Chapter 6

Wang Xiuyu handles things extremely efficiently. In the span of a few days, everyone in the palace is aware the matter where the prince wants to marry a male wife into the palace.

Duke Ningxuan, Rong Mingyu, doesn’t have much expectation for this eldest son of his, nor does he expect him to become a respectable person or be healthy. According to Rong Tang’s understanding from his previous two lives, the Duke’s attitude towards the original owner is rather ambiguous and dispensable.

If he survives, he is merely another mouth for the Duke’s Palace to feed. If he dies, it will be another mound to fill in the ancestral grave.

As for the other concubine aunts and clan members in the palace—to be honest, they couldn’t have any other ideas except to raise both hands in approval of Rong Tang’s desire to marry a man.

If it is in an ordinary family, this matter will definitely cause chaotic squabbling and bickering. As it happens, it is a trivial matter since this issue concerns Rong Tang.

He is someone who is going to die sooner or later, and he is also an honourable, unattached prince. He is determined to get married, and no one can stop him. In this regard, it’s better to marry a man than a woman. Otherwise, he’s supposedly sickly, but on the off chance he gets the lady pregnant and has a child, what then?

The titles of nobility fall to the sons of the wife, then concubines, before following the order of seniority. If an eldest grandson is born, even if Rong Tang dies, the palace will not fall into the hands of others. Therefore, he needs to marry a man, and no one will be happier than those half-brothers of his.

Therefore, when Rong Tang wanted to marry Su Huaijing into the family, he originally thought that the only hurdle he has to pass is Wang Xiuyu. But Eldest Princess Duanyi has come to ask specifically, which surprises him.

Rong Tang nods, indicating that he understood, then went on to instruct Shuang Fu: “Go to the study and fetch the Buddhist scriptures I copied recently.”

The Eldest Princess Duanyi is over sixty-years-old and sincerely worships the Buddha. In his previous life, in order to take a shortcut to get the male protagonist out of the cold palace earlier, Rong Tang also copied Buddhist scriptures day and night and had them sent to the Eldest Princess’s residence.

It’s just that in this life, he’d copied the Buddhist scriptures for his own sake; that’s all.

The system doesn’t ask him why, and Rong Tang doesn’t take the initiative to tell it. When he regained consciousness, there were already several newly copied scriptures in the study. If one looked over unknowingly, you’d think that he’d committed some unforgivable sin and was begging Buddha for forgiveness.

Shuang Fu packed the scriptures in a brocade box and orders the carriage to stop at the door before leading Rong Tang over.

The weather is getting warmer, but Rong Tang’s body still can’t bear the slightest bit of cold wind. Before going out, Shuang Fu has specially fastened a dark red cloak on for him.

Duke Ningxuan’s Palace is nowhere near the Eldest Princess’s Palace, and the carriage journey takes around thirty minutes. Rong Tang closes his eyes to rest and subconsciously enters the system space to have a look.

Upon entering, he could only see a vast darkness. He curled his lips, revealed a slightly sarcastic smile, and then exited.

Compared with other transmigrators, Rong Tang is truly lucky. Not only does he have three chances to ‘reload and try again’, but from the beginning, he even obtained a powerful binding cheat called “Divine Perspective”.

In the previous two transmigrations, the space of Rong Tang’s system is originally a three-dimensional hologram, similar to the online games he’s played in the modern era.

The main character is at the centre of the interface, with an equal-proportion miniature of the surrounding environment beside him. The character’s avatar and rank are in the upper left corner, and the map thumbnail is in the upper right corner. Click on it, and he can view the entire Dayu territory map. After activating anchor points, he can unlock the related areas. He can even spend system coins earned from completing tasks to teleport and switch perspectives.

As a transmigrator, Rong Tang is initially bound to the male protagonist.

Only the male protagonist’s perspective can be switched without system coins. Wherever the male protagonist has walked, the system will deem that Rong Tang has also walked, thus automatically unlocking those anchor points.

These transmigration cheats were really, really attractive to Rong Tang, so much so that he even felt a little carried away at first.

Rong Tang initially said that the three rebirth chances given by the system were too many and would not be used at all. It wasn’t until he actually died again and again that he realised that even with the so-called “Divine Perspective”, it was impossible for him to thoroughly understand everyone’s innermost thoughts.

But this time, perhaps due to Rong Tang’s determination not to complete tasks, the mainframe became angry, shut down his access and cheats. When Rong Tang enters the system space again, he can only see an empty void.

The system detects his mood and calls out softly: [Host.]

“I’m fine.” Rong Tang said, “It’s also good if I can’t see anything.”

He pauses, suddenly remembering something, and asks, “Are you able to see anything?”

