Chapter 281: Volume 1, Chapter 281 — Isn't This a Bit Too Much?

Rong Luoge looked at the two of them and said with a smile, "His Majesty has already spoken to me about this matter. In a few years, he will let you leave the palace."

Kang Hualu and Fu Shuangshu both fell silent, never expecting that His Majesty would have disclosed even such a matter to the Empress, and were thoroughly shocked.

Others might not know, but families like theirs actually knew a thing or two about affairs within the palace—for instance, that the only person His Majesty had ever favored was the Empress, and that no one else in the Hou Gong, whether Consort Hui, Consort Xian, or anyone else, had ever received favor.

When they first entered the palace, their families had mentioned this to them: if they could win favor and fortunately bear a child or two, that would be best; if not, they should not force it, but simply stay quietly in the palace and wait for their families to bring them out.

The moment they entered the palace, they encountered the Empress's investiture ceremony, and even the concubines' investiture rites were held together with it—but this "together" did not mean sharing in the Empress's glory, but merely being mentioned in passing during the grand ceremony, nothing more.

So everyone became a foil to the Empress, with no exceptions.

From that very moment on, Kang Hualu and Fu Shuangshu resolved to behave themselves in the Hou Gong and wait to leave the palace.

But the Empress's words now still made them somewhat uneasy. For what purpose did the Empress bring up this matter?

"Your Highness, what exactly do you mean by that?" Kang Huali steadied herself and looked at the Empress, asking—she had to get a clear answer, and could not keep guessing wildly on her own.

Rong Luoge smiled. "I won't hide it from you—when I heard this news, I was quite shocked. As fellow women, I can understand how you feel right now. To endure several years in this Hou Gong, and then after leaving the palace not be able to see anyone under your true identity, most likely having your name and surname changed before being sent back to your hometown. If you're lucky, you might still marry into a good family; if you're unlucky, you'll likely spend the rest of your life accompanied only by a dim lamp and an ancient Buddha."

Kang Hualu and Fu Shuangshu's expressions both turned grim. They knew this, but had no other choice—for the sake of their families...

"I won't say useless words. I've called you here today for two matters. The first is the very matter I'm speaking of now. His Majesty and I share a deep and devoted bond. His Majesty has already promised me that in this life he will grow old with me, and that there will be no one else in this life. Though I don't know whether this promise can last until the end of our days, at the very least His Majesty is still keeping it now."

Fu Shuangshu's eyes went wide all at once. She opened her mouth as if wanting to say something, but ultimately closed it again.

Kang Hualu's expression, by contrast, was a few degrees more relaxed than before.

"Because you two are unlike the other candidates—you entered the palace to fulfill your respective families' promises to His Majesty, and your families bear guilt toward you. In truth, His Majesty and I are not indifferent to this. So, after I discussed it with His Majesty, if you do not change your original intentions and are still willing to devote yourselves for the sake of His Majesty and your families' interests, then we can discuss the second matter."

Kang Hualu said immediately, "Your Highness the Empress, Shuangshu and I have no other thoughts. We are willing to follow Your Highness's lead. I beg Your Highness to guide us."

Kang Hualu did not know what the Empress intended to do, but she had seen Consort Xian Xu.

Only by being entrusted by the Empress did Consort Xian attain her current standing, so if the Empress was willing to use them, she would surely arrange another good path for them. She was willing to give it a try.

She did not want her life to end just like this. Even for the sake of her family, she still hoped that if the opportunity arose, she could live a better life.

Though Fu Shuangshu was a bit slower to react, she knew Kang Hualu was cleverer than her, so she nodded along as well.

Either way, their future was already set. If they worked under the Empress, perhaps it could turn out even better.

Rong Luoge had known things would go smoothly, and said with a smile, "His Majesty and I cannot bear to watch your youth wasted and the rest of your lives frittered away, so I requested that His Majesty hand the Weaving Workshop over to me to manage."

Kang Hualu and Fu Shuangshu listened in bewilderment, unable to understand the Empress's meaning.

The Empress looked at them and carefully recounted what she had discussed with Han Xinglan that day. Both were utterly dumbfounded, and for a moment could not recover their wits at all.

They could actually do this?

How could the Empress be so bold?

And His Majesty actually agreed!

The two exchanged glances, momentarily at a complete loss for words. Their minds were in a jumble right now, their emotions rising and falling like waves.

Rong Luoge waited quietly, slowly sipping her tea. She believed they would agree—she had seen the longing for life in their eyes.

Sure enough, before long, they heard Kang Hualu say, "Your Highness the Empress, we are willing."

Rong Luoge looked at them. "Have you truly thought it through? You should know that the Weaving Workshop is no easy task. Once you take it on, you must work in earnest and cannot simply muddle through. I intend for our Weaving Workshop to start from silk processing itself—do you understand what that means?"

Because she had been doing this, Rong Luoge had been cramming knowledge relentlessly, so now she could speak of it with considerable authority.

Fu Shuangshu did not understand, so she looked to Kang Hualu.

Kang Hualu frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and then said, "Your Highness means that aside from not raising silkworms or growing mulberries ourselves, we would do everything else?"

Isn't this a bit too much?

"Because our goal is not to produce simple jacquard cloth, but to truly make the Weaving Workshop large and strong, turning it into a signature brand of Shangjing City. And you two will be the brightest figures under that banner. When that time comes, your names will spread far and wide, and everything else will become easy."

Rong Luoge paused here, then looked at them and added, "Once our Weaving Workshop and dyeing workshop grow large, we will need more silk—and what does that mean? It means enormous commercial opportunity, which will drive the common people centered on the capital to grow mulberries and raise silkworms. Once it reaches scale, the Weaving Workshop will bring substantial tax revenue to the national treasury. The people will be happy and the nation will prosper. When that time comes, will you still worry about your futures? No. At the right moment, His Majesty will issue an edict allowing concubines to leave the palace and marry freely, and you will become the most valuable and promising among them."

Fu Shuangshu grew excited. "Truly? Your Highness the Empress?"

"Of course—but you must be able to endure hardship."

"I can!" Fu Shuangshu said at once. Just imagining that scene made her excited—what did hardship matter? Her days ahead would be better.

Every hardship she endured today would become a stepping stone in her life.

Kang Hualu also said now, "Yes, Your Highness the Empress, we are willing. Thank you, Your Highness, for being willing to give us this opportunity and for taking the trouble to plan our futures."

As she spoke, Kang Hualu's eyes grew red, and she pulled Fu Shuangshu down to kneel and bow together.

Rong Luoge was startled and hurriedly rose to help them up herself, saying softly, "No need for such formality. This is the path you have chosen for yourselves. You will endure much hardship ahead, but I promise you will obtain what you desire."