Chapter 264: Volume 1, Chapter 264: Digging a Pit for Prince Qi

Noble Consort Ming left the palace without a sound; by the time the Empress Dowager received word, Jinhua Hall was already empty.

The Empress Dowager sat on the throne without speaking for a long while, and only after a long time did she give a cold laugh—ultimately, Noble Consort Ming still lost to her and slunk out of the palace in disgrace!

Rong Luoge had someone clean up Jinhua Hall again, then took out the map of the Hou Gong and examined it carefully. Currently, Yongyan Hall, Jinhua Hall, and Guangming Hall were all emptied; only Dongming Hall was occupied by Liu Yingying, Consort Zhong, and Princess Yile.

Rong Luoge said to Rong Xin, "Have the Inner Court Office put up bamboo fencing from Guangming Hall and Yongyan Hall, extending all the way to Yuzhao Gong."

Rong Luoge's finger traced along the map—putting up this ring of bamboo fencing would effectively separate Dongming Hall from the other palaces. Moreover, Dongming Hall and Yuzhao Gong were the closest to each other, and both palaces would be within the fencing, so in the future her son could play with his little imperial aunt without worrying about safety.

Now that Noble Consort Ming was gone and new candidates would enter the palace, there was no telling what the Empress Dowager might do. Both children were of the utmost importance, so she had to prepare in advance and absolutely would not give the Empress Dowager the slightest chance to cause any mishap with the two children.

As for whether the Empress Dowager would be happy about this, Rong Luoge did not consider it at all—after all, the Empress Dowager had insisted on bringing Su Ying into the palace to aim for the Empress's position, and hadn't she also not considered whether Rong Luoge was happy about it.

Rong Xin took the map and immediately went to the Inner Court Office. Rong Luoge then looked at Que Cai. "Go to Dongming Hall and give word, lest the two Consorts think something major has happened and become alarmed. Just tell them that Yuzhao Gong and Dongming Hall are both within the fencing."

"Yes, this servant will go at once." Que Cai smiled and agreed, "Your Ladyship is truly soft-hearted. Princess Yile is blessed."

Rong Luoge smiled. "Imperial Sister Yile isn't much older than Kangkang; she can be a playmate in the future. Besides, a child's safety is always the most important thing."

After Que Cai left, the wet nurse came over carrying the newly awakened Han Chong. After bowing to the Noble Consort, she said, "The little prince woke up and insisted on finding Your Ladyship, so this servant had to bring him over."

Rong Luoge had the wet nurse bring her son over and place him beside her. In just a few days, he had grown plump and fair. His Majesty had originally wanted to hold the third-day washing ceremony, but Rong Luoge had not agreed, planning to combine it with the full-month celebration.

Han Chong was different from Yile—Yile was the late emperor's posthumous daughter, and the Consorts were still in mourning, so naturally it was not appropriate to make a fuss.

But Han Chong was the emperor's eldest son, and the emperor was no longer in mourning. Skipping the third-day washing ceremony could be excused, but if the full-month celebration was not held, people outside would likely question whether she, the Noble Consort, had fallen out of favor.

Rong Luoge shook a small rattle drum to amuse her son, and watching his big eyes blink and follow the sound, she could not help but feel happy.

So this is what it feels like to be a mother—when you see such a soft, cuddly little dumpling, so adorable, you wish you could lay the whole world before him.

As soon as Han Xinglan returned to Yuzhao Gong, he heard Rong Luoge's laughter, and his originally solemn expression softened. He stepped into the main hall, first changed clothes and washed up, and only then entered the bedchamber.

As soon as he entered, he saw Rong Luoge sitting on the warm couch by the window, amusing their son. He walked over and frowned, saying, "Why are you sitting here?"

Rong Luoge looked up and saw him frowning, so she pulled him to sit down and said, "My health has always been good, and the Imperial Physician also said I should move around appropriately and not lie down all the time. When I'm tired of sitting, I'll naturally lie down. Otherwise, making me lie down all the time would truly bore me to death."

Han Xinglan was both exasperated and amused. "You always have a reason."

"I have both reason and evidence. Look at how cute your son is—his eyes follow the sound." Rong Luoge immediately changed the subject, stuffing the rattle drum into Han Xinglan's hands.

Han Xinglan glanced at her—she had been amusing him for quite a while, and it was rare that the child wasn't fussy or making a fuss. He expertly picked up his son and walked in circles around the hall, saying as he walked, "I heard you had someone send things to Noble Consort Ming?"

Rong Luoge leaned against a soft pillow, looking relaxed. Hearing this, she nodded. "Didn't you say the Ministry of Revenue was making a big fuss? I've thought about the Luo loom matter. Since it's not good to forcefully move it directly to the Glazed Tile Workshop, we'll take a roundabout approach and make a detour."

Han Xinglan stopped and turned to look at her. "What good idea do you have this time?"

A sly smile appeared on Rong Luoge's face. "I've found that Prince Qi actually has some competence when it comes to proper business. He's organized the Inner Court Office's affairs well. Since you were so generous in letting Noble Consort Ming and her daughter leave the palace, he naturally has to serve you in return. I plan to have Prince Qi take over the Luo loom matter, temporarily placing it under the Inner Court Office. After some time passes, we'll transfer it to the Glazed Tile Workshop. That way, once those old ministers relax after a while, we'll already be done—it'll be too late for them to stop us."

Han Xinglan's mouth twitched—this was making Prince Qi the scapegoat.

This method was actually feasible. He was indeed too kind-hearted; he hadn't thought of this move.

"You're still worrying about these things during your confinement?"

"I was idle anyway, and it just so happened I thought of this idea," Rong Luoge said with a smile.

Han Xinglan didn't believe it for a moment. She must have known he was in a difficult position, which was why she came up with this tactic of retreating to advance. He was simply too concerned with preserving royal dignity—he hadn't realized things could be done this way.

If the Inner Court Office took it on, Prince Qi would have to face those old ministers from prominent families directly, and the pressure would be considerable—but he, the emperor, could wash his hands of the matter entirely.

Thinking about it, it really wasn't bad.

After walking only a couple of laps, Han Xinglan noticed that the son in his arms had actually fallen asleep. He gently set him down, pulled over a brocade quilt to cover him, and only then lowered his voice to say, "The Inner Court Office already has an embroidery workshop, so placing the Luo loom there is justifiable. However, the craftsmen are still making final adjustments—the loom has been built but hasn't been test-run yet, so we don't know if it will succeed."

Rong Luoge said, "This kind of experimentation requires constant adjustment—you can't rush it. The data is inherently imprecise to begin with, so how can it be accomplished in one stroke?"

Han Xinglan knew this; he just wanted to succeed before Rong Luoge finished her confinement, so that conferring her as Empress would be more justified and he would have full confidence, ensuring she wouldn't be easily subjected to criticism.

Rong Luoge clearly hadn't thought of this. She assumed Han Xinglan was worried about the Glazed Tile Workshop's plans being delayed, and after some thought said, "How about this—we work on both sides simultaneously. Have Xiao Shen start building a large Weaving Workshop at the Glazed Tile Workshop. By the time his side is finished, ours should be about done too."

Han Xinglan nodded. "Fine. Stop thinking about these things. I'll have people keep an eye on it. Rest well and don't strain yourself."

Rong Luoge smiled and nodded. "I'm not straining myself—what's this little matter? Don't treat me like a porcelain doll. Oh right, there's something else I haven't told you—it's about the Hou Gong."

Han Xinglan said casually, "Just decide as you see fit. What is there that you can't decide?"