Chapter 54

Chapter 54

Before heading south, Rong Tang and Su Huaijing returned to Ningxuan King's Mansion.

Rong Mingyu was very busy, mostly occupied with council meetings in the Palace of Diligence or with affairs in the Six Ministries and the Cabinet. During Rong Tang's visit home, his father was not at the mansion, which delighted the Young Lord. He happily had a meal with his spouse and Wang Xiuyu.

Su Huaijing had sent someone to inform the Princess Consort of their departure plans, so while Wang Xiuyu was reluctant to see them go, she wasn’t too surprised. She was rather pleased that her son and daughter-in-law came home for a meal, setting aside many trivial matters in the mansion to spend a whole day with them peacefully.

Rong Tang had many things he wanted to advise, but upon reflection, he found it unnecessary.

Unless it involved characters and plots related to the male lead, other events, even with the butterfly effect, would unlikely diverge much.

In the past two lifetimes, Wang Xiuyu died in the eleventh year of Qingzheng. The imperial physicians from the palace diagnosed her death as due to overwork leading to exhaustion. Coincidentally, this period was the most turbulent for the Great Dayu court, with the Ningxuan King's Mansion in constant peril. Wang Xiuyu passed away in a desolate autumn, and though Rong Tang had warned her in advance and stayed by her side until her last moments, her death was inevitable.

Even if he managed to avert the original or previous life's death date, Wang Xiuyu would still pass away during that period.

Such cases were too numerous, not just Wang Xiuyu alone.

He had tried to save Mu Jingshu but failed.

The System told him that every character in this world had a predetermined fate; he couldn’t save them or change it.

So, Rong Tang started copying scriptures.

He still didn’t know what changes this life might bring or whether it would improve in the direction he hoped.

But at least Su Huaijing's situation had improved significantly.

After much thought, Rong Tang again advised Wang Xiuyu not to overwork herself. He had originally planned to leave Shuangfu in the capital to look after her, but the Princess Consort firmly refused, insisting on allocating several servants to accompany them. Rong Tang, torn between laughter and tears, was about to decline when Su Huaijing gently pressed his hand and agreed.

Puzzled, Rong Tang asked him why on the way back. Su Huaijing smiled and explained, "When you travel far, mother will naturally worry. Even if we take many servants and provisions, she fears you might face hardships on the road. If we don’t agree to let her send a few people to accompany you, she’ll worry as long as you’re away, which might lead to excessive anxiety and affect her health."

Su Huaijing spoke these words calmly and confidently, leaving Rong Tang stunned, suddenly feeling that he hadn't been as considerate of Wang Xiuyu as Su Huaijing was, and slightly embarrassed.

Before he could express this sentiment, Su Huaijing pressed his hand again, casually massaging the acupoints to relax his muscles and said, "Tangtang, don’t overthink it. You and mother are the closest people in this world. With close ones, there's no need to ponder every action; following your heart is better."

Or perhaps, although familial relationships need maintenance, in essence, blood ties and the mother-child bond are natural gifts in this world. Being overly rigid in such relationships might lead to alienation.

Although Su Huaijing lost his relatives at a young age, he saw things more clearly than Rong Tang and even instinctively thought and considered on his behalf.

A thought crossed Rong Tang's mind. Outside the carriage, the night market of Yu Capital was as lively as ever, with high-rise evening lights, opera songs, the moon nearing fullness, lanterns and starlight on high towers blending with the summer night breeze into the carriage.

With the candle burning on the table, Rong Tang asked softly, "Are we close?"

Su Huaijing's movements paused, and he raised his eyes to gaze quietly at Rong Tang, lips parting gently, his tone tender, "What does Tangtang want to say?"

Rong Tang pursed his lips, saying, "I mean, you can relax a bit in front of me."

You can let down your guard, act spoiled, be unreasonable, and make many demands.

I will indulge you.

Su Huaijing caught the unspoken message in his words, his eyes curving up, shining brighter than the moon, and with a hint of a smile, he said, "For me, Tangtang is the moon in the human world."

