Chapter 220: Volume 1, Chapter 220: Don't Go Too Far

After Rong Luoge returned to Yuzhao Gong, she had Rong Xin take these clothes to Consort Xu, "Tell Consort Xu to deliver a portion directly into Fan Mingzhang's hands, and send portions to Hu Zongxi and Fan Tinglin as well."

"Yes, this servant will go at once." Rong Xin hurriedly led the palace attendants away again.

Rong Luoge knew the Inner Court Bureau was not a monolith either; there were quite a few factions within. At the very least, when Han Xinglan originally chose Fan Mingzhang as Chief Director and also promoted Hu Zongxi and Fan Tinglin, it was in hopes that the three of them could keep one another in check.

No matter what, whoever was behind this matter, she was sending a copy to several people at once—she would surely glean some information one way or another, depending on who among them wanted to keep their seat secure.

The position of Chief Director of the Inner Court Bureau was a plum post; countless people eyed it with envy.

Even if its roots ran deep, this time they could still shake a few leaves loose.

Just as Rong Luoge had anticipated, once the items were delivered to the Inner Court Bureau, that side was indeed no longer calm. Fan Mingzhang's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot when he learned that Noble Consort Rong had actually divided the goods into several portions.

These bastards—they wanted money more than their lives. His Majesty had only just punished people a few days ago, and before the scars had even healed they had already forgotten the pain.

He immediately ordered someone to investigate and find out exactly which death-defying fool had done it!

As soon as Fan Mingzhang made a move on his end, Hu Zongxi and Fan Tinglin received word, and the two of them quietly had people tail him without showing any reaction.

The matter at the Inner Court Bureau was still under investigation, while on the other side, the imperial court had also erupted in argument over the state letter from the ruler of Qingxuan State.

Peace negotiations, and a marriage proposal.

Negotiating peace was fine, but a marriage proposal—they had assumed Qingxuan State would send a princess to become a consort for His Majesty. Who could have known it would turn out to be the Protector Duke's former mistress? What kind of affair was this?

A marriage proposal, negotiated right onto the doorstep of a duke's estate—this was something that had never happened before, an utter joke.

In the court, one faction led by the Marquis of Ningyuan supported it, while another faction headed by Kang Hualu opposed it. This princess of Qingxuan State—never mind her lofty status now; she had formerly been nothing but a kept mistress, unfit for proper society.

Besides, a marriage proposal—how would it even be negotiated?

Protector Duke Rong Heng already had a wife and children!

Han Xinglan let them argue for a good long while, then put on a deeply troubled appearance, dismissed the court session, and returned to Yuzhao Gong, recounting the whole affair to Rong Luoge as a joke.

Rong Luoge was not surprised in the least. Hadn't the Marquis of Ningyuan, back then, given a daughter of a collateral branch to Rong Heng as a concubine precisely in hopes of reaching this very day?

As long as Di Yue Nu married Rong Heng, her identity as a princess of Qingxuan State would give her a special standing in the capital. What did losing face matter, so long as she could gain tangible benefits first?

Moreover, Di Yue Nu's daughter had already become a side consort to Prince Qi. Though there was no need for her at present, who could guarantee she wouldn't be useful in the future?

"It seems that after Rong Heng returns to the estate, he'll have to discuss divorce with Chu Ke," Rong Luoge said with a smile.

Han Xinglan reclined against the soft pillow and grasped Rong Luoge's hand. "It all depends on whether he has the nerve."

"For the sake of true love, he'll presumably be willing to part with his fortune." Rong Luoge gave a scornful laugh.

Meanwhile, inside the Zhen Guo Gong Fu, Rong Heng could not help feeling a measure of guilt as he looked at Chu Ke.

Chu Ke, however, looked at the man before her and could not say she was disappointed—for she had long since been disappointed through and through. She only… harbored some unwillingness in the depths of her heart.

After all, they had once loved each other. If there had been no feelings, so be it—a divorce would be a divorce. But their love had once burned like fire, and they had lived in conjugal affection for all those years.

