Chapter 3

Before him is probably the room of some courtesan. There is a little smoke in the Boshan incense burner. Its sweet aroma made one feel hot and dry.

The exquisite, wooden antique bed is adorned with near-transparent gauze bed curtains. The perfumed air breezed around, lightly swaying the bed curtain, revealing a disorderly setting of a lot of items. At Fengyue‘s downstairs, it is a picturesque scene with flowing water, singing birds, and dancing swallows. At Fengyue‘s upstairs, there are charming ladies with red sleeves, smiling gracefully.* To live in a drunken dream and die, is nothing more than this.**

(*TN: These are lines from classical Chinese poetry. The imagery mentioned is commonly found in Chinese literature and poetry, symbolising the beauty of nature and the elegance of women. It’s a romantic and poetic expression of a serene and lovely moment.)

(**TN: This is a philosophical and contemplative expression often found in Chinese literature. It reflects the idea that life is like a fleeting dream or an intoxicating experience, and in the end, death is the ultimate outcome.)

Rong Tang has just opened the door and is met with a chilly gaze. It took him a long time to recover from the astonishment before him.

One end of the slender gold chain is tied to the foot of the bed, and the other end led along the floorboards under a table, where it went out of sight.

Sitting in front of the round table is a young man who is about sixteen- or seventeen-years-old. He has phoenix eyes, red lips, straight shoulders, and a handsome face. In the illumination of the bright candlelights, even the top-rated courtesan of this brothel can’t measure up to three parts of his appearance. The style of the youth’s clothing is simple; it doesn’t come across as wealthy. However, it has a different sort of beguiling frostiness.

Unfortunately, the frostiness and simplicity are ruined by the shredded cloth strips, and he more resembles a moon deity who’s been bedevilled.

The clothing isn’t worn properly on the body but has been violently ripped by someone, and pieces have became linked like rags. Once the low-grade, dark-green fabric was torn, countless fluffy threads came out, but they didn’t fall off. They remained firmly attached to the body like this, as if trying to cover up the flimsy moon-white inner shirt beneath. Instead, it has the opposite effect and will only trigger waves of ravaging desire.

It is a futile attempt at crushing purity and holiness and converting frostiness into loveliness.

Rong Tang’s steps froze in place, and he is unable to react for a second.

In his previous life, he’s witnessed Su Huaijing’s disgraced expression after his scheme failed, but he’s never been disgraced like he is now.

Based on Rong Tang’s recollection, when Emperor Renshou suspected his identity and sent undercover guards to investigate, Su Huaijing was still able to stand with a smile upstairs in the Liujin Parlour. He’d raised his cup of wine and gestured below as he was illuminated by the moonlight and candlelight. He said in a warm voice, “Your lordship’s health isn’t good, and in fact, shouldn’t go to that sort of place like Fengyue House. Why don’t you come up and have a drink with this humble one? We might as well not let down the beautiful scenery and such beautiful women.”

……

Rong Tang snapped out of his reminiscing. He was feeling a little absent-minded when he asked the system in a hoarse voice. “Is this… real?”

[Real.] The system said.

In that instance, regret and fury surged into his heart, and Rong Tang forced himself to calm down: “In the end, what is it for?”

The system doesn’t say anything, and it doesn’t know how to respond.

The novel was born because of the protagonist, and Heavenly Law’s consciousness was born because of the protagonist.

As long as the protagonist’s ending is good, it’s alright. As for the villain——

In order to wreck him even further, it was permissible for the author to have arranged such an extremely absurd life for him.

After all, the villain itself is merely a stepping stone for the protagonist to tread on. The more tragic he is, the more contradictory he can be. The more contradictory he is, the more attractive he can be. The more attractive he is, the further the protagonist’s character can progress when the villain loses to him.

Having gotten along for seven years, Rong Tang understands the way the system thought. The corners of his mouth tugged, and he smiled coldly. “That’s why I said: This world is faulty.”

Rong Tang walks towards the side of the table, taking profoundly solemn steps all the way.

Su Huaijing eyes him once before withdrawing his gaze. He then closes his eyes indifferently, appearing as if he is letting him take whatever he wanted.

