Chapter 86

The capital was blanketed in snow, and everything at Duke Ningxuan’s Palace remained as usual. The short days gradually grew longer, and chirping sparrows appeared on the snow-covered ground.

It was another midnight when firecrackers went off, startling Rong Tang awake. His heart raced momentarily before quickly calming, and he let out a soft sigh.

The system was dormant. He listened for a while to the echoing firecrackers in the capital, and after thinking carefully, realised it was already the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month.

The atmosphere of the New Year was thick in Yu capital. Though woken up by the noise, Rong Tang wasn’t upset. He turned over and slowly drifted back to sleep amidst the crackling fireworks.

The twenty or so years he spent in the modern world seemed so distant that they were becoming a blur. Moving back and forth between the ninth and twelfth years of Qingzheng, Rong Tang felt as though he was starting to resemble an ancient person.

The modern New Year celebrations were lacklustre—just a two-week break, gathering with relatives and friends for meals, and lazing around without a care. There was nothing particularly meaningful to dwell on.

In total, counting his past two lifetimes, Rong Tang had experienced seven Spring Festivals.

The lingering illness keeping him bedridden and cold palace encounter during the ninth year of Qingzheng; the diligent planning and hope for the future during the tenth year; the rise to prominence and ambition to conquer the world in the eleventh; and the upheavals and fractured relationships in the twelfth.

Looking back, he had spent all the Spring Festivals in his past two lives with Sheng Chengli.

It was only because Liuyun had poisoned him early in his first life that Rong Tang missed one of those festivals.

Reflecting on it now, he suddenly had the urge to punch Liuyun.

Not because Liuyun poisoned him, but because he did it too soon.

If he had lived just one more year and seen through Sheng Chengli’s heartlessness sooner, Rong Tang wouldn’t have repeated the same mistakes in his second life.

But in truth, this was merely a passing thought. He wasn’t particularly saddened by it. Rong Tang was quite content with his current life.

Out of the three lifetimes he had lived, the one he was most satisfied with was the year he married Su Huaijing. And now that they were approaching the next year together, he felt an inexplicable sense of happiness.

The next day, they shared a small reunion meal at noon with everyone because Princess Duanyi was in residence.

After lunch, Rong Tang exchanged greetings with Wang Xiuyu before leaving with Su Huaijing.

Su Huaijing trailed behind him with a slight smile, meticulously tidying up this and that, anxious about losing something that might make his master uncomfortable in the coming days.

But there was no need for concern. The place they were heading to was Tangjing Residence on Yong’an Lane, where they would stay until the twenty-ninth of the twelfth lunar month before returning.

During the half-month when Rong Tang was locked in the mansion by Rong Mingyu before their marriage, Su Huaijing had already filled the residence with numerous luxurious and comfortable furnishings. More had been added over time, all chosen with the intent to pamper his cherished, adorable little Buddha.

Rong Tang had said that they should spend the New Year at their own home.

Their own home. Su Huaijing liked this definition.

On New Year’s Eve, they would attend the palace banquet. Throughout the first lunar month, relatives and officials would visit. As the heir of Duke Ningxuan, it wasn’t possible for Rong Tang to avoid appearing entirely.

Moreover, he had been a fool for the past nine years. Even if it was just to let Wang Xiuyu vent some frustration in front of relatives, Rong Tang had to be there for a few days, being scrutinised as if he were some national treasure.

Therefore, if he wanted to spend the New Year alone with Su Huaijing, he could only choose the *Little New Year.

(*TN: The lunar new year where the last month has twenty nine days as opposed to thirty days.)

On the way from Duke Ningxuan’s Palace to Yong’an Lane, the streets were strewn with bits of exploded firecrackers. Candy vendors roamed the streets, and from time to time, children would jump out with coins from their parents to buy sweets.

Rong Tang found it quite novel. The carriage moved slowly, allowing him to lift the window curtain and watch the lively scenes of the world and the vibrant street life.

Inside the carriage, Su Huaijing brewed tea for him, lost in thought.

Lately, he had been wondering from time to time what could have caused Rong Tang to pretend to be a fool for nine years.

After all, Rong Tang understood the palace’s conspiracies, the capital’s defense layout, the factional struggles among officials, and even the intricate webs of relationships behind seemingly insignificant individuals.

