Chapter 107: A Mother, a Daughter

Volume One, Chapter 107  A Mother, a Daughter

The matters were one after another, and there were many things she wanted to ask; Rong Luoge gathered her thoughts and took Rong Ling Shan to the side hall for a meal.

The two sisters rarely ate alone; Rong Luoge asked the servants to step aside and picked a drunken shrimp for Rong Ling Shan.

Rong Ling Shan quickly took it with a small jade‑white plate, lowered her eyes and said, "Sister, are you doing well in the Dong Gong?"

"At the moment, it's fine," Rong Luoge replied with a smile.

Fine for now, what about later?

Rong Ling Shan knew that entering the royal world was as deep as the sea, but she truly couldn't help now, so she said, "Sister, someone as kind as you will surely become even better in the future."

"I'll take your good words," Rong Luoge said cheerfully, "Has there been any news from the Great General's Residence lately?"

Rong Luoge had entered the Dong Gong; meeting Ming Yuhua was already difficult, and in the past few trips to the Hou Gong she hadn't seen her at all, probably because of the matter involving Liu Yuniang, which left Ming Yuhua and the Great Madam dissatisfied with Consort Ming.

Rong Ling Shan didn't know why her sister suddenly brought up the Great General's Residence, thought for a moment and said, "I haven't heard anything, but it seems the Great Madam has been convalescing lately; at the recent capital banquets she never appeared, not even Ming Yuhua left the house, which is rather strange."

Rong Luoge nodded slightly, "The Great Madam's ailment is probably still a heart trouble caused by the concubine issue."

Talking about it made Rong Ling Shan especially emotional; her own family also had a concubine, and she immediately said angrily, "Rumors outside say that the concubine is actually a palace maid serving Consort Ming; it's unbelievable that the concubine is Consort Ming's person, and people outside feel sorry for the Great Madam."

"Everyone is a legitimate wife of the Great General, so of course we can empathize with the Great Madam's grievance," Rong Luoge said.

"Exactly. The last time I attended a banquet with my mother, I heard people whisper that Consort Ming was unprincipled, and that the Great Madam has truly said nothing against Consort Ming over the years." Rong Ling Shan didn't understand everything—after all, she had never married—but when the ladies gathered they would exchange a few words, and she could sense some of it.

During the meal, Rong Ling Shan recounted all the recent capital gossip, and after finishing she lingered reluctantly before parting.

Rong Luoge found it amusing and asked her to take the prepared gifts back: one for Chu Ke, one for Rong Yan, and one for Rong Ling Shan.

Rong Ling Shan hadn't expected her sister to prepare gifts for them; she left in high spirits, not caring whether the items were expensive, but realizing that her sister truly wanted to keep in touch, which made her happy.

Rong Ling Shan returned to the residence, first went to her mother to hand over the gifts.

Chu Ke was delighted and surprised by the gift; seeing her daughter's joy, she asked, "Is your sister doing well in the Dong Gong?"

"She looks quite healthy," Rong Ling Shan said, "Mother, my sister asked me to bring something to my elder brother, for him to study carefully and then deliver to Commander Xiao of the Imperial Dragon Guard, saying it will help his promotion speed up."

"Really?" Chu Ke hadn't expected such good news, smiled at her daughter, "You're truly Mom's little lucky star. I regret not listening to you earlier to mend relations with your sister. Now your elder brother's future is looked after by your sister; even without your father watching, it's fine."

"Then the elder brother must protect his sister well in the future and not forget his gratitude."

"With those words, could your elder brother not protect your sister? Without her, what future could he have?" Chu Ke naturally wanted her son to protect Rong Luoge; if Rong Luoge was fine, her son would be fine too—this was a mutually beneficial arrangement.

"Mother, please inquire more about the Great General's Residence; I think my older sister is quite interested." Rong Ling Shan said.

"Of course she's interested. Prince Qi and the Crown Prince are rivals; your sister is the Crown Prince's Good Lady, and she's had a falling out and divorce with Prince Qi, so she'll be interested in Consort Ming and her son's affairs." Chu Ke said, then suddenly slapped her leg, "How could I not have thought of that? You're clever, my dear; don't worry, Mother will investigate thoroughly, and when you go back to the Dong Gong you can tell your sister."

What a wonderful chance to strengthen ties without spending much money; she naturally wanted to handle it properly.

Rong Ling Shan's mouth twitched, "Then I'll go find my elder brother."

"Wait, show me what your sister gave your brother."

"My sister sealed it; no one may see it. I'm leaving."

"You brat, your whole heart is now twisted," Chu Ke scolded with a laugh.

Mrs. Ning said beside them, "Madam should be pleased; Second Miss is clever. Now that she's on good terms with the Crown Prince's Good Lady, our eldest son has an opportunity. It's the Imperial Dragon Guard; getting in isn't easy, but our eldest son managed to join."

Chu Ke nodded happily, "Indeed. Looking back, I'm glad I left a margin in my conduct and didn't offend anyone to death."

"Madam is wise," Mrs. Ning praised with a smile.

Chu Ke thought of her useless husband, curled her lip disdainfully; she knew he had tried to get Rong Lang in, but failed.

"How's the matter I asked you to investigate?" Chu Ke thought of her husband and couldn't help recalling Di Yue Nu.

"The old servant went to check the house in Xi Cheng; indeed it was empty, but Rong Lang and Rong Dai are still in the residence, so Di Yue Nu will eventually have to return; where could she run?" Mrs. Ning thought Di Yue Nu might be trying to scare the Duke to get into the residence.

Chu Ke disagreed, "I always feel the matter isn't simple. You didn't see the Duke looking nervous yet not sending many people to look for her. I think he knows Di Yue Nu's whereabouts but wants to hide it from me, which is why he pretended to be anxious."

Mrs. Ning, hearing the Madam speak, also became a bit nervous, "Then why did she run away?"

Chu Ke still couldn't figure it out, so she wanted to investigate clearly, "In any case, keep a close watch on Rong Dai and Rong Lang, the brother‑sister pair. Has she recently met Prince Qi?"

She meets him every day; I can't understand why a proper wife wouldn't do it, acting like a secret prostitute. Truly, a mother begets a daughter.

Chu Ke had been uneasy lately but couldn't pinpoint why; looking at Mrs. Ning she said, "In any case keep a close watch on them. No, I must go to the eldest son and see; the task with the Imperial Dragon Guard cannot be dropped."

Mrs. Ning hurriedly followed, supporting the Madam as they left, saying, "Madam need not worry; the eldest son will turn misfortune into fortune and will only prosper more."

The master and servant reached the courtyard gate and unexpectedly ran into the Protector Duke returning from outside; before Chu Ke could speak, her husband, with a stern face, said, "Bring me fifty thousand taels of silver; I have an urgent need."

Fifty thousand taels?

Chu Ke's vision went black; not a single tael remained!