Rong Tang recalls previously that when he enters the system space, he will often see a ball of light floating everywhere. The system said that was its core.

[Able.]

Rong Tang smiled: “Where are you right now?”

The sound of electricity passed by in a flash, but the system said nothing.

Rong Tang leans against the carriage. There is a little incense in the carriage, and gradually he truly falls asleep.

Under the cover of darkness, there is a magnificent and flourishing map that outlines a miniature of the entire world.

In the centre of the miniature, on the long street of the imperial capital, a luxurious carriage slowly passes by. In the carriage sits a young man with light and gentle eyebrows. The illness has penetrated into the bones, and deadly rotten air has permeated out from deep inside the blood.

But as soon as this air seeps out of the body, it is suppressed by the soft smile on the young man’s face. The contradiction between life and death has accumulated in one person, as if it could overwhelm him at any time.

Rong Tang is sleeping lightly as he leans in the carriage. In an unknown place, there is a cluster of warm and weak little lights gathering on his legs. They seem to be depending on him and keeping him warm at the same time.

The system speaks very softly: [I’m keeping you company, Host].

–

It is already past mealtime when they arrive at the Eldest Princess’s residence. Princess Duanyi worships Buddha sincerely. She is a vegetarian and doesn’t eat after lunch, which has become a common habit for everyone in the household. Even though Rong Tang has come with an empty stomach, he only got a cup of tea in exchange for it. The elderly nurse who serves the Eldest Princess said respectfully but firmly, “Please wait a moment, Young Master. Her Highness is taking a noon nap and will see you when she wakes up.”

Rong Tang smiles and nods. He sits himself down peacefully in a round-backed armchair in the living room, browsing through the Buddhist scriptures that Shuang Fu has brought over.

He is a little hungry, but it isn’t unbearable. Two hours pass while he looks through the Buddhist scriptures. It wasn’t until there was movement at the door that Rong Tang came back to his senses. He stood up and saw Princess Duanyi being helped inside by her nurse.

Having just risen from a nap, the Eldest Princess only has two simple wooden hairpins adorning her head.

Duanyi and Wang Xiuyu are two completely different types of people.

Wang Xiuyu is from a noble family and the Empress’s biological younger sister. She is in charge of the Duke’s Palace. Even if she has a halfwit, sickly son who causes her worry, in the eyes of outsiders, Ningxuan Wang Fei will always be dignified, majestic, and cognisant of when to advance or withdraw. Rong Mingyu isn’t a devoted romantic. Although the younger generation in the palace only consist of three sons and two daughters, the concubines in the rear aren’t limited to five.

But over the years, the concubines plots against each other, becoming jealous love rivals, but no one dares to make a scene in front of Wang Xiuyu.

She is the same type of person as her older sister. She only sits in place: a representation and model for all women.

Wang Xiuyu’s only aspects of ego and tenderness were probably all given to Rong Tang.

As for Princess Duanyi, it’s odd that not only is there very little description of her in the original plot, but Rong Tang hasn’t seen much of her in his three lifetimes.

In order to save the male protagonist from the cold palace in his previous life, he beseeched all the way to Duanyi. Duanyi was kneeling in the Buddhist hall and had just finished reciting a sutra. Then, without looking back, she said calmly, “Alright.”

The next day, it was said that Emperor Renshou had hired a new master instructor to teach the princes, and even the Fifth Prince, who was in the cold palace, benefited from the association and was admitted to the Imperial Academy.

Princess Duanyi has incomparable power, but glancing over from a distance, she resembles an ordinary married woman who doesn’t use cosmetics or wear jewellery.

She doesn’t partake in any power, and she doesn’t get involved in any personal secrets. If he wasn’t aware of the character’s background, Rong Tang will never have imagined that such a reclusive old woman had slaughtered a tiger when she was a child, stood equal to the men in court when she was a young lady, and obtained a reputation as the “female prime minister of the world.”

The viciousness and vigour in her body seem to have been fragranced away by the joss stick incense on the altar, leaving only simplicity and gentleness.

Rong Tang stood up and bowed respectfully, “Zumu*.”

(*TN: paternal grandmother)

“Mmm.” Duanyi mutters softly, walks over to the left-hand seat and sits down. She asks the nurse to give Rong Tang a fresh cup of hot tea, and asks, “I heard that your health has improved?”

“I’ve troubled zumu for your concern. This grandson is much better.” Rong Tang replied.

Duanyi glances over, her eyes cloudy but bright. She appraises him up and down and actually smiles: “You can actually tell lies. It appears that you’ve improved a lot.”

