After being reborn, her aloof ex-husband and her crazy deceased husband got into a fight.

Wei Yulan was always decisive and efficient. Three days later, she had gathered a lot of useful information for Gan Cai'er.

"There are twelve academies in Danzhou Prefecture. Among them, three have a good reputation, great fame, and are presided over by great scholars. They are Luming Academy, Qinchuan Academy, and Wenyuan Pavilion."

"Of these three, Luming Academy is the strongest. The current headmaster is the former Grand Tutor Ouyang Shu. It is said that in the last provincial examination, Luming Academy produced 35 successful candidates, which caused a sensation in Danzhou and even alarmed the Imperial Academy in the capital."

"Qinchuan Academy and Wenyuan Pavilion are not bad either. These two places are good at teaching and educating people and are extremely strict in their academic studies. I heard that once you enter the academy, even if you are a crooked tree, they can straighten you up. They have an excellent reputation. There are also several prestigious Confucian scholars there. In the last provincial examination, many of them passed the provincial examination."

"And there's more..."

"Then let's go to Luming Academy!"

Before Wei Yulan could finish reading the letter, Gan Cai'er interrupted her. Wei Yulan silently put down the letter.

"My dear, do you know how difficult it is to get into Luming Academy? Countless people try their hardest but still can't even get past the gate, and even many scholars have been turned away." Wei Yulan said helplessly, "How about we look at some other options?"

“No, if we’re going to go, we’ll go to the best.” Gan Cai’er said firmly.

Wei Yulan sighed heavily. Once it came to the Lanting Boat incident, Gan Cai'er became as stubborn as an ox, impossible to sway. Oh well, let her be.

It would be great to get into Luming Academy, but it's not necessarily a bad thing if you can't.

Wei Yulan rummaged through the letters, then pulled one out and continued reading: "There are four conditions for entering Luming Academy. First, one must pass the county examination to obtain the qualification of a student; second, one must be recommended by a scholar who has passed the imperial examination; third, one must pass the academy's examination to be admitted; and fourth, one must pay a tuition fee of two hundred taels of silver per year."

Gan Cai'er was confident in Lan Tingzhou's talent, and money wasn't an issue, but the person who recommended him... she frowned slightly. She'd searched the entire town of Qingshui, but hadn't heard of any family producing a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations). Where was she supposed to find such a person?

But then her brow relaxed. If not in Qingshui Town, she'd look elsewhere. Where there's a will, there's a way; she refused to believe she couldn't find them!

Wei Yulan watched Gan Cai'er sitting to the side, sometimes frowning, sometimes grinning foolishly, and couldn't help but shake her head. Sigh, this silly child, she's truly caught in a love triangle called "Lanting Boat." Now she can only hope that the Lan family lad is a true gentleman.

Wei Yulan took out two new outfits from the closet. She unfolded the clothes, compared them to Gan Cai'er, and then nodded in satisfaction.

Gan Cai'er looked closely and saw two light, thin silk dresses, the skirts embroidered with hundreds of butterflies in gold and silver thread. They were extremely thin, extremely sheer, and extremely beautiful. She looked at Wei Yulan, puzzled.

"The son-in-law looks like he's destined to attract unwanted romantic attention," Wei Yulan scoffed, talking to herself. "Men only give up on other ideas when they're completely drained."

Gan Cai'er instantly understood the purpose of the clothes, and her face suddenly turned bright red!

She couldn't help but recall the secret techniques Wei Yulan had taught her in her previous life, and the effects of implementing those techniques... Gan Cai'er suddenly felt her face burning hot.

"Mother, no need, really no need," Gan Cai'er hurriedly declined.

"Tsk, tsk, why are you blushing? We've been married for half a year, how come you're even more shy than when you were a young girl?" Wei Yulan said with a look of disgust.

After saying that, she forcefully stuffed the silk garment into Gan Cai'er's hands.

"Let me tell you, if you want to keep a man, you have to take the initiative and not be shy. If you don't hold on tight, won't you end up doing all the work for someone else?"

"Mother, he is a gentleman, not that kind of person." Gan Cai'er blushed, both anxious and ashamed.

"Ha, your mother has seen more men than pigs. There isn't a single man in the world who doesn't stray, unless he's too stingy," Wei Yulan sneered.

Gan Cai'er choked and was speechless. Despite being a wife in two lifetimes and having given birth to two children each time, she was still speechless after being choked by Wei Yulan's bold and vulgar remarks.

Her stepmother really dares to say anything!

"Then let Mother use it herself."

After Gan Cai'er finished speaking, she threw the silk dress to Wei Yulan like a hot potato, then picked up the stack of letters and fled in panic.

"You child, you never listen to your elders, now you're paying the price!" Wei Yulan scolded angrily, holding the clothes.

No matter how much she cursed, Gan Cai'er had already run far away. She turned her head and angrily shoved the clothes into Xiao Hong's hands, who was also preparing to run away.

"Put the clothes away and wait for the right time to let Nannan wear them."

Xiao Hong's eyes darted around a couple of times, she smiled and agreed, then picked up her clothes and chased after Gan Cai'er.

Back at Moyi Courtyard, Gan Cai'er read the letter over and over again, but still had no idea what to do, and couldn't help but feel a little discouraged.

“Miss, instead of pondering these complicated matters on your own, you might as well ask the young master,” Xiao Hong said.

