Chapter 20

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They got married on the eighteenth, served tea on the nineteenth, and returned to the bride’s home on the twentieth. It wasn’t until the twenty-first of the third month that Rong Tang was able to take a rest.

Having been on the move for three consecutive days, he feels that his legs are about to break. The maids and servant boys are working in the courtyard. Rong Tang awoke according to his biological clock, leaned over, and glanced at the sky outside the window. In the absence of physiological burdens, he buries his face in the pillow and changes his position before falling back to sleep.

Sleepiness, weariness, lack of rest… So why did you think of getting married in the first place? You could’ve just straightaway recognised him as your adopted son.

Rong Tang’s thoughts ran wild. Just as they drifted here, someone knocks lightly on the door twice. A clear and gentle voice came from outside the door: “Tangtang, are you awake?”

Rong Tang’s mouth reacts faster than his brain. As soon as he hears the main villain’s voice, he unthinkingly spoke the truth: “Awake——”

The door creaked open from the outside, and Su Huaijing meandered around the screen. He couldn’t help but laugh when he caught sight of Rong Tang burying himself under the quilt as if he were a chick.

“Sleeping like this is not good for your lungs.” He walks into the inner room and flips over the quilt covering Rong Tang’s head. But he doesn’t ask him to get up. Instead, he sits on the edge of the bed and buries his hands into the quilt to massage Rong Tang’s leg.

Rong Tang is slightly caught off guard, and his body instinctively tenses, but then he relaxes contentedly.

Su Huaijing sits beside the bed, lowers his head, and gently massages his leg for him.

“How did you know my leg hurts?” Rong Tang turned his face sideways and looked at Su Huaijing. His eyes were still foggy after waking up, but his gaze was filled with confusion and joy.

He feels so comfortable being massaged!

It feels more comfortable than sleeping all day! It’s great to have a wife!

Yeah!

Young Master Rong quickly cast away the thoughts he had two minutes ago to the farthest ends of the earth.

His eyes squint, and his toes hidden beneath the quilt unconsciously spread out a little, like a kitten stretching its paws.

Based on this appearance of his, Su Huaijing knows that he is comfortable being served. He couldn’t help smiling but also got used to him: “After running around for so many days, I figured you’d be tired.”

Rong Tang immediately and hastily nods, saying, “Yeah, super—tired!”

Su Huaijing’s eyes curved. He smiles at him, his is voice soft, and has a hint of sweetness, “Husband has suffered.”

Rong Tang: “?”

Rong Tang is dumbstruck for a moment, then he belatedly realises. He blinks twice and stares dazedly at Su Huaijing. What follows is a delayed surge of shame washing over him.

He lifts his hand, tugs the quilt to cover his ears, only exposing his eyes to look at Su Huaijing. He complains in a low voice, “Why are you so skilled in speaking?”

Su Huaijing said: “It’s clearly Tangtang gege who wanted to marry me, but doesn’t permit me to call him Husband?”

“Didn’t—” The words just left Rong Tang’s mouth when he spots Su Huaijing’s tepid gaze. He immediately changes his words and says most fiercely, “That’s right, it’s not allowed!”

Su Huaijing’s smile doesn’t diminish, and he feigns disappointment, saying, “This is too much, Tangtang.”

After saying that, he withdraws his gaze and glances at the slight bulge of the quilt at the foot of the bed. There is always a faintly discernible smile on his lips as he quietly massages his legs for him.

Rong Tang waits for a while but doesn’t get a reply. He leans back and eyes Su Huaijing somewhat curiously: “Ng?”

Su Huaijing smiles: “Ng what?”

Rong Tang asks, “Where’s the follow-up?”

Su Huaijing: “What follow-up?”

Rong Tang is a little infuriated: “You said I was too much, isn’t there any follow-up?”

It shouldn’t be! After making an accusation, shouldn’t a normal person add a long list of ‘crimes’ to serve as evidence proving that the person he is accusing is indeed going too far?

Why is it that when it comes to Su Huaijing, he goes mute after speaking?

After going mute, he still obediently continues to massage his legs??

Rong Tang feels as if he’s being lured. He stares unblinkingly at Su Huaijing, attempting to get a follow-up from him. Su Huaijing lowers his gaze and glances over. His eyes are especially good-looking. When he looks innocently at you, he seems to be harbouring a smile. If he deliberately includes some emotions and expresses some affection, it will certainly make one blush.

Su Huaijing said: “Dayu’s law states that if a wife disrespects her husband, she can be divorced.”

Rong Tang: “?”

Su Huaijing: “I’m afraid Tangtang will cast me away.”

Rong Tang: “??”

Rong Tang subsequently realises, Rong Tang is dumbfounded, Rong Tang endlessly regrets.

As expected, the matters of husband and wife should not have been brought up in the first place!!!