Not just simple 'closeness,' but treasured, fortunate, admired, and an obsessive desire to embrace him, to privately cherish the moon's brilliance.

-

On the fifteenth day of May, in the early morning, the carriage departed from Yong'an Alley, passed through the city gates, and headed south.

There were still many unresolved matters in the capital, such as not having met Qin Pengxuan yet, and every time the Duke of Wukang's son met Sheng Chengming, he would be asked by the Second Prince in a light yet serious tone, "Has your cousin and his wife forgiven you yet?"

But with Rong Zheng in the Ningxuan Wangfu, Rong Tang didn’t want to burden himself with that worry. He and Su Huaijing had just been walking and stopping along the way, leisurely moving from the capital to Jiangnan, finally reaching Huizhou on the last day of May.

Rong Tang, who had been groggy throughout the journey, suddenly woke up when they passed a big mountain, asking the coachman to stop and getting off the carriage.

Su Huaijing joined him. Huizhou was known for its numerous mountains and beautiful scenery, but that wasn't the purpose of their trip. Rong Tang stood under the shade of an old elm tree, gazing at the tea plantations and houses nestled among the mountains.

The timing was just right, nearing noon. In the mountain village, smoke rose from low earthen houses here and there. The occasional crowing of chickens and barking of dogs could be heard, with children playing at the village entrance, a cicada's chirp enough to entertain them for the whole day, blissfully unaware of the hardships of life.

The lush green tea bushes covered the mountains, each one a foundation for these families' livelihoods.

Rong Tang stood still, watching quietly. Su Huaijing came over, took his hand, and asked softly, "Tang Tang, do you want to live here?"

Rong Tang shook his head, retracting his gaze, "I just think the scenery is nice here."

The view was beautiful, and the weather was good. After entering the mountains, the air cooled down, unlike the scorching summer heat, making it an ideal place to escape the heat.

Rong Tang turned to get back into the carriage to continue their journey to Suzhou. They weren't supposed to pass through here, but on a whim near the border of two provinces, Rong Tang mentioned wanting to see the mountains, and Su Huaijing ordered the carriage to change course.

Whatever Rong Tang wanted, Su Huaijing never failed to provide.

So, as soon as Rong Tang turned around, Su Huaijing took his hand, stopping him from moving.

Rong Tang paused, turning to look at him, but Su Huaijing led him straight through the tea garden path, heading towards a house.

“I’m hungry,” he said. “Let’s find a household to dine in before we continue our journey.”

Rong Tang watched in bemusement as Su Huaijing earnestly selected a house, knocked on the wooden door, and politely asked the homeowner, “My husband and I are passing through and feeling quite famished. May we trouble you for a meal?”

Coincidentally, the household comprised a same-sex couple. The husband was out farming, and the other, busy cooking, blushed and agreed upon hearing the request, ushering them in and adding more rice to the pot.

The small vegetable garden in the courtyard was thriving, with beans climbing up bamboo poles and fresh vegetables ready for harvest. The young man in coarse clothes hesitated as he eyed a free-range chicken pecking at bugs, pondering whether to slaughter it.

Noticing his expression, Rong Tang immediately wanted to interject, but the man seemed to have made up his mind.

Su Huaijing spoke up, “Thank you, young man. Unfortunately, my husband is unwell, and the doctor advised against greasy or rich food, so we must decline the delicacy.”

He sounded genuinely regretful as he glanced at the few chickens and then back at the young man's face.

The latter, clearly startled, halted in his tracks, his gaze filled with pity and regret as it fell on Rong Tang. Su Huaijing discreetly squeezed Rong Tang's hand, prompting him to turn his head and cough lengthily. When he looked up again, his eyes were misty, his cheeks flushed, appearing exceedingly frail.

The young man, visibly alarmed, hurriedly poured tea for him, abandoning the idea of slaughtering the chickens. However, still feeling reluctant, he fetched a few eggs from the chicken coop before leaving.

