Chapter 319: Volume 1, Chapter 319 — The Rules of the Palace Are Not Just for Show

"Let her in," Rong Luoge said, rousing herself. She had been far too busy lately, getting insufficient rest, and felt somewhat listless during the day.

Consort Xu soon entered the hall with Que Cai, stepped forward, and bowed upon seeing Her Majesty the Empress. "This consort greets Her Majesty the Empress. May Her Majesty enjoy golden peace."

"Rise quickly." Rong Luoge had a seat offered, then looked at Consort Xu and asked, "What has happened that you are in such a hurry?"

After taking her seat, Consort Xu caught her breath and then said, "Your Majesty, this consort just received news that Virtuous Consort Su and Consort Song Hui had a dispute that dragged in Lady Gou. The two argued at Lady Gou's place and accidentally slashed the Ten Thousand Li Rivers and Mountains embroidery that Lady Gou had been working on."

Rong Luoge thought she had misheard and stared fixedly at Consort Xu. Seeing that she was not joking, she knew it was true.

For a moment, she truly did not know what to say.

Consort Xu, seeing the Empress's expressionless face, assumed that Her Majesty was truly furious. She sighed softly and said slowly, "Virtuous Consort Su and Consort Song Hui just walked off, but Lady Gou's months of hard work were all for nothing. She cried until her eyes swelled up and came to me for advice. Lady Gou did not dare come see Your Majesty. She said she had failed Your Majesty's deep regard and truly had no face to come."

Rong Luoge had wondered what Consort Xu might have encountered. She had thought it might be related to palace affairs in the Hou Gong, or to the Inner Court Office, or to the winter rations allotment — but never imagined that the trouble was actually with that Ten Thousand Li Rivers and Mountains embroidery.

"When did this happen?" Rong Luoge asked, looking at Consort Xu.

Consort Xu saw that the Empress's expression was stern, carrying a note of severity as though forcibly suppressing anger, and immediately said, "Just half a shichen ago."

Half a shichen ago?

Half a shichen ago, Virtuous Consort Su was still at Fu Ning Palace summoning an Imperial Physician for the Empress Dowager!

Rong Luoge lowered her gaze slightly. The Imperial Physician had just left Fu Ning Palace, yet Virtuous Consort Su actually had the leisure to go with Consort Song Hui to Lady Gou's place, and by such a coincidence started a dispute that destroyed the Ten Thousand Li Rivers and Mountains embroidery.

Thinking it through carefully, it seemed Rong Xin's suspicion was not wrong. Virtuous Consort Su probably believed she had truly gotten the message out and, feeling free of worry, wanted to find something to do for herself.

Rong Luoge looked at Consort Xu and asked, "But are the witnesses and evidence all in hand?"

Consort Xu immediately nodded. "Lady Gou came to me to complain. Knowing the matter was of great importance, I dared not be negligent and immediately sent people to Yong Yan Hall to make inquiries and record statements. Not only can the people around Lady Gou testify, but the maidservants beside Lady Qiongzhang of Yong Yan Hall's main hall can also testify that they indeed saw the commotion in the eastern side hall."

Rong Luoge looked at Consort Xu and nodded. "You handled this matter very well. In all things, evidence comes first." Saying this, she gave a cold laugh. "Though I am unwilling to use the Empress's title to press down on people, that does not mean anyone can ignore palace rules and show contempt for my authority. Have the people around Virtuous Consort Su and Consort Song Hui been interrogated?"

Consort Xu shook her head. "This is also the matter I came to report to Your Majesty. Though I handle trivial palace affairs on Your Majesty's behalf, Virtuous Consort Su and Consort Song Hui hold the same consort rank as I. I have no authority to summon their attendants."

