Chapter 159: Volume One Chapter 159 Grand Sealing of the Harem

Volume One Chapter 159 Grand Sealing of the Harem

"I'll continue living in Yuzhao Gong," Rong Luoge said, she is not picky about where she lives, "Yuzhao Gong is closer to the Front Hall, so your comings and goings will be more convenient."

Han Xinglan, upon hearing this, held her hand for a moment without speaking; Rong Luoge, willing to save herself a few steps, was ready to live in a place like Yuzhao Gong.

At first, clearing out Yuzhao Gong was indeed because it was close, but at that time it was also truly because there were no other suitable palaces to house her. The Senior Consorts had not yet relocated, and every countable palace in the complex was already occupied, so after much thought they finally cleared Yuzhao Gong.

But now that Rong Luoge is willing to stay here permanently, Han Xinglan's feelings naturally differ.

She can go this far for herself, yet her own Empress Dowager refuses to compromise even a bit for them.

After the coronation ceremony, Han Xinglan became increasingly busy each day; when the Late Emperor was alive, he left many messes behind, and now they all fall on Han Xinglan.

Moreover, the affairs of the Qingxuan Kingdom have always been on their mind; previously Ming Zan requested border patrols, but after breaking a leg he became honest, and now Han Xinglan must rearrange the patrol duties, and deciding who will go is a problem.

In the court, debates over this matter never ceased; Rong Luoge could not help with this issue, and she also had to be busy with the palace relocations.

After Senior Consort Ming relocated, the Empress Dowager remained as steady as a mountain, but the Wise Consort, Kind Consort, and Virtuous Consort could no longer sit still, especially the Wise Consort.

The Wise Consort's Princess of Chang'an has not yet married, so her future marriage will be in the New Emperor's hands; how could she oppose the New Emperor? Thus, the Wise Consort became the second person to relocate.

When the Wise Consort moved, the Kind Consort and Virtuous Consort no longer lingered and soon also relocated.

Rong Luoge visited each of them in turn, naturally to express gratitude to the Senior Consorts, and the several Senior Consorts felt quite conflicted watching Rong Luoge.

If they do not relocate, people from Dong Gong cannot move into the Hou Gong, and spreading that would tarnish their reputation.

The Empress Dowager is stubborn, because the Emperor was born of her; they have confidence, but they do not.

The Empress Dowager learned that the Empress had a heated argument, but Rong Luoge didn't mind; once the Virtuous Consort and a few others left, the palace space cleared, and she discussed with Han Xinglan how to house the people from Dong Gong.

Han Xinglan thought for a moment before saying, "Your Noble Consort cannot be changed; what are your thoughts on the others?"

Rong Luoge smiled at Han Xinglan, "Bestowing titles on the consorts is my business."

Han Xinglan nodded solemnly, "That's right, but you will interact with them more; which one do you find pleasing?"

That sounded odd?

Rong Luoge was at a loss, then thought and said, "Song Good Lady's family background is there, and the Ningyuan Marquis's household also needs an explanation; a consort title can appease them."

Han Xinglan recalled the Ningyuan Marquis's leaping about in the court before, his expression turning cold, "So many people, yet only he is so active. The consort title needs no thought; grant him the Zhen Shen Consort title."

Rong Luoge was startled; during the Late Emperor's reign, he rarely bestowed the title of Consort, and this rank was almost decorative. It is said that when the Late Emperor was still a prince, he suffered many grievances at the hands of a consort, so he detested this title, and Rong Luoge did not expect Han Xinglan to be indifferent.

Moreover, the Zhen Shen Consort is the lowest of the three consorts, and this title is somewhat meaningful; Zhen Shen... perhaps a warning to the Ningyuan Marquis to speak and act prudently?

The Emperor's thoughts are as deep as the sea; Rong Luoge found it interesting, and she has never conflicted with him on such matters, so she said, "Then that's settled. Among the others, Qin Fengyi and Xu Chenghui are rather compliant, while Luo Zhaoxun, Zhou Liangyuan, and Song Good Lady interact more frequently."