He opens his mouth to retaliate but could utter nothing in reply. He became so rankled that he flops down heavily and pulls the quilt to cover his head. He doesn’t want to look at the main villain at all.

Can’t mess with him; really can’t mess with him.

I have never seen someone so ready to give and take!

Su Huaijing observes that he seems to have been humiliated into anger, so he chuckles softly and inadvertently moves the acupuncture points beneath his hands. Rong Tang’s earlier depression instantly dissipates, and he feels so comfortable that he wishes he can ask Su Huaijing to continue for a few more hours.

Rong Tang groans twice, turns his head in the opposite direction, and enjoys the main villain’s massaging for a while before asking, “Did you come looking for me so early just to massage my legs?”

Su Huaijing smiled, estimating that the time was almost up. He takes his hands out of the quilt, tucks in the corners for Rong Tang, and says, “I wanted to call you to have breakfast together.”

Rong Tang is instantly reluctant. He nuzzles himself into the warm, soft quilt and says vaguely, “I want to sleep.”

Su Huaijing said, “Sleep after eating. There is no need to leave the house today.”

Rong Tang frowned. “Cold…”

Su Huaijing can’t resist laughing: “Eat in bed?”

Rong Tang’s heart shamefully skips a beat, and he turns his head to look at Su Huaijing. In a flash, he slightly tugs at the bottom line and whispers, “Can’t we?”

Su Huaijing also went along with him and lowers his volume as if he were whispering, “Only I’ll know.”

He said, “The kitchen has made mushroom pigeon, bird’s nest with cloud ear slices, and minced chicken with white fungus today… Didn’t you say you wanted to eat Chen Kee’s lion’s head meatballs* yesterday? Shuang Fu went out early in the morning to buy it. It’s still hot now.”

(*TN: large meatballs, usually deep-fried and braised with vegetables.)

When he announced the name of the dish, Rong Tang’s eyes lit up. With each name, his eyes grew brighter until, in the end, they were practically glowing. Su Huaijing’s heart twitched slightly, and he has a mild urge to tousle his hair with his hands. His fingers lightly rub the quilt at the edge of the bed to hold himself back. He asks, “Do you want to eat?”

“Ng!” Rong Tang nods and is about to get up. Su Huaijing is slightly stunned and automatically holds down his quilt, looking suspicious. “Didn’t you say you’re cold?”

Rong Tang is also spaced out for a moment and blinks: “But I haven’t brushed my teeth yet.”

Su Huaijing said, “I’ll go get you tooth powder and a washbasin. You can just wash up on the bed.”

Rong Tang was dumbstruck for a long time and was about to say that this wasn’t good when he heard Su Huaijing say, “It rained last night, and the temperature has dropped a lot today. The charcoal fire has been removed. I’m afraid you will freeze if you get up.”

He turns and walks to the clothes rack, then brings over some clothes for Rong Tang to wear at home. “I’ll get you some tooth powder. You get dressed first.”

Su Huaijing went out after speaking. Rong Tang lay bewilderedly alone on the bed for a long time. Only later did he discern that his ears had turned a little red.

The system didn’t know whether it should be sarcastic or say nothing, but it remarked: [Host, he treats you very well…]

Rong Tang nodded subconsciously. “Indeed.”

During the modern era, when he was a student, he could only be spoiled by his parents during the first two days when he returned home for a long vacation. After transmigrating here, Rong Mingyu doesn’t care about his legitimate son. Although Wang Xiuyu dotes on her son, she still retains the restraints of the ancients in her heart. She will not venture to Rong Tang’s courtyard every day to see if he has eaten well and is warmly clothed.

In the first two lives, Rong Tang only thought about the male protagonist, racking his brains for him and giving him counsel. Even if he fell ill and couldn’t get out of bed, he still had to deliberate with the system on what to do next, whether or not there was any danger ahead. He’d long forgotten that he himself wouldn’t pass the age of twenty before dying.

He truly hasn’t been treated like this for a super, super long time…

That’s not right; he’s never been pampered like this.

When he returns home during the holidays, his parents won’t let him eat in bed, let alone help him to fetch his toothbrush and toothpaste.

Rong Tang buried himself for a while. When footsteps were heard outside the door, he sits up and put on his clothes one by one. Su Huaijing came over, bearing the washbasin. When he noticed that he’d worn a layer of inner and outer clothing each, he smiles and places the washbasin on the rack. Then he takes a soft pillow and props it behind his back. “Here, you wash up first, and I’ll get you breakfast.”

Rong Tang is often sick, and when he can’t get up, he can only sit on the bed and consume some liquid food. A few years ago, the wang fei had specially ordered craftsmen to fashion a small table for him to use on the bed. By the time Rong Tang finished washing up, the table has been filled with plates of exquisite dishes, all of which exuded aromatic smells and aroused appetites.

