Chapter 190: Volume 1, Chapter 190: The Emperor Sitting Steadily on the Fishing Platform

Rong Luoge turned back, glanced, and said with a smile, "Why get angry? These little things, when thought over, aren't surprising."

Han Xinglan suppressed a surge of anger; the empty Empress throne is his design, yet these people each set traps for Rong Luoge, clearly treating her as a stumbling block, even making her a consort who spreads slander beside him.

He held Rong Luoge's hand and said, "This time I have implicated you."

"Do we still need to separate you and me?" Rong Luoge, having finished writing the list, pushed it aside, looked at Han Xinglan and said, "Whether the Empress is not yet appointed or later appointed, or even if you later have offspring, the future Crown Prince's position will always be a source of court contention."

Since ancient times, looking at the course of history, such developments have been inevitable. Where profit lies, the trend of benefit follows; throughout the ages, successors have never ceased.

Han Xinglan thought it actually made sense; he still held a surge of anger, looked at Rong Luoge and said, "If it weren't for the mourning period, you should have taken the Empress seat. Even if there were disputes, you could still stand firm by your status."

"That might not work; don't forget, I once divorced, and just because of that, those censors could condemn me to death."

Han Xinglan: …

Who speaks so bluntly? I was instantly both amused and exasperated.

"It's merely a petty act; I don't mind our affairs, what can others do?"

"Stifling the endless chatter of the world is difficult; otherwise, it's said that guarding the people's mouths is harder than damming a river," Rong Luoge laughed.

Han Xinglan was suddenly speechless, pulled Rong Luoge into his arms; a person too clever always makes one more compassionate, knowing the future is hard yet still staying by his side, and this friendship moved him deeply.

However, Han Xinglan's resolve to install an Empress is firm; despite these setbacks, he will find a way to overcome them.

Not wanting to keep worrying Rong Luoge about this, he picked up the list on the table, examined it, and said with a smile, "For whom is this dowry list prepared?"

"For Cang Yun," Rong Luoge replied, "Cang Yun has served me for years; now that she's of marrying age, and her family has no relatives, I naturally must prepare a marriage for her."

Mentioning Cang Yun, Han Xinglan had some recollection, and smiled, "Then I'll also grant her a share."

Rong Luoge laughed, "That's a fine sentiment; with His Majesty's gift leading, Cang Yun's dowry truly adds brilliance."

Han Xinglan thought and added a Ruyi Eight Treasure Vase; Cang Yun is merely a maid, such an expensive gift would actually be a burden for her.

Rong Luoge thanked the Emperor on Cang Yun's behalf, folded the dowry list away, and laughed, "If this list ends up in Cang Yun's hands, who knows, that girl might end up offering three incense sticks at any time; this is truly His Majesty's calligraphy."

Han Xinglan, hearing Rong Luoge's words, smiled and said, "As you wish."

"Then it's settled," Rong Luoge said cheerfully; although it isn't a major matter for the Emperor and her, in Cang Yun's hands it serves as a talisman.

"Will you go when Cang Yun gets married?" Han Xinglan asked Rong Luoge, not approving of her leaving the palace, fearing she might encounter some mishap.

Rong Luoge shook her head, "I won't go. Cang Yun is marrying He Huai; let Jing Chu, Chun Yu and the others make a lively celebration for the two. If I went, the focus would be too big, which wouldn't be good for them."

If people learn how much she values Cang Yun, some ill‑intented folks might set their sights on Cang Yun, which would ultimately harm her.

"He Huai?" Han Xinglan had an impression of this person; when he lived in Xi Cheng, he had seen him a few times. "The quiet, reticent one, actually not bad."

"You still remember him?" Rong Luoge was quite surprised, "That's him—steady and reliable."

Han Xinglan nodded; the matter of Cang Yun was settled.

After finishing the Cang Yun matter, Rong Luoge recalled Rong Yi and said, "The Protector Duke's concubine is a junior member of the Ningyuan Marquis clan; though a side branch, I wouldn't believe there's nothing hidden here."

Han Xinglan, upon hearing Protector Duke, showed disgust, snorted, "If he hadn't been so cautious lately and I hadn't caught his leverage, I would have dealt with him to vent for you."

"No rush; Di Yue Nu hasn't appeared yet, opportunities will surely arise later. I'm considering sending Rong Yi to the Imperial Academy; it's better than having him schemed against outside. Rong Yan's siblings now have a greatly eased relationship with me, which I can use to check the Protector Duke."

"That's not a big deal; of course it's doable," Han Xinglan nodded. With Rong Luoge's status as Imperial Consort, she can already shield her clan; sending someone to the Imperial Academy is a trivial matter.

"Then tomorrow I'll have someone handle it," Rong Luoge said. After those trivial matters, she finally asked about the upcoming campaign, "Any good news yet?"

"Not yet; by the schedule it should be near," Han Xinglan replied. The main army's arrival takes time, a battle's conclusion also takes time, and sending the report back to the capital adds more days.

Rong Luoge had done all she could; now it depended on Xiao Shen's skill. She smiled, "We'll wait for good news. Xiao Shen leads the artillery expedition; such weapons likely don't exist in Qingxuan Kingdom, so the first battle will be a grand opening."

Han Xinglan, hearing this, looked at Rong Luoge, "All credit goes to you."

Rong Luoge, after being busy for a while and a bit tired, leaned on Han Xinglan, covered her mouth with a yawn, and said, "I only offered an idea; the rest is your hard planning, you're the one who's most diligent. How's the contest between the Imperial Manufacturing Bureau and the Ministry of Works going?"

The Ministry of Works received His Majesty's order to recruit artisans to forge paper armor; clearly this is just the beginning. If the Imperial Manufacturing Bureau doesn't change its stance, it will eventually be crushed by the Ministry of Works.

"The Ministry of Works is operating smoothly; the first batch of paper armor has already been dispatched to the frontier city and will soon reach Xiao Shen's hands. Rest assured."

Rong Luoge closed her eyes, nodded, and said vaguely, "The Imperial Manufacturing Bureau is too big to be shaken; the craftsmen hold the leverage in their hands. That's their confidence when grappling with His Majesty, gripping the seven‑inch point. Those people at the bureau are surely scheming now. His Majesty must not be soft; he should seize the chance to set conditions and completely break the bureau's iron plate…"

As he listened, the voice faded; Han Xinglan looked down and saw Rong Luoge already asleep. He was both amused and exasperated, gently carried her to the bedroom, covered her with a brocade quilt, and quietly slipped out.

Thinking of the Imperial Manufacturing Bureau, he had long had a plan, but Rong Luoge's words reminded him; now he holds the initiative and must brutally break the bureau's backbone.

For this, he watched the Minister of Works handle it—just right. With the two ministries vying, this Emperor can sit steadily on the Fishing Platform.