Rong Tang's throat tightened and his biological instinct was aroused. Although Su Huaijing was clearly smiling, he felt as if his throat was held under this man's teeth and could be bitten off in one bite, spurting out blood.
Rong Tang swallowed his saliva and resolutely pleaded for mercy: "I was wrong."
Su Huaijing didn't let him go, and asked slowly, "What's wrong?"
Rong Tang: “?”
The system couldn't bear to watch it anymore, so it suggested: [Host, why don't you just pretend to faint? ]
"I would like to..." Rong Tang said, "but I can't faint now."
He pondered for a while, then asked tentatively: "You don't like the things I cheated Rong Zheng of? Do you think I have bad character?"
Su Huaijing smiled when he heard this, and said in a doting tone: "Tangtang can do anything, killing people, setting fires, burying corpses and skinning them, I will help you, don't be afraid of this."
But Rong Tang was even more scared after hearing this. He thought for a long time and really didn't know how his conversation with Rong Zheng had offended Su Huaijing. For some reason, Rong Tang wanted to ask, "Is it because I told Rong Zheng that you are his sister-in-law that you are unhappy?" But as soon as this thought came up, he tried his best to suppress it.
Can’t ask!
His instinct told him that he must not ask this question! If he did, the rope of his cloak might get stuck in his neck.
Rong Tang frowned, feeling a little scared and aggrieved. He couldn't think of anything no matter how hard he tried. Su Huaijing just looked at him with his eyes downcast, his fingers gently stroking his collar, as if he would pinch his neck in the next second.
After a long stalemate, Rong Tang had no choice but to soften his tone: "Huai Jing."
"Hmm?" Su Huaijing responded.
"I'm hungry."
Su Huaijing froze, Rong Tang looked at him, feeling very innocent and wronged, raised his eyes timidly and repeated softly: "I'm so hungry, I didn't eat just now..."
Outside the courtyard, the moon had risen above the branches and the chirping of insects was faint. Su Huaijing looked at the aggrieved face in the candlelight and was silent for a long time before finally letting go.
Rong Tang was slightly delighted. Su Huaijing turned around, took all the things he had prepared earlier, and strode out of the yard.
Rong Tang hurriedly followed, sticking close to him and trying to maintain the same pace as him.
Before walking out of the Moon Gate, Su Huaijing slowed down his pace, maintaining a pace that Rong Tang could keep up with without having to walk fast.
He still didn't look at Rong Tang, but just called softly: "Tang Tang."
"I'm here!" Rong Tang answered him loudly with a smile.
So Su Huaijing choked again, and tried to hold it in, but still couldn't help it. He turned his head and glared at Rong Tang fiercely.
Rong Tang immediately became timid, his neck shrank, and his voice dropped eight degrees: "Yes, yes."
Su Huaijing said coldly: "You are not allowed to eat spicy hot pot tonight."
Rong Tang exploded: "Why!"
Su Huaijing: "When you realize where you went wrong, come and make requests to me."
"But what's hotpot if it's not spicy?" Rong Tang argued.
Su Huaijing said, "Hmm," "What you said makes sense."
Rong Tang was delighted, but before he could feel happy, he heard Su Huaijing say, "So I eat spicy food."
Rong Tang: “?”
"What about me?" he asked weakly.
Su Huaijing: "Shudao Pavilion has made a new pot, called the Yuanyang pot, you can have the clear soup."
Rong Tang: “???” Do you have to be so avant-garde
He was so angry that he stopped walking and looked at Su Huaijing unhappily. The villain didn't tolerate him this time and also stopped walking, looking at him lazily with his eyes down. The moonlight was like water, and Su Huaijing said coldly: "Don't you want to eat?"
Rong Tang nodded.
As a result, Su Huaijing walked towards Tanghuayuan: "Then go back. I'll go to the kitchen to see if there are any ingredients and cook you a bowl of noodles."
Rong Tang was stunned. He suddenly raised his hand to grab Zhu Huaijing's sleeve and almost blurted out "You have changed".
If you say that Su Huaijing doesn't get used to him, at least his first alternative plan is to cook for Rong Tang to fill his stomach; but if you say that Su Huaijing gets used to him, Rong Tang would have to be frank, the contrast is too strong and he suffers a huge psychological gap!
Bigger than the soup base of a double-flavored hotpot!
Rong Tang felt a little aggrieved and said, "It was you who said you would take me to eat hot pot."
He took the initiative to bring it up! He seduced me! Rong Tang was a little angry.
Just a little bit!
Su Huaijing said: "But Tangtang said in person that she would stay with me forever."
Rong Tang was slightly stunned, his emotions were mostly drained, and he didn't quite understand why the topic jumped to this point. But he suspected that the villain had changed the concept, and he had evidence!
Rong Tang frowned and corrected him strictly: "What I said is that I will protect you until I die."
The aura around Su Huaijing suddenly sank, but because it was dark, Rong Tang did not notice it immediately. He only heard him ask, "What happened next?"
