Chapter 79

The death of a servant in Duke Ningxuan’s Palace was never considered a matter of great importance.

What circulated far more in the estate were the rumours regarding the Duke’s extraordinary attention to the pregnancy of his concubine, Madam Qian. Not only had he increased the monthly allowance for Madam Qian’s courtyard, but all her food, clothing, and necessities were provided to the same standard as the Wang Fei’s. He even went as far as purchasing an estate for the Third Young Master, Rong Yuan, as a special exception.

Everyone in the household was aware that Rong Mingyu cherished his unborn child to an unusual degree.

This was, in fact, highly improbable. Rong Tang had known Rong Mingyu for several lifetimes. Except for matters regarding Wang Xiuyu, on which he occasionally confronted his nominal father, in most cases, he observed Rong Mingyu with the detachment of a politician. Rong Mingyu—the only Duke of a different surname in the Dayu Dynasty.

The results of his observations aligned well with the depiction of Rong Mingyu in the original work: a dog Emperor Renshou kept at his feet, one that didn’t bark.

He was shrewd and unfathomable, yet fiercely loyal to the emperor. Domestic affairs and matters of affection paled in comparison to the importance of his standing at court. Apart from the Eldest Princess, Duanyi, he paid little attention to his family.

Why would he dote so much on an unborn child?

Rong Tang couldn’t make sense of it, much like he couldn’t understand why Rong Mingyu was so convinced that the child in Madam Qian’s womb would be a boy.

But it had little to do with him. The weather grew colder by the day, and the north wind in the capital was biting. Rong Tang, feeling lethargic, was reluctant to move. At most, when the weather was fine, he would accompany Su Huaijing to visit the Wang Fei’s courtyard during the day to help with trivial matters, ensuring she was spared some of the burdens.

In the end, Madam Qian still had her eye on the red charcoal from Tanghua Courtyard. One afternoon, Rong Tang went to the Wang Fei’s courtyard and happened to overhear Si Mo, a maid serving Rong Mingyu, instructing that the same portion of red charcoal used by the eldest young master should be prepared for the concubine.

Rong Tang was displeased and was about to confront them when Su Huaijing tugged at his sleeve, signalling him to remain calm.

Once the conversation concluded, Su Huaijing opened the door and walked over slowly, saying with a trace of difficulty: “It’s understandable that the Duke, caring for the concubine and fearing the winter cold, would want to add more charcoal. But this year’s floods have severely affected the charcoal-producing regions. The red charcoal used in the Prince’s courtyard was purchased at great cost from the estates late in the summer. It took two months to gather, and the quantity is still less than half of what we’ve had in previous years. If we were to prepare an additional portion for the concubine now, where would the extra expense come from?”

Si Mo, visibly surprised to see Su Huaijing and Rong Tang present, offered a quick salute to both before continuing, “His Lordship means for Young Master to allocate half of his portion to the concubine.”

Even she seemed to realise the absurdity of this, speaking in a softer tone, her face showing hesitation as she avoided meeting Su Huaijing’s gaze.

Su Huaijing, with his back to Rong Tang, kept his expression slightly cool, though his words still carried a hint of a smile. “That won’t be possible, I’m afraid. Young Master has been seriously ill twice this year, and now is precisely the time for him to recover properly. Reducing the charcoal supply so abruptly might cause his illness to return.”

Si Mo frowned, troubled, and asked, “Then, please advise what should be done, Sir?”

Su Huaijing chuckled lightly. “Qian yiniang is pregnant, and we certainly can’t let her freeze; but Tangtang’s charcoal supply can’t be reduced, either. Red charcoal is in short supply, and if you try to purchase it now, it will not only be hard to find, but the price will be exorbitant and entirely uneconomical.”

Si Mo nodded. “Sir is correct.”

Su Huaijing continued, “However, I happen to have a friend who does business in the south. Every year, he stores a batch of high-quality black charcoal in case of emergencies. While it may not be as luxurious as red charcoal, it’s still far better than the poplar charcoal most people use. If yiniang needs more charcoal, she can buy some from him.”

