Su Huaijing only went out once, on March 22nd. He was so leisurely in the days that followed that even Rong Tang couldn't stand it and couldn't help asking the system whether he had given up revenge.
The system told him that it was impossible. The character setting of the main villain in "The Emperor's Journey" was that he merged into the darkness and turned completely evil because of revenge. He would never give up this goal even if he died.
But after giving this answer, the system didn't know what Su Huaijing was doing.
He didn't bring tooth powder into Rong Tang's room like he did on that rainy day, but he seemed to be suffering from thirst and wanted to stick to Rong Tang all the time.
After getting up, I knocked on his door, prepared clothes for him, watched him tidy himself up, and then had breakfast together.
In the morning, they would occasionally go to the princess's house to pay respects, and after returning, they would do some gardening, bask in the sun, and wait for lunch. After lunch, Rong Tang would go to sleep as usual, and Su Huaijing would read a book alone in the study. When Rong Tang woke up, they would read a book and a storybook respectively. When they got tired, they would play a game of chess or do something else.
Su Huaijing told him about the customs and culture of Shu, and Rong Tang, intentionally or unintentionally, revealed to him some information about officials and dignitaries in the capital.
But the villain didn't seem to care about these things at all. He was thinking more about what to do to make Rong Tang happy, whether he could go shopping today, whether he had finished eating the newly bought meat jerky, and whether he could plant another jujube tree in the yard. Rong Tang had eaten at the Sichuan restaurant mentioned in the letter once and wanted to go there a second time, but Su Huaijing rejected his request because the taste was too spicy and not suitable for patients.
As a result, within two days, a spicy rabbit head dish appeared on the table of Tanghuayuan. Shuangfu said that it was cooked by Su Huaijing himself, and even the chili was marinated with sugar, so it had a spicy taste but not too pungent or stomach-burning.
There is a goldfish kite made just two days ago in the warehouse. Su Huaijing said that he would take him to the suburbs to fly a kite when the weather gets warmer.
Rong Tang died and revived so many times, and only now did he finally relax and live a life that was leisurely and comfortable. He didn't have to think about anything and could live a useless life peacefully.
But he didn't mind being a useless person. Rong Tang always felt it was inappropriate for Su Huaijing to be so idle with him. Moreover, ever since the day when the system told him that the hero had come out of the cold palace, Rong Tang always had some vague worries in his heart.
He entered the system space and looked several times, and unexpectedly found that the black that almost covered the sky was about to dissipate, and a layer of gray lightly covered the edges. However, the color was too light and blended into the black mist. It was difficult to find if you didn't look closely. Rong Tang couldn't figure out what this meant for a while, but he had a bad feeling.
This day was the day of the Ningxuan Palace family banquet. Rong Tang changed into spring clothes and went to the main courtyard with Su Huaijing to attend the banquet.
Prince Ningxuan was the richest and most idle person in the entire palace, and the attitude of the whole family towards him was unexpectedly the same: respect on the one hand and ignorance on the other.
On the surface, everyone respected him as the eldest brother and the prince, but behind his back they just treated him as a invisible person. Therefore, during the days since he got married to Su Huaijing, Rong Tang had not let Su Huaijing have any contact with his uncles, aunts, concubines, or younger brothers and sisters.
Princess Duanyi and her husband had three children, two sons and one daughter. The eldest daughter married far away, the eldest son was given the title of King Ningxuan, and the second son was given an idle position as a vice-minister in the Ministry of Rites. Although his official position was not high, he was a real honor and favored child, and was trusted by Emperor Renshou.
The Rong family has not split up, and the eldest princess is still alive, so the whole family should live together. However, after Rong Mingyu was crowned king, he had to move to the palace. The eldest princess likes quietness, so the second son Rong Mingli also moved in with her according to her wishes. Now, the Ningxuan Palace is actually home to the two families of Rong Mingyu and Rong Mingli.
Rong Mingyu has three sons and two daughters, while Rong Mingli has two sons and three daughters, making a total of ten children. During festivals and family banquets, the family life is always very lively.
Rong Tang arrived late, and his younger brothers and sisters had basically all taken their seats. There were two tables in total. The main table was reserved for Rong Mingyu, Rong Mingli and their children who were over fifteen years old. The second table was for younger children or those who needed servants to serve them.
