Chapter 202: My Head Has Hit the Ground

"Madam." Yan Yin, suppressing the tremor in her chest, forced a thin smile and said, "His Majesty is always decisive; Noble Consort Rong may be favored, but she cannot dictate His Majesty's will. I think perhaps Prime Minister Su has been getting too close to the Marquis of Ningyuan lately, which provoked His Majesty's anger. Madam, you and His Majesty are mother and son; you should gently persuade Him."

Yan Yin says she is asking the Empress Dowager to counsel His Majesty, but her real intention is to have the Empress Dowager restrain Prime Minister Su.

Yet she dares not state this openly; after all, the Empress Dowager is a woman of the Su family, and even though she is close to the Empress Dowager, she cannot speak such words lightly.

The Empress Dowager reached out to rub her forehead, looked at Yan Yin and said, "Now His Majesty's wings are hardened; how can he still heed the words of this humble house?"

Yan Yin dared not speak further; after much thought she gritted her teeth and said, "Madam, since His Majesty must observe a year of mourning, I think it would be better to first send Miss Su back to her residence. Noble Consort Rong's words are set in stone; His Majesty will not easily change his mind. In that case, keeping Miss Su in the palace would be unsuitable and would easily give others a pretext."

Yan Yin thought that Noble Consort Rong disliked and despised Miss Su; as long as she is sent out of the palace first, it would ease the relationship between the Consort and the Empress Dowager. As for Miss Su's entry into the palace, it can wait until the mourning period ends.

The Empress Dowager shook her head, "No. If Su Ying returns now, she will be mocked; where will the Su family's face be placed?"

Yan Yin dared not persuade further; this is a deadlock—Noble Consort Rong refuses to yield, and the Empress Dowager protects the Su family and Miss Su, making it difficult.

"Any news on Grand Consort Ming's departure from the palace?"

Yan Yin, hearing the Empress Dowager suddenly change the subject, thought for a moment and said, "No, I fear this matter won't be resolved anytime soon."

Grand Consort Ming staying in the palace is proper, since Princess Zhaoqing has not yet married; after the princess selects a husband and marries, Grand Consort Ming's departure would not attract criticism.

As for Princess Chang'an, who is to leave the palace together with Consort Lan Xian, Yan Yin set that aside; there is nothing she can do. Prince Shou keeps a low profile, not giving His Majesty trouble, so His Majesty naturally will not hold back Virtuous Consort and Princess Chang'an.

Who made Prince Qi so tactless? At a time like this he still doesn't know to bow his head and concede; after returning from the imperial tomb he has been holed up in the Qi Wang Fu. Not only would His Majesty be angry, anyone would be.

Yan Yin even thought, it's also unfortunate that the Late Emperor's reign hasn't been long; after the mourning period ends, if Prince Qi continues to be so tactless, His Majesty will have no reservations about moving against Prince Qi, and at court there will likely be no one to oppose.

Thinking of Prince Qi inevitably brings up Noble Consort Rong, after all she was once Prince Qi's wife.

One's fate is hard to judge; blessings like those of a noble consort are not granted to everyone.

The Empress Dowager closed her eyes, leaned against the soft pillow, waited a while, then said, "Since Grand Consort Ming is keeping her head down, have someone deliver a message and let her think on Prince Qi's behalf."

Yan Yin, seeing the Empress Dowager already eyes closed in rest, dared not disturb further, slipped out quietly, and while standing under the eaves of the hall felt a chill rise from the soles of her feet.

Grand Consort Ming has been shutting her doors to visitors these days, nesting in Jinhua Hall as if the harem had no such person. Yan Yin knows Grand Consort Ming is acting prudently to protect herself, not wanting to cause trouble for Prince Qi nor to incur the new emperor's bad luck, only hoping to safely marry off her daughter and wait for the day she can leave the palace to reside in the Qi Wang Fu for her retirement.

Yan Yin used to dislike Grand Consort Ming greatly, but seeing her now she cannot help feeling a touch of sorrow, like a fox grieving a dead rabbit.

Why have Noble Consort Rong and His Majesty not yet driven Grand Consort Ming to extinction?

Yan Yin may not grasp state affairs well, but she knows that for His Majesty's clean reputation and to appease the senior ministers, His Majesty is willing to let bygones be bygones; Grand Consort Ming, being sensible and knowing the rules, does not cause Him trouble.

However, at this moment the Empress Dowager wants to raise Grand Consort Ming, and Yan Yin fears Grand Consort Ming truly intends to go down fighting.

But even if she's afraid, what use is it? She still must convey the Empress Dowager's decree.

As dusk approached, Rong Luoge, bored sitting in the hall, went out to walk within Yuzhao Gong; Rong Xin, by her side, followed with attendants to report the affairs of each palace.

Rong Luoge listened and nodded; now all trivial matters are assigned to Xu Shuyuan, because she must nurture her pregnancy and cannot be overworked. She lets Xu Shuyuan report any issues directly to Rong Xin and Que Que Cai Que Cai, so nothing is delayed.

Now Rong Xin and Que Que Cai Que Cai have become her right and left arms, capable aides who can truly keep people in line.

"Shuyuan's master means that the Inner Court Office is still awaiting the Consort's edicts; without the Consort's approval, many matters there cannot be acted upon," Rong Xin said with a smile.

Rong Luoge scoffed, "Why are you now selling me a tragedy? At first it was others conspiring against me. I am not in a hurry. Now His Majesty backs me; although the Inner Court Office appears calm on the surface, beneath it still churns with hidden currents."

"The Consort said that His Majesty has consecutively punished several officials of the Inner Court Office, and now the head of the Inner Court Office trembles daily—not to curry favor with the Consort, but out of fear of His Majesty's retribution," Rong Xin interjected, "Xu Shuyuan means that the Inner Court Office is deeply rooted; even if a new Grand Command were appointed, he might not be aligned with the harem. It is better to continue using Fan Mingzhang; those who have endured hardships understand how to act prudently to protect themselves."

Rong Luoge frowned slightly; this is truly a vexing matter. The Inner Court Office comprises twelve supervisories, four departments, eight bureaus, and twenty‑four offices—a massive entity akin to a miniature court.

Last time when she sparred with the Inner Court Office, Rong Luoge had the upper hand, but that was because the emperor backed her. In the future, managing the harem's internal affairs cannot always rely on Han Xinglan appearing, so she must devise a way to get along with the Inner Court Office.

Fan Mingzhang was also brought up later; the previous Grand Command's head had already hit the ground.

Fan Mingzhang, though timid, would not bow his head to a concubine even if he sat in the Grand Command position of the Inner Court Office; his demeanor is merely to keep peace with her.

"Then let the Inner Court Office first produce a set of regulations; the previous one is ineffective here. If one wants to sit steadily in the Grand Command seat, one must not act hypocritically," Rong Luoge said, looking at Rong Xin.

Rong Xin nodded, "I will now go report to Xu Shuyuan."

"Go." Rong Luoge waved her hand. As long as the Inner Court Office doesn't set traps for her, she won't have to clash with them.

Rong Xin took a step forward, and Que Que Cai Que Cai hurried back, "Madam, a letter from Xi Cheng has arrived."

Rong Luoge turned and took the letter Que Que Cai Que Cai handed over; it was written by He Huai, and as she opened it her expression darkened.

"Madam… are you all right?" Que Que Cai Que Cai, seeing the Consort's uneasy expression, worried about her health; after all, her master now has a dual body and cannot be careless.