Chapter 155: Volume One, Chapter 155 – The Ambitious Rong Good Lady

Volume One, Chapter 155 – The Ambitious Rong Good Lady

When Rong Luoge said that, Ming Taifei—who had been battling the Empress Dowager in the palace for so many years—suddenly understood and was relieved.

She looked at Rong Luoge, restrained her expression, and asked, "What about this? How do you intend to deal with it? Although I deny having done such a thing, there are also false accusations from the treacherous slaves."

Rong Luoge glanced at the object in Ming Taifei's hand, smiled and said, "Grand Consort is a clever person; there is no need for me to say more. If Ming Taifei is willing, I will simply wait for good news."

"What about the others? Won't you go there?" Ming Taifei asked Rong Luoge, looking at her.

Rong Luoge turned and smiled, "As long as Ming Taifei agrees to relocate the palace, who else would refuse? The Grand Consort's influence in this palace has always been heavy, without doubt."

Rong Luoge finished speaking and left; Ming Taifei watched her back, spat, "Pah—" and said, "The petty one is triumphant!"

Bai Zhuo still felt uneasy, his hands trembling, and looked at the Grand Consort, saying, "Shall we relocate the palace then?"

"Relocate! If we don't, what else can we do?" Although Ming Taifei was reluctant to lower her head, being under the eaves she now had Rong Luoge in her grasp and had no way out.

If her own son were ambitious, she shouldn't have only cared about the back garden back then; she could have become a powerful prince earlier, and there would be no need for her to bow to others.

Thinking of this, Ming Taifei harbored bone‑deep hatred toward Rong Dai; all those years of effort she poured into this mother–daughter pair, and what was the result?

When it came time to use them, they were completely useless!

"Then how do we relocate the palace?" Bai Zhuo was somewhat worried; Rong Good Lady's request truly put people in a bind.

Ming Taifei sneered, "What's so difficult? Let someone spread the rumor that the Empress Dowager and His Majesty are angry and refuse to relocate the palace; as Grand Consort I am willing to ease His Majesty's worries."

Bai Zhuo was startled, "Wouldn't this be… not so good?"

Isn't that a bit too blunt? It's like stepping on the Empress Dowager's face.

"What's wrong with that? Isn't this exactly what Rong Good Lady wants?" Ming Taifei scoffed, "Now she'll only be proud for two years; a person lives only half a life. There's no point in being arrogant now that she has favor. After a few years, if she can still retain that favor, then that's her skill."

Bai Zhuo thought so as well, speaking softly, "When His Majesty was in the Dong Gong, there were indeed things he dared not expose. Now that he has ascended the throne, he naturally won't wrong himself any longer."

Even if Rong Good Lady were exceedingly beautiful, she had already been divorced; His Majesty might not have cared at first, but would he still be indifferent after time passes?

That may not be the case.

Having obtained the Grand Consort's approval, Bai Zhuo instructed the people of Guanju Palace to spread the word, then began packing to relocate the palace.

When Bai Zhuo returned to ask where they would relocate, his face turned pale with anger, "You are to reside in Jinhua Hall; that place is a remote corner of the palace."

Ming Taifei was also displeased, but she was powerless to set conditions, and could only say, "Jinhua Hall is just Jinhua Hall; it's merely a short stay within the palace. After a few more days, once His Majesty finishes the coronation affairs, we who have sons will naturally leave the palace to seek our own sons."

Therefore she must endure now, not giving the new emperor any chance to manipulate mother and son, preventing her from leaving the palace to reunite with her son.

Isn't Rong Luoge using this very point to threaten her, making her help her deal with the Empress Dowager?

"Where do the others reside?" Ming Taifei couldn't help but ask.

"According to the information gathered by the servants, the Empress Dowager will go to Funing Palace, Consort Xian to Yongyan Hall, Virtuous Consort to Guangming Hall, Consort Hui to Dongming Hall, and the other lower‑ranked concubines remain unchanged for now," Bai Zhuo said.

"What about the others, but Noble Consort Liu also stays unchanged?" Ming Taifei now, besides the Empress Dowager, most dislikes Liu Yingying.

If she hadn't meddled back then, she might already be the Empress Dowager now.

"Probably," Bai Zhuo replied.

Ming Taifei sneered, "She did ingratiate herself with the Empress Dowager, yet the Empress Dowager hasn't offered her a more spacious residence."

Liu Yingying currently resides in Linglong Pavilion, which was originally assigned by the Late Emperor; however, Ming Taifei intervened. The Late Emperor had intended to give her a main‑hall residence, but Ming Taifei couldn't let her be so pleased, so she coaxed the Late Emperor to place Liu Yingying in Linglong Pavilion.

Although Linglong Pavilion is decent, it's not very spacious; housing a Noble Consort there is indeed a bit of a slight.

Recalling these events, Ming Taifei felt quite proud; during the Late Emperor's reign, her life had indeed been smooth and satisfactory. Apart from not being able to ascend to the throne, she harbored no real grievances.

She is capable of both yielding and asserting; for her son, she can endure.

Isn't it just bowing a little? As long as she doesn't bow before the Empress Dowager, she can do it!

News of Ming Taifei's palace relocation spread instantly; the Hou Gong is vast, and with both Ming Taifei and Rong Luoge eager to publicize it, the rumor quickly circulated.

Ming Taifei didn't wait for any reaction from the Empress Dowager; as the luggage was slowly packed, she led her palace attendants away first. This swift action truly pleased Rong Luoge.

Rong Luoge was satisfied, while the Empress Dowager was so angry her head ached. She looked at Yan Yin and said, "I knew these people would oppose me! What a Ming Taifei, and also a Rong Good Lady!"

The Empress Dowager was not foolish; she could see that Ming Taifei's relocation was not so easy, and after hearing that Rong Luoge had visited Guanju Palace, she wondered what else remained unclear.

Yan Yin was very troubled; looking at the Empress Dowager, she gently pleaded, "Your Imperial Majesty, please do not be angry. As an old servant, I may not fully understand, but when Rong Good Lady comes to request your relocation, she will certainly speak to Ming Taifei about it. How could Ming Taifei compare with Your Imperial Majesty? Now she is merely your defeated subordinate and surely would not dare act as arrogantly as before, for the one now seated on the throne is His Majesty, not the Late Emperor. Ming Taifei has always been one to adjust her sails to the wind; her eager acceptance of the relocation is certainly for Prince Qi."

The Empress Dowager's anger did not subside, "You need not speak for her. How could I not know her intentions? Even before she is formally enfeoffed, she already conspires with Ming Taifei to seize palace power from me. Truly ambitious. Ambition is fine, but it remains to be seen whether she has the ability!"

Yan Yin had not expected matters to reach this point; she truly did not anticipate Rong Good Lady would act so, and wondered whether she was not afraid that His Majesty would blame her because of this.

Having reached this stage, Yan Yin also felt some resentment toward Rong Good Lady; she knew Ming Taifei and the Empress Dowager were at odds, yet she insisted on cooperating with Ming Taifei—wasn't that insulting the Empress Dowager?

It was merely a matter of moderate importance, yet within half a day it escalated dramatically. The Grand Consorts of the Hou Gong were uncertain whether to watch from afar or to pick a side.