Chapter 131

It was a cold and desolate winter, with few pedestrians on the road, yet inside Shudao Pavilion, the atmosphere was bustling and lively.

Ke Hongxue was led into a private room by a servant. Lifting his gaze, he saw Rong Tang drinking a steaming bowl of mutton soup. He paused briefly before breaking into a smile. “You’ve recovered, then.”

Rong Tang glanced up at him indifferently and remained silent. Meanwhile, Mu Jingxu took Yuanyuan and sat beside him.

Children change every day, but Yuanyuan’s identity was particularly special. To prevent him from being taken away, he was always wrapped up tightly whenever they went out. Bi Xin had even specially crafted several human-skin masks for him.

Fortunately, it was winter now. Wearing extra layers made disguising easier, without the need for elaborate measures.

Yuanyuan removed his hat and scarf, his eyes bright as he saw Rong Tang. He called out sweetly, “Tangtang gege! Is Tangtang gege feeling better?”

Su Huaijing, who was dipping mutton into the hot pot, raised his brows at the words. His hand, gripping the chopsticks, paused slightly. He was itching to give the child a scolding.

Ke Hongxue grinned and corrected him, “You should call him shushu.”

“I won’t.” Yuanyuan was adamant, pointing at each person as he went around the table. “Tangtang gege, Mumu gege, good shushu, bad shushu…”

When it was Su Huaijing’s turn, his voice sped up and softened. Once he finished, he didn’t even glance at him and instead burrowed into the arms of his two ‘geges’.

Ke Hongxue chuckled, glancing at Su Huaijing’s expression before asking Yuanyuan, “If you’re so afraid of him, why do you keep provoking him?”

Yuanyuan muttered softly, “Because he doesn’t hit me.”

Rong Tang asked, “If he doesn’t hit you, why do you call him a bad shushu?”

Yuanyuan replied, “Because he’s so fierce.”

The child’s eyes twinkled with mischief. Seizing a moment of inspiration, he tugged on Rong Tang’s sleeve and urged, “Tangtang gege, why don’t you come with us? He’s really fierce. Don’t stay with him.”

“I can’t,” Rong Tang refused gently.

“Why?” Yuanyuan asked.

Rong Tang smiled. Su Huaijing had been quietly tending to the hot pot the whole time, ignoring Yuanyuan’s complaints. Little Yuanyuan, however, kept bad-mouthing him without hesitation.

Rong Tang explained, “Because shushu and I had a wedding ceremony. We are husband and wife.”

Yuanyuan’s mouth fell open in shock. “Ah—?” He clearly couldn’t comprehend how someone so fierce could have a spouse.

His small face scrunched up as he looked between Rong Tang and Su Huaijing. The latter made a playful grimace at him.

Yuanyuan returned the expression in kind. Rong Tang glanced helplessly at Su Huaijing.

After making faces and brooding for a while, Yuanyuan ate a few pieces of beef, drank half a bowl of hot goat’s milk, then suddenly had an idea. “Tangtang, divorce him! Then, when I turn fifteen, we can get married!”

“Cough, cough, cough—!”

Rong Tang immediately choked. A tiny bit of spice was enough to send him into a fit of coughing.

Su Huaijing suppressed his irritation, patting his back for a long time before pouring him a cup of tea to soothe his throat. Once Rong Tang had recovered, Su Huaijing turned to Ke Hongxue with an accusing glare. “Is this how you’ve been raising him?”

Ke Hongxue remained unbothered, replying lazily, “He’s got all his limbs, and he hasn’t forced or stolen from anyone. What’s wrong with that?”

Su Huaijing wanted to retort, but the words stuck in his throat. Rong Tang patted his hand reassuringly before bending down to ask Yuanyuan, “Why do you want to marry me?”

“Because I like you! I want to be your husband!” the child declared matter-of-factly, pure and sincere.

In some ways, he was like Su Huaijing, but in others, he was completely different from the feared main villain.

—At least, the ten-year-old Su Huaijing would never have been this straightforward.

Rong Tang frowned slightly, looking a little troubled. “But what should I do? I like Su Huaijing.”

“Ah…?” Yuanyuan’s mouth gaped wider, even more confused.

Rong Tang leaned in, his tone serious, as though speaking to an equal rather than a child. “I like Su Huaijing, and he likes me. Being together makes us happy and fulfilled. I’m grateful that you like me, Yuanyuan, but we can’t get married.”

