I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 319: Cherish the fragrance and cherish the jade
The Duke of Wei's Mansion, ancestral hall.

Tang Zhao searched for a long time among the numerous memorial tablets before finally finding Song Qingning's tablet in a corner.

Tang Zhao disdained to disturb the deceased's memorial tablet, and instead went to a corner to respectfully kneel down and kowtow three times before Song Qingning's memorial tablet.

"Madam Song, I have finally avenged you and the original owner of this body. I hope you don't think it's too late."

“I will bring your memorial tablet back to the General’s Mansion, so that it can be worshipped together with the Song family in all four seasons, with incense burning continuously.”

Wu Bingsan brought over a brazier, paper money, and incense, then left the ancestral hall and silently stood guard to the side.

Tang Zhao knelt on the prayer mat and threw the paper money into the brazier one by one until it was all burned before leaving.

Wu Jia reported, "The son-in-law went to the prison to pick you up. When Tang Zheng saw the son-in-law, he shouted and insisted on speaking to him alone. The son-in-law agreed."

"Let him say it," Tang Zhao said dismissively. "Have someone watch him, and send Tang Zheng on his way immediately after he finishes speaking."

"Yes!"

Inside the prison, Gu Ci stood with his hands behind his back. "I wonder what the Duke has to say?"

Tang Zheng said, enunciating each word clearly, "Tang Zhao is not Tang Zhao; it is a vengeful ghost that appeared out of nowhere and possessed Tang Zhao!"

"In broad daylight, the Duke is talking nonsense?"

"Whether it's sleep talking or not, you know better than I do," Tang Zheng looked into Gu Ci's eyes. "You must have investigated Tang Zhao. You know better than I do what kind of person she used to be."

Gu Ci was silent.

"Tang Zhao is still Tang Zhao, but her personality is completely different. What other explanation is there besides being possessed by a vengeful ghost?"

Tang Zheng softened his tone, "Do you know why I banished her to the farm?"

Gu Ci looked up.

"When Tang Zhao was born, a passing Taoist master predicted his fate. The master said that Tang Zhao had weak family ties and bad marriage prospects, and even predicted that Tang Zhao would not live past the age of seventeen!"

"But she's alive and well now. Tell me, was the fortune teller wrong, or is Tang Zhao possessed by a demon or monster?"

Gu Ci sighed softly, "I overestimated you."

"The master's words of prophecy are hidden inside the ancestral hall of the Duke of Wei's mansion. If you don't believe me, go and check it yourself!"

Ignoring Tang Zheng's words, Gu Ci continued, "I thought you still had some conscience as a father and wanted to see me to tell me to treat Zhaozhao well. I overestimated you."

Tang Zheng sneered, "That ghost has harmed my Duke of Wei's mansion so much, why should I still talk about father-son relations with her?"

"It was the Duke himself who brought about the current predicament of the Duke of Wei's mansion, not Zhaozhao."

Gu Ci glared at him and said, "If the Duke hadn't been so greedy for power and neglected his duties as a husband and father, and had no sense of propriety or shame, how could he have ended up like this?"

"Zhao Zhao was merely seeking revenge for herself and her mother's family, yet the Duke labeled her a demon and monster. What should we call that Duke, who is utterly immoral, untrustworthy, impolite, righteous, and heartless? Is he worse than a beast?"

Tang Zheng was furious, "You!"

"Your Excellency, there is no need to waste your efforts. Even if Zhaozhao were a living person, or even if she were a ghost or a demon, my heart would not waver for a moment."

Tang Zheng took a step back, "You!"

"I have come to see the Duke to thank him for sending Zhaozhao's birth date and time to Huguo Temple. No matter what your purpose is, it is because of you that I was able to marry Zhaozhao."

Tang Zheng deflated, "You already know."

“Strangulation is too humiliating for a general who has fought on the battlefield,” Gu Ci said, drawing his short sword and throwing it on the ground. “If the Duke still has any sense of duty as a military officer, then he should end his own life.”

Tang Zheng slowly picked up the dagger from the ground and muttered, "You want me to commit suicide? Don't even think about it!"

