Title: This Husband Is Frail And Weak
Original title: 权倾天下[重生]
Author: 鱼西球球 (Yuxi Qiuqiu)
Translated by: ~PurpleLy~
Rong Tang’s throat tightened, and his biological instincts were triggered. Su Huaijing is noticeably smiling, but he feels as if his throat is being clamped between this person’s teeth, where he can snap it off in one bite, causing blood to spurt everywhere.
Rong Tang swallows his saliva and decisively begs for his pardon: “I was wrong.”
Su Huaijing doesn’t let him off the hook and still asks slowly, “Where are you wrong?”
Rong Tang: “?”
The system couldn’t stand watching and suggests, [Host, why don’t you just pretend to faint?]
“I would like to…” Rong Tang said, “But I can’t faint now.”
He ponders for a while and tentatively asks, “You don’t like it when I cheated Rong Zheng of those things? You think that I’ve behaved badly?”
Su Huaijing smiles when he hears this, and his tone is very indulgent: “Tangtang can do anything. I’ll even help you kill people, set fires, bury corpses, and flay their skins. You don’t have to worry about this.”
But Rong Tang became even more frightened after hearing this. He thought for a long time, but he truly doesn’t know where, in the conversation with Rong Zheng earlier, that he’s stabbed Su Huaijing in the lungs—this little King of Hell. By some curious coincidence, Rong Tang purposely wants to ask, ‘It can’t be that I told Rong Zheng you are his saosao that you are unhappy?’. But as soon as this thought emerged, he suppressed it with all his might.
Can’t ask that!
Instinct tells him that, under no circumstances, can he ask this question! If he asks out loud, the string of the cloak might slash directly into his neck.
Rong Tang’s face crumpled. He is a little scared and feels somewhat aggrieved, as he can’t come up with anything, no matter how much he thinks. Su Huaijing is still looking at him with a lowered gaze, and his idle fingers are lightly stroking the collar, almost as if he will be directly pinching his neck in the next second.
After a prolonged stalemate, Rong Tang has no choice but to gentle his tone: “Huaijing.”
“Ng?” Su Huaijing replied.
“I’m hungry.”
Su Huaijing’s movements froze. Rong Tang is looking at him, appearing terribly innocent and wronged. He raises his eyes timidly and repeats softly, “I’m so hungry; I didn’t even eat just now…”
The moon outside the courtyard has already risen above the branches, and there’s the subtle chirping of insects. Su Huaijing stares at the extremely aggrieved face under the candlelight and remained silent for a long time, but loosens his hand in the end.
Rong Tang feels a little happy. Su Huaijing turns around and takes all the things he’d prepared before, then strides out of the courtyard.
Rong Tang hurriedly follows, remaining close to him to try and match the same pace.
Before they walked out of the moon gate, Su Huaijing’s steps slowed in order to maintain a speed with which Rong Tang can keep up without having to walk fast.
He still didn’t look at Rong Tang and only called out softly, “Tangtang.”
“Here!” Rong Tang smiled as he responded loudly.
Thus, Su Huaijing is rendered speechless again. He endures and endures, but still can’t bear it. He angles his head to glare fiercely at Rong Tang.
Rong Tang instantly panicked. Even his neck shrank, and his voice dropped eight points: “Here, here.”
Su Huaijing said coldly: “You cannot eat spicy hot pot tonight.”
Rong Tang exploded immediately, “Why?!”
Su Huaijing: “When you know where you went wrong, come back and make demands of me.”
“But how can it count as hot pot if it’s not spicy?” Rong Tang contends.
Su Huaijing made a “ng” sound: “What you said makes sense.”
Rong Tang is overjoyed, but before he can rejoice, he hears Su Huaijing say, “That’s why I’ll eat spicy.”
Rong Tang: “?”
“Then, what about me?” he asks feebly.
Su Huaijing: “Shudao Pavilion has made a new type of pot called ‘Mandarin Pot’. You eat from the clear soup.”
Rong Tang: “???” Do you need to be so avant-garde?
He is so infuriated to the point of being half-dead that he stops in his tracks and stares in annoyance at Su Huaijing. The main villain doesn’t indulge him this time. He also stops and looks down at him leisurely. The moonlight is like water, and Su Huaijing is incredibly stern: “You don’t want to eat?”
Rong Tang nods.
As a result, Su Huaijing begins walking towards Tanghua Courtyard: “Then go back. I’ll head to the kitchen and see if there are any ingredients to cook a bowl of noodles for you.”
Rong Tang is flabbergasted. He abruptly raises his hand to tug on Su Huaijing’s sleeve and almost blurts out, “You’ve changed.”
If Su Huaijing doesn’t indulge him, at least his first alternative is to personally cook so that Rong Tang can fill his stomach. But if Su Huaijing does indulge him, forgive Rong Tang for saying it bluntly: the contrast is too striking, his psychological gap is massive!
Even bigger than the bottom of a mandarin pot!
Rong Tang feels a little wronged and mumbles, “Clearly, it was you who said you would take me to eat hot pot.”
He suggested it first! He tempted him! Rong Tang is a little miffed.
Just a little!
Su Huaijing said, “But it was Tangtang who said you’d be with me for a lifetime.”
Rong Tang is a little startled; most of his emotions have leaked away, and he doesn’t quite fathom how the topic has jumped to this point. But he suspects that the main villain has secretly changed the subject, and he has the evidence!
Rong Tang frowned and strictly corrected: “I said that I would protect you until I die.”
