Chapter 63

Chapter 63

The Ke family's ancestral home was in Jiangnan, where Scholar Ke became prosperous. After Ke Hongxue returned to the capital in his youth, he didn’t travel long distances for the first two years due to poor health, but then he would return to Jiangnan every year to pay respects to his ancestors and stay for a while.

Since waking up from his coma at the Flower Festival, Rong Tang encountered Ke Hongxue at Jingu Tower. Ke Hongxue, pursuing Mu Jingxu, insisted his senior accompany him back to Jiangnan for ancestral rites. Expecting little but hoping nonetheless, he casually mentioned it, but to his surprise, Mu Jingxu agreed.

Lord Mu took leave from the capital to accompany him to Jiangnan. As they traveled south, his expression darkened, turning grave upon reaching Huizhou and seeing the raging river and the dilapidated embankment.

Ke Hongxue asked what was wrong, and Mu Jingxu replied, “A great disaster is coming.”

After paying their respects to their ancestors, the two hurried back to the capital.

It was the onset of summer, and the rains had not yet come. No one was certain if the "great disaster" spoken of by Mu Jingxu would come to pass. It wasn't until the Deputy Minister of the Dali Temple tirelessly finished a portion of the piled-up official documents and looked up to realize that many people in the capital had unknowingly left for Jiangnan. Only then did he realize that his conjecture was likely to come true.

Mu Jingxu dared not delay and immediately took on a task from the Dali Temple, preparing to go to Jiangnan alone.

However, on the morning he left the capital, a majestic horse neighed behind him, its hooves kicking up dust, and the newborn sunlight scattered on the grass leaves on both sides of the official road.

A dashing and elegant young man in white riding attire, with his hair tied up high and carrying a simple bag on his shoulder, stopped the carriage of the Dali Temple and playfully jumped onto it, saying with a smile: "Where is my senior going? Why not take me with you for a private escape?"

He was used to being persistent and unreasonable. No matter how many times he was denied, no one could change what he had set his mind to. Mu Jingxu found himself increasingly unable to deal with Ke Hongxue.

Sitting in the carriage, he looked deeply into Ke Hongxue's eyes, as the cries of vendors and porters outside the window went on and on. Mu Jingxu and he locked eyes, silent for a long time, before he leaned over to lift the carriage curtain and instructed the coachman to continue the journey.

He couldn't stop Ke Hanying.

The only time he had ever stopped him was nine years ago when the seventeen-year-old Ke Hongxue, wielding the Taifu's token, burst into the palace, insisting on going south with him.

-

In early July, the Jiangnan region started to become humid and sultry.

Rong Tang came to the south to escape the heat, but stepping out of his room felt like entering a steam room, posing a challenge.

He simply couldn't stay outside for long without feeling overwhelmed by the sun, risking heatstroke. Every time he wanted to go out, he had to rely on others to prevent himself from fainting.

After a few such incidents, Su Huaijing strictly forbade him from going out again.

No amount of coaxing worked. When he said no, it meant no. Rong Tang had no choice but to hide in the study, reading storybooks and listening to the system's mockery: [Is this his way of showing affection? He's already bullying you before you're even together. What will happen if you agree to him?]

Rong Tang listened speechlessly, quite puzzled: "When did you learn so much about human emotions?"

The system replied righteously: [You taught me.]

The disaster continued, and everyone in Lin Yuan was extremely busy, yet Rong Tang's daily life was exceedingly simple.

His routine involved taking medicine, reading storybooks, bickering with the system, occasionally discussing the outside situation with Lu Jiaxi, waiting for Su Huaijing to return after a busy day, enjoying a walk in the cooler evening breeze, and often desperately trying to reject the sudden confessions of the major antagonist.

Wang Xiuyu sent several letters from the capital urging him to return. Rong Tang replied assuring her not to worry, which somewhat settled his mind.

The rapid delivery of Wang Xiuyu's letters indicated that news of the Jiangnan flood had spread in the capital.

Therefore, regardless of what Zhang Gelao or others wanted to gain from this natural disaster, relief funds and imperial officials would inevitably arrive in Jiangnan; it was just a matter of sooner or later.

Rong Tang lay on his cot, with half a basin of ice slowly melting beside him, pondering over how much money he had brought to Jiangnan and his deposits in various banks.