Rong Tang heard laughter from inside before he even entered the room, but the sound disappeared as soon as he and Su Huaijing stepped in.
He raised his eyebrows, a smile appeared on the corner of his lips, and his eyes lazily scanned the hall, finally settling on Rong Zheng, and said slowly: "What are you talking about? You look so happy?"
Rong Zheng had always felt that Rong Tang was evil recently, and had been avoiding him to avoid any contact. When he heard Rong Tang asking him about it, he gritted his teeth secretly, then stood up, greeted him politely, and said, "It's just some trivial matters. How are you, brother?"
As he stood up, naturally, the others could not sit down. Rong Tang achieved his goal and slowly took Su Huaijing to sit down. Then he said in a rather noble tone: "Since it is a trivial matter, why don't you tell me about it? Second brother is so cautious, I almost thought it was an important matter of the court that you brought to the table to chat about."
Su Huaijing poured him a cup of tea. Hearing this, the indulgence in his eyes was no longer hidden. He smiled and glanced at him under the pretext of serving him tea.
Rong Tang took a sip and put down the teacup, frowning slightly.
As expected, Su Huaijing’s tea is still the best tasting.
Rong Tang was already unhappy with everyone because he couldn't drink the delicious tea and his leisure time reading a storybook in the courtyard was interrupted. Seeing Rong Zheng didn't say anything for a long time after hearing what he said, Rong Tang pretended to be surprised and propped up his chin, slightly widening his eyes: "Is it possible that I was right? Do you really treat the affairs of the court as an entertainment before dinner?"
Rong Tang clicked his tongue twice, looked Rong Zheng up and down, and shook his head: "You are so brave, brother."
Su Huaijing was almost driven to death by the cuteness of his little Bodhisattva. He turned his head and told Shuangshou to make another pot of tea. Then he silently lifted Rong Tang's arm up and wiped his section of the table clean with a handkerchief.
Rong Tang knew that he was a germaphobe, so he just let him be, and enjoyed Rong Zheng's expression which changed from pale to blue with great interest.
He felt that he was not targeting Rong Zheng in particular, because although Rong Zheng was not very smart and not very fun, his handwriting was okay, so he respected him.
Although Rong Zheng looked down on him in these lifetimes, he never secretly made trouble for Rong Tang, and would respectfully greet him as his brother when he saw him.
Rong Tang tormented him simply because he got angry whenever he thought about the incident at Fengyue Tower.
Qin Pengxuan is a scumbag, the second prince is an idiot, and Rong Zheng is just an idiot who follows idiots and scumbags! Su Huaijing was sent to the Wukangbo Mansion like that in his previous two lives. Even if Rong Zheng did not participate, he was suspected of not saving him!
Rong Tang narrowed his eyes and looked at Rong Zheng, as if this matter would not be over unless Rong Zheng gave an explanation. For a moment, no one sat down in the hall.
The elders of both families were not present, and the only person with the highest status here was Rong Tang. At this time, he clearly looked like he was asking for an explanation, and anyone who saw him would be a little dazed.
But in just three months, the foolish elder brother/cousin who used to be foolish and stupid and was laughed at by them behind his back had changed. His aura revealed under his sickly face was actually as sharp as a sword. The princess sitting next to him only knew how to pour tea and wipe the table for him gently and tactfully from beginning to end, and she had no intention of reconciling at all.
Younger sister Rong Ning and Rong Zheng were born of the same mother. Seeing this, she pursed her lips and looked around anxiously. Finally, she looked at Su Huaijing for help, almost begging him, and whispered, "Sister-in-law..."
Rong Tang glanced over and was about to get angry when Shuangshou brought the brewed tea over. Su Huaijing took it and poured another cup of tea for Rong Tang. Then he looked at Rong Zheng and smiled, "The two squares of inkstones my second brother sent were very good. I haven't had time to thank you. Thank you for your trouble."
Rong Zheng was stunned for a moment and didn't accept his sudden kindness. Rong Ning kicked him in dismay. Rong Zheng finally reacted and said hurriedly, "Sister-in-law, you don't have to be polite. If you like it, I will go to the bookstore tomorrow to buy two for you."