The atmosphere around Su Huaijing suddenly became heavy, but because it was night, Rong Tang didn’t notice it immediately. He only heard him ask, “Then, after that?”
Rong Tang is alarmed. “After that, you should be able to protect yourself.”
After that, he will already be the emperor; who will he need to protect himself? Rong Tang is utterly confused.
Su Huaijing takes a step closer, lowers his head, and says in a deep voice, “Tangtang, you said before that you wouldn’t lie to me, right?”
That sense of danger emerges again. Rong Tang instinctively tries to retract his hand, but Su Huaijing catches hold of him instead.
He hesitates for a moment and nods. “Yes.”
Su Huaijing asks, “That night at the medical clinic, what reason did you use when you proposed marriage to me?”
Rong Tang discovers that he can’t have trouble keeping up with his thinking and ponders rigorously about what he’d casually said at that time.
Just as it came to him, he heard Su Huaijing say: “Rescue me from being caged, fulfill your filial piety to your mother on your behalf, and help teach your didis a lesson.”
Rong Tang hesitated a little. He is keenly aware that he’s deviated from everything he said.
Coincidentally, the degree of significance of the matters happens to be in this order.
Su Huaijing gave a soft laugh, rubbing the back of Rong Tang’s hand with his fingers, and asking him absentmindedly, “Tangtang, do you really need me to help teach your didis a lesson?”
“!”
Rong Tang immediately understood.
The first reason he used to trick Su Huaijing into marrying him was that his didis are bullying him and he wants Su Huaijing to teach them a lesson.
After today’s family dinner, say nothing about Rong Zheng bullying him; he’s been bullied in return to the extent that he’d broken into a cold sweat and even sent gifts to Tanghua Courtyard. No matter how you look at it, it totally differs from the excuse Rong Tang made before.
He can say that it was Rong Yuan and Rong Zheng who bullied him, but objectively speaking, even if they are actually targeting Rong Tang, is he incapable of paying them back? He’s never been a little ball that anyone can take advantage of.
If Su Huaijing can ask this question, he must already have the answer. Rong Tang doesn’t want to lie to him about it anymore.
They have to live together for over three years. He can’t keep putting on an act to deceive Su Huaijing.
Rong Tang lowered his head somewhat guiltily and chose to remain silent.
Su Huaijing gently taps his fingertips on his hand and seems to sigh. He takes the initiative to concede and asks, “Tangtang, before these reasons, you said something else; what was it?”
Rong Tang is a little dazed when he glances up at Su Huaijing.
The main villain’s double tricks are exceptionally remarkable. The smiling phoenix eyes are gentle and affectionate, while the silent stare is cold and clear. Rong Tang considered it and wavered as he spoke: “I fell in love with you at first sight?”
“Ng.” Su Huaijing said, holding his hand and leading him out of the courtyard. His tone is unhurried: “Then treat it as if you fell in love with me at first sight.”
Rong Tang: “?”
He’s a little baffled, but it’s not difficult to accept. After all, the main villain has the resources to make others fall in love with him at first sight, but what Rong Tang feels about him might be paternal love.
He is silent for a while, then he stole a glance at Su Huaijing’s expression and asked in a low voice, “You’re not angry anymore?”
Su Huaijing turned his head and looked askance at him. He asked helplessly, “How angry do you want me to be?”
Once you get angry, you act spoiled; once you settle accounts, you feign innocence. You admit mistakes faster than anyone else and look at people most aggrievedly. Who can continue to stay angry?
Rong Tang understands what he means. He lowers his gaze to display his slightly guilty conscience. He still feels that this doesn’t seem to be the complete answer. There’s something more crucial that he appears to have overlooked. The main villain’s sudden anger tonight is definitely not because he discovered that he can actually deal with Rong Zheng by himself.
But Su Huaijing is already holding his hand and walking ahead, as if he doesn’t want to bother with it: “Let’s go to Shudao Pavilion. Your health isn’t too good, so you can’t eat food that’s too spicy. You can only eat a little bit. I’ll get you some water to rinse it once*.”
(*TN: means he will dunk the cooked food in the water before letting Rong Tang eat it, so that it clears off some of the spiciness.)
Rong Tang’s eyes lit up for a moment, and just as he was about to speak, Su Huaijing threw him a cold glance: “If you act spoiled again, I really won’t bring you to eat.”
Rong Tang curled his lips and grumbled to himself, “I didn’t say I wouldn’t agree. You’re really awful.”
He clearly just wanted to say thank you!
–
The night markets of the imperial city are essentially concentrated on the street of Fengyue House.
The Jinfen River that winds around the city connects the prosperity of the entire Yujing. The ten miles of Shuileng Street are brightly illuminated at night, with high pavilions, elegant music, gambling houses, restaurants, and smoke-shrouded corridors. Painted boats float on the river, and horse-drawn carriages outlined with gold pass through the streets one after another. This is nothing if not the wealthiest place in the world.
The Shudao Pavilion they are heading to is a Sichuan restaurant that has just been renovated and reopened two days ago. Its main business is hot pot. It is said that the owner is an authentic Sichuan native. Business has been booming these two days, and the aroma of spicy peppers wafts throughout the entire Shuileng Street.
As soon as Rong Tang got off the carriage, he took a sniff and couldn’t help sneezing.
Su Huaijing frowned a little, and his footsteps paused for a moment. He almost wanted to return to the palace right then, but Rong Tang hurried to stop him: “It was abruptly irritated just then. I’m fine now, really fine.”
