Chapter 327: Volume 1, Chapter 327  Debt Collection Without Waiting Ten Years Later

Que Cai was indeed reliable in her work, and soon reported good news, "Your Highness, the matter has been settled."

Rong Luoge gave a slight nod, "Has the spy gone to look for Consort Hui?"

"Not yet. I estimate it must wait until after nightfall; now it's still easy to be discovered," Que Cai replied.

Rong Luoge nodded, "Keep a close watch; any move on Consort Hui's side must be reported promptly."

"Yes, Your Highness, rest assured," Que Cai said.

Rong Luoge feared that if Song Huihe learned the truth, she would really slay Su Ying, which would be hard to handle.

After being busy most of the day, Rong Luoge hadn't taken a sip of water; now she was both tired and fatigued, and thinking of her son, she sent someone to bring Kang Kang back from Princess Yile's side.

Kang Kang returned quickly and wanted a hug as soon as he saw the Empress.

Rong Luoge lifted her son into her arms, and the mother and child played together on the warm couch. She had a carpenter make wooden blocks for the child, along with various Lu Ban locks; the Lu Ban locks were still too advanced for him, so the two of them began playing with the blocks.

The blocks, crafted from solid wood, had all edges smoothed and were coated with varnish; after she took them, she drew pictures on the blocks herself, turning them into a puzzle.

The child was still too young, so she only drew the simplest animal shapes; five or six blocks could form a small animal, and Kang Kang liked it a lot, scattering blocks all over the warm couch.

After playing for almost half an hour, Kang Kang became hungry, and at noon he grew drowsy, so they called the wet nurse to take the child down for feeding and a nap.

After sending the child away, she herself was exhausted; she only ate a little for lunch and then went to the bedroom to rest.

When Han Xinglan returned, Rong Luoge had already fallen asleep. He did not let the palace staff disturb her, and quietly changed and washed before entering the bedroom.

He just lifted the curtain and saw the sleeping person open her eyes.

He quickly bent down and said softly, "You keep sleeping; I'll stay with you for a while."

Rong Luoge could barely open her eyes, nodded absentmindedly, and closed them again.

Han Xinglan lay beside Rong Luoge, reached out to pull her into his arms; these days both were weary, and he intended to keep her company for a while, but unexpectedly Han Xinglan also fell into a deep sleep.

When the two opened their eyes, for a moment they couldn't tell what night it was, still drowsy.

Rong Luoge lifted the curtain and looked at the hourglass; it was already the hour of the Monkey, and she hadn't expected to sleep so long. She hurriedly asked Han Xinglan, "Did I delay any of your matters?"

Han Xinglan indeed still had matters to attend to, and he quickly got up to change. Rong Luoge rose to assist him, and listening to Han Xinglan, she said, "No news has come back from Sui Zhou yet; Marquis Ningyuan is in prison, refusing to confess and causing a commotion. I intend to go over there to take a look."

Rong Luoge replied, "If you go there, won't Marquis Ningyuan become even more arrogant, thinking that you, the Emperor, are afraid?"

Han Xinglan was amused, "Who says that? He might still be guilty; I'll go trick him!"

Rong Luoge fastened his belt, then briefly briefed him on today's Hou Gong affairs, and finally said, "If Su Ying really does something, what do you plan to do then?"

Han Xinglan said expressionlessly, "Naturally, we will handle it according to palace regulations; you just see to it."

Rong Luoge looked up at Han Xinglan, "I dig a trap for Su Ying; what do I think?"

Han Xinglan pinched her nose, "Well dug."

Rong Luoge laughed, "If the Empress Dowager finds out, she'll be furious; how could you do this, cousin?"

Han Xinglan sneered, "Back then I was despised by the Emperor; the Su family also wanted to marry Su Ying off to someone else. The Su family could pull off such a scheme, expecting how much affection I have for them? They sway back and forth over shallow political marriages; such an in‑law family has no genuine kinship, only calculations—better to have nothing at all."

Rong Luoge hugged Han Xinglan, "Don't be angry; those matters are behind us. My plan is that if Su Ying becomes sensible and behaves properly, she can remain in the Hou Gong; but if she still shows no remorse, I won't continue to tolerate her."

Han Xinglan squeezed Rong Luoge's hand, "Just go ahead; I'll take care of the other matters for you."

"Alright, I understand." Rong Luoge knew that his "other matters" referred to the pressure from the Empress Dowager and the Su family.

"I'll go first; you also rest well, don't overexert yourself."

Rong Luoge smiled and agreed.

The sky gradually darkened; tonight, the moon was unusually absent, and the late‑autumn wind carried a hint of chill as a lone figure slipped silently through the night, finally disappearing beyond Yunhua Palace.

Song Huihe was dazed for half a day, so how could her father be in prison, the Marquis' manor seized, and her mother lead the rest of the household to temporarily avoid disaster?

She planted a spy in the Military Works Bureau, only to be caught red‑handed by His Majesty…

Song Huihe knew that His Majesty has always been dissatisfied with aristocratic families, so how could she let such a good opportunity slip by?

No wonder her mother, even though she couldn't even rise from a long kneel, still wanted to see her—probably hoping she would find a way to save her father, but what could she possibly do?

She can't even see His Majesty!

Song Huihe was shocked, angry and frightened, curling up in the brocade quilt and sobbing silently.

What about the relatives back in Sui Zhou?

How could they stand by and watch their father die?

That won't happen; the Song family of Sui Zhou is not a minor household. Her father's branch is merely the line of the Song family that remains in the capital. As long as the clan is willing to mount a rescue, her father will surely be safe.

Song Huihe sat up abruptly, determined that the relatives back home must rescue her father. But how could she get the message out?

The palace gates were guarded by the Empress so tightly that even water couldn't seep in; even her mother couldn't see her, let alone leave the palace.

Song Huihe racked her brain and kept circling back to the conclusion that she must bow to Su Ying; the Empress Dowager surely has a channel to send messages out.

But the methods Su Ying uses against her make Song Huihe grit her teeth; she can't lower her head.

She couldn't swallow that resentment; Su Ying schemed against her, so why should she bow?

If she doesn't bow to Su Ying, she would have to bow to the Empress; if the Empress were to graciously raise her hand, she could have a chance to see her mother, and as long as she can convey a message to her mother, that wouldn't be a problem.

Song Huihe spent the night sleepless, with images of Su Ying and the Empress filling her mind.

Early the next morning, Song Huihe stared at her dark eye sockets, rose, and thought that since her father loved her so much, she could not watch him die helplessly.

She must save her father.

The Empress Dowager refused to see her yesterday; fearing that continued pleas would yield no good result, she thought it better to grit her teeth and surrender to the Empress.

She cannot fall prey to Su Ying's intentions, letting her watch her like a setting sun and mock her!

This debt doesn't have to wait ten years; she wants to reclaim it now.

Song Huihe meticulously did her makeup in front of the mirror; even if she must bow to the Empress, she cannot lose her last dignity.