Chapter 26

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Once Rong Tang was done cursing, he didn’t say anything and maintained his furious expression as he looked at Qin Pengxuan. Qin Pengxuan’s face had turned a reddish-purple colour. It took him a while to react, then he instantly slammed the table and stood up.

Su Huaijing paused slightly and looked up with a cold gaze before sweeping it over. At that precise moment, a burst of wanton laughter sounded from behind him.

Everyone turned back to look. There is a person wearing a scarlet satin robe, laughing unrestrainedly and cheerfully. He applauds as he says, “I’ve long heard that Rong biao ge’s health is excellent and that he’s exceptionally intelligent, but it’s a pity that I haven’t had time to pay you a visit. Today, I can see that you are truly worthy of your reputation. So it appears that Empress Mother and Great Aunt can rest assured.”

Having spoken, he turns back and looks at another young man dressed in an apricot-yellow coat: “Er ge, I believe Young Lord Qin is waiting for you? Didn’t I tell you, foolish brother, that there is no need to follow the rules during the flower-picking festival, nor do you need to adhere to the sequence and time of the banquet commencement? You must have been busy recently and forgot to tell them, which is why the Young Lord has suffered a bout of scolding by biao ge.”

The arrivals are the Second Prince and the Third Prince. It’s unknown how much they’ve heard. Third Prince Sheng Chengxing’s face is beaming with a smile, but Second Prince Sheng Chengming bore an unsightly expression.

He first threw a fierce glare at Qin Pengxuan, and then naturally cast his disapproving look at the instigator, Rong Tang.

But before blame could be rightly placed, Sheng Chengming caught a glimpse of the person sitting next to Rong Tang, and his expression abruptly changed. He hastily took half a step forward, then instantly stopped in his tracks.

Su Huaijing is still sitting beside Rong Tang; his hands haven’t been removed. At a glance, they appear as a couple so in love that it drives others to envy.

He says nothing and doesn’t move, only casting a faint look at Sheng Chengxing when he is talking to Rong Tang. He then lowers his head before holding Rong Tang’s hand.

It seems that the young, noble elites gathered in the Lanyue Pavilion, with their flourishing elegance and abundant glory, are less deserving of his attention than those few fingers of Rong Tang’s.

Rong Tang hesitates for a moment about whether or not to stand up and pay his respects to the two princes. After thinking about it, he sits upright and doesn’t move, merely nodding to them from a distance as a gesture of greeting.

A second ago, Qin Pengxuan was beside himself with anger and exasperation, but this second he is like a drowned rat after being doused with cold water. He grits his teeth and stands up, patiently takes a few steps forward, lowers his head, and waits for the Third Prince’s instructions.

However, it seems like Sheng Chengming’s gaze is unable to shift, and he stares blankly at Su Huaijing for a long time.

Fortunately, Su Huaijing is sitting with Rong Tang, and when he looks at him, those who aren’t aware will just assume that he is looking at Prince Ningxuan.

After a long time, Su Huaijing moves his head, coughs slightly, and puts down Rong Tang’s hand. He takes a clean bowl for him and pours him another bowl of warm pigeon soup, replacing the previous bowl that has already turned cold, then moves the already-cold soup in front of himself.

The movements are spontaneous and graceful. When he is done, a smile spreads across Su Huaijing’s lips. He scans the three people who are the focus of the crowd and asks warmly, “Your Highnesses, Young Lord Qin, may I be so bold to ask if the banquet may begin now?”

The young man’s voice is like a phoenix’s call, and he has beautiful features. For a time, the spring water outside and the music inside the pavilion served to contrast him.

Sheng Chengming is called back to his senses and nods quickly: “Of course it’s fine, Mr—”

He pauses for a moment, turns to Qin Pengxuan, and continues the thread of conversation, saying coldly, “Why don’t you hurry up and apologise to this Young Master and Prince Rong?!”

Qin Pengxuan’s eyes widen, and he clenches his fists resentfully. He stands there for a long time before he bows most reluctantly to Rong Tang and Su Huaijing: “I was reckless. I hope Prince Ningxuan and Shizi Fei will forgive me.”

Su Huaijing still maintains the appearance of not making decisions on his own when outside, utterly relying on Rong Tang. Consequently, Rong Tang’s gaze falls upon Qin Pengxuan.

Almost all the young ladies, civil servants, and scholars who’ve come to attend the gathering are intentionally or unintentionally observing in this direction. Rong Tang throws a sideways glance at Qin Pengxuan and doesn’t bother with his previous impertinent remarks, but he still says, “I don’t deserve the apology. I just hope that once the flower-picking festival has ended, Young Lord can provide an explanation to my Huaijing with regards to Miss Li!”