He is so greedy for this hot pot. It has been so difficult for the main villain to be willing to bring him here to eat. Even if he has to eat the hot pot rinsed with clear water, he definitely doesn’t want to go back.
Su Huaijing eyed him for a while. Ultimately, he can’t do anything about it but lead Rong Tang inside.
Shudao Pavilion has a total of three floors. The first floor is divided into two halves. One half is filled with square tables for dining guests, and the other half contains some small folding stools, trays of fruits, and snacks. Small tables have been placed like a fan encircling a small square platform.
There are performers from Sichuan who are playing and singing on the platform with bamboo harps, lutes, and other musical instruments. There are many people sitting around. One or a few people sit around a small table, listening to short songs. There is a wooden number plate on each table. Every now and then, a waiter will come over to find the guests with the corresponding number plate and lead them into the inner hall or upstairs.
Rong Tang observed it for a long time. He is a little confused and subconsciously asked the system, “Is this… numbered calling?”
The system is also very confused. It has studied the knowledge of the host’s era and is very familiar with this torturous marketing method that has been created by some so-called famous stores. It hooks the guests in, tempting them. Through a window or a door, they can view the guests inside with flushed faces and devouring their delicious food. They themselves are holding the number plate, reluctant to leave, and then they will wait to be called so they can get a table to eat.
[Truly amazing.] It praised most sincerely.
Rong Tang nodded. He couldn’t help turning his head to Su Huaijing and saying, “The owner of this store is terribly clever.”
He just casually scanned around, not to mention the people already sitting in the hall but also in the outer hall. Among those waiting for their numbers to be called are many young masters and young ladies who are the children of officials of the current dynasty or from noble families. The owner of Shudao Pavilion is not only smart but also skilled. To be able to make these people sit peacefully without abusing their authority to bully others, he is truly an outstanding individual among people.
“Is that so?” Su Huaijing smiled, wanting to lead him upstairs.
Rong Tang was startled and pointed to the boy sitting behind the table at the door: “Don’t we need to take a number?”
Su Huaijing’s eyebrows lifted a little as he looked at him, and Rong Tang felt his heart thud and a sort of premonition that wasn’t too good.
In the next second, everyone noticed the owner of Shudao Pavilion walking over from the lobby. He lowers his head and said, “Is it Prince Ningxuan and the Shizi Fei? There’s a private room reserved upstairs. Both of you, please head upstairs.
When Rong Tang heard this voice, he knew that his premonition had come true. He turned around unrelentingly and happened to spot a handsome and determined face.
It’s Xingfeng, of all people, another confidant of Su Huaijing’s.
Rong Tang finally realises what feels off.
In his past two lives, Shudao Pavilion is also a restaurant, but like the Liujin Parlour, it sells premium dishes. Although the business is good, it wasn’t as prosperous as it is now, having focused solely on one trade.
[Host, what are you thinking about?] The system has obviously detected the clues.
Rong Tang sweeps his melancholy gaze around the restaurant at the people who are dining and those who are waiting for a table. The moonlight is glowing brightly outside the building. It still hasn’t reached curfew time yet, and there is still a steady stream of horse-drawn carriages coming in this direction along the long street.
Rong Tang: “…I want to invest.”
System: [?]
“It’s so profitable!” Rong Tang can’t help complaining, “Boyboy used my money to open the shop; why can’t he let me become a shareholder?!”
With Shudao Pavilion, if he opens a few more chains in Dayu, the profits will definitely be impressive!
Rong Tang really, really, really wants to become a shareholder!
He admits that he’s just greedy for money.
Rong Tang threw a resentful look at Su Huaijing. Su Huaijing is somewhat stunned and habitually narrows his eyes to look at Xingfeng.
He began to contemplate whether he’d been discovered when he’d asked Xingfeng to monitor Rong Tang, so Rong Tang has associated this shop with him. But before he had time to dwell on it, Rong Tang had already looked away. He acted as if nothing had happened and moved to follow Xingfeng upstairs.
Just as he’d taken two steps, a laughing voice could be heard from behind. It sounded quite frivolous and was veritably the epitome of the four words ‘playboy with rich parents’: “Boss Feng, when I came here yesterday, you said that we’re not allowed to reserve a seat or have our servants take the number in advance. Today, as soon as the Prince shows up, why did you invite him upstairs?”
Rong Tang paused for a moment, then turned around and saw a young man dressed in pink stand up from a small table. He tossed a handful of melon seed shells, then put the melon seed kernels onto another plate and handed them to his companion at the same table.
He smiled, clapped to dust off his hands, bent down, and saluted Rong Tang: “I, Ke Hongxue, greets the Prince.”
Xingfeng frowned and was about to explain when the others heard Ke Hongxue say, “Don’t be anxious. I’m not some great warrior who always wants to uphold justice when seeing wrongdoings wherever I go.”
Ke Hongxue looked at Rong Tang and gave an unrestrained smile: “I’ve merely waited for two days and still didn’t get a table. I finally managed to invite my senior here today. If we’re not able to eat, I’m afraid he won’t want to come out with me in the future. Your Highness, would you please do me a favour and share a table with us?”
Rong Tang glanced past him to eye the young man behind him.
The young man is dressed in white, simple and refined, with a charming face, and blessed with natural beauty. However, he is solemn, like a stern-looking King of Hell.
Having known him for three lifetimes, it seems Rong Tang has never once seen him smile sincerely.
