"My Princess Consort

Chapter 11: Little Rong Huan

As Rong Jiu prepared to head into the city, Xia Mu couldn’t help but ask, “Miss Rong, do you have a place to stay in Liu’an? If not, why not come to our residence? The place is spacious, and we recently moved to a new estate given by His Majesty. It could easily accommodate a hundred guests like you.”

“Exactly! Miss Rong, you should rest at our mansion. After all these days of travel, a wash and a bit of rest before heading home wouldn’t worry your family.”

“Please come with us, Miss Rong.”

“No need.”

Rong Jiu replied with just two words, a response they had grown accustomed to, though they still felt reluctant to part ways with her.

They tried even harder to persuade her.

The more Rong Jiu listened, the more ridiculous it sounded. They even mentioned the palace and the emperor, and yet Ye Tianlin did nothing to stop them.

Rong Jiu decided it was time to maintain some distance.

She turned to leave.

“I’ll escort you,” Ye Tianlin silently followed her.

“There’s no need.” The city gate was just ahead, and the crowd was getting thicker. Rong Jiu didn’t want to be seen traveling with them. “We’ve merely traveled together for a time. It’s normal to part ways once we reach our destination. If you insist on following me back, could it be that you have some ulterior motive?” Rong Jiu’s words were sharp.

Ye Tianlin looked at her, unfazed. He unfastened a jade pendant shaped like a coiled dragon from his waist and handed it to her. “I promised you a favor. If you ever need anything, you can bring this to the Prince of Zhennan’s residence.”

Rong Jiu accepted it.

This was her payment; no need to be polite.

Ye Tianlin smiled, his voice carrying a rare hint of anticipation. “I look forward to seeing you again.”

Rong Jiu responded with a simple “Hmm,” and bid farewell to Ye Tianlin before entering the city on her own.

To avoid running into them again, Rong Jiu deliberately wandered around the city for a while before returning to her path.

The Rong family was one of the wealthiest in Liu’an, with a fortune that could rival nations. The family’s wealth had been amassed since her parents’ generation, making Rong Jiu the rightful heir.

However, after her mother died in childbirth, giving birth to her brother, the once-happy family fell apart overnight. Her father fell into a deep depression, leaving the burden of the family on Rong Jiu’s shoulders. She was only ten years old at the time, and her father’s brothers took advantage of her youth to seize control of the family affairs. Rong Jiu had no power to resist. However, the family’s stewards, who had been with her parents through thick and thin, only recognized her as the rightful heir, not her uncle, Rong Xiufu.

Rong Xiufu made a deal with the stewards: when Rong Jiu came of age, he would return the family’s control to her.

Everyone agreed.

With Rong Xiuyu sinking into despair, Rong Jiu still too young, and her newborn brother helpless, there was no choice but to let Rong Xiufu temporarily take over as head of the family, waiting for Rong Jiu to come of age.

But Rong Xiufu had other plans. As soon as Rong Jiu came of age, he arranged her marriage and, on her wedding day, killed her in a cunning switch of identities. He then placed an impostor in her place to continue controlling the family.

The plan was flawless, except for one thing: the real Rong Jiu didn’t die.

It had been many days since, and she had no idea how the impostor was treating her family. Had her father and brother noticed the fake? Would Rong Yuqing harm them? With so many unanswered questions, Rong Jiu had no interest in royal matters. Getting involved with nobility only meant trouble for her.

Nevertheless, she carefully kept the token she had received.

“I wonder how Rong Huan and Father are doing.”

In her memories, the original Rong Jiu had a strong bond with her family, so she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of anticipation. But what she never expected was to find her father and brother on the street, begging for food.