Chapter 193: Court Officials Won

Volume One, Chapter 193  Court Officials Won't Bet Lightly

Rong Ling Shan felt utterly uneasy under everyone's gaze, as if she were a slab of pork on a chopping board, ready for someone to slice her and take her home at any moment.

Just thinking that such days would have to continue for a while made her unable to smile.

Chu Ke kept appearing in public with Rong Ling Shan, and the Protector Duke naturally learned of it; there was no trace of the former loving bond between the couple, and upon seeing each other they seemed eager to stage a full‑blown fight.

"Ling Shan is no longer young; I've shown her a marriage prospect, so you prepare," the Protector Duke said, his face grim as he looked at his wife.

Chu Ke was startled for a moment, then understood, "May I ask which family the Lord Guo has in mind?"

"The son of the Grand Minister of the Court of Rites, matched with Ling Shan, is sufficient," the Protector Duke said impatiently.

When Chu Ke heard that, her vision went black and she almost died on the spot; she knew the couple had no affection, but she hadn't expected her husband to be so ruthless. She stared at him, sneered, and said, "Lord Guo, have you forgotten that Lin Gao Xuan caused Yan Er's leg to break, that he only loves Rong Dai? Now you want Ling Shan to marry him—you're clearly trying to kill our mother and daughter. I oppose this marriage!"

"This is not up to you. I am Ling Shan's father, so I can decide for her. It's settled!"

"How dare you!" Chu Ke sprang to her feet, her face death‑pale, eyes fixed on Rong Heng as if ready to strike. "Rong Heng, if you dare marry Ling Shan to Lin Gao Xuan, I will go to the palace to see the Noble Consort and ask her to decide!"

The Protector Duke grew even more furious, slammed the table, and shouted, "The Noble Consort has long had nothing to do with our household; our family matters cannot be meddled with by outsiders."

"Outsiders?" Chu Ke mocked, staring at her husband. "I wonder whether you'd dare let the Noble Consort hear this. You even took a Song family daughter as a concubine; where is your conscience? I don't care about your other deeds, but if you dare meddle in Ling Shan's marriage, I'll fight you!"

"Absolutely unreasonable! The Lin family isn't a household anyone can marry into. Lin Gao Xuan's fondness for Dai'er is pure nonsense; stop spouting lies," the Protector Duke said with a dark face.

"Pah! Are you saying Yan Er's broken leg was a lie? That the Lin family's acknowledgment was also false?" Chu Ke trembled, staring at the man, wishing she could slap her own blind self in the past. "Rong Heng, don't push me. The Chu family is not a petty household. Moreover, if you truly dare marry Ling Shan to Lin Gao Xuan, I'll expose all the affairs you've had with Di Yue Nu over the years. I'll see whether you still have any face!"

"You…"

"What about me? You're waiting for Di Yue Nu to return from Qingxuan Kingdom and make a grand comeback, aren't you? Living in your spring‑autumn fantasies, now that the two nations are at war they're enemies. Do you believe that if I expose this, tomorrow's court will be flooded with impeachment petitions against you?"

The Protector Duke's chest trembled with anger; he took a deep breath and said, "Fine, you're fine. Don't you ever wonder who I'm doing this for? As the Protector Duke's household grows ever better, in the end isn't it Yan Er who benefits?"

Chu Ke might have believed him before, but now she doesn't believe a single word, and she can't fathom how this man still has the nerve to speak such things.

"Even a tiger's poison won't eat its own cubs, but you? Watching Rong Lang strike at Yan Er as if blind, all these years I've suffered from your deceit, always thinking you cared for us mother and children, yet your heart is wholly devoted to Di Yue Nu and her offspring. If that's the case, stop pretending to be a benevolent father here. You'd better not meddle in the marriages of my children, or I won't mind destroying everything. Don't forget there's a Noble Consort in the palace; after all, you've taken in the rival's family."

The Protector Duke felt a knot in his heart, knowing the matter would sound terrible if spread, but that wicked woman had already turned hostile toward him; even if she benefits, what does it have to do with him?

He might as well turn to someone else; he could still gain some advantage, and he also has to consider Dai'er and Rong Lang, waiting for their return.

Thinking of this, he saw Chu Ke's last ounce of patience exhausted and said, "Whether you agree or not, this marriage is set. Say whatever you want outside; am I still afraid you'll speak up now?"

The Protector Duke flicked his sleeve and left; Chu Ke glared at his retreating back and shouted, "Don't even think about it!"

But Chu Ke also knew that if Rong Heng truly agreed to the marriage, as Ling Shan's father he could decide. She was frantic, wanting to return to her natal family for help, yet she realized they might not be able to stop Rong Heng instantly; the only recourse was to go to the palace and petition the Noble Consort.

In short, Ling Shan must not marry Lin Gao Xuan. What kind of person is Lin Gao Xuan, daring to strike at her son? Marrying Ling Shan to him would be like sending a lamb into a tiger's mouth.

Chu Ke now truly hated Rong Heng to death, unable to think of anything else but hurriedly sending a petition to the palace.

Rong Luoge saw Chu Ke, and after hearing her words she didn't know what to say for a moment; her expression carried a hint of mockery, and after a while she finally spoke, "I know he isn't a human, but I didn't expect him to be so inhuman."

Chu Ke could no longer cry upon hearing that, choked, took a handkerchief to wipe her face, steadied herself and said, "I know I have done many things that wronged the Empress before; now I have received my retribution. I only ask the Empress, considering Ling Shan has never harbored ill will toward you, to lend her a hand."

Rong Luoge looked at Chu Ke, and now Chu Ke was completely different from when she first arrived; in the short years she seemed much older, and the oppressive gloom in her chest suddenly lifted. She instinctively touched her chest, perhaps the original host had also let go of this step‑mother, smiled lightly and said, "The grudges between us, madam, are over; no need to bring them up again. You need not worry about Ling Shan's matter. The Protector Duke's arrangement with the Lin family was to pledge allegiance to Lady Zhenshen, which truly was the wrong boat."

Hearing that Rong Luoge was willing to lend a hand, Chu Ke, full of gratitude, said directly, "Everyone in the court knows His Majesty's deep affection for the Empress. Now the Empress is pregnant; when she gives birth to His Majesty's eldest son, the throne of Empress can be contested. At that time, my wife and the Chu family will support the Empress, so please rest assured."

Rong Luoge was a bit surprised; she wasn't shocked that Chu Ke would support her for the child, but she didn't expect the Chu family to be willing as well. She thought for a moment, looked at her and asked, "Regarding Ling Shan's marriage, have you found a suitable candidate in your heart?"

Chu Ke's face was full of sorrow as she sighed, "In the past, Ling Shan's marriage was not a worry, but now it is very difficult."

Rong Luoge sensed Chu Ke's unspoken meaning; with the heir position vacant and her womb still unknown whether it holds a prince or a princess, many in the court remained neutral, and at this moment no one would wager on Rong Ling Shan's marriage.