Chapter 204: Volume 1, Chapter 204 – All the beauties in the world are really going to hate me to death

Anything in this world can be solved, except love, which cannot be solved.

Rong Luoge finally understands why it's unsolvable—because the feelings she's given can't be taken back; those fervent emotions are what she burned herself to obtain.

She held Han Xinglan in silence for a long time; the heart that had been floating until now finally settled down firmly.

Han Xinglan gently embraced Rong Luoge; even without words, he could sense her current unease.

After an unknown amount of time, Han Xinglan heard Rong Luoge say, "All the beauties in the world are really going to hate me to death."

Han Xinglan: ……

Meeting Han Xinglan's speechless expression, Rong Luoge laughed lightly and relaxed, pushing him with her hand and asked, "What are you planning to do about Su Ying?"

Han Xinglan unwilling to let go, he half-embraced her and said, "Su Mu Bai has been jumping around lately; don't rush, wait until he makes a move against Ning Yuan Hou before we talk. To catch a thief you need solid evidence—acting now is too premature."

"This line is really long—Prime Minister Su and Ning Yuan Hou have joined forces, and Ning Yuan Hou even dragged Rong Heng into it, now trying to bind the Lin family via Rong Ling Shan's marriage; these people have big ambitions." Rong Luoge snorted coldly.

"Yeah, how many people are eyeing the empress's position?" Han Xinglan sneered, then looked at Rong Luoge with a not-so-kind smile and said, "What do you think Ning Yuan Hou would do if I showed any intention of making Su Ying empress?"

Obviously, he'd be furious!

But Rong Luoge shook her head, "Doing that would feel satisfying, but it would bring endless trouble—after all, the Su clan is still your maternal family; even if you feint, you can't count on Prime Minister Su's craftiness not to bite back."

Although the matter isn't unsolvable, it's quite troublesome, not exactly worrisome.

"I was just joking." Han Xinglan said, smiling himself, then his tone turned cold: "Although the Su clan is my maternal family, their stance has always wavered. When the Late Emperor was alive, since I wasn't favored by him, the Su clan secretly showed much goodwill toward Prince Qi; later, when Empress Dowager Ming placed people in the Eastern Palace, the Su clan didn't let their daughter enter the Eastern Palace, and at that time they leaned even more toward Prince Qi."

Hearing Han Xinglan's tone, though light, Rong Luoge sensed deep down she might also be hurt; she patted his hand and said, "Being at the bottom lets you see people's hearts clearly—isn't that good? But you need to prepare for the Empress Dowager's side."

If Han Xinglan were to act against the Su clan, the Empress Dowager would surely fly into a rage.

Han Xinglan tightened his grip on Rong Luoge's hand slightly, then after a moment said, "No problem."

Rong Luoge returned his grip, "Su Ying has been contacting the other consorts in the Hou Dong Gong lately; I don't know exactly what she's doing, I'm still investigating—if we can get solid evidence, perhaps the Empress Dowager's resentment toward you could lessen."

Han Xinglan knows Rong Luoge's good intentions, but he fears she'll be disappointed—since he won't bring Su Ying into the Hou Dong Gong nor make her empress, in the Empress Dowager's heart he's already guilty of heinous crimes.

"More or less, what's the difference? He's long stopped caring."

Rong Luoge brought up the Neiting Fu again; Han Xinglan thought and said, "Fan Mingzhang is somewhat sensible—let's use him for now; no matter who sits in the Neiting Fu position, it's not something you can master overnight."

"The profits are too great, hearts change easily—that's an iron law."

After speaking, Han Xinglan added, "The Neiting Fu's Deputy Superintendent Hu Zongxi and Regular Attendant Fan Tinglin don't get along well with Fan Mingzhang; you can exploit this to set them against each other. I should have told you earlier, but I got busy and forgot."

"If I think it over later, I feel the Neiting Fu's authority is too great now; it would be good if we could delegate some of it." Rong Luoge sighed.

"Not now—at least we need to wait until the war with Qingxuan State has a conclusion." Han Xinglan said, "The Ministry of War has added an Armaments Bureau; the Manufacture Bureau next door is getting restless—let's deal with those people first, then handle the Neiting Fu."

"No rush—right now the Neiting Fu is just scraping by; let everyone catch their breath first. This is a good chance—I'll let Xu Shuyuan first figure out the Neiting Fu's details, so we can act later."

"Speaking of that, do those few still listen to you?"

"Fair enough." Rong Luoge knew Han Xinglan was asking about Xu Shuyuan and Qin Zhao Hua, whether their allegiance to her is sincere. "Anyway, I won't let you go; they know they can't expect favor, so they'll seek other paths. Now that they can gain real power from me and sit above others, they naturally have no grudge."

"Putting it that way, everyone wants different things—I want Han Xinglan's heart, Xu Shuyuan and the others want power; it suits us all to take what we need."

"Speaking of which, when next year's concubine selection comes, bringing more people into the Hou Dong Gong could give you a balancing option." Han Xinglan narrowed his eyes and said, "After a few more years, once I'm securely on the throne, I won't have to endure those old geezers' faces and be forced to hold a selection."

Rong Luoge lifted her gaze to Han Xinglan, "Everyone in the palace now were placed there by Empress Dowager Ming back then; if you don't like it, just leave it. We couldn't stop it back then, but if we keep bringing people in, knowing they'll only end up lonely in empty chambers, I can't help feeling a bit guilty."

"How can you think that way?" Han Xinglan laughed and said, "I naturally would refuse the selection first; if those old fogeys keep memorializing insistently, those who send their daughters into the palace seeking wealth and honor must prepare themselves."

After Han Xinglan finished speaking, the smile vanished from his face: "Wealth and honor are sought amid risk; if they dare to gamble, they must prepare for loss—it's nothing to do with you, no need to blame yourself."

Rong Luoge's thoughts still carry some modern notions; hearing his words, she gave a self‑deprecating laugh and said, "You're right."

She cannot measure the present era with modern thinking.

Suddenly, she shifted her thoughts, looking at Han Xinglan and said slowly, "If that's the case, we aren't unable to make plans ahead of time."

"Huh?" Han Xinglan looked at Rong Luoge, "What's your idea?"

"We could use the pretext of entering the palace to trade with court officials." Rong Luoge gave a light laugh, "Since they always send their daughters into the palace to seek power, we might as well let them choose their side voluntarily."

Han Xinglan listened to this, thought it over, and his eyes lit up—"Interesting, let me think."

"We really need to think it through carefully, and also set up a screening; the personnel must be chosen well." Rong Luoge's eyes shifted, "What do you think would happen if I selected someone who's at odds with Su Ying to enter?"

Han Xinglan: ……

The more Rong Luoge thought about it, the better the idea seemed—"If it works, the families who enter the palace will get what they want; I'll still be able to watch the tigers fight from the mountain inside the palace, and it won't greatly affect the affection between His Majesty and the Empress Dowager. The only one who'd suffer is the Su clan; if handled well, we might even end up with a win‑win situation."

Han Xinglan felt Rong Luoge's idea was truly unlike ordinary people's—such a crafty scheme could actually be conceived; it seems… it might not be impossible after all.

"Using a borrowed knife to kill—he's practiced at it!"