Qin Pengxuan’s complexion is red before turning white. Taking into consideration the presence of the two princes, the tip of his tongue is about to be bitten until it bleeds, yet he still has to bear with it and respond.

Sheng Chengxing has seen enough of the show; he raises his hands and laughs out loud, letting everyone continue enjoying the banquet. The episode at the corner of the second floor is finally over.

Rong Tang’s mind is racing as he drinks a spoonful of pigeon soup, and he automatically begins to ponder what is odd with Li Panyan’s case. However, he sees Su Huaijing calmly drink half the bowl of soup that was originally served to him. Then he lowers his voice and asks a little aggrievedly, though it sounds more like he is deliberately provoking: “Tangtang, why do you want him to explain Li Panyan’s matter to me?”

“…?”

Just as Rong Tang is thinking about this, Su Huaijing himself has drawn nearer. For a moment, he can’t determine whether the villain is deliberately giving himself away or simply curious about what he’s just said.

But it doesn’t seem to be the case, because in the next second, Rong Tang hears Su Huaijing say rather unsympathetically, “I’ve completely no relationship with her. Whether she is dead or alive, has a miscarriage, or has given birth to twins, what does it have to do with me? Why does Qin Pengxuan need to give an explanation to me?”

His voice is very soft, but it is just enough for both of them to listen clearly. After hearing this, Rong Tang blinks and looks at Su Huaijing in an attempt to discern each and every micro-expression on his face and analyse the profound implication behind his assertion.

But he’s probably taking a little too long. Before Su Huaijing can get impatient, the system speaks first: [Don’t think about it; he’s just messing around.]

Rong Tang: “What’s he planning?”

[Who knows?]

The system actually wants to say: Host, if you had been in a few more relationships during modern times, you probably wouldn’t act so clueless. No matter how you view this display from the perspective of the main villain, it seems like he’s being unreasonable and deliberately being coquettish.

Regardless of gender, after selling yourself, you are considered to have achieved the goal as long as the other half comforts you.

But the system doesn’t want to tell the host directly: Quickly, go coax the main villain!

This lacks any scientific basis. After all, it’s a system designed to save the male protagonist! Collaborating with the host at present already goes against the main brain’s consciousness; how can they continue plotting to favour the villain?!

So the system sagaciously utters nothing, leaving Rong Tang to ponder for a long time. He tentatively says, “He is quite well-off.”

The smile on Su Huaijing’s face freezes for a moment, his eyes widening slightly, and his head moves a little, revealing his confusion: “?”

Rong Tang’s voice is even lower, and he practically sticks to Su Huaijing as he says, “Earl Wukang’s* family is large and has a booming business. Although the assets in Qin Pengxuan’s possession can’t compare to mine, he still has a lot. After the flower-picking festival is over and he comes to apologise, let’s extort a large chunk from him.”

(*TN: I previously translated this as “Lord Wukang Bo”. It’s been corrected in all chapters as “Earl Wukang” instead of “Lord Wukang Bo”, and “Wukang’s Young Lord” for Qin Pengxuan, to better reflect the ranks.)

This time, Su Huaijing truly takes a long time before he reacts. A smile that can barely be suppressed appears at the corners of his lips. His eyes curve again and again, but bearing in mind that they shouldn’t make any pronounced motions in public, he could only whisper with their heads pressed together, “Isn’t it good? It’s Li Panyan who suffered a miscarriage, not me.”

Rong Tang naturally feels no guilt: “But you said before that before going to Fengyue House, you’d only eaten pastries sent by Li Panyan.”

Su Huaijing nods: “That’s right, so?”

“So she drugged you; she is not a good person aaa!” Rong Tang said, “Besides, our extortion of Qin Pengxuan’s assets has nothing to do with her. Strictly speaking, Li Panyan should thank me for standing up for her.”

Su Huaijing’s smile deepens, and he asks, “How so?”

Rong Tang put on a most earnest disposition and said, “Think about it; she just had a miscarriage, yet Qin Pengxuan can come out by himself to participate in the flower-picking festival. It’s clear that he doesn’t take her seriously. Moreover, the banquet hosted by Third Highness is a feast to display talents. But haven’t you noticed that there are also many noble ladies staying in Song Garden?”

Rong Tang’s expression is most lively when he gossips about these. He also wants to prevent his voice from being too loud until it can be heard by others, yet he is afraid that the volume is too low for Su Huaijing to make out, so he can only move especially close, close enough for Su Huaijing to detect the scent of sandalwood on his clothes.

It is supposed to be the scent of concentration and calmness, but Su Huaijing inexplicably feels that a small feather seems to be teasing him, idly tickling his heart.

