Chapter 64

How rich is the Ke family?

The most prosperous places in Dayu are the capital city and Jiangnan. The former is noble and eminent, while the latter is wealthy and valuable.

However, the Ke family has it all: Ke Wenrui is the Emperor’s tutor in the capital, and Ke Xuebo is the richest man in Jiangnan.

At this moment, Ke Hongxue, strolling over illuminated in the rays of the setting sun, appeared in Rong Tang’s line of sight like a walking moneybag!

His eyes lit up, and he inadvertently swallowed.

The system couldn’t bear to watch and decided to go dormant. Before leaving, it paused for a moment. Since no one could see it, it floated above the pixel character representing Su Huaijing, bounced around happily, and then left feeling refreshed.

After it left, Su Huaijing’s hand, which had been fanning Rong Tang, paused. He frowned slightly and looked around with a bit of uncertainty.

Sheng Chengming’s gaze had been following him, consciously or otherwise. When he noticed this, he asked, “What’s wrong with biao sao?”

When Rong Tang’s attention was called back, he saw Su Huaijing, who had just relaxed his brows, shaking his head and smiling: “It seems like an insect flew over.” Then he asked him, “Are you done fishing?”

Rong Tang had been fishing out of boredom while waiting for Su Huaijing. Hearing this, his eyes shifted downward to Su Huaijing’s exposed wrist.

His white, jade-like skin and clean lines looked beautiful no matter how you saw them. But at this time, there were a few unsightly bug bites on his wrist, resembling needle pricks. Though not very noticeable, Rong Tang knew that after a while, these blemishes would turn into bumps the size of fingernails and become extremely itchy.

Feeling distressed, he immediately put down the fishing rod and said, “I’m done.”

Su Huaijing smiled and said, “Let’s go have dinner then. The crucian carp soup should be ready as well.”

Rong Tang hurriedly nodded, already thinking about where to find medicine to apply for him.

The group walked in the direction Ke Hongxue had come from. The latter bowed slightly and greeted Sheng Chengming. Rong Tang asked him, “Didn’t Lil’ Bro Mu come with you?”

Ke Hongxue replied: “Senior has been tired from the journey and is a little low on energy. As soon as he entered Lin Estate, he asked the housekeeper to find a wing room to rest in. He didn’t have time to get instructions from Prince in advance. Kindly excuse him.”

Rong Tang waved his hand: “Excused, excused.”

This residence of his has almost become the imperial office in Suzhou. The people coming and going are either imperial officials or princes of Dayu. It is impossible not to excuse him.

But when he heard this, he couldn’t help but ask one more question: “Is Lil’ Bro Mu overworked or has he caught an illness?”

Mu Jingxu has always been in poor health, so Rong Tang would inevitably be worried when he heard that he had collapsed, especially with an epidemic raging in the Jiangnan area.

But Ke Hongxue smiled, as if he wasn’t too worried: “We’ve troubled Prince with your concern, but my senior is as soft-hearted as a heavenly immortal. However, he is in charge of punishment, and he always falls ill for a while after interrogating prisoners. It’s an old illness and not serious.”

Rong Tang felt his heart thump and glanced doubtfully at Ke Hongxue, revealing something indiscernible in his expression.

Sheng Chengming was stunned for a long time, then suddenly he had an idea and finally grasped the meaning in his words and asked excitedly, “Has Lu Junxian confessed in the case?”

While they were talking, several people had already arrived at the small courtyard where they were dining. Ke Hongxue smiled when he heard the words.

He is the prince’s tutor. Strictly speaking, Sheng Chengming should respectfully address him as “teacher”.

So Ke Hongxue looked at him as if he were a student in the class who was not very talented but at least diligent. He became a little more indulgent and asked, “Is Your Highness talking about Governor Lu’s corruption and bribery case?”

Sheng Chengming was startled and frowned. “Could there be another?”

“There are plenty.” He looked at Rong Tang and Su Huaijing, then said as if by chance, “Didn’t Shizi and Shizi Fei tell you?”

Rong Tang: “……”

He regretted it again. He, with that loose tongue of his, really shouldn’t have said another word to Ke Hongxue.

Rong Tang turned his face away from him, rolled his eyes, took Su Huaijing’s wrist, and walked to the wing room of the courtyard, leaving Ke Hongxue and Sheng Chengming staring helplessly at each other.

