Chapter 391: Volume 1, Chapter 391  It Relies on One's Own Ability

Rong Luoge looked at the final outcome and was not really surprised; these people all were willing to leave the palace to marry, and if there were guarantees, who would want to stay alone in an empty boudoir in the palace until old age.

Since that's the case, it would be easy for her to arrange.

That evening Han Xinglan returned, and she briefly explained the matter to him: "If you want Xiao Shen to dispatch troops to Qingxuan Kingdom, then this should be settled beforehand."

Because the Spring Examination results would be posted the day after tomorrow, the matter would be announced soon, so it naturally had to be arranged properly first.

Han Xinglan nodded, "Tomorrow I'll ask Xiao Shen."

"Aside from Song Huihe and Kang Shufei, and Madam Qiongzhang, everyone else wants to leave the palace to marry, so let me pick a husband for them. It's fine for the others, but can the families of Gou Shuyi and Ruan Shurong just ignore them?"

When they first entered Dong Gong, they were secretly selected by the late Empress at that time, so their families didn't value them much. It's not surprising that they chose not to return home, but Gou Shuyi and Ruan Shurong are different.

She had previously discussed Gou Shuyi's case; back then Gou Shuyi's attitude was somewhat ambiguous, so it's strange that she is so resolute this time.

"If they go back, they'll still be supervised, but most will consider them disgraceful—either marry them off to a low‑status family or send them to the aunt's temple." Han Xinglan frowned as he spoke.

Rong Luoge heard that and said, "So you can't even voluntarily let them return home?"

Han Xinglan looked at Rong Luoge's unhappy expression and softly said, "An upright official finds it hard to adjudicate family matters. As long as they return home, I am the emperor, and some things are not for me to intervene in."

Rong Luoge fell silent for a moment, thinking, indeed, even a Qing dynasty princess must seek her grandmother's approval to live with her own prince consort; she is a royal princess, who can say the Qing emperor lacked supreme authority?

Moreover, in this timeline the emperor's power is already limited; Han Xinglan has just reclaimed authority, so he cannot, for a few imperial consorts, clash with the noble families again.

It also cannot be ruled out that these noble families shift their resentment toward the emperor onto these women; if a few years later Han Xinglan fully secures the throne, they certainly won't dare to speak recklessly, but for now they can.

She let out a light sigh.

Han Xinglan was amused, "What are you worried about? You can already let them go out, and you're earnestly finding them husbands; that's already doing them a great kindness."

If it were his thinking, to avoid trouble he would simply send these people to another palace and be done with it.

But evidently his empress is soft‑hearted, so he has to follow her wishes and ease her mind.

Rong Luoge listened to Han Xinglan's words and realized that their worldviews still differed in some respects, after all there was a gap of several thousand years.

Han Xinglan being able to do this is already quite generous; as emperor, sending his own consorts away to marry does tarnish an emperor's face a bit.

Thinking of that, she stopped agonizing, looked at Han Xinglan and said, "Then I'll carefully pick suitable husbands for them; that will be fair to them."

"If you think that way, it's fine." Han Xinglan looked at Rong Luoge, "Rest early; you, being a double‑bodied person, cannot overexert yourself."

"Alright." Rong Luoge replied with a smile, and after lying down asked suddenly, "Did you go see Kang Kang? He told me today he misses you."

"That kid never has a moment when he doesn't think of me; I don't know who taught him that slick, glib tongue."

Rong Luoge wholeheartedly agreed; he's still so young, and before he even finishes a sentence he already knows how to coax people. When he grows up he'll be unstoppable; coaxing little girls will surely be his specialty.

Their marriage surely won't produce a fickle rascal, right?

When Rong Luoge said that to Han Xinglan, he replied, "What's the problem? He'll become Crown Prince and later sit in my position; all the beauties of the world will be his."

Rong Luoge: …

After the Spring Examination results were posted, Han Xinglan was delighted; he had indeed selected many talents, and after assigning them to posts across the realm, he promptly announced the dissolution of the Hou Gong.

Both the court and the outside were in an uproar.

However, Minister of War Kang Jinsi, Cavalry General Fu Rizhang, and the low‑profile Marquis Ning Yuan, who had been reinstated to his original post, all strongly supported it, even immediately stating they would bring their daughters back home to marry them off.

Han Xinglan declared clearly before everyone that his bond with the empress was deep and sincere, having been close since the Dong Gong days, and that regardless of whether the women were selected while in Dong Gong or chosen as consorts after his enthronement, he had not moved a single one of them.

Everyone: …

Is this really something to be proud of?

Emperor, don't you find it disgraceful?

But evidently, their emperor not only doesn't think it shameful, but sees it as a powerful proof of his deep affection for the empress.

In short, apart from the few families that initially wanted to bring their daughters back, the emperor will grant marriages to the others, allowing them to leave the palace to wed.

For the other few who are taken back, when they marry the emperor will also prepare a generous gift to send them off.

That also counts as compensation.

Such compensation is unprecedented, and the entire capital is abuzz with discussion, a real explosion.

At that moment, Rong Yan was the first to step forward, going to the Kang family to propose marriage to the lady Kang who is no longer Kang Shufei.

The Kang family agreed.

Rong Yan is the empress's brother; although it's said they have cut ties, in recent years Madam Chu and her children have remained on good terms with the empress and have often interacted. Now that Rong Yan seeks to marry Kang Hualu, recalling how Kang Hualu was highly favored by the empress when she was in the palace, it doesn't seem that surprising.

With Kang Hualu's marriage already arranged, everyone believed the emperor's words; if Kang Hualu were not still a virgin, could Rong Yan still request to marry her?

Soon after, the emperor granted marriages one by one to the other consorts who hadn't been taken back by their families, all of whom were under Xiao Shen's command and each a talented veteran with battle merits.

Rong Luoge has been busy with this lately; Kang Hualu and Rong Yan's marriage isn't urgent—first set it, but the bridal reception must wait a bit, because for those in the palace who cannot return to their natal families, marrying out is a pressing matter.

She specifically instructed Ming Yuhua to make it clear to Xiao Shen that the men must be willing to marry of their own accord; they cannot be forced. Once a woman is taken into a household, she must be treated well. If later she hears of any marital discord and the cause is the wife, she will not hold her accountable; but if it's because the husband despises her, she will intervene on their behalf.

Rong Luoge stated her point clearly, and Xiao Shen's side naturally treated it with caution, selecting only those who were willing and eager to marry.

Those who could be selected into the Hou Gong must certainly have striking looks; having endured the palace for so many years, they must possess commendable temperaments. These men, who emerged from the crucible of swords and blood, now wish to marry a cultured and sensible beauty—doesn't that fit perfectly?

As for the natal families…

That doesn't matter; they are all military officials, and promotion depends on one's own ability.