As a member of the Royal Family, how could Rong Heng not know about the dirty dealings within?
Yet while the conspiracies and calculations in the palace were meant to trample over others for advancement, why then did the Yuan Family, merely a lowly Imperial Doctor Mansion, scheme against their own daughter? Moreover, as an Imperial Physician, Mr. Yuan should not have failed to notice Yuan Yuan’s abnormalities, right?
"Is it that your condition was caused by Doctor Yuan?"
Tangyuan scornfully laughed, "What? You don’t believe it?"
Rong Heng frowned, "It’s not that I don’t believe it, just that it feels... unreasonable. You were engaged to Ning Xu a long time ago, and everyone knew you were the future Empress, yet they still disrespected you, instead—"
Rong Heng was so clever, piecing together what he had seen and heard in the palace, as well as some of Tangyuan’s current responses and knowledge, he suddenly understood everything.
"So, the dumb act was all a facade, and you’ve been doing this because you sensed something was wrong early on?"
Tangyuan shook her head, "Not too early, if it had been, I wouldn’t be this overweight. But being overweight since I was young, I didn’t have friends. I couldn’t just degenerate, purely eating every day. I needed to do something. I started by listening to storytelling at tea houses. After being ridiculed and provoked by others, I decided to save up the money. I secretly hired a female teacher. The Yuan Family put no restrictions on my food, so I had a good amount of pocket money, which made it possible for me to save."
Rong Heng always felt there was more to Tangyuan’s story, but she didn’t say, and under these circumstances, combined with her own experiences, it almost seemed like she had rounded off the past, and he half-doubtfully accepted her explanation. Follow current novᴇls on novel⚑fire.net
He even half-joked, "If Ning Xu knew how talented you are, wouldn’t he regret banging his head against the wall?"
"A scumbag who promoted Consort De and angered the Empress Dowager to sickness within three months after I left, do you think he would have regrets?"
Rong Heng teasingly raised an eyebrow, "Sounds like the Empress Dowager wasn’t too harsh on you. Look, she initially protected you at the entrance of Yikun Palace and now she’s fallen ill because of the Emperor’s actions. Do you think there’s something more to this that people don’t know?"
Rong Heng’s probing words were understood by Tangyuan, but she simply replied with a light smile, "A self-inflicted fate, though pitiable people can still have despicable aspects!"
"Have you ever thought of taking revenge on them?"
"I have, but how? With my current status as a maid? Forget it, even a gentleman’s revenge is not too late after ten years. I hope that one day, I can firmly step on those who have harmed me in the past!"
Rong Heng gave her a deep look, "Then you keep working on losing that weight. The day they can’t recognize you will be your best revenge!"
This statement had long resonated with Tangyuan, and she had already scheduled it into her plans. As for how she would repay them in the future, that would depend on her efforts.
And her sincere engagement with Rong Heng was nothing but her way of seeking a strong external support; if Rong Heng managed to handle farming irrigation, water management, and plague issues impressively, and the Emperor acknowledged his capabilities, gaining his trust through her own merit would be like finding a big tree to lean on for her.
After all, now at fifteen years old and with her status as the former Empress of Dongru Country, it wasn’t quite appropriate for her to engage in business anymore. So in this lifetime, she might as well strive in politics.