Chapter 2: Volume 1, Chapter 2: The Dove Occupies the Magpie's Nest

"Han Yifeng, anyone can talk big — if you're a man, then do as you say." Rong Luoge wished nothing more than for the two of them to sever ties, but judging from the original host's memories in her head, she feared this marriage was not so simple.

Han Yifeng: …

Rong Dai watched Rong Luoge's drastically changed temperament, her heart a mix of shock, fear, and fury. She grabbed an outer robe and threw it over herself, her eyes reddening as tears fell, and said in a choked voice, "Sister, why must you say such things? Don't you know perfectly well how this marriage came about back then? It was clearly His Highness who wanted to marry me, yet you insisted on stealing him away…"

"Rong Dai, with your status as an illegitimate daughter, do you think His Majesty and the Empress would agree to let you marry Han Yifeng? Would Consort Ming agree?" Rong Luoge stripped Rong Dai's dignity away and ground it into the floor.

Rong Dai's face darkened at the words. Of course they wouldn't agree — precisely because of that, she clung to Prince Qi desperately under the banner of true love.

"Sister, why must you humiliate me like this? We are both daughters of Father. It's just that my mother was unwilling to enter the manor. Calling me an illegitimate daughter — aren't you afraid Father will be angry when he finds out?" Rong Dai gritted her teeth in hatred. When had Rong Luoge's tongue grown so sharp?

"Oh, how generous of you to put such a fine face on it. You and your mother may want to enter the manor, but would the Duchess of the State agree?" Rong Luoge scoffed.

Rong Dai covered her face with a handkerchief, then twisted around and threw herself into Prince Qi's arms beside her, nearly knocking the Prince — who had just barely managed to sit up — back to the floor.

Han Yifeng took a deep breath, feeling oddly out of place. Logically speaking, shouldn't the one feeling awkward in a scene like this be Rong Luoge, the well-bred lady?

Han Yifeng gritted his teeth and helped Rong Dai up, then grabbed clothes from the rosewood clothes rack and put them on himself. Fixing his glare on Rong Luoge, he said with obvious impatience, "This Prince knows you are jealous of Dai'er, but…"

"Which eye of yours saw me jealous of her? Is it because you two coupled without a matchmaker? Or because you have no sense of shame? Then again, only someone truly shameless would put on a bedroom show in front of others." Rong Luoge had no desire to waste words on this pair of dogs. Her face cold, she said, "Han Yifeng, I'll be waiting for your letter of divorce. You'd better give it to me quickly. From then on, we go our separate ways, each to our own happiness."

Rong Luoge felt something was off about herself. She had sensed earlier that the incense was strange, and now she was certain there was a problem. She couldn't delay any longer. Throwing down those words, she turned and left.

"Wait a moment." Rong Dai grabbed Rong Luoge in one swift motion. "You can't leave."

Rong Dai knew that with her own status, there was no hope of becoming Han Yifeng's legitimate wife. Having finally found someone as easy to manipulate as Rong Luoge, she was naturally unwilling to let her go.

All she had to do was let Rong Luoge hold the title of Princess Consort Qi. Given her own affection with Han Yifeng, wouldn't she be the one calling the shots in Qi Wang Fu from then on? So Rong Luoge couldn't leave — she still had to temporarily hold the position of Princess Consort Qi for her. Once she gave birth to the little Heir Apparent of the Wang Fu, Rong Luoge would naturally become useless.

Rong Luoge had spent years walking on the edge of danger. The moment Rong Dai reached for her, her reflexes were far sharper than her mind. She bent her elbow and struck out, and Rong Dai let out a piercing scream and collapsed to the ground.

"I have a thing about cleanliness. Best not touch me, or I can't guarantee what might happen." A fire seemed to burn in Rong Luoge's heart, and her temper grew increasingly volatile. Her eyes fixed on Han Yifeng, she said, "Keep your woman in check, or I'll hit you along with her!"

Han Yifeng was so angry his hands were shaking. Rong Luoge had hidden herself far too well. How could this be a gentle, refined lady? She was clearly a bully who resorted to violence at the slightest disagreement.

"Where are you going?" Han Yifeng, no longer caring about Rong Dai, blocked Rong Luoge's path. "You can't go anywhere right now."

The room was burning Warmth-Arousing Incense — a stimulant fragrance he and Dai'er often used when together. Rong Luoge herself hadn't noticed, but one only had to look at her face to know the incense had already taken effect.

Even though he didn't like her, she was still his Princess Consort. How could he let her go out like this?

With one after another blocking her, Rong Luoge could no longer hold back. Her right hand moved like the wind — a grab and a push — and Han Yifeng involuntarily stepped back.

In an instant, Han Yifeng recovered. He immediately turned his hand and seized Rong Luoge's left arm. "When did you learn martial arts? I've never heard your family mention it. Rong Luoge, you truly are a schemer who hides in the deepest shadows!"

Rong Luoge scoffed. "My birth mother died and my father remarried the very next day. The moment my stepmother entered the house, she found me an eyesore and sent me off to the country estate for seven years. If I hadn't learned some martial arts, I'd have been dead long ago."

Han Yifeng was stunned. He had never known about this — no one had ever mentioned it.

Taking advantage of Han Yifeng's moment of distraction, Rong Luoge kicked him away, pushed open the window, flipped out, and vanished in the blink of an eye.

Han Yifeng wanted to chase after her, but Rong Dai was unwilling to let him. She threw herself at him and clung to his arm, sobbing through her tears, "Your Highness, now you've seen it for yourself. Every word I said was true — not a single lie. Sister really did deceive the entire family. I even suspect now that her insistence on marrying Your Highness was ulterior in motive. Your Highness, you must investigate this thoroughly. Sister is so terrifying now. Otherwise, let's go back and tell Father. Sister fears Father most of all."

Rong Dai knew that what Rong Luoge cared about most was her father. As long as Father spoke, she would surely obey.

When that time came, as long as she obediently returned to Qi Wang Fu, wouldn't she be at Rong Dai's mercy? The grudge from today could finally be settled.

Han Yifeng's steps paused. On reflection, it made sense — where could Rong Luoge go besides Zhen Guo Gong Fu? He only needed to go to Zhen Guo Gong Fu to demand an accounting, and naturally the Protector Duke would pressure Rong Luoge into kneeling and apologizing to him.

Rong Luoge had no idea what they were thinking, and even if she did, she wouldn't care. Right now, she just wanted to find a place to catch her breath.

The wedding gown on her body was far too conspicuous. After much thought, she recalled that her birth mother had left a small residence in the city — part of her dowry back then. She could only grit her teeth and head there. Fortunately, it wasn't far; she arrived in less than half a shichen.

The residence had only two courtyards, front and back, with no master and no doorman. She vaulted over the wall. The long-neglected house was thick with dust. She stumbled slightly as she pushed open the main door and went in.

In that very instant, her sixth sense warned her of danger. Her body reacted even faster — she stepped back. Immediately after, she kicked the door shut with the tip of her foot.

"Bang!" The door slammed against the frame, sending dust flying in an instant. Right after, Rong Luoge heard a very low, soft cough.

Just as she thought — someone was there.

"Sir, you enter a humble home without informing the owner. May I ask what your intention is?" Rong Luoge's hands were clenched tight. Not knowing how many people were inside, she instinctively stepped back, her peripheral vision scanning for an escape route.

"You are the owner of this residence? My apologies. Borrowing your empty house was truly out of desperation. I ask the master's forgiveness."

A clear, bright voice tinged with sincerity came through the already cracked door panel. The voice carried a note of weakness, and judging from Rong Luoge's own experience, the person inside was likely wounded.