Su Huaijing smiled but said nothing. Rong Tang looked at him disapprovingly and then looked back at Rong Zheng. Rong Zheng immediately said, "Just now, it was mentioned that His Royal Highness the Third Prince is going to hold a flower picking party and invite all the talented men and ladies in the capital. I was asking my brothers and sisters if they want to go. No matter how brave I am, I really don't dare to discuss state affairs. My brother really wronged me."
Rong Tang glanced at him coldly: "Really?"
Rong Zheng felt a little panicked for no reason when he was looked at by him, but he gritted his teeth and said, "It is true."
He was afraid that Rong Tang would set another trap for him like he did the last few times, so he racked his brains to think about it. But this time, Rong Tang just lazily looked away after hearing his question and said softly, "That's good."
Rong Zheng was confused for a long time and was pulled aside by Rong Ning.
Rong Mingyu and Rong Mingli hadn't come yet. The others were all gathered at the table next to them, playing with the kids. Little did they know that Rong Tang at the main table took a sip of tea, and his displeasure faded a little, but he still glanced at Su Huaijing unhappily: "What are you doing to help him?"
He heard it before he came. Rong Zheng was talking about the Second Prince being rewarded by Emperor Renshou again. He even said that the Emperor ordered the Second Prince to go to the patrol camp for training every three days, and hinted that this was a favor only for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Rong Zheng was close to the Second Prince, and the whole family knew that he was just taking advantage of the power of the other prince. His words even showed that he coveted the throne. It was because Rong Yuan was not here, otherwise Rong Zheng would be waiting to die. It was not wrong for Rong Tang to attack him.
But Su Huaijing actually helped him, which made Rong Tang a little unhappy.
Su Huaijing coaxed her softly, "She called me sister-in-law."
Rong Tang's eyes trembled for a moment, then gathered again in an instant, frowning and glaring at him: "She called you sister-in-law and you helped her, so why don't you help me when I call you husband?"
This was somewhat unreasonable, Su Huaijing blinked his eyes and said innocently: "But Tangtang has never called me your husband."
Rong Tang was slightly startled, and Su Huaijing listed all the things that happened to him one by one: "Tangtang proposed to me, married me, gave me pocket money, bought a house for me, ordered a carriage for me... But it is true that she never called me husband, madam, or wife."
"Tangtang, did you marry me just because you feel sorry for me?" Su Huaijing asked, looking at him with his eyes downcast, with a strong sense of déjà vu.
[Oh my—] The system watched the show silently, [Host, the villain has learned your trick. ]
Rong Tang: “…”
I really regret it now.
-
As soon as Wang Xiuyu stepped into the hall, she noticed the different atmospheres on both sides.
Rong Zheng, along with his younger brothers and sisters, were teasing Rong Yao, the three-year-old cousin from the second room. Except for Rong Yuan and the eldest son of the second room, Rong Zhe, who had not yet arrived, the remaining six people all had their eyes fixed on Rong Yao and would never glance at the main table.
There were two people sitting at the main table. Rong Tang was wearing a yellow spring outfit today, which made him look very delicate and bright. Wang Xiuyu was happy just by looking at him. Tang Tang's newly married wife sat next to him, wearing a turquoise dress. The fabric was the same as Rong Tang's, both of which were the brocade awarded by Queen Wang.
The two of them together looked like a pair of beautiful ladies. Wang Xiuyu's smile deepened, and she saw Su Huaijing bending down slightly in a cute and obedient manner, looking up at Rong Tang from bottom to top, with a smile on the corners of his lips, and his eyes were full of Rong Tang's shadow. Tang Tang's usually pale face had a rare, barely perceptible red color, and she glared back with a lively expression.
Although they were staring at each other, the two were very close to each other, and the atmosphere was quite strong.
Wang Xiu Yu didn’t want to go over there for a moment. She just stood there and watched silently, her eyes getting hot unconsciously.
On the day of Huaqin's wedding, she went to the bride's room with the bride's wife and was very aware of the inseparable relationship between her eldest master and the groom.
Over the past few days, everyone in the mansion has witnessed how good the young master has been to the young master. Therefore, as soon as she saw the princess's expression, she knew what she was thinking. She lowered her head and smiled softly, comforting her: "Princess, you see, the young master and the young master are very affectionate."
Wang Xiuyu nodded, looked up to suppress the tears, and smiled faintly: "The person Tangtang likes is naturally good."
