Chapter 128: Volume 1, Chapter 128: Suing Good Lady Rong

There was no morning court again today. After Han Xinglan finished discussing matters with his aides, he returned to Changxin Palace.

Rong Luoge showed him the letter Liu Yingying had sent, letting out a cold laugh as she said, "Sure enough, with Xiao Shen's marriage alliance to the Ming family, the attitudes of people at court have shifted somewhat."

Han Xinglan's expression remained as usual. After reading the letter, he tossed it into the stove and burned it clean, then spoke: "These are all foreseeable things. Only this way can we distinguish who has truly thrown in their lot with me."

Rong Luoge looked at Han Xinglan and said, "Liu Yingying says His Majesty's health is not good right now. I think we should make preparations early."

Han Xinglan gave a soft acknowledgment, then looked at Rong Luoge and said, "Today Han Yifeng invited Xiao Shen to visit Qi Wang Fu as a guest."

"How quick-handed of him. He's trying to rope Xiao Shen onto his ship, isn't he?" Rong Luoge gave a cold laugh. "I'm afraid he's wasting his effort."

At this point, Rong Luoge looked at Han Xinglan. "How is the weapons and equipment coming along for the Imperial Dragon Guard?"

"Almost done. In another two months or so, everything should be complete."

"Two more months?" Rong Luoge knew she could not rush, but she feared the Emperor might not last two months. "I don't know if His Majesty's body can hold on. I heard from Liu Yingying that perhaps because Consort Ming previously gave His Majesty excessive medication, his current condition is not looking good."

"I know." Han Xinglan held Rong Luoge's hand. "Xiao Shen has already spoken before His Majesty about replacing the palace guards. In a while, the truth of His Majesty's assassination attempt will come to light, and by then it will be time."

"You want to take them all out in one sweep?"

Han Xinglan looked down at Rong Luoge, then gave a faint smile. "More or less."

He withdrew his gaze from Rong Luoge and looked out the window at the sky. This time, he would not retreat a single step further.

In Yaoguang Palace, Song Huihe was fretful and irritable. These past few days she had tried every means to get close to His Highness, but all to no avail.

Since that was the case, she could only seek help from her family.

She had not entered the Dong Gong to be a mere ornament. Of course she wanted to win His Highness's favor, ideally bearing His Highness's eldest son before Rong Luoge could. That would be her foundation for establishing herself in the Dong Gong.

With her family background, if she truly bore His Highness's eldest son, she could even contend for the position of Crown Princess in the future.

"Yuzhu, take my letter and make a trip back to the manor." Song Huihe had made up her mind.

Yuzhu immediately took the letter and tucked it away safely. "Rest assured, Good Lady. This servant will certainly get it done."

Yuzhu left the Dong Gong, boarded a carriage, and returned to the Song manor.

Madam Song was at home reviewing the account books. Hearing that Yuzhu had returned, she immediately set down the ledger in her hand and ordered someone to let Yuzhu in.

"This servant greets Madam and pays her respects." Yuzhu bowed in greeting.

Madam Song waved her hand and said with a smile, "Rise, sit down and talk. How is the young lady doing in the Dong Gong?"

Yuzhu sat on a brocade stool brought over by a maid in Madam's room. In the past, she never had such treatment—following the young lady into the Dong Gong truly made a difference.

"The Good Lady misses Madam dearly in the Dong Gong, but unfortunately she cannot return to the manor in person to see Madam," Yuzhu said with a smile.

Thinking of her daughter, Madam Song's expression softened with tenderness. She sighed and said, "As her mother, I miss her too, but now that she has entered the Dong Gong, it's not as if I can just go visit her whenever I please."

Yuzhu shared some amusing anecdotes about the Good Lady's time in the Dong Gong with Madam, then produced the letter. "This is the letter the Good Lady asked this servant to deliver to Madam."

