Chapter 224: Volume 1, Chapter 224 — Can Only Kill With a Borrowed Knife

After reviewing the outer and inner accounts, Han Xinglan remained silent for a long time.

Rong Luoge watched his expression and couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy, so she said to him, "This matter isn't your fault. If Hu Zongxi and Fan Mingzhang hadn't been at odds this time, this wouldn't have been exposed either. Besides, these are rules that gradually formed over successive dynasties. You've only just ascended the throne—how could you possibly have figured it all out? Fortunately, it's still not too late."

Han Xinglan said with a dark expression, "Fan Mingzhang was someone I promoted with my own hand."

That was what pained him the most.

"You can know a person's face but not their heart. How could you know whether the heart beneath that human skin is red or black?" Rong Luoge said. "I actually think this is a good thing. The Inner Court Office was already purged once from top to bottom, and all those people paid silver to redeem their guilt. They probably thought the matter had simply passed, and now they'd never expect us to make a return strike. If we can truly investigate it thoroughly, I've calculated that the silver uncovered would amount to at least tens of millions of taels—at the court's current tax revenue, that would be several years' worth of income. You've always been short of silver, and now, well, your purse will be full all at once."

Han Xinglan knew Rong Luoge was deliberately joking to cheer him up. He let out a long sigh. "These bastards only care about lining their own pockets to the brim, completely disregarding the court and the common people. Speaking of it, I wish I could sweep them all out in one fell swoop just to vent my hatred."

"If you do that, the commotion would be far too great. There are quite a few sons of noble families serving as officials in the Inner Court Office. Whatever you want to do, you must think it through thoroughly before making a move—best to strike with a single killing blow," Rong Luoge said slowly.

She didn't fully understand the complex hierarchy of officials within the Inner Court Office, but she knew that for these people to be so audacious, there had to be a reason.

Impatience won't let you eat hot tofu. Only a move like Wu Song beating the tiger—a single punch to kill—was a brilliant tactic.

They couldn't leave those people any room to turn things around, or else this matter would truly be like autumn rain—endless and unceasing.

Han Xinglan looked at Rong Luoge and said, "I wanted to let you rest peacefully and nurture your pregnancy, but in the end... I keep making you worry about things."

Rong Luoge smiled and said, "I'm willing. You treat me well, so I want to share your burdens."

Han Xinglan gripped Rong Luoge's hand tightly, deliberated for a long while, and then continued, "It seems Hu Zongxi dared to do this because he's already won over a portion of people in the Inner Court Office, but he still doesn't have full confidence. That's why he wanted to borrow your strength to bring down Fan Mingzhang."

"What you say makes sense. How do you plan to use Hu Zongxi?" Rong Luoge asked.

"Killing one Fan Mingzhang won't be enough. The people below are rotten through and through. Only by thoroughly purging the Inner Court Office can it be considered truly renewed."

"If you do that, won't the commotion be too great?" Rong Luoge was somewhat worried that the situation would spiral out of control.

"Yes, I think so too, so I can only kill with a borrowed knife." Han Xinglan gave a cold laugh.

Rong Luoge understood. Hu Zongxi was that knife. As for how Han Xinglan would use him, she didn't much want to ask. She only said, "Should I continue handling Hu Zongxi's side, or will you take over?"

"Don't trouble yourself over it. I'll have Yu Yan go," Han Xinglan said after some thought. "Once the matter is mostly handled, I'll have Yu Yan take over the position of Grand Commandant."

Rong Luoge looked at Han Xinglan with some surprise. "Lord Yu? It's not that it wouldn't work, it just feels like using a great talent for a small task."

"Let him work in the Inner Court Office for a few years and clean it out thoroughly for me, then I'll find someone to take over." Han Xinglan couldn't just casually find someone to take charge like last time, or there would be trouble again.

"Then what about Hu Zongxi?" Rong Luoge asked. After all, he was someone who had surrendered to them—it wouldn't be right to leave him hanging.

"Have him moved to a different place," Han Xinglan said.