Again, he makes a sound in response, and Rong Tang continued: “Therefore, this flower-picking festival is actually a gathering for arranging marriages. Earl Wukang has not yet allowed his eldest son to marry a main wife, and the latter’s concubine has just suffered a miscarriage. If some suitable young lady catches Qin Pengxuan’s eye in the next few days, and he marries her home to be the mistress, will Li Panyan still have a good life in the future?”

Su Huaijing smiles and picks up where he left off: “That’s why Tangtang gege is causing trouble for him under everyone‘s watchful gaze. Everyone knows that although Li Panyan is a concubine, she is related in some way to Duke Ningxuan’s Palace; as such, even if they don’t give face to the monk, they will still give face to Buddha. They will respect her a little because of you?”

Rong Tang nods, his expression arrogantly adorable. “Ng!”

Su Huaijing can’t stop smiling; his hands are somewhat itchy, and he squeezes them lightly with restraint as he asks, “But Tangtang, do you really wish to take her under your wing?”

Rong Tang frowned slightly when he heard this. After considering for a while, he says, “Depends on the situation.”

Su Huaijing: “Ng?”

Rong Tang: “If Li Changfu kneels down before you to apologise and begs you, I might find a way to take her out of Earl Wukang’s Manor and give her some money before sending her home.”

Rong Tang pauses for a moment, his eyebrows lifted, and he says with displeasure, “But if she obstinately refuses to see sense and insists on believing that Qin Pengxuan is a good person, then I won’t be concerned with her.”

Su Huaijing was initially distracted by Rong Tang’s cuteness, but he subsequently became a little curious. He realises that he doesn’t quite understand Rong Tang’s way of thinking this time and asks, “Didn’t Tangtang say that she isn’t a good person?”

“She really doesn’t seem to be.” Rong Tang doesn’t hold back on his comments.

Su Huaijing: “Then why do you still save her from the fire pit?”

Rong Tang raises his gaze, his eyelashes trembling slightly. He speaks most calmly and easily, as if it were the way it ought to be: “Because of you aaa.”

Su Huaijing is slightly surprised. “Why is it because of me again?”

Rong Tang ignored the word ‘again’ and said, “Because everyone knows that Ningxuan Shizi Fei is the nephew of Li Changfu, the Minister of War, and Li Panyan is Li Changfu’s legitimate daughter.”

The system spends the longest time with Rong Tang and will sometimes fume and chide him as a “Saintly Father” for being too compassionate. Then Rong Tang would rebuke that if he isn’t a “Saintly Father”, who is going to save this world for his main brain?

But in fact, Rong Tang isn’t whatever “Saintly Father”. He has a very clear understanding of himself.

He is merely a layman with a little sense of morality and responsibility. Having an awareness of the fate that befalls many in this world, he naturally harbours compassion and extends a helping hand when facing suffering he finds unbearable to witness.

But Li Panyan completely doesn’t fall into the category of “suffering he finds unbearable to witness.” On the contrary, Rong Tang is happy to see her receive her just desserts.

Virtue has its rewards, and evil has its retributions. This is the law of cause and effect shaping the cycles of the world, and Rong Tang does not wish to change it.

But most regrettably, Su Huaijing is part of this cause and effect.

Rong Tang said, “Consider me saving Li Panyan’s life as repayment to Li Changfu for raising you.”

In fact, there is no kindness. The greater kindness is that the nine years of hard work and harsh treatment have been completely eliminated. But the one undeniable thing is that if Li Changfu hadn’t taken Su Huaijing away from the capital, he might have died in that chaos of utter darkness.

Li Changfu deserves whatever vengeance the villain exacts on him in the future, but Rong Tang selfishly doesn’t want Su Huaijing to owe them in any way.

Li Changfu can be regarded as saving Su Huaijing’s life, and Rong Tang’s saving Li Panyan’s life can be deemed an offset. From now on, his life and death will have nothing to do with him or His Highness the Seventh Prince.

Rong Tang said unperturbedly, “I’ve said before that I am a petty person, and I will definitely get even.”

Su Huaijing was stunned for a long time. Sheng Chengming sits at the host’s seat, and his gaze lands on him every now and then in an attempt to make eye contact. However, Su Huaijing sits there obliviously, lowering his head and looking at Rong Tang’s eyebrows. For a moment, his mind went blank.

He suddenly discovers that he doesn’t know what to say.

The thought of ‘repaying’ Li Changfu has never crossed his mind. How should he repay? Repay him for his harsh treatment? Repay him for exploiting himself? Repay him for attempting to use himself as bait in exchange for glory, wealth, high status, and a handsome salary?

