Chapter 294: Volume 1 Chapter 294  Even the Mosquitoes Beside His Majesty Are All Male

Qing Cha looked at the Empress and said, "All the gate guards have been replaced; they say anyone who wants to leave the palace must have a Fengyi Palace token. I have no token, so I cannot leave."

Su Ying was startled, "How did this rule suddenly appear?"

Qing Cha replied, "I heard the guards say it's His Majesty's wish, Empress, what should we do?"

Su Ying, angry and annoyed, "Do the other palaces know about this?"

"I don't know yet. Should I go inquire?"

"Go quickly." Su Ying waved her hand. No wonder Rong Luoge has such nerve; it turns out she has backing—she assumes they cannot leave the palace to send messages, so she dares to act as she wishes!

The news of tightened gate restrictions spread quickly through the Hou Gong; when Su Ying learned that Song Huihe was also unaware, she teamed up with her, planning to go ask the Empress for a clear answer.

Entering the palace gate initially requires a Fengyi Palace token, which undoubtedly shackles them. How could they possibly obtain an entry token from Fengyi Palace?

Song Huihe had originally been quite pleased to know that Rong Luoge sent someone to reprimand Su Ying, letting Su Ying hold her head high and look down on others; now she must be embarrassed, right?

Before she could enjoy her moment, she learned the situation had changed again, and this time it also involved her interests.

The two gathered and discussed, concluding the matter couldn't proceed, so they brought along Gou Shuyi, Ruan Shurong, Zhou Jieyu and Luo Ronghua, and with great fanfare marched to Fengyi Palace.

When Rong Luoge learned that Qing Cha had been blocked, she anticipated they would come to her; it was not surprising at all.

"Empress, what's going on? There was never such a rule in the palace before!" Su Ying, after bowing to Rong Luoge, asked directly.

Rong Luoge looked at her, expressionless, and said, "Virtuous Consort Su, are you speaking to me in a questioning tone?"

Su Ying was startled, then said, "I dare not, I am merely inquiring, Empress."

Song Huihe added from the side, "Empress, the Virtuous Consort was only a bit anxious at the moment, with no other intent. This rule is rather inexplicable; we are all confused, so we come to ask the Empress what is happening."

Rong Luoge lifted her eyes to Song Huihe, "Consort Hui, your words are indeed reasonable, but questioning this palace is futile, for it is His Majesty's will. Moreover, matters of the Hou Gong, big or small, spread throughout the court; what is said today will be repeated by officials tomorrow. This issue, even beyond the Hou Gong, would be intolerable to ordinary officials, wouldn't it?"

Upon hearing this, the expressions of those present became rather subtle.

Song Huihe frowned slightly, looking at the Empress, "Empress, your words are truly interesting; the Hou Gong was the same during the Late Emperor's reign…"

"You also said that was during the Late Emperor's time," Rong Luoge cut off Song Huihe, her expression sharp, "Each reign has its own ministers; Consort Hui could not be unaware."

Song Huihe did not expect the Empress to be so forceful, and to speak so arrogantly; it was clearly a reminder to stay within her bounds.

"Empress, even if the palace regulations are revised, at least we should be informed, yet we were the last to find out, almost causing a farce."

"Virtuous Consort Su, does His Majesty need to consult you before deciding what to do? That's sheer nonsense!" Rong Luoge shouted angrily. "After the regulations were revised, His Majesty has already performed the Grand Ancestral Temple rites, and the palace handbook already states it. Perhaps you haven't read it? I advise you to return and study it properly, rather than cause trouble here."

Rong Luoge finished and stood, glowering at the crowd, her aura spreading, somewhat intimidating, "We were too indulgent before; henceforth, everyone should study the palace regulations carefully, lest there be unnoticed lapses again…"

Rong Luoge paused, her eyes scanning the group, noticing their varied expressions, a slight smile at the corner of her mouth, "Once you enter the Hou Gong, you must obey its rules. Today is the first time; if there is a second, I will not be lenient. If you have nothing else, withdraw."

Rong Luoge finished and walked away without looking at them.

The others stared at each other; Ruan Shurong watched the scene, her worry deepening.

Over the past months she had come to believe Empress Rong was not the incompetent person rumored outside; on the contrary, her covert observations revealed Empress Rong to be quite clever and capable.

Thinking about it, if she were truly incompetent, how could His Majesty value the Empress?

Back then it was indeed too careless; now she only hopes her father, when acting abroad, will be extremely cautious, lest he follow the Marquis of An Ding's path to ruin.

When the group arrived they held heads high, but on the way back their faces were sullen and their expressions somewhat listless.

Ruan Shurong had already thought of escaping; at the fork she took the chance to bid farewell to the others.

Gou Jing, however, could not extricate herself; the place where she lives shares a long stretch of road with Virtuous Consort Su and Consort Hui, and the more she thought about it the more it tugged at her heart, making her increasingly irritable.

After being in the palace so long, who could believe that these Hou Gong consorts could not even see His Majesty?

If they can't even be seen, let alone be summoned for favor, dreaming of it in broad daylight is futile.

When she first entered with boundless ambition, believing she was superior to Empress Rong in every way, what was the result?

Now she only feels a sharp pain in her face.

How was Empress Rong's divorce?

At first she never consummated with Prince Qi, yet she saved His Majesty's life; after entering the palace she invented the brocade loom and Luo device, not to mention she delighted His Majesty, though it's unclear what methods she used. As soon as His Majesty entered the Hou Gong, he headed straight for Fengyi Palace—how infuriating is that?

She tried to block His Majesty on the road between the former court and Fengyi Palace, what was the outcome?

Every day internal servants came to clear the way, and all unrelated persons had to be avoided.

What else can be done?

There truly is no chance nor method.

No matter how beautiful you are, His Majesty cannot see you.

Gou Jing deeply regrets; had she known, she would have found a way not to enter the palace. She's still so young—must she waste her whole life in this deep palace?

After finally separating from Consort Hui and Virtuous Consort Su, Gou Jing took a detour and went straight to Ruan Shurong.

Ruan Shurong was not surprised at all, pulling her to sit, "I knew you'd come; I've been waiting for you."

Gou Jing wore a worried expression, "What can we do now? It's a dead end; how can we live like this?"

Ruan Shurong's face was also grim; she sighed lightly, "Indeed, who could have imagined the Empress to be so formidable."

Even the mosquitoes around His Majesty are all male!