Chapter 52

Rong Tang entered the hall as he continued to ignore Su Huaijing. Some people had already gathered in the room, mostly juniors from the two families. Rong Zheng was talking to Rong Ning on the side. As soon as he noticed Rong Tang, he made his way over and asked with concern, “Xiong zhang, are you feeling better?”

Rong Tang frowned as he eyed him for a moment, discerning that the concern on his face wasn’t fake.

Rong Ning also followed over, bowed gracefully to Rong Tang, and then sweetly said hello to Su Huaijing: “Saosao!”

Rong Tang: “……”

He turned away from looking at him, but he still heard Su Huaijing respond to her with a hint of laughter in his voice.

Rong Tang irritably walked up to Rong Zheng and said, “Much better.”

Rong Zheng visibly breathed a sigh of relief: “That’s good. That day, xiong zhang suddenly fainted, giving Eldest Sao a terrible shock. He feared that returning to the palace would make Mother worry, so he hurriedly took you back to Yong’an Lane. Didi went there several times to visit, but they said that your health wasn’t good enough to receive guests yet. However, today I see xiong zhang seems to be in much better spirits.”

Rong Tang was momentarily stunned by the meaning of his words. Unconsciously, he thought of Su Huaijing’s meticulous care over the past few days. He turned his head a little to steal a glance and happened to meet Su Huaijing’s gaze. That pair of watery phoenix eyes were smiling. At the moment their eyes met, Su Huaijing subtlety raised a brow and stared intently at Rong Tang.

Rong Tang panicked, immediately looked away, calmed himself down, and asked, “I have been constantly recuperating my body for the past few days and truly was too lazy to see anyone. What were you seeking me out for?”

Rong Zheng said, “It’s not a big deal. Even after returning from the flower-picking festival, Wukang’s Young Lord came to visit the palace on several occasions, bringing gifts each time. However, xiong zhang and Eldest Sao weren’t at home, so I didn’t dare to make any decisions and bade him to go back.”

Rong Tang remembered the “explanation” he asked Qin Pengxuan for with regards to Li Panyan’s miscarriage at the flower-picking festival and frowned in dissatisfaction. He didn’t want to see him, but he also wanted to sucker some goods from him.

Before he could think of what to reply, he heard Rong Zheng continue: “It’s just that Wukang’s Young Lord is still a guest from afar. Every time he comes to the house, I have someone make tea for him while he waits. Because of this, it wouldn’t be appropriate to refuse those gifts. I don’t know how to handle them, so I’ve stored them all in the Tanghua Courtyard’s warehouse. If xiong zhang has time, perhaps Shuang Fu and Shuang Shou could return and sort them out to prevent some of the medicinal materials from getting damp and losing their efficacy.”

Rong Tang: “?”

Rong Tang: “……”

It was as if he were meeting his er di for the first time. After being speechless for a long time, he asked, “Gifts?”

“Yes.” Rong Zheng nodded and smiled, his face inexplicably showing a curious mix of honesty and shrewdness. He said, “He handed in his name card, entered through the main gate, passed the screen wall, and sat in the main hall of Duke Ningxuan’s Palace. Naturally, he is a guest. If the gifts that guests bring into the palace aren’t gifts, don’t tell me that they are offerings of apology?”

Rong Tang: “……” 6*.

(*TN: In Chinese online literature, “6” is often used as slang to express admiration or approval. It originated from the game “Defense of the Ancients” (DotA), where players would type “666” as a quick way to say “awesome” or “cool” because “6” is pronounced similarly to “liu” in Chinese, which sounds like the English word “cool”.)

His mood suddenly improved a lot, and he even asked with some interest, “How many times has he been here?”

Rong Zheng smiled and stretched out his palm: “Five times.”

“And he brings gifts with him each time?”

Rong Zheng asked in return, “What else?”

Rong Tang could barely stop himself from giving him a thumbs up, but he was actually curious and asked: “You and Young Lord Qin are both on good terms with His Highness the Second Prince. Are you not afraid that the Second Prince will censure you for treating him like this?”

