Chapter 313: Volume 1 Chapter 313  Without Her He Would Only Be More Difficult

Rong Luoge immediately got up to meet him, smiling as she asked, "Why did you come back today?"

Han Xinglan lowered his head and looked at Luoge, "I heard you went looking for me?"

So that was the reason; she nodded and asked him, "Have you dined?"

Han Xinglan replied, "I just returned from the military industry bureau; let's eat together here."

Rong Luoge sent someone to the kitchen to add a few dishes, then fetched clothes for Han Xinglan to change into; the palace maid brought water, he washed his hands and face before coming out, let out a long sigh and felt relieved.

The kitchen quickly delivered the extra dishes, and the two spouses sat down to eat.

Han Xinglan was truly hungry, lifted his bowl to drink the soup first. There used to be a set of dining etiquette, but after being with Luoge for a long time, he inevitably was led astray; she liked drinking soup, changing the variety of soups every day without repetition. He gradually got used to it, drinking a bowl of soup before the meal, which, according to her, warms the stomach and is good for the body.

Indeed, after a bowl of soup went down, the whole body felt comfortable.

Rong Luoge picked some vegetables and placed them in his bowl, "Is everything going smoothly at the military industry bureau?"

"There were some troubles, but your schematics were very detailed, so the problem isn't big." Han Xinglan looked into Rong Luoge's eyes as if they were stars in the sky, "You don't know, Xiao Shen now lives at the military industry bureau; he doesn't even leave."

Rong Luoge could neither laugh nor cry, "Lord Xiao has such an interesting side? I really couldn't tell."

Xiao Shen's face, at a glance, was the cold‑blooded general's visage, yet privately he could be like this… a scoundrel.

Han Xinglan burst out laughing, "He's a soldier; he's innately fond of these things. Once he sees them, can he help but stare? He's just afraid that once it's actually made, Kang Jinsi will let someone else test the first cannon."

Rong Luoge was overjoyed, "How long will it take to finish?"

"Hard to say; even the fastest would take a month." Han Xinglan sighed. He had thought it could be done in half a month, but now that he's handling it, he knows that even with very clear schematics, actually executing always brings all sorts of problems; it's not that simple.

"That's already fast enough," Rong Luoge said with a smile.

"Putting that aside, what did you ask me to do today?" Han Xinglan asked Luoge gently, looking at her.

Rong Luoge explained her idea for the dye workshop, looking at Han Xinglan, "The place doesn't need to be large; secrecy is enough."

Han Xinglan stared at Luoge, "How did you come up with this method?"

"We'll have Liu Taifei try it first. I thought, isn't the powder that women normally use the same principle? If it can be made, that's best; if not, it's fine, those flower residues were useless anyway." Rong Luoge said with a smile.

"There is a place; I'll have Shi An clear one for you." Han Xinglan said, "The dye workshop shouldn't be too close nor too far, lest people discover a connection."

Rong Luoge nodded, "That's best."

Han Xinglan smiled, "If you really can provide affordable pigments for the common folk, you've truly achieved a great merit."

For the Ku Han family, being able to study already exhausts the whole household's resources; a genteel hobby like painting that spends silver is something common families can't even imagine, and even modestly wealthy families dare not waste.

If everyone could afford usable pigments, Han Xinglan felt a pleasant feeling just thinking of it.

The items are small and not of high value, yet they can bring the common people great benefit and joy.

"How many colors can be produced?" Han Xinglan asked.

Rong Luoge shook her head, "It's still uncertain now; after Princess Liu tests each one, we'll have a conclusion. Not all flower residues can be used. However, I think if this path works, later we could mix colors to create the needed hues, which would also lower the price."

Han Xinglan nodded, "Then let's try. If it works, once you formulate a set of colors here, I'll send them to the painting hall for the artists to test."

"Fine." Rong Luoge understood Han Xinglan's meaning; if the palace's painters could use them, then outsiders would have no grounds to denigrate these ultra‑cheap pigments.

She said that, and Han Xinglan could always help her perfect the rest; the two worked together with great tacit understanding.

After finishing the meal, playing with the child, and entering the tent, Rong Luoge realized that they were not only in sync professionally but also even more compatible privately.

She didn't know if it was because they'd been abstaining for too long, but Han Xinglan was always very enthusiastic; Rong Luoge always felt grateful that her health was robust at such times.

Spring breezes ripple, tenderness boundless.

Rong Luoge was drenched in fragrant sweat, holding Han Xinglan and breathing lightly; after she steadied, she lifted her head to look at the man beside her.

His features were much sharper than before, his figure much leaner, especially those eyes; her hand gently brushed over his pupils.

Han Xinglan felt a slight itch, grabbed her hand, and with a smile said, "Now you've got some strength."

Rong Luoge: …

The two gently embraced; Rong Luoge listened to his strong heartbeat, sleepiness gradually rose, and she fell asleep within moments.

Han Xinglan listened to the steady breathing of the person in his arms, holding them tighter; he felt no sleepiness, instead pondering the military industry bureau. The news had already spread, and now neither Lord Ningyuan nor Prime Minister Su had moved.

But he didn't believe they could stay stable forever; there would surely be action. He deliberately left an opening, waiting for them to fall into the net.

He carefully recalled his plan, confirming there were no omissions, and then slowly closed his eyes.

The nation and world bear a weight of ten thousand jin; a slight neglect would be crushed by the aristocratic families en masse. He cannot afford a misstep; each step demands utmost care.

Fortunately, there is her.

Without her, he would only face greater difficulty.

Rong Luoge slept soundly; when she awoke and the person beside her was already gone, she knew it was time to attend court.

She went as usual to wash, eat, and go to the study; when tired she played with her son. Rong Luoge spent another day writing the final matters clearly, finally letting out a long sigh; whether it would work now depended on the military industry bureau.

She summoned Yuan Bao, having him deliver the items to the front hall, and she herself took her son to stroll in the garden for a relaxed half‑day.

She didn't know if it was because the two palace maids had been transferred, but these past days both Virtuous Consort Song and Virtuous Consort Su were very quiet; Rong Luoge was too lazy to bother them. As long as Han Xinglan made a move, their days in the Hou Gong would be just like this.

"Concubine bows to the Empress."

Rong Luoge was carrying Kang Kang forward when she unexpectedly met a palace concubine at a crossroads. Looking up, she saw it was Ruan Shurong; seeing her reminded her of Gou Shuyi, who was embroidering the "Ten Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains" painting.

"Ruan Shurong, get up, are you also out to enjoy the flowers?" Rong Luoge said, considering Gou Jing's feelings, and since Ruan Shurong indeed hadn't caused her any trouble, she was very amiable toward her.