Si Mo considered this for a moment. “But the cost……?”

Su Huaijing smiled. “I’m on good terms with this friend, and I don’t expect the price will be too high. Yiniang could easily set aside a portion from her monthly allowance, which would be enough to get through a warm winter. Since she’s concerned for her unborn child, she surely wouldn’t begrudge parting with a little silver, wouldn’t you agree, jiejie?”

He had been calm and unhurried throughout, decisively refusing and then providing a solution, and finally posing the question with a soft smile. Si Mo pondered for a long moment, then bowed deeply. “Sir is right. I will return and report this to the side consort.”

She turned to Rong Tang, offered another salute, and then left.

Su Huaijing turned and walked back into the room, smiling.

Rong Tang eyed him suspiciously. “Since when do you have a friend with a stockpile of charcoal?”

Su Huaijing replied with a question of his own. “Doesn’t Tutor Ke count as a friend?”

Rong Tang: “……?”

When Ke Hongxue heard this while seated in a private room at Liujin Parlour, he laughed so hard that his eyes nearly disappeared. The white porcelain wine cup in his hand swayed dangerously, almost spilling its contents.

Turning to Rong Tang, he asked, “Prince, how much do you think I should charge her for the charcoal?”

Rong Tang had originally intended to ignore him, but after a moment’s thought, he couldn’t resist, and raised a single finger.

Ke Hongxue raised an eyebrow. “What does that mean?”

Rong Tang, serious as ever, replied, “Ten percent. Give me ten percent.”

Ke Hongxue was stunned. “?”

Rong Tang explained, “My Huaijing brought this business to you. I don’t care how much you sell it for, just give me a ten percent cut of the profits.”

There were five people sitting in the private room. Lu Jiaxi, having just finished his shift and being quite famished, focused solely on eating.

When Mu Jingxu heard Rong Tang’s remark, he paused for a second, then chuckled softly.

Ke Hongxue, who had intended to argue, stopped short when he saw this, and with grand magnanimity, raised two fingers instead.

Rong Tang was momentarily taken aback. Ke Hongxue declared, “Twenty percent. I’ll give you twenty percent commission.”

Rong Tang: “……”

He looked from Ke Hongxue to Mu Jingxu, and after a moment, the young master of the household rolled his eyes in earnest. “Pathetic.”

Ke Hongxue, laughing heartily, didn’t even bother to refute, and diligently began serving his senior dishes and soup.

By the banks of the Jinfen River, frost had settled on the grass. Rong Tang sat in the private room at Liujin Parlour, listening as they exchanged idle stories.

Lu Jiaxi, having distinguished himself during disaster relief efforts, had been promoted out of the ordinary upon his return to the capital. He was now training in one of the four departments of the Ministry of Rites, studying the intricacies of sacrificial ceremonies under the guidance of a senior minister. He could now truly be called Excellency Lu.

As Rong Tang haggled with Ke Hongxue, Lu Jiaxi, having eaten his fill, set down his chopsticks only to realise the eyes of the four others had turned towards him.

Ke Hongxue smiled and asked, “Are you full?”

Young Excellency Lu, a little embarrassed, smiled shyly. “Just about.”

Ke Hongxue didn’t believe him, so he called the waiter over and added a few more dishes, saying casually: “Shizi Fei just negotiated a big deal for me. Don’t worry, it’s my treat tonight. Eat as much as you like.”

Rong Tang felt this man really had a loose tongue.

Too lazy to even look at him, he pressed himself against Su Huaijing, who naturally took his hand and slowly squeezed it.

Occasionally, Rong Tang would feel uncomfortable when Su Huaijing squeezed his hand and tried to pull away, but Su Huaijing would blink, staring at him pitifully. Tangtang’s heart immediately softened, so he remained still, allowing him to continue.

Su Huaijing’s smile was hidden in the corners of his eyes but couldn’t help slipping out. Mu Jingxu, observing this, felt relaxed and a little happier too.

He’d once thought about what Xiao Qi would be like when he grew up—probably like himself, cool, carefree, and distinguished.

Perhaps he’d be like their crown prince gege, dignified and commanding, naturally exuding authority.

