Chapter 263: Volume 1, Chapter 263 — Leaving the Palace

After the young prince's name spread, it inevitably stirred up another wave of turmoil and speculation; the meaning behind the name truly gave one no choice but to think deeply.

In the Funing Palace, the Empress Dowager's expression was the ugliest of all. Rong Luoge bearing a son in one stroke had already made her slightly displeased, but it was not too significant a matter—once Su Ying entered the palace, a difference of one or two years between the children would amount to nothing.

But the name His Majesty had chosen gave the Empress Dowager a great sense of crisis.

"The swan takes flight, soaring ten thousand li; one flight pierces the azure sky."

Such an implication, especially within the imperial family, represented something she understood better than anyone—did the Emperor really favor Rong Luoge and his child this much?

Rong Luoge had not yet been crowned Empress, yet the child she bore was already so deeply cherished by the Emperor. If in the future...

The Empress Dowager's brows were tightly knit together, unable to loosen for a long time.

Yan Yin watched from the side, truly not knowing how to persuade her, so she maintained her silence. Ever since His Majesty relented on the matter of the draft selection, the Empress Dowager's mood had visibly brightened—she knew why.

But now, Yan Yin's heart was heavy. The moment Noble Consort Rong's child was born, she knew it would be very difficult for the Empress Dowager and the Noble Consort to coexist peacefully from now on.

Meanwhile, in the Jinhua Hall on the other side, Dowager Consort Ming's mood was quite good. Her relationship with Rong Luoge was decent enough now—even if it was because each took what they needed—at the very least, they were currently on the same boat.

Rong Luoge's rise in favor was a good thing for Dowager Consort Ming. The sole imperfection was that her wretched son had gone mad for some reason and still had not submitted a memorial to take them, mother and daughter, out of the palace.

It infuriated her.

Not to mention Zhaoqing's belly full of grievances—even Dowager Consort Ming, patient as she was, was at a loss for words about her son.

If possible, she truly wanted to swap brains with her son.

Moreover, apart from this, Dowager Consort Ming had also learned about the matter of the draw loom and the Luo loom. She genuinely had not seen that Rong Luoge possessed such ability. Now she was nothing but full of regret—regret until her intestines turned green.

Had she known Rong Luoge had such capability, how could she have let her son divorce her?

But what use was regret? No wonder His Majesty treasured Noble Consort Rong like a gem—if it were her, she would dote on her too. As for how His Majesty would treat Rong Luoge once she no longer had exploitable value, Dowager Consort Ming did not concern herself with that. Right now, she only wished time could turn backward.

"Your Ladyship, in three days the first round of screening will conclude, and the draft maidens will enter the palace for a second selection. Should we..." Bai Zhuo asked cautiously.

Dowager Consort Ming shook her head. "Do not do such things. Noble Consort Rong is no simple person. If she found out we were buying off draft maidens, she would likely turn against us immediately."

Bai Zhuo had only asked in passing, and upon hearing this, she nodded. "Yes, this servant will remember."

Dowager Consort Ming sighed softly, looking at Bai Zhuo as she said, "Had I known it would come to this, I should not have... back then."

"Your Ladyship." Bai Zhuo gently interrupted the Dowager Consort's words. "His Highness has a soft-hearted nature. Even without the divorce, he likely could not have kept the Noble Consort in line. You need not blame yourself. Even if you had not intervened, the outcome would have been the same."

Dowager Consort Ming knew Bai Zhuo was deliberately saying this to comfort her, but her heart still lightened a few degrees. She gave a helpless smile. "Let it be so. What is past is past. Bai Zhuo, have someone deliver a letter to Prince Qi. The draft maidens are about to enter the second round of selection, and the affairs of the Inner Court Bureau have now been settled. With a great merit at hand, the timing is perfect. Have him submit a memorial requesting His Majesty's gracious permission for me and Zhaoqing to leave the palace."

Bai Zhuo immediately agreed. "This servant will go at once."

Dowager Consort Ming waved her hand, and after Bai Zhuo left, she let out a long sigh. So be it.

For now, she would take things one step at a time. She had to be perfectly steady, without the slightest misstep.

As for the mess at the Qi Wang Fu, it would not be too late to deal with it after she got there.

Two days before the draft maidens entered the palace, Prince Qi finally submitted a memorial requesting His Majesty's gracious permission to take his mother-consort and younger sister out of the palace. Only then did Han Xinglan not make things difficult for him, approving it right there in court.

The entire court watched this pair of brothers, and the great houses in particular felt somewhat restless. The Emperor had been growing increasingly assertive in the court of late, and their own positions had been retreating again and again. This could not go on.

The draft selection was a good opportunity. With a major matter ahead, no one sought trouble over Prince Qi taking Dowager Consort Ming and her daughter out of the palace.

Zhaoqing happily packed up her belongings—she was finally leaving the palace, no longer needing to live with her head tucked down within these walls.

But Dowager Consort Ming, looking at the packed luggage, felt somewhat dazed. She had been in the palace for decades; she had never expected that in the end, she would still have to walk out from here.

Here lay the better part of her life—the good and the bad, the glorious and the disappointed. She and the Late Emperor had once had a time of genuine mutual regard; those few years were her truly happy days.

Once she moved out from here, those memories would truly scatter.

Rong Luoge had not yet finished her confinement month, so she sent Rong Xin to make the trip.

Rong Xin bowed to Dowager Consort Ming and said with a smile, "The Noble Consort had this servant bring something for Your Ladyship, as a parting gift. The Noble Consort says: after today's parting, she wishes Your Ladyship health and smooth fortune for the rest of her days, filled with joy and free of worry."

Dowager Consort Ming smiled and said, "The Noble Consort is thoughtful. Right now, the most important thing is for her to take good care of her body during her confinement. Our mother and daughter leaving the palace is no great matter—there is no need to trouble the Noble Consort."

Rong Xin smiled in acknowledgment, then took her leave and departed.

After Rong Xin left, Dowager Consort Ming opened what she had presented. It was just a thin sheet of paper, but the moment she unfolded it, Dowager Consort Ming's expression changed instantly, and the hand holding the paper began to tremble slightly.

"Mother-Consort, Brother is here—let's go now."

Hearing her daughter's voice, Dowager Consort Ming immediately tucked the paper away, carefully slipping it into her sleeve and securing it. She took a deep breath to make herself look no different from usual, forced a smile, and stepped out.

"Your son greets Mother-Consort."

"You silly child, get up quickly." Dowager Consort Ming personally helped her son to his feet, reaching out to brush his face, her smile soft and warm. "You are so busy—why did you come in person?"

Prince Qi met his mother-consort's smile and paused slightly. It had been a long time since he had seen Mother-Consort smile like this. He could not help but say, "Your son should have submitted the memorial long ago. Delaying until now fills me with great guilt—naturally I must come in person to receive Mother-Consort and my younger sister."

Princess Zhaoqing snorted from the side. "At least you still have a conscience. Mother-Consort, Brother, let's hurry up and go. I wish I could be at the prince's residence this very instant."

Prince Qi smiled and supported his mother-consort as they walked out. "Let's go."

Dowager Consort Ming followed her son out of the palace. After stepping out of Jinhua Hall, she gazed for a long moment in the direction of Guanju Palace.

Seeing this, Prince Qi said hesitantly, "Should your son take you by the road past Guanju Palace to leave instead?"

Dowager Consort Ming shook her head. "Do not cause trouble for no reason. Mother-Consort is merely feeling a bit sentimental. I have lived here for decades—it is just a little reluctance, that is all. Let's go."

Dowager Consort Ming turned around this time and never looked back.