Chapter 50

Chapter 50

What did Rong Tang think?

Rong Tang felt that the development had strayed far from the original story, moving in a direction quite different from what he knew.

He was a bit perplexed.

If everything happened as Ke Hongxue described, then the Second Prince's faction lost a scholar, the Third Prince lost the Emperor's favor, and the Fifth Prince, the main character himself, ended up with a crippled leg.

No one gained an advantage, as Su Huaijing had said. Even if someone were to benefit from this drama, it could only be him.

But what if... that's not the case?

Rong Tang couldn't help but doubt these events.

Firstly, Xia Jingyi's son-in-law Zhang Baoshan amassing troops and embezzling funds in the southwest is true, but the discovery was supposed to happen in the winter of the tenth year of Qingzheng, amidst heavy snow. It was during a minor border disturbance by the southwestern tribes that the imperial envoy discovered the corruption. The evidence was irrefutable, not something to be brushed aside with a false accusation of slander as it was now.

Secondly, the Third Prince, Sheng Chengxing, had already moved out of the palace last year and was even granted Song Garden by Emperor Renshou. To recall him to the palace for kneeling and reflecting in the Great Buddha Hall for the death of a nursemaid seemed excessively harsh. It would also disgrace Empress Hui and Marshal Xia and negatively affect the Sixth Prince, Sheng Chengxing's full brother, an unlikely decision for Emperor Renshou.

Thirdly, and most surprising to Rong Tang, was how Sheng Chengli could have broken his leg?

As the protagonist favored by fate, Sheng Chengli, despite enduring many hardships since childhood, ultimately, all these trials were written by the author to strengthen him, grant him skills and talents, and would never cause irreversible physical harm.

Although not explicitly stated in the laws of Dayu, it was almost a consensus among the royal family that those with physical disabilities were ineligible for the throne. Sheng Chengli, though a discarded prince from the cold palace, still had succession rights. If he were crippled, how could he compete for the throne later?

How could fate allow him to face such a crisis?

Unless the royal physician lied, or it was a ruse devised by Sheng Chengli himself. Otherwise, from Rong Tang's perspective, it simply didn't make sense.

None of these three incidents align with the original story, none had happened before, and none made sense to Rong Tang.

Asked by Ke Hongxue, Rong Tang lowered his head, strategically sipped his tea, and said, "I can't understand it."

The hot pot bubbled, and night had fallen outside. The bustling sounds of Shuileng Street remained, even from the private room in Shudao Pavilion, where the drunken feasts of Liujin Tower and the fragrant scent of the ladies of Jinfen Tower could still be heard.

Rong Tang put down his teacup and bluffed with a straight face, "I've been foolish for nine years, the whole capital knows it."

With a 'clang,' Lu Jiaxi accidentally knocked his chopsticks against the edge of the table, and they clattered to the floor.

Rong Tang looked up with innocent, wide eyes, momentarily locking gazes with the astonished Lu Jiaxi, who hurriedly bent down to pick up his chopsticks.

He felt relieved not to have eaten chili, lest he ended up like Lu Jiaxi, who was still crouched on the floor, unable to find his dropped chopsticks.

Ke Hongxue regained his composure, blinking in disbelief, his usually flirtatious eyes filled with astonishment as he looked at Rong Tang.

Rong Tang met his gaze, his usual calm and innocent demeanor intact.

After what seemed like an eternity of silence, Ke Hongxue bowed with a fist in palm: "It was impertinent of me to inadvertently touch upon Young Master's painful past. I deserve punishment."

He poured himself a full cup of wine and drank it all in one gulp.

Rong Tang raised his eyebrows, eating hot pot meatballs from his bowl, noticing Su Huaijing watching him with a smile.

"What's up?" he whispered, leaning in.

Su Huaijing spoke softly, "Tangtang brother's way of deflecting is really... hard to argue with."

Rong Tang paused, blinked, and feigned ignorance, "I've been foolish for nine years, isn't that what we tell everyone?"

Something in his words struck a chord in the heart of the villain, and Su Huaijing laughed heartily, a carefree and youthful air about him, making his laughter more intoxicating than the chirping of cicadas on a summer night.

Su Huaijing diverted his gaze, still smiling, and suggested casually, "Master Lu can't find his chopsticks? Let the waiter bring another pair."

Before he even finished speaking, Lu Jiaxi hastily extended a hand from under the table, holding a pair of bronze chopsticks, "Found them, found them! Just had a cramp in my leg, that's all."

He hurriedly stood up, glanced around the table to ensure the previous topic wasn't being continued, then nervously wiped the sweat from his forehead while pretending to clean his chopsticks.

Rong Tang watched amusedly, tempted to tease him, but as he began to speak, Lu Jiaxi's pleading eyes silenced him. Rong Tang suddenly felt like an overbearing elder forcing performances at the dinner table and promptly shut his mouth.

Relieved, Lu Jiaxi wiped his chopsticks clean and continued eating diligently. Only after everyone else had stopped did he realize they were full, burping and asking, "Is everyone... done eating?"

“……”

Unable to restrain himself, Ke Hongxue tapped Lu Jiaxi's head with his fan, lamenting, "With your nature, you'll manage in the Hanlin Academy, but if you ever join the Six Ministries, won’t those old foxes eat you alive?"

Lu Jiaxi looked up, glancing at him, his gaze uncontrollably drifting towards Mu Jingshu, then naturally said, "But... the Vice Minister of Dali Temple is my senior."