Tutor Ke stared at them for a while, then uncontrollably released a laugh at their backs. He waved a jasper folding fan and teased: “People say that when you are full and warm, you think about sex. How is it that you, Prince, can’t even wait until after dinner? Be careful not to hurt your health by indulging too much.”

Rong Tang distractedly stepped on a stone and almost sprained his ankle.

Su Huaijing was quick to grab his waist and help him regain his balance. He glanced down and saw that Tang Tang’s ears were red. His heart warmed, but he still remembered that he couldn’t let Rong Tang lose face in front of outsiders. After helping him stand steadily, he let go of his hand, looked back at Ke Hongxue, eyed him up and down, and smiled.

“It is human nature to think about sex when one is full and warm, and there is nothing to be ashamed of. But, Tutor Ke, why do you still retain your virgin status at the age of twenty-six? Which beautiful woman are you preserving it for?”

Su Huaijing appeared doubtful as he asked sincerely. Sheng Chengming’s face changed immediately after hearing this, and he stared at Ke Hongxue with eyes widened in disbelief. He didn’t believe that there were still children of influential officials in this era who hadn’t started having sex in their twenties.

Rong Tang was so embarrassed to hear them talking about this in broad daylight that he wanted to find a hole to hide in. However, Ke Hongxue waved his fan nonchalantly, not feeling offended at all, and said, “Isn’t this very clear, Shizi Fei?”

He smiled and said, “If you have seen beautiful jade, why would you spare a glance for a hard rock? This Ke has someone in his heart. Apart from him, no matter how wonderful the beauties in the world are, they are just so-so.”

Su Huaijing stared at him quietly and smiled indifferently. “Then I wish that Tutor Ke will attain your beautiful wife soon.”

He said these words in an ordinary manner, and it was hard to tell whether they were sincere or not. Anyone who heard it would think it was just a perfunctory statement. However, Ke Hongxue’s eyes immediately lit up; he quickly closed the fan in his hand and excitedly took two steps forward: “Lil’ Su, can you say it again?”

Rong Tang was a little confused and looked up at Ke Hongxue. He always felt that Tutor Ke’s expectant look was particularly…… obsequious.

Strange.

Su Huaijing also felt that it was strange. He was silent for a moment and thought about it carefully, but he couldn’t figure out what was wrong, so he added, “I wish Tutor Ke and his beloved will finally get together and live happily ever after.”

“Aai! Got it” Ke Hongxue clasped his hands together and bowed solemnly to thank him: “Thank you for your good wishes!”

“?”

Rong Tang was nearly bewildered by him. Su Huaijing frowned and said no more. He turned around, took Rong Tang’s hand, and continued walking to the wing room.

The door closed behind them. The lights weren’t lit yet. With the faint light coming in through the window, Su Huaijing groped around and lit a candle in the darkness. He turned around and lifted his head to look at Rong Tang. “What’s the reason Tangtang dragged me over here?”

Rong Tang was still thinking about what happened with Ke Hongxue earlier. He was very puzzled and asked suspiciously: “Do you know who Ke Hongxue’s beloved is?”

Su Huaijing was slightly stunned, then smiled: “Isn’t it very obvious?”

Rong Tang looked at him uncertainly.

Su Huaijing said, “I like Tangtang, so I can’t wait to see you as soon as I open my eyes every day. I always keep saying your name. Even when I’m outside, I’ll wonder if you’ve eaten and slept well at home and if you’ve finished drinking today’s medicine.”

Rong Tang’s ears were already a little hot, and they hadn’t completely cooled down yet. When he said that, the ointment that Rong Tang had just taken out of the cabinet felt scalding in his hands.

He frowned and whispered softly, “I’m asking about Ke Hongxue. Why do you drag me into it?”

“Because when you like someone, it’s hard to hide.” Su Huaijing chuckled. “I like Tangtang, and everyone can see it; so it’s not exactly a secret that Ke Hongxue likes Mu Jingxu either.”

Su Huaijing has been taking every opportunity these days to tell Rong Tang how much he likes him, and Rong Tang is feeling a bit overwhelmed. Originally, he had pulled him inside to apply ointment to the mosquito bites on his wrists, but now he inexplicably feels that even being in the same room with Su Huaijing is somewhat dangerous.

Rong Tang frowned as he put the ointment on the table.

Su Huaijing was puzzled: “What does this mean?”

Young Master Rong pointed to his wrist awkwardly: “You have so many mosquito bites. Can’t you feel it? Apply some ointment.”