Rong Tang forces himself not to look at his face as he searches up and down to locate where the end of the chain is.

It is actually fastened onto Su Huaijing’s leg!

It is rather short, and there isn’t enough room. It is only enough for the distance from the bed to the table. He can’t even leave the room.

Rong Tang felt a surge of anger for no reason. He squatted down and tugged on the chain, hoping to snap it off, but it made a loud clanging sound. The chained man raised his eyes with a disdainful look. His voice, however, was pleasant: “My lord, you’re being too impatient.”

Rong Tang know that he isn’t addressing himself, but he still can’t suppress the burst of heat on his face. He hastily lifts his head and meets his gaze. Su Huaijing lowers his eyes. He raised his hand extremely slowly and removed the tattered shirt without batting an eyelid. “Where does your lordship wish to play? It’s just that this chain is too short, and I fear we can’t have too many types of play. Requesting your lordship’s forgiveness.”

“!” Rong Tang’s eyes widened. The moment the clothes fell to the ground, a strip of cloth even strung through Rong Tang’s fingers, startling him into retracting his hand.

Rong Tang has never heard Su Huaijing speak in such a self-deprecating tone. His anger surged, and a bout of uncontrollable coughs erupted from his throat, one after another. It seems like he will die coughing at any time.

A rare flicker of uncertainty flashed across Su Huaijing’s expressionless eyes.

Shuang Fu heard the noises, so he promptly knocked on the door and was about to come in. “Young Master? Young Master, what’s going on with you?”

“Don’t come in!” Rong Tang immediately interrupted.

He didn’t want others to see the villain looking like this.

Rong Tang hesitated on the spot before taking a deep breath. He then stood up and went to the door. Opening the wooden door to a narrow gap, Rong Tang squeezes himself out. Outside, there are still the sounds of the pleasure-seekers and merry-makers in the brothel.

Hearing these made Rong Tang’s stomach churn. He said, “Fetch me that pimp.”

He can’t describe why he doesn’t dare to go in and face Su Huaijing. He stands in front of the door for a while, takes the key for the chain from the pimp’s hand, and then re-enters.

Su Huaijing is still sitting at the table. When he hears sounds, he raises his eyes and glances over. The corners of his lips are slightly raised, as if there’s a mocking smile: “It appears that your lordship wishes to play a bit more aggressively?”

Rong Tang has an inkling that he is going to infuriate him to death. He maintains a straight face and says in a sullen voice. “You shut up.”

But this bout of anger dissipated in a wink the moment he unfastened the chains from Su Huaijing’s ankle and caught a glimpse of the torn skin and bleeding from the circular-shaped wound.

Rong Tang clenched his hands tightly, stood up, and looked straight into Su Huaijing’s eyes. “Do you want to leave with me?”

The youth is somewhat astonished and doesn’t immediately respond.

Rong Tang subconsciously gentled his tone and gave the impression of intimidating a child: “There are many, many bad people outside. If you don’t leave with me, maybe something bad might happen tonight.”

“I’ll ask again: do you want to leave with me?”

The system’s disposition has been rather downcast for the past two months. It hasn’t squabbled with the host for a long time, yet at this moment, it truly cannot stand it anymore. [Since you want to save him, why do you need to scare him?]

“It’s not ‘scaring’.”

[Then you’re?]

“He’s terribly smart and knows how to weigh the pros and cons.”

Sure enough, as soon as these words were uttered, within two seconds, Rong Tang saw Su Huaijing lift up his hand in front of him. But he only lifted it in a scant arc before dropping it straight down.

Rong Tang is alarmed. Millions of wrist-tendon-extraction torture methods immediately flashed through his mind.

Perhaps the shock on his face is too apparent; instead, this time it was Su Huaijing who lets out a small sigh: “It’s a muscle relaxant drug.”

Rong Tang was dazed for a spell, then instantly became less tense.

It’s fine, it’s fine. It’s not some inconceivable medicine that requires sex.

He took off his cloak and draped it around Su Huaijing. “I’ll bring you to a doctor.”

Before leaving, Rong Tang helped cover him with the hood and then supported him to go out.

Shuang Fu is waiting outside the door. Just as he is about to ask something, Rong Tang said, “Take him to the medical clinic first.”