None of these guesses matched the reality, though. Su Huaijing was already a youth of seventeen or eighteen, yet he still acted coquettish and playful in front of Rong Tang.

Sometimes, when Mu Jingxu saw how the two interacted, it felt as though Su Huaijing was still the carefree little prince, nurtured in Dayu Palace for many years.

This was good, at least things had not changed too much.

Until Ke Hongxue casually asked Lu Jiaxi: “What have you been busy with lately?”

Lu Jiaxi wrinkled his face and said: “The New Year is approaching. His Excellency, the counsellor, is mainly occupied with preparations for the ancestral rites and banquets.”

“What about you?” Ke Hongxue asked again.

Lu Jiaxi replied: “I’m choosing a residence for His Highness the Fifth Prince.”

Rong Tang stiffened, abruptly raising his head to look at Lu Jiaxi.

Su Huaijing, standing closest, instantly sensed Rong Tang’s reaction and felt displeased.

He’d always felt that Tangtang paid too much attention to Sheng Chengli.

He didn’t like it one bit.

Su Huaijing unconsciously tightened his grip on Rong Tang’s hand, but Rong Tang seemed not to notice at all and asked, “Has the residence been decided?”

Lu Jiaxi shook his head: “I started selecting in early autumn. I’ve drafted several locations and submitted them, but they’ve all been rejected by the Vice Minister of the Six Boards.”

As he spoke, he paused and glanced up at Rong Tang.

The Vice Minister, Rong Mingli, was Rong Tang’s second uncle.

But Rong Tang showed no reaction and only asked, “What now?”

Lu Jiaxi discreetly exhaled in relief: “We’ve narrowed it down to three mansions. Two days ago, the ministry submitted them to the Vice Minister. I’m not sure if they’ve been reported to His Majesty yet.”

“They were reported at court yesterday, so it should already be decided by now,” Mu Jingxu said softly.

He’d been present in the audience hall, so he knew which memorials had been submitted.

A matter like choosing a prince’s residence didn’t need to be discussed openly in court, so Rong Mingli had just submitted a written report without reading it out loud.

Mu Jingxu looked at Rong Tang and asked: “What’s the matter?”

Rong Tang shook his head, realising he’d just lost his composure, and stepped back. Su Huaijing, being right next to him, caught him as he almost backed into his arms.

Su Huaijing felt a little better.

Rong Tang whispered: “I don’t like him, so I don’t want him to have a nice house.”

It was extremely childish, but no one could fault his reasoning. Even Mu Jingxu was momentarily stunned by him.

Lu Jiaxi, however, nodded matter-of-factly: “It’s really not a very good house. One of the residences might not even have enough budget from the Ministry of Revenue to cover the repairs.”

Su Huaijing asked: “Where is it?”

Rong Tang lowered his head uncomfortably, staring at the wooden floor beneath his feet. For a moment, he seemed lost in thought, unable to meet Su Huaijing’s eyes.

Lu Jiaxi replied: “On Xuanwu Avenue, the old Duke Xian’s mansion.”

The room fell into a sudden silence, and Rong Tang felt a pang of sadness. Su Huaijing lowered his gaze, fiddling with the hair tie on Rong Tang’s head as if unconcerned, twisting it gently around his fingers: “That house aaa?”

Mu Jingxu’s brows furrowed, and an uncharacteristic edge of hostility seemed to emerge from him.

Lu Jiaxi sensed the strange tension in the room but had no idea what had caused it.

Until the sound of commotion drifted in from outside Liujin Parlour, with hurried footsteps running past the building.

Su Huaijing chuckled softly, tilting his chin slightly upwards.

“I’m afraid that house might not be suitable,” he said.

Outside, flames roared from a distant part of the city, soaring high into the night sky with an unstoppable force, almost illuminating the entire capital of Yu.

Su Huaijing lowered his gaze, fixing his eyes on Rong Tang, a smile on his lips but a trace of scrutiny in his eyes.

“Tangtang, it seems that house doesn’t like him either.”

Tangtang, it seems you’ve hidden a lot from me.