Chapter 64

Chapter 64

How wealthy is the Ke family?

In the great state of Dayu, the two wealthiest places are the capital and Jiangnan. The former is known for its nobility, while the latter is famous for its wealth.

The Ke family boasts Ke Wenrui as the Imperial Tutor in the capital, and Ke Xuebo as the wealthiest man in Jiangnan.

Ke Hongxue, walking through the setting sun at this moment, looked like a walking moneybag in Rong Tang's eyes.

His eyes brightened, and he unconsciously swallowed.

The system, unable to bear the sight, decided to go into hibernation. Before leaving, it glitched momentarily, floating over to the pixel representation of Su Huaijing and cheerfully bounced on it, then left feeling refreshed.

After it departed, Su Huaijing's hand, which was fanning Rong Tang, paused briefly, and he frowned slightly, looking around in slight confusion.

Sheng Chengming's gaze frequently lingered on him, and noticing this, he asked, "What's wrong with cousin-in-law?"

Rong Tang's attention returned, and he saw Su Huaijing's brows relax as he smiled and shook his head, "It seemed like a bug flew by." Then he asked, "Have you finished fishing?"

Rong Tang was only fishing out of boredom while waiting for Su Huaijing. Hearing this, his gaze shifted downwards to the wrist of Su Huaijing that was exposed.

The wrist, like white jade with clean lines, was beautiful to behold. However, there were a few inconspicuous rash-like marks, resembling needle pricks. Rong Tang knew that soon these marks would turn into nail-sized blisters, extremely itchy.

He immediately felt sympathy and said, "I'm done," as he put down the fishing rod.

Su Huaijing smiled, "Then let's go have dinner. The carp soup must be ready by now."

Rong Tang nodded eagerly, thinking about where to find some ointment to apply to him later.

The group walked towards Ke Hongxue, who bowed slightly to Sheng Chengming. Rong Tang asked him, "Didn't Deputy Minister Mu come with you?"

Ke Hongxue replied, "My senior brother was exhausted from the journey and felt a bit under the weather. As soon as he entered Lin Yuan, the steward arranged a guest room for him to rest. I didn't get the chance to ask for your permission in advance, please forgive us."

Rong Tang waved his hand dismissively, "No worries, no worries."

His residence had nearly become an official government office for the court in Suzhou, frequented by court officials and princes of Dayu; it was impossible not to grant forgiveness.

Yet upon hearing this, he couldn't help but ask further, "Is Deputy Minister Mu simply overworked or has he fallen ill?"

Mu Jingxu had always been frail, and Rong Tang couldn't help but worry upon hearing of his collapse, especially with an epidemic raging in the Jiangnan region.

Ke Hongxue, however, smiled lightly, seemingly unconcerned, "Thank you for your concern, my lord. My senior brother is just too soft-hearted for his role in managing punishments. He often falls ill after interrogating criminals. It's an old issue, nothing serious."

Rong Tang felt a pang of worry and cast a doubtful glance at Ke Hongxue, his expression inscrutable.

Sheng Chengming was stunned for a moment, then a lightbulb went off in his head. He excitedly asked, "Has Lu Junxian confessed to his crimes?"

As they neared the dining courtyard, Ke Hongxue responded with a smile.

As a royal tutor and prince, strictly speaking, Sheng Chengming should address him respectfully as a teacher.

Thus, Ke Hongxue looked at him as if he were a student with less talent but at least diligent, with a hint of indulgence, and counter-asked, "Are you referring to Governor Lu's case of corruption and bribery?"

Sheng Chengming was taken aback, his brows furrowing, "Is there another case?"

"There are plenty more," he replied, glancing towards Rong Tang and Su Huaijing, seemingly offhandedly, "Didn't the young lord and his spouse tell you?"

Rong Tang: "……"

He regretted it again; he really shouldn't have spoken more than necessary with Ke Hongxue.

Rong Tang turned away, rolling his eyes to the sky, and took Su Huaijing by the wrist, heading towards a side room of the courtyard, leaving Ke Hongxue and Sheng Chengming staring at each other.

After a while, Ke Hongxue, unable to contain his laughter, followed them, teasing with his jade folding fan, "They say that being well-fed and comfortable leads to lustful thoughts, but for you, my lord, even before dinner, you can't resist? Be careful, too much indulgence can harm your health."