Unexpectedly, Rong Zheng gave a shy smile when he heard this and lowered his voice to say, “To be honest with xiong zhang, Second Highness also has the same intention. He said Qin Pengxuan’s character is dissolute and doesn’t know etiquette. There is no harm in letting him endure failure a couple more times.”

Rong Tang: “……”

You’re really something, Sheng Chengming. Did you just directly acknowledge Su Huaijing as your father?

Rong Tang was dumbfounded and remained speechless for a long time. Su Huaijing came from behind, automatically held his hand, and asked, “What are you chatting about?”

Rong Tang’s hand felt hot, and when he opened his mouth, he wanted to say, ‘Chatting about your son.‘ He held it back and said, “Er di said that Qin Pengxuan had come to visit us several times at the house. What are you planning to do?”

Upon hearing this, Su Huaijing nodded, indicating that he understood, and then asked, “Have all the gifts promised by Second Highness and Third Highness at the flower-picking festival been delivered?”

Rong Tang: “……” You’ve certainly got guts.

He glanced back uneasily, fearing that when Rong Mingyu and Rong Mingli might enter through the door and enforce family laws upon hearing his words. However, he heard Rong Zheng reply politely: “Second Highness’s gifts arrived at the palace the day after the flower-picking festival. Third Highness’s gift was a bit delayed, but it was also delivered last month. All the items were placed in xiong zhang’s courtyard. I have ordered someone to check the gift list. There aren’t any errors or omissions.”

Su Huaijing curled his lips and replied warmly, “We’ve troubled you, er di.”

Rong Zheng immediately panicked and hastily replied, “These are what I ought to do. Eldest Sao, please don’t say thank you.”

Su Huaijing really didn’t stand on ceremony with him anymore. Watching from the side, Rong Tang almost felt the sourness surge in his stomach again, once more sighing at how different people’s lives can be.

Why is it that those the main villain meets will become foolishly obedient to him, but the ones he himself meets are shrewder than the last, each with eight hundred schemes?

Rong Tang covertly glanced at Su Huaijing. The latter took his hand and walked to the corner of the hall, lowered his head, and asked softly, “Are you still angry?”

Rong Tang was dazed for a moment, unable to react to what he was asking in that instance.

Su Huaijing said, “Dumb persimmon.”

“……” Rong Tang: “!”

Young Prince Rong’s eyes immediately bulged in anger and he glared at his wife!

Su Huaijing smiled and immediately coaxed, “I’m wrong; Tangtang is the smartest.”

Rong Tang continued glaring at him, not giving in to the rainbow fart* at all.

(*TN: “Rainbow fart” is a humorous term used in Chinese internet culture to describe exaggerated, overly colourful, or fantastical writing styles, particularly in online novels, fan fiction, or internet forums. It refers to writing that includes excessive descriptions, unrealistic scenarios, or elements that might be considered cheesy or flamboyant.)

Su Huaijing: “I’ve completely fallen for Tangtang gege’s cuteness.”

Rong Tang’s angry eyes softened a little, and he appeared somewhat stunned. Su Huaijing said, “Tangtang gege is my little Buddha. He is kind-hearted and can’t bear to see people’s suffering. Sometimes I feel that you are a little immortal from the heavens who’s come here specially for me. I’ve never heard you speak like you just did.”

Rong Tang felt a little embarrassed being praised by him, but he pretended to be calm and asked, “Speak like what?”

Su Huaijing cleared his throat, first mimicked ‘This Prince‘, and then said with a smile, “He clearly only thinks about others. Not only is he worried that they will be killed by me, but he is also worried that he will offend the nobles and influential bigwigs on Xuanwu Street, so he deliberately pretends to be arrogant and bossy, but in reality——”

He paused, his smile deepening. “He can’t fool anyone.”

Rong Tang was at a loss for words and didn’t say anything for a while. After deliberating for a moment, he asked, “You asked me before if I wanted him killed. Wasn’t it in jest?”

Su Huaijing blinked: “I won’t jest.”

Rong Tang went silent for two seconds. He subconsciously glanced around the people in the hall, then lowered his voice and asked most seriously and solemnly: “How do you plan to kill?”

