Chapter 340: Volume 1, Chapter 340 – This Is Truly What Harmed Her

The Bright Grand Consort knows that the Empress dislikes hypocrisy and wordiness, so she simply stated her purpose outright.

Yun Shizhuang did not expect her mother‑in‑law to speak so bluntly; for a moment the surprise on her face could not be suppressed, and she was very startled.

What surprised her even more was hearing the Empress say with a smile, "Grand Consort, this remark also catches me off guard. The Weaving Workshop has been split off to create a Dye Workshop, and now the affairs of the Dye Workshop are all overseen by Lady Liu. It must be that the Dye Workshop submitted a request to the Inner Court, but I did not expect the Prince to take his duties so seriously; this makes me feel somewhat sorry for Princess Consort Qi."

Yun Shizhuang had not seen Rong Luoge for a long time; now looking at her, she felt she was completely different from the person in her memory.

The two had once quarreled badly, and she did not expect that Rong Luoge would not only lack any mocking words, but would instead speak to her sincerely with an apology.

Yun Shizhuang sighed inwardly, realizing it was her own narrowness that made her view others narrowly; she was saddened that her mother‑in‑law had been at odds with the Empress Dowager, and that she herself had once been a daughter‑in‑law of the Empress, yet now they can still cooperate, so her coming this time is indeed proper.

She knew that if she told her parents, they would certainly not agree, so she did not discuss it with them; she had been somewhat uneasy before, but now that feeling is gone.

"Your Majesty, please do not speak that way. Whether it is the jacquard loom or the brocade machine, or the Empress's cloth beloved by countless commoners, and even this hemp‑cloth printing, I, your humble servant, greatly admire Your Majesty's deeds. After the Prince brought this matter to me, I may not possess the star‑and‑moon radiance of Your Majesty, but I still wish to do something for the people; even if it is only the glow of fireflies, I would gladly accept it. I beg Your Majesty to grant me this opportunity."

Rong Luoge did not hide her surprise, and then said very seriously, "Princess Consort Qi, your words warm my heart. To be frank, if there were more people like you in this world, a peaceful and prosperous age would be just around the corner."

The Bright Grand Consort glanced at her daughter‑in‑law, surprised that she could speak so well, and thought she had good taste in choosing a daughter‑in‑law. Her smile became more sincere, and she said to the Empress, "She has that intention; Your Majesty, just grant her it."

Rong Luoge agreed, looking at Yun Shizhuang's sincere face, hesitated a moment, then asked, "These days the Weaving Workshop actually lacks people; I wonder if Princess Consort Qi is willing to come out and help?"

How hard it is to enter the Empress's Dye Workshop is known to every noble family in the capital; now the Empress actually is willing to let her join?

Yun Shizhuang naturally was willing; such a good opportunity, such a chance to get closer to the Empress, to boost goodwill, how could she miss it?

"With Your Majesty's favor, I, your humble servant, am willing to contribute to the Weaving Workshop, but my knowledge is shallow and I do not know what I could do once I join." Yun Shizhuang said earnestly.

Rong Luoge said, "First go see the Weaving Workshop; the current overseer of the workshop is Kang Shufei, and Princess Consort Qi should be acquainted with her."

Yun Shizhuang nodded, "Your Majesty is right; I have seen her before at a banquet."

The elite ladies of the capital form a circle; perhaps not everyone knows each other, but surely there are a few connections.

"I will inform Kang Shufei, and Princess Consort Qi can first go to the Weaving Workshop to take a look; after a few days, once she is familiar with the workshop, we can discuss the duties."

Yun Shizhuang agreed, increasingly feeling that the Empress is a cautious person, and thus she should be taken seriously.

After finishing these matters, Rong Luoge looked at the Bright Grand Consort and said, "Grand Consort, do not rush Princess Zhaoqing's marriage. Not to hide anything from you, the war in Suizhou cannot be settled for a day; I fear His Majesty also has no time to attend to our family affairs. Please return and explain clearly to Princess Zhaoqing. Once the major matters are settled, His Majesty will certainly choose a proper marriage for the princess, and she will be married gloriously."

The Bright Grand Consort had always worried about her daughter's marriage; the Empress had previously given assurances, but she never felt secure and feared the Empress would brush her off. Now she finally received confirmation, waiting only for the war in Suizhou to end.

The Bright Grand Consort rose with her daughter‑in‑law to take leave; Rong Luoge also rose and personally escorted them out, and only after the Bright Grand Consort and the others left the Fengyi Palace did she turn back.

After leaving the palace, the Bright Grand Consort sat in the carriage and said to Yun Shizhuang, "You did well this time; once you enter the Weaving Workshop, you must study diligently under Kang Shufei."

Yun Shizhuang nodded, "Do not worry, Mother Consort, I will certainly do so. To be frank, I now truly admire the Empress; not to mention other things, just the fact that Kang Shufei and others are willing to work for the Empress shows the Empress's capability, which not everyone can achieve."

At least she cannot.

It's not only she who cannot; look at Su Ying, then at Song Huihe—before they entered the palace, each of them already had talent and reputation, each was quite famous in the capital.

But now?

Having been in the palace so long, they have not caused even a ripple.

It's not that these people are incapable; it's that the Empress is too powerful.

Putting aside Yun Shizhuang's plans, Rong Luoge first summoned Kang Shufei and Lady Liu, and told them two matters: the first was that Yun Shizhuang would bring her own dowry shop to supply the Weaving Workshop with hemp cloth for sale, which made Lady Liu instantly delighted—a great boon.

The other matter, Rong Luoge looked at Kang Shufei and said with a smile, "I intend to have Princess Consort Qi go to the Weaving Workshop. She now has this sincerity, and I think we can make her a member of our workshop; the more people, the larger our workshop becomes."

Kang Shufei asked hesitantly, "But what about the Yun family, Your Majesty?"

"Are you afraid that Princess Consort Qi's defection is false?" Rong Luoge asked with a smile.

Kang Shufei nodded, "I, a concubine, have met Princess Consort Qi several times before and know something of her temperament; she gets along well with her family."

"She was formerly a Yun family lady, but now she is not only a Yun family lady but also a royal wife. The Bright Grand Consort is not someone easily fooled; if Princess Consort Qi truly had a problem, she would not bring her before me." Rong Luoge said, looking at Kang Shufei.

Kang Shufei's concerns were reasonable, but the Bright Grand Consort would not be duped, and she certainly would not be.

When news arrives that Suizhou's city gates have been breached, and the power of the cannons spreads throughout the capital, that will be the moment when the Emperor and the noble families truly clash.

Yun Shizhuang's current choice to defect is, undeniably, a very wise one.

She is a clever person, far smarter than Rong Dai.

She recalled that the Bright Grand Consort had seemingly unintentionally mentioned that Rong Dai was sent to Zhuangzi to 'recover', and she thought it wasn't too surprising; the Bright Grand Consort would not tolerate Rong Dai wielding power and privilege in the Qi Wang Mansion.

It seems that over these years Rong Dai has not grown a mind, only grown older.

Di Yue Nu's cleverness was not used to educate her daughter to succeed, but was spent on unscrupulous means; that is what truly harmed her.