He is the top scholar of the same year as Ke Hongxue and the assistant minister of the Ministry of Justice, Mu Jingxu.
In addition, he is also the true mentor of the male protagonist, Sheng Chengli. Rong Tang used to think that they should be close friends, but it seems that beneath Mu Jingxu’s calm face is a pool of stagnant water that cannot make any waves. No one can get close to him except Ke Hongxue.
Everything he does has only one purpose: to push Sheng Chengli onto the throne.
And did the incident itself bring him any pleasure? Rong Tang doesn’t know.
He didn’t succeed and had died earlier than himself.
……
Rong Tang pondered for a moment, then turned to look at Su Huaijing. Su Huaijing asked, “Tangtang wants to share a table with them?”
Rong Tang nods. Su Huaijing smiles and says, “Then let’s sit together.”
Ke Hongxue cups his fists and thanks him again. He turns around to pull Mu Jingxu up, but as soon as his hand touches his sleeve, he is flung off. The young man in white threw him a cold look. Ke Hongxue coaxed with a smile: “Go on. I’ve got to go to the flower-picking festival tomorrow. In that case, I’ll assume that you’re accompanying me?”
Mu Jingxu coldly asks in return, “Why should I accompany you?”
Ke Hongxue clutches his heart in exaggeration, feeling a little hurt: “Waa, you are so heartless aaa. I was almost bitten to death by a tiger because of your little student, so you’re not even willing to have a hot pot meal with me?”
After speaking, before Mu Jingxu could choke him, Ke Hongxue laughed again: “Senior, I’m really greedy aaa. It’s not like you don’t know that Ol’ San* is adept at composing poetry and using fancy language. Each time he hosts a banquet, all the food is light and sweet. This flower-picking festival will last for seven days. I might just die of temptation.”
(*TN: san = three/ third—he’s referring to the third prince.)
“No one asked you to go,” Mu Jingxu said.
Ke Hongxue then smiled: “You’re going; how can I not go?”
Rong Tang’s brows can’t help twitching when he hears them openly discussing the flower-picking festival in public.
It’s like seeing a warrior when he sees Ke Hongxue. He knows from before that this Third-place Scholar’s style and behaviour are extremely bizarre. He’s frivolous when talking to others. Even Rong Tang has experienced it many times.
However, Rong Tang has only witnessed a handful of private conversations between him and Mu Jingxu. He never expected that they would be so impudent.
Rong Tang is incredibly curious. How can Mu Jingxu resist the urge to kill him?
It’s like he’s watching a show that doesn’t require tickets. Many people around him have already turned their attention to him. Su Huaijing’s expression has darkened, and he threw Xingfeng a look.
Xingfeng understood and took a step forward: “Excellency Ke, Excellency Mu, please decide quickly whether you want to go up together. The shop is busy, and obstructing the middle of the pathway will delay the efficiency of the waiters serving food. I appreciate your understanding.”
When he heard this, Ke Hongxue rushed to Xingfeng and said repeatedly, “Want, want, want!” Then he leans over, grabs Mu Jingxu’s wrist, and leads him forward: “Senior is the best. You accompany me this time; I’ll accompany you next time. We’ll both give and take!”
Rong Tang, who was walking ahead, couldn’t help looking back upon hearing these words.
Third-place Scholar Ke, Tutor Ke, are you sure that our assistant minister of the Ministry of Justice is willing to ‘give and take’ with you?
Rong Tang’s expression is uncharacteristically splendid. He is somewhat enthusiastic, but he is trying his utmost to suppress it. When Su Huaijing saw it, his eyes darkened slightly, and he whispered, “Tangtang, don’t look at others.”
Rong Tang was a little spaced out. He automatically turned his head to look in puzzlement at Su Huaijing.
But Su Huaijing smiled again, as gentle as jade, as if he were jesting earlier. He spoke in a most relaxed tone that was hard to distinguish if he was lying or not: “If not, I won’t want to bring you out next time.”
The system came online at the right time. [Host, he just said the truth.]
Rong Tang: “…I thank you very much.”
Fortunately, there was such an interlude. During the time he walked from the lobby to the third floor, Rong Tang kept looking straight ahead, his line of sight obediently and steadily focused on the floor at his feet. Su Huaijing’s mood finally stabilised a little, and he allowed Xingfeng to lead them into the private room.
It is located near the river. From the window, you can see the glittering lanterns floating on the Jinfen River when you look down. When the crowds aren’t too noisy, you can even hear the popular songs sung in the brothels of Fengyue House. Faint yet elusive, it is rather pleasant to the ears. However, the air lacks the lingering fragrance of rouge. It is more the scent of weeping willows and green grass by the river downstairs as well as the smell of spicy food wafting from Shudao Pavilion.
Rong Tang is very happy with this private room, but Su Huaijing doesn’t seem too satisfied. He hears the noise outside and looks at Xingfeng without revealing any emotion, his gaze bears a hint of reproach.
Xingfeng silently lowers his head and glances at Rong Tang, who is obviously very thrilled.
“.…..”
The Master clearly said that a private room should be prepared according to the Prince’s preference and kept empty every day. He noticed that Rong Tang evidently likes it very much.
Xingfeng forces himself not to look at Su Huaijing and provides them with the menu before silently exiting and getting the waiter to serve them instead.
Naturally, Rong Tang is the first to put in his order. He hasn’t eaten hot pot for a long time. Firstly, because of his poor health, Wang Xiuyu won’t give him anything too spicy. Secondly, although Dayu is prosperous, it ultimately cannot compare to the abundance of material resources in the modern world. The meals served are often seasonal foods. It is practically impossible if you want to eat anything out-of-season.
