Rong Tang stayed in Yong'an Lane for a whole winter, only occasionally returning to Ningxuan Palace to visit the princess and the eldest princess. The rest of the time he spent in the west-facing study in Tangjing's house, wasting time day by day, watching the days get longer and the pear trees bloom and wither like snowflakes.
On the day of Jingzhe, there was a heavy rain in Beijing. The insects that had been silent for the whole winter seemed to have made an appointment and began to chirp long and shrilly, as if heralding the arrival of some changes.
Su Huaijing went on duty day by day, and it took him only two months to move from the Censorate to the sixth-rank Censor.
Su Huaijing never brought back the affairs of the officialdom. He and Rong Tang always talked about what to eat for three meals and where to go on holidays. A group of merchants from the north came to the capital, bringing back many small things from the border. Do you want to go and have a look together
Rong Tang had worked hard for Sheng Chengli for two lifetimes, and now he was completely protected from the power struggle. For a moment, he was actually a little dazed.
And Su Huaijing did not completely refuse to let him intervene. On certain points that could not be directly discussed, or on the affiliation of certain officials who played an irreplaceable role in the original work, Rong Tang would occasionally take advantage of the loopholes in the system and give Su Huaijing some seemingly plausible reminders.
Often at times like this, the interaction between them became Rong Tang talking and Su Huaijing listening.
The latter would brew him a pot of tea, prepare a few plates of dried fruits and snacks, and bring a pen, ink, paper and inkstone, and place them where Rong Tang could reach them, in case he got excited and needed to pick up a pen to write down or draw certain power relationships for him.
Most of the information Tangtang has is tricky and secretive. It is not impossible to find out if you take the trouble to investigate, but it just takes more time and energy. Su Huaijing has a gambling house like Yu Zhongqiu, so eight out of ten officials in Dayu are transparent when standing in front of him.
But he was willing to listen to Rong Tang's random chatter.
It is not only to help me clarify my thoughts and reduce troubles, but more to make Tangtang more energetic.
He himself might not realize that when talking about those trivial matters and gossips of officials, the expression on Rong Tang's face was not boredom or dullness, but on the contrary, it was an unprecedented liveliness.
Su Huaijing likes that kind of liveliness.
In the spring of the tenth year of Qingzheng, there was a major event in Dayu that concerned all the students in the world: the imperial examination.
The day the results were announced happened to be mid-spring, the season when flowers were in full bloom.
Sheng Chengxing's flower-picking party had not yet begun, and many candidates who came to see the rankings gathered at the entrance of the Imperial Examination Hall, as well as some officials who took a detour from the government office after court.
Although Ke Hongxue is the tutor of the Imperial Academy, it is actually just a position. He does not need to give lectures every day. He is a well-deserved idler.
On the day of the announcement of the results, the top scholar of the last year, who was so brilliant that he shocked the entire city of Yujing, drove his family's jewel-studded carriage early in the morning from the Ke Mansion to Yong'an Lane to pick up Rong Tang. Then they rode in the carriage to Ziwu Gate to pick up Mu Jingxu and Su Huaijing who had just come out of court.
By the way, I saw Lord Lu and took him in the car as well.
Lu Jiaxi was both nervous and excited. According to his life trajectory, he should be one of those people waiting at the gate of the Imperial Examination Hall, anxiously waiting for the results to be announced.
Now, he had taken advantage of the Zhehua Club and had also experienced the flood in the south of the Yangtze River. His experience and knowledge were far beyond the reach of these students who had just finished the imperial examination.
The carriage stopped at the corner of the street. The entire long street in front of the Imperial Examination Hall was occupied by students and servants waiting for the announcement of the results. Rong Tang walked along the street and saw many faces of court officials.
"Catching a son-in-law from the list." Ke Hongxue said with a smile, and glanced at Mu Jingxu casually, "If I hadn't stuck to you in the middle of spring that year, who knows, our Mu Shaoqing would be the son-in-law of some lord now."
The sourness in these words was about to rise to the sky. Rong Tang silently moved a few steps away from him. Mu Jingxu still looked cold. When they were together in private, he had caught a glimpse of the most elegant and handsome Third Prince in Yujing City in those years in the lights and moonlight.
But now, in just twenty-eight years of life, my relatives and friends have separated, my subordinates have all died, I have worn plain mourning clothes for ten years, and I have worn a mask on my face for ten years. I have only caught a glimpse of my past appearance, but it is only fleeting and cannot stay for long.
Rong Tang couldn't describe the feeling in his heart. He was surrounded by a bustling crowd and thought about the scene described by Ke Hongxue.
It was a sunny day, and flowers were in full bloom in the capital. Young talents who were about to enter official careers stood in the spring sunshine, and the sunlight was gentle as it passed through their faces. Matchmakers in bright clothes came to propose marriage, and officials wearing black gauze hats sincerely invited them.
It was a very heroic and heroic picture, but once it was connected with Mu Jingxu, Rong Tang inexplicably felt a little out of place.
The wealthy and spoiled prince of the mortal world has turned into the snow on the top of the mountain like the moon in the sky. He has come to this mortal world without being touched by even a trace of worldly breeze. He really should not be associated with such a noisy and disorderly picture.
Rong Tang walked beside Su Huaijing and looked at Mu Jingxu with a bit of disbelief in his eyes.
But before he could express his doubts, Lu Jiaxi said suspiciously, "That's not right. I heard from the Minister of Rites that on the day of the announcement of the results in the seventh year of Qingzheng, the most popular person was obviously you, Brother Ke."
