Chapter 172: Volume 1, Chapter 172 — I Believe You

Han Xinglan looked at Xiao Shen and said with a smile, "You certainly have wishful thinking."

Xiao Shen gave a sly chuckle. "Your Majesty, such a good thing cannot be let go cheaply to others. Your humble minister is about to lead the army on its way—you must prioritize your humble minister first."

Han Xinglan looked at Xiao Shen and asked, "How confident are you about this campaign?"

At this, Xiao Shen's expression immediately turned serious. "Your humble minister dare not assert anything now; I must go north and assess the actual situation before I dare make a decision. However, based on the information obtained so far, your humble minister has at least sixty percent confidence. The rest depends on whether the local officials in the north will fully cooperate."

Han Xinglan gave a slight nod. "Rest assured, I shall issue decrees to every commandery and county in the north, ordering them to cooperate with you fully."

Xiao Shen naturally expressed his gratitude, but in his heart he also knew that with the mountains high and the emperor far away, the northern ministers had long grown accustomed to their freedom. The Late Emperor had been quite lenient with them, so his leading troops there now might not go smoothly.

But with His Majesty's words, he felt much more emboldened.

"I thank Your Majesty for your boundless grace. Your humble minister will certainly do his utmost to win a victory for Your Majesty," Xiao Shen said.

Han Xinglan looked at him. "I believe you!"

Xiao Shen's heart trembled slightly, a surge of hot blood welling up and boiling within his chest. This campaign—he must return in triumph; he absolutely could not let His Majesty lose face before those veteran ministers!

Han Xinglan handled state affairs in the front hall, his desk covered with memorials awaiting review. In the Hou Gong, Rong Luoge noticed that what she had written yesterday was gone, and knew that Han Xinglan had taken it.

Though what she had written was not yet comprehensive, Han Xinglan would surely understand her intent.

Once her mind was at ease, Rong Luoge relaxed, trying not to keep herself as taut as before. Though in her previous life she had never married or borne children, in the information-saturated era of her later life, she had been exposed to pushed content about prenatal education.

She tried her best to stay relaxed, her emotions calm and her mood pleasant—otherwise, what if her own fiery temper produced a little tyrannosaurus?

At this thought, Rong Luoge amused even herself.

So this was what it felt like to be a mother. She knew of the radiance of maternal instinct, but she had not known that beneath such radiance, one would so willingly do things one had previously been unwilling to do.

The Imperial Physician had instructed her to rest and recuperate lately, and not to overexert herself. Rong Luoge felt she needed to cultivate a deputy of her own—otherwise, with so many matters in the Hou Gong and no one to share the burden, wouldn't the responsibility still fall on her?

She gathered the people of the Hou Gong and looked them over this way and that. The Dowager Consorts were out of the question—if she used a Dowager Consort, the Empress Dowager would certainly make trouble for her.

So she could only choose from Han Xinglan's Hou Gong. Between Qin Zhaohua and Lady Xu, she ultimately chose Lady Xu.

Qin Zhaohua's temperament was still a bit too soft, unlike Lady Xu, who handled matters with measured ease, knew what she wanted, and struck the right balance perfectly—making her very easy to work with.

There were not many matters in the Hou Gong nowadays—nothing more than distributing monthly allowances, seasonal clothing and jewelry, allocating each palace's monthly expenses, and overseeing the Hou Gong.

With no Empress in the Hou Gong, after Han Xinglan brought her in, she naturally took up these matters. The Empress Dowager could manage the Dowager Consorts with a firm hand, but could not reach too far into Han Xinglan's concubines—doing so would be detrimental to her own reputation as Empress Dowager.

Having settled on a candidate, Rong Luoge had someone invite Lady Xu over.

Lady Xu arrived quickly, her heart somewhat anxious beforehand, not knowing why Noble Consort Rong had summoned her. Upon seeing the Noble Consort, she stepped forward respectfully and curtsied. "Your handmaid greets Your Ladyship. May Your Ladyship be well."

"Rise, Lady Xu. I have asked you here because I have a matter to entrust to you," Rong Luoge said, looking at Lady Xu with a smile.

Lady Xu's heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously gripped her handkerchief tight, unsure whether Noble Consort Rong was testing her or genuinely had a task for her. She steadied herself, then said with a smile, "It would be my honor to share Your Ladyship's burdens. However, your handmaid is of modest talent and learning, and fears she may disappoint Your Ladyship."

Lady Xu reasoned that she shouldn't speak too absolutely, but neither should she refuse outright—she would first see what the Noble Consort truly meant.

Rong Luoge was very pleased with Lady Xu's cautious attitude. To remain this careful and prudent at such a moment, without getting carried away—she was indeed someone who could be put to use.

"I have been unwell lately, and the many affairs of the Hou Gong are complex, so I am entrusting a portion of the minor matters to you, Lady Xu," Rong Luoge said slowly, observing Lady Xu's expression as she spoke.

She caught a faint glimmer of excitement in Lady Xu's expression, her eyes clearly brightening with delight. She had said "minor matters," and evidently Lady Xu had understood her meaning.

Clever people were so easy to communicate with—speaking with them was far more effortless.

At this moment, Lady Xu's heart also settled. If it was only minor matters, that meant the less complicated tasks among palace affairs. Such an assignment was surely the Noble Consort testing whether she was up to the task—definitely training her step by step.

If that was the case, it seemed Her Ladyship truly wanted to employ her rather than exploit her. Lady Xu was of course delighted.

The Emperor's favor was no longer something she could count on, but she had no intention of fading into obscurity in this Hou Gong, only to become a stepping stone for newcomers once they entered the palace.

She had chosen the right side in standing with Noble Consort Rong—wasn't this the opportunity arriving right now?

Also, Her Ladyship had said she was unwell…

Lady Xu's heart seized. Unwell—she subconsciously glanced at the Noble Consort's abdomen, and saw the Noble Consort's hand resting protectively over her belly without thought. Her heart began to pound wildly.

But Her Ladyship had not said so explicitly, and she certainly dared not ask presumptuously. She rose at once and said, "When your handmaid was at home, she helped her mother with some household matters. I am very happy to share Your Ladyship's burdens. It is just that your handmaid is clumsy and inept, and I beg Your Ladyship for generous guidance."

Rong Luoge thought to herself that someone like Lady Xu, even in the later era and in a large corporation, would sooner or later rise to prominence—reading the situation, clever, knowing when to advance and when to retreat. This was the kind of subordinate superiors favored most.

"There is nothing major at the moment—just distributing each palace's monthly expenses, conducting regular inspections, and promptly investigating and punishing anyone who violates palace rules," Rong Luoge said with a smile. "Beyond that, the most important matter at present is to assist the Inner Court Office in releasing palace servants from the palace. Finish this task first before anything else."

Lady Xu's brow twitched, and she said at once, "Releasing palace servants from the palace is easy enough, but I do not know by what regulations we should proceed."

She was afraid of clashing with the Empress Dowager's side. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager could not do much to the Noble Consort, but dealing with her would be far easier—and she did not have His Majesty backing her.

Rong Luoge gave a soft laugh. "Where there's a precedent, there's a path. This matter will require you, Lady Xu, to negotiate with the Inner Court Office."

Lady Xu: …

She knew it wouldn't be that simple. The people at the Inner Court Office were not easy to deal with.