Although the Crown Prince of Ningxuan was wealthy, it was a fantasy to think he alone could take care of so many disaster victims.

He sighed deeply, fervently hoping that those in the capital would quickly reach a decision.

Rong Tang turned his head towards the thick sunlight outside the window, watching the unripe, green persimmons on the tree, wondering if they could stay in Jiangnan until the end of summer before returning to the capital.

He found himself craving persimmons.

On the evening of July 6, the sky over Suzhou was filled with large, fish-scale clouds illuminated by the purple-red sunset, reflecting on Linghu Lake, turning it into a scene of shimmering gold.

The only times cooler than the rest of the day were this moment and early morning. Having read storybooks all day, Rong Tang stepped out, strolling along the garden's stone path, admiring the lotus flowers blooming in the central pond.

Shuangfu had prepared a fishing rod for him, so he simply sat in the pavilion under a straw hat and began to fish.

Su Huaijing arrived shortly after he started fishing. Rong Tang looked up at him in the twilight, feeling the major antagonist had grown a lot since their first encounter.

If during their first meeting in Fengyue Tower, Su Huaijing still had the appearance of an unripe, youthful teenager, now, half a year later, he had not only grown taller than Rong Tang, but his shoulders had also broadened. Standing beside him, Rong Tang could feel an invisible force emanating from him, even though Su Huaijing did nothing.

Yet, this formidable presence of the antagonist never extended towards him. In front of Rong Tang, Su Huaijing was as obedient as a dog loyal to its owner.

Walking from outside the mansion, Sheng Chengming conversed with Su Huaijing, who consciously stayed half a step behind, resembling the dynamic of a wise ruler and a strategist.

But Rong Tang, observing this, felt uncomfortable and, with a soft click of his tongue, shifted his gaze away to focus on his fishing rod.

As the two approached, Rong Tang could no longer feign ignorance. He tried to stand up to greet Sheng Chengming, who nonchalantly sat beside him on a small stool, also picking up a fishing rod. As he baited his hook, he said, "Cousin, you needn't be so formal with me every time. It feels estranged for family to act like this. Besides, I'm currently staying at your residence, so you are the host."

Rong Tang paused for a moment, then simply greeted him and remained seated, unflustered.

Su Huaijing looked up at the diminishing sun, then naturally moved to the sunny side to shield Rong Tang from the light. He gazed at the bucket of lively carp, smilingly asking, "Is Tangtang planning a special dinner for me tonight?"

Rong Tang retorted, "Is it enough for you?"

Su Huaijing was taken aback, then chuckled, "For me alone, definitely. But I wonder if Tangtang will compete with me for it."

Rong Tang's movements halted, his float bobbing several times on the water, unnoticed. Su Huaijing graciously bent down, steadying the young master's hand and the fishing rod, skillfully landing a carp weighing about three to four liang (ounces).

Su Huaijing's hands, more suited to caressing jade, performed the task of unhooking the fish with an unexpected elegance.

He tossed his catch into the bucket, turning with a smile, "Now we have enough for both of us."

Shuangfu, understanding the cue, immediately took the bucket to the kitchen.

Rong Tang, belatedly realizing, felt his ears warm up and glared fiercely at Su Huaijing. Sheng Chengming, watching enviously, commented with a hint of jealousy, "Cousin and cousin-in-law sure have a great relationship."

Rong Tang then spared some attention for him, saying, "Your Highness, it's time for you to consider marriage. There are so many refined ladies in the capital, and the Emperor and the Empress will surely choose someone suitable for you."

Su Huaijing's reaction to these words was unexpected; he was washing his hands on the shore when suddenly his eyes brightened, and he glanced at Rong Tang with a somewhat adorable smile.

Rong Tang was momentarily perplexed but couldn't help expressing concern, "Be careful and pay attention, or you might fall in."

"Okay," Su Huaijing obediently replied, turning back to wash his hands earnestly.

Sheng Chengming's eyes nearly reddened, alternating glances between Rong Tang and Su Huaijing. Finally, with no other option, he sighed deeply, focusing on the gently bobbing float and replied, "I wouldn't hide it from cousin, but I wasn't planning on marrying and having children so soon."

