Chapter 156: Volume 1, Chapter 156: This Is Not a Good Thing

Lady Zhong was now the lowest-profile person in the palace. The Late Emperor was gone, her belly was gradually growing larger, and she had no idea what to do. The child would be born without a father-emperor, and the current His Majesty was the child's older brother.

How could an older brother be the same as a father-emperor? Even when the Late Emperor was alive, she might not necessarily have received any reward for bearing a child, but the child would still have been an undisputed prince or princess.

But now the child born would only be His Majesty's younger brother or sister—how could that be the same?

Lady Zhong was both panicked and helpless, washing her face in tears all day. Now that such a commotion had erupted in the Hou Gong, and the Empress Dowager was His Majesty's own birth mother—she knew of Good Lady Rong, and Good Lady Rong had helped her before, but she was still somewhat afraid.

Just then, Noble Consort Liu came looking for her. Lady Zhong hurriedly rose to greet her. "This concubine greets Noble Dowager Consort."

"Rise, Lady Zhong." Liu Yingying wore a face full of smiles. "How has your health been lately?"

Lady Zhong certainly knew of Noble Consort Liu. This one had shared in Noble Consort Ming's favor upon entering the palace, and later was even kept by His Majesty's side as a personal attendant—her glory and prestige went without saying.

"Everything is well, many thanks for Noble Dowager Consort's concern." Lady Zhong did not know what Noble Dowager Consort wanted with her, and couldn't help feeling somewhat uneasy.

Noble Consort Liu looked at Lady Zhong's state and, fearing she might frighten the woman too much, did not beat around the bush. She said directly, "I have come to discuss a matter with you, Lady Zhong. The palace is in an uproar right now over the relocation of palaces. Do you have any plans? I was thinking that I have no close friends in the palace, and thought I might keep you company, Lady Zhong. What do you say?"

Lady Zhong was taken aback. Keep her company?

She was no fool. On second thought, she couldn't help recalling how Noble Dowager Consort had asked about her child the moment she walked in. Her face went slightly pale—was Noble Dowager Consort here for her child?

Of course. Consorts without children were to be sent to the separate villa.

Noble Dowager Consort surely did not want to spend the rest of her days in the austere separate villa, so she had set her sights on her child. She was even more frightened now.

Liu Yingying saw her like this and couldn't help but chuckle softly, looking at her as she said, "Lady Zhong, you are a clever person, so I won't speak in circles with you. Tell me, with your current lowly status, even if you give birth to this child, what can you give him? He is only His Majesty's younger brother. From a babe in swaddling clothes to adulthood will take over ten years. After more than ten years, will His Majesty still remember this child? A younger brother forgotten by His Majesty—what prospects could he possibly have in this life?"

How could Lady Zhong not know this? It was precisely because of this that she worried endlessly. These past few days she hadn't been able to sleep at night, her heart ceaselessly anxious.

Listening to the meaning behind Noble Dowager Consort's words—could she have a solution?

She raised her eyes to look at Noble Dowager Consort and said through gritted teeth, "Then what is Noble Dowager Consort's intention in telling me this?"

Liu Yingying smiled. "I do not have Lady Zhong's fortune to have a child of my own. Living the second half of my life alone is not impossible, but I find it rather lonely. Good Lady Rong and I have always been on good terms. If you agree to let me raise this child together with you, I can guarantee this child a future. What do you say?"

When Liu Yingying had originally agreed to cooperate with Good Lady Rong, Good Lady Rong had promised to repay her once the matter was settled.

She had originally planned to leave the palace and find a place where no one knew her to start anew, but that was easier said than done. Besides, after she had vented her anger toward the Liu family in a while, she also wanted to live the rest of her life peacefully and steadily.

She alone might not be able to raise Lady Zhong's unborn child well, but if Lady Zhong was willing to let her raise the child together with her, she would have someone to rely on for the rest of her life, and the child could have a future too.

It was just unclear whether Lady Zhong would agree.

Lady Zhong remained silent, truly torn in her heart.

Liu Yingying looked at her and said gently, "I feel that your temperament is somewhat similar to mine. I won't compete with you for the position of the child's birth mother. I just want to have something to live for. I think with our two temperaments, we should be able to get along."

Lady Zhong forced a smile and looked at Noble Dowager Consort. "May this concubine have some time to think it over?"

"You may. This kind of matter does indeed require careful thought." Noble Consort Liu smiled and rose. "I also hope that if you do agree, it will be sincere, and not just to placate me or use me. If it were that way, I'm afraid neither of us would be happy."

Lady Zhong had no one to rely on now—how could she dare offend Noble Dowager Consort? She said cautiously, "I will consider it carefully."

Noble Consort Liu smiled and took her leave.

On the other side, not long after Rong Luoge returned to Yuzhao Gong, she heard the news of Noble Consort Ming's palace relocation, and mused that Noble Consort Ming truly was someone who put self-interest above all and could bend and flex as circumstances demanded.

Such a person could indeed immediately reclaim His Majesty's favor after falling out of it, and could also keep Lady Zhong trampled underfoot for decades, unable to rise again.

"Good Lady, His Majesty said to have you take over palace affairs, but Her Majesty the Empress Dowager won't let go. What should we do?" Wet Nurse Zhao asked with some concern.

Going up against the Empress Dowager—this was certainly not a good thing.

Rong Luoge thought for a moment and said, "No rush. Right now the others from the Dong Gong have not yet entered the palace. All in all, in His Majesty's Hou Gong, there is only me. We'll drag it out slowly. The one who can't afford to drag things out won't be me."

That evening, Han Xinglan found time to return for dinner. He looked at Rong Luoge and said with a smile, "You've made quite a stir today."

"Is His Majesty satisfied?" Rong Luoge asked teasingly.

Han Xinglan nodded. "Satisfied."

Rong Luoge picked up food for him. "You're eating vegetarian during the mourning period—you should eat more, lest your body can't hold up." After saying this, she brought up palace matters again. "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager won't release control of palace affairs, and I don't plan to go head-to-head with her right now. Otherwise, word getting out wouldn't be good for your reputation as the new emperor."

"What plan do you have?" Han Xinglan asked with a smile.

Rong Luoge thought for a moment and said, "Unite all forces that can be united. In any case, I have a plan. As long as His Majesty trusts me, that's enough."

"Of course I trust you." Han Xinglan nodded. "Starting tomorrow, the Late Emperor's funeral rites will be held. You need to be prepared."

Rong Luoge was certainly prepared. A state mourning required genuinely and truly kneeling and weeping—not just consorts and noble ladies, but also the high ministers of the court.

In short, this was a prolonged, mentally exhausting activity that was not particularly friendly to one's health.

Rong Luoge had long ago had someone prepare thick cushions to bind over her knees when the time came. She was only the Dong Gong's Good Lady—such matters didn't fall to her to take the lead. The Empress Dowager was there, after all.

But with such a large-scale funeral, there were a great many things to handle. For instance, she had to keep timely watch on the physical condition of the various noble ladies. The noble ladies ranged widely in age, and quite a few were with child—all required extra attention. If a life were lost, that would truly be a loss of face for the imperial family.

Rong Luoge had previously made a point of looking into this with Wet Nurse Zhao, and couldn't help clicking her tongue. The funeral of the Great Departed Emperor was indeed conducted with great grandeur—the sheer number of rules made her head ache just hearing them.

As a result, the Empress Dowager's side needed to deploy a great many people and handle a great many matters. Moreover, the Empress Dowager still had to keep vigil by the Late Emperor's coffin, and her body might not necessarily be able to bear it.