As they exited Fengyue House, there happened to be a group of young men dressed in brocade finery coming out of the Liujin Parlour and laughing as they made their way over here.

Rong Tang’s eyes darkened a little, and he tugged at Su Huaijing’s clothes to prevent others from seeing his face.

There is charcoal burning inside the carriage. Once they entered, Rong Tang felt the bone-piercing chill dispel somewhat. He bends to warm himself by the fire. When his hands were heated, he then yanked off Su Huaijing’s hat.

Under the brim of the clinker hat is a slightly flushed face. His natural skin tone is fair, and the red spot resembles a radiantly beautiful peony in bloom. It presents a soul-captivating appearance.

Rong Tang is a little fearful. He suspects that the muscle relaxant also included medicinal ingredients that will cause discomfort and even gradually lose reason. Su Huaijing is likely terrible uncomfortable. Occasionally he will emit unbearable groans, but most of the time he will endure it, gritting his teeth and not making any sound.

Rong Tang is worried that he will bite his tongue. He urgently takes out a new handkerchief, folds it a few times, and coaxes him to open his mouth before stuffing in the handkerchief: “Hold on a bit more. We’ll arrive soon.”

Su Huaijing abruptly lifted his head. For a brief moment, his gaze possessed a murderous intent, but it quickly vanished, and he discreetly lowered his eyes.

Rong Tang’s back is instantly soaked, and he feels like he’s just died again.

Even the system couldn’t resist persuading: [Host, I think this time, your choice is very imprudent.]

Rong Tang stooped to warm his hands and noiselessly shifted his neck away from Su Huaijing’s line of sight: “At least he’s never attempted to kill me.”

The system went mute for a while.

After dying in his first life, the system used its authority to investigate and confirmed that the villain wasn’t aware of Rong Tang’s death. After being killed by the male protagonist in his second life, Su Huaijing had even ordered for him to be buried.

It’s necessary to know that Su Huaijing is a merciless person. It’s normal for anyone who falls into his hands to be skinned and have their bones removed. If they died, their corpses would be dragged out and whipped.

Presumably, Rong Tang is the only person who clearly opposes him but doesn’t actually die because of Su Huaijing. Instead, he is someone who took proper care to arrange his post-death matters.

It wasn’t long before they arrived at the medical clinic. The doctor wasn’t happy to be woken up in the middle of the night. He frowned after checking Su Huaijing’s pulse, then fed Su Huaijing some medicine, pricked him with a needle, and urged him to take care of it himself before fuming and leaving. Right then, Rong Tang is certain that the muscle relaxant has included some stimulants.

Rong Tang is sitting outside the room where the doctor usually sees his patients, waiting for Su Huaijing. Shuang Fu is extremely capable. No matter what the circumstances, he is able to produce hot tea for his Eldest Young Master.

As such, Rong Tang warmed his hands with hot tea as he sorted out what happened today.

This matter ought to have happened in his previous lives. Based on Rong Tang’s previous timeline, he would now be figuring out a way to help the male protagonist get out of the cold palace, and he hadn’t yet paid much attention to the movements of the other princes.

He merely caught wind that the Second Prince had joined the morning court to attend state affairs. His constant presentations of asinine proposals provoked Emperor Renshou’s ire and very nearly drove him back to the Imperial Academy to re-attend lectures.

However, suddenly one day, the Second Prince seemed to have broadened his views. Not only was he able to scrutinise current social issues on many matters, but he’d also obtained a few decent political achievements, which delighted the Emperor.

Rong Tang didn’t dwell on it too much at the time. Only when he’d randomly heard Rong Zheng once speak of the Second Prince’s frequent visits to Earl Wukang’s Manor of late did he begin to pay attention.

According to the original plot, the first time Su Huaijing appeared before the readers was in the Earl Wukang’s Manor Rebellion case.

Rong Tang inexorably senses that there must certainly be some connection between the two. All one hundred twenty-eight members of Earl Wukang’s household died unexpectedly, but Wukang’s Young Lord was nowhere to be found.

