Chapter 124: Volume 1, Chapter 124: Wolfish Ambition

Song Huihe glanced at Zhou Liangyuan and the others as she spoke. Zhou Liangyuan was a delicate-looking beauty who had not once seen His Highness the Crown Prince since entering the Dong Gong—how could she not be anxious?

Now that Good Lady Song was willing to take the lead, she certainly could not hold things back, so she looked at Good Lady Rong with a smile and said, "Sister Song speaks truly. Though our ranks are low, we too wish to pay our respects to His Highness in person. We wonder if Sister Rong might accommodate us somewhat?"

The way she put it, it was as if their inability to see the Crown Prince was all due to Rong Luoge standing in the way.

Rong Luoge looked at Xu Chenghui, Luo Zhaoxun, and Qin Fengyi. Though none of them had spoken, they were clearly tempted, evidently supporting Song Huihe.

Playing the villain was not something she was incapable of, but since Han Xinglan was willing to take the lead for her, she naturally would humor him and protect her own reputation. So she gave a light smile, swept her gaze over everyone, and only then spoke slowly: "If you all wish to go, could I really stop you? But whether His Highness will see you at Changxin Palace is not for me to decide. Just do not take your frustration out on me when the time comes."

Song Huihe still could not quite get a read on Rong Luoge's temperament. She seemed easy to get along with, yet her actions carried a certain firmness. Now that she was willing to relent, Song Huihe certainly could not botch it, and she immediately said, "Of course. Good Lady Rong need not worry—we are not unreasonable people."

Rong Luoge then said, "Then let us go."

After speaking, she walked ahead out of Linshui Pavilion. This time she did not head toward Yaoguang Palace, but instead cut through the other side of the garden. From this direction, it was much closer to Changxin Palace.

Along the way, no one said much. Rong Luoge had no intention of befriending them anyway—as long as Han Xinglan did not go back on his word, she, with her exclusive favor, would certainly be a thorn in everyone's eyes. Why bother showing goodwill now?

As for winning them over, she would need to observe their temperaments over more time before deciding. It was too early for that now.

Upon arriving at Changxin Palace, Rong Luoge did not go in ahead of them. Instead, she said to Que Cai, "Go report to His Highness. Good Lady Song and the younger sisters have come to pay their respects. We ask that His Highness do them the honor of an audience."

Song Huihe watched Rong Luoge. She had assumed Rong Luoge would surely go in first to stop His Highness from seeing them, but hearing her do this instead made her feel even less certain.

For Rong Luoge to dare do this, she either did not care, or she was fully confident that His Highness would not see them.

Zhou Liangyuan and the other three stood behind the two Good Ladies. At this moment, her expression was also somewhat uneasy, as if she had a faint premonition.

When Shi An, the head eunuch at His Highness's side, came out without His Highness in sight, Zhou Liangyuan's heart sank. It seemed she had been right.

Shi An stood before everyone and first addressed Rong Luoge with respectful deference: "Good Lady, His Highness is waiting for you to share the noon meal. Please go in quickly."

Without even turning her head, Rong Luoge could imagine how mortified Song Huihe and the others must look. She did not deliberately flaunt anything, only said with a smile, "Then I shall go ahead."

"Please, Good Lady." Shi An hurriedly bowed to make way. He waited until Good Lady Rong had walked some distance before straightening up again and looking at Good Lady Song and the others. This time the smile on his face was not as sincere as before. With a hint of nonchalance, he spoke unhurriedly, "Good Lady Song and your ladyships, please return. His Highness is not free to receive visitors at the moment."

Song Huihe was so furious she nearly blacked out and fainted. His Highness had time to share a noon meal with Rong Luoge but no time to see them—was this not a blatant slap in the face?

Even before entering the Dong Gong, she had already anticipated that she was placed there because Consort Ming had put in a good word for her before His Majesty. But truth be told, she had no real connection with Consort Ming. Could it be that simply because of this, His Highness despised them?

How was that fair to her?

Shi An's eyes swept over the faces of the ladies before him, then he lowered his head, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.

It was useless no matter how fine they looked. After all, they had been stuffed into the Dong Gong by His Majesty because Consort Ming had spoken on their behalf. On that basis alone, His Highness felt irritated just looking at them—and they still hoped for his favor?

What a dream.

If Shi An had not been certain before, after all these days, was His Highness's attitude not clear enough?

Having delivered the message, Shi An paid them no further attention and turned back to attend upon His Highness.

Once Shi An left, the smile vanished entirely from Song Huihe's face. She said nothing and turned to leave.

She had already lost enough face—why keep standing here?

She certainly could not just sit and wait for doom. She had to think of a way.

Zhou Liangyuan and the others held low ranks. They watched Good Lady Song walk away before slowly heading back themselves.

On the way back, Xu Chenghui looked at the other three and said, "What are we to do from now on?"

Qin Fengyi kept her head down and said nothing. Beside her, Luo Zhaoxun thought for a moment and chimed in, "What can we do? Even Good Lady Song came back empty-handed—what hope do we have? Sister Zhou, what do you say?"

Among them, Zhou Liangyuan held the highest rank. As soon as Luo Zhaoxun said this, even Qin Fengyi, who had been looking down in silence, raised her head to look over.

Zhou Liangyuan did not much care for Luo Zhaoxun's deliberate tactic of pushing her forward, so she said coolly, "There are only a handful of us in the Dong Gong right now. His Majesty's Hou Gong has far more beauties, and those who have lost favor are beyond counting. Nor are those who entered the deep palace and never once beheld the Emperor's face few in number, are they not?"

Luo Zhaoxun's expression shifted slightly. "Sister Zhou, does that mean we are to simply while away the rest of our days in the Dong Gong? That seems rather lacking in ambition."

Zhou Liangyuan did not bother with Luo Zhaoxun any further. She nodded to the other two and said, "Chat amongst yourselves. I will take my leave first."

Luo Zhaoxun's face darkened, but in the end she did not dare say anything further out of line. After all, Zhou Liangyuan outranked her—if it came to a real dispute, she would be the one to suffer.

Each harboring her own thoughts and calculations, the remaining three had nothing more to say to one another. When they reached the fork in the path, they each went their separate ways.

Inside Changxin Palace, Rong Luoge was telling Han Xinglan about the matter of Ming Yuhua. After finishing, she sighed, "Back then, the Great General and his wife were the envy of everyone in the capital. Now the two of them are at each other's throats, not even caring about their child, thinking only of profit."

Han Xinglan looked at Rong Luoge and said, "That may not necessarily be the case."

"Hmm? Could there be more to it?" Rong Luoge looked at Han Xinglan and asked.

Meeting Rong Luoge's curious gaze, Han Xinglan gave a slight nod. "After Xiao Shen's engagement to the Ming family was settled, Ming Zan became very warm toward him, probing about the Imperial Dragon Guard in this way and that. If it were only him doing so, that would be one thing—but Madam Ming also seems quite curious about the Imperial Dragon Guard, which is rather puzzling."

Rong Luoge said in surprise, "Could it be that the couple is putting on an act? Using Ming Yuhua's lifelong marriage as a bargaining chip—that is truly something one would not expect."

After all, she was a daughter they had doted on for so many years. Most people truly could not be that ruthless.

If Han Xinglan's conjecture were true, Rong Luoge looked at Han Xinglan and asked, "Then why would they do such a thing?"

No matter how one looked at it, this matter did not seem to bring much benefit to Consort Ming or to Ming Zan and his wife.