After being sentenced to death, she came to her senses.

The family banquet ended without any incident, having gathered almost everyone from the Marquis's residence. However, Shang Lingzhu still didn't give them face and did not attend.

But the Marquis's family seemed to have gotten used to it and didn't care.

At the banquet, Gu Yuming repeatedly targeted Gu Yuqing, but he did not gain any advantage.

Gu Yuqing was not the type to accept things passively. Even with the old Marquis present, he retorted without holding back, even angering the Marquis to the point of outrage. If Fang Xiaoran hadn't intervened, the father and son would probably have had a huge fight.

Fang Xiaoran had never known that Gu Yuqing had this side to him before. Although he was sharp-tongued, he rarely persisted like this.

After the family dinner, everyone dispersed. Gu Yuming wanted to challenge Fang Xiaoran to a duel, but Gu Yuqing abruptly called him away, making Gu Yuming grind his teeth in anger.

Fortunately, Gu Yuming was busy with affairs in the camp and was often away from home, so not much trouble arose.

Gu Yuming already had his own residence, but since he was not married, he did not move out. It is said that the marriage between him and Wei Mingyue fell through, which makes sense. If the Gu family were to form another marriage alliance with the Rongguo Duke's Mansion, their power would be quite terrifying.

However, although this matter did not come to fruition, the Duke of Rongguo turned his attention to Xie Changge.

Aside from Gu Yuming, the newly appointed Marquis, Xie Changge is a true prodigy, someone worthy of entrusting his daughter to.

The Liu family was furious about this. They had been planning to form a marriage alliance with the Xie family, but they never expected that the Duke of Rong would suddenly appear. No matter how powerful the Liu family was, how could they compare to the Duke of Rong? As long as the Duke of Rong was willing to swallow his pride and ask for an imperial decree to grant them a marriage, the marriage would definitely be arranged.

Therefore, the Liu family was in a very awkward position, but there was nothing they could do. It was true that they favored Xie Changge, but the problem was that the two families were not engaged, and it was obvious that Xie Changge had no interest in Liu Ruyan. Even after several attempts to bring them together, Xie Changge did not make any move.

As for the Xie family, they turned a blind eye to the matter. After all, the Liu family had been clinging to Consort Ning, but now that Consort Ning had lost power, no one who wasn't stupid would want to form a marriage alliance with the Liu family. Now, the Liu family had gone from being highly sought after to being despised by everyone, and no one wanted to mention their daughter.

This made Liu Ruyan extremely resentful, believing that Fang Xiaoran was responsible for everything, and her resentment towards Fang Xiaoran increased again.

"The Gu family has been enjoying immense prestige lately, and the princess is probably benefiting from it as well. It's said that some countesses have specifically invited her to their recent tea parties, and everyone treats her as the leader, showering her with compliments," the maid whispered.

Upon hearing this, Liu Ruyan's already unpleasant expression turned even more gloomy. She suddenly gripped the teacup tightly, and the scalding tea splashed onto the Xiang embroidery skirt, spreading a dark patch.

“Miss, please calm down…” The personal maid hurriedly knelt down. “But these things have nothing to do with Fang Xiaoran. That Second Young Master Gu is not favored and will not be able to inherit the title in the future. At most, he will have some money, which is incomparable to yours.”

Liu Ruyan sneered, "Fang Xiaoran is used to being self-righteous. So what if there are two marquises in the family? As long as they are not promoted to dukes, it means that His Majesty is wary of the marquis's mansion. And she has no backing. Sooner or later she will be driven out of the marquis's mansion. I heard that she is very close to the second madam. Isn't it because she saw that the first madam lost power that she is trying to curry favor with her? She is clearly not Gu Yuqing's biological mother, but she knows how to play the game."

“Young Master Gu must be angry, but after all, he is a nobody in the Marquis’s mansion and his voice carries little weight, otherwise…”

"Her words carry little weight?" Liu Ruyan's eyes turned cold, glancing at the maid with an icy gaze that startled the maid, who quickly corrected herself, "No, it's that I'm not valued..."

"It's alright, I won't let her get away with this. Go do something for me, and make sure you do it properly." Liu Ruyan beckoned to the maid with a cold face, and the maid immediately knelt down and leaned in to listen.

Gradually, the maid's expression grew increasingly grim, and she said with some difficulty, "But, will she do as I say?"

“She’s smarter than you,” Liu Ruyan smiled.

The marriage alliance between the Wei and Xie families was initially just a rumor, but unexpectedly, Emperor Zhao personally bestowed the marriage upon them, making the matter a reality. This shows that the Wei family was very satisfied with Xie Changge. However, this approach was too hasty, and it always felt like the Wei family had ulterior motives.

While Fang Xiaoran was puzzled, Wei Mingyue came to Qingxin Residence in person that day.

When Ziju told Fang Xiaoran about this, Fang Xiaoran was shocked. "Wei Mingyue? Who is she looking for? Gu Yuqing?"

