Rong Tang remained in the Yong’s Lane courtyard for over ten days. The quarrels in the imperial court and the harem outside had nothing to do with him.
He just obediently coaxes his Boyboy, obediently drinks his medicine, obediently takes good care of his body, and basks in the early summer sunshine as an indolent, languid little worm.
Occasionally, Su Huaijing looks at him and can’t help but think, What’s the point of keeping a cat? Tangtang is much better behaved than a cat when he isn’t infuriating.
Both the wind and clouds are still. Time passes day by day, gradually bringing warmth, and lengthening the days of summer.
One afternoon, when Rong Tang was lying in the courtyard basking in the sun, guessing with the system what delicious food Su Huaijing would give him tonight, the main villain entered from the courtyard gate, carrying two boxes. He caught sight of him and approached.
Rong Tang lay on the couch, looking eagerly at him.
The corners of Su Huaijing’s lips rose uncontrollably, then quickly fell. He deliberately made a straight face as he stood next to Rong Tang.
Rong Tang asked, “Is it for me? Is it a gift?”
As a matter of fact, he shouldn’t expect gifts so much. Everything in Tangjing Residence belongs to Su Huaijing, and all Su Huaijing’s belongings have been given to Rong Tang unconditionally. He can just take whatever he wants in this courtyard.
But when he was lying at home and noticed Su Huaijing coming back from outside with two boxes, Rong Tang couldn’t help but want to ask.
This kind of reaction is especially like when he was in school and a classmate in the dormitory next door had a cat. Every time he came back from class, the cat would paw at people’s trousers to see what food his owner had brought back from hunting.
Rong Tang didn’t feel any psychological burden as he contemplated the scene, glancing at the two brocade boxes in Su Huaijing’s hands while speculating on what was inside.
Su Huaijing couldn’t help but stare at him. Inevitably, seeing Rong Tang always put him in a good mood.
Sometimes he felt that Rong Tang was truly good at coaxing and comforting him.
During the seven days when he was unconscious, Su Huaijing’s heart was so dark that he was practically itching to poison any living thing he saw just to shut it up. It made no sense that his little Buddha was lying down, unable to move or speak, but everyone else was fine.
The day Rong Tang awoke, Su Huaijing’s most ulterior evil thoughts reached their peak.
But when Rong Tang leaned in his arms so docilely and softly said, “Just lock me up,” and then actually didn’t meet anyone else or leave, Su Huaijing realised that those evil thoughts had been gradually suppressed by watching him in the courtyard every day.
He hasn’t been angry for a long time now.
It’s difficult for him to remain angry with Rong Tang for so long.
No one would be willing to be angry with him.
Su Huaijing discreetly released a sigh and replied, “New clothes.”
Rong Tang’s eyes lit up. He sat up from the couch with a “swish” and a most expectant expression: “Did you go to the store to buy it for me? Let me see!”
Su Huaijing couldn’t quell his smile anymore, so he reached down to take his hand and entered the house. “The season has changed. When we made our wedding clothes, they took our measurements. Some time ago, I returned to the palace to ask for it from Mother. I went to the store and ordered some summer clothes for you according to the measurements.”
Rong Tang asked casually, “You returned home? Does Mother miss me?”
Su Huaijing glanced askance at him and said fiercely, “Mother asked me to lock you in the house and not let you go out, so as not to catch a cold from the wind, then faint when you go out because you didn’t eat or sleep.”
Rong Tang was startled; his neck shrank as he muttered softly, “It’s not like I want to go out.”
Su Huaijing’s heart softened in an instant.
Inside the box were a total of four sets of tailored summer clothes. They were made of fashionable silks, satins, and tribute brocades. The designs were complex and beautiful, and the workmanship was fine and exquisite. Wearing these sets of clothes together with a fan will make him appear like the epitome of a handsome, elegant youth.
Rong Tang liked them very much. His eyes curled and rose as he took out a set to hold up against himself.
Su Huaijing said, “Put it on.”
Rong Tang: “Why do I need to put on these clothes when I’m at home?”
Su Huaijing looked at him for two seconds, couldn’t help laughing, and said indulgently, “I’m bringing you out of the house. Shudao Pavilion has concocted a new hotpot soup base, so I’m bringing you to eat hot pot.”
