Chapter 278: Volume 1, Chapter 278 — This Is a Plum Job

"Since no one objects, then it's settled. You've all worked hard today, go back and rest." Rong Luoge started shooing them away. She had risen before dawn to prepare and had been busy right up until now, without a single sip of water, not daring to relax even a little. Now she could finally rest properly.

"Your concubine takes her leave." Lady Xu Xianfei immediately spoke up in agreement, and after curtsying, she took the lead walking out.

The others could only follow. Kang Hualu stepped through the gates of Fengyi Gong and saw Lady Xu Xianfei walking together with Lady Mu Thus we output: Mu Guang, the two of them chatting and laughing. She recalled the rumors outside that these two had a good relationship with the Empress, and now it seemed that was indeed the case.

Lady Xu Xianfei was one thing, at least she had family background, but Lady Mu Thus we output: Mu Guang's family background was nothing to speak of among the consorts, yet now she had risen to the position of one of the Three Ladies through the Empress's patronage.

Kang Hualu's shoulder was patted, and she turned her head to see Fu Shuangshu.

Fu Shuangshu's expression was not too good. "Sister Hualu, that just now was truly terrifying. I didn't even dare to breathe."

Kang Hualu said softly, "The Hou Gong is very complicated. You and I still need to be careful."

Fu Shuangshu hurriedly nodded and said with some difficulty, "Our families instructed us to follow the Empress's lead, but what should we do now?"

Kang Hualu didn't know either. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Let's not act for now. We'll see what movements the Empress makes before deciding."

She had echoed the Empress's words today, so the Empress should have an idea in her heart, but she couldn't rashly attach herself either. After all, she didn't know what the Empress was truly thinking, so she could only take things one step at a time.

In Fengyi Gong, Rong Luoge changed out of the Empress's ceremonial robes. That outfit weighed several dozen jin, and wearing it for so long was indeed somewhat tiring. Once the soft everyday clothes were on, she felt as though she had come back to life. She sat on the large kang by the window amusing her son, and Kangkang laughed heartily at her teasing.

Rong Luoge was laughing so hard she simply lay down beside her son. Kangkang found this great fun and kept trying to kick his little feet toward his mother. Watching his effort, Rong Luoge was amused again.

Such a small child was truly rather interesting.

While playing, Rong Luoge fell asleep together with her son. Rong Xin hurriedly brought a brocade quilt to cover them, and told the palace attendants to be careful not to make any noise that might startle Her Ladyship and the Little Prince.

In Fengyi Gong, Yuan Bao and Wet Nurse Zhao were leading people to move things, bringing over all the items from Yuzhao Gong. It would indeed take a lot of time.

Yuan Bao directed people to open the storerooms of Fengyi Gong, checking items one by one against the inventory as they were stored away. Wet Nurse Zhao led others to separately pack the things the Empress commonly used and place them where they could be easily accessed.

In addition, there were the Little Prince's things. Though the Little Prince was small, he had quite a lot of things — several dozen boxes in total, mostly clothing and toys.

By the time Han Xinglan returned from the former court, the sky had already darkened. Lamps had been lit in Fengyi Gong, and by now Fengyi Gong looked entirely different from the Eastern Palace he remembered.

The Fengyi Gong in his memory was extravagant and bloated, with even the courtyard planted full of exotic flowers and rare plants. Back then his mother had always wanted to compete with Consort Ming, so whatever Guanju Gong had, Fengyi Gong not only had to have as well, but it had to be even better than Guanju Gong's.

When he was little he didn't really understand these things, but as he slowly grew older, he realized that the effort his mother spent on him, apart from making him study his lessons well and be a perfect Crown Prince, showed little genuine concern for him otherwise.

At first he still hoped his mother would look his way more, but later he slowly grew accustomed to it and no longer had such extravagant hopes.

He did not like Fengyi Gong. The memories this place held for him were not pleasant, but Fengyi Gong was where successive empresses had resided, and it had become a symbol of status.

If he didn't let Luoge live here, it would seem as though he had some dissatisfaction with this Empress, so after planning to establish her as Empress, he had people renovate and repaint Fengyi Gong inside and out. He even made changes to many of the hall's structures, especially making the bedchamber more spacious, and converted the eastern side hall into a study.

The original flowers and plants in the courtyard were all cleared away. Only a few flowering trees were planted in the corners and several jars of lotus placed about. The original flower beds were all paved over with bluestone, so standing here now, one only felt that the space was very open, with none of the oppressive feeling from his childhood.

Han Xinglan stood beneath the eaves. Hearing footsteps behind him, he turned around and saw Rong Luoge lift the curtain and walk out. He listened as she asked, "Why didn't you come in when you got back? What are you standing here dazing out for?"

Han Xinglan listened to Rong Luoge's slightly complaining tone, watched her smile, soft and warm beneath the palace lamps, and heard his son's babbling sounds coming from within the hall. In that instant, all the bitterness and disappointment receded like a tide.

That was right. He now had a wife and a son. He no longer needed to yearn for warmth given by others — he had it now too.

"I was thinking that with the courtyard paved in bluestone, once Kangkang is a bit bigger he'll be able to play in the courtyard. It's better than planting flowers and plants. For enjoying flowers, we can go to the imperial garden."

Rong Luoge of course thought planting some flowers and plants in the courtyard would be more beautiful, but seeing Han Xinglan's expression, there seemed to be some unpleasant memory behind it, so she agreed with him: "You're right. I also think it's very bright and open this way."

"Really?" Han Xinglan became happy upon hearing this. "We really do think as one."

Rong Luoge's mouth twitched. Looking at Han Xinglan, she said, "Go in and rest first. Aren't you tired after being busy all day?"

"It's all right. Compared to the time of the coronation ceremony, it's still a bit more relaxed." Han Xinglan took Rong Luoge's hand and entered the hall. Rounding the screen, he saw his son on the warm couch babbling away about who-knows-what, with the wet nurse patiently soothing him nearby. He waved his hand.

The wet nurse hurriedly curtsied and withdrew, catching from the corner of her eye His Majesty expertly picking up the Little Prince. She pretended she hadn't seen a thing.

Rong Luoge had someone wave dismissal, and after giving instructions, she watched Han Xinglan amusing their son, smiled herself, and asked, "Was the court session today fairly smooth?"

"It was all right." Han Xinglan didn't want Rong Luoge to worry too much, so he spoke of things in a positive light. He looked up at her. "The Luo loom has been adjusted and is about ready. In the next couple of days we'll try out a new pattern on the machine. If it works, before summer arrives, we should be able to make a good profit."

In the past Han Xinglan had been embarrassed to bring up money, but now he could say it quite smoothly.

Rong Luoge hadn't expected it to be this fast. Looking at Han Xinglan, she said, "Then who do you plan to have take charge of selling the jacquard Luo?"

This was a plum assignment — quite a few people were surely eyeing it.

"What, do you have someone in mind?" Han Xinglan asked.

Rong Luoge shook her head. "No. I just feel we shouldn't waste this choice. If we consider it carefully, there might be a different effect."