Yuanyuan mulled over his words, his little face scrunching up. After a moment, he asked, “But Tangtang gege, aren’t you a Shizi? Doesn’t Dayu allow multiple wives and concubines? I can be your little husband. I’ll treat you better than him!”

Rong Tang blinked, momentarily stunned. Ke Hongxue, who had just sworn he hadn’t raised the child improperly, turned his head and coughed violently.

Su Huaijing snorted coldly and turned to Mu Jingxu. “An untrained child will not become a useful adult.”

In other words: Are you sure I can’t discipline him?

Mu Jingxu awkwardly looked away, questioning whether he had been spoiling Yuanyuan too much lately.

Rong Tang, regaining his composure, shook his head with a firm smile. “No.”

“Polygamy is an outdated custom that has been normalised over thousands of years. But in truth, it is neither fair nor responsible. Over time, resentment is inevitable. Even if two people deeply love each other in their youth, they may become bitter couples later on.”

Under the feudal system, women like Wang Xiuyu and Empress Wang had to tolerate their husbands’ affairs under the guise of being “gracious” and “proper.” But ultimately, this was a product of an outdated mindset… an oppression that left one party powerless to resist the marriage system.

The current societal structure left little room for change. Rong Tang had a modern perspective, but he couldn’t impose contemporary ideals on an ancient world. However, he could at least hold himself to a higher standard.

He smiled gently. “I love Huaijing, and I will only marry him in this lifetime. No matter how good others may be, it has nothing to do with me.”

Yuanyuan wrinkled his little face in thought, remaining silent for a long while.

Su Huaijing, hearing these words, was momentarily stunned. Under the table, he reached for Rong Tang’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

Rong Tang turned to him and smiled.

As the banquet continued, Yuanyuan finally reacted. He looked somewhat frustrated and reluctant. Tugging on Rong Tang’s sleeve, he mumbled, “Alright then… But if you ever stop liking him, promise you’ll leave him and marry me! I’m younger, cuter, and more obedient than he is!”

“…”

Rong Tang fell silent for a few seconds. This child wasn’t so innocent after all. Sharp as a fox.

And as for obedience… Was there really anyone more compliant than Su Huaijing?

Instead of answering, Rong Tang let the topic drop. But Su Huaijing had finally had enough and clapped his hands, calling for Xingfeng.

Xingfeng immediately understood and announced that a troupe downstairs was about to perform magic tricks. “Would the young master like to watch?”

Children love entertainment and can’t sit still for long. At the mention of magic tricks, Yuanyuan’s eyes lit up, and he instantly forgot about becoming someone’s husband. Jumping off his chair, he grabbed Xingfeng’s hand and dashed out the door.

The room grew noticeably quieter. Ke Hongxue stared towards the doorway, clicked his tongue, then turned his head to ask Mu Jingxu, “Senior, was our da ge* like this when he was young?”

(*TN: he’s referring to the former crown prince i.e. Yuanyuan’s father.)

He honestly couldn’t find a word to properly describe Yuanyuan.

Mu Jingxu pondered for a moment, then shook his head.

The late Crown Prince had been the very picture of grace. Courteous, composed, gentle, steadfast…

Every word in the world used to praise a gentleman’s virtue could have been applied to the former Crown Prince, and not a single one fit Yuanyuan as he was now.

Yet after glancing at Su Huaijing, Mu Jingxu added, “Perhaps he’s different when he’s in front of Eldest Sao*.”

(*TN: the former crown princess i.e. Yuanyuan’s mother.)

At that, Rong Tang suddenly recalled the vision from his nightmare that day and silently nodded to himself.

When his xiong zhang was mentioned, he had already given away the five peace talismans that Huimian had bestowed upon him. Yuanyuan’s had been handed to Mu Jingxu to deliver on his behalf.

Ke Hongxue was clearly astonished. “I have one too?” he said, even as he tore open the talisman packet and drew out the slip of paper inside. By sheer coincidence, it really did bear his own birth date and hour.

Tutor Ke immediately brightened. “I must go to Tuolan Temple tomorrow to donate twenty thousand taels for incense. This master truly suits my temperament.”

They had taken him into their family of four. One could not say they were anything less than deeply devoted.

Su Huaijing glanced at him, his brows knitting slightly.

Mu Jingxu noticed his expression and looked at Rong Tang, only relaxing slightly when he saw that his complexion was rosy rather than the pallor it had been before.

Rong Tang had not distributed them deliberately, nor did he know their birthdays, yet each peace talisman matched perfectly. It was difficult not to find it suspicious.

Moreover, his illness had come strangely and passed even more so. Su Huaijing’s suspicions were entirely reasonable.

