Chapter 78

After dinner that evening, Rong Tang was curled up on the beauty couch in the study, warming himself by the fire, when Shuang Fu came to report that someone was knocking at the door.

He glanced out of the window and saw Madam Qian, holding her waist, slowly making her way over, accompanied by two maids. Trailing behind them was the grey-clad servant boy who had bumped into Rong Tang in the garden earlier that day. Now, all his arrogance was gone, as he hunched over with his head bowed, looking extremely submissive.

Su Huaijing instructed Shuang Fu to lead them into the main hall. Rong Tang took a sip of hot tea, showing no intention of moving. It was somewhat expected, but he also felt a little disappointed.

Su Huaijing asked him, “Aren’t you going?”

Rong Tang frowned and whispered, “I’m afraid she’s going to trick me.”

Su Huaijing’s brows furrowed slightly, and his expression suddenly darkened.

Rong Tang continued, “She’s a concubine, which makes her of lower rank in the household, so she ought to bow to me. But now that she’s pregnant and has come here in person, I don’t know if she’s come to apologise. If she knocks or bumps into something, Father will give me trouble.”

Duke Ningxuan didn’t care much about his wives and concubines. Wang Xiuyu could handle all the affairs in the back courtyard of Ningxuan’s palace on her own without his involvement.

As the heir, if Rong Tang made things difficult for one of the Duke’s concubines, it wouldn’t be a major issue. Rong Mingyu wouldn’t trouble his legitimate son over something so trivial. But now that Madam Qian was pregnant, the situation was different, and Rong Tang couldn’t help but worry.

After all, most of Rong Yuan’s dirty tricks were learned from his mother.

Seeing this, Su Huaijing said, “I’ll go. Tangtang stay here and wait for me.”

The beauty couch was covered with a soft cashmere blanket. By middle of the tenth month in Yu capital, the air was already dry and cold. Wrapped in the blanket, Rong Tang’s handsome face was the only part of him exposed. He had just finished drinking hot tea, and the colour of his lips had deepened to a soft pink, with a thin sheen of moisture.

As his lips parted slightly, the tip of his soft pink tongue occasionally peeked out. Rong Tang looked at Su Huaijing with bright eyes and asked expectantly, “Really?”

The sky in Yu capital darkened more slowly than in Jiangnan, but it was still winter, and the outside was gloomy. Inside, the charcoal fire burned warmly. Looking at Rong Tang’s innocent and adorable expression, Su Huaijing felt a stir in his heart and bent down, intending to kiss him.

Rong Tang reacted immediately, his eyes widening as he covered his mouth and moved away, warily staring at Su Huaijing.

Su Huaijing collided with air. He was thrown off for a moment and laughed softly. He glanced askance at Rong Tang and asked, “What are you avoiding, Tangtang?”

Rong Tang was incredulous. He couldn’t understand how this man could be so shameless!

It was one thing to act indecently, but to ask so brazenly why he was avoiding him?

Rong Tang glared at Su Huaijing with wide eyes, his voice muffled behind his hand. “What do you think I’m avoiding?”

The little kitten was angry, awoo awoo!

Su Huaijing, overwhelmed by his cuteness, moved closer instead of retreating. He picked up a book from behind Rong Tang on the beauty couch, closed it gently, and placed it on the low table in front of them, smiling. “I just wanted to help Tangtang get his book. What did you think I was going to do?”

Rong Tang blinked, momentarily confused, and began to doubt the truth of his words.

Su Huaijing sighed and poured him another cup of tea, feigning sorrow. “Tangtang gege is so cruel. Not only do you leave me alone in an empty room every day, but now you think I have bad intentions just because I got a little closer. How can there be such a husband in the world?”

Rong Tang: “……”

System: [……]

[He’s playing you,] the system said coldly.

“I can see that,” Rong Tang replied.

He was so clever now! He could tell at least half of what Su Huaijing was acting!

System: [Half and half. You’re guessing, aren’t you?]

“……” Rong Tang muttered, “You’re more annoying than the main villain.”

The system let out a cold “hmph,” not bothering to expose him, thinking, Do you really find your wife annoying?