Rong Tang observed the young man's actions and couldn't help but shake his head and sigh.

Su Huaijing placed the tea in front of him, asking gently, “Tangtang, do you want chicken?”

Rong Tang, slightly startled, shook his head, “I just think he took too many eggs. They’ve been saved up for many days. If sold at the market, they could fetch some money. It’s a waste to give them to us.”

They were from a wealthy family in the capital, having tasted all sorts of delicacies. Why would they crave a few eggs?

Rong Tang expressed his slight unhappiness, almost wishing he could stop the host in the kitchen.

Su Huaijing suddenly laughed, knowing exactly the kind of person his beloved was.

Holding Rong Tang’s hand, he passed him the teacup, saying, “He can tell from our clothes we aren’t in need, but he just wanted to offer the best he had as hospitality. Tangtang, don’t feel guilty.”

The teacup, a simple coarse ceramic bowl, was far from the precious Jian ware Rong Tang used at the Ningxuan King's Mansion or even in Yong'an Alley. But when Su Huaijing handed it to him, he accepted it naturally, muttering softly before drinking, “I know, it’s just that I feel—”

He didn’t finish the sentence, lowering his head to take a sip, his eyes lighting up the moment the tea touched his lips.

Su Huaijing smiled, “It’s sweet, isn’t it?”

Rong Tang nodded, “Yes!”

Su Huaijing gently suggested, “How about we buy some from them before we leave?”

Rong Tang paused, then quickly grasped his intention, feeling much of his slight guilt dissipate.

His guilt wasn’t about the eggs; it was about knowing the inevitable fate he couldn’t disclose.

After the flood season, a vast area of Jiangnan was devastated. Countless tea plantations in Huizhou were submerged, and many tea farmers were forced to relocate. Some who couldn't escape in time perished along with the tea trees they had cultivated for generations.

Though Rong Tang felt saddened when he read about it in the novel, he lacked a tangible sense of empathy — no one gets overly empathetic over a book.

In his previous two lifetimes, during this period, he was too preoccupied with the intrigues of the former dynasty's harem to concern himself with floods and epidemics in Jiangnan. For Rong Tang, Sheng Chengli, and even the Mandate of Heaven, these were merely tools to suppress political rivals.

Even when Rong Tang read the reports, he felt detached and spent a night brooding in front of a lamp. He even contemplated entering the system space to be transported to see Jiangnan beneath the veneer of wealth and luxury in Yu Jing, to witness the extent of the flood.

Mere words and overwhelming numbers saddened him, but they didn’t feel real.

The system informed him that he couldn't teleport due to ununlocked anchor points, he couldn't leave the capital as the male lead faced a crisis, and his ultimate mission was to ensure the stability of this world, not to ruin plans out of momentary compassion.

The flooding of Jiangnan was an unchangeable fact. His role was to use this to depose the Jiangnan inspector and plant Sheng Chengli’s people in position.

As the executor of the Mandate of Heaven, every sacrifice before reaching the final outcome was meaningful and necessary.

In the grand scheme, the collapse of the entire world outweighed the suffering of millions – a typical trolley problem. Even if Rong Tang didn’t want to choose, he was still pushed by the system and the Mandate of Heaven to make a choice.

Rong Tang still wasn’t sure if his choices were right. Yet, the fragrance of vegetables and fruits from the yard, the sparse smoke from the kitchen, the harsh yet lively sound of oil hitting a hot pan brought a vividness to life. The robust man returning from the fields, startled to see strangers in his yard, laughed heartily upon understanding their purpose and invited them to sit, his brawny shoulders bearing a hoe, his muddy hands holding wildflowers.

He washed his hands and stems in the yard, then cheerfully presented the flowers to his husband in the kitchen.

This was a reality never mentioned in the novel.

A reality Rong Tang hadn't seen while stirring up storms in Yu Jing.

And a truth he subconsciously avoided even while passing through Huizhou.

Su Huaijing pulled him from his secluded spot under the elm tree into this vivid, lively human world.

