Chapter 346: Volume One, Chapter 346 This Move, High

Volume One, Chapter 346 This Move, High

"Printed hemp cloth?" Marquis Ning Yuan was startled.

"You didn't expect that, did you? Who could have thought of it?" Song Huihe laughed helplessly, "All the dye workshops and weaving workshops in the world aim to produce the most beautiful fabrics for nobles. Who would think about what common folk wear, whether it looks good or beautiful."

It's not that no one thinks about it, but even if they do, they won't act.

Why?

Because there's little profit; who would be willing to do these labor‑intensive, unrewarding tasks? After doing them, the price can't rise, merchants earn nothing, and if the price is too high, the common people can't afford it.

Only the Empress, who seeks fame rather than profit, can undertake such deeds.

Yet this very reputation has now become a great influence of the emperor and empress among the people.

Marquis Ning Yuan's silence was also Song Huihe's silence back then.

"Father, this is truly the last chance. Please consider it for mother, younger sister, for the daughter, for our family to live peacefully. Is that possible? The daughter begs you."

Song Huihe, at her age, has never wept so sorrowfully as now; she feels only sorrow, no anger, not even any other emotion, and this sorrow already leaves her breathless.

"I understand," Marquis Ning Yuan's voice was low. Watching his daughter's crying, the stubbornness that once he couldn't let go of gradually eased.

Song Huihe left the prison, donned a conical hat, and immediately boarded a carriage back to the palace.

After returning to the palace, she did not go to Fengyi Palace, but went straight back to her own Yunhua Palace.

In prison, Marquis Ning Yuan asked the jailer for paper and brush, sat before the wall for half a day, then shakily began to write a petition of apology.

Suizhou initially refused to open its gates; the daughter was right, his clan had indeed abandoned their branch in the capital.

Their whole family, dozens of people, are under the Emperor's watchful eye; if they take out their anger over Suizhou, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Thinking of his daughter in the inner palace, his wife and children at home, Marquis Ning Yuan reflected on his life: the first half was smooth because of his Song family background, and his own abilities earned him the title Marquis Ning Yuan and the privilege of a wife and children.

The family's support needs no mention, but the clan has more than just him; few can steady themselves in court and officialdom as he does.

His many years of repayment to the clan have repaid the favor; Marquis Ning Yuan took a deep breath, and the brush in his hand began to move slowly.

Han Xinglan soon received Marquis Ning Yuan's petition of apology. Although Suizhou City has now opened its gates, how to handle the Song family still requires caution.

A single call for exterminating a clan would only provoke other aristocratic families to fight to the death, appoint officials and win them over; even the Emperor finds it hard to swallow, so it's pointless.

At this moment, the petition was submitted, and Han Xinglan had an idea, immediately issuing an edict ordering Marquis Ning Yuan to atone with merit and set off for Suizhou.

What final choice the Song family in Suizhou makes depends on how Marquis Ning Yuan handles it there.

Han Xinglan felt considerably refreshed and, at lunch time, went to Fengyi Palace.

As winter approached and the weather grew chilly, he stood outside the gate of Fengyi Palace, watching Rong Luoge playing with his son under the corridor eaves.

The boy now can sit very steadily and especially loves to crawl everywhere, with boundless energy.

Rong Luoge had a woven rattan mat laid on the ground, then a thick soft cushion on top, letting him crawl about while she sat in a corner with a toy, teasing her son.

Hearing footsteps, mother and son turned together; before Rong Luoge could speak, Kangkang was already babbling and crawling toward the father emperor, his sounds unclear but evidently calling out.

Han Xinglan strode forward, lifted the boy, and Kangkang burst into a delighted laugh, pointing toward the courtyard.

Han Xinglan carried him into the courtyard, walking wherever he pointed, looking here and there.

Rong Luoge watched from the side, finding it quite amusing.

After finally coaxing the son into happiness, she handed him to the nursemaid to rest in the side hall, and she herself went to sit beside Rong Luoge.

Rong Luoge looked at him, "Your Majesty, I'm delighted; it seems Marquis Ning Yuan has good news."

"Nothing can truly hide from you," Han Xinglan was indeed pleased, looking at Rong Luoge, "Did you do something again?"

"This time truly not; Consort Song Hui came to ask me to let her see Marquis Ning Yuan again, I only agreed to let her go."

"Your agreement just speeds up Marquis Ning Yuan's decision," Han Xinglan said with a smile.

Rong Luoge asked, "Has Marquis Ning Yuan truly pledged allegiance to Your Majesty?"

Han Xinglan nodded, "He has already submitted the petition of apology; after I reviewed it I praised him highly, then ordered him to go to Suizhou to handle the Song family's affairs."

Rong Luoge: …

This move, high!

Seeing Rong Luoge's surprised expression, Han Xinglan laughed, "Rarely do I encounter something you didn't anticipate."

Rong Luoge glanced at Han Xinglan, "I'm no divine calculator; you just gave Marquis Ning Yuan a dilemma. Yet his sincerity in submitting can be seen. Anyway, no matter how you handle the Song family's matters, others will have differing views, but if Marquis Ning Yuan handles it himself, that's different."

Han Xinglan's move was good; she could learn from it.

While the couple happily discussed the matter in Fengyi Palace, Marquis Ning Yuan flamboyantly left the capital for Suizhou; the news quickly spread to the various mansions, and people's expressions and attitudes naturally varied.

In Prince Qi's Mansion, Virtuous Imperial Noble Consort looked at Bai Zhuo and said, "Look at the step His Majesty has taken; my earlier choice was not wrong."

"Consort, now Prince Qi's Mansion has turned around from its former decline and is slowly rising; you can be at ease in the future," Bai Zhuo said with a smile.

Just as they spoke, Princess Zhaoqing hurried in; upon entering, she saw her mother consort smiling and immediately asked, "Mother Consort, have you also received the news?"

"Stop this frantic fuss, sit down and speak," Virtuous Imperial Noble Consort said to her daughter.

Princess Zhaoqing took a breath, sat down, and looked at her mother, "I just received a letter from Chang'an."

"Chang'an?" Virtuous Imperial Noble Consort frowned slightly, "You sisters haven't been in contact for a long time; why suddenly send you a letter?"

Princess Chang'an had originally followed Virtuous Imperial Noble Consort out of the palace to Shou Prince's Mansion, and the Emperor had early on arranged her marriage. When the two sisters were in the palace, Princess Chang'an was Zhaoqing's little follower, but after leaving the palace they had no further contact.

Now Chang'an suddenly sends a letter to her own daughter, and Virtuous Imperial Noble Consort becomes very alert.