Han Xinglan, expressionless, said, "If so, Xu Chenghui is granted the title Shuyuan and assigned to Guanju Palace. Qin Fengyi is granted the title Zhaohua and assigned to Changle Palace. Zhou Liangyuan is granted the title Jieyu and assigned to the main hall of Yongfu Palace. Luo Zhaoxun is granted the title Ronghua and assigned to the side hall of Yongfu Palace. As for Song Good Lady, let her reside in Yunhua Palace."

Rong Luoge was a bit surprised; with this arrangement, besides Song Hui and due to her family background being granted Zhen Shen Consort, the lowest-ranked in Dong Gong, Qin Fengyi received the third-rank Zhaohua, and Xu Chenghui became the top third-rank Shuyuan. Meanwhile, Zhou Liangyuan, second only to Song Good Lady in Dong Gong, was granted the top fourth-rank Jieyu, and Luo Zhaoxun received the fourth-rank Ronghua, but could only reside in the side hall of Yongfu Palace where Zhou Liangyuan lives.

Now that's rather interesting.

Rong Luoge could foresee that the imperial edict would certainly provoke many people's discontent, after all she alone holds the Noble Consort title, and there is no one else in the consort ranks, which means in the Hou Gong no one can control her.

Of course, except the Empress Dowager.

Many people are waiting for His Majesty's coronation ceremony to issue a grand sealing of the Hou Gong, which also serves as a signal to everyone to see how the harem's structure will change.

Rong Good Lady's special favor in Dong Gong is known by many; now that the former Crown Prince has become Emperor, will he still bestow such favor on this divorced woman?

Just as everyone waited with bated breath, the New Emperor's edict for the grand sealing of the Hou Gong finally emerged.

First, the Late Emperor's Empress is elevated to Empress Dowager, the four consorts receive the honorific Senior Consort, and the other concubines are sequentially granted their respective honorific titles.

Next are the titles and rewards for the Dong Gong concubines: Rong Good Lady is granted Noble Consort, Song Good Lady the Zhen Shen Consort, Xu Chenghui Shuyuan, Qin Fengyi Zhaohua, Zhou Liangyuan Jieyu, and Luo Zhaoxun Ronghua.

When the edict was issued, the former Hou Gong was somewhat baffled; Rong Good Lady's elevation to Noble Consort was unexpected, but originally His Majesty had ordered her to be escorted into the Hou Gong with the Noble Consort carriage, so it was already anticipated.

But Song Good Lady didn't even secure a consort rank, only receiving the Zhen Shen Consort? Not to mention the four consort positions, the Zhen Shen Consort is still the lowest of the three consorts; how much does the Emperor dislike Song Good Lady?

Thinking of Song Good Lady, people couldn't help but recall the recently leaping Ningyuan Marquis; now it seems the Emperor, tired of the Marquis's private antics, used Song Good Lady's title as a warning to him.

Besides that, another surprise is that Zhou Liangyuan, originally the highest-ranked Dong Gong concubine aside from Good Lady, now finds her title ranked after Xu Chenghui and Qin Fengyi.

Xu Chenghui is only one rank below Zhou Liangyuan, but Qin Fengyi was the lowest Dong Gong concubine; now she has leapt up, surpassing Luo Zhaoxun and Zhou Liangyuan.

Moreover, the assigned palaces are even more intriguing: the Zhen Shen Consort's residence is Yunhua Palace, while Xu Shuyuan lives in Guanju Palace, which was originally the residence of Senior Consort Ming, known for its lavishness.

The most unexpected is that Noble Consort Rong resides in Yuzhao Gong; this place was a deserted palace during the Late Emperor's reign, so what does the Emperor intend by placing Noble Consort Rong here?

In short, the New Emperor's Hou Gong sparks endless speculation, but only Rong Luoge remains unmoved, doing whatever she deems necessary.

By now, the Empress Dowager still residing in Fengyi Palace is inappropriate, but Rong Luoge does not intend to give the Empress Dowager any more leeway; move or not, it's up to her.

The Emperor seems to have no intention either, leaving Fengyi Palace in a stalemate that feels even more uncomfortable.

At this moment, Liu Yingying found Rong Luoge.

Rong Luoge looked at her, smiled, and ushered her in, "Senior Consort suddenly visits—what business is it?"