Chapter 275: Volume 1, Chapter 275: Adding Fuel to the Fire

Consort Xu personally escorted Su Ying to Funing Palace. Su Ying was naturally unwilling, and though she tried to find ways to send Consort Xu away, Consort Xu put on an act and refused to leave, leaving her so angry that her expression changed, yet she had no other recourse.

Fortunately, upon arriving at Funing Palace, the Empress Dowager ordered Consort Xu to return. Consort Xu, bearing the Empress's instructions, smiled and said, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, take your time speaking with Lady Su. I shall wait outside."

Consort Xu curtsied and withdrew, and indeed waited in the outer hall.

Su Ying looked at the Empress Dowager. "Aunt, what exactly is going on?"

The Empress Dowager certainly could not admit that she had been outmaneuvered by Rong Luoge, so she could only swallow her pride and accept that her health was poor. She looked at Su Ying and instructed, "Be careful in everything at Yurui Palace. Do not clash with the Empress. Your aunt will stand up for you in other matters."

Su Ying's heart sank seeing the Empress Dowager like this, but on her face she wore a somewhat relaxed expression. "I'm relieved to know you're all right, Aunt. When I heard you had fainted, I wished I could have come over immediately."

The Empress Dowager patted her niece's hand, her expression turning somewhat sharp. "Rest assured, this time you will certainly not be left out of a concubine position."

Su Ying was naturally dissatisfied. She had originally come aiming for the Empress's seat, but who could have anticipated that His Majesty would suddenly establish an Empress, catching everyone off guard, and by directly issuing an edict without court discussion—truly leaving people both angry and vexed.

Rong Luoge's first appointment was Noble Consort, while she herself could only manage a concubine position. Clearly, even her aunt could not fully control His Majesty's intentions, and the Empress Dowager could no longer have much say in the affairs of the Hou Gong.

Su Ying lowered her eyes slightly, but said, "Thank you, Aunt. I've caused you to worry on my account."

"What are you saying?" The Empress Dowager had thought her niece would be unhappy, but seeing her now, she felt a bit more at ease. "Do not be anxious either. Even if Lady Rong becomes Empress, she may not sit securely. Her appointment as Empress went without court discussion—only because His Majesty's edict came down suddenly and caught everyone off guard. But as time goes on, those people may not tolerate her sitting up there forever."

The Empress Dowager suppressed the frustration in her heart and spoke slowly. Deposing an Empress was nothing new in any dynasty. As long as a suitable opportunity arose, she need only add fuel to the fire to make it happen.

Su Ying's heart stirred at these words, but she said, "But the Empress has merits. The jacquard loom and the Luo loom are being talked about everywhere outside, and her reputation among the people is soaring. I'm afraid it won't be easy."

The Empress Dowager frowned slightly. "If His Majesty says it is hers, then it is hers; if he says it is not, then it is not. No flower blooms red for a hundred days, and no person stays fortunate for a hundred days. Can Lady Rong really remain in favor forever?"

When in favor, naturally everything is wonderful, but what about after she falls out of favor?

Listening to this, Su Ying began to somewhat understand the Empress Dowager's meaning. Even if it truly was Rong Luoge who came up with it, so what? When she lost favor, if His Majesty grew to dislike her, they need only do some covering up on their end to pin the crime of theft on her just the same.

When the time came, taking these merits away from her would not be impossible. If that were the case, Su Ying nodded and looked at the Empress Dowager, saying, "But doing so, Aunt, would carry great risk."

The Empress Dowager half-closed her eyes. "What in this world carries no risk?"

"Aunt is right. I'll listen to you in everything," Su Ying said with a smile.

The Empress Dowager nodded. "I have nothing more here. You may go back first."

Having gotten the answer she wanted, Su Ying was overjoyed and nodded, saying, "Then I'll take my leave. Aunt, take care of your health. I'll come see you again soon."

The Empress Dowager smiled and nodded. "It is enough that you have such a heart. Go on."

Su Ying curtsied and withdrew. When she exited the main hall, she saw Consort Xu emerge from the side hall. Seeing her, she smiled and said, "I've kept Consort Xu waiting."

Consort Xu said with a smile, "What are you saying, Lady Su? If Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has no further instructions, the hour is getting late. You might as well head back now."

Su Ying nodded and followed Consort Xu's steps out, asking as they walked, "Consort Xu, will we have to stay at Yurui Palace for much longer?"

Consort Xu turned her head to look at Su Ying, smiling warmly and kindly. "It shouldn't be too long. Her Majesty the Empress is a decisive person. Once the roster is finalized, it will be presented to His Majesty very soon, and after he reviews it, he will issue an edict."

Hearing Consort Xu say this, Su Ying replied, "Then everyone can be at ease. Whether one stays or not, at least there will be a conclusion. With so many ladies in Yurui Palace, big and small incidents are inevitable, which makes people feel quite unsettled."

Hearing Su Ying's words, Consort Xu sneered inwardly, but outwardly spoke with concern. "Yes, when there are many people, there are inevitably many matters. At home, they were all the apple of their parents' eyes, but entering the palace is always different. Many people find it hard to adapt. Lady Su is different—after all, you are with Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, which is far better than those others."

Su Ying smiled awkwardly. This was not an easy remark to respond to, so she deflected it vaguely.

After returning to Yurui Palace, Consort Xu escorted Su Ying inside, then went in herself for another round. Confirming there were indeed no issues, she then turned and left.

On the other side, Rong Luoge had also received the roster, with annotations already marked. She examined it carefully and counted—those being kept this time were neither too many nor too few, numbering over a dozen.

But there were only four concubine positions. By convention, since she had been appointed Empress, His Majesty would also bestow some additional favors.

There were quite a few other positions for palace consorts, but there were more people than places—especially for high-ranking concubines.

Han Xinglan had told her that the Noble Consort position would remain vacant and no one would ever be appointed to it, because she had risen from Noble Consort onward, so this position would always be reserved for her.

Though Rong Luoge felt it unnecessary, she was quite comfortable with it in her heart.

Below Noble Consort were the Four Concubines. One seat among the Four Concubines certainly belonged to Song Huihe, plus Su Ying. Of the remaining two, she planned to give one to Consort Xu, and the other to Kang Hualu, whom His Majesty had already promised—after all, Kang Hualu's father was now part of the imperial loyalist faction, and his daughter certainly deserved a share of glory.

Thus the Four Concubines' seats were filled. Below them were the Three Ladies' positions, and these she would not trouble herself with—she would toss them to Han Xinglan to deliberate.

As for Qin Zhaohua, after much hesitation, she decided to place her in one of the Three Ladies' positions. Previously, the lowest of the Three Ladies was Song Huihe, Lady Zhenshen. This position she found disagreeable, so she circled the second-ranked Lady Mu Guang. It was very likely that after this round of promotions, the Hou Gong would not see further changes for many years.

Though Qin Zhaohua was not as clever and tactful as Consort Xu, she was someone who got things done, never complaining about hardship when assigned tasks. Moreover, given her temperament, too low a rank would make her an easy target for bullying. This position among the Three Ladies suited her well—neither conspicuous nor too low-profile.

All the rest were left vacant. She had Yuan Bao deliver it to the front hall for His Majesty's review, and the selections could simply be filled in.

Rong Luoge handled matters efficiently, now only awaiting the emperor's edict, while the Inner Court Bureau was arranging her Empress enthronement ceremony.

Prince Qi, carrying a memorial, requested an audience with the emperor and presented the memorial.