Chapter 19: Volume 1 Chapter 19 Stomping Rong Luoge to Death

Han Yifeng almost instinctively rushed forward, took off his outer coat and draped it over Rong Dai.

The astonished onlookers stared at Rong Dai, who still held onto Han Yifeng without letting go, and then all turned their eyes toward Rong Luoge.

Rong Luoge didn't know whether this had anything to do with Ming Yuhua, but it was irrelevant; now it was her turn to act!

Rong Luoge, at the opportune moment, displayed a surprised, incredulous, and deeply wounded expression; her eyes, bearing a hurtful look, fixed on the embracing pair in the hall, and tears fell one by one.

The Crown Prince opposite let out a light laugh, then slightly lowered his head, and when he lifted it again it was the Crown Prince that everyone was familiar with.

Consort Ming was the first to react, her anger flaring, but she could not lose composure before His Majesty, so she suppressed her fury and said, "What are you standing around for? Hurry over and help."

Bai Zhuo, standing by Consort Ming, immediately led a group to try to pull Rong Dai away from Prince Qi, but Rong Dai clutched so tightly that they couldn't separate them.

Rong Dai realized she had been schemed against; her plan against Rong Luoge had not yet been carried out. She had intended, as the dance was about to finish, to deliberately spin toward Rong Luoge and feign being knocked down by her, thereby slapping a jealous‑sister label on her and tarnishing her reputation in everyone's eyes. Yet before she could act, she herself was the one being plotted against.

Who?

Rong Dai first suspected Rong Luoge, but she also knew that Rong Luoge had connections within the palace, so she certainly couldn't have done it. Then who else, besides Rong Luoge, could be responsible?

She couldn't immediately figure out who had harmed her, but her mind raced; since the incident had already happened and the Prince had come out at once to protect her, she seized the chance to expose the matter, compelling Consort Ming to make a decision.

Rong Dai clenched her teeth; even if Consort Ming despised her, as long as she could legitimately remain by the Prince's side it was worthwhile. Once she bore a child, Consort Ming would eventually change her attitude, provided she could endure.

Thus, now that Bai Zhuo wanted to pull her down, how could Rong Dai allow it? She could only cling tightly to Prince Qi, putting on a fearful demeanor and refusing to let go.

Consort Ming, when she saw her vision go black, nearly fainted; that wretch, she realized her son today was determined to bring her into the palace with ill intent.

So it was plotted against her here!

Rong Luoge had already anticipated what Rong Dai would do next, and she certainly couldn't miss this once‑in‑a‑thousand‑years opportunity, so she stepped forward, knelt in the hall, and, choking, said to His Majesty, "Your Majesty, I, your servant, ask you to decide; I truly do not know the matter between my sister and my husband…"

When Rong Luoge opened her mouth, the previously noisy great hall fell silent at once.

Han Yifeng instantly felt something was wrong, and instinctively reached out to push Rong Dai; Rong Dai's face darkened as she fell into his embrace, she held on even tighter, and with a trace of grievance and tears said, "Prince, since my sister has caused a commotion, why not use this chance to ask His Majesty and the Empress to bless us? Dai'er is willing to go through fire and water for you, but also hopes to stand by the Prince lawfully."

Han Yifeng's hand went rigid; though he knew this wasn't the best moment, the events had already occurred, and if he had to choose between Rong Luoge and Rong Dai, he would of course choose Dai'er.

"Nonsense!" His Majesty said with a composed expression; on such a blessed birthday, who could have imagined such a thing happening? His gaze fell heavily on the Protector Duke.

The Protector Duke was so furious he wished he could instantly ascend through his seven apertures and not be present; Chu Ke, seated beside the Protector Duke, was equally shocked. She hadn't anticipated such a turn of events; although she disliked Rong Luoge, she also didn't want to see Rong Dai rise in a single bound.

Especially now that such a scandal has erupted, she doesn't know how His Majesty will regard the Protector Duke's household and her husband, or whether it will affect her child; Chu Ke grew increasingly angry, wishing she could give Rong Dai and Rong Luoge each a slap.

The Protector Duke and his wife could only rise, step into the hall, and plead guilty, saying, "My discipline over my daughter was lax; I ask Your Majesty to punish us."

Admitting fault outright is better than crafty denial; the Protector Duke, being clever, immediately grasped this, and if he could only protect one of his two daughters, he would of course protect Dai'er.

The Protector Duke said, "Originally, I brought Luoge back to the residence from Zhuangzi, and at that time Prince Qi came to my door to discuss matters. I did not expect Luoge to fall in love with the Prince at first sight, so I shamelessly pressed for this marriage. Consort Ming, remembering my many years of loyalty to Your Majesty and the court, secured His Majesty's approval for the marriage." The Protector Duke wept profusely in the hall, proclaiming his loyalty, "It is just that when I raised the marriage proposal, the Prince mistakenly thought I was referring to another daughter; by a twist of fate this misunderstanding occurred. It is all my fault; please, Your Majesty, do not blame the Prince or my little daughter Dai'er."

Rong Luoge knew this scumbag father hadn't treated the original owner well, but she hadn't expected that at such a critical juncture he would actually push the original owner out to die.

What does this mean?

Isn't it just covertly telling the crowd that Prince Qi and Rong Dai were already in love, and that she inserted herself to steal the one they loved?

Rong Luoge was on the brink of fury, yet the more she was angry, the calmer she grew. She knelt there silently, without protest, her face a wooden mask, which only caused people to doubt the Protector Duke's words.

The Emperor, hearing this, looked at Rong Luoge and asked, "Princess Consort Qi, is the Protector Duke's statement true?"

Rong Luoge gave a bitter smile, then lifted her gaze to the Emperor; before she could speak, tears fell, and she quickly choked out in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, a child should not speak of a father's faults; no matter how my father treats me, I ought not to retort. Yet if the little daughter were to accept this, what dignity would she have left in this world? She could only return later and tie a white thread to end herself to prove her innocence."

The crowd gasped, but the Protector Duke sensed something ominous; beside him, Chu Ke, who knew even better than her husband that Rong Luoge could not be provoked now and could not attend to anything else, immediately said, "Child, why are you speaking like this? If your father did not love you, how could he work so hard to secure your marriage?"

Chu Ke absolutely could not allow Rong Luoge to speak the truth; she had to swiftly cut the tangled knot and pin the guilt onto her, so that once the Emperor judged her at fault, even after leaving the palace she would still be in Chu Ke's grasp.

When the time came, the dowry she had previously added for Rong Luoge, as well as her birth mother's dowry, she could reclaim, leaving this little scoundrel with no chance to rise again; crushing her would be as easy as crushing an ant.

The more Chu Ke thought, the more she was stirred, fully endorsing her husband's view, attempting to nail Rong Luoge onto a board of disgrace for disloyalty, unfiliality, and injustice, leaving her with no hope of resurgence.

"Luoge, I know you dislike me as a stepmother, but you cannot disregard your father's love for you and speak nonsense before His Majesty. Quickly plead guilt to His Majesty and ask His Majesty to spare your life!" Chu Ke hurriedly added, attempting to crush Rong Luoge with a single step.