Yet, Su Huaijing couldn’t decipher Rong Tang.

Every time he thought he was close to the truth, Rong Tang would provide an answer that defied his expectations.

Rong Tang claimed he had never been truly foolish, but everyone who served in Tanghua Courtyard insisted that their young master had genuinely been dull-witted for years.

Even Wang Xiuyu, now watching Rong Tang speak normally, would occasionally shed tears, overcome with emotion.

Rong Tang was pure-hearted, and it wasn’t easy to deceive his own mother. This only made Su Huaijing more puzzled.

Then, Rong Tang had told him about a seemingly absurd dream. However, the dream contained specific people and events, and it had accurately predicted the incident of Rong Tang falling into the water at Ningxuan Palace during the ninth year of Qingzheng.

Su Huaijing couldn’t be sure if this was just a dream or something more mysterious and supernatural, but he never doubted Rong Tang’s words.

This connected with Rong Tang’s baseless loathing for Sheng Chengli and his inexplicable familiarity with Ke Hongxue. Pushing the timeline back further, there was the discovery of Shen Feiyi near the outskirts and the interception at Fengyue House.

There are loopholes everywhere, causing suspicion at every turn.

Su Huaijing couldn’t help but notice.

To hate someone so much that you’re willing to kill them based on feelings from a dream… that was completely out of character for Rong Tang and inconsistent with Su Huaijing’s understanding of him.

But Rong Tang had accepted his suggestion and even requested it.

Su Huaijing thought that maybe there were some external factors restricting him from [him] [personally] [carrying out] [the killing] of [Sheng Chengli], which was why Rong Tang was so nervous when he heard his proposal.

These five elements were indispensable for Su Huaijing as the principal actor and Sheng Chengli’s death as the goal.

But it seemed that Rong Tang did not want to see this outcome.

He clearly hated Sheng Chengli but would not let Su Huaijing kill him.

In a sense, Su Huaijing felt that this might be Rong Tang’s way of protecting him.

The consequences of killing Sheng Chengli would likely have a negative impact on Su Huaijing, so Rong Tang, perhaps subconsciously, was preventing this from happening.

Su Huaijing brewed tea, casually raising his eyes to observe Rong Tang’s curious gaze out of the window, and couldn’t help but think: Could this really be a little Buddha who’s descended from the heavens?

That’s why he has such deep insight into the world, such pure and compassionate nature, such innocence and naivety, untainted by dust, yet forbidden from revealing the secrets of heaven?

Su Huaijing had many questions he wished to confirm with him, but he was always worried that if Rong Tang truly spoke out, would he leave this world behind?

When his parents and siblings died, he never believed in gods or spirits, yet now, because of Rong Tang, he was starting to doubt the reality he’d accepted for seventeen years.

Perhaps there really was another world, and Tangtang came from there.

To save him.

Or maybe……

“Huaijing!” Rong Tang suddenly called him, pointing excitedly at a shop passing by outside the window: “They’ve opened a gambling house! It looks like so much fun!”

It was likely newly opened, as a large crowd had gathered in front of the four-storey building. A giant lantern in the shape of a dice swung from the upper floors, swaying beneath the clear winter sky and attracting the attention of every passer-by.

Su Huaijing glanced at it from afar, withdrew his gaze, and looked at Rong Tang’s unconcealed expression of anticipation. He asked, “Want to play?”

“Ng! Ng!” Rong Tang nodded eagerly.

Su Huaijing, unhurried, continued to leisurely brew the tea: “I’ll take you to play tonight. We can go with Excellency Mu and the others.”

“Hooray!” Rong Tang grew even more excited, like a child eagerly looking forward to the New Year for the first time.

Su Huaijing’s mood lightened, and he pushed aside the idle speculations that had just crossed his mind.

What does it matter who he came for?

As long as he stays by my side in the end.

–

Tangjing’s residence was bustling with noise. As soon as Rong Tang stepped off the carriage, he saw Ke Hongxue holding a pair of couplets at the entrance, constantly adjusting their position. He repeatedly turned to ask Mu Jingxu, who was standing beside him, whether they were too high, too low, or crooked. This left Mu Jingxu feeling very embarrassed, unsure if he should answer or not.

