Chapter 87: Volume 1, Chapter 87 — That Is Absolutely Impossible

With the autumn examinations imminent, the death of an examination candidate sent shockwaves through both the court and the public.

The Mid-Autumn Festival fell just before the autumn examinations, and the palace hosted a banquet to celebrate, though the atmosphere was somewhat heavy.

Rong Luoge had caught wind of the situation this time, so she dressed very modestly; for the Mid-Autumn banquet, all court officials of the fourth rank and above could bring their family members to attend.

Because of this, the Empress had begun preparing for this banquet very early on, which was also why she had had no time to bother with Consort Ming during this period.

The palace guard posts had been strengthened considerably—sentries every five steps, guards every ten steps—and every imperial guardsman wore gleaming armor, their faces bearing a stern, killing air.

Rong Luoge clicked her tongue inwardly as she watched; those who knew better would say they were attending a Mid-Autumn banquet, while those who didn't would think they were seeing someone off at an execution ground.

Halfway there, she spotted Han Xinglan outside the hall.

Han Xinglan was dressed in the Crown Prince's formal attire, his figure tall and slender; even among the imposing imperial guards, he stood out exceptionally. His face, which usually carried a smile, bore a solemn air today, and surprisingly also exuded a faint, formidable presence.

Rong Luoge knew he was outstanding, but seeing the Crown Prince like he was today, she still couldn't help taking a few extra glances.

Han Xinglan seemed to sense something; he turned his head slightly and looked straight over.

The instant their eyes met, Rong Luoge felt the embarrassment of being caught in the act. She pretended to casually withdraw her gaze and walked through the hall doors without looking sideways.

Han Xinglan gazed at her retreating back, his hand hanging at his side tightening slightly, then lifted his foot and followed her in.

The courtiers inside the hall had already taken their seats. Rong Luoge went around through a side door, walked over to the Empress to pay her respects, and only then sat down.

The Empress glanced at her but said nothing, turning her head to chat with the Worthy Consort and the Virtuous Consort instead. Consort Ming on the other side seemed to have been left out in the cold.

His Majesty arrived late for some reason and looked rather sallow upon arrival. Seeing him like this, Rong Luoge knew that this one had probably been taking too many elixirs.

The Emperor was advanced in years yet still caroused every night; not only did he frequently summon Consort Ming to share his bed, palace maids with any looks were also often graced with his favor, and after being favored they usually didn't even receive a proper title—truly scummy.

Palace attendants who had been favored but received no title often did not end up well.

After the Emperor took his seat at the head, he appeared listless. He raised his wine cup to the assembled ministers, said a few perfunctory words, and directly ordered the banquet to begin.

Although Rong Luoge didn't know what it was like in previous years, she could tell from the expressions of the ministers and consorts that this year was probably somewhat unusual.

She sat there quietly without saying a word. Music sounded, and dancing girls filed in one after another, their bodies swaying to the melody, spinning lightly.

The sound of strings and woodwinds filled the ears, beauties sang and danced gracefully, and the courtiers flattered the Emperor with drinking and merry talk—a scene of harmonious ruler and ministers.

Han Xinglan held a wine cup and dealt with those who came to offer toasts; whenever someone approached, he would take a small sip on the pretext of feeling unwell, while his eyes discreetly surveyed the situation in the hall.

Prince Qi appeared to be in particularly high spirits today, frequently raising his cup with others like a social butterfly.

Ling Yuying's seat was right next to Rong Luoge's. Seeing that no one in the hall was paying attention, she looked at Rong Luoge and said, "Yun Shizhuang has been staring at you the whole time. Did you notice?"

Rong Luoge turned to look at Ling Yuying. "I thought it was just my imagination, so it really is her."

"You haven't looked at her?" Ling Yuying asked with a soft laugh.

"What kind of deity on a shrine does she think she is? Why should I look at her?" Rong Luoge had sensed someone staring at her for a while, but thinking about it, she knew exactly who it was.

If she looked over, wouldn't that be playing right into Yun Shizhuang's wishes?

That was absolutely impossible.

Ling Yuying conceded the point, but also felt satisfied, and said, "Lord Yun has been singing his daughter's praises before His Majesty quite a lot lately. The drunkard's interest is not in the wine—the intention couldn't be more obvious. You'd better be careful."

Lord Yun, that old fox, wouldn't release the hawk until he saw the hare. He had always kept a neither-close-nor-distant attitude toward Han Xinglan, neither getting too close as to arouse His Majesty's suspicion, yet being so enthusiastic about the matter of the Crown Princess. This man still wanted to have his cake and eat it too—did he think he could reap all the benefits?

"What do I have to worry about? The one who should be worried is Lord Yun. With him being so fervent, His Majesty is bound to be displeased." Rong Luoge gave a cold snort. "It doesn't matter if he's courting his own death, but if this goes on, His Highness will end up being dragged into it too."

The Emperor was already deeply suspicious of the Crown Prince and wanted to put Prince Qi on the throne, so he was only too eager for the Crown Prince to have some vulnerability exposed.

So sometimes Rong Luoge couldn't quite understand it either. For Yun Jing to reach the position of Minister, his family background certainly played a part, but if the man himself didn't have some ability, he wouldn't be able to hold the position steady either.

How could someone like that do something like this at a time like this?

Ling Yuying found this hard to respond to. After a moment's thought, she said, "Anyway, everyone is watching now. I think whether Yun Shizhuang enters the Dong Gong is still very much up in the air."

What if His Majesty was persuaded by Lord Yun?

Besides, Yun Jing, that old fox, was no pushover. Who knew what he was plotting in his heart.

The two were speaking in soft whispers when they suddenly heard a commotion outside. Someone shouted, "Fire!"

The commotion outside was enormous, and everyone in the hall heard it clearly. All their expressions changed at once.

The Emperor looked at the crowd with some displeasure. "Send someone out to see what's going on."

Yun Jing immediately stepped forward and directed people to go out and investigate.

Soon a young eunuch returned, his face somewhat pale as he reported, "Your Majesty, the Little Jade Yang Shrine in the palace has caught fire!"

The Emperor's expression changed drastically, and he immediately said, "Send people to put out the fire!"

The Emperor had been obsessed with alchemy in recent years, and especially since this year he had been taking elixir pills nearly every day. For something to happen to the Daoist shrine was, to the Emperor, practically a slap in the face.

Especially since just a few days ago, courtiers had memorialized him to dismiss the Daoist priests and prioritize his health—and now, on a day like this, a fire breaks out?

The crowd whispered among themselves, a continuous murmur of voices rising and falling.

Rong Luoge instinctively looked toward Han Xinglan, only to see him with his brows tightly furrowed and a worried look on his face, showing not the slightest sign of whether this matter had anything to do with him.

But Rong Luoge's intuition told her that this matter was definitely connected to the Crown Prince. Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence—she had only just mentioned the matter of establishing a new government office to the Crown Prince a while ago, and now something like this happens?

Short of a matter of vital importance, nothing could provoke the Emperor's fury. Only an Emperor in a rage would act willfully to establish a new office for his own selfish desires.

The Emperor's expression became extremely ugly, ashen beneath a dark pallor. The Empress spoke softly to comfort him at his side, and Consort Ming's expression flickered as well—fearing the Empress would steal the spotlight, she also squeezed in beside His Majesty, her face full of tender concern as she offered comfort.

The Empress gave a cold inward laugh upon seeing this, and said to His Majesty, "His Majesty's health is what matters most. Why not let the Crown Prince go and see what's actually going on, so he can come back and report to Your Majesty."