Gan Cai'er's eyes lit up. Yes, if she couldn't think of a solution, Lan Tingzhou, being such a smart person, must have a way!

"Xiao Hong, tell the kitchen to make squirrel-shaped mandarin fish and steamed lion's head meatballs tonight."

"Okay, I'll go right away," Little Red replied crisply.

Squirrel-shaped mandarin fish and steamed lion's head meatballs are Lan Tingzhou's two favorite dishes. Despite his aloof appearance, he has a sweet tooth and can't live without meat.

Xiao Hong didn't go directly to the kitchen, but went to the study first.

She said to Mo Yan, who was guarding outside the study, "Tell the young master that Madam had the kitchen prepare squirrel-shaped mandarin fish and steamed lion's head meatballs today."

Whenever Gan Cai'er had the kitchen prepare Lan Tingzhou's favorite dishes, she would invite him to dinner on his behalf—this was an unspoken agreement between the two. As for what happened after dinner... that was something their personal maids and servants tacitly understood.

Mo Yan instantly understood: "Don't worry, sister, I will definitely convey the message to the young master."

Dinner had just been served at Mo Yi Courtyard when Lan Tingzhou returned as dusk began to fall. Gan Cai'er was slightly surprised; how come she remembered having to be repeatedly invited before this person would deign to return to the courtyard?

After washing his face and hands, Lan Tingzhou sat down, looking at the table full of dishes, but did not touch his chopsticks.

"Today is the tenth of the month," Lan Tingzhou suddenly said.

Gan Cai'er was taken aback, looking at him blankly. What's wrong with the tenth of the month? Does that mean we don't need to eat on the tenth?

Staring at Lan Tingzhou's stern face, Gan Cai'er suddenly realized something, and her face instantly burned.

"Nothing else was added to the dish! Really, nothing." Gan Cai'er waved her hands repeatedly, almost patting her chest to guarantee it.

Lan Tingzhou glanced at her indifferently, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, then picked up his chopsticks and took out his favorite lion's head meatball.

"Don't worry, it won't happen again," Gan Cai'er said softly, moving her lips slightly.

Lan Tingzhou paused, looked up at her again, but ultimately said nothing and silently ate his meal.

Gan Cai'er thought that since they would still be husband and wife for a while, it was better to talk things out.

So she pursed her lips and said sincerely, "It was all my fault for forcing you to marry me and making you do so many things you didn't like. I was too immature before."

"I've thought it through these past few days. You can't force matters of the heart. Don't worry, I promise I won't bother you anymore."

Lan Tingzhou put down his chopsticks.

"Just tell me what you want to say."

Lan Tingzhou remained calm, seemingly not believing her words at all. This left Gan Cai'er feeling utterly defeated.

Well, it's hard to change his mind so quickly. After all, I've been shamelessly pestering him for seven years. It's hard to believe he'd change his mind so suddenly.

Gan Cai'er poked at the rice in her bowl and said dejectedly, "I've heard that Luming Academy is very good. Do you want to give it a try?"

"Luming Academy?" Lan Tingzhou was genuinely surprised this time.

Which student in Danzhou hasn't heard of the famous Luming Academy! Being admitted to Luming Academy is like having one foot already in the ranks of the successful candidates in the imperial examinations.

"Didn't you not want me to leave Qingshui Town?"

"Didn't I already say that I've figured it out?"

Gan Cai'er pouted and took out two letters, placing them on the table. Lan Tingzhou picked them up and read them. The letters contained an introduction to Luming Academy, an overview of its activities over the past ten years, and the admission requirements.

Just then, Xiaohong suddenly walked in carrying clothes.

"Miss, which of these two new clothes will you wear tonight?" she asked, picking up the clothes in her hand and shaking them.

The two silk garments unfolded in the twilight, light and airy, like smoke and mist...

Lan Tingzhou's gaze towards Gan Cai'er suddenly became deep and unfathomable.

"No, no, I didn't!" Gan Cai'er jumped up instantly, explaining in a panic, "This, this dress isn't mine, it's my mother's, really."

Gan Cai'er was on the verge of tears. Just a moment ago she was vowing not to bother him, and the next moment she had put her silk dress in front of him...

Lan Tingzhou didn't speak, just stared at her quietly until she blushed and felt extremely ashamed and indignant.

Seeing that things were not going well, Xiao Hong threw her clothes on the chair next to the table and ran away.

Lan Tingzhou picked up a piece of silk clothing and held it between her fingertips.

"Let's go with this plain one."

Lan Tingzhou's gaze was deep, with a flickering dark fire in his eyes, making Gan Cai'er's heart skip a beat. She snatched the silk robe from him and turned to go into the room.

What are you going to wear! She's not Gan Cai'er from her past life! She doesn't naively think that as long as she tries to seduce him and please him, she can win even a little bit of his affection.

She gritted her teeth and angrily threw the clothes into the closet.

Watching Gan Cai'er run into the house, Lan Tingzhou lowered his eyes and rubbed his fingertips together.

Well, she really stopped using drugs and switched to seduction.

When I have time, I'll teach her the "Women's Script" and "Women's Virtues" again.

We can't keep indulging her without restraint.

Let's give in to her for now, so she won't start crying and making a fuss again later.

Gan Tingzhou took a step and slowly walked towards the bedroom.