As he spoke, Su Huaijing caught a glimpse of her from the corner of his eye, hiding a little bit of excessive mockery in his eyes. He reminded her in a low voice. Rong Tang turned her head, and the two of them stood up together and walked a few steps towards the princess.
Rong Tang smiled sweetly: "Mom."
Su Huaijing called out to him, "Mother."
"Hey, hey." Wang Xiuyu responded repeatedly, and took them back to the main table one by one. Rong Zheng at the second table hesitated whether to come over, and Wang Xiuyu said warmly: "Don't be polite, you can sit down after your father comes."
Rong Zheng really didn't come.
If she had seen this scene in the past, Wang Xiuyu would probably have thought that Rong Tang was being ostracized by them. But when she thought about the scene she saw just now when she entered the room, and the expression on Rong Zheng's face when he obviously stole a glance at Rong Tang and then breathed a sigh of relief when he heard her say that he didn't need to sit down, Wang Xiuyu had a vague unrealistic guess.
She found it a little unbelievable and asked in a low voice: "Did you bully your brothers and sisters?"
Rong Tang said: "Mother is wronging me, how could I bully others."
Su Huaijing found his aggrieved expression cute and turned his head to smile silently.
Wang Xiuyu looked at her son and then at her daughter-in-law. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that the two people were not expressing the same meaning, but she didn't know who to believe for a moment.
After a change of mind, she decided to trust her daughter-in-law, but she did not blame Rong Tang. Instead, she said softly, "This is a good thing. Mother is always worried that you will be bullied."
So Rong Tang's pretended grievance could no longer continue. He thought about his lack of care for Wang Xiuyu in his previous two lives, and felt a little guilty.
But this time, before the guilt could ferment, the hand hanging on her leg was held by someone. Su Huaijing's smile faded, and his voice was gentle, but with a hint of solemnity: "Don't worry, mother. I won't let Tangtang be bullied."
Rong Tang lowered his head in confusion and looked at the hand that was held in his.
There were still no calluses, and it felt warm and clean to the touch. Rong Tang stared at it in a daze for a while, and inexplicably felt that what Su Huaijing said was true.
And... he seemed to have heard something similar.
-
The third prince is the most pretentious of Emperor Renshou's sons. Some readers speculate that it is because he is the third child, so like the third son of the previous emperor, he has a high level of attainment in romantic affairs.
After the Third Prince left the palace and set up his own residence, he would hold a flower-picking party every spring. In April of the eleventh year of Qingzheng, the third flower-picking party was held, and Rong Tang and the male protagonist both went.
The court was already quite turbulent at that time. Marquis Wu Kang was exterminated and the second prince was stripped of his title and exiled. Su Huaijing stepped out from behind the scenes and stood in the court as a commoner. He joined the Censorate to supervise officials and gradually became the confidant of Emperor Renshou.
Sheng Chengli was seventeen years old, exactly the same age as Su Huaijing is now, but he was much more vigorous, outspoken and bright than the current villain who was always submissive and smiling.
He stood at the center of the vortex of the fight for the throne. With the assistance of Rong Tang and many of his confidants, he already had a lot of power in his hands, and his thoughts became increasingly deep and unpredictable.
But in Rong Tang's eyes, he was always the little prince in the cold palace who looked up at the sky and prayed that someone would take him out.
Rong Tang couldn't remember exactly what happened at that time. It was probably because of differences in political views. This situation had happened several times since New Year's Eve of the eleventh year of Qingzheng. Each time, Sheng Chengli took the initiative to give in. Therefore, Rong Tang did not realize that some relationships had already changed.
He and Sheng Chengli had an argument in a corner of the Flower Folding Club. The male protagonist stormed out in anger, and Rong Tang stared at a pink peony in front of him. During this time, several people came and left, including the male protagonist, the Sixth Prince or other princes.
They all saw the argument between Rong Tang and Sheng Chengli, some were sarcastic, some were pretending to win him over, Rong Tang dealt with them one by one, until he heard footsteps beside him again, he finally felt a little annoyed, turned around and wanted to leave, but the person behind him called out to him: "Master, do you like this peony?"
Rong Tang paused slightly, he recognized the voice as Su Huaijing's.
