Chapter 87

Chapter 87

After dinner in Yong'an Lane, Rong Tang gazed at Su Huaijing with expectant eyes, so obvious that even Mu Jingshu was somewhat taken aback and gestured for Su Huaijing to quickly agree to his request.

Su Huaijing was quite helpless.

Indeed, it's just like Tang Tang; not only has he charmed himself into doting on him without reservation, but even his elder brother, who has only known him for half a year, now indulges him unconditionally.

He smiled and asked Ke Hongxue, “A new gambling house has opened in the city, does Young Master Ke have any interest in checking it out?”

Ke Hongxue, who was pondering about finding a yard in Tang-Jing Manor as a place for him and his elder brother to freeload meals and stay over, paused for a moment and blinked, inexplicably looking at Su Huaijing, but was soon drawn by Rong Tang’s captivating gaze.

The Scholar of Imperial Examination was momentarily stunned, then he broke into a smile and nodded, "How fortunate indeed."

The renowned and charming Scholar of Imperial Examination from the capital was well-known. His attendance at the gambling house's opening was naturally expected.

All were set up in the west of the city, backing onto the glittering Gold Dust River. Just a few shops away from the Moonlit Pavilion, one could hear the bustling and lively sounds of Shui Leng Street from afar, and smell the prosperous scent of human life.

As the year's end approached, it was both the busiest and the leisureliest time. The young masters from rich families had their schools closed for the holidays, and now they roamed the capital in small groups at night, truly a beautiful sight.

Rong Tang felt a surge of excitement.

In his three lifetimes combined, he had rarely visited gambling houses. Even if he truly sneaked off with Ke Hongxue, he would most likely encounter a plot twist, eventually shifting the focus back to the male lead.

It was only now that Rong Tang realized that he had never really lived for himself in his previous two lives.

Though he was supposed to complete tasks to earn a body free of sickness and capable of rebirth, all his actions and stories revolved around Sheng Chengli. He was more like a tool, manipulated at will without concern for his emotions and perceptions.

Fortunately... he still had this last life.

Initially, Rong Tang felt weary, not wanting to be a savior nor to bother with Sheng Chengli anymore. The only person he couldn't let go of was Su Huaijing.

Su Huaijing was a character who had captivated him from his very first appearance in the original story. Rong Tang only wanted to help him. As for his own life and death, he didn't care much.

But along the way, Rong Tang began to avoid thoughts of life and death, instead yearning to live freely and fully, not wasting these three chances at rebirth.

He jumped off the carriage, eagerly rushing towards the gambling house. Su Huaijing reached out his hand, but in a moment of surprise, failed to catch him.

Twirling his fingers, his gaze lingered on Rong Tang's retreating figure, shaking his head helplessly.

Ke Hongxue loosely embraced Mu Jingxu, worried that the cold winter night might harm him. Su Huaijing glanced back, then quickened his pace to follow Rong Tang.

Most buildings on this street were three-story wooden structures, but this gambling house stood taller with four stories, overshadowing the neighboring rooftops.

Named 'Seeking Jade', even the most common dice here were made of jade. The thinner leaf cards, when touched lightly, revealed themselves to be crafted from thin sheets of gold and silver, meticulously engraved and polished into the trinkets gamblers held in their hands.

Everywhere was a display of opulence and luxury unseen elsewhere, a true embodiment of wealth and decadence.

Inside, the lights blazed brightly, and the faces of the patrons were marked by an intense, almost frenzied enthusiasm.

Some lost all their possessions, their faces pale, clutching their heads in a daze. Soon, an attendant would approach, whisper a few words, and lead them upstairs.

When they came back down, their demeanor had transformed to one of excitement and joy, clutching a heap of chips and diving back into the gambling fray.

Rong Tang stood in the center of the hall, somewhat dazed.

Su Huaijing came up from behind, grasping his wrist and asking with a warm smile, "Tangtang, what would you like to play?"

Rong Tang looked around, feeling that something was amiss. Turning his head towards Su Huaijing and catching the smile on his face, his expression turned suspicious.