The peasant meal was simple; despite their sudden arrival, the hosts had prepared a full table.

Eggs fried to a golden crisp in hot oil, ham cured from the previous year and eaten only occasionally, freshly picked vegetables and cowpeas, accompanied by a steaming hot bottle gourd and egg soup.

The meal wasn’t overly rich, yet Rong Tang enjoyed it immensely. Had he not been concerned about appearing gluttonous, he would have gone for a third bowl.

Yet, unable to hide his longing gaze towards the table, the robust man laughed loudly, “Help yourself to another bowl if you like. Your appetite is nothing compared to what I eat in the morning. How can you expect to recover if you don't eat well? To heal, you need to eat!”

His earnest persuasion was genuine and moving. Rong Tang felt inspired and immediately turned to Su Huaijing with sparkling eyes. Seeing this, Su Huaijing couldn’t help but laugh, and proactively took Rong Tang's bowl to the kitchen to serve him another half bowl of rice, saying, “Eat slowly, no one is competing with you.”

Rong Tang happily resumed his meal.

After lunch, while the robust man washed dishes, Su Huaijing approached the young man about buying tea leaves.

The man was somewhat flustered and unexpectedly flattered, offering them a small jar of tea leaves as a gift.

Su Huaijing opened it to take a sniff and then handed it back with a smile, “Thank you for the kind gesture, but there are so many people in my family, it wouldn’t be right to keep it all to myself. Your tea is so refreshing, and if I don’t share some with each courtyard back home—”

He paused, his expression one of slight distress, “In a large family, sometimes the gossip can be more than that of an entire village. Being an outsider, it's all too easy to be criticized for any misstep.”

Rong Tang was almost immune to his partner's quick lies and acting skills. He strolled around digesting his meal, unsurprised when he saw the young man frown and then bring out two large jars of tea for Su Huaijing.

He seemed to want to haggle further, but the robust man, having finished washing the dishes, hearing the reason, generously said, “Let's sell it at the regular price. Our tea is renowned for being the best in the area. If you sell it too cheap, others might go hungry.”

The young man furrowed his brows and walked over to mutter, “But they are nice people.”

“Being nice doesn’t matter,” the man replied as he handed the tea to Su Huaijing, “It’s precisely because you are kind that they wouldn’t want you to suffer a loss. Don’t worry.”

Su Huaijing accepted the jars, nodding and smiling to reassure them as he paid.

Before leaving, Su Huaijing casually asked, “Big brother, have you ever thought about moving to the city?”

The man was taken aback, puzzled, “Why move to the city? We have our tea fields and family in the village, and we live comfortably here.”

Su Huaijing smiled and gestured towards the distant fields and woods, then turned and pointed in another direction, inquiring, “That river connects to the larger Jiang river, right? Has Huizhou experienced flooding?”

The man’s face tensed. Su Huaijing added, “In the year of Qingzheng, heavy rains flooded Huizhou. I have some knowledge of astronomy; since last year, the tides and stars have been unstable. If big brother isn’t in a rush for this season’s harvest, consider taking your spouse to higher ground for the summer.”

The man looked skeptical, his expression wavering. Su Huaijing continued, “If I’m wrong, it’s a great fortune. But if I do possess that astronomical insight and can save even one life, it’s worth it. At worst, you’re just resting for a while with no significant loss.”

After he finished speaking, he left with Rong Tang. Rong Tang had been stunned ever since he heard the conversation, unable to utter a word. Now, swallowing slightly, he still didn't know where to begin, but asked, "How can they afford to settle in the city?"

Su Huaijing smiled lightly and said, "When that young man handed me the small jar of tea leaves, I secretly slipped two silver notes into it."

Rong Tang was startled, not expecting him to possess such a skill.

The carriage convoy was still waiting by the elm tree they had passed earlier. The afternoon sun was a bit glaring. As Su Huaijing passed by a wild pond, he casually plucked a wide lotus leaf and handed it to Rong Tang to shield him from the sun.