That was the first time he traveled through time, and his relationship with Su Huaijing was very strange. They neither knew each other nor knew each other. Rong Tang knew clearly that this person was a part of his mission that he had to defeat, and he also knew that his existence was the culprit that led to the destruction of the world, so he did not think of overestimating his own abilities and acting in front of him.
He had a "God's perspective", but he could not see Su Huaijing's location and could not hear his plot. Rong Tang was somewhat afraid of him.
But no matter how wary he is, he cannot deny that Rong Tang admires the strong at heart.
He and Su Huaijing had never communicated, and the original text had a butterfly effect, and many plots were shifted. Logically, everything was unknown. But Su Huaijing could calculate his actions, and Rong Tang could guess his deployment. Under the candlelight of the night sky, they had never met, sitting at the two ends of an empty chessboard, guessing where each other's next move would land, and then devouring or encircling each other, each encircling their own territory, waiting for an opportunity to counterattack.
Rong Tang actually... somewhat enjoyed this tacit understanding.
Su Huaijing didn't look at him either, he just lowered his eyes to admire the peony, with a smile on his lips, whoever looked at him thought he was as gentle as jade and as gentle as water. He was in the most strict censorate in the world, holding countless punishments in his hands, but he was only 19 years old. At the most dazzling age, he could only walk into the increasingly dark alone, letting hatred swallow him up.
He paused for a moment, and before he could say the next sentence, Su Huaijing smiled and continued, "Just because it happens to be opened here?"
Rong Tang was stunned, silent for a moment, and nodded.
It was just because he needed to find a secluded corner to communicate with Sheng Chengli, but he was in a state of emotional turmoil, physical discomfort and bad mood and could not walk, and there happened to be a peony blooming here.
There is no other special reason.
Too many people in this world like to speculate on what others are thinking. They would like to take apart every sentence and every action, unraveling them bit by bit, so as to give meaning to every syllable and action.
But in fact, many things happen for no reason.
It was just a coincidence that he was there looking at the peonies.
It was dusk. At dusk, lights were lit in the village. The distant sky was filled with neon lights. Rong Tang stood in front of a peony branch and watched silently with the villain in this novel world as the flower bloomed in the sunset glow. They also saw the starry sky curtain being pulled up. The world was vast and they stopped to watch a peony that was in full bloom.
After a long time, Su Huaijing said, "If you are bullied, you can come find me, my Lord."
Rong Tang was puzzled. On the one hand, he didn't feel that he had been bullied in any way, and on the other hand, he was very puzzled by the villain's sudden words.
The starry sky was full of flowers covered by the vast night. Su Huaijing looked away and smiled at him. His thin lips lifted slightly. There seemed to be light in his eyes, which were like the reflection of stars. Rong Tang heard him say, "You are a very interesting person. Sometimes I think it's good for you to stand on the opposite side of me, so that you won't be too boring."
Rong Tang widened his eyes slightly, somewhat incredulous.
At that time, Su Huaijing was the emperor's confidant and a favorite of Emperor Renshou. Many people wanted to curry favor with him, but he was completely unprepared and, in a busy manor, told Rong Tang as if jokingly: We have different positions.
How can the positions be different? Everyone is just seeking the throne in the Golden Palace.
It's just that you want to burn it, but I want to restore order.
Rong Tang suppressed his emotions and laughed, "Master Su, you are joking. What I am thinking of is the long-lasting prosperity of Dayu."
Su Huaijing smiled, withdrew his gaze from his face, and looked back at the peony.
Rong Tang couldn't stay any longer, so he said goodbye after a while. Before he left that corner completely, he caught a glimpse of Su Huaijing picking the flowers and looking at them in the moonlight.
Su Huaijing's voice was very soft, almost whispering, and Rong Tang heard him say, "But sometimes I feel that you should stand with me."
The voice was far away, Rong Tang could not hear it clearly, but he was a little flustered. The flower picking party was very lively, and all the talented men and beautiful women in the capital participated. There were many banquets in a day. Rong Tang left the corner where the peonies were blooming and threw himself into the chaotic banquet. He found Sheng Chengli and told him one by one who he should make friends with, as if the previous quarrel had never existed.
Rong Tang has always been in poor health. The only reason he looked okay was because he completed a mission and was able to use system coins to exchange for some life-saving medicine. But in order to pave the way for the male protagonist, he still drank at the banquet that night.
