Chapter 251: Volume One, Chapter 251 – Just Ask If It Pierces the Heart

A man like Rong Heng is essentially a refined egoist at his core, the best at weighing gains and losses; the more successful the eldest son is, the worse it is for him.

If this son gets along with him, they'd be a pair of twin heroes; if not, it becomes a strong son and weak father, and an outstanding son abandoned by his own father is essentially driven out of the house and becomes a laughingstock to others!

Rong Luoge found it increasingly amusing and said to Han Xinglan, "I really want to see the expression on Rong Heng's face after he learns that Rong Yan was made a marquis. Huh, if Rong Yan were made the Yong'an Marquis, wouldn't he be able to attend court and present memorials?"

Han Xinglan nodded, "Yes, but he probably won't appear on the throne hall. First, he's too young to command respect; second, besides his battlefield achievements he lacks political credentials, so he needs a few more years of experience."

"That's a bit of a pity; it's a bargain for him," Rong Luoge said.

"If you want to give him a headache, there's a way: you could have him attend court for a few days," Han Xinglan laughed. The newly minted Yong'an Marquis could afford that face.

"Then let's drop it; don't cause trouble for Rong Yan," Rong Luoge shook her head. "Besides, the fun isn't something you can finish in a day; we can just wait slowly."

Han Xinglan was left speechless, as if it made a lot of sense.

Rong Luoge didn't want to bring it up again; she smiled at Han Xinglan and said, "From now on the capital will have some excitement to watch, giving everyone a bit of gossip for after‑meals, which is a contribution to entertaining the public."

Han Xinglan looked at Rong Luoge and thought, her mouth really is getting less forgiving.

But it makes sense; if others are watching the joke, they won't have to keep staring at that emperor of his.

The next day on the throne hall, Han Xinglan indeed issued an edict rewarding Rong Yan. Previously Rong Yan's military merits had been suppressed; no one could guess the emperor's mind, but now they finally understood.

There were indeed dissenters in the throne hall, but if His Majesty specially granted Rong Yan the Yong'an Marquis because of the consort's favor, how does that fit with the tradition of emperors rewarding the families of their consorts?

The royal house has a set precedent; the emperor isn't breaking it. Some may wish to oppose, but they can't stand against the strong backing of the pro‑imperial faction led by Xiao Shen, especially since Rong Yan was brought up by Xiao Shen.

Led by Xiao Shen, the pro‑imperial faction's position in the throne hall has become increasingly stable, especially after Xiao Shen returned triumphant from a battle against the Qingxuan Kingdom, holding military command and a force of hundreds of thousands, which wields great deterrence.

Among all officials, the most uncomfortable and awkward was Rong Heng; after the court session, he frowned and walked outward, only to be stopped by Xiao Shen.

Rong Heng, holding his breath, looked at Xiao Shen, "Sir Xiao, blocking the way without cause—what guidance do you have?"

Xiao Shen, staring at Rong Heng with a blank expression, said, "I dare not claim to instruct you. Protector Duke, yesterday your inner lady nearly caused a double death at your residence; you must give me an explanation for that."

Rong Heng heard that and his chest trembled with anger; it would have been fine not to bring it up, but now that it's mentioned he wishes time could reverse—he certainly wouldn't have invited so many people to witness his wedding. Yesterday was the most humiliating day of his life.

"Sir Xiao, you come to interrogate me, yet I must ask you why your esteemed lady caused a ruckus at my residence on my wedding day; you too should give me an explanation!" Rong Heng said angrily, his face darkened.

Xiao Shen sneered, "Protector Duke, we speak plainly. I ask you which sentence my lady said is false? If there's even a single word of falsehood, I'll leave it to you to handle. Why did she cause a disturbance yesterday? Why didn't you ask your esteemed lady why she posted a notice to my lady? Did she forget what she did back then? If she dared to act then, she shouldn't be chased for debts and demand justice."

"You… are downright unreasonable!" Rong Heng pointed at Xiao Shen, so angry he could have sliced the fellow with a knife.

Xiao Shen feigned a sudden realization, "Indeed, no wonder the Protector Duke calls me unreasonable. Speaking of it, you and your esteemed lady are truly a perfect pair: one spends a lifetime constantly destroying other families, the other spends a lifetime using children born from his concubine as stepping stones."

At this point Xiao Shen wore a playful grin, staring at the Protector Duke, "Lord Duke, the eldest legitimate daughter you once treated as a worn shoe is now the honored consort bearing His Majesty's only child. The legitimate son you abandoned was made the Yong'an Marquis—what are you thinking now? Oh, and your favorite son and daughter: one becomes a side‑consort, the other likely faces a bleak future."

Rong Heng's complexion changed dramatically, "Sir Xiao, what do you mean?"

"Protector Duke, why pretend to be clueless when you understand everything? This marriage is a heqin; after all, Princess Nankang is from the Qingxuan Kingdom. Do you think the court will favor her children? Not to mention your son is neither scholarly nor martial; even if he were brilliant, who would employ someone of his background?"

Xiao Shen watched Rong Heng's fluctuating expression, smiled, and then strode away.

The Protector Duke was only thinking of the splendor of marrying Di Yue Nu, perhaps so proud he overlooked the biggest flaw of this union.

The Owl Kingdom and the Qingxuan Kingdom are rivals; the princess sent for marriage has long been notorious as a kept woman, so her children would never be employed by the old‑guard officials in the throne hall.

The matter concerns relations between the two states; it sounds noble as a heqin, but in harsh terms, what's the difference between Di Yue Nu coming to the Owl Kingdom as a marriage bride and being a concubine?

One must see one's true status; don't truly think that wearing a tiger's skin makes you a tiger.

Rong Heng walked back in a daze, got into his own carriage, and recalling Xiao Shen's words, felt each sentence pierced his heart, each word like a blade.

Indeed, his eldest daughter became a consort, yet he has already expelled her from the household; her being a consort has nothing to do with him. Instead, Chu Ke and her son, who have separated from him, have now benefited from the eased relations.

His legitimate eldest daughter and son, after leaving this father, have each gone on smoothly, whereas he, looking at his beloved children, sees no progress.

Rong Dai is still struggling in Prince Qi's rear courtyard, and Rong Lang's future is likely as uncertain as Xiao Shen warned.

Then what… is all this turmoil really for?

Rong Luoge didn't realize that Xiao Shen had driven a deep thorn into Rong Heng, casting a shadow over the newlywed couple Rong Heng and Di Yue Nu right after their marriage.

She had just received brocade fabric from the Ministry of Revenue; sitting in the hall she examined it closely. The fabric woven on a jacquard loom is indeed different from embroidered silk—each has its merits, but the jacquard is fresher and cheaper than hand‑embroidered silk.

Rong Luoge recalled the "Douwen brocade with added flowers"—a more intricate craft that can be sold to officials and nobles at a high price, distinguishing it from ordinary jacquard and sure to become a new favorite among the elite.

How is the Douwen brocade with added flowers made again?

Douwen is a criss‑crossing ladle‑shaped pattern; "adding flowers on brocade" is a decorative weaving technique where, on top of a colored‑warp jacquard base, a small shuttle weaves additional motifs into specific areas of the fabric.

The decorative flower method can produce Douwen patterns—easy to describe but hard to execute.

Rong Luoge pondered how to monetize it; that was a big problem.