Chapter 119: Volume One Chapter 119  Prince Liang's Defection

Volume One Chapter 119  Prince Liang's Defection

"Rong Luoge, Good Lady, please wait a moment."

Rong Luoge pushed aside Han Yifeng as he just turned the corner, and heard Ling Yuying's voice; she halted, turned toward the newcomer, lifted her foot and stepped forward to greet her.

"Prince Liang's consort." Rong Luoge and she exchanged polite greetings.

Both appeared very courteous, but their voices were lowered.

Ling Yuying's voice carried a hint of urgency, "You know about the upcoming marriage between Prince Qi and Yun Shizhuang in a few days, right?"

Rong Luoge nodded, "I know. Are you hurrying to find me over this matter?"

"Of course not." Ling Yuying shook her head, then looked at Rong Luoge, "I heard Yun Shizhuang is staging a hunger strike and suicide at home, crying and shouting that she wants to marry the Crown Prince."

"That sounds like a mental illness; she's usually quite smart, why is she acting like an idiot now?" Rong Luoge scoffed.

Ling Yuying looked at Rong Luoge, who seemed unperturbed, and sighed lightly, "I was afraid you didn't know, so before people start spreading nonsense I wanted to give you a heads‑up. As for what you said, I also don't know what Yun Shizhuang is thinking; perhaps she feels the situation has escalated and she no longer wants to marry Prince Qi."

"Then she might be dreaming. Consort Ming and Prime Minister Yun have a deal; how could they prevent Yun Shizhuang from marrying? To put it bluntly, if Prime Minister Yun truly cared for his daughter, he wouldn't force her to marry but would respect her choice," Rong Luoge said.

Ling Yuying looked at Rong Luoge and said, "Our family raised us in silk and jade, so marriage is not to be taken lightly; we must prioritize the clan's interests. Look at me—my family does love me, but the marriage was decided by my father, and I married as he ordered. Of course, my father also regarded Prince Liang as kind‑hearted, but Prime Minister Yun may not be as caring toward children as my father is."

Ling Yuying, after speaking, recalled that Rong Luoge was also forced by her family to marry, and sighed, "These matters are hard to speak of; it also depends on each person's fate."

It seems she has a good father, while Rong Luoge's father is a scoundrel yet has a good destiny; after divorcing Prince Qi she could still enter the Dong Gong, but Yun Shizhuang's future remains uncertain. To cause such a scene before the wedding—does Prince Qi lack a sense of shame?

Moreover, Qi Wang Fu also has Rong Dai!

Thinking of this, Ling Yuying looked at Rong Luoge and added, "Rong Dai has already entered Qi Wang Fu; have you heard? They say she was made a side consort, but it wasn't publicized."

Rong Luoge nodded, "I know. She originally longed for the position of Prince Qi's consort, yet even now she can only hold the title of side consort—I'm afraid she'll be sick of it."

Ling Yuying, knowing that Rong Luoge had once been driven to divorce by Rong Dai, said, "That's her karma. When Yun Shizhuang enters Qi Wang Fu, if the two women start fighting, the household will certainly be lively."

Rong Luoge laughed, "Indeed."

These two are each more pretentious than the other, each more scheming than the other; Han Yifeng will truly be fortunate later.

I must admit, Consort Ming's gaze when selecting a bride for her son was truly unmatched.

The two chatted and laughed, their moods easing a bit, and Ling Yuying added, "Besides, there's another matter. My prince has asked me to send you a message; please convey it to the Crown Prince."

"Hm?"

Rong Luoge looked at Ling Yuying in surprise.

Ling Yuying smiled, "People under the two‑river governor Fan Bicheng, who defected to Prince Qi, are openly selling salt rations for huge profit."

Rong Luoge was truly surprised this time; this is no small matter. She looked at Ling Yuying and asked, "How did Prince Liang know?"

"Our family's simpleton—how did you say he knew? Of course someone came with silver notes to enlist him," Ling Yuying said, unable to help but laugh.

Rong Luoge's mind raced; so Prince Liang is aligning with the Crown Prince?

If so, that's a good thing.

"Fine, I will convey it to the Crown Prince." Rong Luoge replied promptly, then looked at Ling Yuying and added, "The palace is unsettled now; Consort Ming had a clash with the Empress, and you, following Virtuous Consort, must be extremely cautious when attending to the sick."

Recalling the current palace situation, Ling Yuying's expression darkened, and she said softly, "I heard His Majesty's fainting this time was unusual; you should also take care of yourself."

Rong Luoge nodded, "We should all be careful; after all I'm just a Good Lady, only needed to play a part. You, unlike Princess Consort Shou, will probably find it harder serving the two ladies. In short, if anything truly happens, have someone go to Dong Gong to deliver a letter."

Ling Yuying smiled and thanked Rong Luoge, "I've been out for a while; I must hurry back. I'm leaving now."

Rong Luoge nodded, watched her depart, then put on a slightly displeased expression and returned to Dong Gong.

Back in Dong Gong, Han Xinglan had not yet returned, and her thoughts were unsettled. Although the Emperor fainted, it was brief; after regaining consciousness he could still scold the Empress for Consort Ming, so it seemed no major incident would arise in the near future.

But this might not be good for Han Xinglan.

With the Emperor's fainting, he will likely be even more eager to make Prince Qi the Crown Prince, and Dong Gong will probably not be peaceful either.

Rong Luoge's premonition was correct; the Emperor indeed began to criticize the Crown Prince, summoning the ministers after waking and rebuking the Crown Prince before the senior officials, berating him as disloyal and unfilial.

Though the Emperor's scolding was harsh, there was no evidence; nevertheless, such a rebuke damaged the Crown Prince's reputation.

Han Xinglan, to show filial piety, knelt outside the Emperor's bedchamber for half a day, and only when the Empress went forward was the son rescued.

When he returned to Dong Gong, Rong Luoge looked at the bruised, swollen purple knee of Han Xinglan, her face turning dark with anger.

When a medicinal ointment was delivered, she herself gently applied it, pressing acupoints to prevent further damage to his knee.

Seeing her displeased, Han Xinglan smiled, "It's just a self‑inflicted scheme; if I hadn't done this, how could I incite the ministers to be angry on behalf of me, the Crown Prince?"

He knows, but his heart aches.

"Is there no other way?" Rong Luoge asked. She knew the struggle for imperial power was especially perilous, but previously she had only heard about it or seen it in dramas, never truly.

But now it was different; being in the midst of it, throughout the vast capital, armored imperial guards stood at every post, weapons were forbidden in and out of the palace, and before appearing before the emperor one had to shed armor and straighten oneself.

The assassination tricks with hidden weapons described in novels truly seemed like a joke.

It's not that easy.

Moreover, the ministers in the court are not background characters from a story; they are real officials wielding power. When the emperor rebukes them in court, he must have solid evidence, not just blurt out insults as he does with his son, the Crown Prince.

Unless the emperor wishes to be a fool, clearly he has spent his life striving to preserve his reputation and does not intend to lose his wisdom in old age.

Thus there is still room to maneuver; otherwise one would be forced to draw a dagger.