Chapter 102: Volume 1, Chapter 102 — This Exciting?

"You gave me a generous dowry, but now I cannot give you a sufficiently grand betrothal gift." Han Xinglan felt a slight regret; perhaps his encounter with her should have come in the best of times, when he could bestow upon her sufficient glory.

Rong Luoge had not expected Han Xinglan to think this way; it was somewhat beyond her expectations. She reached out and wrapped her arms around his lean, firm waist. "You've already given me the most precious gift."

Han Xinglan looked down at Rong Luoge's delicate fingers pressing against his heart. In that instant, his heartbeat violently accelerated, and with both hands he scooped her up.

Rong Luoge cried out in alarm, "Your wound!"

"It's fine."

Rong Luoge did not know whether all men tried to show off like this when impulsive; though damnably charming, she had already caught a faint scent of blood. But once a man turned domineering, he would never give you extra time to do anything else.

Such as checking a wound.

Then again, someone who had just had his first taste of it always craved more, with particularly vigorous energy in such matters.

Through the long night, a gentle breeze stirred the gauze curtains. Under the dim lamplight, the shadows of two figures were faintly illuminated within the curtains...

After a bout of lovemaking, the two leaned against each other. Rong Luoge's tired fingers had no strength left. Hearing the sound of the washing room carrying water, she pretended not to hear it.

After the servants dispersed, Han Xinglan took her to bathe. Rong Luoge looked at his wound; though it had bled a little, the wound no longer looked as ghastly as before. She wiped his shoulders, avoiding letting water touch the wound.

Han Xinglan watched her gentle, meticulous movements with a smile in his eyes, and said softly, "I told you it was nothing. Now you can stop worrying."

Rong Luoge did not want to respond to him. She simply washed herself, threw on some clothes, and returned to the bedchamber.

Han Xinglan chuckled softly. Even the way she lost her temper was adorable.

After changing into nightclothes, the two finally had time to talk properly.

Rong Luoge told him about her visit to the Hou Gong today, and also mentioned the matter of Consort Zhong and Liu Yingying.

Han Xinglan did not particularly care about these things, saying, "If you pity her, then looking after her a bit is fine."

"I just feel she has it quite hard. In that vast Hou Gong, she doesn't even have anyone to rely on," Rong Luoge said.

"That's because you haven't seen those even more pitiful than her," Han Xinglan said plainly. "If Consort Zhong had been able to hold her ground back then and not yield before Consort Ming, she wouldn't still be just a Beauty now."

If she did not fight for herself, one push from others was enough; no one would keep pushing her along forever.

Rong Luoge heard the meaning in Han Xinglan's words and thought it reasonable. The weak were prey to the strong; playing the victim would not let you survive to the end. "Now that she's pregnant, I imagine for the sake of the child in her belly, she'll stand up for herself."

"Then we'll see," Han Xinglan said, knowing Rong Luoge was kind-hearted. "But mind your own safety. The Empress seems to have other plans regarding Consort Zhong. Be careful."

Rong Luoge turned to look at Han Xinglan. "I thought it was just my imagination. I didn't expect you to think the same."

"What imagination?" Han Xinglan asked, looking at Rong Luoge.

Rong Luoge was no fool, and naturally would not cover for the Empress, so she said, "Today at Phoenix Ceremony Palace, Her Majesty the Empress instructed me to drink the tonic prescribed by the Imperial Hospital, to help me conceive a child as soon as possible and bear the Emperor's eldest grandson."

Han Xinglan's gaze darkened, and he said directly, "Just accept the medicine from the Imperial Hospital, but don't drink it."

A smile came into Rong Luoge's eyes. "Though Her Majesty the Empress means well, the Imperial Hospital is a mixed bag. I truly wouldn't dare ingest it."

Han Xinglan looked down into Rong Luoge's eyes. He knew why she had said this. She had not spoken plainly before, likely probing his attitude toward the matter.

Ultimately, in her heart she could not be certain whom he would favor between her and the Empress.

Han Xinglan reached out and pulled Rong Luoge into his arms. "Just follow whatever Phoenix Ceremony Palace instructs, but privately, ignore it. If the Empress asks, say it was my idea."

Rong Luoge was pleased. This meant he was backing her up.

"Alright."

Listening to Rong Luoge's light-hearted reply, Han Xinglan sighed softly in his heart. For the moment, he had no inclination to ask about that draft drawing. He held her as they lay down and said gently, "Sleep."

"Alright." Rong Luoge leaned against his chest and closed her eyes.

Watching Rong Luoge's sleeping face, Han Xinglan had not the slightest drowsiness. He truly had not expected that the Empress scheming against Consort Zhong was one thing, but to actually try to extend her hand toward Luoge — that was intolerable.

And then there was the matter of that Liu Yingying. Though Luoge had only mentioned it in a sentence or two, how could he not catch the meaning behind those words?

His mother's actions were growing increasingly extreme. Bringing in a Liu Yingying to cause trouble for Consort Ming was nothing more than a tactic that wounded the enemy a thousand while costing eight hundred of one's own.

That Liu Yingying was no easy character to deal with.

Han Xinglan's expression grew colder and colder. It seemed he needed to move faster — at least enough to keep the situation under control.

And then there was Prince Qi...

Liu Yingying was indeed a beauty of national allure, and that pair of eyes in particular bore some resemblance to Rong Dai...

At this thought, the corner of Han Xinglan's mouth hooked up slightly. Perhaps... it was not entirely out of the question.

Under imperial power, it was either your death or my survival. What need was there for fairness, justice, or light?

Though Rong Luoge had closed her eyes, she had not fallen asleep. She could sense that after hearing what she had said, Han Xinglan's heart was probably not at peace.

No child wished for their mother to be a devil.

Rong Luoge did not know when she had fallen asleep. She only knew that when she woke, Han Xinglan was already gone. The sun hung high; by now he should be on the court acting as a proper ornament.

At this thought, Rong Luoge was amused.

It was not easy being His Highness the Crown Prince.

Breakfast was lavish: four hot dishes, two cold dishes, two congee items, and an assortment of fried pastries and steamed goods.

After breakfast, she was about to go finish the draft drawing of the handgun from yesterday when she saw Que Cai hurry in, curtsy, and say, "Good Lady, Liu Yingying has been conferred the rank of Noble Consort."

Rong Luoge was quite surprised. "Noble Consort? That rank is truly not low."

Ranks in the Hou Gong had always been promoted step by step from low to high. The Empress, as the principal wife, naturally attained her position in one step. Someone like Consort Ming, despite her distinguished family background, was initially only conferred the rank of Noble Lady upon entering the palace.

Above Noble Lady was Noble Consort, and Noble Consort was second only to the rank of Consort.

"Yes, this has never happened before. The Hou Gong is in an uproar now. The newly minted Noble Consort ran right into Consort Ming, and word is that Consort Ming slapped her."

Rong Luoge was utterly astonished. This exciting?

Consort Ming must have been furious.

It made sense. For decades she had been unrivaled in the Hou Gong, always deeply favored by His Majesty. Now for a Liu Yingying to suddenly appear, whose initial conferral trampled her face into the ground — of course she had to vent.