Moreover, don’t even mention those ingredients that require refrigeration to keep fresh. In ancient times, the cost of making ice is too high, and few people except the imperial court can afford ice.
Therefore, when Rong Tang saw “Fresh Iced Tripe” written on the menu, his eyes couldn’t help widening, and he immediately turned his head to ask Su Huaijing, “Iced?”
Currently, it’s only the end of the third month. Even if there is ice, isn’t it too much of a waste to use it to chill tripe?
Rong Tang suddenly felt that it was a good thing not to become a shareholder. The cost of Boyboy’s hot pot restaurant seems a tad high, and it might not necessarily be profitable.
Unexpectedly, before Su Huaijing could reply, Ke Hongxue said, “So Prince doesn’t know yet? The reason why Shudao Pavilion is so popular, valuable, and difficult to obtain is because they select the freshest ingredients. Freshly slaughtered beef and mutton, fruits from the southwest, highland barley from northern Xinjiang… As long as you can imagine it, Boss Feng can acquire it. They’ve even purchased a farm in the suburbs and dug the ground specifically to store ice. Boss Feng said, when the weather gets hotter, all three stories of Shudao Pavilion will be filled with ice slabs to lower the temperature.”
Rong Tang was flabbergasted by Su Huaijing’s astonishing level of extravagance. “!?”
Ke Hongxue drew out a jasper folding fan from his waist and waved it slowly: “But likewise, the average person cannot afford this price.”
Rong Tang hesitated for a moment and asked this Third-place Scholar, who’s never eaten before but appears incredibly experienced, “So how much does this meal of ours cost?”
Ke Hongxue stretched out a finger and wagged it.
Rong Tang: “A hundred taels?”
Ke Hongxue shakes his head.
Rong Tang was shocked: “A thousand taels?”
Ke Hongxue smiled like a fox: “Spending for the private rooms on the third floor starts at a hundred gold, not to mention that it overlooks a singularly divine scenery. Shudao Pavilion has been open for several days, and this private room has been empty for those few days until tonight’s arrival of Prince and Shizi Fei. Only now does this subject have the opportunity to come up and experience it.”
Rong Tang was initially alarmed by the price that he’d blurted out. He was stunned for a moment. Before he could digest his Boyboy’s amazing business acumen, he suddenly discerned the other meaning of Ke Hongxue’s words.
He frowned, poured himself a cup of tea, and then placed the teapot in front of Su Huaijing to block the Third-place Scholar’s unabashed and probing gaze. He said in a low voice, “Since it is hard to come by, Tutor Ke and your fellow senior ought to enjoy yourselves.”
Ke Hongxue is a smart person. Even if Rong Tang has lived three lifetimes, he cannot deny that. This Tutor Ke looks quite unreliable and weird but obviously has the ability to govern the country alone, yet he strolls around with his caged birds, admires flowers, charms and attracts others every day. Despite all that, he is a very intelligent person.
Although his words weren’t ostensibly stated, there are a fair number of hidden meanings in them.
Rong Tang is sure that his suggestion downstairs just now of sharing a table isn’t prompted by a sudden impulse.
He clearly has suspicions regarding Su Huaijing’s identity and background.
Ke Hongxue’s brows twitched. His pair of peach-blossom eyes can’t hide his smile. He unfolds the jasper folding fan and lifts it up to cover half his face. He pretends to be intimate and cosies up to Mu Jingxu. It looks like he is whispering, but in fact, all the words are spoken without being spoken: “Senior, you see, after drinking nuptial wine and getting married, couples are different. I haven’t said anything yet, and the Prince is protecting the Shizi Fei like this, fearing that I’ll eat him up.”
With a frosty expression, frosty resolve, and frosty tone, Mu Jingxu stretched out an index finger to push Ke Hongxue together with his fan a few inches away: “If you’re envious, go marry one yourself.”
Ke Hongxue closed the folding fan with a swish, took out the menu that Rong Tang had ordered, casually read out the names of a few dishes to the waiter, then smiled and said to Mu Jingxu, “That’s fine. When I go to pay my respects to Teacher during this year’s Dragon Boat Festival, I’ll ask him to betroth Senior to me.”
There hasn’t been much movement from Su Huaijing, but the moment he heard these words, he inadvertently raises his eyes to look at the two people sitting opposite.
Rong Tang couldn’t hold back and said unhappily, “Don’t listen to his nonsense. Half of the girls in Fengyue House are his close lady friends. It’ll be an aberration if he can get married.”
Su Huaijing raised his eyebrows, but before he could say anything, Ke Hongxue smiled and asked, “The Prince has inquired about this Subject?”
Rong Tang covertly rolled his eyes and thought to himself, Do I still need to inquire? When I went to Fengyue House for the first time, weren’t you the one who dragged me there?
He’d chosen six ladies to accompany them as they sat at one side. They sang, danced, and played mahjong. The lively atmosphere was filled with cheerful laughter and joyful voices. Whoever’s hand he caught, he would ask if they had a sweetheart and whether they were willing to go back to the Ke residence with him.
If it weren’t for Grand Tutor Ke’s high moral character and his strict upbringing, only heaven knows how many more of the Ke family’s great-grandchildren there will be in this imperial city.
But he said: “Tutor Ke is known for his elegance throughout the imperial capital, and half the city’s noble daughters hope to enter the Ke family’s doors. Even if they don’t inquire, they would’ve heard about it.”