When he noticed Rong Tang and the others approaching, Mu Jingxu visibly relaxed. He walked a few steps towards them, stopped again, and smiled, greeting them with: “Happy New Year.”

It was unclear if it was because he hadn’t smiled for a long time, or because he was spending the New Year with Su Huaijing, but Mu Jingxu showed a rare trace of awkwardness, which made Rong Tang feel a pang of sympathy.

But that sympathy was quickly dispelled by Ke Hongxue, who, leaning against the door, shouted: “Your Highness, you’ve come at the right time! Help me check if this position is fine. Senior insists I shouldn’t mess around since this isn’t my home, but what’s the fuss? We’re all family, why make it a matter of two households?”

Ke Hongxue’s loud and carefree manner caused the faint smile on Mu Jingxu’s face to disappear instantly. He turned around, frowning, and prepared to scold Ke Hongxue for speaking recklessly in front of Rong Tang.

But Su Huaijing softly called from beside him: “Xiong zhang.”

Mu Jingxu immediately looked around cautiously before casting a disapproving glance at Su Huaijing, who smiled and said, “Tangtang already knows.”

Mu Jingxu froze, paused for a moment, and asked, “You told him?”

“Excellency Ke mentioned it,” Su Huaijing replied.

Though he wasn’t entirely convinced, since Rong Tang said so, Su Huaijing pretended not to doubt it and relayed the information truthfully to Mu Jingxu.

Sure enough, Mu Jingxu didn’t look too pleased after hearing this and seemed ready to confront Ke Hongxue, but just as he took a step forward, Su Huaijing casually remarked, “Xiong zhang looks much better in red.”

Today was the New Year’s Eve celebration, and the entire family had gathered. Early in the morning, Ke Hongxue took a carriage to pick Mu Jingxu up, after much deliberation about what he should wear. Mu Jingxu habitually wore white, and although Ke Hongxue didn’t stop him, he managed to convince him to wear a bright red fox fur cloak before bringing him to the Ke residence for lunch.

Bright, fiery colours enveloped the snowy mountains, as if breaking the silence that had reigned for so long.

Who says there can’t be a volcano beneath snow-capped peaks?

Meanwhile, Ke Hongxue had finished putting up the Spring Festival couplets under Rong Tang’s direction and turned around to ask Mu Jingxu for praise. Su Huaijing chuckled, took Rong Tang by the hand, and as they walked inside, loudly declared: “The last one to arrive has to make a hundred dumplings!”

Rong Tang blinked in confusion, but before he could react, Su Huaijing gave him a sly wink. With the wind beneath their feet, Su Huaijing grabbed Rong Tang by the wrist and took off running. Along the path, the house had been adorned with new potted plants and lanterns. The pillars and walls had been painted red, and paper cuttings were stuck on the windows, welcoming the arrival of the New Year and eagerly awaiting the spring breeze to sweep across the land.

The two left behind at the entrance were momentarily dumbfounded. Ke Hongxue was the first to react: “Hey! You two are cheating!”

Without hesitation, he grabbed Mu Jingxu’s wrist and chased after them, his bright red cloak billowing behind him, leaving a trail of renewed vitality in its wake.

Mu Jingxu stood there in a daze for a long moment, staring at the backs of the two ahead, lost in thought.

He couldn’t pinpoint the source of his trance until all four of them were in the kitchen. While Ke Hongxue grumbled about Su Huaijing’s cheating and diligently made dumplings one after another, Su Huaijing nonchalantly marked the dumplings containing coins. That’s when Mu Jingxu remembered.

This was what he had once envisioned for Xiao Qi when he grew up.

Full of youthful vigour, clever and mischievous, radiant like a precious gem.

Even though he didn’t possess the dignified composure of their da ge, nor Mu Jingxu’s own romantic charm, Xiao Qi had grown into a fine young man and was about to become an even better adult.

And it was all because of Rong Tang.

At just seventeen, he still had many vibrant and carefree years ahead.

Mu Jingxu nodded to himself, unconsciously voicing his thoughts.

“Very good.”

Despite everything he had been through, Xiao Qi had grown into a man any xiong zhang would be proud of. His didi was indeed the most cherished treasure in the Yu capital’s imperial palace.

Everyone should be happy.

And Mu Jingxu felt fortunate to witness it with his own eyes.

His peach blossom eyes curved into a smile, bright with warmth.