Chapter 73: Volume 1, Chapter 73: Using the Emperor to Suppress the Empress

Rong Luoge could feel the gazes of many palace servants throughout Fengyi Palace falling on her, carrying scrutiny and curiosity, and even mixed with some rather uncomfortable looks.

Rong Luoge did not care in the least, sitting there on her own, picking up the tea served by the little palace maid and sipping it slowly, taking a sip now and then.

Perhaps because she showed none of the unease, awkwardness, or shame that everyone imagined, the gazes falling on her gradually diminished.

If she were a woman of this time and space, she would likely have been on pins and needles just as everyone expected, her heart full of anxiety, but Rong Luoge herself possessed a very strong heart, and furthermore, entering the Dong Gong was only a stopgap measure, so there was no need to care about such things.

Meanwhile, the Empress in the inner hall listened as the palace servants around her described Rong Luoge's demeanor at this moment, and for a time did not know what expression she ought to put on.

It was completely different from what she had anticipated.

The Empress examined her appearance carefully in the mirror before slowly rising to her feet and walking out, supported by Yan Yin's hand.

Hearing footsteps approaching, Rong Luoge set down her teacup and stood up, and when the Empress's figure emerged, she curtsied in greeting, "This concubine greets Her Majesty the Empress. May Her Majesty enjoy boundless peace."

The Empress pressed her lips together, looked at Rong Luoge for a moment, and then said, "Rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Rong Luoge stood straight, lowering her eyes slightly to show deference.

"Sit."

Rong Luoge sat down obediently, her posture upright, her hands folded on her lap—a model sitting posture for a young lady of good breeding, leaving no fault to be found.

The Empress fell silent for a moment, then looked at Rong Luoge and spoke slowly, "When you accompany His Majesty out of the palace today, stay by my side and do not wander about, so as to avoid causing trouble."

"Yes." Rong Luoge agreed with a smile. At this kind of large-scale royal event, the area she could move about in was limited, and staying by the Empress's side was safer—at the very least, if Consort Ming tried to make trouble for her, the Empress, for the sake of her own face, would have to protect her.

The Empress, for some reason, found that the more obedient Rong Luoge appeared, the more irritated she felt. She recalled the imposing manner in which Rong Luoge had forcefully divorced Prince Qi in His Majesty's presence that day, and then looked at her current appearance...

What fine acting.

So it was even more infuriating.

The Empress fell silent again; finding no fault only made her more frustrated. She was just about to bring up the matter of the imperial grandson when a little palace maid came in to report, "Your Majesty, Consort Xian, Virtuous Consort, and Consort Hui have arrived."

Empress:...

"Summon them in." The Empress forcibly suppressed the breath stuck in her chest and glanced at Rong Luoge. Never mind, the timing was wrong today; she would speak of it another day.

Consort Xian and Virtuous Consort each brought their respective daughters-in-law, while Consort Hui came alone. Everyone was in full formal attire, looking dazzling and radiant with gold.

Rong Luoge then rose and stood to one side, waiting for everyone to pay their respects to the Empress. Her lowered gaze met that of Ling Yuying, who was sneaking a look at her.

The two exchanged a fleeting glance, then quickly looked away.

After everyone had paid their respects to the Empress, Rong Luoge in turn greeted them all.

When greeting Consort Xian and Virtuous Consort, she was a junior and naturally performed the junior's bow. With Princess Consort Shou and Princess Consort Liang she was of the same generation, so their relative status was not easily distinguished at that moment.

Although Rong Luoge was only a Good Lady, she was a concubine of the Dong Gong. When Princess Consort Shou and Princess Consort Liang exchanged greetings with her, they turned slightly to the side and did not accept her full courtesy.

Everyone took their seats, their expressions warm and agreeable, but their thoughts varied.

Consort Xian and Virtuous Consort had always been people who kept to themselves and lived peaceably in the Hou Gong; even knowing that Rong Luoge's status was awkward, they would absolutely not speak provocatively at this moment.