In Su Huaijing’s plan, the highest courtesy he affords Li Changfu is to let him keep his body intact, and there is no need for him to think about anything else.

However, when Rong Tang said, “consider it as repayment for raising him,” Su Huaijing suddenly remembered that, in fact, at the beginning, he’d also thought about treating his uncle as a relative.

He’d given an exceptionally rare eastern pearl to his uncle, worked hard to please his aunt, and became a servant to his cousins. Day after day, he endured Li Panyan’s idiotic and clumsy pranks.

He is Dayu’s most esteemed Seventh Prince, but he has to lead a wretched life far from home after his family was destroyed. He most carefully plays the role of an ignorant child while inwardly concealing a secret of extravagant hope that he may be treated as a family member by them.

Su Huaijing would despise himself at that time.

It’s even unbearable to think about it now.

But Su Huaijing is also aware that he’s always been good at pretending—which is his advantage.

Except that in front of Rong Tang, the most pretending he’s done has been to restrain himself from hugging him.

Su Huaijing’s Adam’s apple tremors slightly, and his voice becomes a little hoarse as he asks, “After that?”

Rong Tang has already moved away a little, gulping down big mouthfuls of soup. He wasn’t prepared after hearing it, which caused him to choke. Then he turned his head and coughed for a long time. Su Huaijing took the chance to escort him out of Lanyue Pavilion.

The air outside the pavilion is fresh, and there are still passers-by from time to time. Faint whistling and singing sounds can be heard everywhere. Rong Tang felt the cool breeze wafting over from the water’s surface and finally stopped coughing. He looks up accusingly at Su Huaijing, as if blaming him for calling out to him without first giving notice.

After glaring at him, he answers his question: “Then there’s no further relationship after that. I don’t like Li Changfu, to the extent that I don’t even like his entire family. It is my greatest merit not to go to Buddha to pray for their immediate demise. Do you expect me to support their whole family?”

What he said was rather out of the ordinary, but by some strange coincidence, Su Huaijing senses that he knows his plans for them and, moreover, is indulging those vile thoughts of his.

On the first day of the fourth month, the new moon isn’t visible.

Rong Tang walks along the path on the island, slowly passing through flowering shrubs. He glances up at the night sky. The moon is hidden, and the dense cover of stars is on full display. It is vastly more beautiful than all the nightscapes he’s witnessed in modern times.

Rong Tang says absentmindedly: “There should be divine retribution in this world; otherwise, evildoers will thrive, the virtuous will meet tragic ends, the righteous will go to jail, and the treacherous will sit calmly in the open… Huaijing, do you think this makes sense?”

Prince Ningxuan’s favourite thing to do is to have a plate of snacks together with a storybook in his hands and lie on the beauty couch to bask in the warmth of the spring sun while reading stories all afternoon.

The second favourite thing that Prince Ningxuan likes to do is buy clothes, shoes, socks, books, brushes, ink, ink slabs, rings, and sachets for his new husband… It would be great if everything that can be purchased in Dayu could be gifted to Su Huaijing in a blatant display of favouritism.

The third thing that Prince Ningxuan often does is sit in his study all afternoon, quietly copying a book of scriptures scented with sandalwood.

He is a little Buddha with no longings or desires. The only thing he looks forward to, for the most part, is eating a meal that suits his tastes. When the weather is bad, he can playfully linger in bed for a while longer, and when the weather is good, he can go out for a stroll.

He views life and death highly impassively, yet seems to attach great importance to them. He would casually speak about “death” without reservations, and he would also arrange for a doctor to treat someone after they’d injured him.

Su Huaijing knows that he is smart and recognises what kind of sparkling and dazzling soul is bound beneath this sickly body, but he never expected to hear such words uttered from Rong Tang’s mouth.

He didn’t even have time to think. Before he’d come to his senses, he’d already reached out and pulled the thin body that seemed like it might disappear at any moment into his embrace.

Su Huaijing buries his head in the crook of Rong Tang’s neck, his Adam’s apple rolling slightly, and his voice is extremely hoarse: “Let me hold you for a while.”

The sounds of the lake waters linger as the insects and birds chirp softly. Rong Tang was stunned for a moment, then stopped in place, letting him hold him. He told himself that the warmth coming from his neck was just Su Huaijing’s breath and not tears.

After a long time, which seemed like just a moment, Su Huaijing continued to hug him, his head buried gently in the crook of his neck, unmoving. Rong Tang pats his arm and calls softly, “Huaijing.”

“Ng.” Su Huaijing responded in a muffled voice.

Rong Tang said, “Agree with Ke Hongxue; I want you to take first place.”

“Alright?” He softens his tone, imitating Su Huaijing’s pandering.

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