Chapter 43

When Rong Tang and others arrived at Lanyue Pavilion, they just managed to make it to the start of the performance on the main hall stage. Musicians were playing the pipa and singing songs. Rong Tang glanced around and headed straight to the private room on the third floor.

The use of the fourth floor was reserved exclusively for women, and generally no men will venture up there.

There were also a few private rooms. Although they were labelled private rooms, they were essentially just dividing screens arranged around a table and a few chairs, offering a place to temporarily isolate from the eyes of others.

During the flower-picking festival, countless officials and merchants’ offspring engaged in discussions about court affairs or conducted business negotiations within these narrow cubicles.

The few of them sat down. There was already tea set on the table. Su Huaijing took a whiff of the tea, and his expression remained unchanged. One couldn’t tell if he was satisfied, but he wasn’t terribly averse to it. He first used the tea to clean Rong Tang’s cup before pouring him a cup and placing it on the table.

They haven’t frequented the island in the middle of the lake much lately, as there are many interesting places in Song Garden.

From the zoo in the northwest corner, the crabapple courtyard in the south, and the plum forest in the east, along with numerous ponds for fishing and scenic viewing…

The previous Third Prince curated this garden so meticulously that a dedicated courtyard was even constructed to showcase epic poems from various countries as well as Dayu’s exquisite and rare antique works of art spanning from ancient times to the present.

Rong Tang followed Su Huaijing from room to room, and the more he saw, the more astonished he became.

In an era marked by scarcity in both material wealth and intellectual stimulation, for the imperial family to produce such a prince, who opens the garden for free annually, providing common people with the opportunity to enjoy leisure and entertainment, to see how many sages have been born on this land, and how many masterpieces have been created, is truly……

It’s so touching.

After Emperor Renshou and Sheng Chengxing moved in, some of the exhibits in the courtyard had been clearly removed, but the overall layout remained unchanged. There were still many displays in the building. It was uncertain whether they didn’t take them or whether Sheng Chengxing had reinstated them to be displayed for the flower-picking festival.

In comparison to the opulence left by the previous Third Prince in this estate, Lanyue Pavilion, the island in the middle of the lake, with lights illuminated daily until it seemed that night never came. The nightly festivities of singing, dancing, and opera performances all appear extremely shallow, as if they could be swept away and dispersed by the wind wafting from Lotus Lake.

The more Rong Tang watched, the more he regretted that he was unable to have met Su Huaijing’s san ge.

Such an unrestrained and reckless young man who cares about people will be attractive to everyone who meets him; it’s inevitable that Rong Tang would want to converse with him.

“I also want to scold the author and the mainframe someday.” Rong Tang swirled the tea in his cup as he complained to the system.

[Ah.] Replied the system.

Rong Tang was stunned for a moment and asked cautiously, “What’s wrong with you?”

System: [Hmph!]

Rong Tang: “?”

He frowned. “Caught a virus?”

[Tui!]

“……” Rong Tang was silent for a long time and arrived at the conclusion: “It seems that you’ve really been infected by a virus. What should I do, aaa? Can you still communicate with the mainframe? You won’t be scrapped, right? What should I do once the stupid system is scrapped? Should I chuck it into the garbage recycling bin? Or stuff it into the temporal vortex?”

He was almost conjuring up an interstellar war here. The system couldn’t stand it and raged: [Host!]

Rong Tang smiled: “Aai, I’m here!”

[Don’t think about trying to get away with it!] The system said.

Rong Tang was very wronged: “What’s wrong with me? You’ve been acting weird and ignoring me for the past few days. I’ve been awfully wronged, okay?”

The system has no eyes; otherwise, it would have stared dumbfoundedly at him. Instead, it jumped up and down angrily many times in front of the miniature figure in space. [You’re still feeling wronged!?]

“Ng, terribly wronged.” Rong Tang’s expression didn’t change.

The data flow almost fell into chaos. For a moment, Rong Tang even sensed that a white ball of light appeared in front of his eyes and then dissipated in a flash.

Rong Tang blinked and waited for his system to answer.

The system was hopping mad and puffing up for a long time. If it could manifest physically, its face would have turned red. After holding it in for a long time, it said insipidly, [You’re the big idiot!]

Heaven knows, as soon as it woke up from hibernation, it glanced and saw its host and the main villain sleeping on the same bed. There were obviously two quilts, but they were bundled together. That moment, Su Huaijing hugged Rong Tang, and the impact was profound!

The idiot host was still unaware. It yelled for a long time but couldn’t wake him up. Instead, Su Huaijing opened his eyes when birds began chirping outside in the courtyard.