As he spoke, he raised his knife and swiftly stabbed at Gu Ci.

Gu Ci grabbed Tang Zheng's wrist with one hand, twisted his arm, and plunged the tip of the knife into Tang Zheng's heart.

Tang Zheng breathed his last, unwilling to accept his fate.

Gu Ci didn't want to look at Tang Zheng again. He stepped over Tang Zheng and left the prison. He went to the Duke of Wei's mansion but found it empty. He then rushed back to the Prince's mansion.

As soon as Gu Ci entered Bi Dan Courtyard, he heard laughter and cheerful voices coming from inside. "Miss is being unfair, she deliberately fed the cards to Dongmei, but I want some too."

"Alright, alright, here's your six of bamboo!"

"Hehe, it's a burnt mess, thank you girl!"

Then came a series of splashing sounds.

Gu Ci knew that Tang Zhao had come up with something interesting again, smiled slightly, and stepped into the house.

"My husband is back!" Tang Zhao, who was facing the door, saw Gu Ci at a glance. She put down her mahjong and went to the stove to scoop out a bowl of red date and yam soup and brought it to Gu Ci. "My husband, you've worked hard."

Seeing Tang Zhao's smiling face, Gu Ci knew she hadn't been bullied. He smiled, took the soup, and drank a sip, savoring the delicious taste.

Seeing that Gu Ci was in a good mood, Qiu Yu mustered up her courage and asked, "Young Master, this soup was made by the young lady herself. Is it delicious?"

Gu Ci was slightly surprised, then nodded, "It's delicious, even better than what Xia Mo made."

"Then my husband, drink more," Tang Zhao said, scooping a large spoonful of red dates and yam into the bowl before Gu Ci could finish drinking.

Gu Ci finished his meal in a few big bites, and his empty stomach immediately felt much better.

Tang Zhao invited, "Lunch will be a while later. If you have nothing else to do, my husband, why don't you join us for a game of mahjong?"

Mahjong? Gu Ci glanced at the square wooden tiles on the table. This new thing is called mahjong?

Tang Zhao pulled Gu Ci to sit down, explained the rules to him, and then played three rounds with the cards face up. After Gu Ci understood, they started playing the game officially.

Tang Zhao played a card, "Three of a Kind!"

"Eat!" Gu Ci exclaimed, his mouth watering.

Tang Zhao played another card, "Sixty thousand!"

"Bang!" Gu Ci was blinded.

Tang Zhao played another card, "Red Center!"

"I've won!" Gu Ci pushed the card away.

"Girl!" Chunfeng couldn't stand it anymore. "You're feeding the cards way too blatantly!"

As Qiu Yu counted the money, she said, "That's right, even favoring a son-in-law shouldn't be done this way."

Tang Zhao swore to the heavens, "I really didn't."

Granny Song sat to the side, watching with a smile as she sewed clothes.

Perhaps it was because the newbie aura was too strong, for the next half hour, apart from Tang Zhao occasionally winning a hand, Gu Ci won every hand.

All three suits—Thirteen Orphans, Four Happinesses, Seven Pairs, and Three Dragons—were played once.

Tang Zhao touched the empty money box, refusing to play anymore.

Qiu Yu and Chun Feng breathed a sigh of relief and made an excuse to clean up the food before running off.

Granny Song followed her down to get to work.

Tang Zhao lay on the mahjong table, secretly reaching out to take the coins Gu Ci had won.

Gu Ci chuckled softly and pushed the coins toward Tang Zhao, "They're all yours!"

Tang Zhao blushed slightly, "It was originally mine!"

The money that Chunfeng Qiuyu received was also lent to them by her!
"Yes," Gu Ci said softly, "The money is yours, and so am I."

Tang Zhao looked away. "I don't want you. You're tall, you eat a lot, and you don't even know how to be gentle with women."

Gu Ci suddenly bent down and picked Tang Zhao up in his arms, carrying her all the way to the dining hall before putting her down. "Is this what you call showing tenderness to a beautiful woman?"

Tang Zhao laughed and hit him with chopsticks.

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