Rong Tang froze, his heart sank, he turned to look at Sheng Chengli, and asked in surprise: "Why do you say that, Your Highness?"
There are many possible interpretations for this statement. The most obvious one is that Rong Tang just asked him not to call him cousin anymore, which in a sense meant that he did not acknowledge that Sheng Chengli had any close relationship with him.
Another deeper meaning only existed between the male protagonist and Rong Tang in the previous two lives.
Rong Tang even thought with interest that he was not so stupid after all, as he called him cousin instead of some other more bizarre name.
For example, Mr., for example, Atang...
A gust of cold wind blew by, and Rong Tang shivered unconsciously. He couldn't tell whether he was cold or felt disgusted by Sheng Chengli.
A steady sound of footsteps was heard behind him. Su Huaijing placed the teapot on the stone table in the pavilion and took off his coat to cover him.
Rong Tang was just about to ask him why he wasn't wearing a robe, but when he looked up and met Su Huaijing's eyes, he saw a hint of reproach in them. He felt inexplicably guilty and didn't dare to say anything more.
The villain didn't say a word the whole time. He poured a cup of tea for Rong Tang, sat next to him, and then looked up. His voice was elegant and clean, which combined with the sound of the wind on the lake made people feel comfortable.
He said, "Your Highness the Fifth Prince has come here in a noble manner. I am sorry for not welcoming you in person. Please do not blame me."
Sheng Chengli restrained the pitiful look he had just put on, and a trace of inexplicable confusion and resistance flashed in his eyes. After a moment of silence, he said, "Master Su, you don't have to be polite. My cousin came all the way from the courtyard to pick me up. He already shows enough respect. I don't mind."
"Really?" Su Huaijing laughed softly and turned his head to look at Rong Tang meaningfully.
The latter was horrified and cursed Sheng Chengli, the bastard, for cheating him again. He looked back at Su Huaijing with firm eyes, indicating that he did not take Sheng Chengli seriously at all.
Su Huaijing's outer robe was caught by Qin Pengxuan and thrown on the carriage. He took off the coat again to block the wind for Rongtang. At this time, he was wearing very thin clothes. When the cold wind from the lake blew, he naturally put his hand into the layer of clothes covering Rongtang in front of Sheng Chengli, and covered Rongtang with the hand warmer through his hand to keep warm openly.
Rong Tang was slightly stunned, and even felt that his hands were clearly warmer than the hand warmer, but he didn't know why he had to come closer.
As he thought this, he moved his hand to the side to share some of the heat with Su Huaijing.
Su Huaijing asked casually: "I heard you guys chatting before I came here, what did you talk about?"
As he spoke, he gently rubbed the back of Rong Tang's hand. Rong Tang sat up straight instantly as if an electric current passed through his body, and replied seriously: "His Highness asked me a question that I don't understand. I'm asking him why he said that."
He looked at Sheng Chengli and asked again, "What did you mean by that just now? Your Highness and I are so different in status. If words like that were heard by someone with ulterior motives, it would be a handle to impeach me. Please explain clearly, Your Highness."
Su Huaijing lowered his head, a faint smile spread out at the corners of his lips. He shook his head secretly, and his fingers moved forward and covered Rong Tang's hand again.
He didn't need to seek warmth at all. He just felt depressed, aggrieved, angry, jealous, regretful and hateful. If he didn't stay close to Tangtang and hold him tightly, Su Huaijing was afraid that he would do something irrational.
Rong Tang's body stiffened for a moment, then gradually relaxed, allowing him to play with his fingers under the cover of his clothes, indulging him to the extreme.
Sheng Chengli was a little stunned when he saw this, and felt a little bit unbelievable. He closed his eyes and was about to answer.
Su Huaijing glanced at his expression and inexplicably felt a little better. He leaned a little closer to Rong Tang, and in return he received a slightly resentful look.
He smiled softly and listened to Sheng Chengli saying, "It's not a big deal. It's just that my father has always taught us not to forget that my aunt single-handedly saved my great-grandfather during the turmoil in Dayu, and helped my grandfather stabilize the court. He told us to treat the children of the Princess's Mansion as our own blood relatives. Therefore, Chengli suddenly heard that my cousin did not allow me to call him brother. I was anxious and lost my manners. I hope my cousin will not blame me."
