"Rong Luoge, come out here!"
Rong Luoge was already seething with anger. Cang Yun had gone to deliver a letter to the Duke's residence, and now there wasn't even a gatekeeper in the main courtyard. Hearing that voice, she knew it was Han Yifeng.
Look at his attitude—coming to see her, yet demanding she come out to him.
But she happened to have something to say to him as well, so she simply walked out.
Stepping outside, she saw Han Yifeng standing in the sunlight, tall and elegant, his snow-white robes adorned with intricate patterns that shimmered brilliantly under the sun. The warmth of the daylight contrasted sharply with his cold, distant expression.
Rong Luoge thought to herself that this scoundrel truly had a handsome appearance—his hair as dark as ink, his features deep and refined, his thin lips carrying a hint of allure and a touch of sensuality.
Standing beside him was none other than Rong Dai, dressed in bright red, her provocative aura practically hitting Rong Luoge in the face.
"Sister, from now on, we'll be seeing each other often in this household. If I ever offend you in any way, I hope you'll be understanding."
Rong Luoge looked up at her. "Your name isn't in the Zhenguo Gong family register, nor is it on the Jade Disc listing the wives and concubines of the prince's household. Who exactly are you?"
Rong Dai's face darkened. Her name not being in the Zhenguo Gong family register had always been a sore spot for her. Although her father doted on her, the Duchess refused to give her approval, so her father had never been able to officially recognize her as part of the family. Every time she thought about it, it pained her deeply, and now Rong Luoge had to twist the knife.
As for the prince's household, Rong Dai felt much more confident. She looked at Rong Luoge, trying her best to appear gentle and graceful, and slowly said, "Sister, whether you admit it or not, I am your sister. We share the same father, and no one can change that."
"A stray beast just doesn't understand human words. Why don't you say that in front of the clan elders?" Rong Luoge retorted without hesitation.
"You…" Rong Dai hadn't expected Rong Luoge to speak so harshly. Even with her thick skin, she couldn't help but feel a burning shame, stifled and frustrated. Glaring at the man beside her with a livid expression, she said in a choked voice, "Your Highness, I know my sister has never liked me, but her words are too hurtful. Do you think I wanted to be an illegitimate daughter? Did I have any choice in the matter?"
Han Yifeng was already displeased, and hearing Rong Dai's words, he was about to reprimand Rong Luoge when she spoke first. "Han Yifeng, I advise you to be kinder and think before you speak."
Meeting Rong Luoge's icy, disdainful gaze, Han Yifeng swallowed his words, choking back his anger. Finally, he said, "Rong Luoge, I'm only here to inform you that I will petition to make Dai'er my consort. You'd better be sensible."
"Hah, what does that have to do with me? Sooner or later, you and I will have a mutual divorce." Rong Luoge felt she couldn't rely on Han Yifeng to initiate the divorce—she would have to find a way to force him into it. She simply couldn't stand being a shield for this despicable pair. "If you came here with such fanfare just for this trivial matter, then get lost."
"Rong Luoge, do you really think I can't do anything about you?" Han Yifeng's pent-up rage surged within him. He felt utterly stifled whenever he dealt with Rong Luoge. He was a prince, after all—how could he be restrained by her?
"Han Yifeng, do you want to fight, or shall we go to the authorities to settle the household affairs of the royal mansion? To be honest, if word gets out about what you did on the wedding night… Besides, you clearly like Rong Dai, yet you married me as a shield. Given Rong Dai's status as an illegitimate daughter, what would the court officials who support you think? You have many political enemies in court, don't you? Being unclear about right and wrong, lacking personal virtue, and having messy internal affairs—if this spreads, I'm not afraid, but I wonder if you are!"
Those with nothing to lose fear nothing, and she had nothing to fear. But Han Yifeng was different—he now had to be extra careful about his reputation. After all, as someone vying for the crown prince's position, his name couldn't have any blemishes. Otherwise, why would this scoundrel have thought of such a despicable plan to marry the original host as a shield?