Rong Tang, distracted, stepped on a stone and almost twisted his ankle.

Su Huaijing reacted quickly, wrapping his arms around Rong Tang's waist to steady him. Seeing Rong Tang's ears turn red, warmth filled his heart. Still, mindful of maintaining decorum in front of others, he let go once Rong Tang was stable, then turned back to Ke Hongxue with a smile, sizing him up with a playful look.

"Indulging in desires upon feeling secure and warm is natural for humans, nothing to be ashamed of. But as for you, Tutor Ke, still a virgin at twenty-six – are you saving yourself for someone special?"

Su Huaijing asked with genuine curiosity, causing Sheng Chengming's face to change dramatically, his eyes widening in disbelief that a noble of this era could be over twenty and still untouched.

Rong Tang, embarrassed by their blatant daylight discussion of such matters, wished he could disappear, while Ke Hongxue nonchalantly waved his fan, not offended at all, and retorted, "Doesn't the young mistress know?"

He smiled, "If one has seen true jade, why would they bother looking at a mere stone? I, Ke, have someone in my heart. To me, all the beauties in the world are just mediocre compared to him."

Su Huaijing gazed at him quietly for a moment, then smiled casually, "Then I wish you, Tutor Ke, to soon find happiness with your beloved."

His tone was casual, masking the sincerity or jest in his words. To anyone listening, it would seem nothing more than polite flattery. Yet Ke Hongxue's eyes lit up instantly, his fan snapping shut as he stepped forward excitedly, "Su, could you repeat that?"

Rong Tang was puzzled, looking up at Ke Hongxue and finding his eager anticipation somewhat… obsequious.

It was quite strange.

Su Huaijing also felt it odd, pausing to think but unable to pinpoint the issue, so he added, "I wish for Tutor Ke and his beloved to be united in marriage and grow old together."

"Ah! Thank you!" Ke Hongxue clasped his hands and bowed deeply in thanks, "I'll take that as a good omen!"

“？”

Rong Tang was almost confused by his reaction. Su Huaijing frowned slightly, then without further words, turned and took Rong Tang's hand, heading back to the side room.

The door closed behind them, leaving them in a dimly lit room. Su Huaijing lit a candle using the faint light coming through the window, then turned to Rong Tang, "Tangtang, why did you pull me in here? Is something the matter?"

Rong Tang, still pondering Ke Hongxue's earlier behavior, asked doubtfully, "Do you know who Ke Hongxue's beloved is?"

Su Huaijing paused briefly, then smiled, "Isn’t it obvious?"

Rong Tang looked at him skeptically.

Su Huaijing said, “I love Rong Tang, so every day I can't wait to see you as soon as I open my eyes, constantly wanting to utter your name and think of you, even when I'm outside, wondering if you’ve eaten well and slept soundly at home, and whether you've finished today's medicine.”

Rong Tang's ears were already burning and holding the ointment he had just taken out of the cupboard, it felt unbearably hot in his hand.

He frowned slightly, muttering softly, "I asked about Ke Hongxue, why bring it back to me?"

"Because love can't be hidden," Su Huaijing chuckled lightly. "My fondness for Rong Tang is obvious to everyone; similarly, Ke Hongxue's affection for Lord Mu isn't exactly a well-kept secret."

Lately, Su Huaijing seemed to look for every opportunity to tell Rong Tang how much he liked him. Rong Tang felt somewhat overwhelmed. He originally brought Su Huaijing in to apply some ointment to his mosquito bites, but now he felt even being in the same room with him was somewhat perilous.

Rong Tang set the ointment down on the table, still frowning.

Su Huaijing, puzzled, asked, "What does this mean?"

Rong Tang pointed awkwardly at his wrist. "You've been bitten by mosquitoes so much, don't you feel it? Let me apply some ointment."

Su Huaijing lifted his sleeve, revealing under the candlelight numerous red welts nearly merging into one on his pale wrist. Rong Tang felt itchy and sore just looking at it, but Su Huaijing seemed utterly unaware of it.

He poked at the bites and heard Rong Tang suck in a breath across from him. After a moment's pause, he broke into laughter and coquettishly said, "Rong Tang, help me apply it."