Rong Luoge knew Han Xinglan already had a plan, so she didn't say more. She looked at him and said, "It's getting late. Hurry and rest. You have to get up early for court again tomorrow. Over time, even an iron body won't hold up."

Without waiting for Han Xinglan's agreement, Rong Luoge had someone bring water to the washroom, then fetched inner garments for him. "Go wash up first."

Han Xinglan was indeed tired, so he took the clothes and went to the washroom. When he came out, the bed in the bedchamber had already been made and the bed curtains lowered. He lifted the curtain and went in, sat on the edge of the bed to take off his shoes, then looked at Rong Luoge, who had already lain down, and said, "Let's rest early today. The two of us can have a good talk."

"Alright," Rong Luoge said. She shifted inward, watched Han Xinglan lie down, then moved over to lean against him with a smile. "The matter with the Zhen Guo Gong Fu should be about settled."

Han Xinglan said upon hearing this, "Di Yue Nu will arrive a bit later than Xiao Shen, but only by a few days. Rong Heng will certainly be anxious and most likely will compromise."

"Just thinking about Di Yue Nu finally getting legitimized as the Duchess Who Guards the State makes me uncomfortable," Rong Luoge snorted. "But it doesn't matter. What's left for them is nothing but an empty shell. Once Rong Yan is firmly established on his side, everyone in the capital will see clearly that the Zhen Guo Gong Fu has gone into decline. Even if Di Yue Nu becomes the Duchess of the Guo Gong Fu, she'll be nothing but a joke."

"As long as you're happy with it. Some things take time—just as you said, to scheme gradually."

"I know," Rong Luoge nodded. "Oh, Dowager Consort Ming sent word to me through someone. She wanted to ask about Princess Zhaoqing's marriage."

"We'll talk after the mourning period passes," Han Xinglan said indifferently. "Prince Qi submitted a memorial requesting to take Dowager Consort Ming out of the palace to live in comfort. I didn't agree."

Rong Luoge nodded. "You can't agree for now. At the very least, you have to wait until Di Yue Nu becomes the Duchess of the Guo Gong Fu, and after Rong Dai turns the tables and fights three hundred rounds with Yun Shizhuang."

Han Xinglan: …

Seeing Han Xinglan's speechless look, Rong Luoge laughed heartily. "I'm just teasing you. I know you want to see whether Prince Qi has any other intentions. I heard from Ming Yuhua that the Ming family has been quite well-behaved lately. The Marquis of Anding came knocking several times, but the Great General never saw him."

Han Xinglan then said, "He couldn't act dishonestly even if he wanted to. Xiao Shen's status is rising with the tide now, and with this son-in-law keeping things in check, Ming Zan would have to think thrice before doing anything. It's not that he doesn't want to join forces with the Marquis of Anding—it's just that with Dowager Consort Ming still in the palace, he doesn't dare make any rash moves."

As for Prince Qi…

Han Xinglan didn't much want to bring him up in front of Rong Luoge. Even though he didn't care and knew there was nothing between them, they had been husband and wife, after all, so he rarely mentioned Prince Qi in front of Rong Luoge.

Besides, Prince Qi appeared listless and dispirited now, but whether it was real or fake would have to wait until Di Yue Nu returned to be seen.

Rong Dai was, after all, Prince Qi's secondary consort. With Rong Dai egging him on, there was no telling what he might do.

Han Xinglan himself couldn't say for certain right now whether he hoped Prince Qi would act or not.

Early the next morning, Han Xinglan went to attend the morning court. Rong Luoge slept until she woke naturally, and only after eating breakfast did she head to Dowager Consort Ming's place.

Princess Zhaoqing's marriage was one matter. Additionally, she had to tell Dowager Consort Ming that Di Yue Nu was about to become the Duchess Who Guards the State. Given Dowager Consort Ming's intelligence, she would surely guess immediately what Rong Dai would do once she gained power.

She wanted to see—Dowager Consort Ming, who kept claiming she would behave and wait to leave the palace for the Qi Wang Fu to live out her days in peace—what she would do in this current situation.