Chapter 89

They set off close to noon, but the banquet wouldn’t begin until six o’clock. By the time the sun had completely set and the palace lanterns were lit one by one, illuminating the grand court and early cherry blossoms in the plum garden, the beauty was breathtaking. The palace maids walked in groups beneath the trees as snow rustled down from the branches, and any talented scholar would have been inspired to compose a poem on the spot.

Rong Tang, however, was on the verge of fainting from hunger.

The palace inspection was strict, and no outside food was allowed within the palace walls. Princess Duanyi, Wang Xiuyu, and other female relatives were taken to the rear palace to pay respects to the empress and the empress dowager, while court officials like Rong Mingyu waited outside Qinzheng Hall for the emperor’s instructions.

The banquet was to be held at Shaohua Hall, and all men, including Rong Tang, were taken to a side hall to wait.

It was unclear which eunuch from the Ministry of Internal Affairs had devised the idea, but to ensure no one was too full to enjoy the banquet and thereby displease the emperor, each person was only given two or three pieces of pastry—barely enough to fill the cracks between their teeth, let alone sustain them through the afternoon until the banquet began.

Rong Tang was almost in despair.

In his previous two lifetimes, palace banquets had been different. Either Empress Wang, worried about his recent illness, had disregarded the rule that men were not allowed in the harem and had taken him to Fengqi Palace with Wang Xiuyu, where they had warmed themselves by the fire and eaten snacks while waiting for the banquet. Or Sheng Chengli had invited him to his palace ahead of time, and as the Fifth Prince, his treatment was no different from that of other princes, so he was never left hungry.

Thus, Rong Tang had never experienced this kind of hunger before a banquet.

Su Huaijing didn’t seem to know either. He watched as Rong Tang frequently pressed his stomach, his face so dark that it looked like it might start dripping water.

Palace banquets were highly formal affairs, and there were strict rules about what could be said or done at the table, how many times one could touch their chopsticks, and which dishes could be eaten. The Ministry of Rites’ clerks and censors sat outside the banquet hall, recording everyone’s behaviour in real time. Being noted for an etiquette breach could mean never being allowed to attend a palace banquet again, or worse, it could affect one’s entire family.

So, before arriving at the banquet, most people would fill their stomachs to avoid making a bad impression by eating too eagerly in front of the emperor.

This was Su Huaijing’s first time experiencing such treatment after being away from the palace for many years.

When Rong Tang once again silently pressed his stomach, Su Huaijing could no longer stand it. He stood up, intending to find some food for him, but was quickly held back by Tangtang.

Prince Ningxuan had almond-shaped eyes, but not the standard kind found in picture books.

When startled, his eyes grew round, like a deer fleeing through the forest. But when he lounged lazily on a couch, flipping through a trendy storybook in one hand, bored and basking in the sunlight streaming through the window, while slowly nibbling on a piece of candied fruit or jerky, his lashes fluttered gently, his gaze half-lidded. At such times, he resembled a carefree wanderer destined to drift through life’s pleasures.

But now, Rong Tang’s expression was clearly of the former type. The side hall was filled with people, most gathered in groups of two or three, chatting and passing the time. Even Rong Zheng and Rong Yuan had gravitated toward the noble children they usually socialised with.

Rong Tang, unwilling to mingle, had found a corner with Su Huaijing where they sat quietly. Though they remained motionless, they were the subject of many furtive glances. As soon as Su Huaijing stood up, most of the room’s attention turned to them, wondering what they were about to do.

Rong Tang tugged on Su Huaijing’s sleeve, shook his head slightly, and forced him to sit back down. Only then did the others withdraw their curious gazes.

Su Huaijing’s face remained grim, and his irritability was almost visible in his expression. Rong Tang quietly asked, “What were you going to do?”

Su Huaijing replied, “Find some food.”

Rong Tang’s heart warmed, but he still softly coaxed, “Didn’t you already give me all of yours?”

Each person had been given a limited amount of pastries, and Su Huaijing hadn’t eaten any of his, instead giving them all to Rong Tang. But it still wasn’t enough to stave off the hunger gnawing at his stomach.

Rong Tang muttered, “I told you to go with Mother to see yimu, but you refused. If you had gone, you wouldn’t have to worry so much.”

Su Huaijing’s expression grew stern as he retorted, “And then what? Let you faint from hunger out here alone?”

Rong Tang was left speechless.

Men are not allowed into the harem, except for male spouses. If led by the household’s head female, they could be considered half female relatives and offer their greetings to the empress and empress dowager. There was no need to sit outside with the men. However, when Su Huaijing heard that Rong Tang couldn’t enter, he immediately refused the suggestion.

He knew there would be future opportunities to enter the harem, but it was unthinkable to leave Tangtang alone on New Year’s Eve for an entire afternoon.

It was fortunate he came along, or he wouldn’t have realised how the Imperial Household Department handled things.

Su Huaijing wondered if the chief eunuch made the decision on his own or if it was a quiet expression of Emperor Renshou’s.

——in order to demonstrate the supreme authority of his rule.

In the entire world, even noble sons depended on his favour for their survival.

Su Huaijing felt irritated and unconsciously rubbed his waist token. Rong Tang seemed frightened by his earlier tone and remained silent for a while. Su Huaijing sighed softly and poured him another cup of nearly cold tea. His mood soured, but he still gently admitted: “I shouldn’t have been harsh with you.”

Rong Tang blinked, confused: “?”

