Chapter 360: Past Lives and Present Lives Are Both Impossible

Su Ying's complexion began to give way; she suddenly looked terrible.

She also hadn't expected her aunt to be so muddle‑headed; how could she miss such an occasion? If the aunt attended, even Empress Rong Luoge would have to bow to her with utmost respect. Now how could she let her watch Rong Luoge's splendor?

Moreover, Song Huihe's words were the most hurtful; the aunt's refusal to attend the New Year's Eve banquet, if it got around, would not be a good thing.

His Majesty could not possibly have any good thoughts toward the aunt; even as mother and son, he could not let this drag on. The aunt is just too stubborn to bow her head, needlessly missing today's good opportunity.

She could already imagine that, with the aunt not attending today, when the first‑day court banquet arrives tomorrow, Rong Luoge certainly will not ask the aunt to attend again, and by then the aunt's temperament will not make her go on her own.

Not to mention the grand court banquet, even the Hou Gong banquet inviting the imperial consorts would likely make Rong Luoge hog all the limelight.

Su Ying felt a sense of suffocation just thinking about it; everything truly seemed to go wrong.

At the New Year's Eve banquet, Empress Rong Luoge did not actually spend the midnight hour with everyone; instead she dispersed the palace banquet, letting everyone return to their own palaces to celebrate the New Year.

When the crowd left, Fengyi Palace fell silent at once; she left the main hall, ordering the palace staff to sweep the main hall.

She first went to the side hall to see her son; the little fellow was already snoring soundly, the wet nurse who had performed the rites waited nearby, not daring to breathe a sigh.

Back then, the wet nurse from Princess Yile's side got into trouble, attempting to act against the princess; after the scandal broke, she never again saw a wet nurse colluding with anyone.

Because Princess Yile and the Crown Prince were about the same age, the wet nurses from both sides would take the princess and the Crown Prince to play together, so they were fairly familiar with each other.

When someone familiar suddenly got into trouble, it made the few wet nurses all feel endangered; for a while the elder dared not even breathe.

Rong Luoge spent a good while with her son, and before leaving she reminded the wet nurse to take good care of him; the wet nurse responded hurriedly with a flurry of assent.

She returned to the sleeping hall; after entering, she discovered Han Xinglan had already come back, and she walked over with a smile, "Why so early?"

Han Xinglan replied, "Accompanying you for the New Year's Eve, going to see Kang Kang?"

Rong Luoge nodded. Today the Empress's formal attire was too heavy; sitting before the bronze mirror, she had Rong Xin and Que Cai untie her hair bun, and only after it was undone did she sigh with slight relief.

Women in ancient times had it hard; such an elaborate hair bun made the pulled hair ache. The phoenix crown weighed over ten jin, and she felt her neck stiffening.

After washing up, she walked over to Han Xinglan's side and sat down, looking at him with a smile, "After this year is over, we'll both have to lose a circle of weight."

Han Xinglan was instantly amused, pulling Rong Luoge onto the soft pillow beside him, "You don't have to work so hard; let the people below handle things, you only need to appear at the banquets each day."

"That won't do; this is a major matter, and we can't let laziness expose any flaws. Our imperial consorts are each more meticulous." As Rong Luoge leaned on the soft pillow and relaxed, she instantly felt much more comfortable, half‑closing her eyes and calming her spirit, "Has any news from Suizhou arrived yet?"

Han Xinglan knew Rong Luoge had been preoccupied with this, but still shook his head, "No."

Rong Luoge, unable to speak gloomy words during the New Year, smiled at Han Xinglan and said, "Good things take time; we'll wait a bit longer. Whether news from Suizhou comes or not, tomorrow's celebratory fireworks must be launched; the New Year will bring good luck."

Han Xinglan, holding Rong Luoge's hand, laughed and said, "Alright, tomorrow."

"I'll bring the imperial consorts in the Hou Gong to listen to the sounds; I reckon the scene will be spectacular then."

"Does this count as flaunting our might?"

"What kind of flaunting? One day you, the emperor, will achieve seamless governance, with all under one heart. All under heaven will be the king's land, all borders the king's subjects. Only then can we truly speak of flaunting our might."

Han Xinglan was instantly amused, "I'll be waiting for that day."

"It won't be far off; with your diligent rule, I believe in three to five years the whole Owl Kingdom will be different." Rong Luoge's words were sincere; Han Xinglan truly devoted himself to state affairs, loving the people, working with perseverance and caprice, unhurried yet steady.

If he fails, there would be no justice.

Such a person, even if not emperor, would succeed at anything.

The stars outside the window twinkled; the two opened the shutters, a cool breeze drifting in, gazing at the starry sky through the window. Both now knew tomorrow would be better.

The New Year's Eve bell rang, and Rong Luoge suddenly came to herself, unknowingly leaning against Han Xinglan and falling asleep.

Han Xinglan, however, did not sleep; he kept watch over Rong Luoge, still looking at the folded note Shi An had sent. In the lamplight his profile was sharp, resolute and strong, and Rong Luoge stared at him, entranced.

Han Xinglan sensed something, turned his head, and saw Rong Luoge staring blankly at his face. He instinctively touched his own face, let out a light laugh, and asked, "How does my face look?"

Rong Luoge: …

"Honestly, don't you think your skin is too thick?"

Laughing, Han Xinglan set the note down, bent down and lifted her up; the New Year's Eve night should also have some proper business.

Rong Luoge was caught off guard, instantly soaring into the air; she clutched Han Xinglan's neck and whispered, "What are you doing?"

Han Xinglan strode into the sleeping hall, placed her into the canopy, then lowered the canopy and looked down at her, "What do you think?"

Rong Luoge did not want to answer.

The palace lanterns filtered through the canopy, casting their overlapping silhouettes; faint breaths spread within the canopy, and the long night had only just begun.

Rong Luoge didn't recall when she fell asleep; when she was vaguely conscious, she heard Han Xinglan say, "It's time to get up."

"Let me sleep a little longer," Rong Luoge said with her eyes closed.

Hearing her rare soft voice, Han Xinglan checked the time; a short extra sleep was fine. He looked at the person by his pillow—she was always strong‑willed, rarely coquettish, and faced challenges head‑on.

Yet, hearing her gentle voice now, Han Xinglan realized that, after all, she was only a woman who had married him a few years ago and was still young.

Thinking of her youth, Han Xinglan felt he shouldn't dwell on it; he was even laughing at himself.

"What are you laughing at?" Rong Luoge snapped back to attention and opened her eyes, seeing Han Xinglan chuckling.

"What's so funny?"

Han Xinglan met Rong Luoge's suspicious gaze, leaned down and kissed her lips, then laughed, "I just think my Empress is truly adorable."

Rong Luoge: …

She might not have fully woken, seeing a hallucination—does cuteness even relate to her?

Past lives and present lives, those are all impossible.

Han Xinglan, further amused by Rong Luoge's reaction, lifted her into his arms, "Luoge, a new year, a new beginning, hand in hand till old age, may we grow old together."