Chapter 393: The Grand Finale

Volume One, Chapter 393  The Grand Finale

Rong Luoge turns over, half leaning on Han Xinglan, deliberately softens her voice and says to Han Xinglan, "His Majesty truly is a diligent and benevolent emperor."

Han Xinglan meets Rong Luoge's teasing gaze, reaches out, pinches her chin, and kisses her.

The warm fragrance fills the tent, their necks entwined; if it weren't for thinking that Kang Jin Si is still waiting, Han Xinglan would have pressed her down hard. After finally separating, he inhales, avoids looking at Rong Luoge's uncontainable smile, and immediately gets up to dress.

Rong Luoge leans against the soft pillow behind her, watching Han Xinglan dress. In recent years he has trained diligently, his figure unchanged, still tall and healthy, his dragon robe more imposing than when he first ascended the throne.

He truly becomes more charming.

Han Xinglan hurriedly walks to the former palace; Rong Luoge also gets up to change and groom, feeling momentarily dazed looking at herself in the bronze mirror.

Having been in this time and space for so many years, she hasn't carefully examined her own face for a long time. She has given birth to two children, yet time has left few marks on her face; now she remains as beautiful as a flower.

Facing her reflection, Rong Luoge gives a faint smile.

The news that Qingxuan Kingdom has been captured quickly reaches the Hou Gong; Rong Luoge lets out a long sigh. Upon learning that Rong Heng and Di Yue Nu perished on the battlefield, she is only briefly stunned, then pushes the thought aside.

Madam Chu enters the palace to request an audience with the Empress; upon seeing the Empress, her first words are, "He is dead, Your Majesty."

Rong Luoge watches Madam Chu's expression and actually discerns a hint of sorrow, causing her to pause in surprise.

Madam Chu, not knowing whom to speak to, upon seeing the Empress, suddenly says, "Your Majesty, do you think I'm utterly despicable, feeling a bit sad after hearing this news?"

Rong Luoge says nothing; she knows Madam Chu doesn't need her to speak.

Madam Chu indeed continues on her own, "Your Majesty, I once hated him so much I wished he would die before me instantly, but now that he truly is dead, I recall how we first met, and he was once very kind to me…"

Rong Luoge sighs lightly, watching Madam Chu clutch her face and choke back tears; people are like that—while alive they hate to the point of wanting to tear flesh and bone, but once truly dead, the resentment dissipates and they inevitably recall the good.

Madam Chu, having cried enough, feels embarrassed, wipes her tears, and says, "I made a fool of Your Majesty; I truly didn't know whom to speak to, so I babbled upon entering the palace. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Rong Luoge looks at Madam Chu and smiles, "Madam, how is your little grandson? You must raise him well."

Mentioning her own grandson, Madam Chu's sorrow instantly vanishes, and she, beaming, talks to the Empress about the little grandson.

Sorrow may arise, but people always find new goals to live for.

The stars shift, time flies like an arrow; another New Year arrives.

Han Xinglan holds a grand banquet for the ministers in the former palace, while Rong Luoge entertains the palace maids in the Hou Gong.

The palace lanterns are lit one after another, their brilliance illuminating the night. The vast imperial palace resembles a awakened giant beast, eyes flared, gazing down upon the world.

On the first day of the New Year's grand court, ministers line up, passing through the armored Imperial Guard formation, orderly awaiting the Imperial carriage.

At daybreak, the first ray of sunlight shines on the palace gates; solemn music resounds, and the Emperor's escort appears before the crowd.

All officials bow, shouting "Ten thousand years!"

Standing on the vermilion throne, Han Xinglan gazes at the sea of officials, the six ministries and hundreds of officials, civil officials and nobles, all paying reverent homage at this moment.

This court banquet lasts from dawn till dusk; after the ministers revel and the officials disperse, Han Xinglan returns to the Fengyi Palace.

