Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Rong Tang was startled, momentarily dumbfounded.

It took a long while before he came back to his senses, jerking his hand back as if it had been scalded—

But he couldn't shake it off.

Instead, the exertion and the wind from walking and sweating triggered a bout of unstoppable coughing.

Shuang Fu rushed over anxiously to carefully pat his back and handed him a handkerchief. Su Huaijing held his hand, releasing it after a moment, his expression unreadable, only a faint trace of puzzlement in his brows.

As the grip was released, Rong Tang coughed for a long time, finally catching his breath, his eyes complex as he glanced over, his eyes misty. He looked away, revealing a hint of deep-seated resentment.

Su Huaijing found it amusing, twirling his fingers, pushing aside the doubts raised by the pulse he felt. With a smile full of affection, he looked at him, his demeanor calm, "What, has the Crown Prince changed his mind? You don’t want to marry me anymore?"

Rong Tang choked, "…Yes, I am willing."

Su Huaijing was slightly taken aback, then his smile deepened. He stepped forward, gently but assertively took the handkerchief covering Rong Tang's mouth, glanced down at it, and seeing no bloodstain, asked, "Or do you prefer not to be addressed that way?"

Shuang Fu, trying not to make a sound, observed quietly. Rong Tang's expression became increasingly complex, and Su Huaijing moved closer, gazing into his eyes with a deep, low voice, calling again, "My husband?"

Rong Tang: "…" Damn!

The young Crown Prince desperately averted his gaze, turning his head so only half of his face was facing Su Huaijing.

He felt like he was committing a crime.

Frankly speaking, the major villain was indeed very handsome. In modern times, he would certainly be a champion of early romances in school. If Rong Tang were interested, he would probably send him a love letter every day for a whole semester.

But that's just early romance!

Even if young couples call each other husband and wife, it's just playful banter, and everyone knows it's not serious. However, it's different in Dayu.

In Dayu, the legal age for marriage is 15, and mature 16-year-olds might even have children. If the original character hadn't been sickly and foolish, Rong Tang might have found wives and concubines in the backyard upon his arrival.

Thus, when Su Huaijing called him 'my husband' twice, Rong Tang finally realized, belatedly, that he might be behaving inappropriately.

Despondently, he asked the system, "What do you think if I now ask him to call me father?"

System: [Do you want to be the emperor?]

Rong Tang: "…"

He thought about the original emperor turned into a human swine and couldn't decide which was worse.

As he struggled internally, Su Huaijing quietly watched the Crown Prince, who turned his head away, unwilling to meet his gaze. Rong Tang's complexion, pale from constant illness, under the sun, had a faint translucent quality.

And this slight transparency, bit by bit, slowly but truly happening before him, was replaced by an extremely faint blush.

The red was so light that it might be invisible from a distance, but against his overly fair skin, it stood out blatantly to Su Huaijing. It was as if he was laying bare his heart for Su Huaijing to see.

Su Huaijing raised an eyebrow, increasingly puzzled.

Is he really that easily embarrassed?

He could maintain his composure in a brothel, yet his face turns red at being called "my husband"?

So... innocent?

A slow, indescribable emotion welled up in Su Huaijing. He stepped back, composed his expression, and with uncontrollable fingers tapping at his side, he chuckled, "Don't be upset, I won't call you that anymore."

Rong Tang's brain was already overloaded with the day’s events at the Princess's residence, struggling to think of a response that wouldn’t make him appear bizarre. But then, Su Huaijing graciously let him off the hook.

Rong Tang was immediately relieved!

See! This is why he likes this guy!

So understanding, a hundred times better than the so-called protagonist!!!

Feeling pleased, Rong Tang replied to Su Huaijing in a ceremonially generous manner, "It’s okay, call me whatever you want."

Honestly, Su Huaijing had initially intended to let it go, but hearing this, his fingertip beats faltered for a moment. Seeing the smile on the young Crown Prince's face, he impulsively went back on his promise.

"Then... thank you, my husband, for standing up for me."

He pronounced those two words especially slowly and suggestively, drawing them out between his teeth. They lingered in the spring air of the courtyard, mingled with the fragrance of pear blossoms, like a finely brewed pear blossom wine. He bowed slightly in a mock salute, his eyes lifting like the mist on a spring mountain, full of affection.

Rong Tang immediately surrendered, pleading for mercy in his heart, feeling a bit shy but also not daring to let the future major villain call him 'my husband': "Just call me brother or by my full name."

Su Huaijing's smile widened, his beautiful face becoming even more captivating. He stood up, took a half step forward to join him, gesturing with his arm for them to continue towards the courtyard.

Rong Tang was momentarily lost in thought. As he came closer, he suddenly realized that although Su Huaijing was two years younger than the original character, their heights were almost the same.