But in his previous life, Rong Tang had once accompanied the protagonist to the Nanfeng House to probe for information. He caught sight of a young man, all skin and bones, at a concealed entrance to a prostitution house who very much resembled Wukang’s Young Lord, Qin Pengxuan.

He wasn’t certain at the time, but now that he thinks back, it should be the case.

Li Changfu is someone who harbours evil intentions and will do all sorts of contemptible things for the sake of a high position with a high salary. If he truly wants to establish himself after having just arrived in the capital and delivering Su Huaijing to Qin Pengxuan’s bed, it wouldn’t be surprising.

Except that……

[Host, what are you thinking of?] The system asked him.

Rong Tang’s brow furrowed: “Tonight, I’ve removed him from Fengyue House; thus, Li Changfu would have offended Qin Pengxuan. If I just let him go back like this, wouldn’t it be like the lamb entering the tiger’s mouth?”

[You want to keep him out of sight?]

“No,” Rong Tang said.

Su Huaijing has a blood debt, so it is naturally impossible for him to conceal the former. The thought of persuading him to abandon his hatred has also never crossed Rong Tang’s mind.

Earl Wukang is powerful and holds a high position, and he’s offended his eldest son. It will be terribly difficult for anyone in the entire capital who would be willing to take Su Huaijing under their wing.

Moreover……

Rong Tang lifts his gaze and looks at the vacant veranda of the medical clinic.

He wants to protect him.

He wants his lifetime to not turn out so rough and tragic.

Compared to the male protagonist, he always liked Su Huaijing more.

If it wasn’t because he is bound to the system, Rong Tang feels that he would have considered Su Huaijing a pup instead of that heartless and ungrateful so-called protagonist.

If the ending cannot be altered, at least he can allow himself to do as he pleases for once, right?

He wants to give him a walking stick, one that will not be censured even if he offends the influential officials, and one who can walk about honourably in the imperial harem.

……

A voice sounds from the back of the hall. Rong Tang turns his head. His face is still perpetually pale, as it is when he is sick, and there is a little sorrow lingering between his eyebrows.

Su Huaijing stops in front of him and lowers his gaze to stare at him. Rong Tang deliberated for a while, then asked, “Do you perhaps want to be married to me?”

After a pause, he added seriously: “Three matchmakers, six betrothal gifts, and a palanquin with eight carriers. Be my Ningxuan Palace’s lawful prince’s wife.”

–

The people of Dayu are unrestrained by convention. A hundred years ago, there was a male empress. The emperor and empress were deeply in love and were endlessly envied by people during that time. From then on, it was common for the families of high-ranking officials and dignitaries to wed several male concubines.

It’s just that a male concubine is still considered low-ranking within the household and, what’s more, cannot have children. Once he loses his lord’s favour, he won’t have any opportunities for advancement in this lifetime.

But male wives are different. With regards to the marriage—from the wedding ceremony rituals to ancestral worship—both parties follow the orthodox customs. Male wives who’ve entered the family genealogy do not need to be confined to the back house. They are still able to study, attend school, attain scholarly honours or official ranks after passing the examination, and even participate in the imperial court to deliberate on state affairs. They are no different from ordinary men.

It’s just that this sort of situation rarely happens.

After all, not many wealthy families are willing to let their descendants marry a man and bring him home.

Su Huaijing pauses in his tracks, clutching the robe he’s just changed into in the carriage. He casts his gaze downward at the person sitting in the chair.

In the past four hours, he’s experienced the most bizarre thing since that unfortunate event nine years ago.

He should have known that there isn’t a person in this world that can be trusted, and he shouldn’t relax his vigilance around anyone. As it happens, the plate of dim sum that Li Panyan brought over had a piece of lotus pastry in the centre.

He’s met Wukang’s Young Lord before. He’s been vulgar and crude since he was a child. Strictly speaking, he still has to call him ‘biao ge’.

When the person in front of him appeared, he realises that over these intervening years, his body has been consumed by sensual pleasures and thoroughly ravaged by venereal disease. This is the biao xiong* he’s known in his childhood. He can only cough with each step, and every sentence he spoke looks as if it has been squeezed out of his lungs.

(*TN: another form of address for maternal elder cousin brother.)

In fact it wasn’t?

