you!"

Gao Yan thought to himself, "It's just getting up in the middle of the night to add charcoal, it's not a big deal. As long as it's good for my wife's health, I'd get up ten times!"

The couple busied themselves for a while, moving all the bedding from the bed onto the heated kang (a traditional heated brick bed).

Lu Huan burrowed deeper into the covers and sighed happily, "It's so warm!"

Gao Yan hadn't changed his clothes yet, so he didn't dare sit next to Lu Huan. Instead, he moved a stool over and sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), recounting what had just happened.

"Ha, I knew the Zhou family had this in mind!"

Lu Huan was somewhat surprised by Lu Ruyi's words; she had started making her move so early!

What probably worries her most is Lu Huan's frequent interactions with the Prince of Yan's residence! After all, Lu Ruyi also knows that the Prince of Yan will ascend the throne in the future.

Neither the Lu family nor the Li family managed to establish a connection with the Prince of Yan's mansion, but Lu Huan succeeded. How could she not be wary of him?

I'm afraid she'll try everything she can to persuade the Gao and Lu families to go to Jinling together.

Persuading the Gao family was relatively easy; as long as the Zhou family still cared about Gao Zhongbao's future, they wouldn't refuse. But the Lu family was a different story…

Lu Huan fell into deep thought for a moment, and Gao Yan did not disturb him. Instead, he quietly withdrew to fetch water to wash up.

In the backyard, as soon as Lu Ruyi returned to her room, she climbed onto Gao Zhongbao's waist.

His fingers repeatedly touched and flicked Gao Zhongbao's Adam's apple, arousing a burning desire within him.

"You little devil who's going to kill me!"

“Giggle, giggle—” Lu Ruyi let out a string of silvery laughter and whispered in his ear, “Brother Zhongbao, you’ve been gone for ten days. The thought of being separated from you for so long makes my heart feel empty.”

Gao Zhongbao supported the little figure behind him and walked towards the bed.

"I will now fill your heart!"