Chapter 121: Volume 1, Chapter 121: Catching All in One Net

Regarding Prince Qi's marriage, the Emperor previously would have considered the matter of checks and balances, carefully weighing which family Prince Qi should ally with through marriage, but this time he completely lost his impartial stance and agreed in one breath to Prince Qi marrying Yun Shizhuang.

Furthermore, after His Majesty awakened from his coma, he reprimanded the Empress on behalf of Consort Ming, and the Crown Prince was immediately scolded in court as well. Then Prince Qi was taking a proper wife as his principal wife, while on the Crown Prince's side, not even a shadow of a Crown Princess was to be seen—instead, quite a few beauties were sent to the Dong Gong, filling up the Dong Gong's establishment all at once.

One event after another was like signals being released one by one; inside and outside the court, the way people now looked at the Crown Prince was no longer quite right.

Han Xinglan seemed completely oblivious, still attending and dismissing from court as usual. After court, he did not cozy up to courtiers to build connections; if there was nothing to do, he returned to the Dong Gong, and if there was business, he left as soon as it was handled, never lingering for long.

The Crown Prince's utter lack of ambition to vie for power instead anxious those courtiers who supported him—how could things go on like this?

They had to urge the Crown Prince to be proactive and diligent, and to guard against Prince Qi.

Right at this incendiary moment, news spread that Xiao Shen had gone to the Ming General's residence to propose marriage, and the capital became even more chaotic.

Xiao Shen was the person His Majesty trusted most nowadays. Since establishing the Imperial Dragon Guard, not to mention its massive expansion, in a short time the Imperial Dragon Guard's establishment had swelled rapidly; moreover, His Majesty had actually instructed the Imperial Dragon Guard to gradually take over the palace's defense arrangements.

If you asked who the most prominent figure in the capital was right now?

Aside from Xiao Shen, who dared claim to be first?

But at this very juncture, Xiao Shen proposed to Ming Yuhua—did this mean Xiao Shen had also sided with Prince Qi's camp?

And then there was the matter of Xiao Shen marrying Ming Yuhua—was it his own wish or His Majesty's instruction?

Countless conjectures flew about in private, yet no one dared step forward and say a word about what was really going on.

The day Prince Qi took his wife was the day Xiao Shen went to the Ming Da Jiangjun Fu to propose, and also the day beauties entered the Dong Gong.

Early in the morning, Han Xinglan accompanied Rong Luoge for breakfast. Today His Majesty was not holding morning court, so he did not need to rush out the door. The two finished their meal unhurriedly, and still had time to sit down for a game of chess.

Rong Luoge played black and moved first, Han Xinglan played white and followed. The two sat across from each other, without the tension and worry that the outside world imagined.

"In another half-hour the beauties will enter the Dong Gong. Does Your Highness truly not want to go take a look?" Rong Luoge placed a piece and asked with a smile.

Han Xinglan gave a light laugh. "What is there to see? Like ordinary people, they're nothing more than two eyes and one mouth. Besides, if I take one look and the vinegar jar at home tips over, what then?"

Rong Luoge: …

She glared at him, then snorted and said, "You certainly are leisurely, but I fear that if you don't go see them for even a day, Her Majesty the Empress will summon me over in a few days to interrogate me."

Such a thing was highly likely. A mother would never think it was her son's fault—it must be the fault of the fox spirit beside him.

Han Xinglan trembled with laughter at these words and immediately said, "If Mother summons you for questioning, just push it onto me. I'll bear everything."

Rong Luoge nodded in satisfaction. "That's more like it. This black pot on my back is rather heavy."

The charge of being a fox spirit—she probably could not dodge it.

The game was not yet finished when Rong Xin walked in and said softly, "Your Highness, Good Lady, the hour has come. The new arrivals have entered the palace."

Han Xinglan merely nodded, unconcerned, while Rong Luoge thought for a moment and said, "Take Que Cai and deliver the gifts prepared in advance to each of them one by one. I won't show my face."

Saying this, she smiled and looked at Han Xinglan. "I'm not the Crown Princess, so I dare not put on the airs of one. Wouldn't you agree, Your Highness?"

Han Xinglan: …

He looked up at Rong Luoge. "No matter. You may familiarize yourself with it first—it will be your duty sooner or later anyway."

Rong Xin's heart trembled at these words. She quickly lowered her head, her heart pounding.

What did His Highness mean by that?

Could it be that His Highness still had thoughts of elevating the Good Lady to the position of Crown Princess?

That would be truly wonderful. The Good Lady was such a fine person, but alas, she had the reputation of a divorcee. Even if His Highness had such intentions, if he truly sought to appoint the Good Lady as Crown Princess, not to mention that His Majesty would not agree, even Her Majesty the Empress would not nod her approval.

What a pity, that someone as good as the Good Lady.

The greeting gifts had been prepared well in advance. Rong Xin and Que Cai timed it carefully, waiting until the new arrivals were settled before bringing the gifts and visiting them one by one.

The chess game ended in a draw. Rong Luoge had no interest in playing another round, so she simply pushed the board aside and looked at Han Xinglan. "Is Your Highness not going to the Qi Wang Fu to offer congratulations today?"

Han Xinglan said indifferently, "As the Crown Prince, naturally I need not go. Besides, Prince Qi may not want me to come."

Rong Luoge leaned against a soft cushion, half-reclined, and turned to look at the scenery outside the window. She fell silent for a moment before saying, "His Majesty is pressing step by step; it seems he is determined to elevate Prince Qi. As for Liu Yingying, I don't know what Her Majesty the Empress intends. I plan to test that Liu Yingying. I believe that since she took that step, she certainly won't be willing to just fade into obscurity."

Hearing this, Han Xinglan knew that Rong Luoge was dissatisfied with Mother Empress.

"What do you plan to do?" Han Xinglan asked.

"Naturally, our women's methods. Your Highness need not ask. In any case, I just need to help Liu Yingying regain favor. As long as Liu Yingying can divert some of His Majesty's favor from Consort Ming, that will naturally reduce Consort Ming's pillow talk with His Majesty. That is a good thing for us," Rong Luoge said.

Han Xinglan nodded. "Do as you see fit. Just one thing—you must be careful and cautious. Don't let anyone seize hold of a handle against you."

"Naturally," Rong Luoge agreed with a smile. She already had a plan in mind, and lately she had also uncovered something.

At this thought, Rong Luoge looked at Han Xinglan. "His Majesty's recent fondness for Consort Ming has been somewhat unusual. I grew suspicious and had someone investigate quietly, and I found something interesting."

Han Xinglan raised his eyes. "What thing?"

Rong Luoge leaned forward and lowered her voice as she said to Han Xinglan, "I have always suspected that His Majesty is advanced in years—how does he manage to indulge in nightly revelry and still remain virile?"

Han Xinglan: …

Only she dared say such things in front of him. Anyone else would not have the nerve.

"And this time, when His Majesty suddenly fainted, I also felt something was unusual. So I had someone obtain the items used in His Majesty's bedchamber. Guess what I saw?"

"What?"

"Do you remember the aphrodisiac incense I was afflicted with when we first met? It was that very thing."

Han Xinglan's expression darkened at once. "Truly?"

"The incense ash is still preserved. You may inspect it at any time. But aphrodisiac incense alone wouldn't have such a potent effect—after all, it is merely an aid for arousal. I suspect Consort Ming very likely also gave His Majesty something else to take. If we can find evidence, that would be best. With the right timing, we can catch her and her son all in one net."