"Oh—does Aunt Rong have any news?"
Yang Hong visited Zhou Rongfei last because she was the only one in the Cold Palace with access to information.
He intended to linger here longer to gather intelligence he couldn't obtain elsewhere.
To that end, he wouldn't withdraw his hand, which had been touched by her.
He had already ascertained that Zhou Rongfei was just an ordinary person, with no cultivation, and he could withdraw his hand anytime he wished.
"Heh heh~ hahaha~ hehe~~"
Zhou Rongfei didn't answer immediately. Instead, she started to laugh hysterically, as if she were deranged.
Yang Hong could even feel her body trembling.
Just as Yang Hong was worrying if Zhou Rongfei would laugh herself into a swoon, she finally spoke.
"Little Six, have you heard that the Consort's family visit is on the fifteenth of the first month, and it lasts from dusk till dawn?"
"Mmm~ it sounds a bit familiar."
Hearing Zhou Rongfei's words, Yang Hong truly found them familiar.
"Heh heh~ isn't it familiar? Doesn't our Great Sui dynasty usually choose this time to offer sacrifices to our ancestors? Heh heh~ heh heh~"
"Mmm~ it seems to be around this time. However, don't the royal family and most prominent clans usually perform sacrifices on the ninth day of the first month? Isn't it only common folk who combine the Lantern Festival with ancestral worship?"
Although Yang Hong hadn't inherited all the memories of his previous self, he still remembered some knowledge.
"Right~ right~ the Lantern Festival is also a matchmaking festival for the common people.
But, isn't it strange that the royal family's visit is scheduled for this day?"
"Mmm~ it seems so."
Yang Hong vaguely recalled seeing a similar plot in a past life.
Before Yang Hong could figure it out, Zhou Rongfei continued, "Our Empress Dugu Galuo is the most compassionate. Until she bears three sons and three daughters, other concubines do not have to endure the pain of childbirth."
"Even after His Majesty ascended the throne, our Empress always considers the sisters in the harem. Once an imperial prince is born, she personally instructs them, saving the concubines the hardship of raising them."
"Once an imperial prince with exceptional talent appears..."
At this point, Zhou Rongfei paused, looking at Yang Hong strangely for a long moment before continuing.
"Once an imperial prince with exceptional talent appears, Little Six will be the role model."
"What~ hehe, Aunt Rong is joking."
Yang Hong was startled at first, but quickly calmed down. He had long suspected this reason and just lacked the opportunity to confirm it.
Otherwise, if he said a 14-year-old brat rebelled, anyone who believed it would be a fool.
That was merely an excuse to imprison him in the Cold Palace.
Yang Hong changed the subject, "Heh heh~ Aunt Rong, why don't you tell me which families are being allowed to visit their relatives by the Emperor?"
"Heh heh~ you're so cautious.
Don't worry, there are no spies from those two in my [Jing Shu Palace]."
Zhou Rongfei shot Yang Hong a look and spoke to herself.
"This time, nine concubines are permitted to visit their families. The highest-ranking among them is Consort Wu, but the one with the strongest background is Virtuous Consort. The other seven families have very ordinary backgrounds."
"Consort Wu's father, Wu Xing, is merely a merchant who gained power by selling his daughter, and he has siphoned off quite a bit of illicit wealth.
The Jia family is a noble clan, descendants of the Duke of Rong. Although the Jia family has declined a lot in recent years, their network of connections is vast and complex."
"Wait~ you mentioned the Duke of Rong? Duke Rong Jia Yuan?"
Hearing Zhou Rongfei mention the Jia family, Yang Hong thought of a novel from his past life and couldn't help but ask.
"Of course, it's the former Duke Rong Jia Yuan, Duke Jia."
Zhou Rongfei said as a matter of course.
"Then, Virtuous Consort is Jia Yuanchun?"
"Yes, that little girl is called Jia Yuanchun."
