Chapter 216: Volume 1, Chapter 216: Very Thrilling, Very Satisfying

Rong Luoge was delighted beyond measure at these words, and said from the bottom of her heart: "After all, I am now the demon consort in everyone's mouths, relying entirely on His Majesty's protection, so His Majesty's reputation cannot have the slightest blemish."

Han Xinglan reached out and pinched the tip of her nose, "Nonsense."

"I don't care about these things, but Your Majesty is different. You are the sovereign; every word and deed sets an example. Your Majesty will be arm-wrestling with the noble houses in the future, so your reputation must be upright and pure, so that the people trust and support you, and even lay down their lives to protect you. As for me, as long as Your Majesty is well, I am well. I don't care about anything else," Rong Luoge said.

Han Xinglan gripped Rong Luoge's hand with slightly more force, and only after a long moment said: "If I needed you to suffer such grievances, then I would truly be a useless and incompetent man. Rest assured, I have my own plan."

"Alright then, I'll wait," Rong Luoge said with a smile.

"When there's time next year, I'll take you out to travel," Han Xinglan said with a sigh. "I know you've always wanted to go out and see the world."

Rong Luoge thought to herself that she had already traversed the entire Earth, so she didn't particularly crave any scenery, but the fact that Han Xinglan had this thought made her very happy. She leaned against his shoulder and said: "Alright. Once the realm is firmly in your grasp and the child is a bit older, the three of us going out together as a family would be much more fun. Not next year—the child is too small. I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving him behind in the capital while we go out, and bringing such a young child on the road simply won't do."

Han Xinglan thought this made sense, and said: "Then in a few years' time. By then things will indeed be more free."

"Your Majesty."

Han Xinglan frowned slightly, sighing inwardly, "Come in."

Shi An entered quickly and hurried forward to pay his respects, "This servant greets Your Majesty, Noble Consort."

Rong Luoge had already sat up properly and looked at Shi An, asking: "Chief Eunuch Shi, is there something the matter?"

Shi An said hurriedly: "In reply to Your Ladyship, Prime Minister Su, Marquis of Ningyuan, and other court officials are requesting an audience with His Majesty."

Han Xinglan's expression darkened. He looked at Rong Luoge and said: "I will go take a look. Rest well, and I'll come back to keep you company for the evening meal tonight."

Rong Luoge grasped his hand and rose with him, looking at him with some concern, and said softly: "Don't be angry. Since we already know what they're after, and we already have a countermeasure, it's only a matter of time. Anger harms the body, and I couldn't bear that."

The fury in Han Xinglan's heart extinguished all at once. He reached out and drew Rong Luoge into his embrace, holding her with slightly more force. In this life there were many things he had sought but could not obtain, but all of those could be given up. Only she was the one thing he could not let go of.

"I understand. I won't be angry," Han Xinglan said with a smile, and lightly touched his lips to Rong Luoge's.

Rong Luoge: …

She reached out and gave him a gentle push. "Although the grand mourning period has already passed, we should still be a bit careful."

Han Xinglan had not the slightest affection for the Late Emperor. In truth, observing mourning was merely a ritual to him, a tool to display his own filial devotion.

Though he could act willfully and recklessly, he did not want Rong Luoge to face criticism alongside him. He pressed his forehead against hers and said softly: "Very soon. Once the child in your belly is born, it will be fine."

Rong Luoge considered herself a thick-skinned person, but at this moment she truly did blush.

Han Xinglan smiled even more happily, teased her a bit, and only then turned and left.

Rong Luoge covered her face. Never mind—as long as he was happy, that was enough.

The intent behind Prime Minister Yun and the Marquis of Ningyuan's request for an audience was not hard to guess. It was very likely that they were acting as lobbyists for Qingxuan Kingdom. After all, a woman from a collateral branch of the Ningyuan Marquis's household had become Rong Heng's concubine, which meant they had an indirect connection to Di Yue Nu.