Su Huaijing explained: “The doctor said you must follow instructions for eating and taking medicine. You shouldn’t overeat or go hungry; otherwise, your organs might be harmed and difficult to heal. I was just worried. I didn’t mean to be harsh, I’m sorry.”

Rong Tang was baffled and blinked again, then asked, “How come Dr. Lin tells you all this? He never says these things to me.”

Su Huaijing calmly replied, “Patients should avoid unnecessary stress. Telling you would only make you worry for no reason. I’m always by your side, so I’ll handle it.”

Rong Tang eyed him suspiciously but couldn’t pinpoint what felt off. He gave up, took a sip from the tea cup, but then quickly frowned and put it back. It was cold and unpalatable.

Why was he stuck here in the palace for a banquet? Wouldn’t it have been much better to return to Yong’an Lane and have stewed pork knuckles with Huaijing?

Rong Tang sighed heavily, making Su Huaijing’s heart ache. As the sun set and the palace servants began lighting lamps, Su Huaijing gently held his hand and offered, “Shall I get you something to eat?”

Rong Tang quickly refused, “No.”

“Why not?” Su Huaijing’s face showed disappointment.

Rong Tang explained seriously, “The paths outside are too complicated and crowded. You might get arrested within a few steps.”

Su Huaijing was taken aback, almost laughing at the serious expression, but replied, “I know my way around. Doesn’t Tangtang know who I am?”

As the Seventh Prince of the previous dynasty, Su Huaijing had grown up in this palace. Even though he had been away for years, there was no reason he would have forgotten his way.

But Rong Tang persisted: “No, don’t go out. The banquet will start soon. I’m not that hungry.”

He said he wasn’t that hungry, and then his stomach growled twice more.

Su Huaijing probably had the desire to kill someone. The expression on his handsome face was dark. Rong Tang felt guilty, but still insisted: “Don’t go out. I don’t want to be alone. I’m afraid.”

As soon as the word “afraid” came out, Su Huaijing froze for a moment before helplessness took over. Tangtang wasn’t afraid of being alone in the side hall—he was afraid of the unknown dangers Su Huaijing might face outside.

This palace was both Su Huaijing’s childhood home he hadn’t returned to in many years but also the centre of imperial power.

Rong Tang still didn’t understand how Su Huaijing managed to change his facial structure so completely that Emperor Renshou didn’t recognise his own nephew in the main hall. Yet, Rong Tang feared that someone from the past might see through the disguise and recognise him as the former master.

Just like Ke Hongxue believed that Mu Jingxu was the Third Prince.

The consequences of such recognition were too dire, and Rong Tang didn’t want Su Huaijing to take the risk alone.

After a long silence, Su Huaijing sighed and looked around the room, searching for untouched pastries on someone else’s plate to bring to Rong Tang.

His usual cleanliness and pride meant nothing compared to filling Rong Tang’s belly.

Just as Su Huaijing prepared to take action, a young eunuch rushed in with a food box. Bowing, he scanned the room, spotted them, and hurried over. “Greetings, Shizi. His Highness the Fifth Prince was worried about your health and had me bring some food for you.”

Rong Tang was stunned: “Who?”

“His Fifth Highness,” the eunuch replied with a grin. “His Highness said that since you’re his biao ge and the Empress’s nephew, it’s unreasonable to make you wait so long without food. He went to the Imperial Household Department himself to argue with Steward Xia, and that’s why I’m bringing you this meal. Take a look, it’s all your favourites!”

Rong Tang loved spicy food, especially the hotpot from Shudao Pavilion. However, Su Huaijing rarely let him indulge because of his health. Since Rong Tang rarely left the house, few people knew his preferences.

But when the eunuch opened the food box, revealing dishes that were simple yet clearly aimed at his tastes, Rong Tang felt a sinking dread.

The dishes are very plain, with only four dishes, all simple and homely. Spicy rabbit head, salt and pepper pig’s trotters, green pepper stir-fried pork, and red date goose soup, along with fragrant rice.

It was far from a light snack just to pad his stomach, it was enough to stuff him to the gills.

As the aroma filled the hall, the nearby noble sons turned their heads. Some were so hungry that they visibly swallowed their saliva.

Rong Tang’s anxiety rose. He looked back hastily, wanting to explain to Su Huaijing, but saw the slight upward curve of the corners of his lips and a hint of smile in his eyes.

Rong Tang immediately straightened up and declared, “I won’t eat it! Huaijing, don’t worry, I won’t even look at it!”

Su Huaijing smiled and picked up an empty bowl, filled it with soup and spoke slowly. “Why not eat? Fifth Highness was very thoughtful.”

He placed the bowl in front of Rong Tang, repeatedly expressed that he didn’t mind at all and practically forced him to drink. Then he took out a few taels of silver and handed it to the young eunuch: “I’ll trouble gonggong*, please report back to His Highness. Tangtang and I are both extremely appreciative. This meal couldn’t have arrived at a better time.”

(*TN: form of address for a court eunuch.)

Perfect timing, just when people are so hungry that they can hardly hold on anymore and the banquet is about to begin.

Who knows where he’d learned this little trick to win people’s hearts from.

Su Huaijing turned his head and glanced lightly at Rong Tang.

Rong Tang shuddered subconsciously, feeling like he was the spicy rabbit head on the table.

Then, as if to drive the point home, Su Huaijing carefully peeled the rabbit’s head to separate the meat for him but ended up arranging the bones into a perfect, deathly skull.

Rong Tang: “……”

I said I wasn’t going to eat it!

The author has something to say:

Tangtang: QAQ! ! ! You scared me! ! ! Susu: No~ (arranges the skull properly)