The heavy rain had subsided, leaving behind air that was much fresher. The main villain gazed down at Rong Tang for a long time with the calmness and laziness of someone just waking up from a sweet dream. When he realised that he was about to wake up, he pretended to casually remove one arm from around Rong Tang’s body and slipped it back into his own quilt. When the host opened his eyes in confusion, he smiled and said “good morning” and then moved his arm, which was tucked under Rong Tang’s waist. He whispered a little aggrievedly, “Tangtang, you’re pressing me……”

The system almost exploded from anger!!!

It now sees Rong Tang as a big, disappointing idiot and Su Huaijing as a green tea* man!

(*TN: Slang for someone who seems innocent and charming but is actually calculating and manipulative.)

——He had learned this word from Rong Tang.

The more the system thought about it, the more infuriated it became, and he cursed once more: [You’ll be betrayed sooner or later!] Then it promptly logged off and went dormant.

It was afraid that it would encounter another infuriating situation that would annoy itself to death.

Rong Tang: “?”

Rong Tang blinked, becoming increasingly perplexed. Until now, he’s still in the dark about what his stupid little system was furious about.

Since he’d been holding a tea cup in his hands for a long time without taking a sip, Su Huaijing asked, “Is it not tasty?”

Rong Tang snapped back to reality, feeling a little indescribably confused. He looked at Su Huaijing, lowered to take a mechanical sip of tea, then shook his head. “It’s not bad.”

Su Huaijing’s expression shifted, and there was a hint of coldness in his eyes. He feigned gentleness and asked, “Is there anything that’s bothering you?”

Rong Tang was slightly startled, once again astonished by Su Huaijing’s level of perceptiveness.

He couldn’t tell when it started that Su Huaijing was able to quickly detect any slight change in his mood.

It was like…… Su Huaijing was constantly paying attention to him.

Rong Tang stalled and was just about to tell him that there was indeed one thing: How should one coax a child when they’re angry?

But in the first place, he doesn’t know why the system was angry, and secondly, the system lacked a physical body. Even if he wanted to coax it, he couldn’t treat it the same way he would a human child. Asking too many questions might risk exposing the system’s existence, so Rong Tang could only process this matter by himself.

He turned to talk about something else: “I just suddenly remembered that Tutor Ke’s family seems to be very influential.”

Although he’d earlier sought the system out to casually complain about the author and the mainframe, there were actually some things he wanted to analyse together with the system.

Rong Tang sometimes felt that Su Huaijing clearly had nothing to hide in front of him, and was exceedingly frank and innocent. Except for his personal background, he didn’t ask, and Su Huaijing naturally wouldn’t tell him on his own accord.

Yet at times, some of the main villain’s actions seem ordinary, but they always seem to carry other implications.

Indeed, those letters before the marriage appeared to express his longing for him, but he’d also actively mentioned Lu’s Bookstore and Li Changfu in them.

Rong Tang always had a feeling that Su Huaijing clearly wanted to bring him into his plans but had some inexplicable resistance, leading him to take measures to exclude him from the schemes.

He couldn’t tell whether it was because he had doubts about his intentions or for some other reason.

Rong Tang didn’t want to ask further questions, but since meeting Ke and Mu at Shudao Pavilion, he couldn’t help but scrutinise every conversation he had with Su Huaijing, what he wanted to do behind his back, and what purpose and intention he had.

The direct result of Su Huaijing being on good terms with Ke Hongxue and telling them Sheng Chengli’s plot would indeed make Mu Jingxu alienate Sheng Chengli, and it would also allow Rong Tang to associate with them without any unpleasantness, but Rong Tang still felt that Su Huaijing’s purpose wasn’t just that.

This intuition became more discernible after hearing Su Huaijing tell Ke Hongxue about his birthday.

Rong Tang didn’t know whether Ke Hongxue had any prior ties with the previous Seventh Prince, but Ke Hongxue had deliberately probed his birth date, and Su Huaijing also took the initiative to tell Ke Hongxue the answer he wanted. Even after he later mentioned to him that he had a didi of the same age, he didn’t back down but went ahead and continued to ask.

The answer given by Tutor Ke was too conspicuous: he died young, was of the same age, and had the same birthday. Those who weren’t aware of the truth might think it was just a coincidence. But from the perspectives of Rong Tang and Su Huaijing, every word clearly points to the seventh son of the late emperor—that is, Su Huaijing himself.

After coming to this verdict, it is particularly interesting to review every conversation from the first encounter to the present.

Ke Hongxue might even have approached them with an investigative mindset from the beginning, but Su Huaijing……

Rong Tang narrowed his eyes. He believed that Su Huaijing wanted to recruit both Ke and Mu.

