Chapter 178: Volume 1, Chapter 178: The Empress Dowager's Preferred Candidate for Empress

The news that Prince Qi collapsed as soon as he returned to the capital reached the imperial presence. Han Xinglan gave a cold laugh—he fainted just hearing that Luoge was pregnant?

He looked at Shi An and said, "Send an Imperial Physician to examine Prince Qi. Make sure to cure him."

Shi An's heart jumped at His Majesty's words, and he immediately replied, "Yes, this servant will go right now."

The news did not only reach the imperial presence; Noble Consort Ming also received it—of course, the news was passed along by someone Rong Luoge had sent.

Han Yifeng really knew how to make trouble for her. Those men in the court wished they could use a magnifying glass to find fault with her, and he, for his part, simply handed them ammunition of his own accord.

Not only did he add to her frustrations, he was clearly trying to pin her to the ground and trample her—utterly despicable.

Since Han Yifeng showed no mercy, Rong Luoge naturally would not hold back either. Passing the news to Noble Consort Ming—Noble Consort Ming was a smart woman and would naturally know what to do.

In Jinhua Hall, Noble Consort Ming trembled all over with anger. Looking at Bai Zhuo, she said, "What is he trying to do? Is he afraid he and I aren't dying fast enough?"

Bai Zhuo hurriedly spoke to dissuade her, "Noble Consort, please calm your anger. Perhaps it was mere coincidence. After all, His Highness escorted the Late Emperor's coffin for burial—that is no light duty."

Noble Consort Ming's expression remained ugly. How could she not know the temperament of the son she herself had borne?

"Go to Qi Wang Fu and make a trip," Noble Consort Ming said, suppressing her anger. "No matter what, have Feng'er submit a memorial of confession first."

"Noble Consort?"

"Go." Noble Consort Ming said in a low voice. She had seen things clearly these past days—just look at the series of actions the Crown Prince had taken after ascending the throne. It showed how deeply he had been lying low when he was still Crown Prince.

With an emperor like this, she feared her son truly could not prevail. Only confessing could make His Majesty relent, and only then would it not give petty men the opportunity to impeach Feng'er to curry favor with His Majesty.

Noble Consort Ming had never felt so exhausted. Just as she sat with a dark expression, she heard footsteps approaching. Looking up, she saw that it was her daughter.

Princess Zhaoqing had also come upon hearing the news of her brother's collapse. In the past, she had been the daughter His Majesty doted on most, as glorious as could be. But now she was merely a sister the new emperor did not favor.

During her time in Hou Gong, she had tasted the warmth and coldness of human relations, witnessed Consort Rong's methods, and been kept from acting rashly by her mother. Thinking back on it now, she still felt a lingering fear—thank goodness she had not acted willfully and recklessly.

"Mother." Princess Zhaoqing walked over, her face slightly pale. "Have you heard about Brother?"

Noble Consort Ming sighed, then nodded. "Sit down and talk."

Princess Zhaoqing gritted her teeth and said, "What is Brother trying to do? Does he want to get us all killed? Mother, we have to find a way to move out of the palace. I truly cannot stand living in the palace anymore."

As long as they lived in the palace, they had to watch the moods of Consort Rong and the Empress Dowager. She truly could not endure such days—she was suffocating to death.

"Watch your words!" Noble Consort Ming looked at her daughter and said sternly, "Do not say such things again."

"Mother..."

"Do you think Consort Rong wants to see us mother and daughter in the palace? The only reason she kept us here is to keep your brother in check." Noble Consort Ming sighed. "We cannot leave for now. You must hold your temper and not act recklessly. Your marriage is still in His Majesty's hands. If you cross his taboos and he bestows you a consort who only appears glorious on the surface, you'll be the one to suffer."

Noble Consort Ming instructed her daughter carefully, "Your imperial father is gone. You must learn to grow up and no longer act willfully and recklessly as before."

Though Princess Zhaoqing was unwilling, she knew her mother spoke the truth. She gritted her teeth before saying, "Mother, Consort Rong is now with child. Do you think His Majesty will name her Empress?"

Noble Consort Ming was taken aback, then shook her head. "Hard to say."

Princess Zhaoqing thought about how Rong Luoge was still her former sister-in-law—if she became Empress, she would have even less face to show people in the future.

Just thinking about it made her face scrunch up like a bitter melon.

"If only this child were gone, what would she have to rely on to become Empress?" Princess Zhaoqing said in a low, vicious voice.

Noble Consort Ming was startled and immediately clapped a hand over her daughter's mouth, her face dark as she scolded, "Zhaoqing!"

Princess Zhaoqing was frightened by her mother and sat there, deathly pale, not daring to move.

Noble Consort Ming released her hand, her wrist trembling as she pointed at her. "You had best drop that notion. There are only this many people in Hou Gong. If something were to happen to Rong Luoge, they could find out who did it with their eyes closed. Put away those thoughts this instant!"

"I was just saying it casually. I wasn't really going to do anything. Mother, don't worry, I definitely won't do it," Princess Zhaoqing said hurriedly.

Noble Consort Ming's heart pounded. Only after hearing this did she slowly sit back down. She stared at her daughter and said, "His Majesty is already heavily on guard against us now, with who knows how many eyes watching in the dark. If you seek death, I cannot stop you, but your brother and I will both be implicated. The moment you dare to act, our whole family will go underground to reunite with your imperial father."

Princess Zhaoqing opened her mouth to say something but swallowed it back, shaking her head repeatedly with a white face.

Seeing her daughter like this, Noble Consort Ming's heart softened for a moment. She softened her voice and said, "Mother knows you feel wronged right now, but there will always be a day when we make it through. Just wait a bit longer. Once His Majesty lets down his suspicions after some time, we may be able to leave the palace."

Wait—how long would they have to wait?

One or two days?

One or two months?

Or one or two years?

When would it ever end?

Princess Zhaoqing could not hold back and buried her face in her mother's embrace, weeping. She truly could not bear to live such days anymore.

Only at this moment did she feel a faint regret. Back when Rong Luoge was still her sister-in-law, she should not have been so harsh and heartless toward her. If she had shown even a shred of familial affection back then, perhaps Consort Rong might still show some mercy and give them some leeway now.

Noble Consort Ming and her daughter held each other and wept bitterly. In Funing Palace, the Empress Dowager also wore a dark expression and was far from pleased.

Rong Luoge being pregnant was truly not good news for the Empress Dowager. She knelt in the small Buddhist shrine, looking up at the Bodhisattva who delivered all beings from suffering. The Bodhisattva clearly had a kind and benevolent face for all living creatures—so why could she let Rong Luoge have such good fortune?

Given how much the Emperor favored Rong Luoge, she feared that once this child was born as the imperial eldest son, he would impatiently name her Empress!

How could someone who had been through a divorce sit on the throne of the Empress?

The Empress Dowager's thoughts raced rapidly, the prayer beads in her hand spinning swiftly.

No, absolutely not!

Such a thing absolutely could not happen. The candidate for Empress had to be chosen from her maiden family. Only if someone from the Su family sat on the Empress's throne would they be of one heart with her, the Empress Dowager.

Reaching this thought, the Empress Dowager forced herself to calm down. Right now it was only a pregnancy—there was still a long time before the birth.

"Yan Yin, pass word to the Su family. Say that I miss my family and have Su Ying enter the palace to stay with me for a few days," the Empress Dowager said slowly.

Su Ying was the candidate for Empress she had chosen for her son. Raised in the Yun family all these years and carefully educated, it was now time for her to show her face.