Mu Jingshu, who was about to stand up, slightly bent his waist and looked at Lu Jiaxi.

Lu Jiaxi had been quite assertive while talking to Ke Hongxue, showing no shame in having powerful connections. But when swept by Mu Jingshu's icy gaze, he immediately became flustered, quickly averting his eyes and using Ke Hongxue to shield himself.

Rong Tang, charmed by his cuteness, couldn’t help but chuckle softly. Turning to see Mu Jingshu, who still wore an unchanging, frosty expression, Rong Tang was amused.

Having spent two lifetimes with Mu Jingshu, Rong Tang could read his subtle emotions, despite his usual stoic demeanor.

The Vice Minister seemed not at all displeased with Lu Jiaxi's attempt to cozy up to him or use him as a backing. In fact, Rong Tang thought he detected a faint approval and indulgence in Mu Jingshu’s expression.

Finding it amusing, Rong Tang asked Ke Hongxue on the way downstairs, "Don't you think your senior is quite lenient with Master Lu?"

Rong Tang and Ke Hongxue were talking, so Su Huaijing naturally stood slightly behind Rong Tang, with Lu Jiaxi and Mu Jingshu walking ahead.

One, socially anxious and green in his Hanlin Academy robe, youthful and flustered yet occasionally revealing a glimpse of youthful grace; the other, imposing and unchanging, unaffected by the bustling world, his white robe remaining spotless amidst the clamor.

They stood together, silent, one calm, the other anxious.

When Lu Jiaxi accidentally stumbled, Mu Jingshu quickly reached out, grabbing his arm, his voice as cool and emotionless as ever, "Be careful."

Ke Hongxue, witnessing this from behind, didn't show the jealousy Rong Tang expected. Instead, he paused, then smiled, "That's actually quite nice."

Rong Tang was surprised, "Aren't you jealous?"

"What's there to be jealous of?" Ke Hongxue asked back, "If there's one more person who can make him feel this world is worth something, I couldn't ask for more. Besides—"

He glanced back discreetly, then quickly averted his gaze before Su Huaijing could notice, whispering, "My senior probably sees him a bit like a younger brother."

Now, Rong Tang was genuinely confused, "Lord Mu has a brother? Why have I never heard about it?" Not just now, but even in his previous two lives, he never heard a word from either Mu Jingshu or Ke Hongxue about it.

Even when Ke Hongxue was drunk, he never spoke a word about Mu Jingshu's personal matters.

Once, officials plotting against Mu Jingshu suggested targeting Ke Hongxue for information. The latter scoffed, "Ke Wenrui, that grandson? Believe it or not, even if you grilled him on fire or fried him in oil, he wouldn't reveal anything slightly detrimental about his senior. If he survived, the first thing he'd do is draw a map of my house to give to his senior, waiting for the day when the imperial decree comes to my head, with the Dali Temple coming to raid my home."

Rong Tang suddenly realized that even though they were in the same camp in the past two lives, they never seemed to have been completely honest with each other.

Instead, now that they had gone their separate ways, with Ke Hongxue no longer serving the male lead and himself uninterested in the struggle for succession, their conversations had become more frank and uninhibited.

Ke Hongxue lowered his gaze, fanning himself, his voice light, unsure whether he was avoiding stirring painful memories for Mu Jingshu or just making things up, "Dead, dead for many years now."

Rong Tang was taken aback, but before he could respond, Ke Hongxue continued, a hint of melancholy in his tone as he looked at Mu Jingshu's retreating figure, "How wonderful it would be if there were a miracle cure to bring the dead back to life."

Not just physically resurrecting the dead, but also reviving their souls and spirits, would truly be considered a resurrection.

But such unattainable things always fill the mortal world.

Ke Hongxue closed his fan and descended the stairs quickly. A customer, finally getting a seat, was led upstairs by the waiter, passing Ke Hongxue. He caught up with Mu Jingshu, mockingly but somewhat stingily shoving Lu Jiaxi aside, "Don’t you have your own senior? Why bother mine?"

With a smile, Ke Hongxue asked Mu Jingshu, "Senior, I'm going back to Jiangnan next month for ancestral worship. Do you want to take an assignment and come with me?"

Mu Jingshu glanced at him sideways and said something lost in the din of the room.

Su Huaijing came up from behind, reached out to hold Rong Tang's hand, and leaned in with a smile, "Shall we stroll the streets before going home? Buy a few more sets of clothes for you."

Rong Tang's eyes sparkled as he nodded, "And also order some for yourself, and buy some for mother. We'll take them to the Prince's Mansion later."

"Okay," Su Huaijing replied with a smile, casually asking, "Should we buy something for the Prince as well?"

Rong Tang frowned at the mention of his father, Rong Mingyu, and immediately declined, "No need. Father has plenty of salary and lacks neither children nor concubines; he'll have plenty of gifts. We should save our money. Earning it isn't easy."

Su Huaijing's eyes crinkled with amusement, "As my husband wishes."

The four of them, two by two, left the hall. Lu Jiaxi, still recovering from being pushed aside by Ke Hongxue, stood dazedly, smelling the spicy air and holding his overly stuffed stomach.

Why on earth did I leave the office and come out with Ke Xue for a walk?

Author's note:

Little Lu might become the most pitiable character in the story (sympathetic gaze).