One is a tutor of the Imperial Academy, and the other is the junior minister of the Imperial Court of Justice. If these two people can become Su Huaijing’s supporters, his road to revenge will be much easier. If he could take these two people under his wing—based on his understanding of Su Huaijing—as long as there was a glimmer of hope, he would win them over, no matter how high the price was.

In the previous two lives, it was probably because Su Huaijing was still in Earl Wukang’s Manor at this time and had to expend all his energy to face the nauseating, shameful secrets in Qin Pengxuan’s back house as well as the Second Prince’s antics from time to time, so he had no opportunity or time to associate with Ke Hongxue and Mu Jingxu, so much so that when they actually met, each other’s camps had already been clearly distinguished and could no longer be manipulated.

But in this life, if there was a chance, Rong Tang hopes for Ke Hongxue and Mu Jingxu to lend their support to Su Huaijing.

—”Prince, do you remember that Dayu’s imperial palace ten years ago resembled this night sky, with stars twinkling and the moonlight casting its sublime glow?”

He remembered Ke Hongxue saying something similar.

Therefore, if Tutor Ke knew that Su Huaijing was the seventh son of the late emperor, would it be possible for him to take the lead and capitulate?

Rong Tang didn’t dare to take a gamble, and he was in no position to decide for Su Huaijing whether to confess his past. He just recommended Ke Hongxue to Su Huaijing, like the day Su Huaijing advocated his fragrance.

Su Huaijing cooperated and uttered a questionable syllable: “Ng? How do you say it?”

Rong Tang: “Grand Tutor Ke served as the Emperor’s tutor for two dynasties and boasted high prestige in the court. Ke Xuebo—that is, Ke Hongxue’s father—founded his business in Jiangnan, with involvement in countless industries. He serves as the backbone for countless merchants in Jiangnan. Moreover, I heard that the Ke family has actually made some contributions to Linyuan Academy, and part of the annual income from the academy will be sent to their family.”

Rong Tang said this and looked at Lu Jiaxi. The latter didn’t understand why the two of them suddenly talked about this, but he nodded in acquiescence and said, “That’s right. In the prior years, during the war, the school was also encroached on, and students scattered back home or joined the army. Many teachers died due to the war. After the war, the school almost couldn’t endure. It was the Ke family who donated a lot of gold and silver to help the school rebuild its classrooms and study rooms. Mr. Ke’s father also helped the school procure many teaching materials and books along the way. Almost half of the books in Linyuan Academy’s library were donated by the Ke family.”

When his place of study was mentioned, Lu Jiaxi’s shyness faded a lot, and the more he spoke, the more energetic he became: “After graduating, my senior would return to the school from time to time to deliver lectures. Even Old Tutor Ke will occasionally go back to give lessons. Just for this flower-picking festival, the school dispatched a total of thirty people here, including me. Moreover, about half of the spots were requested by senior students from His Highness the Third Prince, just to broaden our horizons.”

In the first place, Rong Tang had just said it casually, with the purpose of telling Su Huaijing about Ke Hongxue’s prestigious family learning background and that it was worthy of being on friendly terms with. Who would have thought that Lu Jiaxi turned it into a boastful recount about his senior as he talked?

Rong Tang listened for a long time, and his lips curled up in amusement.

Su Huaijing saw his expression, tugged his hand under the table, and silently wrote: What are you thinking about?

The sensation of fingertips gliding across his palm felt a bit itchy, but it was not unbearable. Rong Tang overcame the itchiness for a moment, carefully discerning, and then raised his eyebrows. He was hesitating whether to directly interrupt Lu Jiaxi or secretly whisper to Su Huaijing, when the latter straightaway put his palm to rest on his leg and gestured upward with his fingertips. The meaning was very obvious: You can write too.

Rong Tang was stunned for a moment. The performance downstairs had begun. The squeaky music had a wonderful style. It seemed like it was a drama between a wealthy family.

Rong Tang had no interest in listening. He lowered his eyes and wrote in the palm of Su Huaijing’s hand: He and Ke Hongxue were taught by the same teacher.

Su Huaijing raised his hand to hold Rong Tang’s: What do you mean?

Rong Tang: It’s all boasting about seniors.

Su Huaijing paused for two seconds, lowered his head, and muffled his laughter.

Lu Jiaxi suddenly choked. He looked at Rong Tang and then Su Huaijing, not knowing what to do, and then asked in a low voice, “Did I brag a little too much?”

Rong Tang nodded silently, thinking that this punk was a bit cute and admiring his ability to self-reflect.

Su Huaijing said, “Indeed, a tad.” Ke Hongxue, who teaches and educates people, may be accused of leading people astray.

