Chapter 46: Volume 1, Chapter 46 The Backyard Is On Fire

The reason I say so is, first, I'm not entirely trying to intimidate her; rather, if this matter spreads, those searching for the seal might, for the sake of its whereabouts, possibly do something truly insane.

Second, she doesn't even know whether her guess about the truth is correct, so she definitely can't tell Rong Ling Shan directly, lest the young girl learns the truth, gets frightened, and triggers some undesirable chain reaction.

Rong Luoge is always thorough in her actions; that is also her way of preserving her life.

Ling Shan, hearing this, looked at Rong Luoge with a somewhat complicated expression and said that big sister's heart was hurt by the family, but big sister is still kind-hearted; otherwise she wouldn't care about her so much.

"I understand, big sister; I will definitely not tell anyone outside," Ling Shan said immediately.

Rong Luoge nodded, "I haven't obtained evidence about Rong Yan yet; once I get it, I'll send it to the Duchess of the State, and then you can better restrain the Rong Dai siblings."

"Really? Can big sister obtain it?" Ling Shan said excitedly.

Rong Luoge nodded, "I can only say it's possible to get it; the odds are better, but I can't guarantee it. Wait for my news."

Ling Shan happily agreed, and once relaxed, she began to bring up other matters, "Big sister, you don't know yet—yesterday Rong Dai tried to go to Qi Wang Fu, but didn't even get through the gate."

Rong Luoge was startled, "Really?"

How could that be? Given Prince Qi's motive to win over Rong Dai—and apparently he even has some feelings for her—how could he turn her away at the gate?

"It wasn't Prince Qi; it was Lady Ming who did it."

"Does Lady Ming still have the leisure to meddle with this?"

After all, our own backyard is on fire.

"I don't know, but Rong Dai couldn't get in and came back looking dejected. It's laughable; she has lost any reputation or face. Who in the capital doesn't know she was earlier driven out of Qi Wang Fu by Lady Ming?" Ling Shan said disdainfully.

That means Prince Qi is protecting her; otherwise, with her current reputation, she'd be completely ruined.

Rong Luoge, hearing this, became even more puzzled as to why Lady Ming, after having a quarrel with Consort Ming, would still be doing things for her.

Driving Rong Dai out of Qi Wang Fu couldn't have been Lady Ming's idea; if Lady Ming, after clashing with Consort Ming, still does things for her, that indicates a huge mutual interest between them.

It's just that, given her current status and the information she lacks, she can't know.

"Rong Dai's reputation is poor now; isn't the Duchess of the State afraid she might implicate you?"

"I'm afraid, but father insists on doing this; mother has argued with father several times, but…" Ling Shan said with some disappointment, "I only now realize that, in father's mind, only the Rong Dai siblings are most important."

Rong Luoge looked at Ling Shan, "It's not too late to know now; you've grown up, you know what you can do and what you should do, and the road ahead will naturally go well."

Ling Shan thought that made sense and said, "Big sister, are you really not returning to the manor? I always feel that if you went back, Rong Dai wouldn't dare be so arrogant."

"I'm not going back," Rong Luoge said.

Ling Shan felt a bit disappointed, took a purse from her sleeve pouch and placed it on the table, "I know you're disappointed with the family, and regarding the matter of helping big brother, I've already told him; this is what big brother asked me to give you."

"What is it?" Rong Luoge asked, looking at the purse on the table.

"Silver notes. Big brother said you spend money on clothing, food, shelter, and travel, so this is his private support for you," Ling Shan said shyly, looking at her big sister. "My monthly allowance isn't much; it's not enough for my own expenses, so I have no money for you. But big brother is wealthy; you needn't be modest. If you still need more, tell me, and he'll send it again."

Rong Luoge: …

What kind of development is this?

She recalled that the original owner didn't have much interaction with her brother Rong Yan; after she returned to the manor, the two had only met twice—once when she returned, and once when she got married.

Ling Shan, fearing big sister might refuse, set the item down, hurriedly stood up to take her leave, and without waiting for Rong Luoge to speak, she grabbed the hem of her skirt and ran off.

Rong Luoge looked at her back, both amused and exasperated; she thought that if the original owner were still alive, she would probably be happy.

She has always hoped to blend into this family, but she doesn't need to.

However, if Rong Yan shows goodwill, she wouldn't refuse, since perhaps in the future there will truly be places where he can help.

She'll accept the money for now, and later give it back when there's a chance, lest returning it now would make Ling Shan too upset.

Moreover, Ling Shan hurried back to the manor, first went to see mother, and told her that Rong Luoge is searching for evidence.

Chu Ke was indeed overjoyed, looking at Ling Shan and saying, "You used to be like a piece of wood, unappealing to look at, but now you've become much more capable."

Ling Shan became a bit upset, "Mother, please don't say that. If you had been kinder to big sister earlier, she wouldn't have refused to return. If big sister came back, how could the Rong Dai siblings still be so arrogant?"

Chu Ke: …

He truly didn't know what to say, glanced at his daughter and said, "You think your big sister is easy to get along with, that she could publicly divorce before His Majesty; her heart is ruthless, so don't be fooled."

"I won't talk to you any more," Ling Shan stormed off, then turned to look for big brother.

Rong Yan leaned half on the soft couch, a splint on his leg, and upon seeing his sister come in, said, "Why are you running off in such a hurry?"

"Big brother, big sister said she can help you find evidence," Ling Shan said, sitting on the chair beside him.

Rong Yan was startled, "Is that so?"

"I told you, big sister isn't as heartless as you think; this time she told me she's already looking for evidence."

Rong Yan looked at his injured leg, "Did she set any conditions?"

"No," Ling Shan shook her head and said.

Rong Yan, however, wouldn't believe it; Rong Luoge's transformation has been so drastic, her disguising ability is formidable, and someone with such deep scheming wouldn't so willingly help find evidence without some condition attached.

Nevertheless, he was grateful; if Rong Luoge hadn't told him, he wouldn't have known his injury was caused by a friend's betrayal.

Truly, one can recognize a person's appearance but not their heart.

However, with his sister's good intentions, Rong Yan didn't say these things in front of her to keep her happy, and instead said, "I understand. Did she mention anything else?"

Ling Shan nodded, "Big sister said we must not let Di Yue Nu and his mother enter the manor; we have to block them. Oh dear, big sister told me to ask mother to investigate Di Yue Nu's recent movements, but mother got angry and forgot to tell her, so I'll go again."

Ling Shan hurried off again, while Rong Yan pondered her words.

Investigate Di Yue Nu's whereabouts?

Has Rong Luoge discovered something?

If so, would uncovering Di Yue Nu's movements help with preventing her from entering the manor?

With that in mind, Rong Yan summoned his chief attendant and gave a few orders: investigate, for since father is obstinate, this son must be resolute.