Chapter 267: Volume 1, Chapter 267 — The Emperor Is Truly Getting More and More Cheeky

Luxury goods — why are they called luxury goods?

These things exist to be sold to the wealthy and the powerful, letting them show off and flaunt to satisfy their own desires.

Moreover, Rong Luoge also knew that the noble houses and powerful clans of the Owl Nation had an inexplicable resistance toward the glazed tile kiln — they wanted to know how this glazed tile was fired, yet they did not want to play into the emperor's wishes and let him fleece even a single strand of wool from them.

This kind of standoff, to put it plainly, had both political and psychological factors.

The noble houses and powerful clans had endured for generations with deep roots; these families joining forces could make even the emperor on the dragon throne suffer a setback. That kind of power was deeply fascinating, so these people would not easily give it up — they wanted to deepen that power even further.

But Han Xinglan would certainly not agree, so the emperor and the noble houses collided over interests, and friction was unavoidable.

If glazed tiles were sold within the Owl Nation, it was very likely that under the united front of the noble houses, a situation would arise where no one showed up to support the sales — all to slap the emperor's face and make him bow his head!

Han Xinglan had already anticipated this situation. Could he not be angry?

Of course he was angry, but anticipating something and experiencing it were different, so he could not act rashly. Thus he came up with the idea — if he simply did not give these people the opportunity to slap the face of him, the emperor, would that not settle it?

He would not sell within the Owl Nation!

The emperor aimed his sales at foreign clientele — this move even Rong Luoge found impressive!

When masters crossed hands, it truly made one want to applaud.

Han Xinglan thought Rong Luoge's proposal was good, and said, "Then let Rong Yan go."

The noble houses were all still guessing when the emperor would bring out those glazed tiles — when the time came, they would certainly give His Majesty a taste of bitterness.

But they never expected that the emperor had indeed brought them out, yet had no intention whatsoever of selling them within the Owl Nation. Instead, he directly had the Earl of Yong'an lead a merchant caravan on a diplomatic mission to various nations!

This move was too ruthless!

The noble houses were collectively dumbfounded.

When the emperor and the noble houses crossed hands, throughout every dynasty and era, it was nothing more than the emperor reducing the noble houses' power in court, suppressing their primary lines, and then the noble houses fighting back, seeking to sideline the emperor so that decrees could not pass smoothly and court affairs were bound to be fraught with twists and turns.

Every time they clashed, both sides' health bars would be half emptied — killing a thousand of the enemy while losing eight hundred of your own.

But now, with Rong Luoge, things were different. She carried the wisdom condensed by countless predecessors of later generations and technology beyond this space-time, giving Han Xinglan the chance to overtake on a curve.

If the military could not keep up, then they would invent various military assets and weapons of all kinds, and promote loyal generals.

Without military funding to sustain them, she developed various cutting-edge technologies for the emperor — glazed tiles, the jacquard loom, and so on. This was only a beginning; afterward, she and Han Xinglan would join hands to build the Owl Nation's largest commercial base.

Tax revenue alone would be enough to count until their hands went soft. Once the emperor had money, grain, and soldiers in hand, once the strength the emperor had amassed could thoroughly suppress the noble houses, then the next time they clashed, it would no longer be the same weight class.

It was like how, at present, the emperor and the noble houses were both hundred-kilogram-class opponents. But give Han Xinglan a little more time, and he could quickly grow into a two-hundred-kilogram-class opponent. By then, under comprehensive suppression and crushing, how many rounds could the noble houses last beneath the emperor's iron fist?

Their current dealings with the noble houses — putting on a false front — were all to buy time.

The compromise over the draft selection was also for this reason. The families on this list that had made deals with Han Xinglan — their daughters, upon entering the palace, would certainly attain high positions, but correspondingly, they could not hope for anything more.

As for those families that had not reached a deal with the emperor yet insisted on stuffing their daughters into the palace — how things turned out for them would be hard to say.

Of course, to spare Han Xinglan any difficulty, Rong Luoge would likely have to spend a few years as the exclusively favored empress. Mm, and when necessary, she would even have to sacrifice her own reputation and put on the appearance of a jealous woman, so that the emperor could openly repair the plank road while secretly crossing at Chencang.

Thinking of this, Rong Luoge felt quite aggrieved and could not help venting to Han Xinglan.

Han Xinglan was so amused his eyes curved into smiles. Holding Rong Luoge, he said, "It truly is a grievance for you. Rest assured, I will most certainly keep myself pure as jade for you!"

Rong Luoge: …

The emperor these days — truly getting more and more cheeky!

But those words made her happy.

"I plan to crown you empress at Kangkang's full-month banquet. What do you think?"

Rong Luoge naturally would not object, but she looked at Han Xinglan and asked, "The court officials will likely try to block it."

"I do not intend to discuss it with them. I will issue the decree directly, and by then the rice will already be cooked — even if they wish to object, it will be useless. This matter cannot be discussed with them. Furthermore, I have already spread word of the jacquard loom and the Luo loom to build your reputation. Now the common folk of the capital all know of your fine name, so you need not worry about the rest."

When Han Xinglan said this, his expression was serious. He had dealt with these people for a long time — if this matter were put before the court for public debate, the outcome would absolutely not be what he wanted.

Rather than bickering with them, he preferred to cut through the tangle with a sharp blade. As long as the result was what he wanted, as for the noble houses' feelings — what did that have to do with him?

Rong Luoge did not decline, because after the new consorts entered the palace, if she still held the title of Noble Consort — even as the highest-ranked consort in the palace — she still would not be able to stand tall and confident before the Empress Dowager.

But the empress was different. With golden seal and golden register in hand, she would be the legitimately entitled mother of the nation, and managing the Hou Gong would be her rightful authority.

Because behind the Empress Dowager still stood Su Ying, the position of empress carried tremendous added weight for her, so she agreed directly, looking at Han Xinglan and saying, "We two as a couple truly have not had it easy."

One blazing a trail through thorns in the outer court, one keeping overall control of the situation in the Hou Gong.

Fortunately, when husband and wife are of one heart, their combined strength can cut through gold!

"You have worked hard. Give it two or three years, and by then you can do whatever you wish in the Hou Gong, and you will never have to suffer any grievance again." Han Xinglan sighed. He felt deeply guilty — from the time he married her until now, he had not let her enjoy many days of ease.

Rong Luoge looked at Han Xinglan and gripped his hand in return. "Alright, then I'll count on His Majesty's protection for the rest of my life, and be a big crab that can walk sideways in the Hou Gong!"

Han Xinglan: …

It was clearly a melancholy matter, yet upon hearing those words, he instantly felt happy.

This was just how she was — she always had a way to make him happy. Even when the road ahead was dark and perilous, she would escort and protect him, letting him feel at ease.

Rong Luoge looked at Han Xinglan and smiled, then reached for the register of consorts. "Alright, now let's get down to business. Tell me which families' young ladies can be won over, so I have a good idea in mind."

Han Xinglan took a brush and marked them out for her, and heard Rong Luoge ask again, "How should I deal with Su Ying?"

"Do whatever you want to do. There is no need to yield just because she is a Su. If the Empress Dowager gives you trouble over it, just push it onto me," Han Xinglan said directly.