Rong Tang turned away, heading outside: "No, I'm hungry."

Su Huaijing raised an eyebrow: "Does Rong Tang want to go out now?"

"Can't I?" Rong Tang retorted.

"Well, it's not that you can't," Su Huaijing spoke softly, "but firstly, without me, you might get teased by Ke Hongxue again, and with no one to retort for you, wouldn’t that be annoying? Secondly—"

He paused, then smiled: "The timing isn’t right for going out now."

Rong Tang halted, his brow furrowed: "Why not?"

Su Huaijing: "The relief funds haven’t arrived yet, and Scholar Ke has taken the initiative to come to Suzhou. Do you really think it’s just to celebrate Qixi?"

"After natural disasters, the relief silver and grain distributed by the court are never enough for the victims, not to mention the embezzlement by corrupt officials along the way. The actual amount that reaches the people is minimal. The Second Prince waits daily in Suzhou for the Ministry of Revenue's allocation, but he'll realize once the money reaches Jiangnan that this relief silver is just a drop in the bucket."

Su Huaijing sat in a chair, pouring himself a cup of tea, then gestured for Rong Tang to sit beside him, placing his hand on his, implying that he wouldn't continue speaking unless Rong Tang applied the medicine.

Left with no choice, Rong Tang hesitated briefly before lifting Su Huaijing's sleeve and quietly began applying the ointment.

The scent of herbs lingered on the fingertips and wrists, spreading through the room. Su Huaijing, in a good mood, curved his eyes, continuing, "So, the usual funds for post-disaster reconstruction come from three sources: the imperial treasury, local taxes, and donations from local gentry."

"But such donations aren't without incentives. Whether it's reducing tax rates or naming them imperial merchants, something sweet must be offered for the merchants to donate their large fortunes. The Ke family prospered in Jiangnan, and although wealthy, this flood has significantly impacted their properties, even more than smaller households and businesses. Their willingness to donate now is more a matter of sentiment than obligation."

After cleaning off the ointment, Rong Tang released his hand and asked, "Does Sheng Chengming know about this?"

"He does," Su Huaijing nodded. "After Lu Jiaxi told me about Ke Hongxue's arrival in Jiangnan, I analyzed the situation with him. So, right now, as they sit in the dining hall, one represents the court and the other their family, engaged in negotiations. Are you sure you want to go there now, Tang Tang?"

Rong Tang: "…"

He was sure.

Not to go.

He felt a bit melancholic, happy on one hand that Ke Hongxue's arrival could alleviate some of Jiangnan's urgent problems, yet on the other hand, he wanted to flee.

He was a little panicked.

For reasons he couldn't quite explain.

As the moonlight gradually encroached upon the twilight outside, the faint scent of the herbs continued to spread. Rong Tang inexplicably remembered the two phrases Ke Hongxue mentioned upon his arrival.

-Qixi Festival.

-Fullness breeds lust.

He coughed softly, rising to leave. Just as he reached the door, hand almost touching the handle, Su Huaijing called out softly from behind: "Tang Tang."

Rong Tang's heart skipped a beat, and he clenched his palm to steady his voice, which threatened to tremble: "Hmm?"

Su Huaijing drank half a cup of cold tea, put down the cup, and leisurely walked behind Rong Tang. The scent of the herbal ointment became especially distinct, enveloping him completely.

He chuckled softly, wrapping his arms around Rong Tang from behind, resting his chin on Rong Tang's shoulder. Despite being the dominant one, he presented himself in an adorably obedient manner, nuzzling against Rong Tang's neck and asked in a sticky voice, "The court knows to sweeten the deal to coax merchants into donating, what about you, Tangtang?"

Rong Tang tensed up, his ears distinctly feeling the heat of Su Huaijing's breath, almost to the point of combustion.

The young lord of the Rong family forced himself to stay calm and asked, "What about me?"

The summer heat was intense, and even the ice in the room couldn't counter the warmth of their close embrace.

Su Huaijing lifted his chin to see Rong Tang's earlobe, red and tempting. He couldn’t help but laugh out loud, gently biting that spot and muffledly asked, "When will you give me some sweetness?"