Rong Tang was inwardly shaken and remained silent for a long time. Eventually, it was Su Huaijing who couldn't hold back. As they were about to ascend the path, he stopped Rong Tang, bending down under the lotus leaf above Rong Tang's head, and candidly asked, "What does Tang Tang want to say?"

Rong Tang: "......"

I want to say you seem to have broken character.

He pursed his lips, then asked, "Is there really going to be a flood this year?"

Su Huaijing's eyes curved into a smile as he countered, "Tang Tang knows it's not true, right? Otherwise, why change our route midway, and why stare blankly at that tea plantation?"

Rong Tang felt as if his thoughts were completely seen through by him.

"How do you know?" he asked, then pointed to the sky: "The heavy rain and the flood."

Rong Tang knew it was because he had read the original story and had indeed spent two lifetimes in this world, witnessing every part of this four-year history repeatedly.

But why would Su Huaijing know?

He's not the favored male lead of fate, who would reveal these things to him?

Hearing this, Su Huaijing paused for a moment, his bright eyes fixating on Rong Tang, then stepped out from under the lotus leaf, leading Rong Tang back the way they came.

"Tell me a secret, and I'll tell you one," Su Huaijing said. "You say you've never been foolish, and I say I've never been to school, which isn't entirely true."

He said, "My uncle's family had a private tutor. When my cousins attended lessons, although I couldn't sit with them at the desk, my cousin..." Su Huaijing paused and chuckled softly, "Li Panyan, the one Brother Tang Tang met in Songjing Alley."

Rong Tang frowned, recalling the scene when he went to the Li mansion to find Su Huaijing, who was kneeling beside Li Panyan, grinding ink for her.

He feared that Su Huaijing would feel disgraced.

Yet Su Huaijing laughed, "I don't feel embarrassed. On the contrary, I am grateful to her. After losing my parents, I was still able to complete my study of the Four Books and Five Classics, and read extensively."

The tutor hired by the Li family was mediocre, and most of their children didn't make much progress. However, he was a man who greatly valued his reputation. The collection of books in their library would be the envy of many commoner scholars.

Su Huaijing had spent nine years in Shu territory, and he knew almost every book in the Li family's library by heart.

He said with a smile, "Read more of the 'Water Classic' and the 'Chronicles of Major Events', and you'll find that droughts, floods, even pestilences, epidemics, and even wars—"

"All follow a pattern," Su Huaijing's voice lightly floated in the air.

Rong Tang was stunned for a long moment, then suddenly realized and looked at him with a pang of sympathy.

Yet Su Huaijing's expression remained as calm and composed as ever, without a hint of vulnerability or excess emotion.

He was just slowly and patiently explaining to Rong Tang why he believed there would be a major flood this year and how he reached that conclusion.

But Rong Tang couldn't help wondering why he had chosen to read those books.

But it seemed that Su Huaijing had already given him the answer: even wars.

He was too young at the time, living in an ivory tower, completely unaware of why his world had collapsed overnight.

All his relatives died, and Li Changfu was unaware of his true identity. With no one to provide clear answers, he had to find his own way to seek and explore, to find a reason to accept the truth.

And then he discovered that these events actually had their own patterns.

He was much smarter than his own emperor father.

Rong Tang's lips felt dry, and he unconsciously stuck out his tongue to moisten them, then reached back to hold Su Huaijing's hand.

Su Huaijing was slightly surprised, his eyes revealing a hint of joy. He dropped the previous topic and naturally moved a bit closer to Rong Tang.

Rong Tang asked him, "Why did you decide to warn them?"

The carriage was right in front of them. Shuangfu, who was far away, saw them and quickly stood up to signal the accompanying convoy to get ready. The coachman patted the fine horse, which was tamed and quietly grazing.

Su Huaijing laughed, taking it for granted and feeling rightfully assured, even a bit inexplicably thrilled: "Because I told you before, Tang Tang, and you forgot again, but it's okay, I don't blame you."

He said, "As long as I remember, it's fine."