Chapter 245: Volume 1, Chapter 245 — The Person Beside the Pillow Is One Who Runs Off at the Drop of a Hat

Han Xinglan shook his head. "I plan to wait until the workshop here takes shape, then completely break up the Official Manufacturing Bureau and merge it into the workshop. Given that, it won't be a good thing for the Military Ordnance Bureau to remain under the Ministry of War either, so we might as well move it out together."

Hearing Han Xinglan's words, Rong Luoge understood his intent. She thought for a moment and said, "It's not impossible, but I fear those people in the court will obstruct it again."

These people accomplish little of real work but are remarkably diligent at throwing obstacles in the way, which is truly exasperating.

"I know, but it must be done." Han Xinglan stared at the blueprints, his eyes filled with resolve. "The Official Manufacturing Bureau's monopoly can never be allowed to happen again. As for how to place the Military Ordnance Bureau, I still need to think it through carefully."

Shi Lian of the Official Manufacturing Bureau was also an old fox. Back when Han Xinglan went to war with Qingxuan, the Official Manufacturing Bureau made one excuse after another, delivering less than a tenth of the equipment and supplies that should have been built—which was exactly why the Military Ordnance Bureau came into existence.

After the Military Ordnance Bureau was established, Shi Lian finally learned to fear them a little and reined himself in somewhat. But the court didn't fight wars every year, so it wasn't a life-or-death matter for him, and he could still keep the Official Manufacturing Bureau firmly in hand.

This time, Rong Luoge and Han Xinglan were planning to build a new workshop, one that would eventually become the largest commercial base in all of the Owl Nation—which amounted to overturning the Official Manufacturing Bureau's very lair. The Bureau would inevitably strike back.

Rong Luoge looked at Han Xinglan with some concern. "Do you have a plan for Shi Lian?"

Without bringing this man to heel, the Official Manufacturing Bureau had hundreds of thousands of craftsmen in its hands. If they truly set a problem for the emperor, it would cause enormous trouble.

The Official Manufacturing Bureau's greatest power lay in its control over every craftsman in the nation, because the Owl Nation itself placed all artisan households under unified administration—and this system had created the intractable disadvantage of the Bureau being too bloated to be brought to heel.

"Marquis Ningyuan has been courting Shi Lian all along, but Shi Lian hasn't made a final decision yet." Han Xinglan said without lifting his head. "However, once the commotion at the Glazed Tile Workshop grows loud enough, Shi Lian will surely have to make his choice."

Rong Luoge gave a light laugh. "Marquis Ningyuan is still running around making a fuss, jumping about for Song Huihe's position as empress. Once the draft selection is over, she won't be laughing anymore."

Han Xinglan looked up at Rong Luoge. "You're this happy about the draft selection?"

Rong Luoge looked at Han Xinglan, saw that his expression seemed a bit off, and said in some bewilderment, "What's there to be happy or unhappy about? Didn't we already agree on this?"

Han Xinglan rubbed the bridge of his nose. True enough—he had been the one to tell her that the draft selection couldn't be avoided, and he had discussed with her how to arrange whoever was selected into the Hou Gong. At the time, she had agreed readily enough.

But precisely because she was so ready, Han Xinglan felt a little uncomfortable.

If it were any other woman, she would have made at least some fuss.

But Rong Luoge didn't fuss, and so he felt that he perhaps wasn't all that important to her. He knew perfectly well that wasn't the case, yet he couldn't help thinking that way.

"What's wrong?" Rong Luoge felt that Han Xinglan's expression wasn't quite right. "Have you been working too hard these past days? I told you long ago that court affairs are endless—you need to take care of your health too. Why don't you rest early tonight? These can wait until tomorrow."

Han Xinglan set down his brush at Rong Luoge's words, rose with her, and headed toward the bedchamber. As they walked, he looked at her and asked, "After the draft selection, with so many beauties entering the palace, you're not worried at all that I'll have a change of heart?"

He hadn't been able to hold back—he'd asked it anyway.

Hearing this, Rong Luoge finally understood what had been off about Han Xinglan. So this was the root of it.

She held back her laughter, turned to look at him, and said in perfect earnest, "If you're a fickle man, then even tying you to my belt would be useless. If you truly have me in your heart, then even if beauties throw themselves into your arms, you'd remain as chaste as Liuxia Hui. Feelings are hard to pin down—it's hard to guarantee them with words like 'a lifetime' or 'never changing heart.' Besides, we agreed long ago: if the day comes when our feelings fade, we'll simply part on good terms, won't we?"

Han Xinglan: …

"You're ready to run off at any moment?"

"Not quite that." Rong Luoge said.

Han Xinglan had quite a headache. "If I'd known this, I never should have made you such a promise."

"An emperor's word cannot be taken back once spoken. Besides, you don't need to feel down about it now. If the day truly comes when you've had a change of heart, you'll only find me an eyesore. I'll scram on my own, and you won't know how happy you'd be."

Han Xinglan grew even more dejected. Looking at Rong Luoge, who laughed so easily, he knew that if that day ever came, an emotion like heartbreak would never appear in her. She would only calmly go their separate ways.

Never mind. A man like him rarely gave his heart in the first place, and this was probably the only time in his life he would. Moreover, Rong Luoge's nature was resolute—testing her was pointless. Better that the two of them share the same boat and live well together.

So what if he was the emperor? Was the emperor not an ordinary mortal who ate three meals a day?

Hmph—the emperor was also a man whose bedmate would pick up her bundle and run off at any moment!

Han Xinglan consoled himself. After all, he was the one who'd fallen for this woman who could take things up and set them down just as easily.

In the middle of the night, Rong Luoge got a cramp. In the later stages of pregnancy, as her belly grew larger and larger, every night's sleep was a struggle. Cramps were a regular occurrence, and what was even harder was that turning over wasn't easy either. Fortunately, she was strong, but a cramp was something she couldn't handle on her own.

The moment she stirred, the person beside her woke up and asked in a low voice, "Cramp?"

Rong Luoge nodded, then felt Han Xinglan sit up, place her cramped leg on his own, and slowly massage and press along it. It took quite a while before the tendon finally relaxed.

Han Xinglan tucked Rong Luoge's leg back under the brocade quilt. "Tomorrow I'll have the Imperial Physician take another look at you. It's not good for this to go on—you've cramped every night for the better part of half a month now."

Rong Luoge said, "The Imperial Physician said that pregnant women basically all go through this. In a few more days there'll be swelling too. When that time comes, you'll see my legs half again as thick as they are now—don't let that scare you off."

Han Xinglan: …

"What kind of person do you take me for?" Han Xinglan said with a frown. "Tomorrow, ask the Imperial Physician again if there's anything else that's uncomfortable."

Rong Luoge shook her head. "Go to sleep. You still need to rise early for court."

Han Xinglan carefully drew her into his arms, avoiding her belly, and patted her shoulder. "Sleep now."

Rong Luoge slept soundly through the second half of the night until dawn, not knowing when Han Xinglan had left. She got up slowly and heard Rong Xin say, "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager sent word over, asking whether the Noble Consort has time to come by and sit a while."

"Her Majesty the Empress Dowager?" Rong Luoge was quite surprised. What would the Empress Dowager want with her at a time like this? It wasn't a holiday or festival, and the draft selection hadn't come yet—it didn't make sense. "Did she say what it was about?"