"If you want a divorce, that can be arranged." Chu Ke looked at Rong Heng and spoke slowly. "But the first condition: the children stay with me."

Rong Heng said immediately, "No."

"Then there is nothing to discuss. If Di Yue Nu enters this household, she can only be a concubine." Chu Ke gave a cold laugh. "I just wonder whether you'll bear to let that happen, and whether Di Yue Nu would be willing."

Rong Heng's face darkened. Of course she would not be willing—it was not like the old days when a concubine's status was still undefined. Yue Nu was returning this time as a princess.

Chu Ke observed the shifting uncertainty in Rong Heng's eyes and sneered inwardly, but said on the surface, "After I divorce you, I will have only the children. Besides, Rong Yu is still young and Ling Shan's marriage has not yet been settled. You want me to hand the children over to you so they can follow in the Noble Consort's footsteps and serve as stepping stones for Di Yue Nu's children? Rong Heng, you are delusional."

Rong Heng truly had not been thinking that, and he blurted out at once, "What are you imagining?"

"Me, imagining? Wasn't it you, a few days ago, who forced me to marry Ling Shan off to Lin Gao Xuan?" At the mention of this, Chu Ke's eyes nearly blazed with fury.

Rong Heng fell silent out of guilt.

"It is not as though you and Di Yue Nu have no children. Even if I take the children away, you still have your precious Rong Lang and Rong Dai." Chu Ke spoke expressionlessly. "Apart from that, the family assets must also be divided. My own share I will let go of—I have my own dowry and do not covet your things. But what belongs to my children, you will not short them by a single copper."

"You… don't go too far!" Rong Heng changed countenance and said angrily.

"If you are unwilling, that is fine too. I will go to the clan and ask the clan elders to step forward and preside."

Rong Heng rose to his feet and looked at Chu Ke. "Look at what you have become. I am not even dead yet, and you are already thinking about carving up the family estate. You are dreaming."

"Whether I am dreaming or not does not matter. In any case, I am in no rush to divorce, no rush to remarry and become a rightful Duchess. Take your time and think it over. Come find me whenever you have figured it out." Chu Ke rose and headed for the door.

"Stop!" Rong Heng rose as well, his eyes fixed on Chu Ke. "Are you truly going to be this heartless? If you do this, no matter what happens to you and the children in the future, I will not lift a finger."

"You speak as though you lift a finger now. When have you ever helped Rong Yan with his post? For Ling Shan's marriage, you still scheme to use her as a stepping stone for Rong Dai. Rong Heng, having a father like you is worse than having none at all."

"Fine. I will give each of the children one estate and one shop. Half of the silver in the household shall go with you. Do not dream of anything more," Rong Heng said.

Chu Ke's heart ached with bitterness, and she nearly spat in his face. "I know exactly how much wealth you have. Are you trying to dismiss us with this pittance like beggars? The Noble Consort has nothing to do with you anymore, so that share need not be counted. Adding Di Yue Nu's two children born of a mistress, you have five children in total. Dividing everything equally among five children already puts me at a great disadvantage. Do not forget that I am your properly wedded wife. Rong Lang and Rong Dai are merely illegitimate children born of a mistress—dividing things this way already puts us at a loss. If you push your luck any further, do not bring up divorce again!"

Chu Ke swung her sleeves and walked out, paying not the slightest heed to how ugly Rong Heng's expression had become.

Upon leaving, Chu Ke rushed straight to the clan head's residence to lodge a tearful complaint, recounting the affair between Rong Heng and Di Yue Nu from beginning to end, emphasizing her own innocence and that of the children, and subtly informing the clansmen that even if she and Rong Heng divorced, Rong Yan and the others would still be children of the Chu family.

She also let slip to the clan head that Rong Yan had distinguished himself with considerable military merit this time, and with the Noble Consort's backing, the rewards and titles would surely be substantial.

He did not believe the clan head would remain unmoved.