Chapter 162: Volume 1 Chapter 162 Successful Coup

Rong Luoge was a little worried, but she could only wait for Han Xinglan to return before asking.

Not long after, a palace attendant beside Liu Yingying reported back that the Empress Dowager had already decided to relocate the palace.

Rong Luoge had Rong Xin evaluate that palace maid; after thinking it over, she reasoned that if the previous dynasty had trouble, the inner palace needed to stay stable, and since the Empress Dowager had decided to move the palace, she herself had to go as well, which would also give the Empress Dowager a bit of face.

Rong Luoge changed clothes and went to the Phoenix Ritual Palace, where the palace staff were packing belongings; Yan Yin, surprised to see her, hurried forward and said, "Greetings, Noble Consort."

"Yan aunt, no need for formalities, please rise quickly," Rong Luoge said with a smile, "I've been busy with palace affairs these days and haven't been able to visit the Empress Dowager; is her health still good?"

Yan Yin's mood was very complicated; she could not take Rong Luoge's words at face value—she had not come before, and now that the Empress Dowager was moving the palace, Rong Luoge appeared, so who would believe there was no ulterior motive?

However, the Empress Dowager and His Majesty were on bad terms, and His Majesty had been busy with state affairs for many days without setting foot in the Phoenix Ritual Palace, which indicated the emperor's stance.

The Noble Consort naturally kept pace with His Majesty, and now that she could come, Yan Yin felt a bit relieved, though she still harbored an indescribable feeling.

"The Empress Dowager's health is still fine; thank you for your concern, Noble Consort," Yan Yin replied with a smile and then led the way.

In the hall, the Empress Dowager sat upright, her stern face tinged with a hint of hostility; when she saw Rong Luoge enter, a trace of disgust flickered in her eyes.

"I, your servant, pay my respects to the Empress Dowager; may you be in good health," Rong Luoge said as she stepped forward and bowed.

The Empress Dowager pursed her lips slightly before saying, "Rise, Noble Consort, why did you appear so suddenly? You're quite the busy one these days."

Rong Luoge listened to the Empress Dowager's sarcastic tone without any anger, only smiling as she replied, "I dare not take your words, Empress Dowager; I am merely carrying out His Majesty's orders. If I am clumsy, it is only because I acted slowly."

The Empress Dowager listened, then looked at Rong Luoge, and felt a twinge of regret; she should never have believed her son's words and, out of a life‑saving favor, placed her into the Dong Gong. Now it was a mess she could not shake off.

Looking at the emperor's deeds and the many rewards in the inner palace, only she obtained the Noble Consort position; Song Hui and even the four consorts could not secure a rank, so no one believed that Rong Luoge was not scheming behind the scenes.

However, the Empress Dowager's refusal to move the palace out of a quarrel with her son had tarnished her reputation, so she could no longer remain deadlocked. She looked at Rong Luoge and said, "Since the Noble Consort has arrived, that's convenient; I cannot bear to add trouble for the emperor. The relocation shall be handled by you."

Rong Luoge smirked inwardly; the Empress Dowager was treating her as labor, but that was fine—she didn't have to lift boxes herself, only speak. She replied, "It is my honor to ease the Empress Dowager's worries."

Rong Luoge rose to arrange the relocation; Zhao Mama had already handled such matters for several Grand Consorts, a familiar routine. Rong Luoge only needed to follow the process from start to finish, which was exactly what the Empress Dowager wanted her to do.

Rong Luoge calmly found a chair and sat down, then watched Zhao Mama direct the workers to begin.

Relocating a palace has its nuances, especially when the Empress Dowager deliberately makes it difficult; every item moved from here will be placed exactly the same in the Funing Palace. So despite Rong Luoge appearing idle, she memorized every object meticulously.

Though Zhao Mama had only been by Rong Luoge's side briefly, she knew the Noble Consort worked diligently, so she dared not be careless and personally led the crew each time.

Today they will first move the stored items over; tomorrow morning, when the sun rises, the Empress Dowager herself will be invited to relocate the palace.

Rong Luoge stayed until the work was finished before returning to Yuzhao Gong; Han Xinglan had not yet returned, and Shi An sent someone back with a message, so Rong Luoge guessed that the Minister of War was bringing bad news.

After finishing dinner, she still had palace duties; early tomorrow the Empress Dowager would relocate, there were matters concerning Consort Hui, and other childless concubines to be sent to the temporary palace.

Rong Luoge had never done this before, so she had to consult past records and summon Zhao Mama for detailed questions, lest a mistake give someone leverage.

Moreover, tomorrow morning the people from Dong Gong would also enter the Hou Gong, and with matters piling up, Rong Luoge felt a headache coming on.

The concubines of Dong Gong did not require her personal reception; sending Rong Xin would suffice.

As for the Empress Dowager's side, she had to go herself, lest the Empress Dowager catch her on a trivial fault.

In the bustle, it was already midnight before she realized; when Han Xinglan returned stepping on starlight, he saw the study still lit. He didn't wake the palace staff to disturb Rong Luoge, lifted the curtain himself and slipped in, finding her leafing through a thick volume, unsure what she was searching for.

He stepped forward slowly; hearing a sound, Rong Luoge turned her head, their eyes met, and she smiled, "I thought you weren't coming back; what time is it?"

She glanced at the hourglass and gasped, "It's this late?"

"Why aren't you asleep yet?" Han Xinglan took the book from Rong Luoge's hands, flipped it, and saw it was a collection of inner‑palace edicts.

"I can't fall asleep, so I'm just reading. It's so late; hurry and wash up and go to bed, we have the morning court tomorrow," Rong Luoge said, pushing aside the edicts and urging Han Xinglan to freshen up.

Staying up night after night would even wear out a Vajra.

After both finished washing, they lay together in the tent; Han Xinglan pulled Rong Luoge into his arms, and she closed her eyes, whispering, "Is there something going on?"

Han Xinglan also closed his eyes, listened, and slowly said, "The Qingxuan Kingdom has fallen into civil war; the former dynasty's Crown Prince led troops in rebellion and successfully seized power."

Rong Luoge: …

"Really?" she exclaimed, "All these years we've been biding our time?"

How patient they are.

Han Xinglan nodded, "The nation's foes bear grudges, perhaps. The current emperor of Qingxuan Kingdom is decadent and tyrannical, long inciting public anger; this outcome is not unexpected."

Rong Luoge's mood soured, "A regime change in Qingxuan isn't good news for us."

Han Xinglan nodded, "Hence this border patrol is crucial."

Rong Luoge understood Han Xinglan's meaning; it wasn't merely a patrol, but likely also a show of force.

She thought for a moment and said, "Do you have any plans?"

Han Xinglan fell silent for a moment before replying, "I intend to send Xiao Shen and Liao Weijing north together; what do you think?"

"Xiao Shen?" Rong Luoge was slightly surprised, but after a moment thought it wasn't so shocking, "If Xiao Shen leaves, the three main camps won't have any issues, right?"