Chapter 232: Volume One, Chapter 232 He Knows, It

Volume One, Chapter 232 He knows, it's over

"What's this?" Han Xinglan didn't care at all, smiled at Rong Luoge and said, "The days after Di Yue Nu will probably be even more interesting."

Rong Luoge thought it over carefully and agreed, saying, "After this princess returns, she'll probably be very busy—preparing her own wedding with Rong Heng, supporting her daughter Rong Dai, planning a future for her son Rong Lang, not to mention the court officials who are scheming to use her to incite Prince Qi against you. Apart from the first matter, none of the others are easy. I want to see whether this princess has three heads and six arms; let's see what kind of flowers she can produce."

"Unnecessary people, you needn't get angry. I'll deal with her for you," Han Xinglan said with a smile, looking at Rong Luoge.

Rong Luoge laughed, "It's not that it can't be done, but I'll do it myself. After all, everyone in the capital knows I have a grudge against her and her mother. This small matter doesn't need His Majesty to intervene, lest it give people something to gossip about."

She smiled at this point, looking at Han Xinglan, "It's just that the Qi Wang Fu side is already busy with her; why should I have to step in personally? Who gave her the face!"

Han Xinglan: …

Indeed.

"Since Prince Qi has already agreed to go to the Inner Court Office, are you about to make a move on the Inner Court Office side?"

Han Xinglan nodded, teasingly looking at Rong Luoge, "Exactly. Acting now will draw everyone's attention to the Inner Court Office; who will remember any princess?"

Rong Luoge loved hearing that, looking at Han Xinglan and saying, "I was wondering why you hadn't acted before; turns out you were waiting for the right moment, and I like this moment."

Rong Luoge really found it hard to convince herself not to like Han Xinglan; look, everything he does aligns with her wishes. Even the smallest matters, he considers her feelings, and even a big affair like the Inner Court Office he can turn into a chance to make herself happy.

A man like that is truly charming.

Rong Luoge was right; the next day at the morning court someone impeached the Inner Court Office Grand Commandant Fan Mingzhang, saying, "Fan Mingzhang is a great treacherous villain, outwardly compliant but inwardly perverse. He was entrusted by the court and His Majesty's great favor to manage the Inner Court Office, yet he repays nothing, colludes with the entire staff, deceives superiors and subordinates, fills his pockets, embezzles the court's silver to the tune of a million taels—a monstrous tumor. If left unpunished, it cannot deter evil nor answer the people, and it tarnishes the Son of Heaven's authority!"

"Fan Mingzhang neglects his duties, repeatedly embezzles, betrays the imperial grace. He supplies the inner palace with inferior goods, falsifies silver prices. His Majesty, in order to fund campaigns, opens private treasuries to provide silver for the army's supplies; such a corrupt official should be severely punished by His Majesty."

In the court, Hu Xi and Yu Yan joined forces to admonish the imperial censor with full force, their voices like thunder, blasting the Inner Court Office from top to bottom. Crucially, this time Hu Zongxi supplied evidence, each entry indisputable.

Fan Mingzhang never imagined that on this day he would appear before the court and be impeached jointly; the ledgers he produced were all authentic. He was scolded mercilessly, lips trembling, his pallid face staring at the ministers; many had taken bribes from the Inner Court Office, yet now none would speak for him.

At this moment, he knew it was over.

Sure enough, His Majesty thundered, "Your words are correct; the Inner Court Office has betrayed the Late Emperor's trust and my trust. This matter is far‑reaching and must be thoroughly investigated. Transfer Fan Mingzhang to the Ministry of Justice's prison, and order Prince Qi to conduct a thorough inquiry without delay!"

Huh?

Who?

Prince Qi?

The ministers thought they misheard; such a major case handed to Prince Qi by His Majesty?

Was that His Majesty's slip of the tongue or real?

Prince Qi had contested the succession with His Majesty for years; now the Empress Dowager remains in the palace and cannot go to Qi Wang Fu. Everyone knows His Majesty is displeased with Prince Qi, so he has been covertly suppressing him.

What's the result?

His Majesty entrusting such a major case to Prince Qi?

Is this trust or a test for Prince Qi?

Zhen Yun, Xiao Shen and the Imperial Party immediately shouted His Majesty's wisdom; others, even if doubtful, could only chant "Long live the emperor" and watch whether Prince Qi will accept the edict.

If Prince Qi accepts this imperial decree, it means he bows to the new emperor, acknowledging the new emperor's throne—a bad sign for the old aristocratic ministers at court.

Xiao Shen watched the group of old officials retreat from the audience with stern faces, sneering inwardly, "Patience; one by one you'll all be dealt with."

The imperial edict reached Qi Wang Fu at lightning speed, leaving no time for those old officials to persuade Prince Qi to refuse; moreover, unexpectedly, Prince Qi accepted the edict.

Prince Qi's acceptance made the atmosphere in Qi Wang Fu instantly eerie.

Rong Dai, though not well‑versed in court affairs, was contacted by her mother and brother as soon as they returned, which straightened her back at once.

Especially since her mother instructed her to persuade Prince Qi to rekindle his enthusiasm for the throne; she had not acted yet, and now Prince Qi has accepted the emperor's decree, leaving Rong Dai bewildered—what should she do?

Yun Shizhuang, however, differed from Rong Dai; the Yun family's teachings to her were not limited to inner‑palace tactics. Upon receiving the family's news, she immediately grasped the importance of the matter.

Although she once harbored affection for His Majesty while in the boudoir, now that she is married to Prince Qi, she naturally wishes Prince Qi well.

Prince Qi's prosperity means hers as well, especially after the new emperor's accession; her heart remains uneasy, fearing the day the emperor settles old scores and flattens Qi Wang Fu, and as Prince Qi's consort she cannot escape.

But now there is a turning point; she must use Prince Qi. Even if the Inner Court Office assignment is a trap, as long as Prince Qi shows loyalty to the emperor, she won't worry that the head on the list will suddenly disappear.

Yun Shizhuang strongly supports Prince Qi taking over the Inner Court Office and says she will certainly ask her father for help.

Rong Dai lagged behind, with Yun Shizhuang seizing the initiative—both angry and resentful—but she dares not speak lightly; she still doesn't know what her mother wants her to do.

Prince Qi looked at his wives and concubines before him, the imperial edict in his hand weighing a thousand jins. He does not wish to make Han Xinglan a beast of burden, but recalling his mother's words and the mother‑consort and sister still confined in the palace, he knows he cannot be willful.

Moreover, once he takes over the Inner Court Office, he will likely have to deal with Rong Luoge; thinking of her dampens his mood. His former wife is now the emperor's noble consort; even if she isn't his beloved, … he cannot be happy.

Prince Qi, tangled in countless doubts, finally yields to reality; he cannot disregard his mother‑consort and sister, so he must first bring them out of the palace.

The Inner Court Office assignment is just a door‑knocking stone; he takes a deep breath—just bow his head, just run an errand for the emperor—does his face value a few coins more than his mother‑consort's and sister's lives?

He accepts!

But Prince Qi never imagined that on the first day after the edict arrived at the Inner Court Office, trouble would erupt.