The banquet was halfway through. Some were deeply drunk, while others remained sharp and clear-eyed.
Rong Tang was about to return to his seat when he stopped in his tracks, standing still as he waited for Su Huaijing to approach him.
Ke Hongxue raised an eyebrow, smiled, and returned to his seat. His eyes brightened as he spotted a cup of tea on the table, just enough for a single sip. He looked over at Mu Jingxu and asked, “Senior, is this a reward for me?”
Mu Jingxu glanced at him, his eyes drifting down to the folding fan in Ke’s hand, which he still carried even in winter.
Ah, white jade this time.
Mu Jingxu remarked, his voice clear but laced with deeper meaning. “A lesson in frugality?”
Ke Hongxue remained calm, took a sip of tea, and deliberately smacked his lips as if savouring the lingering fragrance. “Of course, I’ve been quite frugal. I haven’t changed fans in several days.”
Mu Jingxu turned aside, rolling his eyes, refusing to engage any further, though the corners of his lips involuntarily curved into a faint smile.
Meanwhile, Su Huaijing stepped up beside Rong Tang, bowing to Emperor Renshou. “Your humble servant is here.”
As a male wife, his form of address followed Rong Tang’s.
Emperor Renshou, seated at the head of the table, gazed at him for a long while before his attention was drawn to the couple’s discreetly intertwined hands, hidden within their sleeves.
With a laugh, he turned to the Empress and remarked, “Truly, a loving pair.”
Empress Wang responded with a dignified smile.
Emperor Renshou then asked, “Have you been to school?”
Rong Tang’s heart jumped, fearing that Su Huaijing might blurt out some ill-considered remark about never attending school.
But Su Huaijing answered smoothly, “When I was young, I lived at my uncle’s house and studied with my cousins. Later, I continued my education at home with private tutors, but I never attended a formal school.”
Upon hearing this, Emperor Renshou’s expression shifted slightly, as if recalling something, and his tone grew heavier. “The uncle you mentioned… is that Li Changfu, the Minister of War?”
Su Huaijing nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Emperor Renshou asked, “And what is your connection to him?”
“His wife is my distant aunt,” Su Huaijing replied.
Emperor Renshou’s face grew thoughtful, and the smile coaxed out by Ke Hongxue earlier faded. He asked, seemingly offhand, “Relatives of the Wei family, then?”
The entire room went silent with shock.
The recent fire on Xuanwu Avenue was still fresh in everyone’s mind. During Emperor Renshou’s reign, no one in court dared to mention the name of Duke Xian. Now, for the Emperor to bring it up unprompted…
Some of the more seasoned courtiers, sensing the weight of the moment, felt a sudden surge of unease. It seemed that a great shift was coming to the capital.
Yet, at the centre of this drama, Su Huaijing remained poised and unflustered. “In a way, yes, Your Majesty. My mother’s adoptive father was the elder brother of General Wei’s deputy general. After the deputy general passed away, my elderly grandfather couldn’t fulfil the marriage rites, so the Duchess acted as a matchmaker, recognising my mother as her adopted daughter, allowing her to marry into the south.”
Rong Tang mentally untangled the web of relationships, only to conclude that—
There was no real connection!
Though distant relations in name, in truth, the bond was almost nonexistent. This “relationship” was merely the result of Duke Xian’s sentimental regard for old ties.
Su Huaijing’s explanation was long-winded and convoluted, and each time he mentioned a name, everyone had to pause and mentally connect the dots. By the time he finished clarifying, most were left speechless.
Ke Hongxue hadn’t been worried about Su Huaijing facing Emperor Renshou’s interrogation alone, but hearing this, he couldn’t help being taken aback. When he recovered, he turned away from the Emperor and the palace attendants to stifle his laughter. He threw a look at Mu Jingxu and whispered, “Is there really such a person?”
Mu Jingxu, who had been watching Su Huaijing with a complex expression, was distracted by the question. He frowned and replied, “How would I know?”
Ke Hongxue muttered, “…” That’s right, I forgot my Senior’s still hiding things from me.
Suppressing his smile, Ke Hongxue refocused on the unfolding drama.
For the first time that evening, a look of surprise appeared on Emperor Renshou’s typically steadfast face.
According to the established lore in The Emperor’s Journey, members of the imperial family were always strikingly handsome. Though Emperor Renshou had passed forty, he still carried an air of authority. When silent, his presence exuded the majesty of the imperial household. Yet now, his surprise softened his features, adding a rare touch of warmth.
Princess Duanyi smiled and said, “What a coincidence! I was adopted by Emperor Xuan, and your mother was taken in by my Ah Zi*. No wonder you found your way into my house.”
(*TN: “Ah Zi” is an affectionate term meaning “elder sister”)
When Duke Xian’s wife was alive, she was two months older than Duanyi. Over the years, with their residences facing each other and frequent interaction, Duanyi had grown accustomed to calling her “elder sister.”
