Chapter 258: Volume 1, Chapter 258 — Rong Luoge Is a Proper Noble Consort

The Grand Court New Year Assembly was when all court officials would enter the palace to congratulate the emperor on the new year, and then the emperor would host a palace banquet to feast all the officials, creating a fine tale of harmony between ruler and ministers.

While the emperor banqueted the officials in the front, the Hou Gong had to follow suit with a grand banquet for the noble ladies of each family.

For Rong Luoge this was not merely exhausting but genuinely dangerous; her current condition could not handle such a grand banquet, and for health reasons she could not sit for long periods—these banquets required sitting for several shichen at a stretch, which a pregnant woman simply could not endure.

Rong Luoge was certainly not one to wrong herself, and said at once, "You're right, my body truly cannot manage it. But the Hou Gong banquet can be cancelled. As for the grand court banquet in the front, I think it's best to hold it as usual. After all, the Hou Gong has no empress, and I am heavy with child and not conveniently placed to preside—the officials and noble ladies should be able to understand."

Saying this, she looked at Han Xinglan and smiled. "But if the grand court banquet is cancelled too, then it's practically certain—given the Liuli Kiln affair, none of those people will have a good new year this year, and who knows what they'll be muttering about you behind your backs. Better to hold the banquet as usual. Besides, we can also let a bit of word about the Luo looms slip out—the Liuli Kiln won't be taking on new people for now, but the Luo looms are different; that's entirely feasible."

Han Xinglan listened to Rong Luoge's words, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "How have you become more of a money-grubber than me now?"

"Can't help it—we're too poor. Who would have thought that I, a grand noble consort, would actually worry over silver." Rong Luoge sighed.

Han Xinglan held her hand. "It'll be fine next year."

"Naturally, then." Rong Luoge said at once, "Next year we'll be the ones with money, and when the grand court assembly comes around next year we'll have money, leisure, and excellent health—of course that'll be good."

Han Xinglan was thoroughly amused. "You—well said!"

The two laughed together, leaning against each other as they slowly planned next year's market affairs. They spoke lightly, but if they truly intended to build the largest commercial market in all of the Owl Nation next year, they would likely have to pour every tael of silver they earned into it.

Rong Luoge looked at the dark shadows under Han Xinglan's eyes and knew that even after setting aside his brush he had little time to rest—nearly all of it was spent on this. After a moment's thought, she said, "Blocking is worse than guiding. The great families are coming on fiercely; rather than clashing head-on with them and forcing a winner, it would be better to draw them in, assimilate them, and deal with them gradually."

Han Xinglan heard the unfamiliar phrasing and looked at Rong Luoge. "Explain in detail."

"What do the great families seek? Nothing more than two things: power and wealth. Right now, on the matter of authority in the court, you've gradually reached a point of irreconcilable hostility, and that may not be a good thing. Why must you fight to the death? Set aside the question of power for now; better to start with money first. Draw these great families into a sphere where great profits can be made, let them follow you and earn, and when the time is ripe, we cut off their purse strings. An economic war is no weaker than one fought with real swords and spears—the key is how you lay the ambush…"

Rong Luoge knew that throughout history, in countless struggles between imperial power and the great families, the outcome was mostly mutual destruction. Why, even knowing it would end in mutual destruction, did they still fight so desperately?

Because resources were finite—they had no choice but to fight.

But now there was an anomaly in Rong Luoge. She could accelerate the economic development of this era, let the emperor grow strong in the shortest possible time, and put in his hands things that could attract the great families to set aside their disputes and seek profit. With proper handling, a temporary truce was not impossible.

Give Han Xinglan and her three to five years—or perhaps not even that long. As long as they could accumulate the greatest wealth in the shortest time, then raise an army capable of sweeping away the great families, by then with absolute military force plus absolute financial advantage, could the great families still wrestle with Han Xinglan?

They could not!

The fundamental reason imperial power teetered on the brink was simply that it was not strong enough itself.

But building one's own strength required preconditions: first, money; second, an army. That was why they needed time.

"You want to trade profit for time?"

Rong Luoge knew Han Xinglan understood her meaning, and so she nodded. "Exactly. We can concede on temporary interests. Without enormous benefits, how would those old stubborn ones take the bait? We're taking a small loss to gain a big advantage—it's worth it."

Han Xinglan sighed softly at her words and looked at Rong Luoge. "Born a woman—what a pity for your talent."

Rong Luoge smiled smugly. "You should be glad I'm a woman. You see, I'm a woman and I married you—so by marrying me, haven't you gained double the value? What a bargain!"

Han Xinglan was rendered speechless, and only after a long while said, "Who compares themselves to goods?"

"Hmph, who in this world isn't? 'Master the civil and martial arts, then sell yourself to the imperial house.' Even those great families and scholars do the same, let alone a mere woman like me."

Han Xinglan carefully turned over that line—"Master the civil and martial arts, then sell yourself to the imperial house." How well put!

Once spring arrived and the special imperial examination was held, these words could be spread about entirely. Those scholars of humble origin would surely be delighted by them.

Did they not study so desperately precisely to change their station in life?

Was it not precisely to live better days?

The more Han Xinglan thought about it, the more pleased he became. He looked at Rong Luoge and said, "You're right—I've scored a great bargain!"

"Who are you calling a bargain?"

Through the window, Rong Xin and the others heard the laughter coming from within the hall, and they too smiled silently.

Before, when His Majesty was in the Dong Gong, he rarely smiled. It was only after the Noble Consort came to His Majesty's side that smiles gradually grew on his face. The days ahead would only get better and better.

For this year's court assembly, Han Xinglan indeed issued an edict to hold only the grand court banquet; the Hou Gong palace banquet was cancelled this year.

Once this news spread, there were truly all sorts of speculations outside. Some said His Majesty wasn't truly devoted to Consort Rong—otherwise, why wouldn't he let Consort Rong preside over such a banquet?

Naturally there were also those who rebutted: Consort Rong was visibly about to give birth—how could she manage a banquet with a swollen belly? Cancelling was only proper.

Wasn't the Empress Dowager still there even without Consort Rong?

The Empress Dowager was in mourning for the Late Emperor—how could she come out to host a banquet?

The endless disputes outside had no effect whatsoever on Rong Luoge's mood.

As for the Empress Dowager throwing a temper over the cancellation of the palace banquet, she pretended not to know. The Empress Dowager had thrown things for her benefit, but since she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she feigned ignorance.

From the first to the fifteenth of the new year, not a day was quiet—it was lively throughout.

Rong Luoge devoted herself to nurturing her pregnancy. She declined the consorts who came to offer new year greetings, and she did not see Madam Chu and the others from outside the palace who requested an audience—she treated everyone equally.

Once the Lantern Festival passed, the new year was considered over, and both she and Han Xinglan breathed a sigh of relief.

Right after the new year's first court session, a court official submitted a memorial expounding at length on the matter of the imperial selection. After Han Xinglan refused the selection three times, under the persuasion of the entire court he had no choice but to nod in agreement.

When Rong Luoge learned of this: …

Han Xinglan was truly getting more and more sly!

A perfectly good emperor—how had he picked up such improper tactics from her?

Bah!

She was a proper noble consort!