Rong Tang felt relieved immediately.
What a joke! He had both the plot and the system in his hands but still lost to the villain twice. Even if Ke Hongxue was a master of writing and had an eloquent tongue, could he get away with anything at the hands of Su Huaijing
Rong Tang moved close to Su Huaijing and patted the back of his hand to show his approval. Su Huaijing turned around and smiled at him, then took the opportunity to hold Rong Tang's hand.
Rong Tang was stunned for a moment, but did not struggle to break free. He stood quietly beside Su Huaijing and looked at Ke Hongxue.
Ke Hongxue only paused for two seconds, then smiled without hiding her smile: "The Crown Prince's Consort is really very smart."
"That's right." Before Su Huaijing could say anything, Rong Tang couldn't help showing off. He glanced at Ke Hongxue and said, "But don't keep calling him the Crown Prince's Consort. He has a name, Su Huaijing."
Ke Hongxue seemed a little confused this time. He looked at Rong Tang and then at Su Huaijing. He was stunned for a long time, then couldn't help laughing. He bowed slightly and said, "Mr. Su, nice to meet you."
Su Huaijing held Rong Tang's hand, and it was difficult to return the greeting, so he nodded and said, "Tanhua Ke."
Ke Hongxue was obviously happier because of his address. She stepped aside and said, "Let's talk inside?"
Now was the time for the flower-picking party to enter, and people were coming and going at the entrance of Songyuan. Since it was clear that Ke Hongxue wanted something, there was no need to ask for an answer in public.
But Rong Tang was still angry. Before turning around, he glared at Ke Hongxue and said sarcastically, "Master Mu has worked really hard these years."
Ke Hongxue was startled, then curled her lips, and swung the white jade fan in her hand again, shaking the late spring breeze: "Senior brother is indeed working hard."
Rong Tang punched the cotton and became even more upset. Su Huaijing pinched his fingertips in a funny way and said in a soft and coaxing voice: "Tangtang."
Rong Tang immediately fell silent.
He shouldn't have talked to Ke Hongxue!
There were servants responsible for welcoming guests at the entrance of Song Garden. After checking everyone's badges and invitations, someone would lead everyone to the corresponding courtyard.
Rong Tang didn't want to live in the same courtyard with Rong Zheng and the others. Coincidentally, Ke Hongxue had something to discuss with them, so they decided to ask for a small courtyard with a attic, which had four side rooms in front and back and some service rooms, just enough for them and Mu Jingxu to live together.
After Shuangfu and Shuangshou had packed their luggage, Mu Jingxu had not yet arrived at Songyuan. Su Huaijing asked Ke Hongxue what he was doing at the door in a forceful manner. But after they checked in, he was not so anxious anymore. He just asked Rong Tang if he was hungry and whether he needed to eat first. After getting a negative answer, he urged him to go back to his room and sleep.
Rong Tang raised his eyes in surprise, but Su Huaijing smiled and said, "Didn't Tangtang feel sleepy a long time ago?"
Not only was he sleepy, Rong Tang was in very poor health. After every long-distance carriage ride, he needed to rest for a long time before he could recover. This was the conclusion Su Huaijing came to when Rong Tang went to Yong'an Lane every day before getting married.
Hearing this, Rong Tang's doubts faded away, and he ignored the sleepiness that had finally come up uncontrollably. He yawned and said lazily, "Then I'm going to bed first. If you go out for a walk, remember to let Shuangshou accompany you."
Shuangshou is a servant of the Princess Chang's Mansion and Prince Ningxuan's Mansion. He may be cute and honest in front of them, but when encountering things outside, he is absolutely decisive and very capable.
Rong Tang just gave him a casual reminder, but Su Huaijing knew that he was afraid that he would be bullied if he went out.
So the softness in my heart could not stop spreading, Su Huaijing responded in a gentle voice: "Okay." He then said: "Tangtang, you can sleep in the car next time."
Rong Tang didn't say it, but Su Huaijing could see it.
