Chapter 210: Volume 1, Chapter 210: Truly Too Useless

Rong Luoge was doing it on purpose. Did these people really think she had no way of dealing with them?

She simply hadn't found the right opportunity. Now Han Xinglan's arrival was perfectly timed—wasn't this just the chance for her to put on a performance of what it means to be arrogant once you gain favor? Filing false complaints—who doesn't know how to do that?

Not only was she filing false complaints, she was doing so with utter confidence.

It was rare for Han Xinglan to see Rong Luoge like this. This side of her was entirely different from anything he had seen before. That feigned arrogance and domineering air of hers was actually quite convincing. He suppressed a laugh and played along with her act, finding it rather amusing in retrospect.

Han Xinglan held Rong Luoge's hand and softened his voice, saying gently, "After all, you are now carrying a child, so you must prioritize your health. If you wish to go out and admire the flowers in the future, just have Yuan Bao lead people to clear the way, so you won't run into any blind fools who spoil your mood again."

The blind fools in question: …

Rong Luoge was dying of laughter inside but had to suppress it on her face. She made her voice even more delicate, sounding saccharine and coy. "This subject shall obey His Majesty in all things."

She had given herself goosebumps.

Han Xinglan was not to be outdone either. Holding Rong Luoge's hand, he simply led her away.

After the two had left, everyone exchanged glances with varied expressions, too stunned for a moment to know what to say.

They had no idea that His Majesty and Noble Consort Rong behaved like this in private. In front of them, His Majesty's face was as stern as could be—if you knew they were His Majesty's consorts, fine; if you didn't, you'd think they were His Majesty's enemies.

But His Majesty was the exact opposite when it came to Noble Consort Rong. Su Ying saw it clearly—the tenderness in His Majesty's eyes was not feigned; when he looked at the Noble Consort, his eyes practically seemed to glow.

When she saw His Majesty holding the Noble Consort's hand, their fingers were tightly intertwined. As they walked out of the pavilion, His Majesty carefully supported Noble Consort Rong, as if afraid she might lose her footing.

If he didn't truly care, how could he be so attentive in every detail?

For a moment, Su Ying even doubted whether insisting on entering the palace had been the right choice. Facing a Noble Consort Rong like this, did she truly have a chance of winning?

Just because they had made a few veiled remarks—not even spoken directly—His Majesty was making all of them copy sutras.

Was this copying sutras?

This was slapping their faces!

Luo Ronghua and Zhou Jieyu looked even worse. Seeing that Lady Zhenshen and Su Ying's expressions were dreadful, they had no desire to make themselves unwelcome there, so they took their leave first and slipped away.

Once the two had left, Lady Zhenshen spoke without reservation, looking at Su Ying: "Did you see, Miss Su? Everything I told you before was true. As long as Noble Consort Rong is here, neither you nor I will have any chance to rise. Do you believe me now?"

Su Ying kept her head slightly lowered. Hearing Song Huihe's words, she slowly raised her head and said unhurriedly, "You speak the truth, my lady. But you have crossed swords with Noble Consort Rong for so long without gaining the upper hand. I fear I would be equally powerless."

Song Huihe hadn't expected Su Ying to just back down like this. Was she frightened?

"I never thought Miss Su would be so timid. I assumed that having entered the palace with such grand ambitions, you would at least strive for a future. Are you really just giving up like this?" Song Huihe naturally did not want Su Ying to wash her hands of the matter. The Su family had Empress Dowager Su behind them, which was also advantageous for her.

Su Ying sighed softly. "Lady Zhenshen, I am merely His Majesty's cousin and Her Majesty the Empress Dowager's niece. You said one thing correctly—I currently have neither title nor standing in the Hou Gong, so whatever I do will invite gossip. Moreover, what I witnessed today truly shook me. I had always believed that His Majesty's lavish favor toward Noble Consort Rong was merely surface appearance, but now I see it is not. In that case, entering the palace would not be the best choice for me, would it?"