Mu Jingxu suppressed his doubts, choosing not to disturb the harmonious atmosphere.

Until Ke Hongxue suddenly asked, “Has the southwest military funds case been handed over to you?”

Su Huaijing: “Yes.”

Rong Tang was momentarily startled and instinctively asked, “Zhang Baoshan’s case?”

They had long since grown used to Young Prince Rong’s way. He appeared to take no part in court affairs yet always had an uncanny grasp of all matters of importance. Seeing his reaction, they nodded. “That’s right.”

Rong Tang furrowed his brows.

In the original work, the Southwest Governor Zhang Baoshan’s embezzlement of military funds had been a key moment in weakening the Third Prince’s power.

Earl Wukang was aligned with Senior Official Zhang and the Second Prince, while Zhang Baoshan was linked to Marshal Xia and the Third Prince.

Last year, during the floods, one of Senior Official Zhang’s protégés had impeached Zhang Baoshan in advance, only to be accused of false charges and exiled to the frontier. But this winter, the southwestern borderlands had suffered repeated raids, prompting the court to send an imperial inspector south, leading to the unravelling of this case.

The butterfly had finally stirred its wings.

Rong Tang asked, “Are you going south?”

Su Huaijing shook his head. “The imperial inspector has already been chosen. I requested permission to remain in the capital.”

Rong Tang paused slightly, already understanding the reason for his decision, and asked, “Who is it?”

Su Huaijing: “Shen Feiyi.”

Mu Jingxu was taken aback, looking at both Su Huaijing and Rong Tang in surprise.

Rong Tang was evidently startled by Su Huaijing’s candour. After all, everyone knew that Shen Feiyi, under the alias Chen Fei, had only been promoted to Right Vanguard General of the imperial guards this past spring. Yet Su Huaijing had so directly revealed his true identity. Everyone present tacitly acknowledged the name.

Rong Tang hesitated for a moment but said nothing.

Ke Hongxue smiled faintly and asked, “Was that your arrangement?”

Su Huaijing replied, “He needs a political achievement for promotion.”

“Well done.” Tutor Ke nodded before saying, “Do you know who the imperial inspector is?”

Su Huaijing lifted his gaze to him. Ke Hongxue chuckled. “Sheng Chengli.”

He remarked, “Our emperor’s favouritism towards His Highness the Fifth is rather too obvious.”

Zhang Baoshan was Xia Jingyi’s son-in-law, and last year, Senior Official Zhang’s disciple had been demoted for attempting to impeach him.

Now, with Sheng Chengli assuming the role of imperial inspector, he would not only be directly challenging the Third Prince but might also absorb the remnants of the Second Prince’s faction.

“When others vie for the throne, it’s a fight to the death. But in our Dayu, His Majesty himself raises them up one by one. Who can say he won’t be emperor in the end?” Ke Hongxue sneered.

The Second Prince built his political standing, and in return, the Third Prince was given a spectacular victory at the flower-picking festival.

The Third Prince grew too powerful, so the Fifth Prince was sent to personally dismantle his influence.

In the end, power would always be drawn back to the imperial throne. It weakened the ministers and wore down the princes.

Rong Tang’s brows knitted slightly. Su Huaijing took his hand and asked, “What is Tangtang thinking?”

The system was still nowhere to be found. Rong Tang hesitated for a few seconds before finally speaking. “Could you do me a favour?”

Su Huaijing: “Just say the word, Tangtang.”

Rong Tang: “Give Sheng Chengli some trouble. Nothing fatal, but something that will genuinely set him back.”

He needed to verify his suspicions.

If he succeeded, he might glimpse a chance for survival. If he failed…

Rong Tang looked at Su Huaijing and, somewhat unnaturally, lowered his gaze.

At least he wouldn’t die.

Even if he truly became bound to Sheng Chengli, at least he could follow his own will and stay by Su Huaijing’s side until the story’s end.

A warm hand wrapped around his own, squeezing gently. Su Huaijing nodded, his tone both reassuring and coaxing. “I’ll do whatever Tangtang wants.”

He truly was the most obedient little one in the world, Rong Tang thought as they stepped out of Shudao Pavilion.

The author has something to say:

After leaving Shudao Pavilion—

Susu: Tangtang, do you still remember your promise to consummate our marriage once you recovered? (Puppy-dog eyes) (Starts making a move) (Pulls off wife’s clothes) (Wife smells so good) (Kisses wife) (Wife’s skin… so soft) (Heh~!)