Rong Luoge stared coldly at Han Yifeng. If he dared say yes, she would immediately make him famous throughout the land!
Han Yifeng had never encountered someone who made him feel so stifled in his entire life. His face turned green and white, as if a dye shop had exploded.
Seeing such a forceful Rong Luoge, Rong Dai frowned slightly. Her previously innocent expression changed somewhat. After careful thought, she turned to Han Yifeng and said, "Your Highness, I know you've suffered grievances for my sake. I know you did it all for me, but I can't let you be criticized because of me."
"Dai'er…" Han Yifeng also felt a headache coming on. If he had known that Rong Luoge was so cunning and adept at pretending, using him to escape the fiery pit of the Duke's mansion, he would never have married her.
"Your Highness!" Rong Dai interrupted Han Yifeng, her face filled with tender affection as she spoke softly, "I will explain everything clearly to my sister. I believe she will understand us. I cannot let you be implicated because of me, Your Highness. You are so busy with your many duties—there's no need to trouble yourself with such trivial matters."
Han Yifeng was her sole reliance; she couldn't let anything happen to him.
Rong Luoge felt her teeth ache with disgust and turned to go back inside. She had no time to watch them being affectionate—there were too many things to do.
Seeing Rong Luoge's attitude, Han Yifeng felt utterly stifled. Gritting his teeth, he turned and left.
He had never been so despised before. Fine, Rong Luoge, you're something else. He would see who would still marry her after she insisted on a mutual divorce!
"Rong Luoge, let's talk properly."
Once Han Yifeng left, Rong Dai dropped her pretense. Her expression lost some of its hypocrisy, replaced by a mix of probing and impatience.
"What do I have to say to you?" Rong Luoge said with disgust. "Get lost!"
Rong Dai gritted her teeth, swallowed her anger, and suppressed her temper before saying, "I know you care deeply about your mother's dowry. How about I help you get it back with interest?"
Rong Luoge looked at Rong Dai suspiciously. Would this person be so kind? She sneered and said, "You would be so kind? Besides, I don't need your help—I can get it back myself."
"What you can get back is merely the principal. Over all these years, your mother's dowry must have accumulated a lot of interest. If you don't take it, it will only benefit Zhenguo Gong Furen. I know you despise me, but on this matter, I think our positions are the same, aren't they?"
Whenever Rong Dai thought about how Zhenguo Gong Furen had ordered the courtyard where her mother and brother lived to be smashed, she felt a surge of anger. Now was the perfect opportunity.
Using Rong Luoge to deal with Zhenguo Gong Furen, making her suffer a major financial loss, would naturally leave her with no spare money to target them in the future.
What was there to worry about with Rong Luoge? Once the prince divorced her, she would become a discarded woman, and whether she could remarry in the future was uncertain. Besides, by then, when she herself became Princess Qi, dealing with Rong Luoge would be as easy as reaching out.
For now, she would endure and focus on dealing with Zhenguo Gong Furen.
Rong Luoge didn’t need to think hard to understand why Rong Dai was doing this. It was surely because her previous efforts to sow discord at the Duke’s residence had taken effect. Most likely, Rong Dai’s family had been bullied by the Duchess, and she now wanted to use Rong Luoge’s hand to deal with Zhenguo Gong Furen.
She was indeed a clever person; otherwise, someone like Han Yifeng wouldn’t have been so easily swayed by her.
“How could my stance be the same as yours?” Rong Luoge had no intention of playing along. She stared coldly at Rong Dai, speaking word by word, “The Duchess is a smart woman. Since she agreed to return the dowry, she will naturally do so with interest.”
Even if that wasn’t originally her plan, as long as she hinted to Chu Ke about Rong Dai’s desire to join forces with her, Chu Ke would know exactly what to do.
Wouldn’t it be better to let them fight like dogs while she watched the show from the sidelines?
Rong Dai tried to persuade her further, but Rong Luoge had already slammed the door shut with force, leaving her fuming with anger. How could there be someone so stubborn and unyielding!
Thinking of Rong Luoge’s current demeanor, Rong Dai’s heart sank.