Whether it was when Rong Tang went to Liujin Tower to pick him up on the third day after their marriage, or when they went out shopping later, or on the way to the flower-picking meeting this time, as long as Su Huaijing was in the same carriage with him, Rong Tang would not leave him to sleep no matter how sleepy he was.
Whether it was playing cards or eating snacks, in essence, he was just forcing himself to stay with Su Huaijing.
Su Huaijing should actually urge him to rest, but he was always reluctant and even wanted to greedily ask for more.
It seemed that his little Bodhisattva was very good at winning people's hearts. Rong Tang was like a net woven with sugar silk. Su Huaijing fell into it willingly and let him wrap himself up and cover him with sugar frosting.
But after getting off the car and seeing Rong Tang looking sleepy, Su Huaijing couldn't bear it anymore.
But the young master just nodded indifferently and said, "Okay, I'll pay attention next time."
I should have just agreed to it casually, and whether I would do it or not would have to wait until the next time.
Su Huaijing knew it very well, and felt helpless, but couldn't help but feel moved for him. His fingers curled up and curled at his side, and touched the waist badge. In the end, he couldn't help it. Su Huaijing stretched out his hand and pulled Rong Tang's sleeve: "Tangtang, you forgot to say good afternoon to me."
It was the perfect time at the end of spring, with kingfishers singing and flowers blooming. The heat had not yet arrived and the ice and snow had all melted. Su Huaijing stood under the eaves in the spring light and looked at Rong Tang with a smile.
Rong Tang's eyelashes trembled for a moment, his fingertips moved unconsciously, and his voice was slightly hoarse: "Good afternoon."
After a pause, he said: "... Huai Jing."
Su Huaijing's smile at that moment was more charming than the spring scenery, just like all the youthful spring that should be written into poems to praise.
-
When Rong Tang woke up, it was almost dark. The flower-picking party had not officially started yet, but the banquet had already begun, with different locations and guests.
The third prince boasted that he enjoyed himself with the people, so this banquet, which was ostensibly prepared for scholars and literati, did not have too many rules and regulations. He advocated that people come when they are happy and leave when they are satisfied.
Rong Tang put on his clothes and went out. He saw Su Huaijing and Ke Hongxue playing chess in the attic. He had an idea and walked up the stairs and behind Su Huaijing.
The game was halfway through and did not seem to be very stalemate. Su Huaijing even had the leisure to listen to the movements behind him. Seeing Rong Tang coming over, he naturally pulled over a small stool and let him sit next to him, then peeled an orange and handed it to him.
"How did you sleep?" Su Huaijing asked.
Rong Tang was actually a little dazed, maybe because he slept too soundly, or maybe because he had a dream.
I dreamed of Su Huaijing, who was a little older than he is now, as gentle and considerate as ever, wearing a bright yellow robe, and seemed to have just come out of court. When he saw him, he quickened his pace and called out with a smile, "Tangtang, good morning."
The scene in the dream was too harmonious and peaceful, and Rong Tang was confused for a long time.
Su Huaijing will become emperor, but after he becomes emperor, Dayu will face a catastrophe.
The emperor has suffered a lot of hardships along the way. He no longer trusts anyone and no longer loves the people of the world. Such a warm smile will never appear on his face.
He should be a tyrant immersed in a sea of blood and ice, ruthless and cruel with an iron fist, instead of... He was so obedient that Rong Tang felt distressed even in his dreams.
He was very happy to see Su Huaijing like that, but he still felt distressed.
But after waking up, the scenery of Songyuan was very beautiful. There were layers of clouds above the evening sky, and the wind blew through the grass in the distance. He saw the person in his dream sitting on the red-painted attic, intersecting with the clouds, with his head lowered. Rong Tang suddenly felt: Su Huaijing should have been like this.
He should have been the most favored little prince in the Dayu Palace, with his father, the emperor, his mother, his brothers and sisters. The legacy left by his father was taken over by his elder brother, the crown prince. He should have grown up carefree until he was seventeen or eighteen, like his third brother, and become a handsome young man famous in Kyoto, then meet his ideal person, learn both literature and martial arts, live a brilliant life, and become a rich and noble prince whose name will go down in history.