Madam Song reached out and took it, opened the letter, and began reading. By the time she finished, the expression on Madam Song's face could no longer be described as merely unpleasant.

She looked at Yuzhu and asked, "His Highness has not gone to the young lady's quarters at all?"

Yuzhu shook her head. "That Good Lady Rong is extremely cunning. She has His Highness running to Changxin Palace all day long. Not only the Good Lady's quarters, but even the other several ladies' places—His Highness hasn't glanced at any of them. Madam, this cannot go on, which is why the Good Lady had this servant return to ask Madam to think of a solution."

Madam Song said angrily, "That Good Lady Rong is someone who has been through a divorce—how dare she?"

"Exactly. Before, who paid any attention to Good Lady Rong? But Madam, you don't know—that Good Lady Rong is truly beautiful as a flower, and she entered the Dong Gong earlier than the young lady. His Highness's favor for her is at its peak, and that Good Lady Rong clings to His Highness and won't let go. The young lady can't even see His Highness's face in the Dong Gong. It's truly outrageous." As she spoke, Yuzhu felt indignant on behalf of her young lady.

Madam Song's expression shifted unpredictably. After a moment's thought, she said, "I will enter the palace and request an audience with Her Majesty the Empress. I will ask Her Majesty to uphold justice. Go back and tell the young lady to keep her heart steady."

Yuzhu was overjoyed. "Many thanks, Madam. Once the Good Lady hears of this, she will be at ease."

Yuzhu did not dare linger. Having completed her errand, she promptly took her leave and departed.

Once Yuzhu left, Madam Song angrily swept everything on the table onto the floor. "That Rong woman is indeed a fox spirit. No wonder Prince Qi didn't want her. Hateful that she was allowed into the Dong Gong—now she's throwing her weight around on the strength of a life-saving debt, making my daughter suffer."

Madam Song could not sit still. She immediately submitted a memorial requesting an audience with Her Majesty the Empress and entered the palace. This matter absolutely could not be left at that.

In the palace, the Empress had still not been able to get Liu Yingying to return to Linglong Pavilion, and her mood was far from pleasant. At this point, she received Madam Song's memorial requesting an audience and frowned, saying, "Why would Madam Song suddenly want to enter the palace to see me?"

Yan Yin's heart skipped a beat, but she had no choice but to say, "Your Majesty, the second daughter of Marquis Ningyuan was granted the title of Good Lady of the Dong Gong by His Majesty."

Only then did the Empress recall that such a thing had happened. These past days, with Prince Qi's wedding and Xiao Shen's proposal to marry Ming Yuhua, one matter after another had vexed her, and she had actually forgotten about affairs in the Dong Gong.

Since that was the case, the Empress could not refuse to see her. "Summon Madam Song."

Having received the summons, Madam Song dressed up and entered the palace. Upon seeing Her Majesty the Empress, she fell to her knees with a thud and said in tears, "Your Majesty, you must uphold justice for this subject-wife's daughter."

The Empress was startled by Madam Song's sudden kneel and hastily had Yan Yin help her up, then said, "What is the meaning of this, Madam? Speak calmly."

Madam Song cried most piteously. Looking at the Empress, she said, "Your Majesty, this subject-wife's daughter has been in the Dong Gong for so long, yet has not even seen His Highness the Crown Prince's face. That Good Lady Rong is truly domineering and jealous by nature. Not only this subject-wife's daughter—I hear the other consorts who entered the Dong Gong have not seen His Highness either. Your Majesty, if this continues, won't that Good Lady Rong only grow more arrogant?"

The Empress listened, stunned. Rong Luoge?

The words of the Marchioness of Ningyuan made it truly hard for her to imagine that the Rong Luoge who had been so humble and deferential before her would do such things.

But on second thought, Rong Luoge had originally been Princess Consort Qi. Someone who could quarrel with Prince Qi to the point of divorce—how could she be so simple?

At this thought, the Empress looked at Yan Yin. "Summon Good Lady Rong."