Chapter 81: Volume 1, Chapter 81 — The Virtuous Consort's Dormancy

The two talked while eating; the rule of not speaking at meals or talking at bedtime had long since gradually changed to match Han Xinglan's habits after Rong Luoge entered the Dong Gong.

Habit truly was a frightening thing.

"I was thinking about that batch of goods the Qiongchuan merchant caravan unloaded. After I have His Highness's men find them, could His Highness share a portion with me?" Rong Luoge asked with a probing smile.

Han Xinglan had not expected Rong Luoge to make such a request. He paused a moment, then asked, "You still don't even know what those things are. What if they're of no use to you?"

"How could there be anything useless to me?" Rong Luoge was certain that whatever goods the Qiongchuan merchant caravan had gone to the trouble of transporting over such a great distance could not be anything worthless.

Even if it were useless, she could make it useful.

"Fine, that's no problem," Han Xinglan agreed readily. "But the goods were unloaded before they entered the city. Finding them will take some time."

"I know that, but it's not without traces to follow. A merchant caravan this large will inevitably leave traces wherever it passes. Though investigating will be somewhat difficult, more inquiries will surely find them," Rong Luoge said.

Geese leave calls behind as they pass, water leaves traces behind as it flows—there is nothing in this world that leaves no shadow.

The two discussed the specific details of their plan. Han Xinglan found that many of Rong Luoge's ideas were quite ingenious, and to him it was like opening up an entirely new line of thought.

At the very least, he had never thought of using the goods as bait to lure out the Qiongchuan merchant caravan like a fish.

"I've always felt that the Qiongchuan merchant caravan coming all this way to the capital couldn't be solely for doing business. What kind of business would be big enough to justify the hardships of such a journey? They must have other designs under the guise of trade. If we get our hands on this batch of goods, it might well amount to pulling out their hidden foundation, and then we'd naturally have the chance to make a deal with them."

Rong Luoge was not one to suffer losses. She had been hurt and taken a loss at the hands of the Qiongchuan merchant caravan, and she was certainly going to get that back.

Han Xinglan thought it over carefully. Though this plan carried great risk, the corresponding payoff was also high. He looked up at Rong Luoge. "Your way of thinking is truly different from ordinary people's. It's worth a try."

If Rong Luoge had already known what the seal was actually used for, she would not have needed to be so on guard against Han Xinglan, and would have told him about the seal.

But as it was, she herself still did not know the seal's purpose, and since it could implicate the former Crown Prince of Qingxuan, the complexity of the matter was beyond what she could imagine, so of course she had to proceed with caution.

However, she was cooperating quite happily with Han Xinglan, so she still gave him a hint: "Di Yue Nu's background may be somewhat extraordinary. Be careful yourself."

"Have you heard something?" Han Xinglan thought to himself that Rong Luoge certainly would not say such a thing without reason.

Rong Luoge hesitated a moment, then still said cautiously, "You could say that. There are some things I'm not yet certain of, and can't explain clearly to you right now, but Di Yue Nu is indeed somewhat peculiar. Her relationship with the Qiongchuan merchant caravan is probably very deep."

Han Xinglan nodded. "That is of course. After all, the people of the Qiongchuan merchant caravan were willing to kill you for her sake. There must be some deal between them."

Rong Luoge had not expected Han Xinglan to think of this point, but there was nothing wrong with looking at it from that angle. "In any case, let's both be careful."

Han Xinglan gave a slight nod, but in his heart he had already made up his mind to have someone keep a close watch on Di Yue Nu. It seemed she indeed had quite a few secrets.

After the evening meal, Han Xinglan went to the study to handle official business. Rong Luoge felt lazy today and rested early. By the time Han Xinglan returned, she was already fast asleep.

Han Xinglan sat by the bedside watching her, and suddenly recalled how nervous she had looked when she first shared his bed. Now look at her…

He gave a soft laugh and waved the bed curtain down. He did not know when he, too, had grown accustomed to having such a person beside him, falling peacefully asleep to the rhythm of each other's breathing.

This was, to him, an incredible thing as well.

Early the next morning Rong Luoge woke. It was rare for the person beside her to still be sleeping when she woke; usually by this hour Han Xinglan would already be attending morning court.

Though as Crown Prince he was merely a figurehead in the court, the appearance still had to be kept up.

The sleeping Han Xinglan had an exceedingly pale face, his long hair spread like ink over the jade pillow, his lips thin and pale, his refined features as beautiful as a deity's, yet between his brows and eyes there showed a coldness, lofty and unapproachable.

The sleeping him and the awake him were like night and day.

"What are you looking at?"

Rong Luoge had actually been staring blankly at the Crown Prince's face, and getting caught in the act by the person himself was truly embarrassing.

"Nothing." Rong Luoge immediately rose, lifted the curtain, and got out of bed, her face burning in waves.

Watching her nearly flee in a panic, Han Xinglan was, for once, in a good mood early in the morning.

Hearing his laughter, Rong Luoge covered her face. It was truly too embarrassing.

The palace servants came in upon hearing the sounds to attend to them. Rong Luoge tried her best to look as she normally did, and then heard Rong Xin say, "Good Lady, today is Her Ladyship the Virtuous Consort's birthday. Will you be going?"

Rong Luoge heard this and thought for a moment. "Her Ladyship the Virtuous Consort's birthday—is it a must that I attend?"

Rong Xin held a jade comb and gently combed the Good Lady's hair, the black locks slowly forming an elegant coiffure beneath her hands. "It's not strictly necessary, but right now you are the only one in the Dong Gong. If you don't go, someone may seize the opportunity to cause trouble."

Rong Luoge understood as soon as she heard this—it was nothing more than Consort Ming pinning a label on her of being arrogant and disregarding propriety and hierarchy. "Then I'll make the trip."

Rong Xin happily agreed. "Since you're going to the Hou Gong, you must first pay your respects to Her Majesty the Empress. Why don't I pick out two gifts from the storehouse?"

"Fine," Rong Luoge agreed.

Rong Xin was thoughtful. Though she did not much like the Empress, the Empress was after all the Crown Prince's mother, so bringing gifts when calling on her would not be impolite.

By the time they had breakfast, the morning's small embarrassment had long since vanished because of the birthday matter. Rong Luoge looked at Han Xinglan and told him about it.

Han Xinglan gave a slight nod. "Though the Virtuous Consort's disposition appears to be free of worldly ambition, in earlier years she and Consort Ming were evenly matched. Be careful yourself."

Rong Luoge was not surprised to hear this. Which woman who could bear a son in the Hou Gong and raise him to adulthood was simple?

Putting on the appearance of having no worldly ambitions now was merely a means of protecting herself after losing to Consort Ming.

Thinking of this, Rong Luoge could not help but recall the several times she had met the Virtuous Consort. The Virtuous Consort did indeed appear to have no aggressiveness, but a non-aggressive person who picked such an outstanding wife for her son was truly remarkable.

Ling Yuying was far superior to the Princess Consort Shou born of the Worthy Consort. Though the Princess Consort Shou was the daughter of a Grand Scholar, whether in scheming and tactics or in conducting herself in the world, she was far inferior to Ling Yuying.