It is impossible for Rong Tang’s body to be healthy. In his previous lives, he’s strived to carry out tasks. For the public, it is for the sake of “worldwide righteousness”. For selfish interests, when the original owner’s body can not hold out anymore, the divine order will choose a new body for him to live in.

Rong Tang smiles shyly, not embarrassed at being exposed.

Duanyi waves her hand and tells the nurse to withdraw. Her line of sight falls upon the scripture book next to his hand. “Which book are you reading?”

Rong Tang closes the book and presents it to the Eldest Princess: “This is the Diamond Sutra that this grandson copied by myself.”

Duanyi seems a little surprised, so she flips it open and takes a look.

The handwriting is elegant, and the script is gentle—like a luan gliding and a phoenix floating*. The strength of the one holding the brush is inadequate, so they purposely didn’t stress the upper and lower strokes. The aim was to be distinct, neat, and have a clear conscience.

(*TN: Luan is a mythical bird related to the phoenix. The phrase is meant to suggest the graceful movements of these mythical birds.)

Duanyi turns a few pages. Rong Tang notices that the atmosphere around her becoming softer: “If zumu doesn’t disapprove, I request for zumu to accept this scripture book.”

Duanyi answers, picks up the teacup, and takes a sip before saying, “Your mother said you want to marry a male wife?”

Rong Tang instantly became alert. He’s come here today exactly for this matter and says seriously, “Yes.”

“She said that the other party is a distant relative of Duke Xianguo’s family. Is there such a thing?”

Rong Tang: “Yes.”

Duanyi eyes Rong Tang. Her gaze was not like an elder looking at a junior, but more like looking directly through his eyes and into his soul: “Duke Xianguo’s name is taboo in Dayu, do you know?”

“I know.”

“Even so, you still want to marry?”

Rong Tang doesn’t hesitate: “Even so, I still want to marry.”

“Love at first sight?” Duanyi asks casually, as if chitchatting. Rong Tang is lost for words at once. Alarm bells clang in his heart, and an unprovoked panic sweeps through his body. There is only one thought that remains in his mind:

She knows!

She knows that he lied! She knows that he’s never met Su Huaijing before!

Rong Tang narrows his eyes, and his thoughts spin as he rushes to figure out how to respond. But the eldest princess smiles softly, breaking the dead silence in the room: “Whether it’s love at first sight or childhood sweethearts, I just ask if you truly wish to receive him into your household?”

Rong Tang’s thoughts become jammed for a moment, and he raises his eyes to meet Princess Duanyi’s gaze. For some reason, he inexplicably feels that any lie he tells in front of her will be exposed.

After a long time, he says softly, “I truly wish to receive him into the household and protect him for the rest of his life.”

Duanyi’s fingers gently rub the tea cup and she looks past him towards the door. After a while, she puts down the cup and says, “Then get married. I’ll go inform your father’s side.”

Rong Tang relaxes, and his tense emotions finally ease off. He stands up and cups his hands to salute Princess Duanyi: “Thank you, zumu, for acceding.”

Duanyi suddenly raises her hand and raps the scripture book: “The causes and faults in the world cannot be borne by a Buddhist scripture.”

Rong Tang is slightly startled, but the Eldest Princess stands up and walks slowly towards the door: “But do good deeds and don’t ask about the future. You survived this disaster, but there will naturally be cause and effect. Don’t agonise about whether it is good or bad.”

In that instance, Rong Tang doesn’t comprehend the meaning of her words and remains standing there for a long time until Shuang Fu comes in and calls him back to his senses: “Young Master, let’s go back.”

When they were leaving the Eldest Princess’s residence, Rong Tang looked up and glanced opposite.

The elegance of bygone days is faintly visible on the dilapidated door of the house. The spot for hanging the inscribed board is empty. The paper strip seal has yellowed. The stone lion by the door has had its teeth smashed. There is a deathly still, ruined sense of chilly desolation breaking through the air.

Back then, there was abundant wealth, but now the weeds are withered and yellow.

Rong Tang turns around and gazes at the princess’ palace through the vermilion door. It is decorated with beautiful white jade tiles, ceramic glaze that shimmer in the sunlight, and magnificent pavilions, kiosks, and rock landscaping. There aren’t many households with such a level of luxury in the entire Dayu.

This striking contrast is located on the same street. For many years, no one has raised an exception.

What is even more contradictory is that the Eldest Princess is obviously extremely simplistic, but her residence is so extravagant.

He’s been lingering a little too long, and Shuang Fu asks, “Young Master, are we not returning home?”

Rong Tang regains his senses and changes his mind before getting on the carriage: “Go to the Li Mansion on Songjing Lane. On the way, go pass by the Liujin Parlour and pack a table’s worth of rice and dishes together with a plate of lotus pastries to take away.”