Chapter 34: Volume 1, Chapter 34: Refusing to Let Them Get Their Way

"If you have a good solution, Miss Rong, please speak freely. This would be a great thing for the soldiers at the border," Han Xinglan continued.

Rong Luoge had no intention of getting too deeply involved with the Crown Prince for now, but the other party had done her a great favor today, so she couldn't help but hesitate a little.

Han Xinglan noticed and his eyes gained a trace of amusement, speaking with even greater sincerity: "Frequent warfare drains the people and wastes wealth; the common folk of the Xiao Kingdom suffer unbearably. I truly cannot eat or sleep in peace."

Rong Luoge: …

"Your Highness has no shortage of capable people around you, so you must surely have a good plan," Rong Luoge replied, then after a moment's thought added, "I don't have any brilliant solution either, but I think if the military deterrent is sufficient, it should quiet things down for a while. Tell you what—I'll make a kind of pellet for Your Highness. You just need to light the fuse and launch it with a catapult, and it will explode with a sound like thunder. Very intimidating."

"Oh? Could you explain in detail, Miss Rong?"

Rong Luoge could only explain the concept of a bomb to him in detail. In a sense, this thing counted as a primitive type of thermal weapon. Something that could be made with current technological conditions wouldn't actually have a wide damage range, but the sound would be enormous, and since no such weapon existed yet, its sudden appearance would surely strike terror into the enemy.

However, given enough time, once the enemy figured out the truth, they wouldn't be so afraid anymore.

But the Crown Prince only needed something shocking for the short term—something simple and quick to produce—and this was the only thing Rong Luoge could think of.

The Crown Prince's questions came one after another. If not for his exceptionally good attitude and sincere tone, Rong Luoge would have wanted to flick her sleeves and leave.

Finally done asking, Han Xinglan said with a hint of apology, "Miss Rong is truly warmhearted. It's getting late—please stay for dinner before heading back, so I may express my gratitude."

Rong Luoge naturally refused. She was just about to rise and take her leave when, as it happened, Shi An, the eunuch at the Crown Prince's side, appeared at just the right moment. He bowed and reported, "Your Highness, Miss Rong, dinner is ready. Please come this way."

Han Xinglan smiled and looked at Rong Luoge. "Miss Rong lives right next door. It won't be too late to go back after eating. Why not try my residence's cooking? If you like it, I'll have them make it and send it over in the future."

Rong Luoge recalled that she hadn't yet hired a cook for her own household, and the cook at the old residence had only mediocre skills. In that moment of hesitation, Han Xinglan was already leading the way ahead, so she had no choice but to follow.

She felt that simply walking away like that would be rather impolite.

The meal was set up in a small hall in the rear garden. Opening the window revealed rockeries, ponds, and groves, with flowers in full bloom—truly a feast for the eyes.

The small hall was simply furnished, but famous calligraphy and paintings hung on the walls, and the table and chairs were all made of rosewood wood, their glaze seemingly coated with a patina that showed they were old pieces from many years past.

After the two took their seats, the dishes began to be served: scallion and pepper chicken broth, apple and yam braised duck in wine, fatty chicken and smoked cabbage, eggplant with perilla oil, steamed shad, along with twin jade cakes and fried cakes on red-lacquered plates, a small pot of fruit wine, and a small bowl of seafood congee—truly a complete spread in color, aroma, and taste.

Rong Luoge was truly envious. When would she have a little kitchen like this, plus a cook with outstanding skills? Then she'd be completely satisfied.

The ancients believed in not speaking during meals, so the two did not converse while eating. After dinner, Rong Luoge ate to her heart's content and felt that her trip today was not in vain—she had raised the Crown Prince's goodwill and scored a delicious meal to boot.

After the meal, she tactfully rose to take her leave and said to the Crown Prince, "I take my leave."

Han Xinglan hadn't forgotten the sparkling look in her eyes during the meal. He smiled and said, "I'm rarely on this side normally. If there's anything you like to eat, just have the kitchen here make it."

Rong Luoge, of course, knew better than to accept. She smilingly declined, then turned and left.

Once she was gone, the smile on Han Xinglan's face slowly faded. So she was fond of culinary pleasures—he'd previously thought she had no weaknesses.

That made things easier.

Han Xinglan called for Shi An and instructed, "Have one of the Dong Gong's cooks come over."

Shi An was taken aback but immediately replied, "Yes."

He hadn't expected that this Former Consort of the Qi Prince would carry such weight with His Highness. He'd have to be more careful from now on. Remembering the matter at hand, he said softly, "Your Highness, you must enter the palace tomorrow morning. You need to return to the Dong Gong tonight."

He was supposed to have gone back in the afternoon, but running into Miss Rong had delayed him until now.

"Let's go." Han Xinglan strode out, saying as he walked, "Investigate what connection there is between Yu Liu, who serves beside Consort Ming, and the Protector Duke's mistress kept outside."

"Yes." Shi An hurriedly noted it down. "When Lord Hu investigated Yu Liu earlier, her identity was somewhat puzzling. Lord Hu even said at the time that something seemed off. Continuing the investigation now probably won't be easy either."

Han Xinglan's footsteps paused slightly. "Hu Xi said that?"

"Yes, this was all from a year ago. At the time, the matter wasn't considered particularly important, so it was never reported to Your Highness," Shi An replied nervously.

Han Xinglan glanced at Shi An but didn't blame him. After a pause, he said, "Continue investigating. If someone is obstructing, that means something is amiss. This concerns Consort Ming and Prince Qi—do not take it lightly."

"Yes." Shi An breathed a sigh of relief. He'd broken out in a cold sweat just now. Seeing His Highness striding out, he hurried to follow.

Meanwhile, things were far from peaceful at the Zhen Guo Gong Fu. The Protector Duke looked at Chu Ke and said, "What do you mean you can't find her? How can a perfectly living person just disappear?"

Chu Ke was already dissatisfied with her husband over the matter of Rong Dai and her brother. Now, hearing her husband's questioning tone, a surge of anger rose in her chest, but she forced it down, calming her emotions as much as possible before speaking unhurriedly: "I don't know either. I only followed the Duke's instructions and sent someone to invite the eldest young lady to the residence, but the person who went came back and reported that the eldest young lady had gone out of the city to burn incense and pray for blessings, but refused to say which temple or Daoist shrine she went to. You know that as a stepmother, there are some things and some words I can't say too forcefully."

The Protector Duke's brows knitted tightly together. "No matter what, find her first. Consort Ming has said that a marriage must be arranged for her as soon as possible to marry her off. We can't let her damage Prince Qi's reputation."

Chu Ke couldn't care less whether Rong Luoge married or not, but she still said upon hearing this, "The eldest young lady never returned to the residence after her divorce, and Your Grace still remembers what she said in court that day, don't you? I'm afraid this won't be easy. The eldest young lady did say that a first marriage is decided by the father, but a second marriage is decided by herself. She's someone with a mind of her own."

"Nonsense! She is my daughter, and her marriage is naturally my decision." The Protector Duke slammed the table and looked at Chu Ke. "No matter what, find her first."

With that, the Protector Duke flicked his sleeves and left. Chu Ke trembled with anger, her chest shaking. Recently, because of the matter with Rong Dai and her brother, the couple had quarreled no small amount, to the point where the Protector Duke was no longer as patient with her as before.

Chu Ke gave a cold laugh. So it was Consort Ming's wishes—more like Rong Dai and her mother scheming behind the scenes. She would make sure they didn't get their way.