Chapter 72: Volume 1, Chapter 72: Prince Qi Is Blind to Beauty

Rong Luoge found a moment to review the customs of past Dragon Boat Festivals, and only then learned that the emperor's "sharing joy with the people" actually meant sitting on the imperial viewing platform by the moat, watching the fierce competition of the dragon boat race in person.

Of course, for the common folk, the emperor showing his face and then rewarding the winning team was indeed sharing joy with the people.

But for the court officials and the Hou Gong, who got to attend at the emperor's side was the most important matter.

Rong Luoge finally understood why Han Xinglan was unhappy—because last year the emperor brought Consort Ming along, leaving the Empress in the palace. Even a fool knew that going out with the emperor was naturally more glamorous than staying behind in the palace.

No wonder Han Xinglan was so solemn this year. If the emperor brought Consort Ming again this year, two years in a row, the court officials' attitudes toward the Empress and the Crown Prince would likely shift.

Rong Luoge knew the imperial family was complicated, but for a single festival to be this complicated...

Life was not easy. Gege sighed.

The first day the Crown Prince told her she would attend, but before the second day even arrived, she received an edict from the Empress's side, instructing her to go to the Hou Gong to accompany the Empress for the Dragon Boat Festival.

This... was truly a glorious assignment.

Since Rong Luoge had made up her mind to go, she naturally had to prepare actively. First was her outfit—as the saying goes, clothes make the person and a saddle makes the horse—she could not lose face for the Crown Prince.

The Dong Gong had its own embroidery workshop, which immediately sprang into action to prepare Rong Luoge's ceremonial attire for the Dragon Boat Festival. Besides the ceremonial robes, there were also everyday clothes—going by Rong Xin's list, at least five or six sets had to be prepared.

Rong Luoge:...

She conceded—her horizons had simply been too narrow.

This "five or six sets" did not refer only to clothing, but also included matching accessories, shoes, and socks—even the nail guards came in complete matched sets.

Truly exquisite.

The day before the Dragon Boat Festival, Rong Luoge finally escaped the nightmare of endlessly trying on clothes. The moment she saw Han Xinglan, she could not help but complain, "The festival is only one day, yet we have to prepare so many things. Won't you be exhausted just from going out?"

Han Xinglan knew that Rong Luoge had grown accustomed to a quiet and carefree life at the estate and naturally was not used to such grand arrangements, so he explained to her patiently, "Of course it's necessary. You have to understand that when you go out, situations can arise at any time—for instance, if your clothes get accidentally dirty, you need spares to change into. Or, for example, preparing extra reward items—if you encounter an official's family with children, you always need to give out meeting gifts. Besides, there are clothes for banquets, clothes for tea, clothes for enjoying the scenery—how could they be the same?"

Rong Luoge:...

She surrendered!

The daily life of noble ladies was either changing clothes or on the way to changing clothes!

Han Xinglan was amused by Rong Luoge's expression, then sighed, "I know you don't like this kind of life. It will be better in a few years."

In a few years, when he ascended to the high seat and held great power, with ten thousand miles of rivers and mountains in his grasp, she would naturally be able to live the life she wanted, never again having to look at others' moods.

But what Rong Luoge thought of when she heard this was that in a few years she would be free, spreading her wings and flying out of the cage—of course she would live however she found comfortable.

So for the sake of future freedom, enduring a little now seemed like nothing.

"Tomorrow morning, will you go with me?" Rong Luoge asked.

Han Xinglan shook his head, "I can't. You need to go to the Hou Gong first, and I have to attend His Majesty in the front court."

Rong Luoge nodded, "Alright, I understand."

The sky gradually darkened, and Rong Xin came to invite them to have their evening meal.

Ever since Rong Luoge entered the Dong Gong, whenever Han Xinglan had free time he would accompany her for meals. So the palace attendants of Changxin Palace had long grown accustomed to it, always keeping His Highness's meals ready.

After the meal, Han Xinglan went into the study to review official documents, while Rong Luoge leaned over a desk on the other side, writing and drawing.

When the hour grew late, the palace attendants would urge them to retire for the night.

Now that they shared the same bed, Rong Luoge was no longer as tense as before—she could even relax and chat with Han Xinglan.

"One of the teams in this dragon boat race is supported by Prince Qi. The competition will surely be fierce."

Rong Luoge's sleepy eyes snapped open at once. "What about you?"

Han Xinglan shook his head, "I don't get involved in these things. Father would not want me to steal Prince Qi's thunder on such an occasion."

Rong Luoge looked at Han Xinglan, thinking he really was a poor thing, but failed to notice the amusement deep in his eyes. She said indignantly, "That's too much! How could His Majesty be so partial?"

"So tomorrow, if you run into Consort Ming, be careful. Don't act on impulse. Stay with Mother, and don't end up alone," Han Xinglan instructed.

Rong Luoge asked, "Consort Ming won't be joining His Majesty to share joy with the people tomorrow?"

"She will go, but this year Mother will also be going along."

"That's wonderful." Although Rong Luoge did not like the Empress either, the Empress was Han Xinglan's mother—their stances were aligned. At a time like this, of course they should point their guns outward together.

That night, Rong Luoge's dreams were filled with the faces of Prince Qi and Consort Ming, leaving her with little energy when she got up in the morning.

Han Xinglan looked at her suspiciously, only to see her hugging the brocade quilt and rolling about on the bed. The longer they spent time together, the more relaxed and at ease Rong Luoge had become in front of him.

Han Xinglan averted his gaze, trying his best not to look at the small stretch of smooth, delicate waist that Rong Luoge's rolling had exposed.

He steadied his breath, forcefully suppressed the restlessness in his heart, and immediately got up.

He was afraid that if he did not get up now, he truly would not be able to.

Rong Luoge also got up with a dark expression, unable to resist saying to Han Xinglan, "It's all your fault. My dreams were full of Consort Ming and Han Yifeng's faces all night—it was terrifying."

Han Xinglan:...

Rong Xin and the others did not dare raise their heads, pretending they had heard nothing.

Shi An's heart trembled—this was truly a force of nature. He had never seen anyone dare to speak to their Highness like that.

"Alright, it's all my fault." The more Han Xinglan thought about it, the funnier he found it, and he could not help but laugh out loud.

Looking at his irrepressible amusement, what more could Rong Luoge say?

She hoped Prince Qi would be a bit smarter today and absolutely not cross her path.

The two had breakfast together, and Han Xinglan walked with Rong Luoge for a stretch. They parted ways at the intersection leading to Fengyi Palace. This was the first time the Hou Gong's palace attendants had seen the person since Good Lady Rong entered the Dong Gong.

But they had not expected Good Lady Rong to be so favored—that His Highness the Crown Prince would personally escort her to the Hou Gong.

Rong Luoge had no idea that Han Xinglan walking her part of the way would draw so many people's attention. She took Rong Xin and Que Cai straight to the Empress's Fengyi Palace.

Her reception this time was completely different from last time when she had followed Consort Ming. Yan Yin personally came out to welcome her and bowed to Good Lady Rong, "Her Ladyship is changing clothes. Good Lady, please follow this servant into the hall to wait."

Last time she was merely a placeholder, only allowed to linger in the outer hall. Now she could even enter the inner hall.

Sure enough, one's own people were treated differently from outsiders.

Rong Luoge looked at Yan Yin and said with a smile, "Thank you, Auntie Yan."

Yan Yin looked at Good Lady Rong, thinking to herself that with a face like Good Lady Rong's, what man in the world would not be moved — yet Prince Qi was blind to it.