Chapter 321: Volume One, Chapter 321 – This Emperor Is Truly Bold

Volume One, Chapter 321 This Emperor is Truly Bold

"Your Highness, Zhao Mama from Fengyi Palace and Consort Xu have arrived."

Su Ying's thoughts were interrupted; she looked up at the palace maid and asked, "Are they together?"

The maid immediately nodded, then lowered her voice and said, "I saw Consort Xu's party press past Consort Hui's side, where Yu Zhu and Qing Lian were."

Su Ying was startled, "Did you see clearly?"

"Yes, I saw clearly."

Su Ying's expression grew even worse, and she got up and walked out.

Consort Xu and Su Ying held the same rank; she merely nodded, and Zhao Mama stepped forward to pay her respects, "Your humble servant greets the Virtuous Consort."

"Zhao Mama, rise. To mobilize troops and come to my Yongfu Palace in such a manner, what is the purpose?" Su Ying said coldly.

Zhao Mama replied, "It is regarding the damage to Gou Shuyi's Ten‑Thousand Mile River and Mountain Map."

Su Ying frowned and said, "The embroidered map was unintentionally ruined by the Virtuous Consort; what does it have to do with my palace?"

Zhao Mama said in a deep voice, "To verify the truth, the Empress wants me to take everyone present for questioning. It's just routine questioning; as long as nothing is amiss, they can return quickly. Virtuous Consort need not worry. Since you say this matter does not involve you, then those around you are merely a formality."

Zhao Mama deliberately used these words to shut Su's mouth; if she were to obstruct, it would show a guilty conscience, and the matter would surely involve her.

Since she says this matter does not concern her, taking them for questioning is all there is, so what is there to worry about?

Su Ying was stung by Zhao Mama's soft‑yet‑sharp words, her expression turning very sour, and she fell silent for a moment.

Consort Xu looked at Su Ying's demeanor, smiled, and said, "What is the Virtuous Consort sister worrying about? It's only a few palace maids."

Su Ying stared at Consort Xu, her anger boiling, but she could not show it openly, and said, "Since this is the Empress's will, my palace will not obstruct; let them accompany you for a trip."

Su Ying was not afraid; whether she had acted or not, even if she passed the news to Song Huihe, so what?

She only relayed a message; she said nothing else.

Su Ying, thinking of this, summoned the two who were to follow her, "You two go for a trip; you must answer truthfully."

The two women immediately bowed and complied.

Consort Xu, seeing this, smiled and said, "Virtuous Consort sister truly is straightforward; then I won't disturb you. The Empress is still awaiting the result."

Su Ying, holding back her breath, sent them away; Consort Xu left without looking back.

Once they left, Su Ying turned to the person beside her and said, "Go inquire about Consort Hui's side of the situation."

"Yes, I will go at once."

Su Ying was reluctant to hand over the person beside her, but she would not openly clash with the Empress; moreover, she was confident the Empress would find nothing. She has always been cautious and does not trust those around her, so she acts especially carefully.

Meanwhile, Rong Luoge finally saw Han Xinglan return; upon seeing him, she immediately went to meet him and asked concernedly, "How are things?"

Han Xinglan, holding Rong Luoge's hand, walked inside and said, "A portion has already been examined; I have already sent people to arrest suspects."

"Whose people?" Rong Luoge asked with concern.

"Marquis Ningyuan."

Rong Luoge wondered whether she should breathe a sigh of relief that they were not Su family; if they were Su family, it would mean opposing the Empress Dowager, which would be bad for both Han Xinglan and herself.

The two exchanged a glance, and Han Xinglan pulled the person into his arms, letting out a long sigh.

Rong Luoge leaned against his chest, knowing his mood now must match hers, both feeling fortunate.

She hugged Han Xinglan and said, "It really seems heaven is aiding you. Do you know what happened in the Hou Gong?"

Han Xinglan, hearing Rong Luoge's tone, asked, "Did something happen in the Hou Gong as well?"

Rong Luoge gave a brief account; Han Xinglan could not recall the Ten‑Thousand Mile River and Mountain Map incident, but now he sensed some implication, looked down at Rong Luoge and asked, "You had Gou Shuyi embroider the map—was it for this purpose?"

Rong Luoge pulled Han Xinglan to sit, smiled, and said, "Actually it's not; this time you guessed wrong."

Han Xinglan had thought they were colluding, but she had never intended that; she intended to use this matter to put some pressure on Song Huihe.

"When I originally had Gou Jing do this, I intended to give Song Huihe something to do, but your side acted quickly, and the two matters collided. You captured people of Marquis Ningyuan, while I captured people of Song Huihe. Some things are truly destiny. The Song family's luck is really poor," Rong Luoge said.

Han Xinglan nodded, then laughed, "That truly is fate."

"What do you plan to do about Marquis Ningyuan?" Rong Luoge asked, looking at Han Xinglan with some worry.

There is no worry about the Marquis himself, but the Song family behind him must be handled carefully; unless they are taken down in one stroke, the Song family will not easily give up.

"I have already ordered Xiao Shen to lead troops to Suizhou overnight. On the day Marquis Ningyuan is imprisoned, if the Song family remains still, that's fine; if the Song family makes a move, Xiao Shen will immediately lead troops to breach the Song family's holdings."

The Song family of Suizhou…

Rong Luoge got up, went to the study, fetched the map, spread it on the kang table, and pointed toward Suizhou, where she had previously marked. She slightly frowned and said, "Suizhou's city walls are tall and thick; if the Song family holds the city and does not come out, Xiao Shen will find it difficult to open Suizhou's gates."

"Therefore, I had him take the newly forged cannon away. Though it's only one piece, its power is huge and should help him breach the gates," Han Xinglan said.

Rong Luoge was startled, "Taken away?"

"Yes, it was rushed into production so he could take it." Han Xinglan's eyes fell on the direction Rong Luoge pointed with her fingertip. "If this time Xiao Shen can use the cannon to breach Suizhou's gates, the subsequent matters will become much easier."

Rong Luoge thought for a moment and understood Han Xinglan's meaning; this operation should be Han Xinglan's formal declaration of war on the clans after his ascension.

If Xiao Shen returns victorious, using the cannon to blow open Suizhou's sturdy walls and successfully capture the Song family, then other clans wishing to contend with Han Xinglan will have to see whether they can withstand the cannon's power.

Rong Luoge's eyes lit up instantly; if the plan proceeds smoothly, it would be extremely advantageous for Han Xinglan's future scheme to gradually reclaim authority from the clans.

Perhaps her expression was too vivid, and Han Xinglan laughed, "Happy?"

Rong Luoge was, of course, happy. She looked at Han Xinglan and said, "I didn't expect you to be so decisive, to go to war with the Song family. I think not only I, but everyone would not have thought so."

This Emperor is truly bold.