Rong Tang was stunned: "You should be able to protect yourself after this."
After that, he would be the emperor. Who would he need to protect him? Rong Tang was very confused.
Su Huaijing took a step closer, lowered his head, and said in a low voice: "Tangtang, you said before that you wouldn't lie to me, right?"
That dangerous intuition surged up again, and Rong Tang subconsciously pulled his hand back, but Su Huaijing grabbed it with his backhand.
He hesitated for a moment and nodded: "Yes."
Su Huaijing asked: "That night in the clinic, when you proposed to me, what was the reason you used?"
Rong Tang found that he could hardly keep up with his thoughts, and tried hard to think about the nonsense he had said at the time.
Just as I was about to come up with the idea, I heard Su Huaijing speak: "Save me from the cage, fulfill my filial duty to my mother for you, and help you teach your brother a lesson."
Rong Tang paused slightly, acutely aware that he had reversed what he had said.
What a coincidence, the importance of things is ranked exactly like this.
Su Huaijing smiled softly, rubbed his fingertips on the back of Rong Tang's hand, and asked him nonchalantly: "Tangtang, do you really need me to help you teach your brother a lesson?"
"!"
Rong Tang understood immediately.
The first reason he used to trick Su Huaijing into marrying him was that his younger brothers bullied him and he wanted Su Huaijing to help him teach them a lesson.
But after today's family dinner, Rong Zheng not only bullied him, but was even sweating profusely after being bullied by him and still had to send gifts to Tanghuayuan. No matter how you look at it, it was completely different from the excuses Rong Tang had said before.
He could also say that it was Rong Yuan and Rong Zhe who bullied him, but to be fair, even if they really targeted Rong Tang, wouldn't he go back? He has never been a little ball that allows others to bully him.
Since Su Huaijing had asked this question, he must have an answer, so Rong Tang didn't want to lie to him about it anymore.
They still have to live together for more than three years, he can't keep pretending to deceive Su Huaijing.
Rong Tang lowered his head guiltily and chose to remain silent.
Su Huaijing tapped his hand with his fingertips, seemed to sigh, took the initiative to give in, and asked: "Tangtang, before these reasons, you said something, what was it?"
Rong Tang was slightly stunned and looked up at Su Huaijing.
The villain's eyes were extremely beautiful. When they smiled, they were gentle and affectionate, but when they stared silently, they were cold and clear. Rong Tang thought about it and said hesitantly, "I fell in love with you at first sight?"
"Well." Su Huaijing said, holding his hand and walking out of the courtyard, saying in a light tone: "Then consider it as you falling in love with me at first sight."
Rong Tang: “?”
He was a little confused, but it was not difficult for him to accept. After all, the villain did have the capital to make others fall in love with him at first sight, but Rong Tang's love for him might be a father's love.
He was silent for a while, secretly glanced at Su Huaijing's expression, and asked in a low voice: "Are you not angry anymore?"
Su Huaijing turned his head and glanced at him, then asked helplessly, "How do you want me to be angry?"
When she gets angry, she acts like a spoiled brat, and when she settles accounts, she plays innocent. She admits her mistakes faster than anyone else, and looks at people with grievance, so how can she be angry anymore
Rong Tang understood what he meant and lowered his eyes slightly with a guilty look. He always felt that this was not the whole answer, and that something more important seemed to have been overlooked by him. The sudden anger of the villain tonight was definitely not because he found out that he could actually deal with Rong Zheng alone.
But Su Huaijing was already holding his hand and walking forward, not wanting to argue: "Let's go to Shudao Pavilion. You are not in good health and cannot eat spicy food. You are only allowed to eat a little bit. I will rinse it with clean water for you."
Rong Tang's eyes lit up for a moment, and just as he was about to speak, Su Huaijing glanced at him coldly: "If you act like a spoiled child again, I really won't take you to eat."
Rong Tang curled his lips and muttered softly: "I didn't say I didn't agree, you are so cruel."
He just wanted to say thank you! -
The Imperial City Night Market is basically concentrated on the street near Fengyue Tower.
The Jinfen River that flows around the city connects the prosperity of the entire Yujing. At night, the Shili Shuiling Street is brightly lit, with elegant music, gambling houses, restaurants, and smoke-filled corridors. Painted boats stay on the river, and gold-painted carriages pass by on the street. This is the most luxurious place in the world.
The Shudao Pavilion they went to was a Sichuan restaurant that had just been renovated and reopened two days ago. Its main business is hotpot. It is said that the owner is a native of Sichuan. Business has been quite prosperous in the past two days, and the aroma of chili filled the entire Shuiling Street.
Rong Tang just got off the carriage, sniffed, and couldn't help sneezing.
Su Huaijing frowned slightly, and his steps paused. He almost wanted to go back to the palace in an instant, but Rong Tang quickly stopped him: "It was just a sudden stimulation just now. It's okay now, really okay."