Su Huaijing raised his eyebrows slightly, turned his head to look at Rong Tang, and pinched his fingertips, not knowing whether he was praising him or acting coquettishly.
He looked at Sheng Chengli and spoke in a cool voice, as if he had just realized something: "Your Majesty is so busy with affairs of state that he can still find time to teach the princes. This is a testament to the harmony between father and son and the great kindness of the royal family. This shows that the rumors in the outside world and in the court are not to be taken seriously."
Sheng Chengli was stunned for a moment, then realized the implication of his words. After all, he was just a sixteen-year-old boy, and he couldn't hide his thoughts, so his face turned slightly red.
Su Huaijing sneered in his heart when he saw this.
Everyone in the world knows that among Emperor Renshou's children, the least favored and least favored one is the Fifth Prince. He grew up in the cold palace, but he can actually say "my father has always taught me."
Did you learn from a dream
Su Huaijing added: "His Highness values Tangtang and is willing to call him cousin. That is our blessing—"
Just as he finished speaking, someone pinched his finger hard. Su Huaijing turned his head in pain and saw Rong Tang's eyes that were about to spit fire, which clearly showed his displeasure.
He smiled and handed the teacup to Rong Tang, then changed the subject and said, "It's better not to talk about blood relationship anymore. Those who know will say that the royal family is very kind and respecting elders is a model for monarchs and ministers; those who don't know will think that the people in my Ningxuan Palace are greedy and covet the imperial power, and even presumptuously try to establish a blood relationship with the royal heir. In the future, I don't know whether our hearts in serving Your Majesty are sincere and kind. What do you think, Your Highness?"
Rong Tang listened on the side and clapped secretly, thinking that he was worthy of being the villain. His ability of sophistry and thinking was truly unmatched. He threw the question back in a few words and turned the tables. It seemed that he was asking casually and giving a kind reminder, but in fact, if he didn't think through even a word in his answer, he would fall into a trap.
Not to mention Sheng Chengli, even for the eloquent Master Ke, how many times had he gotten any favors from him in his three lifetimes combined
He loosened his nails and gently rubbed the place where he had pinched with his fingers. Rong Tang temporarily forgave him for the so-called blessing he had just said.
What a blessing! It’s more like bad luck!
Su Huaijing couldn't help wanting to laugh because of Tangtang's temper that he could guess so easily and her nature of giving in easily when coaxed.
He looked at Sheng Chengli with a smile, as if waiting for his answer.
Sheng Chengli was stunned for a moment, and said: "Master Su is right to remind you, I spoke out of turn, you and my cousin—"
As soon as he said the name, Rong Tang frowned. Sheng Chengli gritted his teeth secretly, worried that he would be attacked again, and finally changed his words: "You and the prince are right. Chengli will remember it."
Su Huaijing raised his hand to stop him from bowing, saying, "Your Highness, please forgive us. You are the heir to the throne, and Tangtang and I are just common subjects. We cannot bear the responsibility of being taught a lesson."
Sheng Chengli swallowed his saliva. It was really not the right time to say anything to Rong Tang. He could only raise his clear eyes and said hesitantly, "I will leave for the imperial mausoleum soon. Prince, you must take care of yourself in the capital, and don't let the people who care about you worry."
Su Huaijing narrowed his eyes slightly, and for the first time he felt that he might have said something too light, but Rong Tang said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."
The big villain was immediately displeased. No matter what Sheng Chengli said or did, he felt disgusted at most. But once Tangtang responded to him, Su Huaijing felt sourness welling up in his heart.
He lowered his eyes, reached his free hand back into his sleeve, and began to search for the poison needle he carried with him.
Rong Tang continued, "Your Highness specially ordered people to send delicious food to the palace banquet on New Year's Eve to relieve my hunger. I haven't had time to say thank you in person. Thank you for your trouble."
The sun sank into the west and dusk was about to end. Su Huaijing touched an icy cold silver needle and felt a chill in his heart.
Rong Tang looked back, as if waiting for someone.