Su Huaijing waited for Rong Tang to respond but, after a while, sighed again. Just as he was about to say something else, Rong Tang couldn’t hold back any longer. He lowered his hand and opened his mouth: “Fake husband—”

Before he could finish, Su Huaijing placed his palm over his mouth, silencing him. With a pained expression, Su Huaijing said, “Alright, stop talking.”

Rong Tang blinked, confused: “?”

The ever-cool, clever, and stunning main villain was now pouting, his eyes narrowed in mild annoyance as he grumbled, “Not a single word of that was something I wanted to hear.”

He bent down and picked up two tangerines, placing them on the charcoal fire. “Don’t touch them. I’ll be back in a while.”

The warmth from his hands lingered on Rong Tang’s cheeks as the charcoal stove radiated comforting heat. Su Huaijing, before leaving, shot him one last, slightly resentful look. It took a moment for Rong Tang to realise what had happened. He pressed his cool hands to his still-warm cheeks, only to find that they were scalding hot.

Panicking slightly, Rong Tang quickly dropped his hands, and after a long pause, covered his face again. The sweet scent of roasted tangerines spread through the study, blending with the subtle fragrance of ink.

I can’t outplay him… no way…

Rong Tang thought, still rattled.

Who could ever outplay the main villain?

–

When Su Huaijing entered the main hall, he immediately noticed the drop in temperature.

Red charcoal, being a rare luxury, was only used in places where Rong Tang spent most of his time. The hall had no such warmth. Madam Qian sat on a chair to the side, holding a small hand warmer. She was dressed in a lavish and snug winter coat. Judging by the newness of the material, all her clothes seemed to have been made this winter.

Su Huaijing felt a chill in his heart, thinking that Rong Mingyu must truly value this concubine. However, he maintained his ever-warm smile, making those around him feel as though they were basking in spring sunshine even in the depths of winter.

After exchanging greetings, Su Huaijing and Madam Qian sat down. Just as they were about to start talking, Shuang Shou came rushing in with a charcoal stove, placing it by Su Huaijing’s feet.

Surprised, Su Huaijing shot Shuang Shou a questioning look.

Shuang Shou leaned in and whispered, “Young Master was worried you’d get cold, so he specifically ordered me to bring another pot of charcoal for you.”

Su Huaijing was silent for a moment before letting out a soft chuckle. The faint smile on his face instantly became genuine and enchanting.

Madam Qian was momentarily dumbstruck. It wasn’t until their gazes met that she quickly rose to her feet, signalling her servants to bring forth the grey-clad boy. The servant stumbled and fell to his knees, head bowed low towards Su Huaijing.

Su Huaijing’s smile faded slightly, and he asked Madam Qian, “Yiniang*, what’s the meaning of this?”

(*TN: Address for father’s other wives.)

Madam Qian, barely three months pregnant, was still in a delicate state. The effort of walking all the way from her own courtyard to Tanghua Courtyard had already drained much of her strength. She now appeared a bit pale, though she still forced a smile and ingratiated herself, saying, “Huaijing, this servant was disrespectful earlier and offended the Prince. I’ve brought him here to apologise to Tang’er, but I wonder where Tang’er is now?”

Upon hearing her familiar use of those affectionate nicknames, Su Huaijing found them oddly grating. His mood soured as he casually warmed his hands over the charcoal stove, the reddish glow illuminating his pale fingers.

He replied nonchalantly, “Tangtang didn’t get much rest after travelling for so long. Earlier, he overheard this servant in yiniang’s courtyard cursing him to an early death. When he returned, he was so upset that he fainted and hasn’t woken up yet.”

Madam Qian’s face turned even paler, while the servant kneeling on the ground began to tremble uncontrollably.

Su Huaijing’s lips curled slightly, and he asked with apparent indifference, “Why the sudden fear? Since you’ve brought Qian yiniang here to Tanghua Courtyard, does that mean it was you, yiniang, who spoke those words earlier?”

The servant shook his head frantically. “No, no!”

Madam Qian, visibly flustered, bit her lip before replying weakly, “Huaijing, you’ve misunderstood me. How could I dare utter such vile words? Tang’er is the Shizi of the palace. His well-being is essential for the prosperity of the estate. We’re all hoping for his swift recovery.”

“Oh?” Su Huaijing glanced at her coolly.

Madam Qian quickly nodded. “Of course!” She then gave the servant a light kick. Although she didn’t appear to use much force, the kneeling boy lost his balance and toppled to the side.