In his previous life, when he met Su Huaijing, the latter was much taller than him. He had never viewed him from this equal perspective before.

Looking at this face that bore a trace of a smile even in silence, no one could imagine that this person would become a villain bent on destroying the whole world.

Rong Tang felt a pang of pity, though he wasn't sure why. Su Huaijing whispered something beside him, and Rong Tang instinctively responded with a "hmm."

Only after responding did he belatedly turn back and ask, "What did you say?"

They had already reached Su Huaijing's residence within the Li mansion. Leading Rong Tang inside, he said, "I asked if I could call you Tang Tang, is that okay?"

"Oh, that’s fine." Rong Tang didn’t really mind. His name did sound quite cute, and his roommates in the modern era used to call him "Tang Tang" when they copied his homework or asked him to bring food. He was used to it.

At least it was a thousand times better than 'my husband.'

But the next second, Su Huaijing said with a smile that was almost teasing, but Rong Tang couldn’t pin it down, "Then, Brother Tang Tang, you sit down for a bit. I’ll go boil some water for tea."

Rong Tang stared dumbfounded at Su Huaijing, whose lips curved in amusement as he stepped outside. After a long daze, he asked the system, "Was the villain originally like this in the story?"

Tang Tang or brother, either is fine! But Brother Tang Tang, what’s up with that?!

In his previous life, he had interacted with Su Huaijing a few times and had been teased speechlessly by him, but he never knew he could call someone 'Brother Tang Tang' so freely and without any burden.

[I’m sorry, host. As a system serving the protagonist, I am not aware of the villain’s character that wasn’t described in the original text.]

Rong Tang’s mood dipped slightly. He said it was okay and instructed Shuang Fu to set the lunch they brought on the table.

Liujin Tower’s Jiangnan cuisine was the best. Rong Tang, having lived a couple of lifetimes, had eaten with Su Huaijing a few times. Though he didn't know his exact preferences, whenever they dined at a Jiangnan restaurant, Su Huaijing seemed to eat a bit more enthusiastically.

Ancient food boxes weren't great at retaining heat, but the food hadn't completely cooled and still had some warmth when served.

So, when Su Huaijing lit the firewood and entered the room, the aroma of delicious food made him pause.

Rong Tang sat at the table with a bowl of rice, his chopsticks set aside, waiting quietly. Seeing him return, his eyes lit up and he asked, "Have you had lunch? Would you join me for a bit?"

The Li family was harsh on Su Huaijing; he wasn’t allowed to eat at the dining table, and the meals sent to his courtyard were only once a day, irregular in timing and quantity, often just leftovers after the servants had eaten.

These days, due to a shortage of staff and the young masters and misses studying at Shangwen Pavilion, the servants had long stopped bringing meals to his courtyard.

Although Xing Feng regularly brought packed meals from a restaurant, Su Huaijing didn’t prioritize food. He had dined on delicacies for eight years and also had his share of cold leftovers.

Even if left in the wilderness, he could survive on grass roots without changing his expression.

But seeing this table full of dishes, and Rong Tang beside it, with his eyes shining brightly like a little squirrel he had seen in the arena in his childhood, Su Huaijing frowned and unconsciously glanced back at the sun: “It’s already the third quarter of the Wei hour, haven’t you eaten yet?”

Rong Tang: “I was called by my grandmother for questioning this morning and got delayed, missing lunch. When I returned, I thought you might not have eaten either, so I packed this to find you.”

He smiled and asked, “Have you eaten?”

Su Huaijing paused for a moment and shook his head: “No.”

Shuang Fu had already set the table with bowls and chopsticks. Su Huaijing, with an indescribable emotion, sat down and surveyed the dishes.

Unexpectedly, it wasn’t the popular dishes of the capital, but rather Jiangnan cuisine.

Coincidentally to his taste, Su Huaijing looked up at Rong Tang.

“Coming from Shu region, you must be tired of spicy food, and I’m weary of the capital’s cuisine. After much thought, Jiangnan cuisine seemed like the safest choice. If you have other preferences, we can go together next time.”

Rong Tang explained proactively, and only after seeing Su Huaijing pick up his chopsticks did he start eating.

The young Crown Prince appeared well-mannered, showing no signs of his past foolishness. He ate slowly and thoroughly but was not slow, quickly finishing his bowl.

Su Huaijing was only halfway through his own bowl when he noticed this and his eyebrows twitched.

He wanted to say that Rong Tang’s pulse was in terrible condition, already at a critical stage, and if he wanted to live a few more stable years, he should at least eat and sleep regularly.

He wanted to say Rong Tang’s body was too weak, and excessive eating might lead to indigestion. He should have light meals and eat little and often, not so much at once.