Su Huaijing carried out the used washbasin and towel for him. Upon coming back, he saw Rong Tang sitting on the bed, looking eagerly at the breakfast. The chopsticks are still in their original positions. His heart warmed slightly as he walked over and asked, “Why aren’t you eating?”

Dimples showed on Rong Tang’s cheeks when he smiled and he replied matter-of-factly, “Waiting for you.”

This time, Su Huaijing finally couldn’t hold back and gently pinches his face with his hands. Rong Tang blinked and looked at him in a confusion. Su Huaijing said, “You didn’t wipe yourself dry.”

“Oh.” Rong Tang isn’t suspicious at all and urges him to sit down to have breakfast together.

Rong Tang has a good appetite and doesn’t resemble an invalid. Su Huaijing reminds him many times to eat slowly. Only then did he reluctantly manage to maintain the same frequency with Su Huaijing to eat breakfast.

After eating, he leans back, rubs his belly, and says subconsciously, “I’m going to turn into a pig.”

Su Huaijing was putting away the dining table. He threw him a light glance when he heard this, poured another cup of tea and handed it over. “It would be great if Tangtang gege could actually gain some weight.”

Rong Tang is instantly alarmed.

Rong Tang looks somewhat curiously at him as he lights a few candles beside the bed. The room suddenly becomes much brighter. He then hands Rong Tang a quilt-covered hot water bottle for him to hold onto. Finally, he brings him some storybooks while he himself sits down on the bed to read a book.

No matter how much he eats, he can’t gain weight. This body is so immensely deprived that he can’t eat enough to make up for his lack of sleep. He eats more just because he is able to eat now, so he wants to eat more. In the later stages, even stuffing food into his mouth is like swallowing razor blades. Now that’s what you call torture.

Outside the house, there is a gentle breeze blowing the leaves. The sky is gloomy, and the sun is constantly hidden behind dark clouds. Rong Tang leaned on the bed, and Su Huaijing came in again after a while.

There is a small table next to the bed with a plate of dried fruits and tea on it. Rong Tang is so happy that he almost floats to the sky. He asks, “Why are you so good?”

Su Huaijing’s eyes curved. “Because you are good to me.”

Rong Tang said that he himself was a very petty person, but in fact, Su Huaijing is thousands of times pettier than him.

He won’t even spare a glance at things he doesn’t care about. However, once someone enters his domain and steals his attention, he can only look at him from now on.

Rong Tang is here on his own will and also treats him well of his own accord. Su Huaijing likes to be treated with such attentiveness; therefore, he is of the view that Rong Tang can only treat him like this.

The young prince is kind-hearted, like a temple’s Buddha. He may shed tears even when he reads a storybook. If he spots a beggar on the way from the palace to Yong’an Lane when he rides a carriage, he can’t help but throw a few extra pennies. Even the gardeners initially hired for the Tangjing Residence are elderly and struggling to find employment, yet they are honest and willing to work.

Kind-hearted people are the easiest ones to fall into traps. If others treat them a little better, they will unwittingly return the favour many times over.

Su Huaijing doesn’t want his repayment. He only wants Rong Tang to know that there will never be anyone in the world who will indulge him more than himself.

He wants Rong Tang to only be his little Buddha.

“Because you are good to me, that’s why I’m good to you.” Su Huaijing smiles tenderly.

If you don’t treat me well, I’ll lock you up in a cage.

–

Early the next morning, they still ate breakfast in bed. Rong Tang spots the sun coming out and wants to get out of bed.

The temperature is suitable, and Su Huaijing doesn’t stop him. He merely repeatedly reminds him to wear more clothes. Then they casually stroll around the courtyard and squat in the corner to look at the flowers.

When Su Huaijing saw the yellow-white camellia plant, he recalls the letters Rong Tang sent, and his expression becomes much gentler. He spends the whole morning trimming the garden with him.

After having lunch, Rong Tang needs to go to sleep as usual. At this time, Su Huaijing said, “I have to go out for a stint in the afternoon.”

Rong Tang keeps walking and nods. “Okay.”

Su Huaijing’s expression changes, and he says, “You’re not going to ask me why I’m going out?”

Rong Tang is puzzled: “Don’t ask.”

Su Huaijing said, “Why don’t you ask?”

Rong Tang is confused and even wanted to reply him directly: Why would I need to ask?

The main villain must have a reason for going out. At the moment, it hasn’t yet reached the later stages. In another two years, if one day Su Huaijing tells him that he is going to the imperial palace to assassinate the emperor, Rong Tang will also believe him.

Knowing too much isn’t a good thing. Rong Tang has learned too many bitter lessons and doesn’t actually have such an intense curiosity.

Yet, Su Huaijing stares unblinkingly at him, with some danger in his gaze. Rong Tang automatically panics. Even though he still doesn’t understand, he asks obediently, “You’re going out because you have something to do?”