Upon hearing these words, Emperor Renshou finally relaxed the caution that Su Huaijing’s identity had caused and turned to the Eldest Princess, saying: “Although gumu* was Grandfather’s adopted daughter, you’ve made great contributions to Dayu and is without question the esteemed Eldest Princess of the imperial family. There’s no need to speak so modestly.”
(*TN: Respectful term for “aunt”.)
“This old woman understands,” Duanyi responded with dignified composure.
The Emperor had no interest in delving into Su Huaijing’s complex family background. Whether the story was true or not, he could easily uncover it with a few spies.
As for Su Huaijing, he was not concerned about any investigation. Since he had fabricated a background, he was confident he could keep up the charade.
Emperor Renshou wasted no time and asked directly, “Do you wish to take up an official post?”
Rong Tang was momentarily taken aback and looked up at the Emperor, who smiled and said, “There is a tradition among the common people where one can donate money for an official position. Shizi has performed extraordinary deeds this time. No matter how many rewards I give, I feel it’s still insufficient. But you are frail, and your yimu worries too much to let you bear the burden of an official role. Since you and Shizi Fei are family, why not let him accept this honour on your behalf? What do you think?”
[It’s ahead of schedule,] the system reminded silently.
By half a year.
Rong Tang did not reply immediately. After some thought, he asked, “May I inquire, Your Majesty, which official position you intend to grant my husband?”
…
“These dishes were certainly worth the price,” Ke Hongxue said with a smile, shaking his head as he spoke to Mu Jingxu.
Spending a bit of silver for such a prime seat and witnessing these dramatic scenes back-to-back. It was well worth the cost.
Mu Jingxu, exposing him, remarked, “Weren’t you the one who arranged these performances?”
Ke Hongxue smiled and deftly changed the subject, “Senior, I’ve always had a good eye for people. I told you long ago that this Shizi is no ordinary man.”
Without any forewarning or coordination, he had caused trouble for Rong Mingyu. If it had been any brainless fool, they might have made things worse, or even brought disaster upon themselves.
Yet Rong Tang remained perfectly composed. Though he was clearly using the situation to interrogate Rong Mingyu, he stood there still and resolute, not betraying a single hint of emotion.
To handle this situation well required not only the quick wit to understand the intentions behind Ke Hongxue’s words but also the foresight to predict the consequences of each action. Moreover, it required trust—confidence that Ke wouldn’t lead him astray.
Both were challenging.
The former demanded intelligence; the latter, sincerity.
The world was full of clever but scheming people, and those who were sincere often lacked the acumen to succeed in great matters.
Though this was just a banquet, the atmosphere was undeniably tense. A single misstep in front of the emperor could cost a life.
But Rong Tang didn’t just take the stage Ke Hongxue had set for him; he dared to calmly ask Emperor Renshou what position he planned to bestow upon him after his initial offer. It was as if he felt entitled to refuse the gift if it wasn’t to his liking.
Such audacity.
Even Emperor Renshou was momentarily taken aback. In all his years on the throne, no one had ever spoken to him like that.
The Emperor played with his bracelet for a moment before turning to Senior Official Zhang. “Dear Official Zhang, didn’t the Censorate submit a memorial two days ago?”
Senior Official Zhang, caught off guard, quickly stood and bowed. “Yes, Your Majesty. The memorial mentioned that the Censorate was short-staffed and requested that new graduates be assigned there after next year’s imperial examinations.”
Emperor Renshou nodded and turned to Rong Tang with a smile. “Would you like your young husband to serve in the Censorate?”
The Emperor’s tone was so gentle that even his own children hadn’t experienced such warmth. Empress Wang, who had been repeatedly surprised by her husband’s attitude that evening, quickly signalled to Rong Tang to accept.
Rong Tang, however, was uncertain whether to feel relieved or puzzled. He turned to Su Huaijing and asked, “Would you be willing?”
Su Huaijing smiled and replied, “I’ll do whatever Tangtang says.”
Outside Shaohua Palace, winter snow fell from the treetops, and the scent of plum blossoms filled the entire palace courtyard.
There was still no news regarding the fire that had ravaged Sheng Chengli’s residence, and the awkward position of Duke Ningxuan had now planted an invisible thorn in Emperor Renshou’s heart.
The Censorate was not under the control of the cabinet. It operated independently from the rest of the court officials and answered solely to the Emperor, making its officials the true confidants of the throne—yet also its claws.
Su Huaijing had only just reached the end of his seventeenth year, with eight days remaining until his eighteenth birthday, but he was now poised to step into this vortex of power.
Rong Tang withdrew his gaze and gave a slight tug on Su Huaijing’s hand, the two kneeling together to offer a grand bow to the Emperor seated above: “Your humble servants thank Your Majesty for your immense favour!”
In the winter of the ninth year of the Qingzheng era, on New Year’s Eve, a butterfly once again fluttered its wings, setting in motion a hurricane whose consequences could not yet be foreseen.
Yet at this moment, after the two at the centre of the storm returned to their seats, Su Huaijing merely reached out, gently massaging Rong Tang’s knees, brushing away the dust that had gathered on his robes.
His little Buddha was not meant to kneel before anyone.
