Chapter 114: Volume 1, Chapter 114: The Cruelest Retribution

With so many things to do, Rong Ling Shan sent a visiting card to the Dong Gong the next day and went on the third day.

Rong Luoge had been busy writing training plans these past few days; receiving Rong Ling Shan's visiting card was a first, so she let her come.

She thought it was some important matter, but only after seeing Rong Ling Shan did she learn it was local gifts Chu Ke had sent her, along with a letter from Ming Yuhua.

Hearing Rong Ling Shan say the local gifts were specially procured by Chu Ke from the estate, she looked at her and said, "Tell the Duchess of the State not to go to such trouble from now on. A round trip from the estate isn't easy."

"My mother said there's nothing much to thank you for, Big Sister, but it's just a small token of her regard," Rong Ling Shan said with a smile.

Rong Luoge said no more about it, kept Rong Ling Shan for a meal as usual, and prepared a return gift for her to take along. Only after seeing her off did she open and read Ming Yuhua's letter.

She hadn't seen Ming Yuhua since entering the Dong Gong, and didn't know why she would suddenly write to her.

Opening the letter, Rong Luoge was startled after reading a few lines, and grew even more surprised as she read on. She hadn't expected that Madam Ming intended to divorce General Ming, and even less that General Ming had actually agreed!

Ming Yuhua wrote in her letter that because her eldest brother had already married, he would stay in the household. Madam Ming took her and her younger brother away to return to her maiden family, and Ming Yuhua now lived at her maternal grandparents' home.

Ming Yuhua also wrote that General Ming actually had thoughts of promoting Liu Yuniang to the position of proper wife. If not for her eldest brother's firm opposition, her mother would likely have barely left before Liu Yuniang and her son could enter the household and take charge.

Rong Luoge was truly stunned. The Great General's lifetime of renown would probably be thoroughly ruined after this.

She just didn't know what he was thinking. At a critical juncture like this, shouldn't he, as uncle, fully support Han Yifeng?

How was it that he showed no concern for Han Yifeng's affairs, yet made a fuss over Liu Yuniang until now, finally making a fuss until his wife left and his family scattered?

What was he after?

A middle-aged man's love comes on just like that—regardless of ancient or modern times, they're all blind.

Ming Yuhua wrote to her that she might be returning to Jiangdong with her mother, and wanted to meet her once before leaving.

The relationship between Rong Luoge and Ming Yuhua couldn't quite be called friendship, but it couldn't be said they weren't friends either. Under such miserable circumstances, she of course agreed.

When Han Xinglan returned that evening, she asked him whether he knew about this matter.

Han Xinglan was rather surprised, and said with a smile, "You're well-informed. I heard that today Ming Zan wrote a letter of divorce."

A letter of divorce was, of course, a divorce agreement.

Rong Luoge looked at Han Xinglan. "What on earth is he thinking? Could he really be that fond of that Liu Yuniang? Once Madam Ming returns to Jiangdong, isn't he afraid the Zhao clan of Jiangdong will make trouble for him?"

Han Xinglan looked at Rong Luoge and smiled. "This you don't quite understand. Even if the Zhao clan of Jiangdong is angry, they probably won't actually make real trouble for Ming Zan."

"Why?" Rong Luoge didn't understand. "Madam Ming suffered such a great wrong—wouldn't her maiden family stand up for her?"

"Standing up also depends on how it's done. Now that Ming Zan's several children have all grown up, and the eldest son still remains in the general's residence, even for the sake of the children's face, the Zhao clan won't make a big show of embarrassing Ming Zan," Han Xinglan said. "Besides, that Liu Yuniang also has a son. If things were really pushed too far, Ming Zan might just hand the entire family estate to that illegitimate son. So for Ming Jingheng's sake, the Zhao clan will endure it for now."

"Just let it go like that?" Rong Luoge asked.

