Chapter 77: Volume 1 Chapter 77 Bite Back

Rong Luoge knew Princess Zhaoqing was not a good person, but she hadn't expected her to be so daring; her eyes grew cold, and she had planned to go along with the scheme, yet Prince Qi knew he was proficient in martial arts, and doing so would only hand the advantage to the other side.

But she wasn't without a way out; Rong Luoge quickly stepped back a pace, and Zhaoqing's foot, unable to retract in time, kicked the railing behind Rong Luoge.

Princess Zhaoqing hadn't expected Rong Luoge to take a step at that moment, and the pain made her tears gush out.

Rong Luoge stared at her with a shocked expression, "Princess, you are crying with joy; it seems you are truly delighted that Prince Qi's Highness has won. The deep bond between siblings is moving."

Zhaoqing: …

The strike failed, and Zhaoqing suffered a huge loss herself, feeling as if her toes were about to fall off, yet she could not voice it; her mood was obvious.

Rong Luoge watched her trying to suppress her rising anger, then slightly lowered her head and whispered, "You siblings are truly equally foolish; Princess, you have not disappointed me."

Princess Zhaoqing could no longer hold back her tone; she had never in her life suffered such a loss or such mockery, and she raised her hand and slapped.

Rong Luoge stepped back, evading the slap, and immediately adopted a look of shocked, aggrieved distress, looking at Princess Zhaoqing, "Princess, how could this concubine have offended you? I am no longer Princess Consort Qi; you may crush and trample me as you wish."

Rong Luoge's voice rang unusually high, instantly drawing everyone's gaze, who looked at the two with suspicion.

At that moment, Princess Zhaoqing's slap barely skimmed Rong Luoge's cheek and slipped away, making it look as if Zhaoqing had just slapped Rong Luoge.

"Zhaoqing, what are you doing?" the Empress's face hardened, knowing this was a perfect opportunity that could not be missed.

Rong Luoge gave Princess Zhaoqing no chance to explain, her eyes brimming with tears as she stared at the Empress, adopting a resolute demeanor and, with a slight choke, said, "I beg the Empress to arbitrate for this concubine. I was indeed once Princess Consort Qi, but thanks to His Majesty's justice in granting me a divorce, I could escape the mire. I did not expect Princess Zhaoqing today to assault me without cause. Is it because I was once Princess Consort Qi, and previously had to endure humiliation due to my status, that I should now be bullied by the Princess because I am no longer a sister?"

The crowd gasped; they had not misseen—Princess Zhaoqing's hand had indeed brushed Rong Luoge's cheek.

Whether it actually struck or not is another matter, but it certainly looked like a slap.

Zhaoqing grew frantic; she had heard nonsense before, but never someone like Rong Luoge spewing so many lies.

"It wasn't me; she provoked first, calling me and the imperial brother equally foolish, and that's why I lost my temper briefly," Zhaoqing said immediately.

"Princess, even when you lie you need a good excuse. Why would this concubine insult you and Prince Qi for no reason? I am but a modest Good Lady, how could I dare speak disrespectfully to the Princess and Prince Qi? Is it that I think my life is too long?" Rong Luoge wept even more, clutching a handkerchief half over her face, looking utterly heart‑broken.

A beautiful pear‑flower‑like lady wept in the rain; truly I felt pity upon seeing her.

The onlookers' gazes shifted back and forth, thinking that Rong's words made sense; after finally divorcing Prince Qi, she now serves as the Crown Prince's Good Lady, and of course she wishes to cut ties with Consort Ming's faction.

Otherwise, if she still dealt with Princess Zhaoqing and the others, wouldn't the Crown Prince be displeased with her?

Moreover, the split between Rong Luoge and Prince Qi was quite messy, so even the highly favored Consort Ming was reprimanded by His Majesty a few times, creating enmity; therefore Rong Luoge could not possibly approach voluntarily now.

So…

Of course it is because Princess Zhaoqing bears a grudge over the divorce; upon seeing her, she finds her displeasing, regards her as merely a Good Lady, and thinks a little humiliation is fine, especially since Zhaoqing is always willful…

Consort Ming was beside the Emperor, discussing Prince Qi's victory, when the commotion erupted; she was clueless at first, but when the argument grew loud, the Emperor turned from the viewing platform to inquire.

At his question, Consort Ming's complexion changed.

The Emperor beside also looked displeased, his expression darkening instantly.

Consort Ming immediately said, "Your Majesty, you must arbitrate for Zhaoqing; this child has always been pure and kind, how could she clash with Good Lady Rong without cause?"

As soon as Consort Ming finished speaking, the Empress, who was approaching, said, "Consort Ming, how could it be without cause? Good Lady Rong was once Princess Consort Qi; she was driven to desperation in Prince Qi's mansion by you, begged His Majesty for help, and it was His Majesty who gave her a way out."

The Empress, looking angry, glared at Consort Ming and then at the Emperor, "Your Majesty, although I do not favor Good Lady Rong nor approve of her entering Dong Gong, her status is indeed awkward. Yet, considering she saved the Crown Prince, and because her divorce caused her family to despise and expel her from the clan, she was truly pitiful. If she had nowhere to go, why would she think of leaving the capital? Had it not been so, she would not have encountered danger at the relay station and, by a twist of fate, rescued the Crown Prince."

The Empress inhaled deeply, as if suppressing grievance and anger, "I find this child terribly pitiful; after the divorce she was expelled by her own family, and as a weak woman in such circumstances, she still risked her life to save others. I could not turn a blind eye and force her to a dead end, so I shamelessly petitioned His Majesty to let her enter Dong Gong, giving her a place to stay."

The Emperor's brows furrowed even tighter, acknowledging the Empress's point, yet every time Rong Luoge appears she stirs trouble, which he could not help disliking.

However, under everyone's watchful eyes, Zhaoqing's actions were indeed excessive, truly a headache.

"Your Majesty is benevolent and magnanimous, and because of that Good Lady Rong receives Your Majesty's protection. Yet, since the divorce is final, the past is over; why must Zhaoqing go to such lengths to drive Good Lady Rong to a dead end?"

Those words were rather severe.

Consort Ming immediately said, "Empress, it is only a childish spat, a few quarrels; how can you make such alarmist statements?"

Consort Ming did not know the true facts, but she understood her daughter's temperament; most likely Zhaoqing was looking for trouble with Rong Luoge, only to be outwitted by Rong.

The more such a moment, the less she could lose composure; she could only stress that the incident was merely a children's quarrel.

A proper Dragon Boat Festival, which should have showcased Prince Qi's glory, has now been completely ruined.