Instead of enduring and lying dormant, being his, Qin Pengxuan's, or anyone else's backyard person, day after day he had nightmares of mountains of swords and seas of fire, with all his relatives dying in front of him.
Rong Tang's heart trembled, and he subconsciously grabbed the fingertips that Su Huaijing extended to him.
Su Huaijing was slightly startled, his eyes unconsciously brightened by this sudden closeness, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips. He put his hand down, took Rong Tang's hand and placed it under the chessboard, and calmly continued to play chess with Ke Hongxue, without reminding or urging, letting Rong Tang wake up on his own.
Ke Hongxue's eyes were soaked with tears and his stomach was boiling with sourness. He quickly unfolded his folding fan and shook his wrist rapidly a few times, saying "It's too shameful to watch."
Rong Tang was finally brought back to his senses by his movement. He frowned, and after realizing that he was holding Su Huaijing's hand, he pretended to take the peeled orange from him naturally, loosened his hands, glared at Ke Hongxue, and said directly: "Tanhua Lang, you are surprised by what you have seen. Haven't you seen a loving couple?"
Then he changed the subject, not giving Ke Hongxue any chance to refute: "That's right. After all, Master Ke is a well-known filial son in Fengyue Tower. I think he has made many promises in fleeting love, so naturally he has never seen them support each other and respect each other like guests."
Su Huaijing was amused by him and laughed secretly, but Ke Hongxue paused, blinked, and the folding fan stopped in mid-air, without any movement for a long time.
After coming back to his senses, Ke Hongxue was happy. He curved his eyes and casually placed a chess piece on the board. His peach blossom eyes raised and he looked at Rong Tang with a smile. His voice was lively and free: "Does the prince seem to be hostile to me?"
Rong Tang snorted coldly, and Ke Hongxue became interested and asked, "Why? The prince and I just met for the first time yesterday, why do you have to ruin my plans again and again?"
Although he was investigating, there was no displeasure in his eyes, not even the probing wariness like last night. It was as if he was simply curious, and his eyes were sparkling as he looked at Rong Tang.
Rong Tang looked at him: "Aren't you also the one who spoke without manners when you first met me?"
What does it mean to be blind
He married Su Huaijing in a formal ceremony! Although they didn't ride in a sedan chair carried by eight people, they were still a formal couple who carried a sedan chair to marry and worshipped heaven and earth!
Why can't you see it anymore?!
Rong Tang was indignant.
Ke Hongxue was stunned for a moment, then thought about it for a while, and finally understood the key. She couldn't stop laughing, and her curved peach blossom eyes were covered with a layer of mist. She was romantic, affectionate, tactful and reserved, and her tone was like a little hook: "My Lord, I suspect we knew each other in our previous life."
Rong Tang frowned and was about to speak, but Su Huaijing took out a white piece from the chess cup and placed it steadily on the chessboard, saying in a calm and steady voice: "Ke Tanhua, you lose."
Ke Hongxue was startled and looked intently at the chessboard.
The chess game that was going back and forth without any murderous intention a moment ago, suddenly became sharp and deep in the time it took to say these few words. A game of Go seemed to conceal the bleak north wind of marching troops and fighting on the battlefield.
Ke Hongxue was slightly surprised, and looked at Su Huaijing with a hint of admiration in her eyes.
Ke Hongxue turned around, put on the arrogant look of a dandy boy, and started to complain: "Senior brother, they bullied me."
The man who came was Mu Jingxu, dressed in white, upright and steady. He glanced down at the chessboard and said in a cold voice, "You are not good at chess, yet you still have the nerve to complain."
Ke Hongxue blinked and looked at Mu Jingxu a little aggrieved. She stood up naturally and changed a stool. She invited Mu Jingxu to sit across from the chessboard and whispered, "Senior..."
"you shut up."
"you shut up!"
The two voices came one after the other. When Rong Tang finished speaking, he saw Mu Jingxu looking at him, so he held his forehead and said, "Sorry, listening to him gives me a headache."
Ke Hongxue: “?”