He also wanted to say Rong Tang shouldn’t be in the wind. His mother was right to keep him indoors; with the weather being so unpredictable, a cold could be fatal.

But he swallowed these words, slowly finished the remaining half of his bowl, and stood up: “The water should be boiling now, I'll go make tea.”

"Okay." Shuang Fu cleaned up the table while Rong Tang, holding a box of pastries, stood obediently aside without causing any trouble, waiting for him to finish before stacking the dishes neatly.

Su Huaijing came back in with the teapot just as Rong Tang was leisurely biting into a lotus pastry. Seeing him, Rong Tang waved him over, "Come here quickly, I’m about to choke."

Su Huaijing paused, somewhat helplessly, and brewed him a cup of tea to cool down, "If you don’t like it, why buy it?"

Rong Tang almost blurted out 'because you like it' but restrained himself, stubbornly retorting, "Who says I don’t like it?"

Su Huaijing looked down at him deeply, "Brother Tang Tang, don’t look to the right when you lie."

"Cough, cough—"

For the first time in three lifetimes, Rong Tang’s cough wasn’t due to illness, but purely from choking!

He felt he had made some progress! Although not much!

Su Huaijing became even more helpless, thinking: Alright, forgot his skin is thin.

"Slow down," said Su Huaijing, coming behind him to gently pat his back.

Whatever the technique was, Rong Tang gradually stopped coughing and even felt a bit comfortable, as if the blood stagnated in his veins for a long time was being dispersed, allowing his blood to flow slowly but orderly, slightly raising his body temperature.

But Su Huaijing only patted for a while before walking away, and the coldness seeping into his bones returned. Rong Tang then thought it must have been an illusion.

The small tea cup cooled quickly. Rong Tang took a sip, paused, smacked his lips, and then drank the rest in one go.

He turned his head and asked, “You didn’t make sugar water for me, did you?”

Su Huaijing glanced at him with a hint of humor, “Brother Tang Tang is not a child.”

“……”

Rong Tang almost wanted to kneel before him, his scalp tingling. He was eager to ask him to change the nickname, but fortunately, Shuang Shou, who had been out for a long time, finally came back and placed a small box the size of a palm on the table.

Rong Tang immediately forgot the embarrassment and opened the box, taking out its contents.

A house deed, a property transfer agreement, and a set of keys.

Su Huaijing realized something but still found it unbelievable, lightly tapping the table, “What is this?”

Shuang Shou opened the ink pad, and Rong Tang pressed his fingerprint on the transfer agreement, then pushed these three items one by one towards Su Huaijing.

“My mother has already arranged a matchmaker and will soon send the betrothal gifts. All the gifts were bought with the profits from my estates and shops over the years. I’m a stingy person and don’t want to send those things to the Li residence, so I thought you might want to move out.”

In reality, he just couldn’t bear to see this courtyard and didn’t want to replace everything piece by piece for Su Huaijing and send it to Li Changfu's house. Once sent, it would likely become a confusing legal matter. Though not worth much, Rong Tang really didn’t want Li Changfu to benefit from it.

After much thought, it seemed better to have Su Huaijing move out. In this way, the betrothal gifts would become his private treasury, a startup fund for the lad.

Besides, in the future, he would have more and more followers, so it was necessary to have a place to accommodate them and plan important matters.

Seeing Su Huaijing remain silent for a long time, Rong Tang said, “This is a residence in Yong'an Lane, very close to the Imperial Academy, in a quiet environment. Two streets away is a division set up by the Capital Prefecture, and the Golden Guards patrol daily. The public order is good, and you’ll be safe living there alone. If you want to study, it’s very convenient.”

Su Huaijing still didn't speak.

Rong Tang frowned, wracking his brains, and finally said, “When I leave in the future, you can move from the prince’s residence—”

"Stop." Su Huaijing interrupted him with a deep voice, gazing at the three items for a long time as if in deep thought.

After a moment, Su Huaijing pressed his hand onto the ink pad and placed his fingerprint next to Rong Tang’s on the document.

The Crown Prince immediately smiled, "So, we move today? I just happen to have a carriage and manpower."

For the first time, Su Huaijing felt uncertain about the path ahead. He had just experienced a moment of blankness, pondering whether agreeing to this man’s proposal was the right decision.

Isn’t he usually so eloquent?

Capable of moving his own mother to tears, leaving the Li family’s tutor speechless; why then does he seem so inconsistent and off-topic in front of him?

Claiming to be a stingy person, unwilling to send the betrothal gifts to Li Changfu’s residence.

So, he is willing to give them unreservedly to him?

……

What do you want to gain from me?

Su Huaijing was somewhat puzzled.