He was really craving for this hotpot. The big villain had finally agreed to bring him here to eat it. Even if he had eaten the plain spicy hotpot, he would definitely not go back.
Su Huaijing looked at him for a while, but in the end he couldn't do anything about him, so he could only take Rong Tang inside.
Shudao Pavilion has three floors in total. The first floor is divided into two halves. One half is a square table for diners, and the other half is filled with small stools and plates of fruits and snacks. The small table is in a semi-enclosed fan shape, arching a small square platform.
There were actors from Shu who were playing and singing on the platform with bamboo harps, pipa and other instruments. There were many people sitting around, one or several people sitting around a small table listening to the songs. There was a wooden number plate on each table, and from time to time a waiter would come and find the guest with the corresponding number plate and lead them into the inner hall or upstairs.
Rong Tang was stunned for a long while, a little confused, and subconsciously asked the system: "Is this... calling the number?"
The system was also confused. It had learned the knowledge of the host's era and knew very well that this torturous marketing method was created by some so-called famous restaurants. It made the customers itchy and they watched the guests inside eating with red faces and relish through a window or a door. They were reluctant to leave with their number cards in hand, waiting for their turn to be called to have a table.
[That’s amazing.]It admired it sincerely.
Rong Tang nodded, and couldn't help but turn his head and say to Su Huaijing: "The owner of this store is so smart."
He just took a casual glance and, not to mention the people already sitting in the hall, even those waiting to be called in the outer hall included many officials of the current dynasty or young masters and young ladies from aristocratic families. The owner of Shudao Pavilion was not only smart but also resourceful. He could make these people sit quietly and not bully others. He was truly a rare talent.
"Really?" Su Huaijing smiled and was about to take him upstairs.
Rong Tang was startled and pointed at the boy sitting behind the table at the door: "Aren't we going to take a number?"
Su Huaijing raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at him. Rong Tang's heart skipped a beat and he had a bad feeling.
The next second, everyone saw the owner of Shudao Pavilion coming from the lobby. He lowered his head and said, "Are you the Prince and Princess of Ningxuan? There are private rooms upstairs. Please move upstairs."
When Rong Tang heard the voice, he knew that his premonition had come true. He turned around unwillingly and happened to see a handsome and resolute face.
As luck would have it, it was Xingfeng, another confidant of Su Huaijing.
Rong Tang finally realized something was wrong.
In the previous two lives, Shudao Pavilion was also a restaurant, but like Liujinlou, it sold fine dishes. Although the business was good, it was not as prosperous as it is now by focusing on one business.
[Host, what are you thinking about? ] The system obviously also discovered the clues.
Rong Tang glanced wistfully at the people who were dining and waiting for a table in the restaurant. The moonlight was bright outside the building. It was not yet curfew, and there were even horse-drawn carriages coming in this direction on the long street.
Rong Tang: "... I want to invest."
system:[?]
"This is so profitable!" Rong Tang couldn't help but complain, "Zizi used my money to open the store, why didn't you let me invest!?"
With Shudao Pavilion, if he opens a few more chains in Dayu, the profits will definitely be considerable!
Rong Tang really, really, really wants to buy shares!
He admitted that he was just blinded by money.
Rong Tang glanced at Su Huaijing sadly. Su Huaijing was slightly stunned, then subconsciously lowered his eyes and looked at Xingfeng.
He began to wonder if he had discovered Xingfeng when he had asked him to monitor Rongtang before, so Rongtang associated this store with him. But before he had time to think about it, Rongtang had already looked away, and was about to follow Xingfeng upstairs as if nothing had happened.
Just after taking two steps, a laughing voice came from behind him. It sounded quite frivolous, and the word "dandy" was clearly written on him: "Boss Feng, when I came here yesterday, you said that I was not allowed to reserve seats or ask the servants to come and get numbers in advance. How come you invited the young master upstairs as soon as he showed up today?"
Rong Tang paused slightly, turned around, and saw a young man in pink standing up from the small table, throwing a handful of melon seed shells, and then putting the melon seeds into another plate and handing it to his companion at the same table.
He smiled and clapped his hands, then bowed to Rong Tang and said, "My name is Ke Hongxue, nice to meet you, Master."
Xingfeng frowned and was about to explain when they heard Ke Hongxue say, "Don't be nervous. I'm not some great hero who will uphold justice when I see injustice."
Ke Hongxue looked at Rong Tang and smiled happily: "I just waited for two days but couldn't get a table. Today, I finally invited my senior brother to come over. If I can't eat again, I'm afraid he will never want to come out with me again in the future. My Lord, please be kind and share a table with us?"
Rong Tang glanced past him and looked at the young man behind him.
The young man was dressed in white, simple and elegant, with a pretty and delicate face. He looked like a natural beauty, but he was serious and never smiled, like a cold-faced devil.
In all their three lifetimes of knowing each other, Rong Tang seemed to have never seen him smile sincerely once.
