Chapter 198: Volume 1, Chapter 198 Embracing the Noble Consort

While Shi Lian hesitated about allying with Lord Ningyuan, Zhen Guo Gong Fu Chu Ke was speaking with her daughter.

"Your maternal grandmother wants you to stay away for a while; Suiyang isn't far. After some time, once the matters with the Lin family are settled, I'll bring you back," Chu Ke said, looking at her daughter.

Rong Ling Shan naturally didn't want to leave, but she also knew that if she stayed in the capital, her father might do something to make Lin Gao Xuan marry her; she didn't want her mother to work too hard for her, so she nodded and said, "I'll go then; it's been a long time since I've seen my maternal grandmother, and I miss her."

Chu Ke's expression softened as she listened to her daughter, she pressed her fingertips to her brow, exhaled slowly and continued, "This time, thanks to the Noble Consort's support, your aunt finally relented and allowed you and your brother to return for a long stay. After you go back, stay with your maternal grandmother. If your aunt says anything odd, you needn't pay attention—just pretend you didn't hear. Once your brother's future is clear, our good days will arrive."

Rong Ling Shan nodded silently. After her father and mother's relationship turned sour, her aunt's attitude became subtle; previously her mother wanted her and her brother to stay temporarily at the Chu residence, but the aunt's sarcastic refusal caused it to be abandoned.

When mother was in the limelight, there wasn't a single time the aunt saw her without a beaming smile; it shows she truly knows a person's face but not their heart.

"Is brother also going back?" Rong Ling Shan was surprised by that point.

"Going back," Chu Ke gritted her teeth, "His most pressing matter now is studying. Keeping him in the capital makes me uneasy. Returning to the Chu household, though your aunt won't be very pleased, at least his life will be safe."

If possible, Chu Ke naturally didn't want to be separated from her son, but now she and her husband have fallen out; the couple spends each day guarding against each other. She can't be sure her husband won't use their son to threaten her over the Rong Lang siblings, so she won't give him that chance.

Rong Ling Shan tightened her grip on the handkerchief, looked at her mother's considerably aged face, felt a slight pang in her heart, forced a smile and said, "Mother, don't worry, I'll take good care of my brother."

Chu Ke patted her daughter's hand, "Mother knows, you also be at ease; before long I'll bring you back. Tomorrow morning you'll leave; your uncle will meet you halfway, so don't worry."

Rong Ling Shan hesitated, looked at her mother and said, "Do I have to say goodbye to my older sister?"

Chu Ke shook her head, "The Noble Consort is pregnant; these trivial matters shouldn't disturb her. Once you reach Suiyang, write a letter of apology to the Consort."

Rong Ling Shan, though reluctant, nodded, "Mother, I heard someone from Rong Dai's side is returning to the mansion; she must have some matter again, right?"

Chu Ke looked at her daughter and said, "Her affairs have nothing to do with us; you don't need to involve yourself with her. Just make sure to bring your brother safely back to Suiyang."

After saying that, fearing her daughter might overthink, she looked at her again and added, "These days Rong Dai's life at Prince Qi's residence isn't easy; Princess Consort Qi is not easy to get along with, and she has the Yun family backing her. The current Prince Qi is no longer the beloved prince of the Late Emperor; now he lives with his tail between his legs. Rong Dai's desire to be arrogant is just a delusion."

She said so, but regarding this marriage with the Lin family, Rong Ling Shan could guess that Rong Dai was definitely involved; otherwise, why would her father specifically choose the Lin family?

She kept those thoughts to herself; speaking them would only make her mother more angry.

Rong Ling Shan packed her luggage to return to Suiyang; she still had to detour to the academy to pick up her brother, and her elder brother, serving abroad, rarely returns home. With her and her brother heading back to Suiyang, only her mother remains in the mansion, which truly worries her.

But what use is worry?

Now she can do nothing else; protecting herself and her brother is the greatest comfort to her mother.

Early the next morning, when the city gates finally opened, Chu Ke escorted her daughter out. This time, the escort for the siblings back to Suiyang was her most trusted attendant; slipping away quietly would avoid drawing attention, and the road would be safer.

After her daughter left, Chu Ke finally turned back to her cold, empty courtyard, sat before the dressing table and quietly examined her face; the copper mirror reflected a visage with a hint of bitterness, fine lines at the corners of her eyes could not be hidden, and even she found herself looking at this self almost unrecognizable.

She has always been a beauty‑loving person; even after bearing three children, she remained diligent about her upkeep. When did she stop caring for her own face?

Probably since she realized her husband regarded Di Yue Nu and her child more highly than she and their children, the person in the mirror gave a wry smile—this is her retribution.

Back then, when she set her sights on Rong Heng, she knew he already had a wife, and that his wife suffered a difficult childbirth and was bedridden; she felt a secret delight, and at that time she didn't think anything was wrong with her actions.

But now she no longer thinks that way; because of Di Yue Nu, she reflects on herself, wondering if in Di Yue Nu's mind she is also seen as unimportant, that inserting oneself into another's marriage isn't a crime.

See, she has received her retribution.

Chu Ke took out some scented balm and slowly applied it to her face; she knew Di Yue Nu would definitely return, and Rong Dai was still here. She cherished this daughter so much that she wouldn't abandon her.

If one day Di Yue Nu returns, Chu Ke does not want to be mocked by her as a middle‑aged, faded woman.

She picked up the delicate Luo Dai brush to outline her brows, applied lip balm, opened the makeup box, selected a jade‑inlaid gold hairpin and slipped it into her hair; after a careful look, the complexion in the mirror looked much better.

Chu Ke stood up and said to the person beside her, "Madam Tai's tea banquet must not be missed; let's go now."

Madam Tai, sister‑in‑law of Grand Consort De's natal family, was assigned a post by Prince Liang after His Majesty's enthronement; Prince Liang's wife is close to Noble Consort Rong, which also makes Prince Liang valued by His Majesty.

Now the Tai family is fairly respectable in the capital; Madam Tai arranged a tea banquet and specially sent her an invitation. The two families had no prior contact, but receiving this invitation made Chu Ke realize her relationship with Noble Consort Rong had greatly improved; Madam Tai truly knows how to act.

Moreover, at this critical juncture, after she quarreled with her husband over her daughter's marriage and fell out with the Lin family, Madam Tai's invitation is like timely rain.

Chu Ke, dressed in finery, headed to the Tai residence, while at that moment Grand Consort De was speaking with Madam Tai, "You're right to listen to me, Noble Consort Rong now seeks to suppress the Protector Duke by using the Duchess Who Guards the State's hand. Being kind to the Duchess Who Guards the State now is like a fire‑brand in snow; she will naturally remember your kindness."

Madam Tai, hearing the Grand Consort speak thus, still expressed some worry, "We could have stayed out of Zhen Guo Gong Fu's affairs with the Lin family."

Grand Consort De looked at Madam Tai and said word by word, "As long as Noble Consort Rong can bear His Majesty's eldest son, she will inevitably be titled the Empress Dowager; by then, any further goodwill from you will be too late."

Madam Tai felt a knot in her heart, thought it over, and gritted her teeth, "Then we'll follow the Grand Consort's wishes; isn't it just to embarrass the Lin family? That's easy to do!"