Su Huaijing was slightly startled and lifted his sleeves. Under the candlelight, the red bites on his fair wrist had almost merged into one big patch. Rong Tang felt both itchy and painful just looking at it, but Su Huaijing seemed completely oblivious.

He stretched out his hands and prodded them, and he heard Rong Tang’s sharp intake of breath from across the room. He was stunned for a second, then couldn’t help but laugh and say coquettishly, “Tangtang, help me apply the ointment.”

Rong Tang turned his head away and started to leave. “No, I’m hungry.”

Su Huaijing raised his eyebrows: “Tangtang wants to go out now?”

“Can’t I?” Rong Tang retorted.

 “It’s not that you can’t,” Su Huaijing said softly, “Firstly, the Second Prince isn’t as clever as I am. If you go out and get teased by Ke Hongxue again and no one helps you retaliate, won’t you easily get angry? Secondly—”

He paused and smiled. “Now is not a good time to go out.”

Rong Tang paused slightly and frowned. “Why is it not a good time?”

Su Huaijing: “The disaster relief funds haven’t arrived yet, but Tutor Ke has taken the initiative to come to Suzhou. Does Tangtang really think he came here just to celebrate Qixi?”

“Historically, the relief funds and food provisions issued by the court after a natural disaster are never enough for the people in the disaster area. Moreover, corrupt officials exploit the people along the way, so the amount that actually reaches the victims is minimal. The Second Prince is waiting every day in Suzhou for the Ministry of Revenue to allocate the money, but when it finally arrives in Jiangnan, he’ll realise that the relief funds are barely better than nothing.”

Su Huaijing sat down, poured himself a cup of tea, and motioned for Rong Tang to sit next to him. He placed his hand on him, making it clear he wouldn’t continue talking unless Rong Tang applied the ointment for him.

Rong Tang had no choice. He hesitated for a moment before lifting Su Huaijing’s sleeve and lowering his head to apply the ointment for him.

The fragrance of herbs condensed on their fingertips and wrists before spreading throughout the room. Su Huaijing’s mood improved, and his eyes curved as he continued, “Therefore, the money for post-disaster reconstruction usually comes from three sources: the court’s allocations, local taxes, and donations from the local gentry.”

“But this money is not donated for free. Whether it’s lowering tax rates or becoming an imperial merchant, merchants need some enticements before they are willing to donate the large sums of gold and silver they have accumulated over their lifetimes. The Ke family made their fortune in Jiangnan. Although they are a wealthy family with many assets, the impact of this flood on their business is significant, even more so than on smaller merchants. Their willingness to donate at this time is actually a favour, not an obligation.”

Rong Tang wiped off the excess ointment, let go of his hand, and asked, “Does Sheng Chengming know?”

“He knows,” Su Huaijing nodded. “After Ke Hongxue came to Jiangnan, I analysed this matter with Lu Jiaxi. So now, the two of them are negotiating in the dining room, one representing the court and the other, the family. Are you sure you want to go over there now, Tangtang?”

Rong Tang: “……”

He is sure.

That he’s not going over.

He coughed lightly, stood up, and was about to leave. But just as he walked to the door, before his hand touched the door handle, Su Huaijing suddenly called him softly from behind: “Tangtang.”

Rong Tang was startled and clenched his palms to prevent his voice from shaking. “Ng?”

Su Huaijing drank half a cup of cold tea, put down the teacup, stood up, and slowly walked until he was behind him. The fragrance of the herbs was particularly noticeable, once again enveloping Rong Tang.

He chuckled softly, embraced him from behind, and placed his chin gently on Rong Tang’s shoulder. He was obviously the dominant one, but he put on an obedient and cute appearance. He gently nuzzled his neck and asked sappily, “The court knows to give merchants some enticements when coaxing donations. What about you, Tangtang?”

Rong Tang’s entire body tensed, and his ears could clearly sense Su Huaijing’s breath, which was so hot that he felt like he was about to explode.

Young Master Rong did his utmost to remain calm and asked, “What about me?”

Midsummer was blistering hot, and even the ice slabs in the house couldn’t compensate for two bodies pressing against each other.

Su Huaijing raised his chin, noticed Rong Tang’s bright red earlobe, and couldn’t help but laugh. His mouth opened, he nipped the earlobe gently, and he asked ambiguously, “When will you give me some enticements?”