Su Huaijing laughed sullenly, poured a cup of tea for Rong Tang and handed it to him. Rong Tang took it and sipped it. He heard Su Huaijing ask, "Since Lord Mu is here, can you tell us why you two have been testing us so many times?"
Mu Jingxu glanced at Ke Hongxue, who nodded. He understood and got straight to the point: "I just want to ask the prince and Mr. Su, are you willing to join us at this flower-picking party?"
Rong Tang paused slightly, a strange emotion rising in his heart.
Su Huaijing asked: "Are there only four of us?"
Mu Jingxu shook his head: "No."
Su Huaijing said: "Master Mu, please explain clearly."
Mu Jingxu: "And the Fifth Prince."
With a "splash", Rong Tang knocked over the teacup.
The three of them were stunned. Before Rong Tang could react, Su Huaijing had already grabbed his hand and quickly flipped it in front of his eyes, asking, "Are you burned?"
Rong Tang curled his fingers, feeling the temperature in confusion, then shook his head: "No."
He lowered his head and saw a puddle of water and a broken teacup on the wooden floor. He subconsciously wanted to squat down to pick it up, but Su Huaijing pulled him back, stared at Rong Tang for a long time with a frown, stopped him, and leaned over to gather the broken porcelain in his palm.
When Su Huaijing stood up again, his expression was extremely cold. He looked at Ke Hongxue and Mu Jingxu without saying anything: "Thank you for your kindness, both adults. Tangtang and I have never been to school. I think even if we form a team, it will only cause you trouble. It's better not to do so."
Mu Jingxu's expression remained indifferent, but Ke Hongxue's face showed surprise, as if she had never expected that they would refuse.
The flower-folding party is held for a total of seven days, with a different theme each day. Participants are required to compose a poem or an fu in line with the theme of the day before sunset, and send it to the Third Prince and other great scholars who participate in the selection to select the best and worst.
But not all the people who came to participate in the flower-picking party were talented. There were also people like Qin Pengxuan, who were illiterate but had prominent family backgrounds. It was naturally impossible for them to lose face at such a banquet.
So the rules are based on groups, just like the final assignment groups when Rong Tang was in school in modern times. A group consists of five to six people, who share the results and only make internal recommendations for the final selection of the Shujishi.
This kind of recommendation is easy to operate. In other groups, it is easy for bullying to occur, but it is completely impossible for them.
Mu Jingxu and Ke Hongxue both hold official positions. As a prince, Sheng Chengli does not need to go to the Hanlin Academy to be a small scholar. As for Rong Tang, he is a rich and idle man, so there is really no need for him to put himself in shackles.
So in the end, this spot was almost given to Su Huaijing for free.
As for whether they can get first place
Dayu held an imperial examination every three years. Since the first year of Qingzheng, a total of three imperial examinations have been held so far. Only the one in the seventh year of Qingzheng can be described as a gathering of heroes and a battle of gods.
Mu Jingxu was the first among the three candidates, while Ke Hongxue was nominally the third place, but in fact Emperor Renshou wanted to appoint him as the first place because of Ke Taifu. But Ke Hongxue dared to smile easily in the Jinluan Palace, saying that he had no ambition and could not be a great scholar who governed the country. He was only suitable for living a life of drunkenness and dreaming, riding a horse through the streets, and being a useless and dissolute scholar.
Emperor Renshou clapped his hands and laughed when he heard this. He did not blame him but praised him for his true nature and appointed him as the third place winner on the spot.
Are there any people at this flower-folding meeting who are more knowledgeable than these two? Perhaps there are, but it is undeniable that they are really excellent.
Besides - as far as Rong Tang could remember, they were the ones who took first place the previous two times.
He, Mu Jingxu, Ke Hongxue, Sheng Chengli, and Ke Hongxue's junior who came to get some points.
The only difference is that Emperor Renshou did not offer any Shujishi as a prize in the first two times.
Rong Tang was pulled by Su Huaijing and stood in front of Mu Jingxu and Ke Hongxue. Seeing that the two had returned to normal, he stood up leisurely, smiled and bowed to say goodbye: "In this case..."