Su Huaijing asked, "What's wrong?"

After a moment of silence, Rong Tang asked, "Is this gambling house yours?"

Su Huaijing appeared surprised, his eyebrows lifting in a subtle arch. Instead of answering, he countered, "Why would you think that?"

Rong Tang: "..."

Fine, it's you then.

He almost forgot, this gambling house, like the Shudao Pavilion now specializing in hot pot, were events that never occurred in his past two lives.

Each life brings changes through the butterfly effect, even when traversing the torrents of time, small differences emerge.

For instance, the person he married in the first life became an enemy in the second; the old man selling candied haws on the street corner who died under the hooves of a rich man's horse last life, now enjoys his old age surrounded by grandchildren.

Apart from those characters in the original plot with predetermined destinies and roles, the lives of most ordinary people in this world change with seemingly insignificant decisions. This is the norm.

Such changes gave Rong Tang hope, especially in the main characters, where the most significant butterfly effects were always caused by Su Huaijing.

He never followed the plot, yet always managed to reach the ending set in the original story.

Initially, Rong Tang thought this was just another form of being confined by the plot, where no matter the effort or change, one could never escape the destiny set by the author.

But after carefully analyzing Su Huaijing's motivations and logical actions, Rong Tang realized it wasn't so.

All his actions were self-serving.

It wasn't that the author had set an ending for him; rather, that ending was what Su Huaijing needed to achieve. Thus, no matter how many obstacles and hardships the author put in his way, he would always reach his destination.

Sometimes Rong Tang wondered, in the book "Emperor's Conquest," was it the author controlling the characters, or the will of the characters influencing the author?

If the logic of a novel is complete enough to create a self-sustaining world, then conversely...

"What are you thinking about?" Su Huaijing interrupted his thoughts.

Rong Tang was momentarily dazed, looking up to meet his gaze, noticing the worry on Su Huaijing's face that he couldn't quite hide.

Puzzled, Rong Tang asked, "What's wrong?"

Su Huaijing gazed at him intently for a long while before shaking his head, "It's nothing."

He didn't tell Rong Tang that, in those moments of deep thought, an unusual aura had surrounded him.

Despite being in the bustling atmosphere of the gambling house, Rong Tang seemed out of place, untouched by the worldly grime and haze.

That feeling of being detached from everything, unable to blend with this world, overwhelmed Su Huaijing, causing him an unconscious panic.

He tightened his grip on their intertwined fingers, not revealing to Rong Tang what had frightened him just now.

Ke and Mu caught up from behind, just in time to hear Rong Tang's response to Su Huaijing's earlier question: "I guessed it."

Ke Hongxue, puzzled, asked, "Guessed what? Did the young lord and his companion place bets in the gambling house?"

Rong Tang had been excited before coming here, but upon entering and being disturbed by those tumultuous thoughts, he lost the desire to play.

Su Huaijing asked, "Want to go upstairs and take a look?"

Rong Tang hesitated for a few seconds, then nodded.

At first, Ke Hongxue was puzzled, but as the inside of the building quieted down, and the two burly men guarding the stairs on the fourth floor respectfully bowed their heads to make way at the sight of Su Huaijing, he realized what Rong Tang had guessed earlier.

He instinctively turned to look at Mu Jingxu, noticing a flicker of surprise on his face, which quickly dissipated, leaving a trace of unresolved worry.

Ke Hongxue always worried about his younger brother. He sighed silently in his heart and moved a few steps closer to him.

The fourth floor housed several private rooms, and at the other end was the room of the gambling house owner.

Su Huaijing led them inside, where tea had already been prepared.

The window was opened in an unusual position. Rong Tang glanced out inadvertently and his pupils contracted slightly.

The system reminded: [That's the imperial palace.]

Across half of the capital city, standing on the highest building of Shui Leng Street, he peered through the window, seeing the brilliant lights of the palace spread out before him.

The magnificent imperial court lay fully within his view.