Dazed and confused, he found it hard to remember that anyone had ever given him a second choice, or perhaps his position had never been chosen by himself.
Rong Tang returned to the room drunk. There was tea on the square table. It was cold, but just the right amount for sobering up. Rong Tang drank a glass of it unconsciously. When he woke up, a strong alarm sounded in his mind telling him that the mission had failed.
Rong Tang thought of the peony picked by Su Huaijing, and was trapped in a vortex of contradiction for a long time. It was not until the system told him that the poison was not given by Su Huaijing that Rong Tang came out of the shadow of his death in the previous life just after talking to the villain.
-
And now Su Huaijing, seventeen years old, with an innocent smile, his hands gently folded in his own, and whispered to Wang Xiuyu, "I will not let Tangtang be bullied."
Rong Tang didn't know what to think for a moment. He looked at Su Huaijing blankly. Su Huaijing smiled at him, and Rong Tang looked away in panic.
In the first life, Su Huaijing said, "If you are bullied, you can come to me." In the second life, when he saw Rong Tang's body, he said, "What a pity, bury it."
Rong Tang had been treated too unfairly. When he first started over in this life, he thought the villain was a good person who was willing to give him a place to die. But now he suddenly recalled the beginning - the opportunity that made Rong Tang change his mind and actively approach Su Huaijing, and he suddenly felt puzzled.
In the last reincarnation, Su Huaijing said "What a pity" so coldly. What exactly was he regretting
Without any contact, I could walk up to him, silently look at a flower, and then extend an olive branch; how could I, after enjoying the moon and lanterns, drinking and chatting together, see his dead body and say "what a pity" so indifferently
Did Su Huaijing encounter something that he didn't know about, or did he do something to disappoint him
The doubt in Rong Tang's eyes was too deep. Su Huaijing frowned unconsciously, tightened his hands, and spoke in a light voice, but with a hint of inexplicable danger: "Tangtang, what are you thinking about?"
Rong Tang came back to his senses, shook his head, and subconsciously denied: "Nothing."
He pulled his hand out, picked up the teacup on the table, put it to his lips and sipped it, pretending that he couldn't see Su Huaijing's increasingly gloomy eyes.
Wang Xiu Yu was still immersed in what Su Huaijing had just said, and did not notice that the atmosphere between the two of them had suddenly changed. She looked at Su Huaijing with eyes full of relief.
The three people had different emotions, and the subtle atmosphere was not broken until Rong Mingyu and Rong Mingli stepped over the threshold.
When the head of the family enters, everyone should take a seat. Those who are still playing at the second table also respectfully wait for the elders to take their seats before sitting down in their own seats.
There were ten people sitting at the main table, including Rong Mingyu and Rong Mingli, the eldest son Rong Tang, Su Huaijing, Rong Zheng, and Rong Yuan, and the second son Rong Zhe and daughter Rong Ying.
When the dishes were served, Rong Mingyu gave a few official speeches before getting everyone to start eating.
Rong Mingyu behaved kindly and lovingly, and from time to time he cared about the studies of the younger generation. When Rong Tang looked at him, he couldn't help but think of the person sitting on the dragon throne, and his appetite decreased a lot.
Although Su Huaijing was annoyed by Rong Tang's sudden avoidance, he still paid attention to his eating. Seeing that he barely touched his chopsticks, he understood and leaned over to ask softly, "Do you want to eat hot pot?"
Rong Tang's eyes lit up and he turned to look at Su Huaijing.
Su Huaijing's unhappy mood was dispelled by those bright eyes. He smiled and whispered, "I'll take you out later. Shudao Pavilion will reopen in the next few days and there will be a night market."
Rong Tang nodded immediately. He could no longer eat the food on the table and was thinking about going out for a midnight snack later.
The Ningxuan Palace family banquet is not just a simple meal. There are many younger generations in the palace. There are four boys in Rong Tang's generation who can enter the court, so resource allocation is particularly important.
They were much luckier than the students who wanted to enter the officialdom through the imperial examinations. If they wanted to become officials in the court, they only needed their fathers to make some connections and they could get a position and enjoy the court salary - just like Ding Laibao.