In the end, he isn’t cruel enough to actually lock up Rong Tang for the rest of his life.
No matter how docile and obedient the little creature is, it still needs to roam around in the forest.
Rong Tang was stunned for a moment, then his eyes narrowed, and he no longer asked if his anger had subsided or not: “Okay oh.”
After a pause, he said again, “Thank you.”
–
Yong’an Lane is in the south of Yu capital, and Shudao Pavilion is in the west.
After Rong Tang changed his clothes and stepped out, he saw Shuang Fu and Shuang Shou eagerly waiting at the horse-hitching post in front of the residence. Their eyes lit up when he caught sight of them.
Rong Tang found it funny: “What kind of look is this? It’s not like I’m dead—”
Before he finished speaking, his hand was pinched. Rong Tang turned his head in pain and noticed Su Huaijing staring at him with a look of warning on his face, his expression extremely cold.
Rong Tang immediately panicked: “I just said it casually.”
Su Huaijing’s tone was chilly: “I don’t like it.”
Rong Tang pursed his lips and did not dare to say another word. Shuang Fu threw him a meaningful glance from the side. Before Rong Tang had time to look over, he was pushed into the carriage by Su Huaijing.
Young Prince Rong was rather aggrieved. He felt that he had been treated better when he was imprisoned in the mansion.
He eyed Su Huaijing with a hint of resentment. Su Huaijing glanced at him and called him in exasperation, “Tangtang.”
“Aang.” Rong Tang responded.
Su Huaijing became even more helpless. He pushed the dried meat he’d prepared into the carriage in front of him. Even he himself couldn’t tell whether he was asking or negotiating. Anyway, no matter how it sounded, it wasn’t a command. If it were someone else, they would probably be scared enough that they would kneel down when faced with such a situation.
He said softly, “Don’t always scare me.”
Rong Tang was slightly stunned and blinked.
Su Huaijing took his hand. It was warm and soft, but he could feel the young man’s hard bones.
He said, “Don’t doze off without so much as a sound; otherwise, I’d think……”
He paused. The long street outside the carriage was bustling with noise. The evening twilight spilled over the imperial capital of Dayu. Children who returned late were laughing as they ran; vendors were walking along the street hawking their wares; and white smoke was rising from the chimneys of some houses here and there. The aroma of food wafted in the air.
This is a very ordinary and average day, and it is also a day that millions of people in Dayu repeat every year.
Su Huaijing lowered his head, the lashes covered his eyes, making it difficult to see their colour. His voice was so soft that it was nearly inaudible: “I will think that you don’t want me anymore.”
Rong Tang was abruptly stunned, his fingers clenched unconsciously, and he grabbed Su Huaijing’s palm with his. Profound distress flashed in his eyes.
He hastily closed his eyes, not knowing where to turn, and relaxed his body before Su Huaijing could react, hiding away those sudden emotions that had surged within him. Then he opened his eyes again and patted Su Huaijing’s hand, promising him, “I won’t ever abandon you.”
Su Huaijing asked, “Forever?”
Rong Tang was silent for a moment. He wanted to say ‘until I die’ as he previously did, but he’d just scared Su Huaijing, and he told himself rationally and emotionally that this answer was inappropriate.
So Rong Tang thought for a while, stared steadily at Su Huaijing, and said, “Forever.”
At least until I die, I’ll never abandon you.
So it doesn’t count as lying or cheating.
–
Shudao Pavilion.
The building was as bustling as ever. It was clearly summer already, but the number of guests was increasing instead of decreasing. Rong Tang was once again astonished by the main villain’s business acumen.
As usual, there was no need to take a number. There was a private room on the third floor reserved for them.
Rong Tang took a look as he stepped in and found a small basin of ice chunks in the corner.
He was slightly surprised and turned back to glance at Su Huaijing.
The waiter who led them in said, “The boss is worried that the esteemed guests will be so spicy and hot when eating hot pot that they might feel like shedding their clothes. He was also concerned that, with the current weather, they might catch a cold from the evening breeze. That’s why he specially prepared ice for cooling. If the Prince feels cold, just call me and I’ll come up to remove it.”
Rong Tang shook his head, said no, and happily hurried over to the window to play with the ice chunks.
Dayu had low productivity, and many things that are commonplace in modern times are extremely rare here, let alone ice chunks.
