Chapter 154: Volume 1 Chapter 154 Consort Ming Admits Cowardice

Rong Luoge let out a cold laugh in her mind, this is an unwillingness to meet herself.

Indeed, now that mother and son are His Majesty's defeated subordinates, how could they calmly admit defeat and bow before someone they once could insult at will?

Bai Zhuo, seeing this, hurried forward, and through the curtain whispered, "Grand Consort, Rong Good Lady has come to visit you."

There was no sound from within the curtain.

Rong Luoge was not surprised; she looked at the faint silhouette behind the curtain and whispered, "It seems Consort Ming has some misunderstanding about me. I, a concubine, came today after hearing the Grand Consort was ill, to pay my respects. Besides that, there is another matter I wish to verify with Consort Ming, lest it harm the Grand Consort's reputation."

Bai Zhuo's face stiffened; she could faintly hear the Grand Consort's breath, suppressing anger, and, fearing to provoke Rong Good Lady, hurriedly said, "What is the matter Good Lady is speaking of?"

She thought carefully; since the Late Emperor's passing, they hadn't done anything that could be caught as a flaw.

Rong Luoge looked at Bai Zhuo's expression and said word by word, "It concerns an earlier incident. Someone maliciously poisoned in Dong Gong; the poisoner has been captured, and during interrogation she confessed some details, so I, the concubine, have come specifically to verify."

When these words were spoken, not only did Bai Zhuo's complexion change, but the person behind the curtain finally sat up. Rong Luoge, hearing Consort Ming grind her teeth, said, "Rong Good Lady, I know you have long held a grudge against me and Prince Qi; now that you have risen to power you seek to frame me? After all, I am also a Grand Consort; you cannot simply slander me with sharp words."

"Consort Ming, why are you anxious? I have only said this, without presenting evidence yet; it's not too late to wait until you have seen the proof before losing your temper," Rong Luoge said with a light laugh.

Rong Luoge's faint smile made Bai Zhuo and Consort Ming even more fearful; after all, the matter was true. At the time the Late Emperor was still alive, Consort Ming was naturally unafraid and acted outright. Even if Dong Gong sensed something, when it reached the Late Emperor, could the Late Emperor still trust them over himself?

Only… the Late Emperor is no longer here.

Consort Ming's face flashed between black and white, her hand gripping the bedding with bulging veins, suppressing both anger and fear. She naturally would not take the words lightly, and only said, "Rong Good Lady, you fabricate baseless evidence just to avenge the old grievance of the wind divorcing your wife? Now that you have finally turned the tables, you naturally won't miss this chance. But you will be disappointed; I will never admit it. If you have the ability, kill me, and I shall see how you will answer the ministers!"

At this moment, still aware that the ministers hold sway over her, Rong Luoge thought that Consort Ming, having contended with the Empress Dowager for so many years, must possess some ability.

Rong Luoge of course would not overturn Consort Ming right now, since the emperor still relies on Consort Ming to control Han Yifeng, and she herself also needs Consort Ming to keep the Empress Dowager in check.

However, that does not mean she can let Consort Ming run wild and cause trouble.

She glanced at Zhao Grandma, who immediately stepped forward, handed the object she held to Bai Zhuo, and then stepped back to stand behind Rong Good Lady.

Bai Zhuo lowered her head, glanced at the item in her hand, and her eyes narrowed slightly. Gripping the paper, her wrist trembled faintly; she kept her head down, gently lifted a corner of the bed curtain and passed the item inside.

Rong Luoge, watching Bai Zhuo's expression, knew that this matter indeed could not be separated from them.

After a while, still no sound from within the curtain, Rong Luoge slowly spoke, "Consort Ming, are you satisfied with these items? I think even the ministers would be pleased with them, after all they are not fabricated out of nothing."

The curtain remained silent, yet Rong Luoge could already hear Consort Ming's forced, suppressed breathing.

"These records span nearly ten years; ten years ago I had no connection with the Grand Consort or Prince Qi. The old palace files from ten years ago are not something I could casually forge, and the handwriting can be compared with other old files to see if it's the same hand," Rong Luoge continued, "Consort Ming is a clever person, she should know I am speaking the truth. Imagine if such documents fell into the ministers' hands, how much would it affect Prince Qi?"

"You…" Consort Ming spoke too harshly, choked instantly, and began coughing violently.

Bai Zhuo, seeing this, hurriedly lifted the curtain to pat Consort Ming's back, anxiously saying, "Grand Consort, take it easy, speak calmly."

Consort Ming recovered her breath, turned her head and stared fiercely at Rong Luoge, "What exactly do you want?"

Since the evidence has not yet been submitted, it must be to blackmail me into doing their bidding.

She never expected that one day she would end up in Rong Luoge's grasp in this manner; recalling her once timid appearance, she had truly blinded herself, thinking she was easy to handle.

Now bitten back, Consort Ming deeply regretted it; had she known, she should have let her silently die in Qi Wang Fu, a torn mat rolled and thrown to the burial ground.

"Consort Ming, why look at me with such eyes? The principle of the victor and the vanquished needs no further explanation. If you win today, how would you deal with me?" Rong Luoge said softly, her voice light yet weighty.

If Consort Ming were to win, she would undoubtedly humiliate Rong Luoge and then kill her to vent her hatred.

Thinking this, Consort Ming's expression stiffened; she herself thought so, let alone Rong Luoge.

Back then, Rong Luoge had suffered much at the hands of mother and son; recalling this, her face grew even sicker.

"Since you came here, you won't waste words. Speak directly—what exactly do you want me to do?" Consort Ming said, her face ashen.

Rong Luoge knew Consort Ming was admitting cowardice, ultimately for Han Yifeng's sake.

Speaking of it, as a mother figure, Consort Ming is far more diligent than the Empress Dowager; although both are domineering, compared to Han Xinglan, Han Yifeng is treated more comfortably and indulgently—Consort Ming, though she oversees him, also spoils him.

Han Xinglan is different; the Empress Dowager places many demands on him and rarely considers his well‑being.

"The matter is not difficult. Consort Ming knows the usual practice of relocating the Hou Gong: when a new emperor ascends, Grand Consorts must make room for the new emperor's concubines. Now I need a small favor from Consort Ming, which shouldn't be too troublesome," Rong Luoge said with a smile.

"Do you want me to voluntarily relocate the palace?" Consort Ming asked.

Rong Luoge nodded slightly, "That's the idea, but additionally I hope Consort Ming won't let the Empress Dowager think you are conceding to her; it would be best if the Empress Dowager believes the relocation is to show goodwill to His Majesty and to fully settle past grievances."

Consort Ming was startled, then understood, and her eyes lit up.

So the true target of Rong Good Lady was the Empress Dowager!