Su Huaijing’s expression softened slightly, and he said, “I have made an appointment to meet with a friend at the Liujin Parlour today. I may only come back after eating dinner.”

Rong Tang surmises that this friend is probably the Second Prince. Just as he is about to nod, Rong Zheng’s face suddenly flashes through his mind. He frowns and asks, “Is it just you two alone?”

When Su Huaijing saw him frowning, his mood improved again, and he said, “Ng, the other party’s status is special and dislikes too many people around.”

Only then did Rong Tang feel relieved and reflexively say, “Then you come back a little earlier. I’ll ask Shuang Fu to leave the door unlocked for you.”

Su Huaijing couldn’t hold back and stood a little closer to him. Rong Tang suddenly realises that this man has grown a little taller this month, and now needs to lower his line of sight.

Inwardly, Su Huaijing still feels a little upset and said, “Tangtang, you ought to ask me where I’m going when I go out.”

“?” Rong Tang is a little uncertain. “Then do I have to inform you of my destination when I go out?”

Su Huaijing asks in reply, “Tangtang gege won’t you take me with you when you go out?”

Rong Tang: “…”

He choked for a moment and waved his hand without looking back: “Go quickly; I’m going to sleep.”

Su Huaijing almost died from his cuteness. He follows behind him, prattling until the latter has become utterly vexed and goes into his room. Then he laughed outside the door for a long time, turned around, and headed out of the palace.

Rong Tang allocated money from his own private treasury to make a custom carriage for Su Huaijing. The specifications and styles are all following Rong Tang’s own design. This is the carriage Su Huaijing rode when he brought him back to Tangjing Residence yesterday. When he walked out today, he eyed the horse-hitch posts twice, then withdrew his gaze with some regret. He made his way out of the palace, passed two alleys, and got into a simple carriage.

Once inside, Xingfeng reported to him the happenings of the past few days.

“Ding Laibao has been sentenced to be beheaded after autumn, and Ding Weishan has been fined a year’s salary. The Emperor rewarded the Second Prince with some jewels for his meritorious service in subduing the auspicious beast and specially permitted him to walk in the Ministry of War after adjourning from court.”

It is a privilege for a prince to walk among the Six Ministries. Ever since Dayu was founded two hundred years ago, only the crown princes have had this right.

Su Huaijing gave a smile: “It seems that shufu* likes that white tiger very much.”

(*TN: father’s younger brother. In this case, he means the emperor.)

When Xingfeng heard his address, his face changed slightly, and he said, “Emperor Renshou is hypocritical and cunning. He cares most about reputation and orthodox teachings. Emperor Xuan was attacked by a white tiger back then and only escaped with his life because he was saved by the Eldest Princess Duanyi. Now he’s gone to Mount Tai to worship his ancestors and to induce the white tiger to surrender; of course he’ll be pleased with himself.”

The emotion in his words is so obvious that Su Huaijing doesn’t restrain himself. He just smiled, leaned back, and whimsically opens the hidden compartment in the carriage in search of candied fruit. When he saw a drawer of concealed weapons and medicine, he was startled for a moment. He couldn’t help clicking his tongue, and closing the drawer.

He asks, “How did Chen Feiyi arrange it?”

Xingfeng said: “Feiyi performed meritoriously by presenting the auspicious beast and volunteered to serve the imperial court. The Emperor placed him in the patrol camp, and he received a guard position, which happens to fill Ding Laibao’s vacancy.”

Su Huaijing raised his eyebrows and said, “You’re indeed vigilant.”

The best result of this chess move is that Ding Laibao dies, Ding Weishan is sacked, and Chen Feiyi substitutes Ding Weishan’s position.

But it takes time and opportunity. Su Huaijing isn’t impatient for results. The main purpose of his trip is to gain the Second Prince’s trust through this matter. It is an utterly pleasant surprise that Chen Feiyi can join the patrol camp and be another pair of eyes for him in the capital.

It is a surprise given to him by Rong Tang.

When Su Huaijing thought of this, his expression softened a little, and he asked, “What about the orphans he was raising?”

Xingfeng said, “All of them have been settled according to Master’s instructions. The older ones have been sent to school. Those who really don’t want to go will be led by the shifu* to practice martial arts in the hope that they can serve Master in the future.”

(*TN: An address meaning “master”, someone who teaches a skill.)

Having spoken to this point, he can’t help but secretly glance at Su Huaijing’s expression. When Master was a child, he was the most kind-hearted little prince in the entire imperial palace. Even when he first went to Sichuan, he showed kindness and saved Liuyun.

But in recent years, after arriving here step by step and obtaining each sealed letter, the Master is no longer the muddle-headed, ignorant Seventh Prince from back then.

He’s crueller and more ruthless than anyone. He only does things to achieve his goals, not caring whether he hurts himself or not, and not caring whether or not he takes advantage of innocent people.

