Chapter 105: Volume 1, Chapter 105: Why Is My Husband So Handsome and Charming

Han Xinglan held Rong Luoge's hand and sat down, then said, "Xue Rencheng is still in my hands, and Hu Dachuan can be dug out sooner or later."

"That's true, but Di Yue Nu has also disappeared, which makes this matter very strange. I don't know what the Protector Duke's reaction will be. Tomorrow I'll invite Rong Ling Shan over for a visit."

"There's progress on the new yamen, and the Protector Duke also wants to stick his hand in and become a consul of the new yamen," Han Xinglan said, turning to look at Rong Luoge.

Rong Luoge was taken aback. "What?"

This was truly unexpected news.

"Has His Majesty approved the new yamen?" Rong Luoge asked with concern.

"Establishing a new yamen is not simple, but if His Majesty insists on having his way, it's not impossible. Besides, this matter passed through the hands of multiple factions, and in the end it was Xiao Shen, the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards who seized the Qiongchuan merchant caravan's smuggled refined iron, who came out on top."

"Xiao Shen..." Rong Luoge felt the name was familiar—Han Xinglan had mentioned him to her once before. "Isn't he your man?"

Han Xinglan nodded.

Rong Luoge let out a long breath of relief, and a relaxed smile immediately appeared in her eyes.

With her mood eased, Rong Luoge had Han Xinglan go wash up while she sat by the window and carefully considered his arrangements. The refined iron seized by Xiao Shen certainly wouldn't all be handed over to the court; Han Xinglan would naturally keep a portion for himself.

That portion could then be used to make hand cannons and similar items, and these new weapons of sufficient power would indeed inspire awe and obedience from Xiao Shen and the others—this was a well-functioning food chain, and now it was finally beginning to operate smoothly.

No wonder Han Xinglan was in good spirits. Rong Luoge was in good spirits too.

Han Xinglan returned from the washroom wearing only loose sleeping clothes, sat down next to Rong Luoge, and mimicked her by leaning against the soft pillows. No wonder she was lazy all day—it really was comfortable.

"I plan to equip Xiao Shen's Dragon Guard with the pellets you gave me before."

"Dragon Guard? The new yamen?" Rong Luoge asked, reacting very quickly.

"Yes," Han Xinglan said, squeezing Rong Luoge's soft hand.

Rong Luoge thought for a moment, then looked at Han Xinglan. "You want Xiao Shen to use the pellet blueprints to claim credit before His Majesty, and then smoothly use the seized refined iron for his own purposes?"

The refined iron would be handed over to the court, but how it was distributed would still be up to the emperor to decide. If the emperor had no particular plan, it would likely be claimed by the Ministry of War, and where those materials ultimately ended up would become an untraceable mess.

Han Xinglan didn't want these materials to slip away, so he could only use a blueprint to gain His Majesty's praise and trust through Xiao Shen's hands, then allocate this batch of refined iron to the Dragon Guard for forging weapons—which would effectively place it in Han Xinglan's hands.

Moreover, with the Dragon Guard possessing such powerful weapons, His Majesty would be greatly pleased, and Xiao Shen's standing in His Majesty's heart would be further consolidated.

Rong Luoge looked at Han Xinglan. It truly killed multiple birds with one stone—a well-played move.

"What are you looking at me for?"

"How is my husband so clever and handsome and lovable?"

Han Xinglan:...

He was made warm and ticklish by those words, especially since she was now leaning lazily against the soft pillows, gazing at him with soft, tender eyes, her affectionate gaze rippling with gentle waves. Han Xinglan couldn't rein in his feelings and leaned down to kiss her.

By the next day, Rong Luoge indeed heard that His Majesty was establishing the Dragon Guard. The commander of the Dragon Guard was set as Xiao Shen, but Prince Qi was also given the post of deputy commander.

How would the court officials view this matter?

The Crown Prince had meritorious service in saving the emperor, yet this time received nothing at all, while Prince Qi managed to secure the tangible post of deputy commander. Everyone couldn't help but secretly speculate that His Majesty still valued Prince Qi more highly.

Rong Luoge was so exasperated she almost laughed. Fortunately, Xiao Shen was one of their own, but they knew that—others did not.

Moreover, with Prince Qi entering the Dragon Guard, Xiao Shen's work would likely not go so smoothly. Conflict was inevitable.

At that very moment, Rong Luoge suddenly realized that perhaps presenting the pellet blueprints truly was the quickest and most effective way to help Xiao Shen secure his position as commander in the shortest time possible.

Had Han Xinglan anticipated this, which was why he produced the blueprints to pave the way for Xiao Shen?

"Good Lady, the second young lady of the Zhen Guo Gong Fu has arrived," Que Cai came in to report.

"Please ask her in," Rong Luoge said, looking up.

"Eldest Sister." Rong Ling Shan entered with light steps, a cheerful smile on her face, and became even happier upon seeing Rong Luoge.

Perhaps Rong Ling Shan's joy was too infectious; Rong Luoge also felt a bit more relaxed and said with a smile, "Why are you here so early? I thought it would be at least another hour before I saw you."

Rong Ling Shan immediately said, "That was my original plan, but my mother dragged me out of bed at the crack of dawn. What could I do?"

Rong Luoge hadn't expected Chu Ke to be so proactive and let out a laugh. "That's quite rare."

Rong Ling Shan said happily, "If Mother weren't unwilling to argue with Father, she would have wanted to come to the Dong Gong in person to thank you, Eldest Sister. This time, Eldest Brother being able to enter the Dragon Guard—goodness knows how many people are dying of envy. At any rate, that Lin Gao Xuan won't be getting in, which is truly satisfying."

Rong Luoge hadn't expected Han Xinglan to get Rong Yan into the Dragon Guard so quickly. She had mentioned it to him once before, mainly considering that the thread connected to Di Yue Nu couldn't be severed. Rong Yan and Rong Lang had long since turned against each other over the position of Heir Apparent, so helping Rong Yan was also a convenience for herself.

"That's good. Now that he's in the Dragon Guard, tell him to work hard following Commander Xiao. As long as he's diligent, hardworking, and enduring, gold will always shine," Rong Luoge said.

Rong Ling Shan nodded hastily. "Eldest Brother is full of drive now and truly wants to make something of himself. This time, with his broken leg, it changed him as a person. Ever since his leg healed, he goes to the martial training ground every day to train. It's very hard work."

Rong Luoge thought to herself that for a playboy like Rong Yan to turn himself around now and be willing to endure such hardship—as long as he didn't lightly trust others again, his future prospects wouldn't be bad. "In this world, relying on yourself is better than relying on anyone else. The Protector Duke may be our own father, but so what? A person must stand on their own two feet to have the confidence to speak and act."

Rong Ling Shan felt the same way, then remembered that Eldest Sister had previously said to let Eldest Brother follow Commander Xiao. She was a bit worried. "Now that Prince Qi has become the deputy commander of the Dragon Guard, it's truly an annoying business. Rong Dai even went before Eldest Brother looking smug, saying that Eldest Brother would have to earn his keep under Prince Qi from now on. Just thinking about it makes me angry."

Rong Luoge looked at Rong Ling Shan and asked, "Rong Dai has been very happy these past two days?"

Rong Ling Shan didn't know why Eldest Sister was asking this, but still nodded. "Yes, she looks like she's in an absolutely wonderful mood." Then she added sourly, "Those who don't know any better would think she's about to become Princess Consort Qi."

Rong Luoge's heart sank. If Rong Dai was in such good spirits, did that mean she knew where Di Yue Nu had gone?