Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 498 - 489: Way to Survive

Chapter 498: Chapter 489: Way to Survive

Thinking of those past events, Rong Zhao was filled with fury and hatred. She resented the Emperor for disregarding their father-daughter relationship, Prince Xue for overlooking their marital ties, and her second brother for ignoring their sibling relationship. She detested how her second brother and Queen Wang had used her to target The Chus, and how they coaxed her into standing against her ninth brother. What filled her with even more hatred was how the Emperor and The Chus played along with their scheme and used her as a chess piece to mislead her second brother and Queen Wang...

She clenched her fists tightly, her sharp nails biting into her own flesh, causing a sharp pain. As she came back to her senses, she realized not only was Chen Afu gone, so had Prince Xue.

She demanded, "Where is the Prince? Where are those two skanky people?"

A nanny bowed and replied, "Prince Xue has left with Granny Chu and The Chus’ eldest daughter."

Furious, Rong Zhao responded, "I did not permit those two skanks to leave. Bring them back here."

The nanny discretely tried to calm her, "Your Highness, Lady says you need to hold back for a while longer. Once Lady regains the Emperor’s favor, there will be ample time to deal with those who disrespect you."

Rong Zhao murmured, "Could I ever regain the Emperor’s favor?" She couldn’t remember the last time the Emperor had spoken kindly to her.

The nanny reassured her, "You are the Emperor’s most cherished eldest daughter, having been doted on since birth, why would he not love you? When the Emperor cools down, you can please him again and he will dote you even more..."

Indeed, as a child, she was often coddled on the Emperor’s lap. It was not hard to please the Emperor.

But what about Chu Lang’s heart? Even though she was would rather not admit it, she knew she had never truly won the heart of Chu Lang.

From the moment she set eyes on him, she was enchanted. Ignoring the dissuasion of the Emperor and her royal mother, she exhausted all means to gain him. Although she had him physically, she never captured his heart.

If Prince Xue had died and her second brother and Queen Wang hadn’t suggested those ill ideas, would she have been in this situation today? Then, wouldn’t she and her mother still have been in the Emperor’s favor?

But no, without Chu Lang, she would not be at peace her whole life. However, supposing she hadn’t listened to those harmful ideas from her younger brother and Queen Wang to scheme against Chu Lang, if instead she had tried to slowly win Chu Lang over, wouldn’t she have not only won over his affections but also his heart? ... Ah, if only it were so, she might possibly never get Chu Lang. Then she could have only tried to seize him but she shouldn’t have allied with her second brother...

As Rong Zhao laid on her bed, her head ached from the confusion and streaks of cold sweat ran down her back. She whispered, "Chu Lang, Chu Lang..."

A palace maid quickly responded, "Your Highness, if you could please wait a moment, I will immediately go look for Prince Xue."

Marquis Chu sent Chen Afu and Miss Chu straight back to The Chus, with Chen Afu and her daughter going to the Inner Courtyard, while Marquis Chu went to his own Jin Court.

Mrs. Chu held Yu’er, amusing herself with the little boy. When she saw Chen Afu and Miss Chu return, she asked in surprise, "Why have you returned so soon? Didn’t Rong Zhao ask you to serve her the decoction? And what happened to Yan’er?"

Upon seeing Miss Chu’s pale face, Chen Afu reached out to take Yu’er from Mrs. Chu, but she turned and refused to let go. Chen Afu put down her hand and explained what had happened. "... That wretched Rong Zhao! Yan’er is still so young, yet she dared to say such cruel words. It makes me furious!"

Mrs. Chu, looking at her young daughter’s retreating figure, taken away by the servant to clean up, coldly scoffed, "Obviously Rong Zhao was delirious from her illness, she must have mistaken Yan’er for her sister-in-law and scolded her. She despises her sister-in-law, but because Yan’er looks like her sister-in-law, she allowed the servants to almost kill Yan’er. Rong Zhao has always been domineering and brutal since childhood and didn’t hesitate to snatch away whatever she set her eyes on, even if it was her sister’s belongings. This time, she grabbed a living person, leading to the ruin of his family. She deserves her illness."

The Marquis’s father and Marquis Chu had lunch together in Anrong Hall in the midday. After lunch, Marquis Chu took his two sons to play in Jin Court, even indicating that he’d take his afternoon nap there as well.

For several days after that, Marquis Chu stayed at Jin Court. The two boys were taken to Jin Court first thing in the morning and were only brought back to Anrong Hall for dinner by Marquis Chu, who then handed them over to Chen Afu.

Upon hearing that Princess Rongzhao’s nurses had asked for Marquis Chu several times in his residence, but he still hadn’t returned, four days later, in the late afternoon on the first day of March, Lady Ma sent a chamberlain to deliver a message. The message conveyed Rong Zhao’s illness, her inability to leave her bed, and Prince Xue’s indifference towards even paying her a visit. He was asked if the royal family still meant anything in his eyes.

Upon hearing this, Marquis Chu didn’t offer any explanation and instead proceeded to the Imperial Palace to apologize to the Emperor.

Due to being provoked by the second prince, the Emperor’s health had severely deteriorated. He was now coughing out blood daily and the Crown Prince had taken his place in most of the morning court sessions. However, the news of the Emperor’s critical condition was concealed well with the announcement that the Emperor’s health had declined due to his distress over the unfilial behavior of the second prince.

The Emperor’s guilt for not having fulfilled his past promises restrained him from reprimanding Marquis Chu further. All he did was shake his head and lament, "The reason Rong Zhao ended up in this mess was because she was deceived by the second prince. I don’t have much longer to live, and I don’t want to see the second prince meet an unfortunate end, or Rong Zhao suffer within my lifetime. She is my eldest daughter, and I’ve doted on her since childhood. Marquis Chu, if you resent her, it’s as if you blame me for not raising her well..."

Marquis Chu was startled and immediately knelt, knocking his forehead against the ground and exclaiming, "I dare not!"

Disappointed, the Emperor continued, "Regardless of what an annoyance she is, she remains my Princess, a royal offspring. She doesn’t have any brothers, and the Crown Prince despises her. The only thing she can depend on in the future is my lingering favor. Marquis Chu, regardless of how much you dislike her, she has given herself to you for many years, at least allow her a route of survival."

Marquis Chu prostrated, his head knocking rhythmically on the floor as he choked out, "You are killing me, Emperor, you are killing me!"

Inside his chariot on his way back to the Princess Mansion, Marquis Chu’s fists were clenched tightly within the folds of his robe. He knew his time had come to surrender his hidden power...

Not long after Marquis Chu left, Shiyi entered Yangxin Hall carrying a bowl of a colourful, finely wrought decoction.

The sight of this delightful son brought joy to the Emperor, and he beckoned Shiyi to him.

Shiyi placed the bowl onto the table and bowed, saying, "Father, I had a nourishing soup prepared. Please taste it." Seeing the Emperor sip it and nod in satisfaction, he continued, "This was prepared according to a recipe provided by Mrs. Chu. Mrs. Chu is quite adept at culinary matters, preparing food that is not only delicious but also nourishing."

After a few more sips, the Emperor set down his spoon and pulled Shiyi to rest against him. Out of his numerous children, it was this youngest son, Shiyi, whom he loved the most. The Emperor felt that Shiyi, in his kindness and benevolence, was most like him. Luckily, Shiyi was also the younger brother of the ninth prince, ensuring he had an elder brother who cared for him despite his young age.