That was Mu Jingxu, the top scholar of the same year as Ke Hongxue and the Shaoqing of Dali Temple.
At the same time, he is also the true teacher of the male protagonist Sheng Chengli. Rong Tang used to think that they should be close friends, but it seems that under Mu Jingxu's calm face is a pool of stagnant water that can't stir up any waves. Except for Ke Hongxue, no one can get close to him.
Everything he did had only one purpose: to put Sheng Chengli on the throne.
Did this incident bring him any pleasure? Rong Tang didn't know.
He didn't succeed and he died earlier than me.
Rong Tang thought for a moment, then turned to look at Su Huaijing. Su Huaijing asked, "Tang Tang wants to sit at the same table with them?"
Rong Tang nodded, and Su Huaijing smiled and said, "Then let's go together."
Ke Hongxue bowed and thanked him again, then turned around and tried to pull Mu Jingxu. As soon as his hand touched his sleeve, he was thrown away. The young man in white gave him a cold look, and Ke Hongxue smiled and coaxed him, "Go ahead. You're going to the flower-picking party tomorrow, so just consider it as accompanying me?"
Mu Jingxu asked coldly: "Why should I accompany you?"
Ke Hongxue held her heart exaggeratedly, a little hurt: "Wow, you have no conscience. I was almost killed by a tiger for your little apprentice, and you are not willing to accompany me for a hot pot?"
Before Mu Jingxu could choke him, Ke Hongxue laughed again: "Senior, I'm really greedy. You know the third brother. He's good at singing about the wind and the moon, and he's very good at making sour words. Every banquet he has is light and sweet. This flower-picking party will last for seven days. I'm going to be greedy to death."
"No one asked you to go." Mu Jingxu said.
Ke Hongxue smiled and said, "You are going, how can I not go?"
Rong Tang couldn't help but frown when he heard them openly discussing the matters of the Flower Picking Club in public.
He looked at Ke Hongxue as if he were a warrior. He had known before that this third place winner had a very unconventional style of doing things and spoke frivolously to others. Even Rong Tang had experienced this many times.
However, Rong Tang had rarely witnessed his private communications with Mu Jingxu, and he never expected that he could be so outrageous.
How did Mu Jingxu resist killing him? Rong Tang was very curious.
He was watching a free play here, and many people around him were looking at him. Su Huaijing's face darkened and he gave Xingfeng a look.
Xingfeng understood and stepped forward and said, "Master Ke and Master Mu, please quickly decide whether to go up together. Our shop is very busy and being stuck in the middle of the road will delay the efficiency of the waiters in serving the dishes. Please forgive us."
Upon hearing this, Ke Hongxue rushed to Xingfeng and said, "Yes, yes, yes!" Then she leaned over and grabbed Mu Jingxu's wrist, and walked forward with him: "Senior brother, you are the best. This time you accompany me, and next time I will accompany you. Let's have a give and take!"
Rong Tang was walking in front, and when he heard this, he couldn't help but look back.
Ke Tanhua, Ke Shaofu, are you sure that our Dali Temple Shaoqing is willing to have anything to do with you
Rong Tang's face was more exciting than ever before, with an itchy feeling in his heart but trying his best to suppress it. Su Huaijing saw it, his eyes darkened slightly, and he whispered: "Tang Tang, don't look at others."
Rong Tang was stunned for a moment, and instinctively turned his head, looking at Su Huaijing with some confusion.
Su Huaijing smiled again, looking as gentle as jade and as if he was just joking. He said something in a relaxed tone that was hard to tell whether it was true or not: "Otherwise, I won't want to bring you out next time."
The system came online at the right time: [Host, what he said is true.]
Fortunately, there was such an episode. From the hall to the third floor, Rong Tang kept his eyes straight, and his gaze was fixed obediently and steadily on the floor under his feet. Su Huaijing's emotions finally stabilized a little, and Ren Xingfeng led them into the private room.
It is located near the river. Looking down from the window, you can see the glittering lanterns floating on the Jinfen River. When the crowd is not too noisy, you can even hear the little songs sung by the Red Pavilion in Fengyue Building, which are looming and seem to be there and not there, very pleasant to the ears. However, the air lacks the lingering fragrance of powder, and is more filled with the fragrance of willows and green grass by the river downstairs and the smell of chili wafting from Shudao Pavilion.
Rong Tang was very satisfied with this box, but Su Huaijing seemed unhappy. He heard the noise outside and glanced at Xingfeng calmly with a hint of reproach in his eyes.
Xing Feng silently lowered his head and glanced at Rong Tang, who was obviously very happy.
"… "
It was clearly the master who said to prepare a private room according to the prince's preferences and keep it empty every day, and he saw that Rong Tang clearly liked it very much.
Xingfeng gritted his teeth and didn't look at Su Huaijing. He served the customer the menu, then quietly left the room, leaving the waiter to serve him.