Previously, Song Huihe had kept prodding her with words to make a move. Now she simply used today's events to feign disillusionment and take a step back. She wanted to see whether Song Huihe could still remain so composed.

Song Huihe was genuinely taken aback for a moment. Frowning, she said, "Miss Su, can you truly let this go? Would the Su family agree?"

Su Ying sighed softly. "I will persuade my family. His Majesty's eyes hold only Noble Consort Rong. With so many people present today, did His Majesty spare anyone else a single glance? Even if I entered the palace through my aunt's influence, what then? I would end up no different from the rest of you. If that is the case, it would be better for me not to enter the palace at all."

Song Huihe: …

She was already discouraged enough to want to quit?

That was truly too useless!

Su Ying gave Song Huihe no further chance to persuade her. Feigning the appearance of someone who had suffered a great blow, she listlessly departed.

On her way back to Funing Palace, Su Ying thought about many things and felt that her current direction might indeed be wrong. After turning it over in her mind, she went to see her aunt upon returning.

The Empress Dowager saw that Su Ying did not look well and asked with concern, "Weren't you just out admiring flowers? What happened?"

"Aunt." Su Ying's eyes reddened. She walked over, sat below the Empress Dowager, and said in a low voice, "We encountered Noble Consort Rong in the imperial garden. Later, His Majesty came to find Noble Consort Rong as well. We saw His Majesty too."

The Empress Dowager looked somewhat surprised at Su Ying's words. "Noble Consort Rong has never liked going out. Why would she suddenly be in the mood to stroll through the garden today? Did you truly encounter her by chance?"

Su Ying hurriedly nodded. "Indeed. Noble Consort Rong said she had a sudden whim to go out for a walk. From her expression at the time, she truly didn't seem to be lying."

"An encounter is an encounter. Noble Consort Rong's temperament is such that as long as others don't provoke her, she generally won't stir up trouble. Her thoughts have always run deep, and she is skilled at keeping up appearances, so she won't let anyone catch her out. I see your expression is not good—did you have an unpleasant run-in with Noble Consort Rong? You have always been a steady-natured person; you shouldn't have done such a thing." The Empress Dowager frowned.

Su Ying recounted the situation at the time, emphasizing Song Huihe's clash with the Noble Consort while downplaying her own role in adding fuel to the fire. She then described in detail His Majesty's attentive care of Noble Consort Rong, and finally said, "Aunt, I always knew His Majesty doted on Noble Consort Rong, but I never imagined he would dote on her to such a degree. His Majesty is, after all, the sovereign of the nation—how could he personally support Noble Consort Rong by the arm? If word gets out, I fear the court officials will be displeased again."

The Empress Dowager's brows knit so tightly they could tie a knot. She scoffed and said, "His Majesty has always treated the Lady Rong differently. It is truly baffling. I have never seen what is so good about that Lady Rong, to have bewitched him so thoroughly."

Su Ying agreed inwardly; she too found it exceedingly strange. After some thought, she said, "Aunt, I was thinking that once I finish copying the sutras, I should leave the palace for now."

The Empress Dowager was taken aback, her eyes carrying a sharp edge as she looked at Su Ying. "What, you're already backing down over such a small difficulty? Back in my day, under Noble Consort Ming's overwhelming favor, did I not still reach where I am today?"

"Ying'er does not mean that at all. I was thinking that since His Majesty's heart is currently entirely devoted to Noble Consort Rong, and he values the child she carries so highly, it would surely not be easy to get His Majesty to let me stay and grant me a title. It would be better for me to take a step back and wait to enter the palace again at the next selection. By then, Aunt could legitimately secure a good position for me. Only with a legitimate title could I appear openly before His Majesty and have the confidence to cross swords with Noble Consort Rong."

The Empress Dowager fell silent upon hearing this. She needed to think it over carefully.