Now that Xiao Shen was about to return to the capital, it was very possible that Qingxuan Kingdom had begun making moves.

Rong Luoge found this rather interesting when she thought of it, and had someone pass a message to Chu Ke asking her to come to the palace for a visit.

Chu Ke arrived very quickly, and upon seeing Rong Luoge, paid her respects: "Peace to the Noble Consort."

"Madam, no need for excessive ceremony. Sit and let us talk," Rong Luoge said with a smile.

Chu Ke saw that Noble Consort Rong had a face full of smiles, and asked: "What has happened to make Your Ladyship so happy?"

"Isn't this a great good thing?" Rong Luoge looked at Chu Ke. "Xiao Shen won a great victory, and Di Yue Nu is indeed coming back for a marriage alliance this time."

Chu Ke had long been prepared and was not the least bit surprised. She looked at the Noble Consort and said: "Then let her come back. I am already prepared, and will certainly make her lose all face."

Rong Luoge gave a light laugh. "The plan has changed a little. I wonder if Madam would be willing to hear it?"

"Please speak, Your Ladyship." Chu Ke perked up.

"Originally we planned not to give Di Yue Nu the position of Duchess of the State. However, if Qingxuan Kingdom acts under the guise of a marriage alliance, and if Madam stubbornly refuses to yield her place, I fear everyone would instead blame Madam for not seeing the bigger picture, and the blame would fall on you instead."

Chu Ke then said: "As long as the goal can be achieved, I do not mind a bad reputation."

"It is a good thing that Madam has such resolve, but I cannot watch you fall into such a predicament. Moreover, your reputation is of great importance—after all, Rong Yan and Ling Shan still need to marry and take wives. If Madam's reputation were damaged, the ones who would suffer the most would be them. The losses would outweigh the gains," Rong Luoge said thoughtfully and slowly.

"Then what does Your Ladyship mean?" Chu Ke naturally worried about the children, and if they could avoid it, that would of course be a good thing.

"It's not that there's no way to satisfy both sides. The benefits we obtain won't be any less, and the face Di Yue Nu deserves to lose won't escape her either. It's just that Madam will have to suffer the grievance of putting on one more grand performance," Rong Luoge said.

"Please enlighten me, Your Ladyship. I am dull-witted and cannot think for the moment of any other way to resolve the predicament."

"I have already discussed this with His Majesty. Di Yue Nu will return under the name of a marriage alliance, and will inevitably try to seize your position as principal wife under the banner of true love and the child. Of course we cannot let her succeed. When Di Yue Nu comes to your door, Madam should deliberately provoke her anger and make a big scene, then publicly reveal everything about Di Yue Nu and Rong Heng over all these years. Finally, in private, you negotiate terms with Rong Heng and Di Yue Nu: if she wants the position of principal wife, that can be arranged, and the position of Heir Apparent of the Guo Gong Fu can also be relinquished, but the Guo Gong Fu's assets—whether your share or the shares of Ling Shan and her siblings—must not only remain intact, Rong Heng and Di Yue Nu must also bleed a little to compensate you."

Chu Ke understood, and asked tentatively: "Your Ladyship means you want me to divide the family assets, and take more than my share?"

"Correct!" Rong Luoge nodded. "This is rightfully what you and your children deserve. It would be best to leave Rong Heng with nothing but empty prestige."

"Will they agree?" Chu Ke felt this matter would not be easy. Rong Heng was a man who loved money.

"Under normal circumstances they naturally wouldn't agree, but right now it's Di Yue Nu who is desperately chasing after the position of principal wife, and Rong Heng is anxious to drive you away, so you have the absolute advantage. It comes down to one sentence: give the money and I leave; withhold the money and I'll drag it out. Let's see who loses more face."

Chu Ke: …

It sounded like a very thrilling, very bracing, very satisfying feeling!

But after yielding it, then what?

What would she and the children do?