Naturally, Rong Tang was the first to order dishes. He hadn't eaten hotpot for a long time. Firstly, he was in poor health, and Wang Xiuyu would never give him anything too spicy. Secondly, although Dayu was rich, it was not as rich as modern times with abundant material resources. The food on the table was often seasonal food. If he wanted to eat out-of-season food, it was almost impossible.
Not to mention some ingredients that need to be refrigerated to keep fresh. The cost of making ice was too high in ancient times, and few people except the court could afford ice.
So when Rong Tang saw the words "chilled tripe" on the menu, he couldn't help but open his eyes wide, and immediately turned his head to ask Su Huaijing: "Chilled?"
It's only the end of March now. Even if there is ice, wouldn't it be a waste to use it to cool the tripe
Rong Tang suddenly felt that it was a good thing not to invest. The costs of running Zaizai's hot pot restaurant seemed a bit high and it might not make money.
Unexpectedly, before Su Huaijing could respond, Ke Hongxue said, "So the prince didn't know yet? The reason why Shudao Pavilion is so popular and a seat is so hard to come by is because they use the freshest ingredients. Freshly slaughtered cattle and sheep, fruits from the southwest, highland barley from the north... If you can think of it, Boss Feng can get it. They even bought a farm in the suburbs and hollowed out the ground to store ice. Boss Feng said that when the weather gets hotter, the three floors of Shudao Pavilion will be filled with ice to keep the temperature down."
Rong Tang was stunned, shocked by Su Huaijing's extravagance: "!?"
Ke Hongxue took out a jade folding fan from his waist and waved it slowly: "But correspondingly, the price is not affordable for ordinary people."
Rong Tang hesitated for a moment and asked the Tanhua Lang who had never eaten a meal but seemed to be very knowledgeable: "So how much does our meal cost?"
Ke Hongxue stretched out a finger and shook it.
Rong Tang: "One hundred taels?"
Ke Hongxue shook his head.
Rong Tang was surprised: "One thousand taels?"
Ke Hongxue smiled like a fox: "The private room on the third floor starts at one hundred gold. Not to mention that the scenery of Linxianju is unique. The Shudao Pavilion has been open for a few days, and this private room has been empty for a few days. It was not until tonight when the prince and his wife came that I had the opportunity to come up and experience it."
Rong Tang was shocked at first by the price he blurted out. He was stunned for a moment. Before he could digest his son's amazing business acumen, he realized the other meaning in Ke Hongxue's words.
He frowned, poured himself a cup of tea, and placed the teapot in front of Su Huaijing, blocking the undisguised and inquiring gaze of the third place winner, and said in a deep voice: "Since it is a rare opportunity, Master Ke should enjoy it with you, my fellow student."
Ke Hongxue is a smart man. Even if Rong Tang lived three lifetimes, he could not deny that this seemingly unreliable and out-of-tune Master Ke, who obviously has the ability to govern a country but spends his days walking his birds, appreciating flowers, and playing with cats and dogs, is a very smart man.
Although he did not point it out explicitly, there are many hidden meanings in his words.
Rong Tang then realized that the idea of sharing a table that he had just proposed downstairs was not a whim.
He clearly began to doubt Su Huaijing's identity and background.
Ke Hongxue's eyebrows moved slightly, and her peach blossom eyes couldn't hide her smile. She unfolded the jasper folding fan and raised it up to cover half of her face. She pretended to be intimate and rubbed towards Mu Jingxu's direction. She seemed to be whispering but actually said a word without missing a word: "Look, my friend, married couples are different after drinking the wedding wine. I haven't said anything yet, but the prince is protecting the prince's wife like this, for fear that I will eat him."
Mu Jingxu had a cold face, a cold heart, and a cold voice. He stretched out his index finger and pushed Ke Hongxue and the fan away a few inches: "If you are jealous, go marry one yourself."
Ke Hongxue folded her folding fan in a flash, took out the menu that Rong Tang had already ordered, and casually read out a few names of dishes to the waiter. Then she smiled and said to Mu Jingxu, "Okay, this year during the Dragon Boat Festival, when I go to pay my respects to my teacher, I will ask him to marry me."
Su Huaijing had not done anything until now, but when he heard these words, he subconsciously looked up at the two people sitting opposite him.
Rong Tang couldn't help but said angrily: "Don't listen to his nonsense. Half of the girls in Fengyue Tower are his confidantes. It would be strange for him to get married."
Su Huaijing raised his eyebrows, but before he could say anything, Ke Hongxue asked with a smile, "Did the prince ask about me?"
Rong Tang rolled his eyes secretly, thinking, why should I ask? Wasn't it you who took me to Fengyue Tower the first time
He called six girls to sit with him on one side, singing, dancing and playing mahjong. It was a lively scene with laughter and joy. Whenever he grabbed anyone's hand, he would ask if they had a lover and whether they were willing to go back to the Ke Mansion with him.