Ke Hongxue smiled heartily. His gaze shifted to Rong Tang and Su Huaijing, then he looked away while he conveniently peeled the melon seeds for Mu Jingxu.
When Rong Tang observed them like this, he suddenly felt a little distracted.
He recalls that during his first two lives, Mu Jingxu died very early. This man’s health seems to be worse than his own. The Ministry of Justice is occupied with and diligently attends to official business every day, not to mention that he also works assiduously as an adviser to Sheng Chengli. Mu Jingxu died both times in the winter, and after his death, Ke Hongxue’s whereabouts became unknown.
Although he feels that Mu Jingxu is extremely cold, looking at it now, his health doesn’t seem bad to the extent that he will die.
Rong Tang doesn’t comprehend, but a sentence he just heard downstairs flashed through his mind.
—‘I was almost bitten to death by a tiger because of your little student’.
Therefore, can it be said that Mu Jingxu has already joined the male protagonist’s camp?
Rong Tang was thinking about how to inquire tacitly so as not to arouse suspicion when his hand that had been on the table was moved down by someone.
Su Huaijing took a towel that had been soaked in hot water, lowered his head, and slowly wiped each finger one by one for him. The warm touch spread across his knuckles. Rong Tang blinked and was about to say thank you.
Su Huaijing smiled and, as if by accident, he said softly, “Tangtang seems to have heard a lot of new things in the past three months.”
For a moment, Rong Tang is stumped and belatedly detects a chill. Deep down he is horrified. Goosebumps instinctively appeared on his wrist, then Su Huaijing uses a warm handkerchief again as a compress.
He is silent for a while before saying, “Maybe it’s because I’m actually a little genius?”
Because he’s too clever, even after being a fool for nine years, upon recovery, he can speak eloquently, understand the intricate familial networks within the capital, and accurately point out the various rumours about Ke Hongxue’s close lady friends circulating all over the capital after seeing him.
Knowing too much is too complicated. Even a completely normal person would find it difficult to do so. Moreover, Rong Tang has been stupid for so many years; therefore, even if the news reaches his ears, it will be difficult to categorise and digest.
In addition to the fact that Su Huaijing now lives with him, it’s apparent that Tanghua Courtyard’s information channels for the outside world essentially rely on the mouths of Shuang Fu and Shuang Shou, and it’s practically impossible for Rong Tang to know what they haven’t said.
Rong Tang isn’t surprised that Su Huaijing would be suspicious, but for the first time, he is vexed by Boyboy’s astuteness.
He’s been suspicious of him three times in one night… Rong Tang is considering dying.
If he’d known, he would’ve read the almanac right upon waking up. He absolutely shouldn’t have left Tanghua Courtyard today, right?
Rong Tang frowns and eyes Su Huaijing sullenly. There isn’t much agitation in his gaze, but Su Huaijing notes some inconspicuous dissatisfaction.
He smiles and releases Rong Tang’s hand. It isn’t known whether he believes it or not. His tone is quite relaxed, and he automatically consoles: “Ng, Tangtang gege is naturally a genius.”
Rong Tang: “…” You don’t appear to believe aai!
–
Later, when the hot pot was served, Rong Tang simply didn’t say another word. And Su Huaijing actually did what he said in the beginning. He doused each food item with water for Rong Tong before allowing him to eat it. Witnessing this rendered Ke Hongxue speechless. In the end, he even tipped his chair and asked with a smile, “Senior, can I be like that?”
Mu Jingxu cast him an extremely chilly look, and Ke Hongxue indignantly clammed up. In the end, he couldn’t achieve Su Huaijing’s level. Perhaps he is afraid of being killed by the Ministry of Justice’s assistant minister.
Rong Tang adheres to the principle of “speak less and make fewer mistakes”, eating hot pot quietly from start to finish. Mu Jingxu didn’t say anything. In the end, the ones who became acquainted with each other are Ke Hongxue and Su Huaijing.
Rong Tang glanced at Su Huaijing out of the corner of his eye and caught the interest in his gaze. He thus knew that this sudden table-sharing isn’t entirely because he is willing.
Su Huaijing is also interested.
Rong Tang surmises that Su Huaijing is probably bewildered about the same thing as him.
The matter of the chivalrous man offering a tiger from Mengshan has become a hot topic in Dayu. Folks have adapted many stories based on it; famous artists have even painted it. Everyone in the realm knows that a white tiger is now being kept in the imperial palace.
Furthermore, Ke Hongxue said that he was almost killed by a tiger for the sake of saving Sheng Chengli.
Originally, in this life, Rong Tang wanted to be an outsider, but it seems that he cannot entirely be an outsider. He’s eaten until he is half full and is sipping fresh goat milk while listening to Su Huaijing and Ke Hongxue take turns speaking to sound each other out. He feels that there is a lack of efficiency, so he simply looked at Ke Hongxue through the smoke and asks, “So, is the white tiger very big?”
Ke Hongxue pauses, his line of sight shifting from Su Huaijing to Rong Tang’s face, and smiling like he was scaring him: “It’s rather large, seven feet six inches tall, nine feet long, stout and strong. With your stature, if Prince stands before it, you’ll likely be cleanly gobbled up in one bite.”
Rong Tang knows his character and isn’t offended by his words, but Su Huaijing’s expression abruptly turned cold, and he said in a deep voice, “It seems that Tutor Ke must have your capabilities to have been able to escape the tiger’s jaws.”