Rong Luoge, dressed in everyday attire, sits there; hearing footsteps, she looks up, sees Han Xinglan walking in slowly, her steps seeming a bit unsteady. She rises to greet him, "How much did you drink?"

Every New Year's grand court banquet always ends with drunken returns.

"The New Year's court banquet inevitably turns out so," Han Xinglan says, holding Rong Luoge's hand as he steps in, sits beside her, and lets out a long sigh.

Rong Luoge asks for a sobering tea, hands it to him, and softly says, "You're getting older now; you can't drink as you did when you were young—drink less."

Han Xinglan quickly nods; as the Emperor, even when facing regional governors and high ministers, he must show proper respect.

"What's your plan for Kang Kang's marriage?" Han Xinglan asks Rong Luoge.

Rong Luoge, listening to Han Xinglan mention her son, can't help but feel a headache, "This boy is very opinionated; last time he told me he had his own thoughts, now when I ask again there's no response."

Han Xinglan, hearing this, can't help but smile, "The Crown Prince's marriage is no trivial matter; you mustn't let him run wild."

"I know, but he hasn't thought about settling yet; perhaps we should wait a bit longer. He's still young; marrying in two years would be fine." Rong Luoge still hopes her son can marry a woman he likes, but this boy is tight‑lipped and doesn't know which family's girl he favors.

"What's your plan for Ping An's marriage?" Han Xinglan asks about the younger son; when she gave birth to him, Rong Luoge had a difficult delivery, and the child was hard to bring forth, and she suffered a great penalty.

After the difficult birth injured her, she could no longer bear children; fortunately there are two princes, and no court official has inappropriately submitted a memorial.

"Ping An's marriage should be considered later; this child is very quiet, devoted to studying, and shows no romantic interest." Rong Luoge also sighs.

Her two sons: the elder is bold and decisive; the younger is frail and quiet. Their personalities are opposite, and they act at cross purposes in everything.

Han Xinglan pulls Rong Luoge onto the soft pillow, whispers, "The Crown Prince has his own ideas; you should pay more attention to Ping An. This child is so inactive; if he has to find a girl on his own, he'll probably remain single his whole life."

"Did you say that about your son?" Rong Luoge lightly taps him, suddenly sensing something off, turns her head to the person beside her, "Did Kang Kang tell you something?"

Otherwise, given Han Xinglan's temperament, he wouldn't let the Crown Prince's marriage slip by so easily.

Han Xinglan chuckles lightly, "I knew you couldn't hide it; the Crown Prince has set his sights on Xiao Shen's daughter."

Rong Luoge: …

She remembers Xiao Shen's daughter having her father's temperament, skilled with bow and horse; at seven or eight she could accompany her father into the mountains to hunt. The child once lamented being born the wrong gender; had she been a boy, she would surely have become as renowned as her father.

"Really?" Rong Luoge is a bit skeptical; she always remembered Kang Kang once despised someone for being like a tomboy, even making the little girl cry.

That time, she even punished him with three days of reflection and confinement.

"Do you dislike Xiao Shen's daughter?" Han Xinglan asks earnestly; if Rong Luoge truly dislikes her, then the marriage can be dropped.

Between the daughter‑in‑law and his own daughter‑in‑law, he would certainly favor his own.

"No, I don't dislike her; I just think both children have strong personalities. If they're tied together, I wonder if life will become chaotic." Rong Luoge's mouth twitches as she says.

"What's the issue? If Xiao Shen's daughter truly is unsuitable, we can just select a few more candidates for Kang Kang to send to the Dong Gong."

Rong Luoge and Han Xinglan argue without resolution; although Han Xinglan is steadfast with her, his mindset on children's marriages remains antiquated, believing that his own loyalty to marriage obliges his son to act likewise.

In Han Xinglan's view, whether his son likes someone is paramount; if the daughter‑in‑law can share a deep bond with the Crown Prince, he approves, but if the couple's affection is average, he certainly doesn't want his son unhappy.