If it weren't for the fact that Master Ke was highly respected and had strict family education, God knows how many more great-grandsons of the Ke family would be in this imperial city now.
But he said, "Master Ke is very popular in the imperial capital. Half of the noble ladies in the city are looking forward to marrying into the Ke family. Even if you don't ask, you have heard about it."
Ke Hongxue laughed happily, his eyes swept over Rong Tang and Su Huaijing, then retracted his gaze and started peeling melon seeds for Mu Jingxu.
Rong Tang looked at them like this and suddenly became dazed.
He remembered that Mu Jingxu died very early in his previous two lives. This person seemed to be in worse health than him. He was busy with official duties in the Dali Temple and worked day and night, not to mention that he was also conscientiously working as an aide to Sheng Chengli. Mu Jingxu died in winter both times, and after his death, Ke Hongxue disappeared.
But looking back now, he felt that although Mu Jingxu was extremely cold, his health did not seem to be in such a bad condition that he would die.
Rong Tang was puzzled, but a sentence he just heard downstairs flashed through his mind.
-
"I was almost killed by a tiger because of your little disciple."
So, has Mu Jingxu joined the male protagonist's camp
Rong Tang was thinking about how to ask quietly without arousing suspicion when his hand on the table was taken away.
Su Huaijing took a towel soaked in hot water, lowered his head, and slowly wiped him finger by finger. The warm touch slid across his knuckles. Rong Tang blinked and was about to say thank you.
Su Huaijing smiled and said casually, "Tangtang seems to have heard a lot of new things in the past three months."
Rong Tang was stunned, then he felt a chill, and was horrified. Instinctively, small bumps appeared on his wrists, which were then pressed down by Su Huaijing with a warm towel.
He was silent for a while, then said, "Maybe it's because I'm actually a little genius?"
Because he is too smart, even though he was stupid for nine years, he can speak eloquently after he recovered, and he can also know the family network relationships in the capital. He can also accurately point out the gossips about Ke Hongxue's confidantes all over the capital after seeing him.
Knowing too much and too diversely is difficult even for a completely normal person, let alone Rong Tang who has been stupid for so many years. Even if the news reaches his ears, it is difficult for him to digest it in different categories.
Not to mention that Su Huaijing now lives with him, and he knows very well that Tanghuayuan's information channel about the outside world is essentially the two mouths of Shuangfu and Shuangshou. It is almost impossible for Rong Tang to know what they have not said.
Rong Tang was not surprised that Su Huaijing would become suspicious, but for the first time he was troubled by how sharp his son was.
Suspicious of him three times in one night... Rong Tang wanted to die.
If I had known earlier, I would have checked the almanac as soon as I got up. In fact, I shouldn’t have left Tanghua Courtyard today!
Rong Tang frowned and looked at Su Huaijing with a frustrated expression. There was not much panic in his eyes, but there was a subtle complaint that Su Huaijing caught.
He smiled and let go of Rong Tang's hand. It was unclear whether he believed it or not. His tone was quite relaxed and he comforted her very naturally: "Well, Brother Tang Tang is naturally a genius."
Rong Tang: "..." You don't seem to believe it at all! -
When the hot pot was served, Rong Tang simply said nothing. And Su Huaijing really did as he said at the beginning, and rinsed each dish with clean water before letting Rong Tang eat it. Ke Hongxue was stunned and even laughed and fell on the chair, asking: "Senior brother, can I do the same?"
Mu Jingxu gave Ke Hongxue an extremely cold look and she shut up in disappointment. After all, she didn't do what Su Huaijing did. Maybe she was afraid of being killed by the Shaoqing of Dali Temple.
Rong Tang adhered to the principle of "speak less, make fewer mistakes" and ate the hot pot quietly from beginning to end. Mu Jingxu also did not speak. In the end, the people he became familiar with were Ke Hongxue and Su Huaijing.
Rong Tang glanced at Su Huaijing and saw some interest in his eyes, so he knew that this meal together was not entirely because of his willingness.
Su Huaijing was also interested.
Rong Tang guessed that Su Huaijing was probably wondering about the same thing as him.
The story of the knight Ziyuan presenting a white tiger at Mount Mengshan has spread widely in Dayu. People have even adapted many novels into novels based on it, and famous artists have also painted a picture about it. The whole world knows that there is now a white tiger being kept in the imperial palace.
Ke Hongxue said that he was almost bitten to death by a tiger in order to save Sheng Chengli.
Rong Tang originally wanted to be an outsider in this life, but it seems that he can't be an outsider completely. He ate half full, sipped fresh goat milk, listened to Su Huaijing and Ke Hongxue testing each other, and felt that it was really inefficient, so he simply looked at Ke Hongxue through the smoke and asked, "Is that white tiger big?"
Ke Hongxue paused, his eyes fell from Su Huaijing to Rong Tang's face, and he smiled, as if to scare him: "It's very big, seven feet six inches tall, nine feet long, fat and strong. If the prince is this big, he will probably be eaten up in one bite."
