Chapter 257: Volume 1, Chapter 257 — The Empress Dowager's Wrath

The Liuli kiln was especially lively, and the Nine Dragons Patrolling the Sky Liuli Zun that had been fired was placed right in the center of the great hall of His Majesty's imperial kiln, stunning everyone in both color and craftsmanship.

Rong Luoge's formula had been modified; such quality would be considered ordinary in later generations, but compared in this time and space, it was nothing short of breathtaking.

Rong Luoge listened to Yuan Bao talk about the Liuli kiln, and her mood grew even happier — this was truly an auspicious start, a good omen.

As for the other piece of news that was not so pleasant, Rong Luoge did not even want to pay attention to it.

Today Han Xinglan issued an edict regarding Consort Zhong giving birth to a daughter, and heaped all the credit on her head, which made the Empress Dowager very unhappy — she actually even sent Yan Yin to interrogate her; how did she have the nerve?

Although yesterday's matter of Consort Zhong's delivery went smoothly, with no obstacle other than the ginseng, if Rong Luoge had not been there at the time, if she had not taken the ginseng from Yuzhao Gong out, no one knew what the consequences would have been.

The Empress Dowager neither went to Dongming Hall to oversee things nor produced ginseng to save a life — how did she have the face to claim credit for herself?

In truth, the Empress Dowager did not necessarily want to claim credit; mainly she had lost face, felt it looked bad, and wanted to vent her anger.

Consort Zhong was a consort of the Late Emperor, and the child in her womb was the Late Emperor's posthumous daughter; by rights, when Consort Zhong gave birth, the one who should have gone to oversee things was the Empress Dowager, but the Empress Dowager played deaf and dumb and did not want to bother — and now she wanted to claim credit?

Han Xinglan's bond with the Empress Dowager was already thin to begin with, and her action displeased him further, so how would he give her face? Not only did he not give her face, he practically left her none at all — not a single word about the Empress Dowager appeared in the imperial edict.

How could she not lose face?

"Your Ladyship, Consort Xu sent someone to ask whether Princess Yile's third-day washing banquet will still be held?" Rong Xin came in and asked.

Today the entire Yuzhao Gong was beaming with joy, and everyone had received a share of reward money.

Rong Luoge said, "Go tell Consort Xu that both the third-day washing banquet and the full-month banquet will be postponed for now, and we will hold a grand celebration at the little princess's first-year banquet. After all, we are still in the mourning period, and it is not appropriate for the Hou Gong to be ostentatious. Tell Consort Zhong not to feel sad about this — just let her know that the first-year banquet will definitely be held splendidly."

Rong Xin smiled and agreed, "Consort Zhong was able to safely give birth to the little princess, and right now she is immensely grateful to Your Ladyship. Moreover, Consort Zhong's own intention is also not to hold a banquet; her worries are the same as yours, but she did not dare raise the matter of the first-year banquet. If she learns this news, Consort Zhong will be able to rest easy."

Rong Luoge smiled, "Consort Zhong has not had it easy either. Speak to her kindly and tell her to take good care of her body, and to raise Princess Yile together with Consort Liu in the future — their good fortune is still ahead."

In Dongming Hall, Consort Zhong looked at her daughter with a face full of smiles. Seated beside her was Consort Liu, who was holding a little cloth tiger she had made herself to amuse her, but alas, a newborn child was still hazy and unaware of what it meant.

Consort Zhong looked at Consort Liu and asked softly, "Sister Liu, having given birth to a princess, my heart is half at ease, but I just don't know what things will be like for this child when she grows up."

Consort Liu was immediately amused, "Sister Zhong, given that Noble Consort Rong took out the ginseng from her own delivery yesterday to use for you, what do you have to worry about? Yesterday when they said ginseng was needed and the Imperial Hospital had none, Noble Consort Rong without a word immediately sent someone to Yuzhao Gong to fetch it. We must remember this kindness — Yile's life was given to her by Noble Consort Rong."