Although the matter between Wei Mingyue and Gu Yuqing was just a rumor, there's no smoke without fire. However, based on her understanding of Wei Mingyue, she shouldn't have come to find her so openly.

“She said she had urgent business to attend to and needed to see you,” Ziju said truthfully.

"See me." Fang Xiaoran frowned slightly, puzzled, but still went to meet me.

At this moment, Wei Mingyue was in the front hall, her face slightly worried, and her carefree and unrestrained demeanor had disappeared.

When Fang Xiaoran stepped into the front hall, Wei Mingyue was staring blankly at the teacup, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the rim of the cup, unaware that the tea had gone cold.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up abruptly and saw Fang Xiaoran approaching. She immediately stood up, took a few steps to Fang Xiaoran, and said anxiously, "Come with me!"

"What is it?" Fang Xiaoran asked.

She wants me to go with her right away; I need a proper reason.

"My father's condition has worsened, and even the imperial physicians are helpless. I had no choice but to come to you." Wei Mingyue's voice trembled slightly, and it was clear that she was trying her best to suppress her emotions.

This magnificent red steed was helpless because her loved one was seriously ill. Her fingers were trembling, and her former glory was completely gone, which made Fang Xiaoran feel a little sorry.

"Okay, I'll go with you. Wait a moment, I'll go prepare the medicine kit."

Fang Xiaoran did not hesitate and agreed. After preparing the medicine kit, she set off with her.

The Rongguo Duke's Mansion was located south of Zhuque Street, not far from the Marquis's Mansion. However, along the way, Wei Mingyue rode her horse at full speed, and the hooves of the Fiery Cloud Red Steed were almost kicking sparks, indicating that the situation was more urgent than she had described.

Upon arriving at the Duke's mansion, Wei Mingyue led Fang Xiaoran directly to the Duke's sickbed. As Wei Mingyue had said, the Duke was extremely ill, lying on the brocade quilt with a pale face, his breathing so weak that it was almost imperceptible.

With just one glance, Fang Xiaoran knew that the Duke of Rong was already at his last gasp.

The people in the room made way for Fang Xiaoran, and even stepped back to give her enough space for the Duke to receive treatment. Soon, only she and Wei Mingyue remained.

Fang Xiaoran began to diagnose the Duke of Rongguo. She discovered that the Duke of Rongguo was not poisoned or for any other reason, but rather suffered from a hidden danger left by an old injury from many years ago. As his health deteriorated, those chronic ailments in his body also fully erupted.

This disease is beyond the cure of even a god.

Fang Xiaoran lightly touched the pulse at the cunkou point on the wrist of the Duke of Rongguo. The pulse at the bottom of his wrist was like a flickering candle, sometimes as weak as a wisp of silk, sometimes as heavy as a falling stone. She looked at the old man on the bed, who was as withered as a rake. His bony figure was wrapped in brocade quilts. His heroic spirit, which once dominated the battlefield, had long been eaten away by illness.

"How is it?" Wei Mingyue asked nervously, her voice hoarse, her hands clenched white in her sleeves.

"The Duke's illness..." Fang Xiaoran's throat tightened, and she shook her head slightly, "is already a chronic disease that cannot be cured."

"What about the Divine Energy Pill?" Wei Mingyue asked anxiously. "I heard that this thing is extremely good, with the ability to prolong life. Even it can't save Father?"

Fang Xiaoran's eyes showed a hint of helplessness as she sighed softly, "The Duke's long-standing illness has flared up again, damaging his foundation. His frail body can hardly withstand the torment of the medicine. If you care about him, please let him suffer less." Fang Xiaoran lowered her eyelashes, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the copper clasp on the edge of the medicine box.

Wei Mingyue swayed as if she had been struck in the chest, and staggered to her feet before she could steady herself by grabbing the bedpost.

“How could this be… Father has always been in good health, he has never even been seriously ill, how could this happen…” Wei Mingyue’s eyes reddened, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

At this moment, a pale hand suddenly reached out and tightly grasped Wei Mingyue's wrist. The voice was hoarse like the rubbing of withered leaves, "Yue'er, I know my body best. Don't worry about me anymore."

“Father…” Wei Mingyue collapsed to the bedside, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably. “Your daughter can’t bear to part with you, she can’t bear to part with you.”

The Duke and his wife had a son late in life, and they doted on this daughter. The Duke had spent his life on the battlefield and was not afraid of death, but the only thing he could not let go of was this daughter.

"Everyone dies eventually. Your father is old and can no longer protect you. From now on, you'll have to rely on yourself. The Xie family isn't a good place to go, but His Majesty has promised that anyone who marries the daughter of the Duke of Rong will inherit the title..."

Upon hearing this, Wei Mingyue looked up in despair, “So, you’re in such a hurry to marry me off because you can’t let go of your daughter.”

"If they were alive, how could the Wei and Xie families have formed a marriage alliance..."

Upon hearing this, Fang Xiaoran silently left the room and helped close the door.