Chapter 338: Volume 1, Chapter 338 – How Prince Qi Handles Rong Dai

Prince Qi listened to those words and couldn't help but be startled, and for a moment fell silent.

In his younger, arrogant years he thought no one mattered, did many things, and at the time felt nothing, but now looking back he finds them unbearable to behold.

Especially the night he married Rong Luoge, he now looks back and wishes he could relive it.

And the fact that Yun Shizhuang could not speak of it, that Mother Consort was especially angry, and that it happened during his mourning period, gave him a vague answer in his mind.

Seeing him like that, Yun Shizhuang was also startled; she thought perhaps the Prince had guessed it himself, but that speculation made her uneasy.

"If the Prince has nothing else, perhaps you should go pay respects to Mother Consort; she's been muttering today that the Prince has been busy with official duties and hasn't had a proper talk with her in a long time," Yun Shizhuang began to usher him away. Before she married, she had another man in her heart, but after the marriage she suppressed those feelings.

But looking at her husband and thinking of Rong Dai, she felt reluctant to see him.

Prince Qi also did not want to stay there; looking at the Princess Consort, he felt a heat burning on his face.

"Then I shall go pay respects to Mother Consort first," Prince Qi said, dropping the words and leaving.

Yun Shizhuang heard that he did not mention Rong Dai at all, sneered, and thought that if Rong Dai found out, she would think he was drugging her in front of the Prince.

Indeed, she said a few words, but they were inconsequential; ultimately Rong Dai had no other means, relying only on her looks and some past affection to maintain her relationship with the Prince.

Such a relationship would be intense at first, especially since, given Rong Dai's status, she could not marry the Prince openly, making the two consider the bond especially rare.

But once they entered the Prince's residence and lived together day after day, the things once hard to obtain that now rested in their hands, Rong Dai had no other abilities, and over time the affection naturally faded.

Moreover, the Prince is mourning the Late Emperor, and his filial devotion is sincere; after abstaining from women, Rong Dai's remaining value became even less worthwhile.

Yun Shizhuang found it increasingly laughable, and as she laughed, her eyes reddened.

In truth, the only difference between her and Rong Dai is that she has a reliable natal family, though that family is now also wavering.

She recalled Xiao Shen leading troops to attack Suizhou; once Suizhou fell, the Song clan would collapse—who would be next?

Yun Shizhuang, though not well‑versed in state affairs, knew that when the nest collapses no egg remains whole; she did not want the Yun family to suffer, for if they did, who could she rely on?

Thinking of this, she recalled the Prince's earlier words: the Empress wanted to sell dyed hemp cloth… Since her shop was to be transferred to the Inner Court Office, what if she didn't sell to the Inner Court but instead helped the Empress sell the cloth directly?

If she could connect with the Empress, she didn't seek profit, only a fallback; then even if the Yun family faced trouble, with that connection she could try to safeguard her relatives.

Yun Shizhuang grew restless, recalling that she had once looked down on Rong Luoge, had mocked her, and clashed with her, but none of that mattered compared to her family's safety.

She knew she lacked the ability to persuade her father to do anything, nor could she get her mother to join her in urging him, but her father's affection was genuine; although she had quarreled with him when she was to marry Prince Qi, those years of kinship could not be erased.

If given a chance, she would bow before the Empress, so long as she could protect her family's safety.

Yun Shizhuang did not know who would prevail in the clash between the Emperor and the aristocratic families; even if her household remained unharmed, she would only lose some profit—if the shop wasn't sold to the Inner Court, it would remain hers, and at most she would forfeit a few years' rent.

Thinking this, Yun Shizhuang felt uneasy, regretting that she had driven the Prince away earlier.

After much thought, she decided to go to her mother‑in‑law; she knew the Grand Princess had a good relationship with the Empress, and if the Grand Princess intervened, everything would fall into place.

Yun Shizhuang rose immediately, unwilling to delay any further.

She had learned from the Empress that seeking oneself is better than seeking others.

The Grand Princess had just scolded her son, wishing she could crush Rong Dai into the cracks of the ground.

"Look at what you're so fond of, your mind occupied with nothing else but that matter in the accounts," Grand Princess's anger could not be suppressed. "You are still observing your mourning, and that filial piety is your own resolve to honor your late father, a genuine devotion; I, your mother, do not stop you. Yet this has already spread throughout the court—if it's ruined because of Rong Dai, do you know how others will view you? The achievements you have painstakingly earned in the Inner Court, the face you finally reclaimed, will be lost in an instant because of her!"

Prince Qi lowered his head and said softly, "I know I was wrong; please don't be angry, your health matters."

"How could I not be angry? Your sister's marriage is still unsettled, our family is still awaiting a marriage bestowed by His Majesty. If you cause a disgraceful incident here, how can I still have the nerve to bring this up to the Empress? She may have embarrassed you, but she's ruined my face as well!"

Grand Princess thought she had been clever all her life; had it not been for the Empress later gaining Rong Luoge as an aide, the Crown Prince's disguise would have been too successful, and the one sitting on the Emperor's throne might have been her own son.

Such a clever woman, having contested with the Empress Dowager all her life without ever being at a disadvantage, yet gave birth to such a foolish son—it was enough to drive her mad.

"Stop always taking the blame!" Grand Princess this time would not let it go lightly. "Rong Dai, what do you intend to do with her? She dares to give you this kind of medicine during your mourning period; who knows what she might do later. If she ever feels dissatisfied, she'll drug you, and someday your life will be at her disposal!"

Prince Qi's complexion darkened at this, "How do you wish to handle it?"

Grand Princess looked at her son, hearing his question, felt a bit relieved, and said slowly: "I'm not unreasonable, but a mistake must be punished. Here's a solution: have her stay at Zhuangzi until your mourning period ends, so the household won't have to keep watching her like a thief. When your mourning ends, if you still like her, you may bring her back."

Prince Qi hesitated.

Grand Princess had no intention of bringing Rong Dai back, but she could not say that now; she knew her son's feelings for Rong Dai had faded somewhat yet still held some affection, so it had to be done slowly.

Men, after a year or two apart, once his mourning ends, he'll find another stunning woman to bring into the house; she doesn't believe he could still remember Rong Dai.