Rong Heng’s calculations were too obvious, and Tangyuan had yet to find a suitable method to leave, so even though she knew she was being manipulated, she could only grit her teeth and endure it—because in a male-dominated society, finding a backer like Rong Heng brought her one step closer to her plan for revenge.
In reality, this so-called cooperation had no guarantee whatsoever, since Rong Heng could go back on his word with a single sentence. Tangyuan felt verbal agreements lacked security, so she drafted an agreement and had Rong Heng sign it.
When the agreement was presented before Rong Heng, he was surprised, "Did you write this?"
Tangyuan neither confirmed nor denied, "Haven’t you seen for yourself?" It’s not like you’re blind. I wrote it in front of you. If it’s not me, could it possibly be you?
Her writing was plain and unadorned but contained the universe and was penned with swift strokes. The use of the brush was strong, each movement made with significant force. Such skill could not be achieved without decades of practice. Even he didn’t dare to claim he could write better. And yet, this woman had effortlessly produced such spirited characters.
What happened to being illiterate? Who gave him that information? It’s all nonsense!
"A woman like you, writing with such a strong presence, is no small feat,"
Before he could finish, a knock on the door interrupted him as his expression changed, and he reverted to a nonchalant demeanor, calling out coldly, "Enter."
The one who entered was his personal guard, holding a messenger pigeon’s letter. The guard glanced in Tangyuan’s direction, "My lord, there’s urgent news from Beijing!"
Tangyuan was rather tactful and had no intention of interrupting. However, Rong Heng had no plans to let her escape and blocked her with a raised leg, "Sit down,"
He then gestured to Qingfeng with his chin, "You read."
Qingfeng gave Tangyuan an imperceptible glance, thinking to himself how quickly had this fat one been treated like one of us by his master?
He was somewhat disgruntled internally but showed no sign of it and promptly read the official letter, then handed it over to Rong Heng for confirmation.
After reading the letter, Rong Heng tore it up in a fit of annoyed shame, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it at Qingfeng. Get full chapters from novｅlfire.net
"The old man is getting more and more excessive. He sent me out as an envoy during the New Year, and when it’s time to return to Beijing, he now wants me to detour to the Western Border. He claims that Xigu Country is stirring trouble again and wants me to hold down the fort. All those claiming I’m favored... step forward. I promise I won’t kill you. How is this favoritism? This is clearly disdain!"
Initially, Tangyuan had presumed that the western part of Nanling Country would be filled with yellow sands, lacking water and rain. It wasn’t until she arrived that she realized Nanling Country itself had more mountains than land, somewhat resembling the terrain in Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan; the weather wasn’t as cold as in Dongru Country. Although it was rainy in the southwest, their land remained arid. After Rong Heng arrived, he found the warriors not only had to form groups to carry water for the commoners’ fields but also fend off enemy invasions, which had exhausted many to death.
Originally, Rong Heng didn’t want to bring her along, thinking she was too fat and embarrassing for him. But after accidentally tasting her cooking once, he could no longer utter a word of refusal.
Therefore, on his journey to the southwest this time, Prince Heng insisted on bringing along a big fat person weighing around one hundred and forty or fifty jin. Almost everywhere Prince Heng went, she followed, even to the ends of the fields to inspect the dryness of the land. And ever since eating her cooking, he could no longer stomach anyone else’s.
Rong Heng complained about Tangyuan more than once, saying she had poisoned him, making him increasingly unable to do without her.
Each time, Tangyuan just rolled her eyes at him, feeling such a notion was too juvenile to warrant her attention.