He looked up, startled, only to meet Su Huaijing’s cold and unfeeling gaze. A shudder ran through him as though death itself had descended.

Madam Qian continued, “This boy is a servant born in my family’s household, serving me since childhood. He is loyal and only wishes for my safety. That’s why it was a slip of the tongue and he spoke without thinking. Please, Huaijing, don’t take it to heart.”

“Slip of the tongue, spoke without thinking?” Su Huaijing repeated quietly. His tone was unreadable as he smiled faintly and glanced at Madam Qian. “I won’t argue whether it was a slip of the tongue or what was truly in his heart. What confuses me is how a servant raised in your household could fail to recognise the Shizi of Duke Ningxuan’s Palace and mistake us for mere guests? Even if we were guests, should a servant ever utter such curses against their master and casually inform others?”

“If word of this spread, how do you think others would view Duke Ningxuan’s household? Are there no rules here?”

As the evening darkened and the cold north wind howled through the courtyard, Su Huaijing’s voice remained measured, yet each word cut sharply. He smiled faintly at Madam Qian, though his eyes carried a bone-chilling coldness.

Madam Qian’s heart clenched. She finally realised that this Shizi Fei was not someone to trifle with.

After a brief pause, she explained, “This servant has indeed been with my family since birth. However, he has always served my parents in their household and had never entered the palace. After I became pregnant, my mother feared that the servants I’d brought weren’t sufficient, so she sent him over. Coincidentally, the Prince has been absent from the estate these past months, so the boy hadn’t recognised him.”

Su Huaijing held her gaze, scrutinising her as though passing judgement.

“Is that so?” He nodded slightly, his voice soft, as though accepting her explanation.

Madam Qian had just let out a sigh of relief when he casually asked another question, as if making small talk: “Then from whom did he hear such words?”

Su Huaijing carefully articulated each word: “If he doesn’t know the Prince, and has never interacted with him, how can he have such strong malice and the nerve to curse his master with such precision? I’d guess someone’s been whispering it in his ear day after day. Over time, he must have taken it as the truth.”

He paused and turned to Madam Qian with a smile, though his eyes remained cold: “What do you think, yiniang?”

Madam Qian felt uneasy under his gaze, swallowed nervously, and stammered, “I…… I don’t know where he might have heard such things.”

“Is that so?” Su Huaijing asked softly, his eyes drifting downward.

The servant, trembling with fear, crawled to Su Huaijing’s feet, crying: “It’s truly nothing to do with my mistress. I was just talking nonsense! I heard people say that the Prince’s health was poor, and he wouldn’t live long. It twisted my thinking—I’m the one who deserves to die! This has nothing to do with yiniang!”

At this point, he no longer referred to Madam Qian as “my mistress,” which Su Huaijing found rather dull.

Su Huaijing’s expression grew increasingly stern, and with each word the servant uttered, his countenance became colder. He slowly rubbed the armrest of his chair, watching impassively as the servant repeatedly kowtowed, begging for mercy until a patch of blood formed on the ground. Only then did Su Huaijing lift his gaze toward Madam Qian and softly ask, “How does yiniang think this person should be dealt with?”

Madam Qian was caught off guard. For a moment, she didn’t dare answer directly, and instead tentatively asked, “What do you think?”

Su Huaijing responded indifferently: “This is yiniang’s servant. How could I presume to handle it? But speaking so recklessly, how can you be sure he won’t one day cause harm to his master? Tangtang is kind-hearted and doesn’t want to argue with him, but what if it were someone else? Would yiniang be willing to escort your servant to apologise every day?”

Everything he said was true, leaving Madam Qian momentarily speechless. As she mulled it over, a trace of viciousness flashed in her eyes.

Noticing this, Su Huaijing’s lips curled into a slight smile. He stood up and said, “I should go check on Tangtang to see if he’s awake. It’s late, and you’ve had a hard trip here, yiniang. You’d best return early, especially since you’re pregnant.”

He glanced at Madam Qian’s belly and let out a quiet, ambiguous chuckle.

For someone carrying a foetus of less than three months that was destined to be stillborn, it was curious how much care Rong Mingyu lavished on her.

But……

What does it have to do with me? Su Huaijing mused.

Better to go back and roast some tangerines for Tangtang.