Chapter 20: Volume One, Chapter 20 This Can Still Block Her

Volume One, Chapter 20 This Can Still Block Her

Rong Luoge would not let Chu Ke succeed; she ignored his words, looked up at His Majesty, as if only His Majesty filled her eyes, only He could clear her injustice. With a trusting, choked tone she began, "His Majesty, I am being forced by my parents to die today; I can only speak the truth to prove my innocence. I have not fallen in love at first sight with Prince Qi. It was my father and stepmother who fetched me from Zhuangzi, claiming they had found a suitable marriage match for me, and I was to obediently listen and marry."

Before this, my mother had just died, and my father remarried a stepmother. Before the stepmother even entered the house, my father, fearing that I would not win her favor, threw the seven‑year‑old me to Zhuangzi. From age seven to fourteen, for a full seven years I never saw my father, received not a single copper coin from the household for living. Such cold paternal love could never have cared about my marriage; I ask His Majesty to arbitrate for me.

When Rong Luoge spoke, the hall erupted in a din; everyone knew that the legitimate daughter of Zhen Guo Gong Fu was being kept at Zhuangzi under the pretense of convalescence, yet no one realized that Zhen Guo Gong Fu treated her so harshly!

Rong Luoge, seeing the Protector Duke and his wife about to rebut her, gritted her teeth and raised her voice again: "His Majesty, Your Majesty, I have a way to prove my innocence. My father repeatedly claimed he had found a good marriage match for his little daughter, yet even after being married to Prince Qi for so long I remain a virgin. I previously did not understand what I had done to offend the Prince, but today I finally understand: the Prince's affection is for his younger sister."

The Emperor's anger made his heart tremble; his eyes turned to Prince Qi. "Third Prince, is it true?"

Han Yifeng did not expect Rong Luoge to be so ruthless, but the matter had reached this point. Knowing that sophistry was useless, he immediately grabbed Rong Dai and knelt, saying: "Father, your son has reasons. At first I truly thought the daughter presented by the Protector Duke was Dai'er; I really did not know it was Rong Luoge. Please see through this, Father."

Rong Luoge heard this and let out a cold laugh in her heart; Han Yifeng was selfish, now indeed shifting all blame onto the Protector Duke—what a perfect father‑in‑law pair.

The Protector Duke understood Prince Qi's meaning, yet he had to bite the bullet and keep apologizing. As for whether to mention that Rong Luoge was still at Zhuangzi, he chose not to, trying to keep His Majesty's attention away from the matter, and only admitted that he had not explained the marriage proposal clearly, causing Prince Qi's misunderstanding.

At that moment, the Crown Prince lifted his head slightly and glanced toward the Empress.

The Empress sensed her son's gaze, turned calmly to meet his eyes, instantly understanding his meaning. She looked at His Majesty and said softly, "His Majesty, this child is pitiful; only seven years old and already thrown to live at Zhuangzi. Ah, the Protector Duke is truly ruthless; all these years he never gave even a single copper coin. I wonder what hardships this child has endured at Zhuangzi."

The Protector Duke was about to object when the Empress continued, "His Majesty, I am truly curious; this matter is too coincidental. Why does the Protector Duke, when proposing a marriage for his daughter, now retrieve the daughter he has ignored for years from Zhuangzi? Moreover, since it is a marriage discussion, the eight characters and the name must be matched; how could Consort Ming have mistaken them?"

Although the Empress received her son's glance, her ultimate accusation was aimed at Consort Ming; Rong Luoge was merely a side note.

The Emperor was not foolish; he naturally sensed the oddity here. Whether it was Consort Ming, Prince Qi, or the Zhen Guo Gong Fu, these people were likely scheming. The most innocent, if any, was probably the little girl kneeling there.

The Emperor looked at Rong Luoge's thin, small body kneeling there; her tear‑filled eyes stared at him, that utterly trusting gaze stirring a rare feeling of compassion in the Emperor.

Enough.

"Princess Consort Qi, what do you wish?" the Emperor asked in a deep voice.

Rong Luoge knew His Majesty still favored Consort Ming and Prince Qi; trying to overthrow them now was a dream. Her only scheme today was this, so she immediately said, "In response to Your Majesty, I have no other request; I only hope Prince Qi may find a lover and become a couple. I am willing to dissolve my marriage with Prince Qi, so that from now on the husband and wife are unrelated."

Lovers can become a couple?

The Emperor did not expect Rong Luoge to be so kind‑hearted; despite others scheming against her, she still wished them happiness. Indeed, having grown up at Zhuangzi, her thoughts are pure.

"Since this marriage was wrong from the start, I hereby permit you to dissolve it with Prince Qi," the Emperor said.

Rong Luoge immediately displayed a tearful joy, fell to the ground and loudly said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for upholding justice for me. Your Majesty is wise."

The Emperor then looked at the Protector Duke, his face solemn, and said, "Your household affairs are in disorder, your inner virtue is lacking; perhaps you, Lord, should stay home and reflect for a while."

The Protector Duke, hearing that his title would not be stripped, breathed a sigh of relief; he would simply reflect at home for a while, and after the Emperor's anger subsided he could return to his duties. He immediately thanked and received the decree.

As for Prince Qi and Rong Dai's matter, the Emperor said nothing, only stating, "That will be all for today." With that, he rose and strode away, evidently still harboring some anger.

Rong Dai stared blankly at Prince Qi. "Just like that?"

What about her?

What about their marriage?

Han Yifeng felt an uneasy premonition; his father's clear refusal of his marriage to Dai'er, especially after Rong Luoge publicly stated that he and she had not consummated their marriage, hurt his pride, and naturally he could not, even briefly, consider Rong Dai's feelings.

Rong Luoge felt very satisfied: she had completely escaped the marriage, and also proved her innocence before everyone. She and that scoundrel Han Yifeng remained completely clean, without giving him any advantage.

Rong Luoge had no intention of performing any filial piety drama before the crowd; she cared not for the Protector Duke and his wife, nor for Han Yifeng, nor for the dark‑faced Consort Ming. Seizing the chaotic moment, she slipped away, heading straight for the palace gates.

From then on, she was free.

Rong Luoge, delighted that her great worry was resolved, thought that she still owed a favor to the Crown Prince; the Empress had spoken up to help, surely at the Crown Prince's request, and she wondered how she should repay that favor.

As soon as she stepped out of the palace gates, a carriage halted before her; the curtain lifted slightly, revealing the Crown Prince's gentle, smiling face, "Miss Rong."

Rong Luoge: …

The Crown Prince's speed is swift; he can even block her like this.

"Your Highness, what a coincidence," Rong Luoge said, trying to show a friendly smile.

"Not a coincidence; I deliberately waited for you here," Han Xinglan said slowly, his gentle smile fading slightly.

Rong Luoge realized there was no escape, so she simply boarded the carriage. The Prince's carriage was indeed luxurious and spacious; after sitting down she said, "Thank you for your assistance today, Your Highness. I wonder what instructions you have for me?"