Su Huaijing paused, and almost at the same time, he heard the cry of a big goose behind him, each cry becoming more and more unruly, like a local tyrant.
He was stunned for a moment, turned around, and saw Shuangfu coming back with a goose in one hand.
Rong Tang finished the rest of his words with a smile: "It's just that I am weak and cannot eat any fishy or spicy food. Your Highness is so kind, so I took the initiative to distribute it to the young masters who came to the banquet, so that they would not say that you are being unfair and partial to some."
He smiled faintly, saying this to prevent people from talking about him, but his words were telling Sheng Chengli: You have made a lot of enemies for yourself.
But what does this have to do with Rong Tang
He said, "But the goose soup actually went into my stomach. My mother occasionally went to the palace to meet the Queen Mother, and she came back to tell me that Your Highness had a hard time in the palace and had always been self-reliant. How could I accept Your Highness's favor for nothing? These two geese are fat and strong, full of energy, so I can repay Your Highness for a meal. Thank you very much, Your Highness."
He stood up and while speaking he respectfully gave Sheng Chengli the salute of a subject without allowing any room for refusal. Sheng Chengli was so stunned that he had no idea what was happening. When he came to his senses, there were two fat geese beside him, cackle- ...
Rong Tang was calm and didn't think he had done anything outrageous. He said sincerely, "The Imperial Mausoleum is cold and remote, far away from the capital. I don't think the servants will do their best. If Your Highness doesn't want to return the two geese to the imperial kitchen, why don't you take them to the Imperial Mausoleum? If you are hungry, you can fill your stomach with them."
He glanced at the sky perfunctorily and said, "It's getting late, and the palace gates will soon be locked. I won't let Your Highness stay for dinner in the mansion. Please return to the palace early."
Sheng Chengli was confused for most of the time, and when he came to his senses, he turned around and walked out of the mansion unconsciously.
Shuangfu was driving the geese, and the two ferocious birds were cawing as they walked. They were so rebellious that they defecated a bright yellow shit on the shoes of the most expensive fifth prince of Dayu, the male protagonist of this world.
"Ah!" Rong Tang turned his head away and didn't look at the scene.
Su Huaijing was silent for a while, then laughed grimly, put the silver needle back into his sleeve pocket, put another coat on Rong Tang, and led him to the hall.
He smiled and asked, "Is this why Tangtang didn't meet him in the house?"
The wind wakes up your head, so you don’t feel drowsy and miss the old times; poultry are ferocious and their feces smell strong, but the open air outside prevents the house from being filled with the stink of charcoal fire.
How could he be returning the favor? He was simply belittling and despising Sheng Chengli over and over again from beginning to end.
Su Huaijing looked at Rong Tang's slightly arrogant expression as he raised his head, and he started to feel playful. He pouted and acted aggrieved: "Tangtang gave the goose I caught to someone else."
Rong Tang's face darkened and he turned around and glared at him: "How is this possible!"
Su Huaijing was slightly stunned and a little surprised.
Rong Tang: "I heard that he was coming this afternoon, so I quickly asked the cook to go to the neighbor's house to buy it."
He snorted softly: "Our goose is so well behaved, how could I give it to someone else?"
Su Huaijing didn't hear the other meaning in his words, but the system that had been watching the whole process said "huh" in contempt: [Goose. ]
Lights began to be lit in the garden, and the closer you got to the main courtyard, the more you could smell the fragrance of food.
Su Huaijing held Tangtang's hand and slowly walked home against the wind. His voice was as gentle as ever, spreading in the night along with the flower buds on the trees, as if welcoming the arrival of warm spring.
The spring water and autumn moon are not even one-third as warm as the person in front of you.
The gentle gentleman in Rong Tang's eyes smiled calmly, and his tone was also calm, as if discussing what dishes to have for three meals casually and easily. He smiled and called him: "Tangtang."
"Um?"
"Can't I kill Sheng Chengli?"
Su Huaijing was extremely confused, but the smile on his face did not fade at all.
"I really want to kill him, is it really not possible?" He asked softly, as if he was acting like a spoiled child and asking for a response.
(End of this chapter)