Reflections

Upon hearing this, Fu Yunkai's expression turned serious.

He nodded. "Okay, I will."

When Zhao Rurui drugged Zhao Ruyu and got into the bridal sedan chair, she was wearing a bright red wedding dress and had a red veil over her head.

In the rush, Fu Yunlang didn't even have time to lift the veil to see—he never expected someone would switch the veil with a fake.

He knew that concubines were not allowed to wear bright red. Thinking of how Zhao Ruyu had been wronged to marry him as a concubine, he couldn't bear to suggest that she change her clothes.

Fortunately, he brought only trusted confidants, so he secretly had Zhao Rurui taken to the side gate of the Marquis of Pingnan's Residence by carriage, and then put a black cloak over her wedding dress and veil before sending her directly into the courtyard he had prepared for Zhao Ruyu.

Zhao Ruyu had previously written to him, telling him that Fushu was unwilling to become someone's concubine. She would set her free and bring another maid into the mansion.

So the maidservant accompanying the bride wasn't Fushu, Fu Yunlang didn't pay much attention to it at the time.

After returning home, he spent a long time with his wife Cen Peirou, whom he had married a month earlier, coaxing her to sleep before finally returning to his courtyard.

Back in the courtyard, Zhao Rurui's maid berated him, saying how wronged the young lady was to become his concubine and to enter the mansion in such a way. She forced him to drink a cup of nuptial wine with Zhao Rurui before she would let him lift his veil.

After drinking a glass of wine Fu Yunlang lost consciousness before he could even see the bride's face clearly.

When he woke up the next day, he found himself lying naked in the same bed with Zhao Rurui. He immediately started making a scene, wanting to send Zhao Rurui away. Lady He, who knew the truth, was also very angry that her son hadn't taken the girl she liked as a concubine, and she also clamored to send Zhao Rurui back to the Zhao Family.

It was Mu Qingqiang who informed Fu Yunkai, who was still at home. Fu Yunkai then summoned Fu Yunlang and gave him a severe scolding.

Although the Earl of Suiping's Residence was inferior to the Marquis of Pingnan's Residence in terms of both rank and power, it was an old and established noble family, which was incomparable to the newly noble family like the Marquis of Pingnan's Residence.

Although the second branch of the Zhao Family has separated from the Earl of Suiping's Residence, Zhao Rurui is still the Earl of Suiping's niece. Now, Fu Yunlang has slept with someone else's niece and doesn't even acknowledge her, and even wants to kick her out. What kind of logic is that? Not only will the Earl of Suiping's Residence not allow it, but the Marquis of Pingnan's Residence's behavior will surely incur the wrath of the old noble families. Even the Emperor will have to reprimand the Marquis of Pingnan's Residence if he finds out.

So in the end, Fu Yunlang reluctantly kept Zhao Rurui.

It's extremely unfair to keep people here but then mistreat them.

"What do you think Fourth Miss Zhao is thinking? I've heard of sisters marrying into wealthy families to become wives; but this is the first time I've heard of sisters marrying into families to become concubines." Fu Yunkai still couldn't understand what Zhao Rurui was thinking when this matter was brought up.

Why are Zhao Rurui, Zhao Ruyu, and Zhao Ruxi, all daughters of the Zhao Family, so different?

He could understand if she married a prince as a concubine. After all, she would be on the imperial register, and her children would be royal offspring. But he couldn't understand why she would compete to become Fu Yunkai 'Fu Yunlang concubine.

Is his younger brother really that outstanding?

Mu Qingqiang smiled, "Who knows?"

Actually, she could guess Zhao Rurui's thoughts.

Given Zhao Rurui's circumstances, marrying into a powerful and wealthy family would be impossible. She would have to marry either a merchant or a scholar or a graduate. Although she wouldn't have to worry about food and clothing, she would be reduced to a commoner, and neither she nor her children would be able to squeeze into the circle of nobles.

This is something many noble ladies cannot tolerate.

If she married an ordinary man, it would be fine if he treated her well. But in this world, unless you can't afford to feed yourself and support so many people, it's extremely difficult to prevent a man from taking concubines.

In the end, her social status was reduced to the point where she had to kneel and bow to her former sisters and their children. She toiled away managing the household and had to fight with concubines and their children. What was the point?

It would be better to marry a nobleman's son as a concubine. Although the children born out of wedlock would be nobles, they would still be of noble birth. If they were lucky enough to marry into a good family, they could also enjoy a period of glory.

However, there's no need to tell Fu Yunkai about these things.

Zhao Ruxi had no energy to pay attention to the matters that concerned the women in the inner quarters. As the end of the year drew closer, all her attention was focused on the current political situation.

Although she didn't have Xiao Lingyan's intelligence system, she had her own cheat system, which was better than anyone else's and didn't cost much—speaking of which, she was extremely grateful for her previous stinginess.

All her past battles of wits and bargaining with the system laid a solid foundation for today's situation; she also returned to the capital from Nanyang in time, saving the system energy. Otherwise, with so much information to look up now, she really couldn't afford the expensive information fees.

During this time, she had the system thoroughly investigate the situation of the Crown Prince, the Second Prince, the Third Prince, and the Fourth Prince. Then she summoned Xiao Lingyan Xiao Lingyan and told him about their plans and schemes.

Xiao Lingyan was alarmed upon hearing this.

The situation described by Zhao Ruxi perfectly matched the intelligence that he had painstakingly gathered from his subordinates. However, there were many more details that his subordinates couldn't obtain.

Even though he had already experienced the power of Zhao Ruxi's system firsthand, he couldn't help but feel fortunate that he and Zhao Ruxi were friends, not enemies, and that such a useful system could actually be used by their side.

"You mean, Zhao Ruyu also has something like this?" he asked.

Zhao Ruxi nodded.

"Then how did she end up as someone's concubine?" Xiao Lingyan couldn't understand it at all.

With such amazing abilities, what can't they do?

Putting aside everything else, all she had to do was have the system find out the exam questions before the imperial examination, and then participate in the exam.

Even if one cannot pass the imperial examination, passing the county-level examination or the provincial-level examination is still not a problem.

Zhao Ruxi, being a top student with exceptionally high intelligence, disdained such methods. But Zhao Ruyu could certainly use them. Having a cheat-like advantage is also a form of strength.

Having achieved academic success, even if one didn't aspire to officialdom, was a significant asset in marriage—marrying a woman who had passed the imperial examinations was a source of vanity for many men. Their children were intelligent, and their upbringing was far superior to that of an illiterate woman. Such women were incredibly easy to marry.

But Zhao Ruyu chose the most unbelievable path to take.

Zhao Ruxi smiled, "Don't forget she was reborn. She probably wants to use the prophet to get herself into the position of Consort of Prince of Jingping."

Xiao Lingyan: "..."

Well, this kind of reliance on others to stand up is something they will never understand.

After a brief chat, Zhao Ruxi steered the conversation back to the main topic. "The situation could change at any time. Keep in touch these next few days, and I'll let you know as soon as there's any news."

This smooth communication wasn't achieved through phone calls or anything like that; rather, it meant that Xiao Lingyan's subordinates were always on standby by Zhao Ruxi's side, ensuring that any news she had could be promptly relayed to Xiao Lingyan.

"Okay." Xiao Lingyan nodded.