Chapter 386: Volume One, Chapter 386  When it comes to love, he

Volume One, Chapter 386  When it comes to love, he's just a tool.

Su Ying listened to her mother speak, her complexion grew even darker, "Mother, what's the point of asking now? I have already accepted my fate. You should quickly leave the palace to discuss this matter with Father. If that fails, have Father enter the palace to see the Empress Dowager; perhaps only Father can persuade the Empress Dowager."

Su Ying now knows that she may no longer receive favor; if she wants to live the life she desires in the future, she will need the Su family's support. Therefore the Su family cannot be without money—without money, how can she sustain her luxurious life in the palace?

Although she is the Virtuous Consort, her monthly stipend is fixed and cannot allow her to live as she wishes. She has become accustomed to a lavish lifestyle and naturally does not want to tighten her belt.

Madam Su immediately nodded, "You're right; perhaps only your father can sway the Empress Dowager. I'll leave the palace right away."

Su Ying saw her mother off, hesitated, and did not go to see the Empress Dowager herself. The Empress Dowager now clearly holds some prejudice against her, and Su Ying does not know what was said. Thinking of the Empress makes her especially irritable.

Clearly someone who grew up in the countryside, and once they rose to power they show no mercy—truly detestable.

Yet His Majesty dotes endlessly on the Empress, and Su Ying can hardly imagine it.

Just thinking about it makes her want to vomit blood.

On the way back to Yongfu Palace, Su Ying happened to encounter Song Huihe in a narrow passage. Now Song Huihe is like a withered tree meeting spring—utterly smug everywhere, which is extremely eye‑watering for her.

Song Huihe and Su Ying have a deep old grudge. Seeing her unexpected expression, she stopped with interest and looked at her, "Virtuous Consort, what's wrong? Why does your complexion look so terrible? Did something go awry?"

Su Ying was displeased; Song Huihe was pleased.

That scoundrel still wants to harm her, almost putting her life at risk; she truly hates her to the point of wanting to tear her apart alive.

Su Ying's mood was already bad; she had no patience to tangle with Song Huihe and be the butt of a joke, so she coldly said, "What do you mean, Consort Hui? I'm merely feeling unwell today."

"Unwell? Oh, you've spent a lot of time being unwell all year. How about I speak to the Empress for you? For the sake of your health, perhaps you should recuperate in another palace for a while." Song Huihe said with a smile, but her eyes held no mirth.

Su Ying snapped her head up, meeting Song Huihe's eyes, and, suppressing her fury, said, "You needn't worry about me, Consort Hui; you should mind your own affairs."

"What's there to worry about in my affairs? My father has made a comeback, and although our Song family has endured hardships, we have finally reached safety." Song Huihe mentioned this without any shame, feeling rather fortunate; the most humiliating period had passed, and she spoke of it with openness, "But the Su family is another matter; Prime Minister Su is now imposing, though we don't know how long that imposing can last."

"You…"

"Look at me, spouting such blunt truths. Virtuous Consort, don't take it to heart. After all, you often say that with the Empress Dowager around, your family is safe and worry‑free—that's a blessing ordinary people don't have." Song Huihe sneered, watching Su Ying's face change completely, unable to maintain her lofty demeanor, then, with a smug twist of her waist, she walked away.

Su Ying was so angry that her vision went black and she almost collapsed to the ground; leaning on her maid, she staggered back to Yongfu Palace, one step shallow, the next deep.

She knew Song Huihe's words were correct; the Su family's endurance was uncertain. If the Empress Dowager continued to protect them, that would be fine, but she had no idea what the Empress had said to the Empress Dowager, and now the Empress Dowager apparently wants to let go.

That truly isn't good news.

Su Ying sat there, her mind suddenly blank. She had always considered herself clever, able to devise solutions to many problems; regarding this matter, she knew that the Su family, like other noble houses, should submit to His Majesty as the best option.

But she didn't want to, and not only she, the Su family also didn't want to do so.

She was holding her breath, unwilling to admit defeat; if they went that route, what dignity would they have left afterward?

Yet, if they didn't act this way, they couldn't get past this hurdle.

Su Ying's complexion turned deathly pale as she collapsed onto a soft pillow, feeling even breathing became difficult.

Meanwhile, Rong Luoge no longer cared about the Su family's affairs, but Rong Xin still came to report to him.

"When Madam Su left the palace, her expression was extremely unpleasant. I discreetly inquired and learned that the Empress Dowager and Madam Su are having a very unpleasant dispute…"

Rong Luoge raised an eyebrow slightly, seeing that the situation was much better than she had anticipated; the Empress Dowager, as she suspected, still had room for reconciliation, which was the best outcome.

Compared to news of the Emperor and Empress Dowager falling out, she would rather enjoy the spectacle of the Su family's downfall.

She just doesn't know how the Su family's brain is wired; they clearly have a trump, yet they somehow turn it into a string of bad luck.

A brain‑dead world really is complicated.

That night, Han Xinglan returned. Rong Luoge told him the matter, and Han Xinglan nodded slightly. After washing up, he came over, brought his son to sit beside him and play with a Lu Ban lock. Kang Kang can now sit still for a whole hour without moving while playing with the Lu Ban lock—a remarkable feat for such a young child, as most kids can't sit that long.

After discovering this strength in the child, Rong Luoge had a set of Lu Ban locks prepared, along with a set of large building blocks, and also arranged to construct a deluxe children's playground for the kid in the Imperial Garden.

A child's childhood should be vibrant and colorful.

Accompanying his son in taking apart a Lu Ban lock, the father and son reassembled it together, and before he could praise his son, Kang Kang sprang up and wobblily handed it to his mother.

Rong Luoge lowered his head and kissed his son's little cheek, "For mother? Thank you, Kang Kang, you're truly mother's big treasure."

It used to be a little treasure; now there's another one in the womb, so it's upgraded to a big treasure.

Kang Kang can now understand some words and happily went back to taking apart Lu Ban locks.

Han Xinglan: …

When it comes to love, he's just a tool.

He was the one who helped this brat take it apart and reassemble it—so what?

Rong Luoge met Han Xinglan's expression, laughing delightedly; Han Xinglan, seeing Rong Luoge's smile, felt relieved.

When the son grew tired and was taken back to his crib by the nanny, he finally turned to Rong Luoge and said, "The Su family probably won't hold out much longer."

Rong Luoge was surprised, "That quickly?"

It seemed Han Xinglan held many levers and evidence against the Su family in his hand; when he said this, his expression was flat, showing no other emotion, indicating he truly had no feelings for the Su family.

The Su family's hand has truly been played terribly.