Ke Hongxue smiles and said half-truthfully, “It’s not capabilities.”
Rong Tang waited for his summation for a long time and couldn’t wait any longer, so he has no choice but to take the initiative to ask, “I heard that Tutor Ke gave up martial arts and picked up literature?”
There is a slight surprise in Ke Hongxue’s expression, but he appears to be more fascinated. He props up his chin and looks at Rong Tang. “Could it be that Prince is interested in me?”
His eyes sweep ambiguously from Su Huaijing to Rong Tang, and he says rowdily to Rong Tang, “It’s better to seize the day. I’ve got a private room in Fengyue House. If the Prince doesn’t mind the simplicity and crudeness, after having a midnight snack, would you accompany me to listen to some music?”
Su Huaijing’s face is dark enough to scald the bottom of the pot. Rong Tang glares at Ke Hongxue. That mouth of his that keeps mentioning others’ sore points—he very much wants to sew it shut.
After languishing for a moment, he puts on a fake smile and turns to Mu Jingxu to say, “Excellency Mu, according to Dayu’s law, what is the punishment for an official of the imperial court if he openly goes prostituting?”
Dayu management over the matter of officials cavorting with prostitutes is rather relaxed, probably because there are so many—from the emperor to commoners—who loiter at the brothels. If it isn’t deliberately reported, neither the Ministry of Justice nor the imperial censor will take the initiative to control the matter of officials visiting prostitutes.
But as to where the law was, Mu Jingxu coolly answers: “Flogging thirty times and forfeiting half a year’s salary.”
The punishment is neither light nor severe. Rong Tang nods and turns to Ke Hongxue, “In this case, why doesn’t Tutor Ke first receive his punishment from the Ministry of Justice and then invite me to Fengyue House? This Prince absolutely won’t do such shameful things as instigating imperial officials.”
Ke Hongxue doesn’t have the mood to respond to him now. He hurriedly draws close to Mu Jingxu and begs, “Senior, my good senior, I’m just kidding. I truly went to Fengyue House only to listen to music. As of now, I’m still a virgin. It’s true. You can check if you don’t believe me!”
Mu Jingxu rolls his eyes at him. Rong Tang cheers up and stretches out his chopsticks with a smile to fish a piece of beef from the spicy pot. Just as he is about to place it in his bowl, he is acutely aware of someone’s scrutiny at the back of his head. His wrist trembles as he changes the trajectory and obediently puts it into Su Huaijing’s bowl: “I picked it for you. You eat, you eat.”
Su Huaijing asks in a chilly voice, “Tangtang wants to visit a brothel?”
Rong Tang is stumped for a moment, and his tone became more amenable: “I don’t want to; I’m just provoking him.”
Su Huaijing gave Rong Tang an intense look, then reached out and took away the chopsticks from him that had touched the spicy oil before giving him a new pair. Only then did he lower his head to eat the piece of beef Rong Tang gave him.
Rong Tang’s expression is bitter as he miserably eyes the new chopsticks in his hand. Ke Hongxue is thrilled to death and exclaims, “It looks to me that Prince is also a henpecked husband.”
Rong Tang glares at him and says, “Just eat your food.”
Ke Hongxue is slightly surprised by his attitude. He raises his eyebrows and toasts Rong Tang with a cup of wine from a distance. Rong Tang just drank goat’s milk again.
While he drank, he suddenly realises that he’s not asked a single word.
It isn’t because Su Huaijing is inefficient; it’s just that this Third-place Scholar doesn’t appear to be average. In fact, there isn’t any line of defence that can be broken through. It isn’t easy to reach the boundary, but he will crack impromptu jokes and lead them somewhere else, messing with people until they don’t know what they ought to say.
In the past, when they were in the same camp, Rong Tang only thought that this person was troublesome, but it has to be said that he would confidently let him handle many things. Now that they are standing against each other, he is somewhat worried.
The system asks: [Host, what are you thinking about?]
Rong Tang: “I’m pondering about how viable it is to bring them both to Su Huaijing’s side.”
The system went silent for a while. Rong Tang remembers its position and quickly adds, “I’m just casually considering it; don’t take it seriously.”
Of course, the system took it seriously. It conducted a search and issued a verdict: [Viability is low.]
Initially, Rong Tang was a little flattered that he is being pacified by his system. He then said quietly, “I know too.”
Whether it is the original text or having gotten along with him for so many years, Rong Tang never knew why, out of so many princes, Mu Jingxu chose to assist the male protagonist. If he really wanted to find a reason, he is more inclined towards heavenly guidance and the configuration of the timeline.
Surely there’s someone behind Sheng Chengli. Surely there’s some resourceful counsellor who’s willing to live and die for him. One Rong Tang isn’t enough, so Mu Jingxu shows up and incidentally brings Ke Hongxue along with him.
If there are reasons unbeknownst to others, Rong Tang really can’t figure them out.
But in this case, it’s virtually impossible for him to draw Mu Jingxu over to Su Huaijing’s side. If Mu Jingxu doesn’t come, Ke Hongxue will naturally not come, and Grand Tutor Ke is therefore one of Sheng Chengli’s biggest backers during the early stages.
Grand Tutor Ke has served three different emperors and tutored two. His position in the court is rather considerable. With him protecting Sheng Chengli, the male protagonist will naturally have more advantages than other princes.
When Rong Tang thought of this, he couldn’t help but turn his head again and observe Su Huaijing carefully.