If one daughter‑in‑law can't make his son happy, then choose several more to send over; one will surely please his son.

Rong Luoge doesn't know what to say, so she tells her son, "Marrying a wife is a serious matter; you can't choose hastily. Pick someone you like, of good character, and once she enters your home, treat her well."

She doesn't know whether her son will listen, but by the time Kang Kang gets married, things will already be different from when Han Xinglan was.

At that time, Han Xinglan was not favored by the Late Emperor, and few were willing to send their daughters into the fire pit, but Kang Kang was different; his position was a scorching hot stove, and many people strained to send their daughters into the Dong Gong.

Thus, regarding the Crown Princess position, Rong Luoge is doubly cautious.

"You say that." Rong Luoge glanced at Han Xinglan, not knowing how to retort.

Han Xinglan laughed loudly, embraced her, lowered his head and lightly kissed her forehead, "Kang Kang is different from us, Luoge, the affection between you and me is extremely rare, the bond forged through hardship cannot be erased. Kang Kang grew up smoothly, so naturally his view of feelings differs from ours; you cannot demand that your son be like us, and that would be unfair to him."

Rong Luoge lightly sighed, "Children and grandchildren have their own blessings; I don't care about all that."

If Xiao Shen's daughter has the ability to keep Kang Kang's heart unchanged, that's her ability; if she cannot, as long as nothing occurs that she cannot tolerate, she will not interfere in her son's marriage.

Unbeknownst to her, she was about to become a mother-in-law.

"I suddenly realized I seem to be getting old too." Rong Luoge sighed.

"Nonsense." Han Xinglan sat up, staring at Rong Luoge, and realized something: how come his wife doesn't seem to age at all? "You don't have a single wrinkle, you're in the prime of youth and beauty."

Rong Luoge knew he was coaxing her, but she was still happy, "There aren't any, you just didn't notice."

She loved to laugh, and even the corners of her eyes had laugh lines.

"Then in my heart you are also the most beautiful." Han Xinglan unconsciously touched his face, couldn't help picking up a mirror to look, and upon seeing it felt a pang—years of court worries had etched his visage with vicissitudes, making him seem like a different generation from Luoge.

Rong Luoge was made to double over with laughter by Han Xinglan's teasing; he didn't realize that his current appearance was exactly the kind of handsome uncle that young girls nowadays adore.

She also liked it.

Year after year, day after day.

Rong Luoge could feel her body gradually weakening; the Crown Prince had already married and had a son, and even her little grandson had grown into a youth's appearance. Han Xinglan decided to abdicate in favor of the Crown Prince, and take Luoge out to travel.

He had experienced many things in his life; he had no guilt toward the common people, nor toward the imperial clan, but he felt he owed Luoge.

After abdicating, Han Xinglan took Rong Luoge on a journey, and Han Xu saw them off from the capital.

The former emperor and empress had loved each other all their lives; now the emperor takes the empress out to enjoy mountains and waters to rest his body, and as their son he naturally ought to support them.

In the morning light, he watched the emperor take the empress's hand and board the carriage; the carriage rolled slowly, kicking up specks of yellow dust.

At that moment, Han Xu turned to look at the person beside him; Xiao Yun seemed to sense something, lifted her head to meet Han Xu's gaze, and raised an eyebrow slightly, asking, "Your Majesty, is there something?"

Han Xu looked at the wife he had chosen, swallowed silently; a gentle, water-like wife—this lifetime he had no affinity with.

His gaze fell on his own son; waiting for this boy to grow up, he too could let go, just as the former emperor brought the empress out, and he would also take his wife to enjoy mountains and waters.

The empress said, life is long, finding a companion who shares one's aspirations is not easy; once obtained, it must be cherished.

Recalling the beatings she endured while pursuing her husband, the empress was right—it is something to cherish.

Cherish the beatings you once suffered; if you seek the new and discard the old, can you justify the hardships you endured?

A lifetime is both long and short; continuing like this is also fine.

(End of text)