Chapter 282: Volume 1, Chapter 282 — This Move Leaves People No Way Out

There were many matters in the Weaving Workshop — silk processing, silk adjusting, weft threading, warp preparation, starching, border binding, warp counting… there were many procedures to do, and every single step had to be handled with care.

This body of knowledge was something Rong Luoge had crammed night after night recently. She spoke about it with clear logic and coherence, but relatively speaking, neither Kang Hualu nor Fu Shuangshu could quite keep up, and there were even some parts where the two were completely at a loss.

At this moment, they could not help but feel some admiration for the Empress. Everyone said the Empress had grown up on a farmstead, but compared to her, they truly felt they could not hold their heads up.

Rong Luoge saw the expressions on the two of them and comforted them, "I've also been learning this continuously only recently. If you read a few more relevant books, you'll naturally understand. The Weaving Workshop will begin construction in the next few days, which happens to give you time to study well during this period. Once the Weaving Workshop is built, I'll take you to see it."

Rong Luoge paused here, "The Weaving Workshop will be built outside the West Palace Gate, so it will be convenient for you to come and go. Just pass through the imperial garden and go straight out the West Palace Gate."

Kang Hualu said, "Isn't that area government offices?"

"They'll be relocated. The offices by the West Palace Gate are all small yamen, so it won't be a problem," Rong Luoge smiled.

Fu Shuangshu thought for a moment and asked, "Do we have to go every day?"

"That's hard to say. It depends on your own arrangements. If matters are handled properly, not going for ten days to half a month is also fine," Rong Luoge smiled.

Fu Shuangshu felt a bit embarrassed. "Empress, I didn't mean it that way. I just wanted to ask — if we go in and out every day, would there be idle gossip?"

"I will handle this matter well. You don't need to worry," Rong Luoge reassured her.

Fu Shuangshu's last bit of concern vanished, and she breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good then."

If she were going in and out every day, malicious slander would be unavoidable. She did not want her reputation to have any blemish, so naturally she had to ask.

"That's how things stand. I have nothing else for now. If you two have nothing else either, you may go back," Rong Luoge said. "If there are any books you'd like to read, you can make a list and send it to Rong Xin. She will fetch them for you."

The two thanked the Empress and rose to take their leave. They walked all the way out of Fengyi Palace. The scorching sunlight fell upon them, and only then did Fu Shuangshu come back to her senses. She looked at Kang Hualu and said, "Sister Hualu, I feel like I'm in a dream. Do you think this is real?"

"The Empress spoke so earnestly — how could it possibly be false?" Kang Hualu also let out a long sigh. "I didn't expect this either. Right now I just feel a bit ashamed. I used to have some suspicions about the Empress, but now I feel like I was measuring a noble person's heart with a petty person's mind."

Fu Shuangshu also nodded in agreement. "Yes, I didn't expect the Empress to think things through so thoroughly for us either. If it were anyone else, who would care about our futures or our lives? Sister Hualu, we have to do a good job and not let the Empress down. It's just that I don't really understand this — what should I do?"

"Let's read the books first. If we truly can't understand them, we'll think of a way then and see if we can ask the Empress to find someone to teach us," Kang Hualu said.

Fu Shuangshu nodded. "Alright, then I'll study together with you. You're smarter than me, so you'll definitely be able to understand more."

Kang Hualu readily agreed. The two of them studying together could both relieve boredom and provide companionship — it was a good arrangement.

The news that the Empress had summoned Kang Shufei and Lady Qiongzhang quickly spread. There were many people and many eyes in the Hou Gong, and the Empress's summons had not been concealed from anyone, so naturally it soon reached every palace.

Consort Xian Xu was busy with the palace's routine affairs and naturally could not attend to this. She even said to Mu Thus we output: Mu Guang, who was helping her, "Whatever rumors are spreading out there, let's not get involved. Just handle the matters the Empress instructed well."

Mu Thus we output: Mu Guang nodded repeatedly. She had suddenly become the Third Lady, a rank second only to the Four Consorts — this was truly something she would not have dared to dream of. If not for the Empress's favor, how could she have the glory she had today?

Over at Consort Hui Song's side, Rong Shurong was also present. After the two received the news, Rong Shurong frowned and said, "I don't know what the Empress summoned them for."

Consort Hui Song was also in a very bad mood. Many plans had to be abandoned because of the Empress's decision about the first and fifteenth of the month.

This once again reminded her of the days in the Dong Gong. Back in the Dong Gong, she had been just like this — guarding against them seeing His Majesty, closing the door and ignoring everyone. Yet this move truly left people with no way out.

Now the Empress was not refusing to see everyone as she had in the Dong Gong — one could still visit on the first and fifteenth — but what use was that?

"Yesterday, when the Empress spoke of audiences on the first and fifteenth, Kang Shufei nodded in support. I don't think things are that simple," Consort Hui Song said with a frown.

Rong Shurong's expression was not good either, because at her initial conferral she had only received the rank of Shurong, which fell far short of her expectations.

Moreover, the reason she had been willing to serve as Consort Hui Song's helper in the first place was because Consort Hui Song had promised to help her — and the result?

The result was naturally something Rong Shurong was dissatisfied with, but for now she could not afford to offend Consort Hui Song.

Thinking of this, Rong Shurong looked at Consort Hui Song and said softly, "Sister Huifei, don't be anxious either. In my view, we should first inquire about the movements on Virtuous Consort Su's side."

Consort Hui Song sneered upon hearing this. "That Su Ying is like a ten-thousand-year-old tortoise. Getting her to make the first move is no easy thing."

"Then how about going to Lady Mu Thus we output: Mu Guang to inquire a bit?" Rong Shurong thought of Su Ying's temperament. She had little dealings with her, but this famously known niece of the Empress Dowager — before entering the palace, she had heard quite a few rumors about her.

Everyone said that Su Ying was the Empress Dowager's chosen Empress for His Majesty. Who would have known that in the end she was only conferred the rank of Virtuous Consort. If it were her, she would probably be too ashamed to even leave the house.

"I'm afraid that won't be easy either. Lady Mu Thus we output: Mu Guang and Consort Xian Xu have always stood on the Empress's side. You'd better not go, lest you alert the snake by beating the grass," Consort Hui Song said, thinking as she spoke. "We certainly can't just accept whatever the Empress says. You've just entered the palace and don't know — His Majesty's feelings for the Empress are extraordinary. To win His Majesty's favor is harder than ascending to heaven."

Rong Shurong was somewhat skeptical upon hearing this. What man in this world doesn't stray? Besides, His Majesty having three palaces and six courtyards is the proper order of things — could the Empress really keep His Majesty under lock and key?

Just because Consort Hui Song couldn't do it herself, she assumed others couldn't either?

She refused to accept it. She admitted that the Empress was indeed strikingly beautiful, but what use was that? Looking at the same face every day — anyone would grow tired of it.

Consort Hui Song did not notice Rong Shurong's unease. After thinking it over, she looked at her and said, "Go make a trip to Shuyi Gou's place and pass the word to her. She has always had a good relationship with Virtuous Consort Su, so she will certainly relay it to Virtuous Consort Su," Consort Hui Song said.

Rong Shurong thought this made sense, so she immediately stood up and said, "Then I'll go visit Shuyi Gou now. I do need to have a good talk with her."