Chapter 169: Volume 1, Chapter 169: Killing with a Borrowed Knife

The people of the Inner Court Mansion were also quite cunning, knowing that the Empress Dowager and Noble Consort Rong were not on good terms, so they lodged a complaint directly with the Empress Dowager.

Rong Luoge was not the least bit surprised when someone came from Funing Palace to summon her; she changed her clothes, tidied her appearance, and only then headed to Funing Palace.

Rong Luoge had not visited Funing Palace since the Empress Dowager moved in, not because she did not want to come, but because the Empress Dowager had put on the posture of observing mourning for the Late Emperor and refused to receive guests, and she had no wish to be a nuisance.

Visiting Funing Palace again this time, she noticed considerable changes; many of the flowers and plants in the courtyard had been replaced, and the magnolia trees originally planted in front of the hall had disappeared without a trace, leaving the entire Funing Palace feeling much more desolate.

Rong Luoge saw all this but said nothing, lifting her foot onto the stone steps and entering the main hall.

The Empress Dowager sat on the throne at the head, dressed in plain-colored palace attire that made her appear considerably older, yet her eyes were sharper than before, gleaming faintly when she looked at people, making one somewhat uncomfortable.

"This subject pays her respects to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager; may Her Majesty enjoy boundless fortune and golden peace." Rong Luoge stepped forward and curtsied.

Only then did the Empress Dowager raise her head to look at Rong Luoge, paused, and then said, "Noble Consort Rong, rise. You are His Majesty's heart's darling—do not suffer any grievance here with me."

Rong Luoge gave a faint smile and did not take these words to heart, saying only, "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager jests. You have always been generous and kind to others; how could you possibly give this subject a grievance for no reason at all?"

The Empress Dowager gave a soft snort and said, "I have devoted myself to Buddhist devotion and had no desire to concern myself with outside matters, but the chief steward of the Inner Court Mansion came weeping and wailing with snot and tears, so I had no choice but to ask what exactly is going on?"

Hearing this, Rong Luoge revealed just the right touch of difficulty on her face, and then said, "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has devoted herself to Buddhist devotion; perhaps you are not yet aware that Qingxuan has gone to war with our Owl Nation."

The Empress Dowager certainly knew, but since she was now pretending to know nothing at all, she could only nod slightly, "War? What exactly is going on? The two nations have ceased hostilities for many years—how could they suddenly start fighting?"

Rong Luoge watched the Empress Dowager play dumb, and even dare to speak of ceasing hostilities for many years; when the Late Emperor was on the throne, Qingxuan and the Owl Nation had constant friction, only it had never escalated.

"Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, some time ago Qingxuan changed rulers; the former Crown Prince successfully restored himself and retook the throne. The first thing he did upon ascending the throne was to launch a war against our nation." A hint of anger showed on Rong Luoge's face. "When two nations go to war, provisions come first, but military campaigns require more than just provisions—one must constantly replenish equipment and warhorses, and all of this requires silver to be poured in ceaselessly. The national treasury is empty, with little silver in reserve. His Majesty has worried himself nearly to death over this matter; I watch and truly feel endless concern, but I am incapable and truly cannot think of a better solution, so I can only try to reduce expenditures to lighten His Majesty's burden."

Regarding the empty national treasury, the Empress Dowager could not be entirely unaware; during the first few decades of the Late Emperor's reign, he had been reasonably diligent, but the older he grew, the more muddled he became, especially in his final two years when he became fond of elixirs and built Daoist temples in the palace—who knows how much money was poured into them.

Even though Han Xinglan had all those Daoist priests arrested after his enthronement and seized a fair amount of gold and silver, it was still a minority compared to what they had squandered.

Rong Luoge, seeing the Empress Dowager's expression shifting unpredictably, spoke again: "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, the Hou Gong has over two thousand registered palace servants; with the consorts leaving the palace or departing for the temporary palace, fewer than a dozen mistresses remain—how could they possibly need two thousand people to serve them? Though the silver saved by releasing palace servants is limited, this is what the Hou Gong can do for His Majesty. The effort may be small, but it is our sincere devotion; I beg Her Majesty the Empress Dowager's understanding."

The Empress Dowager listened to Rong Luoge's words and found them beyond reproach, whether in terms of righteousness or personal virtue; if she insisted on making her admit fault, would that not amount to not supporting the Emperor?

The Empress Dowager had not expected Rong Luoge to be so cunning; after turning it over in her mind, she could only say, "Your intentions are good, but though the Hou Gong has many registered people, most are at their posts; if you dismiss them all, it will inevitably throw things into chaos."

Rong Luoge scoffed inwardly upon hearing this—the Empress Dowager was simply making trouble out of nothing; she had never said she would dismiss every department entirely, but in order to give the Empress Dowager a way out and avoid a pointless argument with her at this time, she immediately said, "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has thought things through thoroughly; this subject will certainly take it as a lesson and weigh matters repeatedly when acting."

Empress Dowager: …

She had thought Rong Luoge would stiffen her neck and argue back, so that she could seize the opportunity to punish her—who knew she could bend and yield so easily?

If the Empress Dowager wanted to forcibly pin a crime on Rong Luoge and punish her, it was not impossible, but if the Emperor found out, he would certainly not agree, and then the mother and son would clash again.

Especially now that war was imminent, and she knew her own son's temperament well; the Empress Dowager did not much want to fall out with her son at this time, so she could only grit her teeth and say to Rong Luoge, "Since you already know your mistake, then go and do it. Sharing the Emperor's burdens is also what you ought to do."

The meaning of the Empress Dowager's words was: do not seek credit; do the job well and you will not be blamed—that is enough.

Rong Luoge: …

When it came to shamelessness, she was truly far behind the Empress Dowager; she would have to learn from her well in the future.

Rong Luoge came out of Funing Palace; though she told herself not to be angry, that there was no need, she still could not swallow this grievance—by what right?

Suppressing her anger—the Inner Court Mansion had lodged a complaint, hadn't they?

Then audit the Inner Court Mansion's accounts; this bunch of bastards had who knows how many benefits from the Hou Gong over so many years; if she did not uncover everything they had swallowed, it would be an injustice to the blind beating they had dealt her today!

Rong Luoge acted as soon as she said it, telling Yuan Bao to take charge of this matter, with Wet Nurse Zhao as his helper; she might not provoke trouble, but she was not afraid of it either!

Auditing the Inner Court Mansion's accounts was simple in principle, but getting hold of the true ledgers was not easy, especially now that the entire Inner Court Mansion was banded together; prying open a crack would be very difficult.

After Rong Luoge heard Yuan Bao out, she said to him, "The Inner Court Mansion is such a large place with so many stewards; there must be some friction among them. Go investigate their relationships clearly, then find the one with the lightest offenses and pry open the crack—as long as that person mends their ways and renders meritorious service to atone, their past wrongs will not be pursued."

Yuan Bao's heart turned cold upon hearing this; Noble Consort Rong was far too adept at grasping people's hearts—this was clearly meant to make the Inner Court Mansion destroy itself, so she could sit back and reap the fisherman's benefit.

This move of killing with a borrowed knife was truly brilliant; as long as someone could be tempted and willing to become the blade in Noble Consort Rong's hands, the matter would be settled.

"Yes, this servant will go at once; rest assured, Your Ladyship, I will certainly handle the matter properly," Yuan Bao said immediately; he would never dare slack off—judging by Her Ladyship's methods, if he dared do so, the next one to be sent packing might well be himself.