"I have heard that this year's dragon boat race is even grander than last year's, with as many as twenty or thirty teams competing. Only in times of national prosperity and peace can such a splendid occasion occur," Consort Xian said with a smile. "Thanks to Her Majesty the Empress's proposal, otherwise I would not have had the good fortune to witness it in person this year."

Hearing this, Rong Luoge understood—it seemed that in previous years, Consort Xian, Virtuous Consort, and the others had not always been able to go along.

"Sister Consort Xian speaks truly. These past few days I have been looking forward to today; thanks to Your Majesty's boundless grace, I too can go out and enjoy myself," Consort Hui chimed in with a smile.

Rong Luoge listened as Consort Xian and the others flattered the Empress. Before long, Liu Zhaoyi, Zhong Meiren, and Xu Zhaoyuan also arrived; only Consort Ming had yet to come.

"Where are the princesses? Are they ready by now?" the Empress asked with a smiling expression.

There were only two princesses in the palace—one was Princess Zhaoqing, born of Consort Ming, and the other was Princess Chang'an, born of Consort Xian.

Hearing the Empress's words, Consort Xian's expression tightened, and she immediately said, "Early this morning, Princess Zhaoqing sent someone to summon Chang'an. The messenger came in a hurry, so I did not get to ask clearly what the matter was. Would you like me to send someone to check?"

Rong Luoge's eyes flickered. Consort Ming was clearly genuinely displeased—with only two princesses in total, she had deliberately summoned Princess Chang'an, plainly intending to drag Princess Chang'an into coming with her to pay respects to the Empress.

This was a not-so-subtle slap to the Empress's face!

Rong Luoge had always known that Consort Ming was arrogant, but previously she had only heard of it; now, seeing and hearing it with her own eyes, it was an entirely different feeling.

Especially now that she was on the same boat as the Empress, that feeling was rather delicate—she rarely felt a sliver of empathy for the Empress's anger and embarrassment.

Just then, Consort Ming arrived, and sure enough, she brought both princesses with her.

The moment she entered, Consort Ming's pomegranate-red gold-woven palace gown gave the impression of someone who was not short of money. The three-winged golden phoenix dangling hairpin in her hair swayed slightly with her steps, especially the pearl held in the phoenix's beak—warm and lustrous throughout, and a rare pink pearl at that, the size of a thumb.

Only the Empress was entitled to wear a five-winged phoenix hairpin, but although Consort Ming's phoenix hairpin had only three wings, that pearl made up the difference.

"I have arrived a little late; I hope Her Majesty the Empress will not take offense. It is all because His Majesty did not hold morning court today and stayed late at Guanju Palace," Consort Ming said with a smiling expression. Though these were words of apology, she managed to deliver them with an air of brazen provocation.

Consort Ming had already dragged the Emperor out—what more could the Empress say?

"Naturally, serving His Majesty takes precedence." The Empress gave a faint smile, as though Consort Ming's provocation was of no concern to her. Her eyes fell on the two princesses, and seeing their attire, her gaze hardened slightly. "Zhaoqing and Chang'an, those outfits are quite unusual."

Unusual indeed—the two princesses were wearing Hu-style garments, not the wide-sleeved long skirts that princesses ought to wear.

Princess Zhaoqing smiled and said upon hearing this, "In reply to Mother Empress, it was Father Emperor who said my younger sister and I should dress more conveniently, so that we could beat the drums and cheer for the dragon boats later. I did not dare go against Father Emperor's wishes, so I agreed."

Whether this was the Emperor's idea or Zhaoqing's, everyone knew full well in their hearts.

Rong Luoge looked at this mother and daughter—truly, it was in the blood. Both of them cited "His Majesty said" at every turn; it seemed that using this to suppress the Empress had long been a habit.

After all, the Empress was the mistress of the six palaces, and the only one who could keep the Empress in check was the Emperor.