Rong Tang glanced at him, and Sheng Chengming continued, "I'm not ashamed to admit, I'm quite the rogue. Everyone in the palace knows that if I'm not in the palace or the court, I'm likely spending time in brothels."

He smiled faintly, his skin tanned to a wheatish hue, dark circles under his eyes, seemingly forcing his energy. Sitting there fishing, his eyelids began to droop, and his voice lowered, "I wasn't keen on settling down and being under someone's thumb so soon, and with my reputation, not many ministers would want to marry their daughters to me."

He laughed softly, a touch of self-deprecation in his tone, "Compared to me, my third brother is more handsome, more scholarly, and our mother has a higher status. Why not choose him instead of me?"

Rong Tang frowned slightly, feeling there was an underlying message in his words.

As expected, Sheng Chengming glanced subtly at Su Huaijing after speaking, but the latter walked over to Rong Tang without a sideways glance, picking up a fan to cool him. Lightly, he said, "Your Highness, don't underestimate yourself. The dragon has nine sons, each different. The Third Prince may be exceptionally talented, but Your Highness possesses a rare bravery and a pure heart, along with virtues other princes lack."

He laughed softly, lifting his phoenix-like eyes towards Sheng Chengming, as if to reassure him, "Moreover, regarding this Jiangnan flood, if it weren't for your decisive actions, the losses could have been far greater."

Su Huaijing's praise sounded half genuine, half mocking. Sheng Chengming, however, hung his head in dejection, murmuring, "Yet I was too impulsive. If I hadn't been so hasty in arresting Governor Lu, the relief funds might have arrived earlier, and the people of Jiangnan wouldn't have suffered so much. I should have listened to—"

He seemed to realize he shouldn't speak more in front of Rong Tang, pausing before adjusting his fishing rod.

The bait on the hook had long been eaten away, so Sheng Chengming baited it with a new worm.

Rong Tang, somewhat surprised, grasped the meaning behind his words and asked, "Are you willing to hold Lu Junxian accountable?"

Sheng Chengming was about to cast his line again when he heard this, pausing in greater surprise than Rong Tang, "Why wouldn't I?"

Rong Tang explained, "Governor Lu is a disciple of Minister Zhang."

"So what?" Sheng Chengming frowned, "Jiang Shanxing repeatedly warned him of the impending flood in Jiangnan, but he refused to believe and even blocked the reports from reaching the capital. If not for his stubbornness and disregard for the people's lives, why would there have been so many casualties in Jiangnan?"

The more he spoke, the angrier he became, his voice rising. Rong Tang was stunned for a moment, turning to look at Su Huaijing.

Su Huaijing had not discussed the specifics of the flood's toll with Rong Tang. Rong Tang had also failed to get the details from Lu Jiaxi, realizing Su Huaijing intentionally kept it from him to spare his feelings.

Yet, hearing the number of victims from Sheng Chengming's mouth still shocked him.

Sadness was inevitable, but beyond that, he felt a sense of relief.

The difference between hundreds of thousands and tens of thousands of lives, anyone who knows their destined fate would be amazed at how humans can triumph over nature when they look back at the current outcome.

Su Huaijing thought Rong Tang was upset and gently squeezed the back of his hand as a silent comfort.

Rong Tang turned his head away, restraining himself from looking at him, and praised Sheng Chengming, "Your Highness is truly noble."

Any trace of anger in Sheng Chengming dissipated, he appeared somewhat dazed and took a while to shake his head, "It's not my nobility, but the suffering of the people of Jiangnan."

After speaking, he fell silent, and Rong Tang didn't know how to comfort him.

After all, Sheng Chengming was right in saying that the common people suffered.

As Rong Tang was somewhat distracted, feeling a growing sense of desolation, suddenly a laugh broke the silence. Someone walked in through the twilight and moonlight, saying cheerfully, "What’s with all these gloomy faces? I’ve come all the way from Hangzhou to Suzhou to invite you to celebrate Qixi Festival. With such expressions, if the Queen Mother of the West saw us, she might not even set up the magpie bridge this year, then what’s the point?"

Rong Tang turned around to see the twenty-six-year-old, spirited Ke Hongxue, with the setting sun casting a golden glow on him.

The kind of glow that resembled real gold and silver.

Author's note:

Xiao Qi, your sister-in-law (not really) is here!