Chapter 272: Volume 1, Chapter 272: Crowned as Empress

Rong Luoge did not notice the change in Han Xinglan's eyes. She took a sip of porridge and said without even lifting her head: "It's nothing major. They figured they couldn't get a definite answer from your side, so they simply came to me to ask."

Han Xinglan was still somewhat displeased. He looked at Rong Luoge and said: "From now on, when you encounter such matters, just push them away. Tell the people of Funing Palace that you cannot make decisions about my affairs."

This time Rong Luoge could tell that Han Xinglan was unhappy. She looked up at him and laughed. "It's fine, I don't have to exert much effort. It's just asking you one question."

"Then I won't go." Han Xinglan naturally would not go; he had not even considered showing his face during this draft selection. "You don't need to have the people of Yuzhao Gong relay a reply either. I'll have Shi An make a trip."

The Funing Palace side should also know his attitude, so as to avoid constantly distracting Luoge.

Rong Luoge then said: "That works too. Have Shi An make a trip, so the people over there don't think I'm sowing discord in between."

Han Xinglan looked at Rong Luoge. "Don't concern yourself with these things for now. Just peacefully finish your confinement first."

"Alright."

Rong Luoge naturally cared about her own body. During her confinement, the medicinal decoction specially prescribed by the Imperial Hospital for recovery and nourishment, she drank a bowl of every day. Coupled with the fact that she was not nursing, and ate relatively light fare, even before her confinement was over, her figure had already recovered about seventy to eighty percent.

She had always been a highly self-disciplined person, and she never slackened on this point.

After the meal, Rong Luoge wanted to take a nap. Han Xinglan went to the side hall to see his son. The little fellow was sleeping sprawled out in all directions. He reached out and pinched his little cheek, and instructed the wet nurses to look after the little prince well before leaving.

How would the wet nurses dare not be diligent? Nowadays, the two wet nurses both took turns keeping night watch together with the palace maids, not even blinking an eye. The people attending to the little prince had already matched the grandeur of serving the Noble Consort. His Majesty truly valued this child; whenever he returned to Yuzhao Gong, he would invariably come to see him.

Moreover, the Emperor personally held the little prince in his arms — that was what was truly astonishing.

"Hold your grandson, not your son" — not only in the imperial family, but even among noble and prominent houses, there was no father who held his own son. But His Majesty did not mind these things in the slightest. How could those of them watching dare to be negligent — did they not want their heads anymore?

The Hou Gong draft selection began with great fanfare. Rong Luoge did not get involved, did not ask questions. With the gates of Yuzhao Gong shut, she lived her own quiet little life.

It was Rong Xin and the others who, upon inquiring about the news from over there, came to relieve her boredom — how today a certain family's young lady suddenly broke out in a minor rash, tomorrow another family's daughter had unstoppable diarrhea, and the day after that, someone perfectly fine suddenly fainted. In short, it was like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each showing their special prowess. The spectacle over there was nonstop, greatly enriching Rong Luoge's leisure life.

The draft selection over there had not yet drawn to a close when Rong Luoge's confinement was about to end. On the day her confinement ended, the matrons of Yuzhao Gong had people boil hot water and bring it over. Rong Xin and the others prepared fragrant bathwater and attended the Noble Consort in her bath. Brand-new garments were put on, her hair styled into a high Liuxian coiffure, encircled by pearls and jade, draped in silks and satins — truly a breathtaking sight.

When Han Xinglan walked in, he could not help but be momentarily stunned. During her confinement, Rong Luoge had always shown her bare face to the world. For her to suddenly dress up out of the blue made him a bit unaccustomed for a moment.

Rong Xin and the others exchanged a glance, then quietly slipped out with giggles and even closed the hall door.

Rong Luoge felt quite awkward — these girls were far too obvious about it.

Perhaps the sound of the door closing and Rong Luoge's awkward expression amused Han Xinglan. He strode over, pulled her into his embrace, and lowered his head to capture her red lips.

The Late Emperor had passed away, and with Rong Luoge's pregnancy and childbirth, it meant that the two of them had not engaged in marital relations for a long time. But at the crucial moment, Han Xinglan still stopped. He held Rong Luoge tightly and said in a low voice beside her ear: "The Imperial Physician said that although your confinement is over, childbirth takes a toll on a woman's body. You still need to wait a while longer."

Rong Luoge actually knew her own body well. Her constitution had always been good, so it was not that she couldn't. But Han Xinglan's sincere concern was genuine, and she was naturally willing to go along with him, so she gently nodded.

Han Xinglan held her for quite a while before slowly loosening his arms. Looking again at Rong Luoge's radiant beauty, he felt something was off. After a long moment, he said: "How come you don't look like you've gained weight?"

Rong Luoge looked at him, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "You only just noticed?"

Han Xinglan said sheepishly, "It's just that before, you were always wearing loose garments."

Rong Luoge said smugly: "Surprised?"

Han Xinglan frowned. "Being too thin is bad for your health. I don't mind if you get fat."

Although a slender waist was indeed beautiful, being that thin after childbirth — the Imperial Physician had said it was genuinely somewhat bad for the body.

Rong Luoge...

The two of them were simply not on the same wavelength!

"Understood. I won't deliberately try to lose weight, and I'll eat properly. Alright?"

Only then did Han Xinglan nod in satisfaction. He hesitated, then added: "But don't get too fat either."

Rong Luoge was truly left not knowing whether to laugh or cry by him. Just as she was about to retort, she heard Han Xinglan add: "After a year or two when the court politics stabilize, I want to take you and our child south to see the great rivers and mountains of the Xiao Kingdom. If you're too fat, you won't be able to walk."

Rong Luoge looked at him. "I'll count that as you having some sense!"

Han Xinglan did not sleep well that night. While his bedmate was in confinement, he had truly been calm as still water. But now that her confinement was over and he himself was out of mourning, with the woman he loved lying beside him, the feeling was truly agonizing.

Lust, sure enough, was a knife hanging over one's head!

The next day in court, Han Xinglan had Shi An read out the edict to establish an empress, and the court immediately exploded.

But this time Han Xinglan's attitude was extremely firm, with not the slightest room for compromise. Moreover, his reasons for establishing the empress were fully sufficient: first, Noble Consort Rong had given birth to the imperial eldest son; second, Noble Consort Rong had rendered meritorious service to the state. Han Xinglan cited the jacquard loom and the gauze loom as examples.

By now, after several modifications, the first batch of gauze silk had already been produced. Jacquard gauze differed from traditional embroidery — it felt extremely smooth to the touch. Embroidery, though beautiful, was inherently heavy and thick in the summer heat, and moreover was time-consuming and labor-intensive. With the gauze loom, it was a different story. As soon as the brocade gauze came out, it immediately won people's favor.

Nowadays, when it came to jacquard weaving, there was no one who did not know of Noble Consort Rong. Her reputation had truly spread far and wide, both in court and among the common folk.

At this time, in Funing Palace, the Empress Dowager received the news and was so furious that her vision went black and she fainted outright. The entire Funing Palace was thrown into chaos.

Yan Yin immediately sent someone to summon an Imperial Physician. She had known that Her Majesty the Empress Dowager would certainly be angry, but she had not expected her to be this angry!

At this time, Rong Luoge was receiving the empress's golden seal, golden register, and golden treasure. The empress's phoenix robe had also been delivered by the Inner Court Office. Tomorrow would be her investiture ceremony.

Upon learning the news that the Empress Dowager had fainted, Rong Luoge looked at Rong Xin and said: "Since Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has fainted, let's go and pay a visit too."