Rong Luoge did not blame Consort Xu upon hearing this. She had her own difficulties — neither Consort Song Hui nor Virtuous Consort Su was easy to deal with. She then said, "In that case, have Wet Nurse Zhao personally lead people there. This Ten Thousand Li Rivers and Mountains embroidery is something I intended to present to His Majesty. For it to be destroyed without cause, naturally I must get to the bottom of it."

Consort Xu knew that Wet Nurse Zhao served beside the Empress. Though she did not often step forward to handle matters, she was the managing wet nurse of Feng Yi Palace. Now with Wet Nurse Zhao stepping forward, whether it was Virtuous Consort Su or Consort Song Hui, who would dare embarrass Wet Nurse Zhao?

"Then may I go along with Wet Nurse Zhao?" Consort Xu said promptly and tactfully. The Empress was understanding and had not blamed her for her inability, but she could not take that for granted herself.

Rong Luoge, hearing Consort Xu say this, said to her, "You need not go. If you go, Virtuous Consort Su and Consort Song Hui would not dare do anything to me, but they would certainly bear a grudge against you. Let Wet Nurse Zhao go and drag them out, and you take people to interrogate them — that is enough."

Consort Xu immediately said upon hearing this, "Your Majesty, that I did not dare go to the two consorts' palaces to seize people is already failing Your Majesty's trust. How could I now continue to hide behind Your Majesty? Since you are sending Wet Nurse Zhao, I have nothing to fear. I beg Your Majesty's grace to allow me to go together with Wet Nurse Zhao."

Consort Xu's attitude was very firm. Rong Luoge reckoned that she likely intended to redeem herself through merit, thought it over, and agreed, saying with a smile, "If you truly wish to go, then fine — go ahead."

Even if Su Ying and Song Huihe bore a grudge against Consort Xu, so what?

She would naturally protect her well.

Consort Xu happily agreed and immediately rose to take her leave. "Your Majesty, time is of the essence. I shall go now."

Rong Luoge nodded and immediately had Wet Nurse Zhao summoned. She gave her a few instructions, and Wet Nurse Zhao said at once, "Rest assured, Your Majesty. This old servant will handle everything properly and will not bring shame to Your Majesty."

Rong Luoge nodded. "Go. Try not to alert the Empress Dowager. If Virtuous Consort Su insists on taking the matter to the Empress Dowager, then let her — do not stop her."

The two agreed and immediately departed.

Rong Luoge could not settle down to continue reading either. She paced slowly through the hall, pondering the matter. Back then, Song Huihe had embroidered a Ten Thousand Li Rivers and Mountains piece to curry favor, but unfortunately never got the chance to present it.

Later, she had Gou Jing embroider this piece. Though Su Ying was allied with Song Huihe, the two had incompatible temperaments. They would not clash over major matters, but on something like this, Su Ying was naturally quite willing to let Song Huihe take a loss.

But judging from the current outcome, it seemed the two women had set aside their past grievances. Su Ying, to win over Song Huihe, had told her about the Ten Thousand Li Rivers and Mountains embroidery.

Given Song Huihe's proud nature, how could she allow Gou Jing to actually complete this piece and climb up by stepping on her face?

If that were the case, then destroying the embroidery was perfectly natural.

So then, here was the key point: she and Han Xinglan had both sealed off the information. Where did Su Ying learn about His Majesty's ambush? To send word out, one was to use the Empress Dowager's network and pass messages through a hidden line in the Imperial Hospital; the other was to use the Ten Thousand Li Rivers and Mountains embroidery to join hands with Song Huihe once more.

Rong Luoge carefully recalled the situation in the Hou Gong. Every loophole that could be plugged had been plugged — she had even made a clean break with the Inner Court Office, and the palace servants had been screened multiple times. She had not expected that there were still informants who had not been rooted out.

Where exactly could it be?

Rong Luoge truly could not figure it out for the moment, so she could only wait for news from Consort Xu.

This time, she absolutely would not let Su Ying and Song Huihe off lightly. It was time to let them know that the rules of the palace were not just for show!