But this is not the right path after all, so although the children in the family have reached the age of fifteen, except for Rong Tang who has been ill for many years, the others have not taken this path. They have their own other paths, just like Rong Zheng's friendship with the second prince, in fact, to some extent, is the result of Rong Mingyu's secret permission.
Getting in touch with the prince through family background, and then entering the court through the prince, this is the path that more children from aristocratic families would choose.
The topic of the flower-folding party naturally came up at today's banquet. In fact, among the Rong family's generation, the one who had a good relationship with the third prince was Rong Yuan.
—This is exactly what makes Rong Mingyu so brilliant.
It was impossible for him to openly stand on the side of a certain prince. Among the several sons of Emperor Renshou who were still alive, only the second prince and the third prince had reached the age to leave the palace and set up their own households. The emperor tacitly allowed them to secretly build up their power, so Rong Mingyu allowed each of his sons to follow one of them.
When Emperor Renshou was no longer willing to let the princes have too much power, Rong Mingyu would immediately stop his son's private relationship with the princes. After all, he had always acted according to the emperor's ideas and never overstepped the boundaries.
But Rong Mingyu asked Rong Zheng today: "The Third Prince is holding a flower picking party, do you want to go?"
Rong Zheng was stunned for a moment and looked at Rong Mingyu reflexively.
King Ning Xuan always had a calm expression on his face, and it was difficult to tell any emotion from his face, but Rong Zheng instinctively felt that this question was very dangerous.
He hesitated for a moment, then said honestly, "His Royal Highness the Second Prince just invited my son to go with him the day before yesterday."
"Really?" Rong Mingyu glanced at him, seemingly intentionally or unintentionally, with a cold light flashing in her eyes. Rong Zheng knew that his perception of danger was not groundless. He lowered his head, his hands and feet were cold, and his throat was tight as he said, "Yes."
Rong Mingyu didn't say anything. The atmosphere at the table was a little stagnant. Rong Tang picked up a serving chopstick and took a piece of peach blossom pastry and placed it on the plate in front of Su Huaijing. He whispered to him, "This is made by a chef from Jiangnan. It's very sweet. Would you like to try it?"
Su Huaijing wanted to laugh. He looked up at Rong Tang, then lowered his head obediently and bit off half a piece of peach blossom pastry with the crust falling off.
Rong Mingyu then stopped emitting that terrifying pressure, and instead looked at Rong Tang thoughtfully, then turned his head and asked the princess, "I heard from the doctor that Tang'er is feeling much better these days?"
Wang Xiuyu smiled and said, "It's much better. I rarely faint recently. Huaijing is Tang'er's lucky star."
Rong Tang didn't look at them, but his eyebrows twitched slightly. Su Huaijing lowered his left hand and pulled him soothingly.
Rong Mingyu said, "In that case, let Tang'er and Huaijing go to the Flower Folding Club together, so they can relax." He turned to Rong Zheng, "You have to take good care of your brother and sister-in-law, understand?"
He didn't even need to ask Rong Tang and Su Huaijing if they were willing to go, he made the decision right away, Rong Zheng quickly agreed, secretly relieved. Rong Tang's eyes became more and more lazy, and Su Huaijing didn't move his chopsticks after eating the piece of peach blossom cake.
After the family dinner was over, the two returned to Tanghuayuan to change clothes. When they were about to go out, Shuangfu informed them that Rong Zheng was coming to visit.
Rong Tang was in a hurry to go out and didn't want to see the guests, but Su Huaijing said, "Listen to what he has to say."
Rong Zheng did not come empty-handed, on the contrary, he prepared very valuable gifts.
Two pieces of the finest Wenfu ink sticks, a pair of Taicang brushes, a cup of Pinnanxuan osmanthus wine, and a Buddhist scripture from Tuolan Temple.
Shuangfu and Shuangshou were stunned watching from the side. They had never seen the second young master being so respectful to their own young master. Rong Tang, however, was not interested at all. Only when he saw the ink stick and the writing brush did his brows relax a little. He raised his eyes and glanced at Rong Zheng: "Second brother, what do you mean?"
Rong Zheng clasped his hands together and bowed respectfully: "Thank you very much, brother and sister-in-law, for helping me out."
Su Huaijing was packing the tea set, hand warmer, cloak and other things that Rong Tang was going to take with him. He had no intention of joining in. Rong Tang stared at Rong Zheng deeply for a while and asked lazily, "How old is my second brother this year?"