Sometimes Xingfeng and Bi Xin are distressed as they watch silently from the sides, fearing that their Master would have to go on like this for the rest of his life, blinded by hatred.

But Chen Feiyi’s incident made him feel that his Master might not have changed. He is still the little prince who loves sweets, who is kind enough to consider the life and future of orphans, and who cares about the opinions of his subordinates who used to follow him.

He feels pleasantly surprised.

Su Huaijing glanced at him and gave a light “ng” without feigning politeness and saying that he didn’t need their services.

It didn’t take much effort to save them; it’s something that conveniently happened. Su Huaijing did what he did entirely because he has a little Buddha at home. If, in the future, he got to know that he had the chance to save a group of half-grown orphans but didn’t, he would probably feel sad.

Su Huaijing doesn’t want him to feel sad.

The carriage moves slowly. The third-month-end sunshine filters through the windows, and there are an endless stream of hawkers on the street.

Yu is as prosperous as ever. Regardless of which emperor is sitting on the throne, no matter which dynasty or generation this era is, as long as Yu is the capital, there will always be wealth and extravagance built up by Fengyue House and Jinfen River.

Su Huaijing fiddles one-handedly with Rong Tang’s waist tablet while he asks Xingfeng questions here and there, but occasionally can’t help wondering if Rong Tang has already woken up from his nap at this time.

Xingfeng notices that his Master seems to be in a particularly good mood today. His brows twitched, and he added, “The Fifth Prince has been rescued.”

Su Huaijing paused slightly and turns his head to cast him an indifferent look.

Xingfeng said: “On the eighteenth of the third month, this subordinate gave the Second Prince a bottle of “Sparrow Feather Powder” and asked him to find someone to sprinkle it on the Fifth Prince’s clothes. The next day, he wanted to feed the white tiger, but the white tiger became almost frenzied, and he very nearly died after being bitten once. It was a passing tutor who risked his life to save him.”

“Tutor?” Su Huaijing asked.

“Seventh year of Qingzhen era’s Third-place Scholar of the imperial examination, Ke Hongxue,” Xingfeng said.

Su Huaijing frowned and asked, “What is his relationship with Grand Tutor Ke?”

Grand Tutor Ke is the Prince’s tutor and suggested to Emperor Renshou some time ago that the Fifth Prince should serve as an assistant minister. He is a minister who has served three transitions of Dayu’s emperors and is the pillar of the country.

Xingfeng replied: “Ke Hongxue is the legitimate grandson of Grand Tutor Ke.”

Su Huaijing said nothing, and his fingers slid along the usual pattern on the waist tablet.

After a long time, he appears to let out a laugh and said softly, “Interesting.”

–

The moon rose and the night fell. In a private room on the third floor of the Liujin Parlour.

Su Huaijing has just been led in by the waiter. A young man in blue robes, who is standing by the window looking at the lights, turns around. He shakes his sleeves and bows, giving him a big salute: “Chengming thanks this gentleman for your advice.”

Su Huaijing returns the salute: “Your Highness exaggerates. Your Highness’ kindness, extraordinary behaviour, and demeanour are the blessings of Dayu’s people. The heavens are grateful for Your Highness’ merits and deeds, thus attracting the auspicious beast to appear. This has nothing to do with this subordinate.”

Sheng Chengming is moved, so he bows again. He ushers Su Huaijing to his seat and toasts him with a cup of wine. After exchanging a few words of greeting, he hurriedly asks, “Sir, there’s still a matter of which I’m unclear.”

Su Huaijing said, “Your Highness, please speak.”

The Second Prince said, “Since Chen Fei has reappeared before my Imperial Father as a ‘warrior’, why did you ask me to reveal his identity to my Imperial Father in the letter you sent yesterday?”

Su Huaijing smiled and asked, “Your Highness hasn’t informed His Majesty yet?”

The Second Prince shook his head.

Su Huaijing asked, “Why?”

Sheng Chengming frowned, hesitating for a while, and said, “Imperial Father has a cautious temper, and right now, he is enthused. If I hastily tell him that the warrior who presented the tiger is the traitor from five years ago, it may arouse suspicion and attract disaster.”

Su Huaijing nods. “Your Highness’ concerns are reasonable.”

The Second Prince’s brows relaxed a little, and then he heard Su Huaijing abruptly ask, “May I ask from whom did Your Highness hear the news about ‘Chen Fei’?”

“Wukang’s Young Lord, Qin Pengxuan.”

Su Huaijing: “Then where did Young Lord Qin learn about it?”

The Second Prince pondered for a while and said, “Apparently, he and his concubine were strolling on the streets and accidentally bumped into a group of people in the Shangyang Inn who were dressed differently from those in the capital. That’s when they became suspicious.”

