Chapter 11: Volume 1, Chapter 11: What If They

The others wore strange expressions, but Han Xinglan's face remained unchanged, as if the words had no effect on him.

Yu Yan looked at the Crown Prince, thought for a moment, and said, "I believe that allying with Princess Consort Qi may not be a bad thing, and judging from what Princess Consort Qi did today to the Great General's daughter, it seems she and Prince Qi have indeed become estranged."

Zhen Yun frowned at the words and asked, "What if they're just acting?"

Yu Yan replied, "But how would they know the Crown Prince is here?"

Zhen Yun was speechless; indeed, the Crown Prince only rushed over after Princess Consort Qi arrived, and she truly would not know his whereabouts.

"No hurry, the fish will eventually bite," Han Xinglan said with a faint smile. He would not mistake the target; from Rong Luoge's eyes he saw ambition and desire. Someone like that would never be content with mediocrity nor submit to others. "Keep watching her and Prince Qi."

"Yes," the others replied in unison, knowing the Crown Prince had already made up his mind.

Rong Luoge first went to the old residence, while Jing Chu and He Huai were inspecting the dowry sent from Guo Gong Fu; when they saw her, they came forward to greet her.

Rong Luoge smiled and asked, "Does it match?"

He Huai, who rarely spoke, let Jing Chu reply, "It basically matches; the items that differed from the list have already been compensated at cost."

Rong Luoge, knowing Chu Ke was clever, asked, "What about the profit from these years?"

Jing Chu produced a palm‑sized case and said, "It's all here."

Rong Luoge took it, opened it casually and saw not much—just over ten thousand taels of silver. It was certainly not the entire profit, but retrieving some was enough; otherwise, if Chu Ke were forced, who would help her deal with Rong Dai?

"Keep this silver for you. I need a strong guard corps of about thirty men; use this money to recruit them first," Rong Luoge said, looking at He Huai and Jing Chu. "I won't tolerate dead weight here; even those less capable than you must not be far behind. If the funds fall short, we'll sell part of the dowry."

The two exchanged a surprised glance, but they obeyed the master's orders without question.

"Yes, miss," the two replied. Jing Chu thought for a moment and added, "The house is old and in disrepair; it needs repairs, the walls must be reinforced, and we need to buy equipment. A thirty‑person guard will indeed cost a fair amount of silver."

Fine weapons aren't bought off the shelf; they must be custom‑made at a blacksmith, and ordinary smithies won't take such orders.

Rong Luoge naturally knew this, which is why she spent a fortune hiring people from the Zhenxing Escort Agency, as they certainly have the connections.

"The money is in your hands; handle it directly," Rong Luoge nodded slightly. "Rest assured, you've signed a personal contract with me; I won't shortchange you. When the contract expires, I'll give you a sum of silver to secure a worry‑free later life."

He Huai and Jing Chu felt a jolt in their hearts; they are people who sell their lives on a knife's edge, hoping to provide a good life for their families and, one day, to retire with enough money for a peaceful life.

"Thank you, miss; we will do our best," the two said in unison.

Rong Luoge didn't really want to return to Qi Wang Fu today, but she also knew that staying out overnight could give others leverage, so she hurried back before sunset.

She hadn't expected to run into Han Yifeng on her way back, who seemed to be waiting for her.

"Where have you been?" Han Yifeng asked with a dark face, truly unbecoming—what princess runs around everywhere? It seemed he needed to teach Rong Luoge some rules.

Rong Luoge looked at Han Yifeng's sullen face, thinking that, clearly he was a brother, yet the Crown Prince's face was always more handsome than Han Yifeng's.

"Hey, Prince, that question is funny. What does where I went have to do with you?" Rong Luoge retorted bluntly. "You're so concerned about me—does your beloved know? Aren't you afraid she'll get jealous and angry?"

Han Yifeng felt that every time he spoke with Rong Luoge it made him sick with anger, and he said sternly, "Rong Luoge, I advise you not to go too far; don't test my limits."

"Your limit is at the Moon Fragrance Tower…"

"Shut up!" Han Yifeng's temples pulsed with blue veins. The woman before him was truly a stranger, completely unlike the timid, smiling girl he had met at Zhen Guo Gong Fu; she seemed like a different person.

"Heh." Rong Luoge almost rolled her eyes. "Speak up; my time is valuable."

Han Yifeng's anger softened slightly at her words, and he said in a low voice, "On His Majesty's birthday I will bring you into the palace together; I hope you'll know what to do then."

"Oh, you want to petition His Majesty to issue an edict for our divorce? That would be wonderful." Rong Luoge said deliberately; she simply could not stand Han Yifeng, such a dog didn't deserve a good mood.

Han Yifeng: …

Rong Luoge met his gloomy face with a cold smile, lifted her foot, and stepped through the Drooping Flower Gate into the inner courtyard.

Han Yifeng inhaled deeply; indeed, he was taken aback. He would have to quicken his pace, find a few formidable palace guards to restrain Rong Luoge, and let her revel for a few days.

"Miss, you're back." Cang Yun, seeing his master return, immediately smiled and greeted her.

Rong Luoge saw Cang Yun's expression soften and asked with a smile, "What's making you so happy?"

Cang Yun replied, "It's a cause for celebration that the lady's dowry has been reclaimed; how could one not be pleased?"

Rong Luoge thought that was indeed the case; regardless, this opening wasn't terrible, and it would be even better if she could escape the quagmire of Qi Wang Fu.

"Rong Dai hasn't come back, has she?" Rong Luoge asked as she entered the room to change clothes.

Cang Yun brewed a pot of tea, poured a cup for the lady, and placed it on the intricately gilt low table before replying, "No, she hasn't returned to the residence yet. I, a servant, have been back from Guo Gong Fu for a while, and I don't know where she went."

Rong Luoge pondered that Rong Dai and Chu Ke would certainly not reach an agreement; Rong Dai wanted Chu Ke to withhold her dowry, but what could she offer Chu Ke in exchange?

Although Rong Dai now lives in Qi Wang Fu, she has no official status. Chu Ke also fears that if she truly loses control, she might expose the fact that she seized her husband's former wife's dowry, and the dowry Chu Ke prepared for herself is rather meager. If she were to bring that dowry to the gate of the Protector Duke, Chu Ke would lose face for a lifetime.

Therefore, unless there's an enormous benefit, Chu Ke would absolutely agree to Rong Dai's request.

Rong Dai, not getting what she wants from Chu Ke, will surely think of another scheme, though it's unclear what she's planning.

However, the most pressing matter now is the birthday celebration at the palace; there is also Consort Ming inside, and according to the original host's memory, she is even more difficult to deal with and is very displeased with this daughter‑in‑law.

This time, hoping for peace in the palace is probably impossible; she still needs to make some preparations.

The night before the birthday feast, Rong Luoge finally received word that Han Yifeng would bring Rong Dai into the palace together.