Lu Jiaxi’s face turned red, and for a while, he didn’t know what to say. Su Huaijing nonchalantly brought up a topic and asked, “What about Excellency Mu? He also hails from Linyuan Academy. Why didn’t we hear you mention him?”

Lu Jiaxi sported a blank expression for a moment, then thought about it carefully and said, “Senior Mu…… is the son of a history teacher at the academy. He has been at the academy for many years and rarely interacts with students. He left the academy after teaching. It is said that in recent years, only Senior Ke is a little close to the teacher. We’re actually not that familiar with Senior Mu.”

“And—” he paused and scratched his head in embarrassment. “Senior appears aloof. Whenever he comes to school for official matters or to visit the teachers, even if we occasionally see him, we never dare approach him to talk.”

Unlike Ke Hongxue, who makes it known to everyone every time he goes to the academy. On the surface, he gave away several boxes of brushes, inks, paper, inkstones, and incomplete copies of ancient books, but behind the scenes, he had a young lad carry bundles and bundles of beggar’s chickens and salted ducks, sweet pastries, osmanthus stuffed……

If he wasn’t giving lectures, he would have nothing serious to do when he went to the academy—just to accompany Mu Jingxu. While Lil’ Bro Mu was on official business, he secretly led Dayu’s prostitutes astray.

But the prostitutes still hold a deep affection for him.

When Rong Tang heard what he said, he smiled at first and then asked, “Then, Excellency Mu doesn’t have any other close classmates?”

Lu Jiaxi frowned as he pondered for a while, then shook his head: “No, I heard from other senior students that Excellency Mu actually only remained in the academy for two years. Apparently, he’d been in the countryside until the fifth year of Qingzheng, when he was brought to the academy by the teacher. At that time, Senior Ke was already in the academy.”

“They mentioned that, in the first few months when Excellency Mu came here, he kept to himself and ignored everyone, and……” He paused, as if he were a little embarrassed to be gossiping about people behind their backs.

“Senior Mu is really aloof; no one dares approach him. Even if someone came up to him and wanted to befriend him, he would not go out to drink or listen to music. Even during the rest days every month, when everyone would occasionally head to the city to eat in restaurants, he wouldn’t follow. What’s more, he is still the teacher’s son, so everyone will always worry that he will complain to the teacher, and over time, a rift formed between him and the others.”

Su Huaijing asked, “Did Ke Hongxue approach him on his own?”

“That, I’m not sure.” Lu Jiaxi scratched his head. “It all happened many years before I entered the academy. What I heard was from people who’d been studying there and failed to pass the imperial examination. I don’t know whether it’s true or not.”

Rong Tang frowned when he heard this and intuitively realised that something was wrong. He thought for two seconds, his eyes widened, and he opened his mouth to ask, “Then—”

“How old is Excellency Ke this year?” Su Huaijing spoke at the same time as him. After he finished speaking, he turned his head and asked Rong Tang, “What does Tangtang want to say?”

Rong Tang shook his head and eased up: “Nothing; I wanted to ask this too.” Su Huaijing gave him a slight smile.

Lu Jiaxi said, “Senior is twenty-six-years-old this year.”

Su Huaijing: “Excellency Ke is twenty-six-years-old this year. That means he was twenty-four in the seventh year of Qingzheng. With Ke Hongxue’s talent and aptitude for learning, why did he only sit for the imperial examination when he was twenty-four?”

Lu Jiaxi was a little confused. After thinking for a long time, he said uncertainly, “I just heard that Senior enrolled in the school to satisfy Grand Tutor Ke. He actually didn’t want to become a court official at first, so he never took the imperial examination. It wasn’t until two years ago that he signed up alongside Senior Mu.”

Rong Tang frowned, sensing that something was amiss, but could not figure out the intricacies for a while.

When Su Huaijing heard this, he smiled lightly and raised his cup of tea. “Is that so?”

He lowered his gaze, took a sip of tea, looked at Rong Tang, and called, “Tangtang.”

Rong Tang glanced at him, his brows not relaxing yet.

Su Huaijing smiled and put down the tea cup. He reached out to smooth the space between Rong Tang’s eyebrows and threatened, “You will turn into a little old man if you frown too much.”

Rong Tang: “?”

Su Huaijing: “I’m here; don’t worry.”

The opera was ongoing downstairs, and the sounds of footsteps and greetings gradually increased outside the screen. Su Huaijing recognised the voices and asked with a smile, “The host of the flower-picking festival is here. Shall we go make our greetings?”

The author has something to say:

No one noticed that in the last chapter, Mu Mu called Ah Xue! Why is everyone betraying each other?!?!?!