Chapter 129: The Crown Prince Is the Scapegoat

Rong Luoge was drawing in Dong Gong when Rong Xin rushed in, "Good Lady, someone from Fengyi Palace asks you to go see them."

"Fengyi Palace?" Rong Luoge was a little surprised. The last time the Empress saw her, she said it was to attend to His Majesty's illness, but it wasn't even her turn; the Emperor had only briefly fallen unconscious, and after waking he still indulged in pills and women?

What does the Empress want her to do now?

Thinking that, Rong Luoge got up, changed into formal attire, and headed to Fengyi Palace.

When she arrived at Fengyi Palace, she found someone else there—a woman in splendid robes, wearing a jeweled crown, an Imperial Consort.

"Concubine, I pay my respects, Mother Empress, may you be well." Rong Luoge said. Though she didn't know what was happening, it was clearly related to this consort.

Seeing the Empress's displeased expression and apparent dissatisfaction with her, she sensed an answer in her heart and therefore addressed her simply as Mother Empress instead of Empress.

Sure enough, Rong Luoge's gaze caught the consort's slightly surprised look, confirming her suspicion.

"Rise." The Empress said. In front of outsiders she couldn't truly humiliate Rong Luoge, especially since she bore the title of the Crown Prince's savior; being overly harsh would damage the Empress's own reputation. "How have things been in Dong Gong these past days?"

Rong Luoge listened as the Empress's words sounded casual, but the trap in the question was huge.

If Dong Gong had only her before, any answer would be fine, but now Dong Gong was bustling with many people, and another Good Lady had been appointed, equal in rank; the pitfall of this question was deep.

Rong Luoge gave her usual faint smile and replied, "To answer Mother Empress, Concubine is fine in Dong Gong. I rarely go out, staying in Changxin Palace, reading books and doing needlework to pass the time."

Madam Song felt a sudden thump in her chest when Rong Luoge entered, thinking that Yu Zhu was right: this Good Lady had willow eyebrows, phoenix eyes, jade nose, cherry lips—a truly beautiful appearance. Moreover, when the separation was first announced, she had told everyone that she and Prince Qi had never consummated.

With such looks and a flawless body, what does a flaw of separation matter?

Madam Song couldn't help feeling anxious; she naturally thought her own child was outstanding, yet admittedly a bit inferior to Good Lady.

Madam Song was anxious inside but showed no sign, sitting calmly and composed.

The Empress, hearing Rong Luoge's words, understood her evasive meaning: after newcomers entered Dong Gong, she kept to her own palace, rarely leaving and never causing trouble.

That made her a watertight person, speaking evenly, making it hard to find a foothold.

The Empress looked up at her again, her expression softened, and asked with a smile, "Is the Crown Prince doing well lately?"

Rong Luoge's mind shifted, and she said, "The Crown Prince's diet is normal, the Imperial Physician checks his pulse as usual, but lately His Majesty's fainting has made the Prince very worried about His Majesty's health, so he goes to the Buddhist Hall daily to recite sutras and pray for His Majesty."

Dong Gong has a small Buddhist Hall, originally built for the Crown Prince's frail health since childhood, for his prayers.

Rong Luoge's remark now was merely to showcase the Crown Prince's filial reputation in front of outsiders.

Sure enough, the Empress was pleased with Rong Luoge's answer, "The Crown Prince's worry for His Majesty is filial, but he must also watch his own health. Good Lady should enter Dong Gong earlier and be more attentive."

Another trap for her?

Rong Luoge looked at the Empress with a troubled expression, "Mother Empress, it's not that Concubine refuses, but the Prince has always disliked others meddling in his affairs. Though I have been in Dong Gong for so long, I never dare intrude on his daily matters."

The Empress was satisfied with Rong Luoge's compliance, yet in front of Madam Song she asked lightly, "With so many people entering Dong Gong this time, have you settled them properly?"

Rong Luoge's face showed slight alarm, feigning surprise, then said, "Mother Empress, I am merely a Good Lady; I only temporarily handle some mundane affairs in Dong Gong, and dare not interfere with anything else."

"Is that so?" the Empress replied, a bit surprised, "If you never intervened, then who arranged for Madam Song and the others to enter Dong Gong?"

Rong Luoge stared blankly at the Empress, "These were all arranged by the Prince; his chief steward is very capable, there's no need for Concubine to meddle."

Madam Song was also stunned, "Arranged by the Crown Prince?"

She now observed Good Lady closely, noting her cautious demeanor before the Empress, not the type to stir up trouble. Moreover, she only helped manage some mundane affairs in Dong Gong, lacking any authority there; so how could her own daughter be treated so unfairly?

Madam Song was also puzzled, wondering where the problem lay.

The Empress, seeing Rong Luoge's obedient demeanor, changed her mind and continued, "Originally Dong Gong had only you, so it required little effort, but now His Majesty pities the Crown Prince; with more concubines in Dong Gong, the affairs increase, and someone must be appointed to oversee the whole situation."

Oh, here it comes, the Empress really intends to manage Dong Gong's affairs.

Rong Luoge sat obediently, "Mother Empress, as you say, I'm not good at handling these. I only follow the Prince's orders to manage the mundane tasks, which gives me a headache. If someone could take over, that would be better; I still prefer reading, brewing tea, and passing the time."

The Empress was taken aback, not expecting Rong Luoge to have no ambition for power, yet wanting to toss her own workload aside?

She had never seen anyone so unambitious!

"Who do you think is suitable?" the Empress asked Rong Luoge further.

Rong Luoge replied immediately, "Concubine follows Mother Empress and the Prince's wishes."

She wants her to recommend Song Huihe?

That's impossible.

At this moment the Crown Prince is still the scapegoat, so of course he must be brought out to be displayed.

Rong Luoge cannot confront the Empress directly; after all, she is only a Good Lady, and even if she became Crown Prince's consort, she lacks the standing. Only if she someday ascends to the Empress's position, and the Empress becomes Empress Dowager, could she stand as an equal without criticism.

She keeps a low profile, doesn't vie for power, playing hide‑and‑seek with the Empress; as long as Han Xinglan is around, if he doesn't give his assent, could the Empress, his own mother, force her son to agree?

The Empress kept probing, yet saw no hint of Rong Luoge's ambition, feeling slightly at ease. She lifted her tea, took a sip, and then said, "I've heard that the Crown Prince recently has not favored any other Dong Gong consorts; is that true?"

Rong Luoge thought that after all the circling, the main act had finally arrived—it was indeed about this.

Thus the identity of the lady present was now obvious; only she dared to complain before the Empress.