Chapter 185: Volume 1, Chapter 185 – Tracking

After a brief pause, the Empress Dowager composed herself and asked, "Where did the Rong family get the list?"

Yan Yin thought for a moment before replying, "I don't know yet."

In fact, Yan Yin suspected that it was inseparable from Grand Consort Ming, but with the Empress Dowager currently in a fury, such speculation could not be spoken; not only must it not be said, it must be concealed. If the Empress Dowager were to vent her anger on Grand Consort Ming and do something irrational, the consequences are unimaginable.

The Empress Dowager fixed her gaze on Yan Yin, "So you truly don't know?"

Yan Yin indeed had no evidence to prove it was Grand Consort Ming, and she nodded, "I truly do not know, Empress Dowager. His Majesty is very well informed about inner‑palace matters; to suddenly pull out so many covert posts inevitably raises many questions."

Shifting the blame onto His Majesty is better than having the Empress Dowager confront Grand Consort Ming and Noble Consort Rong; now there is no sign of reconciliation between His Majesty and the Empress Dowager, and the future remains uncertain.

At this point, Yan Yin lowered her voice further, "Empress Dowager, think of Miss Biao. If she truly is to remain in the palace, this requires His Majesty's approval. At present, we must not fall into conflict with His Majesty; any rift could lead to an undesirable outcome later."

The Empress Dowager's expression grew increasingly grim; her anger was about to erupt, and the suppressed fury only added to her frustration.

"Very well, I truly raised a good son!" the Empress Dowager shouted angrily.

But she also knew that Yan Yin's words had some merit; if she were not trying to elevate Su Ying to the position of Empress, there would be no need to endure this, yet since she intends to support Su Ying, she must keep some leeway.

"Empress Dowager, the greater picture matters," Yan Yin urged immediately.

The Empress Dowager sat down slowly, looked at Yan Yin and said, "I knew he has been resenting me all along, and still refuses to bow his head."

Yan Yin felt a chill on her scalp and whispered, "Empress Dowager, please do not think that way; you and His Majesty are mother and son, there is no overnight grudge between a mother and son. Some matters will gradually dissolve."

The Empress Dowager shook her head, let out a long sigh, and said nothing more.

Now, looking back, she felt some regret, but if back then she had poured all her heart into her son, letting Grand Consort Ming run rampant, she might not have been able to preserve her own position as Empress; in that case, how could he become Crown Prince, and how could he ascend the throne?

The more the Empress Dowager thought, the more suffocated she became; she looked at Yan Yin and said, "Step down."

"Yes," Yan Yin bowed respectfully.

Yan Yin left the main hall and saw a maid hurriedly exiting the side hall beside Su Ying. She narrowed her eyes slightly, thought for a moment, and waved a young palace maid over, "Follow her and keep watch; do not startle her."

"Yes, aunt," the young palace maid replied, stepping forward to follow.

At this moment, in Jinhua Hall, Grand Consort Ming smiled contentedly and said to Bai Zhuo, "How delightful—being an Empress Dowager is one thing, but these days I find being a Grand Consort far more comfortable."

Bai Zhuo hurriedly replied, "Your words are true, Empress Dowager; after all these years of the Empress Dowager's effort, it may all be in vain. I wonder how she will lose her temper at Funing Palace."

"She deserves it," Grand Consort Ming sneered, "Back then…" she paused, then continued with a cold laugh, "Her claim to the Empress position was never entirely legitimate. She has upheld the dignified image of the principal Empress for so many years, yet now that she's become Empress Dowager she is constrained, which she probably never anticipated herself."

"Your words are true, Empress Dowager; had the Empress Dowager not intervened back then, perhaps you could have taken the Empress position," Bai Zhuo said, still a bit indignant.

Grand Consort Ming stared out the window, and after a while finally spoke, "Those matters are in the past; there's no point in dwelling on them." If His Majesty had not wanted the Su family to become Empress back then, no matter how skillful her schemes were, she could not have achieved her wish.

In the end, at the beginning, His Majesty favored the Su family more than her; had she not exposed the Su family's treachery, His Majesty would not have grown to dislike her, and she could have retained the Emperor's favor for many years.

Unfortunately, it was too late; by then His Majesty had already appointed the Crown Prince, and the Su family had been Empress for many years without major mishaps, otherwise…

The more Grand Consort Ming thought, the more suffocated she felt, but overthinking was of no use.

Now she only hopes to leave the palace soon; staying inside is like being a caged bird. Once she reaches Prince Qi's residence, that will be where she can be in charge.

Thinking of this inevitably brings her son to mind, and thinking of her son brings to mind his troublesome wife, causing Grand Consort Ming another headache.

Grand Consort Ming now truly feels some regret; she shouldn't have allowed her son to separate from Rong Luoge. Seeing Rong Luoge's methods now, had her son been able to get along with her, she would have been assisting her own son.

Others are not aware, but she has vaguely learned that the sharp weapons the Emperor wields are inextricably linked to Rong Luoge; if it's false, that's fine, but if it's true…

Back then, the three main camps defected to His Majesty because those weapons were used as bait.

Grand Consort Ming could think no more; the more she thought, the more annoyed she became.

She even hoped that this matter had absolutely no connection to Rong Luoge; only then could she feel some relief and prove that her past actions were correct.

"Send someone to Qi Wang Fu to deliver a message, see if Prince Qi can persuade Prince Shou and Prince Liang to escort the Grand Consort out of the palace together," Grand Consort Ming said, not wanting to waste time in the palace; she needed a way to get the Emperor to loosen his grip.

Bai Zhuo hesitated, "Empress Dowager, you must think this over three times. If a prince takes the lead and ends up angering His Majesty, how will the Emperor take his anger out on the prince?"

Hearing this, Grand Consort Ming indeed hesitated; the Emperor and her son harbored deep grudges, and if he were given a chance, there was no guarantee he wouldn't exploit it.

Seeing the Grand Consort's hesitation, Bai Zhuo let out a slight sigh and gently urged, "Empress Dowager, Noble Consort Rong now owes you a great favor. Perhaps we should exert more effort on her side; if Noble Consort Rong can speak kindly before His Majesty, it might just work."

Grand Consort Ming was silent for a moment; she did not wish to bow to Rong Luoge, but if she wanted to avoid implicating the child, this was a decent solution.

Seeing the Grand Consort's silent, neither agreeing nor opposing, Bai Zhuo knew the matter was settled.

Although she also did not want to deal with Noble Consort Rong, as a servant she could only be safe if the Grand Consort remained unharmed.

While Bai Zhuo pondered how to broach the matter with Noble Consort Rong, Yan Yin in Funing Palace also received a reply from the young palace maid: the servant beside Miss Biao had secretly met with someone from Madam Zhen Shen's entourage.

Yan Yin's expression was extremely grim as she looked at the young palace maid and said, "Do not let this matter become public; otherwise I cannot protect you either."

The young palace maid's face turned pale, and she immediately said, "Thank you, aunt. I will remember and not utter a single word."