Chapter 3: Volume 1, Chapter 3 Also Worth Calling a Person

Rong Luoge, wherever she was, could still mind others; at this moment she felt a certain melancholy shared by fellow wanderers, she didn't investigate further and turned to the side chamber.

The side chamber was cleaner than she expected; she straightened the warm couch by the window, curled up on it, and pressed hard to suppress the uncomfortable, unbearable feeling inside her.

Those despicable couple, she would one day avenge this grievance.

At this moment, the man in the main chamber heard that the people outside had gone to the side chamber; his attendant had not arrived yet, and if the owner of the house forced his way in, he could only act with a ruthless hand.

In the darkness, illuminated by a sliver of moonlight, only the man's pallid face could be seen; his long hair, as black as ink, fell loosely on his shoulders. Perhaps because of his injury, his lips were very pale, cold and aloof, far beyond reach, unlike the earlier bright tone when he spoke.

Around midnight, the man suddenly heard faint, fragmented moans; he slowly sat up, and after a while the sound faded, after which he sat back down.

At dawn, a "bang bang" knocking came from outside; Rong Luoge frowned and sat up. She had barely slept all night, had forced herself through, and was about to nap to restore her spirit when she was awakened; her mood was naturally not good.

She did not intend to pay attention; the knockers could be guessed without thought—it had to be someone from the Protector Duke's household.

But the more she ignored it, the louder the knocking outside became, and hearing a dissatisfied neighbor come out to question, Rong Luoge darkened her face, finally opened the door and stepped out.

After stepping out, she glanced at the main chamber; there was no movement, she didn't know if anyone was still there, but it didn't concern her—she was merely an injured guest, and would leave once healed.

"Young miss, the old servant knows you are here; you should quickly open the door. The Protector Duke has sent me to fetch you back."

Hearing that voice matched the memory in her mind; it was the steward Li Qi of the Protector Duke's household. He had not been friendly to the former owner, after all he had aligned himself with the current Duchess of the State.

Rong Luoge straightened her clothes, flung the door open, and saw Li Qi outside leading seven or eight people to block her—what a grand display.

"Who do you think I am? So it's Steward Li," Rong Luoge said coolly.

Li Qi inwardly despised this useless, soft‑tempered young miss; what good is reincarnation? It's just a pity her fate is poor—her birth mother died early, her stepmother looks down on her, and consequently the Protector Duke has little affection for this daughter.

With contempt in his eyes, Li Qi said sarcastically, "Young miss, the Protector Duke heard you fled the marriage and threw a huge tantrum last night. Today he asks you to return; you must give a proper explanation."

Rong Luoge looked at Li Qi's smug expression and asked, "Fleeing the marriage? Who said that? You?"

Li Qi, seeing the formerly timid young miss seemed a bit off, but didn't think much; after all, everyone, including Yi Qing, knows clearly the matter of Prince Qi and Rong Dai, otherwise how could this marriage fall on her?

"It was Prince Qi himself who came to the door and said it, young miss. I'm not being meddlesome, but your actions are improper. If this spreads, where will the dignity of the Protector Duke's household go? Where will the Protector Duke's face be? There are still several young masters in the mansion who haven't discussed marriage, and the Duchess is still shedding tears now."

Listening to Li Qi's every word pinning her on a pillar of shame, one can see that the former owner's position in the Protector Duke's household was truly lowly— even a steward dared to reprimand her like this.

Unfortunately, she is not the former owner.

Rong Luoge stepped forward, slapped Li Qi's face, and said coolly, "Since you know you are being talkative, shut your mouth. You're just a servant of the Rong family, yet you dare to criticize your master."

Li Qi: …

Li Qi's men: …

The Protector Duke's household will eventually return to its lands, and Rong Luoge does not wish to entangle any father‑daughter ties with this family.

Protector Duke Rong Heng is no benevolent father; when his wife died he remarried, and even sent his only daughter to the estate to avoid offending his new wife's eyes.

A man like that also deserves to be called a person!

Li Qi covered his face, unable to believe that the slap came from that mouse‑cowed young miss; he wanted to retaliate immediately, but when meeting Rong Luoge's eyes, he somehow dared not say anything further.

How could Rong Luoge's attire be shown to anyone? Since Li Qi came, she might as well be his wallet; isn't he supposed to take her back to the Protector Duke's household?

She naturally decided to dress up nicely.

Li Qi clenched his teeth in anger, but could do nothing; even if he didn't regard Rong Luoge as a master in his heart, he dared not act out of line in front of everyone, so he swallowed his teeth down.

Rong Luoge emerged completely renewed, very satisfied with her appearance.

Li Qi stared, wanting to speak but holding back; he had intended to give some advice, but recalling the earlier slap he swallowed his words. Returning like this will only make the Protector Duke even angrier.

Rong Luoge finished dressing, then boarded the Protector Duke's carriage to return.

When she entered the mansion, she saw the servants' glances were strange; they didn't care whether she was present, and their looks at her were openly contemptuous.

Rong Luoge's temper… if it weren't for a big matter today, she would have dealt with each of them one by one.

Soon they reached the main hall; before anyone entered, a teacup flew out. Had she not dodged quickly, it would have struck her.

"You still have the face to return; having a daughter as shameless as you truly makes me ashamed to be seen by others."

Rong Luoge: …

Being attacked personally right away, this cannot be tolerated.

"You keep a secret concubine, your illegitimate son is two years older than your legitimate eldest daughter; for wealth and glory you not only placed the illegitimate daughter on Prince Qi's bed, but also sent the legitimate daughter to become a scoundrel husband to a proper wife. Family teachings, both words and deeds, are beyond remedy."

The crowd: …

Rong Luoge stepped over the threshold, saw the crowd's ghost‑like expressions, scanned the room—still fairly full—and found an empty seat, sitting loudly.

"Luoge, why are you so rebellious toward your elders?" Duchess of the State Chu Ke asked with displeasure, "Your father also did it for your good; after all Prince Qi is noble, and you marrying him makes you a princess consort, even if a bit fickle. Which man in this world doesn't have three wives or four concubines? You're too jealous; no wonder Prince Qi dislikes you and comes to accuse you."

Rong Luoge sneered, "Madam, your words show you have some insight; after all, back then, at your blossoming age, you married into the Protector Duke's household, likely because you coveted the position of the Protector Duke's wife."

The Duchess Who Guards the State felt a knot in her heart, so angry she nearly spat blood.

"I was arranged to marry your father; it was the parents' decree. How can you be so reckless? I am your mother, and today I will properly teach you propriety, lest Prince Qi later comes to accuse you again," the Duchess Who Guards the State shouted, her eyes clouded with gloom, wondering how this little scoundrel could be so sharp‑tongued today.

"Madam, you have given me neither the grace of bearing me nor the grace of raising me. You stepped into the mansion, then immediately kicked me out. They say a stepmother brings a stepfather, and that's truly not false. I spent over a decade at the estate, never received a single silver from the Protector Duke's household. I wonder what face you have to call yourself my mother before me, can you live up to those two characters?"