Su Huaijing then asked: “Young Lord Qin could tell at a glance that they are different from the people in the capital. Chen Fei and others have been staying at Shangyang Inn for so many days; don’t tell me no one noticed? Even if truly no one noticed, there are many young masters from aristocratic families around Your Highness. Who can guarantee that they won’t unintentionally let the news slip?”

The Second Prince is stunned for a moment, then he subsequently senses a chill on his neck. He stares somewhat wide-eyed at Su Huaijing.

Su Huaijing still smiles, as if nothing bothers him: “His Majesty is cautious and acts steadily. He is elated to have just received the auspicious beast; therefore, it’s inevitable that he’s a little negligent. But when this period of time passes, who can guarantee that His Majesty won’t check what happened that day?”

“Firstly, Your Highness still retains the ‘Case of the Remnant Rebels’ and has not yet given His Majesty a satisfactory answer. Secondly, although Ding Laibao has committed many evil deeds and is worthy of death, the timing at which the incident is exposed is too coincidental. Thirdly……” He paused, put away his smile, and the look he gave the Second Prince turned serious: “People’s hearts are unpredictable, especially those youths in their teens. It’s a good thing that Your Highness is kind-hearted and makes many friends, but princelings from noble families compared with officials from poor families are a little less prudent. It would be easier if they are all Your Highness’s confidants, but most of them are still under the shadow of their families and haven’t prepared to set foot in court. It’s difficult to avoid from them having loose tongues.”

“Besides, all the ministers in the capital now know that His Majesty has obtained the auspicious beast, which is a great achievement. Your Highness, just imagine if some young master accidentally reveals the details of this matter while chatting with his family and the news reaches the imperial censor. What will the consequences be?”

The Second Prince is horrified. Forgoing etiquette, he leans forward to grab Su Huaijing’s arm with both hands: “Save me, Sir!”

Su Huaijing resists the urge to withdraw his arm and said, “Your Highness, don’t panic. This matter isn’t difficult.”

He said, “‘Chen Fei’ is indeed a member of the group of rebels from five years ago, but he isn’t the leader——”

“But obviously…” The Second Prince interrupted him sceptically.

Su Huaijing conveniently pulled his arm back and said, “Five years ago, there was indeed a group of rebels who came all the way from the south to the capital, beheading corrupt officials and killing wealthy gentry. It wasn’t until the suburbs of the capital that they were suppressed by troops led by Earl Wukang. Is there such a thing?”

The Second Prince nods. “Indeed, there is.”

Su Huaijing: “What were the rebels rebelling against?”

The Second Prince paused and said hoarsely, “Father——”

Su Huaijing interrupted him: “‘Chen Fei’ and the others have never thought of it this way.”

The Second Prince frowned in confusion.

Su Huaijing: “Those who kill corrupt officials could either be known as rebels or loyalists. They were originally just a group of refugees in the south. They were oppressed by local evil officials, and the people were in dire straits, so they were forced to kill corrupt officials. As they travelled all the way north, they rushed to the rescue whenever they met injustice on the road. ‘Chen Fei’ is one of the refugees who was taken in by the loyalist leader at that time.”

“He isn’t the ringleader. He was blinded by what he saw and assumed that he was doing good things that benefited the people. Until five years ago, when his companions were suppressed, he fled to wander about. Only when he witnessed the prosperity of the Dayu under His Majesty’s rule did he suddenly realise that what he did back then is not exactly what he’d been led to believe.”

The Emperor cannot err; only the people can. The initial inconsistent attitude can only be due to the emperor’s magnanimity, which makes him recall it with gratitude and regret that he didn’t act differently.

Su Huaijing said: “Second Highness met ‘Chen Fei’ during the process of tracking the rebels. At that time, he was seeking the auspicious beast as an offering to the Emperor to make up for his past mistakes. He implored you to give him a chance to mend his ways. You couldn’t resist at that moment; therefore, you silently allowed his actions while dispatching people to covertly follow and monitor him. Once the auspicious beast had been presented to His Majesty, you planned for ‘Chen Fei’ to be detained in the sky prison to await his fate.”

Sheng Chengming was stunned upon hearing this. After a while, he regained his senses and asked, “Then why didn’t you tell me that right away?”

Su Huaijing said: “The auspicious beast is sentient and will never eat unless fed by a particular person. If it’s extremely hungry, it may even eat a person alive. His Highness thought to wait for the white tiger to adapt before imprisoning ‘Chen Fei’—just in case.”

Sheng Chengming asked again, “And why did it happen specifically on the eve of the Taishan Ceremony?”

Su Huaijing shook his head: “It wasn’t prearranged, but it just happened that at that time, ‘Chen Fei’ discovered traces of the white tiger near Mengshan and subdued it. He wanted to deliver it back to the capital, but he met with the Emperor’s guard of honour on his way down the mountain. This is a sign from the heavens, and not someone’s doing. Heaven has allowed an auspicious beast to descend into the world. Heaven is grateful for His Majesty’s many years of hard work and exclusively rewards the emperor.”