Duke Ningxuan’s Palace?

His most venerated maternal aunt family’s fool-of-a-cousin?

“Why?” Su Huaijing curled his fingers a little and asked aloud.

The prince’s neck is so slender that it will break if he wrung it. He gave him a chance to explain.

His hoarse voice startled Rong Tang. He instinctively poured a cup of tea and pushed it in front of him. “You should be able to tell that my health isn’t good. Mother has always hoped that I would settle down and get married. But whomever I choose, with this appearance of mine, I’ll only ruin the girl and her family——”

Before he finished speaking, Rong Tang began coughing violently. With trembling hands, he brought the teacup in front of him to his mouth. As soon as it entered his lips, he frowned in response to the cold. He moistened his throat slightly to quell the tickle in his throat. When he spoke again, his voice sounded hoarser than Su Huaijing’s.

“I’ve just recovered from a serious illness and am still not completely healed yet. My family wants to discuss with me a marriage proposal to ward off bad vibes, but they fear that I won’t last past this year and die. I honestly had no choice and only wanted to ask you.”

Rong Tang raised his head, and the moisture from his coughing clouded the rims of his eyes. On the table, a red candle flickered, illuminating his pale complexion and making him resemble a newly-departed spirit who’d died tragically in this medical clinic. The spirit blinked and softly pleaded, “Do me a favour, alright? Just now, I saved you once, didn’t I?”

Su Huaijing frowned and didn’t respond. Rong Tang pondered again: “Don’t worry, this body of mine can’t do anything improper to you. The chronic illness is difficult to treat, and I’ll only live for three or four years at most. I also possess some land deeds, a house, and some shops. After I die, you can take the property and be married or get married to someone else.”

This sounds exactly like a ‘meat-pie-falling-from-the-sky’ type of wonderful circumstance. Anyone else would have been swayed by him.

Yet Su Huaijing remained motionless as he stared into his eyes. The chilliness in his gaze still lingered, coupled with a callous, murderous intent: “What do you want me to do?”

When he heard this, Rong Tang sighed inwardly.

After a long time, he silently leans down and politely moves the tea cup towards Su Huaijing. He fawned, speaking in a gentle tone, “I fell in love with you at first sight. Before I die, I want to see more beauty.”

Su Huaijing lifted his feet, and he walked away.

“Wait! Wait!—cough cough—”

Rong Tang anxiously shoved away his chair and stood up. His complexion became a little ruddy, appearing somewhat annoyed. “Fine! I’ll be honest. I have two younger half brothers and several younger paternal cousin brothers in my family who’ve bullied me since I was a child. They’ve always been eyeing the properties in my possession and eagerly hope I die early so that the assets are left to them. I’m so filled with rage that I want to find someone to help me teach them a lesson.”

“What about your parents?” Su Huaijing glanced back at him.

Rong Tang dips his head and stares at his toes as he said something like he is mumbling to himself.

“What?” Su Huaijing couldn’t hear clearly.

Rong Tang fumed, “I’m going to die soon!”

Su Huaijing was quiet for a while.

Rong Tang seemed very depressed after he’d said that. He sat down again, held the cup of tea he initially wanted to give Su Huaijing to warm his hands before taking a sip, and said in a faint voice, “I’m someone who is going to die. Mother has me as her only son, but Father has many sons. When I’m gone, there’ll be no one to support my mother. I dare not let her offend my didis on my account.”

“That’s why I sought you out. Firstly, I want you to help me teach those didis of mine a lesson. Secondly, I hope that after I leave, you can help me carry out my filial duty to my parents, but not like a daughter-in-law. You can just treat yourself as half a son of my mother’s. Thirdly……”

He hesitated, then raised his eyes to look at Su Huaijing. His voice sounded like a mosquito, but it could be heard clearly: “I believe that if what happened tonight can occur once, it can occur a second time. It’s obvious you’ve been drugged and dragged out, seeing you like this. You’re to be sold in any case; wouldn’t it be better if you’re sold to me? At least I’m a good person.”

The author has something to say:

Don’t fret. In three lives, the gong has never been touched by anyone before, including in the original plot. Both gong and shou’s bodies and minds are in harmony 1v1!!!