When Ke Hongxue was exposed, the calm and complacent smile on his face froze for a moment.
He turned his head and wanted to warn Lu Jiaxi not to talk nonsense, but Su Huaijing had already moved, blocking their line of sight, and asked with a smile: "Little Master Lu, can you tell me in detail?"
As he spoke, he looked up at Rong Tang and clearly saw the eagerness in his eyes.
It really is... I am extremely curious.
Su Huaijing shook his head and laughed as he listened to Lu Jiaxi and Rong Tang vividly telling the story he had heard from the Hanlin Academy and the Ministry of Rites, a story that had been passed through many hands and embellished many times.
Mu Jingxu glanced over, with the corners of his lips slightly raised.
Ke Hongxue complained bitterly. He originally just wanted to tease his fellow student, but he didn't expect that Xiao Lu, even after becoming an official, could not change his habit of asking questions everywhere. He didn't know if he was dazzled by so many new things in the court that he still had the leisure to spread them.
The champion glanced at him and asked, "What does this have to do with me?"
The tone is always clear and cold. The spring breeze in the city is warm. The light of the Jinfen River is reflected in the sky, falls into the clouds, and then projects down. The thousand-year-old Yujing has become a prosperous city hidden under the misty clouds.
It is like a huge bubble, reflecting the microscopic life of another dimension. When illuminated by the sun, it reflects colorful light and reflects all aspects of human life.
Lu Jiaxi and Rong Tang had been talking about the Palace Examination from the day when the results were announced three years ago, and then from the Palace Examination to the Dali Temple. Little Lord Lu knew a thing or two about everything, and he could tell a few words about any story.
Rong Tang was happy to hear that. Su Huaijing calmly served as a barrier, blocking Ke Hongxue's sight, while also making sure Rong Tang was not bumped into by the passing crowd.
On the other side, when Mu Jingxu's voice fell, Ke Hongxue's smile gradually faded, and he fell silent, which was unusual for him.
Mu Jingxu was not used to it. After taking two steps, he still couldn't help but turned his head to look at him.
Ke Hongxue unfolded his folding fan and shook it gently, then stretched out his hand to block the blow from a reckless servant boy standing beside him. His arm was hit hard, but it did not tremble at all.
The collision did not affect Mu Jingxu at all. Lord Mu's indigo court robe, like his plain white clothes, would never get dirty, especially in the presence of Ke Hongxue.
He is the snow in the dead of winter, always knowing how to hide and then cover with whiteness.
Mu Jingxu was stunned, and subconsciously took a step towards Ke Hongxue. However, the other party had already leisurely put away the fan, let the book boy go, and smiled at Mu Jingxu again, his peach blossom eyes were charming and affectionate, and it was difficult to tell whether the meaning of his words was true or false: "Senior brother, if you keep saying this, I will be sad too."
The warm mid-spring sun and breeze blended together, and crowds of people and carriages were intertwined. Mu Jingxu was stunned for a moment and restrainedly withdrew his gaze.
Su Huaijing glanced at them and said nothing.
Ke Hongxue had already led everyone to squeeze under the red list in a familiar manner. He looked up at the red list and read it out seriously: "Xun Boguang, Xu Pengchi, Lei Hang... The school's results are not bad this time. The teacher should be happy now."
The gentleman he was referring to was naturally Mu Jingxu's nominal father. Every year during the three festivals, Ke Hongxue would prepare gifts and visit him. It was unclear whether he was repaying his father's teaching or repaying someone else's kindness.
The Jinwu Guards were maintaining order on the side. Rong Tang casually glanced at the names on the list, then retracted his gaze and cast his eyes on a team of Jinwu Guards on the left side of the Imperial Examination Hall, raising his eyebrows slightly.
Su Huaijing came over and asked, "What's wrong?"
"He got promoted?" Rong Tang pointed in the air and quickly retracted his arm.
Su Huaijing looked in the direction he pointed and saw Shen Feiyi among the group of guards.
Su Huaijing: "I was promoted last month to Deputy General of the Right Guard."
Rong Tang: “…so amazing.” He admired it from the bottom of his heart.
Shen Feiyi failed to get promoted even after a year of offering his services, while Su Huaijing had only been in the court for two months when he had already begun to secretly build up his own power.
It’s really amazing.
Su Huaijing didn't hear his hidden meaning for a moment, his face turned cold, and he whispered: "Tangtang."
Rong Tang was stunned, and keenly realized that the big villain was in a bad mood. He turned around in confusion, and was stunned for a second after seeing the color in his eyes. He was rarely speechless towards Su Huaijing.
"I'm praising you," he said.
Su Huaijing was slightly startled, then reacted for a moment and understood the meaning of his words. The unhappiness in his eyes immediately disappeared. He smiled, curved his eyes, and said softly: "Thank you Tangtang for the compliment."
Rong Tang: “…” Be less jealous!
Little jealous person!
He was speechless, his ears were red with embarrassment, and when he turned around, he suddenly found that the atmosphere between Ke Hongxue and Mu Jingxu seemed a little off. He paused and asked, "What happened to them?"
Su Huaijing glanced at it casually and shook his head: "Nothing, just something that needs to be resolved."
He's just refusing to admit that he likes her.
Su Huaijing thought that his brother was not as honest as Tangtang.
At least Tangtang would invite him to sleep together.
Even though it's just sleeping.
(End of this chapter)