Sheng Chengming paused for a while and eyed Su Huaijing with an odd look. He swallowed and asked again, “It’s been five years. Why did Chen Fei return to the capital?”

Su Huaijing said softly, “Because of Ding Laibao.”

The Second Prince is immediately struck speechless. Su Huaijing smiled, looked at him tolerantly, and asked, “Does Your Highness have any other questions?”

The Second Prince sat in the distance and stared at him for a long time. Then he stood up and cupped his hands to salute. Su Huaijing eluded and stopped him before asking, “Then, Your Highness, do you know what you need to do now?”

Second Prince: “Immediately arrest Chen Fei and send him to the sky prison, then go to the imperial palace to beg for Imperial Father’s forgiveness.”

Su Huaijing asked, “What is Your Highness’ crime?”

The Second Prince said: “Firstly, I failed to report what I knew of the case, then, due to a moment’s soft-heartedness and compassion, I let a traitor go. Secondly, I was overly eager to obtain merit. The auspicious beast’s descent to earth is a lucky omen. I wanted to make Imperial Father happy and sought his praise, yet I silently allowed Chen Fei’s behaviour, which is preposterous. Thirdly, during such an important event as the Taishan Ceremony, I almost placed Imperial Father in danger due to my lack of prudence. Even if I secretly assigned someone to follow Chen Fei, in the event, he wasn’t sincere in his loyalty and stealthily assassinated Imperial Father while offering the auspicious beast, I won’t be able to escape the blame.”

The smile on Su Huaijing’s face grew much brighter as he satisfyingly watches his prey leap into the trap. He stands up and bows in deference to the Second Prince: “Your Highness’ intelligence surpasses others; this subject looks up to you endlessly.”

Heat surged within Sheng Chengming’s heart. He steps forward to hold Su Huaijing’s hand and said sincerely, “Sir is righteous. Would you join me to create a prosperous and peaceful world together?”

Su Huaijing’s gaze lowers, and he eyes the hands holding him. Charming ladies laughter that continuously resonated from Fengyue House across the street and the lingering fragrance of flowers merged with the scent of cosmetics in the air made Su Huaijing feel a little nauseous.

But he said, “In ancient times, family business has been passed down to direct descendants. Unfortunately, the Eldest Prince died young, and the Empress has no more children. This subject is ignorant and privately thought… that this world should belong to you, Your Highness.”

Sheng Chengming’s eyes suddenly heated up. He holds Su Huaijing’s hand tightly and randomly cries out “Gentleman” and “Sir” in succession.

Su Huaijing disregards his hysterics. He doesn’t touch a single bite of the food on the table but drinks a few cups of wine and converses about several court affairs. When it turned really dark outside, he could no longer stand it and vexingly drove the Second Prince out before getting down to business.

Before Sheng Chengming left, he asks in reluctance, “Sir, do you truly not wish to reside in my house?”

Once the prince reaches sixteen, he is allowed to leave the imperial palace and establish a residence. The Second Prince’s mansion is located on the street of the Eldest Princess. He and Su Huaijing hit it off right from the start and he wholeheartedly wants to let him live in the mansion so that they can discuss important matters together in the future and spend candlelight nights chatting together.

The experienced Su Huaijing smiled and tactfully declined: “This subject is already married and does not wish to be parted from my family.”

The Second Prince is instantly regretful, but he can’t forcefully break up someone’s family, so he can only leave.

After he left, Su Huaijing regards his clothes and then his hands; his expression is extremely unsightly.

Xingfeng came in immediately, carrying a basin of water. Su Huaijing washes his hands, changing the water three times before he feels the disgust clinging to his hands subside a little.

Xingfeng asked, “Master needs to return to the palace?”

Su Huaijing nods and asks, “Have you bought the dried meat?”

“I’ve bought it. It’s the shop’s latest snack and it’s hot-selling. I’ve bought two packs.” Xingfeng replies.

Su Huaijing smiles and walks downstairs a little faster.

Dayu’s curfew isn’t until after midnight, and now is a bustling time. There are many vendors and a variety of performers on the street. Fengyue’s popular staff are downstairs soliciting customers. Those in Liujin Parlour are eating to their hearts’ content. On the left, flower lanterns streak across the Jinfen River. Kongming lanterns* bearing wishes float in the night sky above high buildings. The level of extravagance in Dayu draws envy and restlessness from smaller nations with limited resources.

(*TN: A type of weather-proof lantern that is usually used during festivals. Occasionally, wishes are written on it.)

Su Huaijing has just gone out, and when he inhales the mixture of scents in the air, he twirls his waist tablet with some irritation. When he turns his head, he catches a glimpse of a carriage parked on the corner, not far from the Liujin Parlour.