"Heh heh~"
Yang Hong's mind was in a bit of a mess. Originally, it was a mix of Sui Tang, Wu Zhou, Song Ming, and random elements, but now even "Dream of the Red Chamber" had been thrown in. This world was truly inexplicable.
"Little Six, are you still listening to Auntie tell stories?"
"How is this a story? This is a disaster!"
"What?"
Yang Hong's retort blurted out. Zhou Rongfei didn't understand what he meant and frowned.
He quickly added, "Listen~ listen~ Auntie, please continue."
"Hmph, listen to the story properly and don't wander off."
Zhou Rongfei gave Yang Hong a look before continuing.
"The nine families allowed to visit their relatives this time share a characteristic: they possess some minor power, but considerable wealth, and lack the military might to protect their families.
Our Emperor is currently short of funds for digging the Grand Canal, so this move's purpose is very clear."
"It's about making money."
"And they will take the opportunity to kill a group of people. Such compassionate deeds would surely have our Empress plotting behind the scenes."
"Heh heh~ as expected, the harem should not interfere in politics!"
At this point, Zhou Rongfei gritted her teeth in anger. It was for this very reason she had been sent to the Cold Palace for seven years.
Yang Hong, however, was contemplating if he could profit from this situation.
Even if he didn't want to leave the quiet Cold Palace for now, he wished for some freedom and strength.
At this moment, Zhou Rongfei's voice became gloating again.
"Hmph hmph~ our Empress of Compassion probably doesn't know that the Jia family has at least one Grandmaster-level foundation, and the eight ducal noble lineage associated with the Jia family has at least ten Grandmaster-level foundations."
"If they anger the Jia family, with the royal family's current foundation, heh heh~ it wouldn't be an issue for the Great Sui to change its ruler."
Zhou Rongfei's smile became even more disdainful.
Yang Hong's heart stirred, and he asked, "Auntie knows the current foundation of the royal family?"
"Heh heh~ I do know.
Thirty years ago, when the Retired Emperor first ascended the throne, the Great Sui was at its peak. At that time, the Great Sui had a total of 960 Grandmaster experts, and even legendary Heaven-Man experts.
At that time, the Great Sui suppressed the world, faintly showing the momentum to unify the five great dynasties."
"It's a pity that the martial arts sects of the world opposed it, and the Great Yuan from the grasslands fought a great battle with our Great Sui in Ju Bei Commandery eighteen years ago."
"Although the Great Sui ultimately won, it paid a heavy price. A large number of Grandmaster experts died, and those who survived were scattered."
"Currently, only 8 Grandmasters truly belong to the Sui Yang imperial family.
Three are old eunuchs who followed the Retired Emperor. The Yang clan itself has only General Yang Su, Minister of the Imperial Clan Yang Tang, and Prince Zhong Shun Yang Jie as Grandmasters. Everyone else, including the Emperor, is only at the innate master level."
Hearing this, Yang Hong knew that Zhou Rongfei's information wasn't entirely accurate, but he still played along.
"The other two are..."
"The other two are imperial sons-in-law, Commander of Hexi Commandery Yu Wenhua Ji, and Commander of Taidong Commandery Li Xiaoli."
"Auntie, do you know how many Grandmasters our Great Sui currently has?"
"Auntie doesn't know the exact number, but it's probably between 200 and 230. Half of them are in the Great Sui's three major sects, especially the Yin Gui Sect.
The other half are in the military, but they are stationed in the four corners of the Great Sui to guard the borders and rarely move.
The remaining are in the major noble families and major academies."
"I'll tell you a secret, Little Six~"
"What?"
Yang Hong was listening intently. This was intelligence he had never known before. Zhou Rongfei suddenly leaned close to Yang Hong's ear and whispered with her hot breath.
"If you agree to be mine, I will help you seize that esteemed position."
Zhou Rongfei's face was flushed, but her expression was exceptionally serious. Yang Hong suspected she might be telling the truth.
But...