"I know." Consort Zhong nodded slightly, "Noble Consort Rong is indeed a kind person. I'm just worried whether it might bring her trouble?"

"Sister Zhong, you're worried about Funing Gong, aren't you?"

Consort Zhong sighed.

"Don't worry. Didn't you hear how His Majesty's edict was worded today?" Consort Liu said with a touch of sarcasm, "Sister Zhong, you've suffered so many losses under the Empress Dowager — how do you still not learn your lesson? We couldn't stand up to the Empress Dowager because we had no backer to rely on. Look at how Consort Ming back then could be on equal footing with the Empress Dowager, and sometimes even suppress her? Now Noble Consort Rong is even more outstanding than Consort Ming was back then — stop letting your imagination run wild."

Consort Zhong thought about it and agreed, "You're right. Noble Consort Rong is so clever, she will certainly be fine."

Just as they were talking, Consort Zhong's maid returned to report, "Greetings to the Consort Dowager."

"Rise. What did they say at Yuzhao Gong?" Consort Zhong asked anxiously.

"Don't worry, Your Ladyship. Noble Consort said for you to take good care of your body. The third-day washing banquet and the full-month banquet cannot be held now since we are still in the mourning period, but a proper celebration will be held at the little princess's first-year banquet. Noble Consort also said for the two Consort Dowagers to raise the princess well, and that your good fortune is still ahead."

Consort Liu looked at Consort Zhong and smiled, "Was I not right? Noble Consort is a thoughtful person who always handles things thoroughly and carefully — she would never put you in a difficult position. Our Yile is a blessed child, and her future will certainly be bright."

Consort Zhong's heart was completely put at ease. She looked at her daughter with eyes full of tenderness — she had feared that if she gave birth to a prince, His Majesty would dislike and be wary of this younger brother, and if she gave birth to a daughter, she feared His Majesty would not value the child and she would suffer along with her.

Now all was well. With Noble Consort Rong's words, the child would have a future.

There was nothing more to worry about.

Only, how could she repay Noble Consort's kindness? Consort Zhong began to worry again.

Although the third-day washing banquet was not held, on the day of the third-day washing Rong Luoge still had someone deliver a third-day washing gift to the little princess to bring her blessings. A few days after the third-day washing passed, the Emperor would set aside his brush for the New Year.

Even after setting aside his brush, Han Xinglan was not idle — mostly due to matters at the Liuli kiln. Since it was the Emperor's private kiln, these matters were not considered court affairs, so he still had to work overtime to handle them.

Rong Luoge was thoroughly amused and asked him how things were going with the Luo Ji Zi.

Han Xinglan had finally snatched a half-day of leisure from his busy life, drinking tea and relaxing with Rong Luoge. Hearing her question, he turned his head to look at her and said, "It's being made. It won't be ready before the New Year — many parts of the blueprint are blurry, the exact dimensions are unclear, and the craftsmen need to revise it repeatedly. It should be about done after the New Year."

Rong Luoge coughed lightly. This Luo Ji Zi was a half-baked thing to begin with, drawn from her forced memory of a fleeting glance in a dream — there were certainly no exact dimensions, and the craftsmen would have to figure it out themselves.

"Take it slowly. There's no rush anyway — wearing Luo fabric will have to wait until the weather warms up, so there's plenty of time," Rong Luoge said immediately.

Han Xinglan looked at her slightly guilty face, greatly amused, and asked her, "This is our first year moving into the Hou Gong — how do you plan to celebrate the New Year?"

Rong Luoge said, "The New Year procedures are all palace customs. We just follow precedent — or do you have other ideas?"

Han Xinglan looked at her and smiled, "No other plans — I just want to be lazy and not hold a grand court audience for the New Year. Besides, you are very close to your delivery date now, and if the Hou Gong holds such a banquet, it would be too much for you."

Rong Luoge was stunned for a moment — she had not expected that Han Xinglan was doing this because of her.