Rong Zheng replied: "Seventeen."
Rong Tang subconsciously glanced at Su Huaijing and thought to himself that they were both the same. One was so cunning that he could not figure it out at all, while the other was so stupid but still thought he was smart.
That's not right. After all, he wasn't really hopelessly stupid. At least he knew to come to his yard to give him a thank-you gift.
Rong Tang said, "Now that you are seventeen, you should know what you can and cannot say, what you can and cannot do. The palace is so big, with so many people and eyes. You should be careful about what you say even in your own courtyard. How can you be so complacent?"
Even if Rong Yuan and Rong Zhe were not present at the time, there were quite a few servants serving in the restaurant. Even if they were not Rong Yuan's people, didn't Rong Mingyu have a few confidants to keep an eye on the goings on in the mansion for him
Rong Zheng is exactly the same as the Second Prince. He becomes arrogant when he achieves some success and speaks without thinking.
Rong Tang actually didn't want to help him, but then he changed his mind and thought that Su Huaijing had just helped Rong Zheng before the meal, so it wouldn't matter if he just gave Su Huaijing another buff.
Besides, Su Huaijing has already had contact with the Second Prince. Even if he does not have contact with the Second Prince's party as an aide in the early stage, he will always be brought in front of everyone by Sheng Chengming in the future.
It would not be a bad thing to let Rong Zheng be grateful and respectful to him from the bottom of his heart now.
Rong Tang looked at Rong Zheng quietly. The latter's face turned red and he clenched his fists: "Brother, you are right."
The Prince of Ningxuan Palace has always been stupid, and the eldest son of the second house has little power. Rong Zheng has always been treated as another prince in the palace and has been used to being flattered. Except for his father, he has never been scolded like this. But when he heard it, he did not feel much disgust or resistance as he had thought.
Seeing his expression, Rong Tang thought to himself that the person who chose the name for him was truly a genius, and subconsciously fed him sweet dates after beating him with a stick.
Rong Tang coughed twice and softened his tone: "You also know that I am a patient with not much time left. The palace will still rely on you to support it in the future. If you don't grow up, what will happen to your mother and your sister in the future?"
Rong Zheng was horrified and looked at Rong Tang in disbelief, but Rong Tang waved his hand and said, "Go back. I'll accept these gifts. The four treasures of the study you gave me are very much to your sister-in-law's liking. Thank you."
Rong Zheng's mind raced, and he said in a rush, "It's not a big deal. They are just little things that can be bought with money. If you really like them, I will deliver the pens, ink, paper and inkstones that Tanghuayuan needs every month."
Rong Tang lowered his head, raised his eyebrows, and finally felt a little happy, but he didn't show it on his face. After the people walked out of the door, he turned to Su Huaijing happily: "I cheated a lot of treasures for you again!"
He had a lot of assets, and he could take advantage of others, especially Rong Zheng, and Rong Tang felt very happy. After saying that, he gathered his clothes and urged Su Huaijing to go out with him to eat hot pot, without noticing that Shuangfu and Shuangshou had left at some point.
Su Huaijing also stopped packing his things. The anger that had been suppressed over and over again all night finally couldn't be put down.
He walked over with a cloak, lowered his head and put it on Rong Tang. Their heads leaned against each other and their breaths intertwined. Rong Tang turned to the side uncomfortably, but Su Huaijing suddenly tightened his grip and forced Rong Tang to look at him by tying the cloak's knot.
The villain had a smile on his lips, but there were surging waves in his eyes.
He seemed to be gently fastening Rong Tang's collar, but his movements were so slow as if he was strangling him to death.
Rong Tang belatedly sensed some danger, and called softly in a hoarse voice: "Su Huaijing? What's wrong with you?"
Su Huaijing's gaze fell on Rong Tang's Adam's apple, which rolled up and down as he spoke. His fingertips lightly twisted the collar of his cloak, but he was very restrained and did not reach out to press it.
He lowered his voice slightly: "Tangtang, I don't like what you just said."
Rong Tang was slightly stunned, and couldn't think of what he said to displease the villain. However, Su Huaijing smiled, his eyebrows and eyes were as gentle as ever, and his tone was light: "You coax me."
"If you comfort me, I won't be angry anymore."
(End of this chapter)