He is astonished for a moment, and Xingfeng immediately disappears into the shadows, leaving only the dried meat where Su Huaijing can reach it as soon as his hands are free.

Su Huaijing pauses, blinks a little, then bends down and picks up the meat. He walks over in disbelief and sees the mark of Duke Ningxuan’s Palace engraved on the carriage.

He asks Shuang Shou, who is squatting in front of the carriage, “Why are you here?”

Shuang Shou has been waiting all night and is so sleepy that he is on the verge of yawning. When he hears the question, he hurriedly holds it back. When he saw the person coming, he stood up and called out, “Sir*, you’ve figured it out. If you don’t come, Young Master will be exhausted from waiting!”

(*TN: In the raws, Shuang Shou addresses Su Huaijing as 郎君 (lángjūn) which means “husband”—he means his Young Master’s husband, not his own. And I know he’s technically the “wife” since he married into Rong Tang’s family, so, to avoid confusion, I’ll be using “sir” or another similar word that best suits the context in such a scenario.)

Su Huaijing’s pupils dilated a little, and his eyes automatically shift to the closed carriage door: “Tangtang is here too?”

Shuang Shou opens the carriage door and lifts the curtain while saying, “Exactly. Young Master has also been waiting for you with this servant for almost two hours——”

Before he finished speaking, Su Huaijing has already jumped onto the carriage. The carriage is lit with candles, and a plate of peeled hazelnut shells has been placed on the small table. Rong Tang is sitting in his seat, so bored, until he’d begun building a city wall with hazelnut shells. When he heard the movement, he lazily raised his eyes and glanced over. His voice is cold and arrogant, carrying a subtle pampered undertone: “When you come to your senses, come over and sit down. I’m so drowsy that I want to go back to sleep.”

Su Huaijing sits next to him; his Adam’s apple rolling over and over again, but he still can’t hold back and says softly, “Why are you here?”

Rong Tang asks in response, “Why did I have a carriage custom-made for you?”

Su Huaijing replies, “For the convenience of travelling.”

Rong Tang lifts his index finger and crash, knocks over the wall made of hazelnut shells on the table. He casts Su Huaijing an annoyed look and said, “Such being the case, why don’t you use it when you go out?”

Su Huaijing was silent for a moment, then said, “…It’s too ostentatious.”

“…”

Rong Tang was choked off and couldn’t be bothered to look at him. He lifts up the thin blanket covering his body to shift it higher and scolds him with an especially irritated tone: “Oh!”

The carriage starts moving, and the noise gradually fades away. Su Huaijing stares at Rong Tang for a while, then silently lowers his head and peels another plate of hazelnuts for him. The white kernels pile together, each one round, chubby, and cute beyond words.

Su Huaijing nudges him forward. Rong Tang opens his eyes to glare at him. Su Huaijing whispers, “I was wrong, Tangtang; don’t be upset.”

“…”

Rong Tang isn’t actually angry. He just had dinner today and wanted to walk around to aid his digestion. Somehow, he made his way out of the house. Incidentally, he glanced at the horse-hitch posts and instantly felt a little unhappy.

The carriage he specially customised for Su Huaijing is large and comfortable. Even the chosen wood is high-quality small-leaf rosewood. But Su Huaijing, on the other hand, refuses to take the carriage when going out.

He doesn’t doubt that someone would come to pick him up, but it is definitely impossible for them to pick him up and drop him off right at the doorstep of Duke Ningxuan’s Palace.

Rong Tang is someone who can’t even manage two steps without getting out of breath. He completely doesn’t understand why someone will leave a carriage home without using it and choose to walk back instead.

Are you training your body?

Moreover, if he hits the curfew while walking on the streets late at night, the imperial guards might very well publicly detain him.

The carriage he gave to Su Huaijing bears the mark of Ningxuan Palace. Even if he really comes across the imperial guards, no one would dare stop him.

He ignores the convenience offered for free and insists on making himself suffer. What’s the use of all the gold he spends on Boyboy?

The more Rong Tang thought about it, the more upset he became, so he simply asked Shuang Shou to drive him outside Liujin Parlour to wait for him.

He’d deliberately faced Su Huaijing with a cold expression, but when he heard him apologising in a soft voice, he couldn’t maintain that look. Rong Tang glanced sideways at Su Huaijing twice, then reaches out, picks up a hazelnut kernel, stuffs it into his mouth, and returns Su Huaijing’s words to him: “Not to be repeated.”

Su Huaijing then smiled. The irritable mood he felt all night long of wanting to kill is replaced by a joy that verges on overflowing. He wants to suppress his emotions, but he can’t. He stretched out his hand in front of Rong Tang, his fingertips dusting off lots of hazelnut crumbs.

The brown-yellow colour scattered on the white surface making it strikingly garish.

Su Huaijing said coquettishly, “My hands are dirty; can Tangtang wipe them for me?”

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