In the fourth month, the temperature is rising, but it isn’t particularly hot. Rong Tang could even lie in the courtyard to bask in the sun. But even when eating hot pot, there were ice chunks for cooling down. No matter how he looked at it, it was enjoyable.
Rong Tang scooped up a chunk of ice and played with it in the palm of his hand. The dusk light streamed in through the window’s edge, rendering him especially gentle.
Su Huaijing initially wanted to stop him from touching ice, but then he thought about it. Touching the ice would only make the palm of his hands a little cold, and it would not get any worse than vomiting digestive juices and passing out.
Rong Tang can do whatever he wants within an acceptable limit. Su Huaijing can nurse him back, no matter how much he fools around.
So he ignored it. After watching Rong Tang for a while, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a group of people on the long street below out of the corner of his eye.
Su Huaijing stared intently, but before he could say anything, Rong Tang also noticed them from the window. His eyes lit up, and he turned around to ask, “Huaijing, I saw Ke Hongxue. Can you invite them up to have hot pot together?”
Su Huaijing: “……”
He was silent for a moment, then he lowered his head and emitted a muffled laugh: “Alright.”
Thus, Rong Tang turned around, put down the ice chunk, and raised his hand to wave downstairs: “Excellency Ke, Excellency Mu, Xiao Lu, do you want to eat hot pot?”
Su Huaijing eyed his movements and felt that Rong Tang was really proficient at making him happy.
He is clearly the unparalleled noble Prince Ningxuan, and he was clearly born into a prestigious family, yet he even had to consult with him beforehand before inviting friends to dinner.
This feeling of being cherished and respected is truly addictive.
Su Huaijing stood up, walked to the window, and took Rong Tang’s hand. Then he lowered his head and slowly wiped off the water on him from playing with ice chips earlier.
The door of the private room was knocked several times, and the waiter opened the door. Ke Hongxue sashayed in, waving his fan. He smiled when he saw him: “Long time no see, Prince. Are you feeling better?”
Rong Tang wanted to nod, but then he changed his mind, coughed slightly, and said very weakly, “Not good.”
Suddenly, Su Huaijing frowned involuntarily, his brows furrowing in tension. But as he lifted his gaze, he caught the gleam in Rong Tang’s eyes. After a moment’s pause, he chuckled silently and lowered his head, ignoring the few people at the door.
Rong Tang looked at Ke Hongxue and placed blame: “It was that breakfast of yours that made me sick to my stomach and caused me to fall unconscious for seven days.”
Ke Hongxue was stupefied and stopped walking. He stared at him for a long time with slightly widened eyes, then turned his head and complained to Mu Jingxu, “Senior, he’s badgering me.”
Mu Jingxu rolled his eyes at him and said to Rong Tang, “The Prince is not in the palace these days? Hongxue and I went to visit a few days ago, but we heard from the palace’s gatehouse keeper that you’ve never returned since the flower-picking festival.”
Rong Tang was a little surprised. Lil’ Bro Mu was the most upright and incorruptible person, disliking factions and private interests. He only has dealings with Ke Hongxue in the entire court, although strictly speaking, the latter cannot be considered a court official.
During his visit to the palace, his actions would be misinterpreted, and rumours could be fabricated by those with ill intentions.
Rong Tang was slightly moved and shook his head. “No, I’ve been staying at mine and Huaijing’s house for these past few days.”
“……”
Su Huaijing’s hand-wiping movements paused, and he automatically raised his head to look at him.
Mu Jingxu seemed to be about to say something just now, but he suddenly got stuck upon hearing this.
From the moment he entered, Lu Jiaxi felt at a loss, with his eyes wandering endlessly and his feet unsure of where to step. A sense of awkwardness and unease surged within him.
There was silence in the air for a long time. Ke Hongxue closed his fan and tugged at Mu Jingxu’s sleeves: “Senior, let’s just go. The Prince doesn’t want to treat us to hot pot. He just wants to show off to us how much in love he is with the Shizi Fei.”
The author has something to say:
Ah Xue: You f*cking just want to feed me dog food and think I can’t tell? ! ! ! (Furious from incompetence)
Tangtang: So you can’t eat it now? I haven’t even shown off to you my new clothes to you yet.
(Disgusted) Xiao Lu: I shouldn’t be here T-T