Sheng Chengli is a Son of Heaven, and whatever preferential treatment in this world that you can or cannot think of has been given to him. His birth even caused changes in astronomical phenomena. So how did Sheng Chengli come to hold such a good hand and yet lose to Su Huaijing in such an embarrassing manner?
He gaped until he became lost in thought. Su Huaijing let him stare at him for a while. The smile on his lips deepened, and the emotion in his gaze was gentle. It was a long time before he turned around and asked softly, “Are you full?”
Rong Tang nodded. “I’m full.”
Su Huaijing stood up, fetched the cloak and hand stove for Rong Tang, then motioned for him to stand up, fastened on the cloak for him, and stuffed the hand stove into his arms: “Then let’s leave.”
Ke Hongxue and Mu Jingxu are still in the private room. When they saw this, they just got up and bid farewell but didn’t follow them.
This is basically strangers meeting by chance and sharing a table. Among the four people present, there are a total of three thousand two hundred thoughts. No one needs to pretend to be overjoyed meeting each other.
The palace carriage is parked at the corner of the street. Su Huaijing doesn’t bring Rong Tang there immediately but goes for a stroll with him instead. Shuang Fu thus drives the carriage slowly behind them.
The moon is at its peak. The ten miles of Shuiling Street gradually quieted, and the bustle ebbed. Everywhere are drunken young noblemen and horse carriages returning home.
Rong Tang walks languidly along the long street. The wind blows the willow branches along the banks and tousles his hair.
The spring weather is just right, and Rong Tang’s worn out body doesn’t feel too chilly at night, not to mention that the hand stove is still radiating warmth in his arms.
He feels a little content. After walking for a while, Su Huaijing asks absentmindedly, “Tangtang wants to befriend them?”
‘They’ were, of course, Ke Hongxue and Mu Jingxu. Rong Tang hesitated and turned to see Su Huaijing’s expression, but he didn’t discern much displeasure or anger.
So he ponders for a while and nods. “Ng.”
Su Huaijing smiled shallowly. “Why?”
Rong Tang wavered somewhat. There are actually many reasons.
Having worked with them for two lifetimes, he found these two people most interesting and doesn’t want them to end up like before. He doesn’t like Sheng Chengli, so he doesn’t want him to have such powerful support around him. Both of them are too smart. If they stand against Huaijing, his road to revenge will inevitably have setbacks…
But when all is said and done, Rong Tang is considering something else.
He stops walking, stares steadily at Su Huaijing, and is silent for a long time.
Su Huaijing is in no hurry and stands with him at the river bank in the wind, waiting for him to speak.
After a long time, Rong Tang said, “For you.”
“For me?” Su Huaijing is a quite astonished.
Rong Tang nods. Su Huaijing smiles and says, “Can I ask the reason?”
The reason is likely because Rong Tang abruptly recalls that in his previous life, Mu Jingxu died on a winter night. Ke Hongxue had taken care of his funeral affairs and went alone to the imperial censor.
The next day, Ke Hongxue disappeared. On the third day, Su Huaijing knocked on Rong Tang’s door and asked him with a smile, “Prince, do you want to have a drink?”
He’d clearly been smiling, but Rong Tang only sensed that he seemed extremely grief-stricken…
Su Huaijing wasn’t drunk that night, but Rong Tang was drunk. In his stupor, he apparently heard him ask a question, but he wasn’t able to remember it afterwards.
Right now, Su Huaijing is standing on the banks of the Jinfen River, smiling faintly at Rong Tang, but there is a genuine amusement in his eyes, perhaps tinged with a hint of confusion.
Rong Tang shakes his head. “No.” Because I don’t know either.
Su Huaijing is obviously even more astonished. After being taken aback for a moment, he says, “Then can I ask you a question?”
“Ng.”
Su Huaijing asks, “When did your mental illness get better?”
Rong Tang is startled when he hears it, and his first reaction is: He really doesn’t believe it!
But immediately after that, he feels that it is was better like this. If he has any doubts, he will ask right away. No matter whether the answer is true or false, or whether it is what he wants, it is far better than continuing to conceal them in his heart and speculating.
As such, Rong Tang thinks for a while and answers, “I tell outsiders that it was three months ago.”
Su Huaijing’s smile deepens, and he takes a step closer. Under the illumination of the moon and the lights on the river, he gazes at Rong Tang and says gently, “What about at home?”
Rong Tang lifts his gaze, vacillating for only a second before raising the corners of his lips and smiling calmly: “I’ve never been a half-wit at home.”
Under the cool moonlight, Rong Tang noticed the sudden brightness in Su Huaijing’s eyes. He stared like this at Rong Tang for a long time, then smiled: “Alright, I’ll let them befriend you.”
……
Tangtang, look, aren’t you pretty good at coaxing me?
If you want to live a long life, kindly ask me for anything else.
My… little Buddha.
The author has something to say:
In case everyone doesn’t understand, I’ll quietly explain why Huaijing feels that he’s been coaxed after Tangtang said that he’s not been a half-wit before. Because right now, Huaijing is most worried about Tangtang’s health. Tangtang belongs to a combination of multiple “debuffs”, such as congenital weakness + acquired illness + brain disorders. If he’s never had a brain condition, Huaijing doesn’t need to worry about whether it will recur in the future or if the pressure on his brain nerves will affect his body. In other words, the difficulty of treatment will be significantly reduced. But my readers are so smart, they’ll definitely understand! If you don’t understand, it’s all because Qiuqiu didn’t write it clearly! Bo bo bo!!!