Since marrying Zhenguo Gong, Zhenguo Gong Furen had lived a smooth and satisfying life for so many years that no one dared to slight her like this. Trembling with anger, she turned to Zhenguo Gong and said, "My lord, listen to these words. Rong Luoge clearly harbors resentment toward us. Back then, when I married into this household, I was just a young girl. How could I have known how to care for others? Besides, sending her to the manor wasn't my idea."
Zhenguo Gong slammed the table in fury and roared, "Apologize to your mother at once!"
Rong Luoge sneered coldly, "Although it's said that parents can do no wrong, with parents like you, I'd rather be an orphan."
"My lord, she's cursing us to die! How heartless must one be to say such things?" Zhenguo Gong Furen sobbed pitifully, clutching her handkerchief.
"You insolent wretch! It seems Prince Qi was right—you need to be taught proper manners…"
Rong Luoge's expression turned icy as she retorted, "Now that I am Prince Qi's consort, a member of the imperial family and a daughter-in-law of the royal house, who does Zhenguo Gong think he is to discipline? Are you daring to defy your superiors?"
Zhenguo Gong was stunned, staring at his daughter in disbelief. She seemed like a stranger—once timid and silent in his presence, yet now so sharp-tongued. Could it be that she had been pretending all along?
He couldn't believe he had misjudged her, a chill creeping into his heart. Recalling Dai'er's tearful complaints, he had initially found them hard to believe, but now he was convinced. If she hadn't been pretending, how could her temperament change so drastically overnight? All those years of enduring humiliation at the manor, returning to the mansion with a dull and wooden demeanor—it must have all been an act to secure the marriage with Prince Qi. And he had foolishly believed this daughter was meek enough to serve as a mere figurehead in the marriage, while Dai'er could become a concubine, creating a perfect arrangement for both.
Observing this hypocritical and selfish couple, Rong Luoge slowly rose to her feet and said with a mocking smile, "I suppose Zhenguo Gong and his lady would not want the noble families of the capital to learn how you mistreated the daughter of your former wife. Otherwise, how would Rong Lingshan's marriage prospects fare in the future? As for my mother's dowry, I know it has remained in your hands all these years. After all, when I married, not a single copper coin was returned to me."
Zhenguo Gong Furen's brow twitched, a sense of foreboding washing over her.
"Now that I am married, you can safely return my mother's dowry to me. Otherwise, I wouldn't hesitate to take this matter to the authorities and let everyone know the truth. I'm already married and have no fear of shame, but I wonder if the Zhenguo Gong residence shares the same sentiment?" Here, Rong Luoge paused briefly before adding, "Oh, and let me remind you—my mother left me the dowry list before she passed away."
"How dare you!" Zhenguo Gong was furious, wishing he had strangled her at birth if he had known she would grow so audacious.
"If you don't believe me, go ahead and test me," Rong Luoge replied coldly, her gaze unwavering. "Those with nothing to lose fear nothing. You schemed against me, wishing for me to serve as a stepping stone for Rong Dai my entire life. Since you dared to do it, I dare to speak out. At worst, I'll be cast out by the imperial family—something I'd actually welcome. But what good would come of it for you?"
Rong Luoge understood perfectly well that this couple wouldn't dare gamble with her. At most, she would be divorced by the royal family, and she couldn't wait for that to happen.
However, the Zhenguo Gong Residence would bear the stigma of coveting the dowry of a deceased wife, mistreating the legitimate eldest daughter, allowing an illegitimate daughter to engage in an illicit affair with Prince Qi without proper marriage arrangements, and not only failing to stop it but deliberately marrying off the legitimate eldest daughter to cover up the scandal…
If these accusations spread one by one, the Zhenguo Gong Residence would truly be finished.
To strike a snake, one must hit its vital spot. Should one reason with such people about ethics, morality, or familial affection?
No, no, no. For those who have no shame, only a swift and fatal blow will make them behave.
What the original host was owed, she would reclaim bit by bit.
"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now." The original host only had a shabby little courtyard in this mansion, originally used as storage for the garden. Living so pitifully, it was no wonder these people dared to bully her like this. "Oh, and let me remind you, I want to see my mother's dowry in three days. Otherwise, we'll settle this in court."
"How dare you! Since your mother married the Duke, her belongings naturally belong to him." How could Zhenguo Gong Furen be willing to spit out what she had already swallowed? It was like tearing out her heart.
"Is that so?" Rong Luoge raised an eyebrow slightly. "If you refuse to give it, that's fine. Once I step out of this gate, I'll make sure to inform all the noble ladies that when the Zhenguo Gong Residence marries off a daughter, the dowry is generously given to the groom. Oh, and by the way, I'll ask your natal family, Furen, whether the dowry they gave you back then has been recorded in the Duke's household accounts."
"You…" Zhenguo Gong Furen never imagined that Rong Luoge would become so difficult to deal with. Her own daughter hadn't even been betrothed yet. If such rumors spread, what good marriage prospects could she hope for in the future?
"No need to praise me, Furen. Promoting the fine traditions of the Zhenguo Gong Residence is also the duty of a daughter like me."
Zhenguo Gong Furen wished she could tear her apart. Why, after just one day, did Rong Luoge seem like a completely different person?
Could it be that Prince Qi and Rong Dai had gone too far, pushing her to the brink? Or was it as Rong Dai said—that Rong Luoge had been pretending all these years?
If it was an act, it was too convincing. She hadn't suspected a thing.
The thought alone made her feel breathless, her vision darkening.
"Duke, won't you say something?" Zhenguo Gong Furen looked at her husband, on the verge of tears.
Zhenguo Gong's emotions were no less turbulent than his wife's—perhaps even more so. As he looked at this daughter of his, who knew how to threaten, spoke sharply, and was exceptionally ruthless, he could hardly believe she had once been so timid and indecisive.
She must have resented him all along, pretending all these years just to secure a favorable marriage today and use it to suppress her own father.
And to think, he had personally facilitated all of this. It was enough to make him spit blood.
Rong Luoge raised an eyebrow, looking at them with a smile. "What else does the Duke wish to say? Perhaps about the illegitimate son Rong Lang, who is two years older than me? Or about Rong Dai, who climbed into Prince Qi's bed before marriage, willingly becoming a concubine? Or maybe about Di Yuenü, the mistress you've cherished all these years? After all, for the sake of Di Yuenü's daughter, you dared to trample on me, your legitimate eldest daughter, to pave the way for her child. I wonder, for the sake of the illegitimate son Rong Lang, how should Rong Yan, born to the Duchess, obediently serve as a stepping stone? What do you think, Furen?"
Lady Zhenguo's face stiffened. Of course she knew Di Yuenü. But her husband had sworn to her that he had long since cut off all contact with that woman—had it all been a lie?
Though she disliked Rong Luoge, the girl's words pierced her heart like a needle.
Yes, that Di Yuenü had a bastard son, several years older than her own. Her own son was still too young to take over the connections in her husband's hands, but what about the son Di Yuenü had borne?
Calculating the age, he would be just old enough to be brought out for social engagements now.
Observing Lady Zhenguo's shifting expression, Rong Luoge chuckled inwardly. When it came to sowing discord, she was a professional.