At that moment, Su Huaijing was stunned by his question. He automatically revealed a smile, suppressed his voice at the same time, and replied earnestly, “Poisoning, assassination, stabbing—even when just walking on the street, if I looped a strong, thin cord around his neck, his eyeballs would pop out immediately, and he’d die.”

Even if he wanted Chen Feiyi to die, he only needed to say the word, and Chen Feiyi would immediately kneel before him to commit suicide. But when Rong Tang asked him, Su Huaijing wanted to tell him the dark side of the world.

He gave a soft smile. He’s clearly saying extremely terrifying things, but his expression was as warm as the spring breeze. Su Huaijing said: “Therefore, Tangtang, human life is the most unpredictable, light as a feather, and most unforeseeable thing in the world. You’ll never know one day if you will face an unknown danger.”

Rong Tang lifted his gaze and stared silently at him. There was no fear in his eyes, only indifference as before, even with a hint of calmness that Su Huaijing couldn’t comprehend.

He suddenly frowned, with the abrupt realisation that this didn’t seem worth mentioning to Rong Tang.

He originally wanted to tell Rong Tang, so don’t leave my sight; you will always be safe with me. But as soon as he met Rong Tang’s gaze, Su Huaijing suddenly discovered that he had ignored one fact for a long time.

Rong Tang really doesn’t care.

He knows better than anyone else that his life is short. From his perspective, every additional day he is alive is a bonus.

Su Huaijing didn’t like this awareness. He couldn’t help but stretch out his hand, trying to grasp Rong Tang’s wrist into the palm of his hand, so as to tell himself that this person was right in front of him and would not disappear suddenly.

But before he could make a move, Rong Tang gently raised his lips, reached out to hold him, then lowered his head to quietly look at those spotless, white hands and say softly, “But you’ll get dirty.”

Su Huaijing was startled, and his agitation was instantly soothed. Rong Tang frowned, as if he were distressed: “You’ll dirty your hands. You love cleanliness the most, don’t you?”

The restless summer air buzzed with anxiety. The cicadas in the Eldest Princess’ Palace had been silenced and there were only a few sparse bird calls in the courtyard. Amidst the bustling chatter, Rong Tang had uttered a light, airy remark. Su Huaijing fell silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed and nodded. “Ng, Tangtang is right.”

You are right; I love cleanliness the most, and I don’t want to hold you with my blood-stained, filthy hands. You are a spotless little Buddha, and you should sit upright on a bright platform.

Su Huaijing stuck himself to Rong Tang like he depended on him, until Wang Xiuyu appeared in the hall. She hadn’t seen Rong Tang for a long time and affectionately pulled him aside to talk.

Su Huaijing stood in the corner and watched them with a smile. After waiting for a while, an elderly voice came from behind and said respectfully, “Shizi Fei, is it? The Eldest Princess has requested for you.”

The corners of Su Huaijing’s lips gradually smoothed. He straightened himself and smoothed his robe a bit before casting a look in Rong Tang’s direction, then turned around and left the hall with the elderly nurse.

During the Dragon Boat Festival family banquet, the Eldest Princess’s Palace was filled with the fragrance of mugwort with sachets hanging under the eaves. The white jade bricks and glazed tiles that can be seen everywhere in Princess Duanyi’s Palace are so extravagant that they are simply enviable.

Without so much as a sideways glance, Su Huaijing primly and properly followed the nurse all the way to a Buddhist hall.

In the hall stands a dazzling statue of Ksitigarbha Buddha, but the praying mats are old and shrivelled. With just a look, you can tell that people kneel, worship, and recite sutras every day.

The scent of sandalwood wafts throughout the room, many times stronger than the light incense on Rong Tang’s person. An old woman wearing simple clothes had her back facing the door as she kneeled on a praying mat and recited scriptures.

Su Huaijing entered the room, and the nurse retreated before closing the door. The noise was instantly isolated outside the door, and the sound of chanting sutras in the house gradually diminished.

Su Huaijing bowed at the Eldest Princess’s back and performed the most solemn greeting in the past many years, except for when he married Rong Tang.

“Huaijing would like to thank Your Highness, Eldest Princess, for your kind gift of the tiger.”