"Not necessarily. In another eight or ten years, when Ming Jingheng can take control of the general's residence, that will be the time for the Zhao clan to strike back." Even a gentleman's revenge is not too late after ten years, let alone a noble house of their stature, who were all the more capable of patience.

Rong Luoge somewhat understood, and let out a long sigh. "That's truly suffocating. I've always believed in settling scores the same day—if not the same day, then not dragging it out too long, to avoid internal damage."

Han Xinglan burst out laughing, and looked at Rong Luoge. "Anger harms the body. You still need more practice."

Rong Luoge:...

"Have you heard about His Majesty bestowing a marriage for Prince Qi?" Han Xinglan asked.

Rong Luoge was amused to hear this. "Oh, I certainly know about that. I also know that Yun Shizhuang, who's about to marry Prince Qi, has her heart set on you. Now that's interesting."

Han Xinglan said with a straight face, "Which one is Yun Shizhuang? I've never even heard of her."

Rong Luoge glanced at him and laughed to herself. "If Yun Shizhuang heard that, she'd be heartbroken—all that devotion cast to the winds."

"Devotion without the other party's consent is simply an intrusion. Besides, whether she's heartbroken or not has nothing to do with me. I only care whether you're heartbroken or not."

Rong Luoge laughed so hard she could barely straighten up. She hadn't known Han Xinglan had such a teasing side.

"Anyway, I think this matter probably won't quiet down anytime soon. Consort Ming really went all out to win over Chancellor Yun." Rong Luoge looked at Han Xinglan again. "His Majesty agreeing to bestow this marriage so readily this time is also puzzling—he'd been quite cautious about Prince Qi's marriage before."

"Naturally, Consort Ming has her ways." Han Xinglan gave a cold laugh. "However, this move by Consort Ming isn't particularly clever. Chancellor Yun is an old fox—would a marriage alliance really let her do as she pleases? Not necessarily."

A marriage alliance has always been a double-edged sword. Only when both parties' interests align is everyone happy.

Once disagreements arise, the one who suffers most is the person in the marriage alliance.

Thinking of the internal disputes within the Yun family, Rong Luoge felt that Chancellor Yun might not truly dote on Yun Shizhuang as a daughter. What made Yun Shizhuang most valuable was the title of eldest legitimate daughter she bore.

The greatest value of an eldest legitimate daughter was marriage alliance. Now that the marriage was settled, Chancellor Yun would probably not care whether Yun Shizhuang's life after marriage would be easy or not.

Besides, there was already Rong Dai in the Qi Wang Fu. Rong Ling Shan had mentioned when she came that Rong Dai had already obtained the title of side consort and entered the residence even earlier than Yun Shizhuang. With Rong Dai around, Prince Qi dreaming of living harmoniously and happily with Yun Shizhuang was simply a fantasy.

The more Rong Luoge thought about it, the more amusing she found it, clinging to Han Xinglan's arm and laughing nonstop.

"Is it really that funny?" Han Xinglan didn't quite understand these grudges between women.

"Of course. Think about it—back then, Yun Shizhuang provoked me time and again. Just imagine her facing a Prince Qi whose heart belongs to someone else, and then thinking of her own beloved giving his heart to another—such days would truly be miserable and pitiful indeed."

Rong Luoge never considered herself a good person. She was genuinely happy. Someone like Yun Shizhuang—how had she once mocked her, the Former Consort of the Qi Prince? She probably never imagined that one day she too would become the Princess Consort Qi.

She wondered whether, sitting in the very position she had once ridiculed, recalling the very words she herself had spoken, she would feel even the slightest bit of regret.

The cruelest retribution in this world was probably something like this.

Rong Luoge suppressed her feelings and looked at Han Xinglan again. "Tomorrow I'm going out. Ming Yuhua invited me for tea."

"Ming Yuhua?" Han Xinglan set down his teacup and frowned slightly. "What does she want meeting you at a time like this?"