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

Gan Cai'er took the exquisite invitation and couldn't help but feel strange.

She had known Aunt Zhao for quite some time, but the latter had never sent her an invitation. Usually, when Aunt Zhao wanted to cause her trouble, she would send someone to leave a message for her at Jinxiufang.

The formality and caution she felt now made her slightly uneasy, fearing that the other party's request was not small.

It's probably not an easy task.

The next morning, she took the invitation and went to visit.

Soon, she was led to Tingzhu Courtyard by a maid.

"I heard you went back to town a few days ago?" As soon as Aunt Zhao saw her, she went up to her and took her hand affectionately.

"Yes, that's right. We're going to Kyoto, so I went home to pack some things. I heard things are expensive in Kyoto, so I naturally wanted to bring everything I could," Gan Cai'er replied with a smile.

"Why are you going to all this trouble?" Aunt Zhao said with a smile.

"It would take almost a month to get from here to Kyoto by carriage, and half a month by boat. Aren't you afraid of getting tired carrying so much stuff? You've even made tofu worth the price of meat!"

“Ah Cai, if you are really short of money, I have some here. You can take it and use it first.”

Gan Cai'er's heart skipped a beat, and she became even more wary.

She smiled, but politely declined, saying, "Thank you so much for your kindness, Auntie."

"However, the boxes and trunks in my house are not filled with everyday items, but mostly with all kinds of books that my husband has accumulated over the years. Many of them are rare copies. He traded his paintings for quite a few of them, so we had to bring them along."

"As for the rest, I didn't bring much. I don't even know if he can pass the exam. If he fails, he'll only stay in Kyoto for half a year. I'm not going to bother with that."

Gan Cai'er spoke and laughed at the same time, making her refusal seem less abrupt.

“Ah Cai, I’m going to give you money, just take it. I’m not giving it to you for nothing.”

Aunt Zhao shut her down with a single sentence.

When Gan Cai'er heard that she really had something to ask for, she became very attentive.

“Aunt, if you need anything from me, just ask. As long as I can help, I will not refuse.”

"Oh, I love your straightforward personality!" Aunt Zhao slapped the table and laughed sweetly.

"Actually, it's nothing major, but I'll need your help to take someone to Kyoto for me."

Gan Cai'er felt relieved when she heard Zhao Jiao'er's request. It really wasn't a big deal; it was just giving someone a ride along the way.

She was just curious about who this person was.

"So, who does Auntie want me to take to Kyoto?" Gan Cai'er asked with a smile.

"It's Ke'er."

"Ah?!" Gan Cai'er was genuinely surprised. "Is the Eighth Prince going to the capital?"

"He's going to Kyoto, aren't you going with him? He's only six years old!"

The smile on Zhao Jiao'er's face suddenly vanished.

She clutched the silk handkerchief in her hand tightly, and said angrily, "How could I not want to go with you? It's just that I've begged the master many times, but he says I'm a concubine and can't leave the mansion!"

"Why would the Eighth Young Master go to the capital at such a young age? Besides, won't Lord Du send someone to escort him?"

"Alas, this is a long story," Aunt Zhao sighed softly.

"Last year, Lord Lu from the Hanlin Academy came to stay at our house for a while. He took a great liking to Ke'er and Lao Jiu. In his delight, he took them as his apprentices, saying that when they were about seven years old, they could go to the capital to find him."

"A few days ago, the master said that the two of them were about the same age, and since the weather was not too cold yet, he wanted to send them to the capital to study under Lord Lu."

"Lord Du has made arrangements, isn't that good?"

Gan Cai'er didn't understand why Aunt Zhao would come to him if Du Zhong had already made arrangements.

“Ninth son Du Xuan is the legitimate son.” Aunt Zhao suddenly said something completely out of the blue.

Gan Cai'er was somewhat bewildered. What about the legitimate son?

These two are going to the capital to study under a master, not to inherit the Du family fortune. What's the difference between legitimate and illegitimate sons?

"Sigh, let this old servant explain," said Granny Huang at the opportune moment.

She picked up the teapot, personally refilled Gan Cai'er's cup of tea, and then slowly said, "Madam Lan, your household has a small population, so naturally you don't know how insidious the methods used in the inner quarters can be."

Gan Cai'er lowered her eyes silently and didn't say anything.

"My concubine is beautiful and has a charming personality, so she has won the master's favor. She comes to the courtyard four or five times a month. This arouses the jealousy of the first wife, who sees her as a thorn in her side and always tries to make things difficult for my concubine."

"Some people love everything about the house because of its inhabitants, while others hate everything about the house because of its inhabitants. Under the madam's instructions, the Eighth Young Master is not well-liked in the mansion. When the master is away, even the servants in the mansion bully him."

"The people chosen to escort the two young masters to the capital this time were all carefully selected by the First Madam."

"The Eighth Young Master is still a child, Madam Lan. How can my aunt not worry about him?"

Gan Cai'er sighed inwardly. This secluded mansion was nothing short of a bloodless battlefield, filled with conspiracies and schemes.

"Then the concubine can also arrange for some people she trusts to accompany her; I don't think Lord Du will object."

“Madam Lan is absolutely right. This old servant will accompany the Eighth Young Master to the capital this time.” Granny Huang nodded with a smile.

"However, there are always those who steal for a thousand years, not those who guard against thieves for a thousand years. Rather than being on guard all the time, it is better to stay away from places of trouble."

"Knowing that Madam and Young Master will also be going to the capital soon, I thought it would be better for Eighth Young Master to go with you. I absolutely trust the two of you."

After hearing what Granny Huang said, Gan Cai'er finally understood the crux of the matter. In the end, it was because Zhao Jiao'er didn't trust the people in the Du family and was afraid that they would harm Du Ke along the way.

Gan Cai'er understands Zhao Jiao'er's feelings very well because she was also a mother.

Therefore, when Zhao Jiao'er handed over the silver note, she did not refuse it again, but when she saw the amount, she cried out.

Two thousand taels of gold?!

"Auntie, this is too much!"

One tael of gold is worth ten taels of silver, so two thousand taels of gold is equivalent to twenty thousand taels of silver! This is indeed too much, especially considering that a child is traveling with them.

"How is this too much?" Zhao Jiao'er said reproachfully, stuffing the silver notes into Gan Cai'er's hand.

"Ah Cai, don't worry about keeping it. I can afford this little bit of money. It's good to carry extra cash when you're on the road, even if you're poor."

"However, if Young Master Ruolan has some free time on the road and can give Ke'er some pointers, that would be even better."

So this price also includes tuition for Lan Tingzhou to be Du Ke's teacher? Oh, then it's not expensive. In his past life, Lan Tingzhou was a Grand Tutor! Many people came to his door with gold bars, crying and begging to become his students.

Gan Cai'er accepted the silver note with peace of mind.

For the sake of two thousand taels of gold, she patted her chest and assured Zhao Jiao'er.

"Don't worry, Auntie, I will definitely get the Eighth Prince to the capital safely."

At that moment, Gan Cai'er had no idea that her promise was not only worth a fortune, but would also change the future of the Great Yong Dynasty.