Rong Tang knew his character and did not find this remark offensive, but Su Huaijing's expression suddenly turned cold, and he said in a deep voice: "It seems that Master Ke must have some extraordinary qualities to be able to escape from this danger."
Ke Hongxue smiled and said half-truthfully, "It's not that extraordinary."
Rong Tang waited for him to continue for a long time but nothing came of it. He had no choice but to ask, "I heard that Master Ke gave up martial arts and turned to literature?"
Ke Hongxue looked a little surprised, but more interested. He raised his chin and looked at Rong Tang: "Is the prince interested in me?"
He looked at Su Huaijing and Rong Tang with an ambiguous look, and said to Rong Tang in a frivolous tone: "It's better to do it today than to wait for a day. I have a private room in Fengyue Tower. If you don't mind the simplicity of it, why don't you come with me to the tower after supper to listen to some music?"
Su Huaijing's face was so dark that it looked like the bottom of a pot could be stained. Rong Tang glared at Ke Hongxue and almost wanted to sew his mouth shut for always talking about irrelevant things.
After a short pause, he turned to Mu Jingxu with a fake smile and said, "Master Mu, according to the laws of Dayu, what is the crime for an official appointed by the imperial court to openly visit a prostitute?"
Dayu had a lax management of officials visiting prostitutes, probably because there were countless people who frequented brothels, from the emperor to ordinary people, and if they were not reported intentionally, the Dali Temple and the Censorate would not take the initiative to manage officials' visiting prostitutes.
But the law was there, and Mu Jingxu said coldly: "30 strokes of the cane and a fine of half a year's salary."
The punishment was neither too light nor too heavy. Rong Tang nodded and said to Ke Hongxue, "Since that's the case, why don't you go to the Dali Temple to accept the punishment first and then invite me to Fengyue Tower? This prince will not do such a stupid thing as instigating an official appointed by the court."
Ke Hongxue was in no mood to pay attention to him now, and hurriedly approached Mu Jingxu to beg for mercy: "Senior brother, good senior brother, I was just kidding, I really went to Fengyue Tower just to listen to music, I am still a virgin, really, if you don't believe me, check it out!"
Mu Jingxu rolled his eyes at him. Rong Tang was happy. He smiled and stretched out his chopsticks to pick up a piece of beef from the hot pot. Just as he was about to put it into his own bowl, he keenly felt a gaze from the back of his head. With a flick of his wrist, he turned around and obediently put it into Su Huaijing's bowl: "I picked it for you, eat it if you like."
Su Huaijing asked in a cold voice: "Tangtang, do you want to go to the brothel?"
Rong Tang was stunned, and his tone became more obedient: "No, I was just teasing him."
Su Huaijing looked at him solemnly, reached out to take the chopsticks dipped in chili oil from Rong Tang, replaced him with a new pair, and then lowered his head to eat the piece of beef that Rong Tang had picked for him.
Rong Tang had a bitter face, looking at the new chopsticks in his hand with worry, while Ke Hongxue was so happy that she said, "It seems that the prince is also a henpecked husband."
Rong Tang glared at him: "Eat yours."
Ke Hongxue was slightly surprised by his attitude. She raised her eyebrows and toasted Rong Tang with a glass of wine from a distance. Rong Tang then started drinking the goat milk again.
As he drank, he suddenly realized that he hadn't asked a single question.
It's not that Su Huaijing is inefficient, but this third place winner seems to be incompetent. In fact, there is no defense line that can be broken through. Once you finally touch the boundary, he will lead you to other places with his jokes, making you not know what to say.
In the past, they were in the same camp, and Rong Tang only felt that this guy was difficult to deal with, but in reality, he trusted him to handle many things. Now that they were standing opposite each other, he felt a little worried.
System asks: [Host, what are you thinking about? ]
Rong Tang: "I'm thinking about how feasible it is to bring them both to Su Huaijing's side."
The system was silent for a while. Rong Tang remembered its position and quickly added: "I'm just thinking about it. Don't take it seriously."
The system obviously took it seriously. It searched for a while and gave the conclusion: [Not very feasible.]
Rong Tang was a little flattered at first by his own sweetness, and then he said faintly: "I know that too."
Whether it was the original text or the experiences they had had in these past few lives, Rong Tang had never known why Mu Jingxu chose the male protagonist to assist him among so many princes. If he really had to find a reason, he would be more inclined to believe that it was the guidance of heaven and the arrangement of the world line.
Someone must stand behind Sheng Chengli, there must be a resourceful strategist willing to live and die for him. Rong Tang alone is not enough, so Mu Jingxu came and brought Ke Hongxue with him.
If there were other unknown reasons, Rong Tang really couldn't think of them.
But in this case, it would be almost impossible for him to pull Mu Jingxu to Su Huaijing's side. If Mu Jingxu didn't come, Ke Hongxue would naturally not come either, so Master Ke would be one of Sheng Chengli's biggest backers in the early stage.
