Chapter 265: Volume 1, Chapter 265 — More Arrogant Than Noble Consort Rong

Those words truly made one's heart pound, as if in later life your husband said to you, what is there that you cannot buy?

That feeling was absolutely wonderful.

Rong Luoge was indeed pleased, looking at Han Xinglan and saying, "I had people use a fence to enclose Dongming Hall and Yuzhao Gong."

"Hmm?" Han Xinglan was quite surprised. "Why did you suddenly think of doing that?"

Rong Luoge then said, "I was thinking that once the selected beauties enter the palace, the Hou Gong will certainly not be peaceful. After the new consorts are conferred, there will be more people in the Hou Gong. Moreover, my giving birth to a son first will inevitably be a threat to others. I don't want to be on guard against others all day, so I simply enclosed this area and had people block off the intersections. Others cannot enter freely, which greatly improves safety. From now on, when Princess Yile plays with Kangkang, there won't always be the worry of some blind fool harboring ill intentions."

Han Xinglan fell silent for a moment, feeling a bit pained hearing these words. Though he was the supreme ruler of the realm, he could not even guarantee the safety of his wife and children within the confines of the Hou Gong.

Gripping Rong Luoge's hand with slightly more force, he pulled her into his embrace. "Do as you see fit. One day, you will be able to walk through this Hou Gong however you please, and never again fear any danger."

Rong Luoge chuckled and said, "Good, we will have that day. I've already had the Internal Court Office handle this matter, planning to finish it before the selected beauties enter the palace. If the Empress Dowager questions it..."

"Just say I told you to do it," Han Xinglan said directly, his eyes gazing straight at Rong Luoge, his dark eyes carrying a tender look. "Luoge, following me has made you suffer."

Rong Luoge:...

She just... inexplicably felt a bit guilty. Her little life was so comfortable, and Han Xinglan was even willing to remain faithful to her. She didn't feel any hardship at all.

In later times, a man with a bit of money would still keep mistresses outside, not to mention that in this era an emperor selecting consorts was entirely proper. Yet what he had promised her back then, he was still abiding by now. He honored his commitment to their marriage, and all other dangers and difficulties, in Rong Luoge's eyes, amounted to nothing.

But Han Xinglan did not see it that way.

She knew that recently in the court he had been taking large strides, with increasing conflicts against the noble houses. He moved quickly because he wanted to keep her from being wronged, because he wanted to realize his ideals of governance.

As long as they worked together with one heart, Rong Luoge believed their days would surely get better and better. If she still felt it was hard, then she would truly be... being too dramatic.

"I don't feel it's hard, truly," Rong Luoge said, looking at Han Xinglan.

Han Xinglan held her even tighter. Someone so understanding—she was comforting him because she was afraid he would feel sad.

The people from the Internal Court Office came to carry out the construction, and such a commotion indeed alarmed the Empress Dowager. After inquiring about it, she flew into a rage. Had Rong Luoge not still been in her confinement period, she would have summoned her over to demand punishment.

Even so, Yan Yin still came to Yuzhao Gong on the Empress Dowager's orders.

Rong Luoge looked at Yan Yin and invited her to sit. How could Yan Yin dare to sit? She looked at the Noble Consort helplessly and said softly, "Noble Consort, this... matter with the fence, what exactly is going on? Her Majesty the Empress Dowager had this servant come over to ask. After all, putting up such a long fence in the palace is indeed rather unsightly."

Rong Luoge looked at Yan Yin and said with utmost sincerity, "This matter was decided by His Majesty. Dongming Hall has Princess Yile, and Yuzhao Gong has the little prince. His Majesty worries about their safety, afraid that as they grow older they won't know the dangers of the palace and will run about everywhere, so he put up the fence. Actually, I think this is indeed rather inappropriate. The Hou Gong isn't some other place, and right under His Majesty's nose, what danger could there be? But His Majesty... Yan Yin, you know His Majesty's temperament. Once he's set on something, it's very hard to make him change his mind. I've already tried to persuade him, but couldn't."

Yan Yin watched Noble Consort Rong speak with such genuine sincerity, and recalled that when His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress Dowager had their disagreements as mother and son, his temperament was indeed very stubborn.

"If that's the case, then this servant will return and report truthfully to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager." Yan Yin could not say anything more, and could only say this.

"Then I'll have to trouble you," Rong Luoge said with a smile and a nod.

Yan Yin hesitated for a moment, looking at Noble Consort Rong, and ultimately couldn't hold back from asking, "Noble Consort, about the matter of the selection, are you truly not going to manage it at all?"

"Yan Yin, I understand what you mean, but I am still in my confinement period and cannot tax my mind and spirit. With Lady Zhenshen handling these matters, it is more than enough. I believe with Lady Zhenshen's methods, she will certainly do it well."

Rong Luoge certainly wasn't going to manage it. She recalled during the New Year when Song Huihe presented His Majesty with that embroidered tapestry of mountains and rivers—one look and it was clearly embroidered with great care. Song Huihe indeed would not give up, always thinking of how to gain favor.

Fortunately, her relationship with Han Xinglan was deep. Song Huihe publicly presented the embroidered tapestry, and its symbolism was auspicious, so Han Xinglan wouldn't reject her face—after all, there was still Marquis Anding jumping about in the court—but after the banquet, he immediately had Shi An toss the tapestry into a corner of the storeroom.

Song Huihe had put so much effort into seeking favor, and Rong Luoge certainly couldn't pretend not to see it. This time, handing the matter of the selection over to her—others only saw it as a glorious thing, but didn't know the risks within were also great. It all depended on how Song Huihe handled it.

But how could Rong Luoge mention even a single word of these things to Yan Yin? The two stood on different sides; half a sentence was too much when the conversation didn't flow.

When the Empress Dowager learned it was the emperor's intention, she was so angry she skipped her midday meal. This son of hers was simply born to be her nemesis.

When the Late Emperor was still around, this son was not as favored by the Late Emperor as Prince Qi. Now that he had become emperor himself, he was even more cold and heartless toward her as his mother.

The more the Empress Dowager thought about it, the angrier she became. She said to Yan Yin, "With the emperor's temperament, how would he think of such things? The Noble Consort must have said something to him. This Rong woman—I knew she was no easy lamp to keep lit!"

Yan Yin's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this. Looking at the Empress Dowager, she hurriedly said, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, please do not be angry. Taking care of your health is what matters most. Noble Consort Rong is still in her confinement period, and moreover, back then His Majesty also handed the matter of the selection to Lady Zhenshen. In this servant's view, the Noble Consort likely truly couldn't dissuade His Majesty. Think about it—if His Majesty truly had no reservations about Noble Consort Rong, why would he have handed the selection to Lady Zhenshen? The selection may require some thought, but it's not as if the Noble Consort has to handle everything personally; it's merely a matter of giving orders. This servant feels that His Majesty handing it to Lady Zhenshen may very well be because he truly is guarding against her making moves on the selected beauties."

The Empress Dowager frowned slightly at these words. "Is that so?"

"This servant thinks so. Moreover, these past few days Lady Zhenshen has indeed been doing things quite ostentatiously. Several times she clashed with the people of Funing Palace and refused to yield. This servant actually feels that Lady Zhenshen is even more arrogant than Noble Consort Rong." Yan Yin sighed as she spoke.