"Let's think about it." Rong Tang interrupted Ke Hongxue.
The strength of their hands suddenly increased, and then quickly became lighter. Rong Tang did not look at Su Huaijing, but fixed his eyes on Mu Jingxu, repeating in a low voice: "We will think about it overnight, and give you an answer before handing over the name card tomorrow morning."
Team members need to write their names on a special red paper and then report it to the Third Prince. From then on, the flower folding meeting begins, and the people on the paper become bound together.
Mu Jingxu remained calm and nodded: "Okay."
Ke Hongxue smiled, her eyes flickered between the two of them, then moved away, waved her folding fan, pointed to a lighted spot not far away, and said with a smile: "Tonight is the opening night, there is a banquet prepared in the Moon-Lan Pavilion. If the prince wants to go there to enjoy it, he needs to leave early, lest he miss the time and the boats on the shore will stop."
Rong Tang nodded: "Thank you."
Ke Hongxue and Mu Jingxu turned around and went downstairs. Before leaving, Ke Hongxue took another look at the chessboard and a hint of an ambiguous smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
The lacquered red attic fell silent. Su Huaijing loosened his grip on Rong Tang's hand, turned around, placed the broken pieces of teacup on the chess table, slowly wiped the tea stains off his hands with a towel, sat down on the stool, tilted his head back, smiled harmlessly, but his eyes were cold.
He asked in a gentle voice: "Tangtang, can you give me an explanation?"
Rong Tang lowered his head and saw another glaring red mark on Su Huaijing's hand.
He was shocked and had no time to think. He just squatted down, grabbed Su Huaijing's hands with both hands, and carefully touched the skin around the wound.
Su Huaijing's hands were still slender and white, like the finest white jade, but from the wrists to the fingers, they were covered with scars of varying new and old.
The flaw in the beautiful jade made Rong Tang feel heartbroken.
Su Huaijing raised his hand and pressed his fingertips on Rong Tang's cheek. The blood drops that had fainted fell onto his face, being stained with his own scent. Su Huaijing's emotions finally calmed down a little.
He asked again: "Didn't Tangtang want to?"
"I'm not unwilling..." Rong Tang said hoarsely. As soon as he finished speaking, he saw the cold and playful look in Su Huaijing's eyes. He was silent for a moment and said softly, "But I think you clearly want to team up with them."
Su Huaijing raised his eyebrows slightly: "Hmm?"
Some things had not yet come to be said, so even though Rong Tang guessed that Su Huaijing had already known Ke Hongxue's purpose and knew that he must have his own considerations for pretending to deal with it, he could not say it out loud.
He just turned his head obediently, letting the blood stain spread on his face, and then said: "I want you to take first place."
He was like a marked beast. He did not need to be tamed. He obediently crawled into the hunter's cage, wrapped himself in soft and slippery fur, and spent the winter quietly.
Rong Tang said softly: "Huai Jing, let's go with them and get first place."
Su Huaijing stared at Rong Tang just like that after the rain, and rubbed his fingertips very obediently, begging in a low voice like a spoiled child: "Okay?"
The voice was soft and bright, making people want to place all the treasures in the world that could be used as gifts in front of him for him to admire.
As the night gradually fell, flowers bloomed in Song Garden. Su Huaijing's Adam's apple rolled. For the first time, he did not agree to Rong Tang's request. In those hopeful eyes, he spoke slowly and clearly: "Not good."
He saw clearly the flash of disgust... and fear in Rong Tang's eyes when the teacup was knocked over.
He allowed Rong Tang to be friends with Mu Jingxu and others, but he didn't want Rong Tang to be afraid.
Rong Tang is his little Bodhisattva, he should be able to read storybooks, eat snacks, go to the market and enjoy the spring flowers without any worries. Su Huaijing has countless ways to get revenge, it's just a matter of speed.
But there is no road worth Rong Tang suppressing his fear and accompanying him.
—Even though he didn’t know why Rong Tang was afraid.
(End of this chapter)