Master Ke is a veteran of three dynasties and has served as the imperial tutor twice. His status in the court is very important. With him protecting Sheng Chengli, the male protagonist naturally has more advantages than other princes.
Rong Tang couldn't help but turn his head again and look at Su Huaijing carefully when he thought of this.
Sheng Chengli is the son of heaven. He has received all the privileges that can be imagined and unimagined in this world. His birth even caused the celestial phenomena to change. So how did Sheng Chengli manage to lose to Su Huaijing so miserably when he had such a good hand
He was so absorbed in watching her that Su Huaijing let him stare at her for a while. The smile on his lips deepened, and his eyes were filled with tenderness. After a long while, he turned around and asked softly, "Are you full?"
Rong Tang nodded: "I'm full."
Su Huaijing stood up, took the cloak and hand warmer for Rong Tang, motioned him to stand up, tied the cloak on him, and stuffed the hand warmer into his arms: "Let's go then."
Ke Hongxue and Mu Jingxu were still in the private room. Seeing this, they just stood up and said goodbye, but did not leave with them.
We were just chance acquaintances sitting at the same table, and the four of us must have had a lot of ideas in our minds, so no one needed to pretend that we had met too late.
The palace's carriage stopped at the corner of the street. Su Huaijing did not take Rong Tang there immediately, but took a walk with him. Shuangfu drove the carriage slowly behind them.
As the moon reached the zenith, Shilishuiling Street gradually became quiet, losing its bustle and filled with drunken young men and carriages returning home.
Rong Tang walked slowly along the long street. The wind along the shore blew the willow branches and ruffled his hair.
It was spring, and Rong Tang's tattered body didn't feel very cold at night, not to mention that the hand warmer in his arms was still emitting warmth.
He felt somewhat comfortable. After walking for a while, Su Huaijing asked casually, "Tangtang wants to make friends with them?"
"They" naturally refers to Ke Hongxue and Mu Jingxu. Rong Tang paused, turned his head and glanced at Su Huaijing's expression, and did not see much displeasure or anger on his face.
So he thought about it and nodded: "Yeah."
Su Huaijing smiled faintly: "Why?"
Rong Tang was a little hesitant, for many reasons.
Having been colleagues for two lifetimes, he found these two people quite interesting and didn't want them to end up like before; he didn't like Sheng Chengli, so he didn't want him to have such a powerful helper around him; they were both too smart, and if he stood on the opposite side of Su Huaijing, his road to revenge would inevitably encounter setbacks...
But in the final analysis, Rong Tang was thinking about something else.
He stopped and looked at Su Huaijing intently, remaining silent for a long time.
Su Huaijing was not in a hurry either. He stood with him on the river bank, enjoying the breeze and waiting for him to speak.
After a long while, Rong Tang said, "For you."
"Me?" Su Huaijing was a little surprised.
Rong Tang nodded, and Su Huaijing smiled and said, "Can I ask the reason?"
The reason was probably that Rong Tang suddenly remembered that Mu Jingxu died on a winter night in his previous life. After Ke Hongxue handled his funeral, he went to the Censorate alone.
The next day, Ke Hongxue disappeared. On the third night, Su Huaijing knocked on Rong Tang's door and asked him with a smile, "My Lord, would you like to drink?"
He was clearly smiling, but Rong Tang felt that he seemed extremely sad...
Su Huaijing was not drunk that night, but Rong Tang was. In a trance, he heard him ask himself a question, but he could not remember it afterwards.
Now Su Huaijing was standing on the bank of the Jinfen River and smiling at Rong Tang, but there was a genuine smile in his eyes, only a hint of confusion.
Rong Tang shook his head: "No." Because I don't know either.
Su Huaijing was obviously even more surprised. After a moment of shock, he said, "Then can I ask you a question?"
"Um."
Su Huaijing asked: "When did your dementia get better?"
Rong Tang was stunned when he heard this, and his first reaction was: He really didn't believe it!
But then he thought it was better this way. He would ask immediately if he had any suspicion. No matter whether the answer was true or false, or whether it was what he wanted, it was much better than keeping it in his heart and repeating the suspicion.
So Rong Tang thought about it and answered: "What was told to the public was three months ago."
Su Huaijing's smile deepened, and he took a step forward. He looked at Rong Tang in the moonlight and the river lanterns, and said in a soothing tone: "What about internally?"
Rong Tang raised his eyes, hesitated for just a moment, raised the corners of his lips, and smiled frankly: "I have never been stupid."
The moonlight was cool, and Rong Tang noticed the light that suddenly lit up in Su Huaijing's eyes. He stared at Rong Tang for a long time, then smiled: "Okay, I'll let them make friends with you."
Tangtang, look, aren’t you very good at coaxing me
I wish you a long life, and you can ask me for anything else.
My... little Bodhisattva.
(End of this chapter)