Not just Rong Tang, everyone present noticed this unusual aspect. Ke Hongxue raised an eyebrow, while Mu Jingxu frowned disapprovingly.

Ke Hongxue, smiling, took a seat and accepted the tea cup handed to him by Su Huaijing. Sipping it, he casually asked, "Who manages this gambling house?"

Su Huaijing replied, "The courtesan Su Lian'er, whom Tangtang saved at the Zhehua gathering."

Ke Hongxue was momentarily taken aback, pondering before recalling the actor brought by Sheng Chengxing, intended to embarrass Sheng Chengli.

He chuckled, looking down, "So she ended up in your residence."

Rong Tang was no longer surprised. Saving Su Lian'er and sending her to Yong'an Alley was a signal for Su Huaijing to make his own decision. Hence, wherever he placed this chess piece next, Rong Tang would not be startled.

Even just hearing Su Huaijing mention it, he guessed why those who lost at gambling were led upstairs and why the fourth floor had so many private compartments.

Holding a cup of tea, he stood by the window, lost in thought, his gaze shifting from the distant imperial palace to the nearby taverns and teahouses.

On Shui Leng Street, the continuous flow of carriages and horses stirred thoughts of whether a heavy snowfall would soon cloak the city in a layer of white.

Ke Hongxue asked, "Let me guess, on the surface it’s a gambling house, but actually, it’s a place for gathering information? I wonder what interesting things Master Su has learned in these few days?"

“There are many interesting things. Would Young Master Ke like to know?” Su Huaijing asked.

Ke Hongxue replied, "I was born with a curious heart."

Su Huaijing curved his lips, his gaze lingering on Rong Tang even as he replied to Ke Hongxue, "Buy it with money."

Ke Hongxue, startled, widened his eyes in disbelief, but Su Huaijing coolly added, "Or exchange it for information."

“……”

The Scholar of Imperial Examination was silent for a while, then took a sip of tea to moisten his throat before sincerely suggesting, "You should come with me to do business in Jiangnan."

Su Huaijing was non-committal, while Mu Jingxu, who had been silent since entering the room, suddenly asked, "Is there any danger?"

Su Huaijing laughed lightly, "Worried that a bunch of gamblers could pose a threat to me? Big brother, you underestimate me."

Mu Jingxu didn't speak, but his expression still held a hint of worry and disapproval. However, Su Huaijing and Ke Hongxue were surprisingly in agreement, and after a brief silence, they smoothly transitioned to discussing the secrets of the capital.

Mu Jingxu listened quietly, while Rong Tang gazed into the distance, neither of them joining the conversation.

It wasn't until snowflakes began to fall again, bringing a layer of warmth, that Ke Hongxue stood up to leave, intending to take Mu Jingxu back to Yong'an Alley.

Before leaving, he asked Rong Tang if he wanted to come along, but Su Huaijing smiled and shook his head, "Tangtang will stay with me."

The door opened and then closed, leaving the room in quietude.

Below was the bustling atmosphere of various gambling games, but upstairs, Rong Tang spoke softly, "You once told me that deciphering human hearts is the most dangerous practice."

Su Huaijing replied, "How can one catch tiger cubs without entering the tiger's den?"

Thus, Rong Tang once again realized that this man had two different standards for himself and for others.

Looking out at the continuous city and palaces, he suddenly asked, "What does it feel like to look out from here?"

Footsteps approached from behind, and Su Huaijing came over, wrapping his arms around Rong Tang's waist, chin resting on his shoulder. Their gazes aligned, he pointed towards the myriad of lights scattered across the capital, finally directing attention towards the ever-lit city to the north.

Stretching for miles, the lights shone in mutual reflection, yet as silent as the abyss.

He asked, "Tangtang, what do you think would happen to this capital city if a fire were to start over there?"

“……”

With the imperial palace at its center, the entire city of Yu Jing would be trampled under iron hooves, followed by unceasing warfare.

Rong Tang frowned slightly, voicing his objection, "That's not a good idea."

Su Huaijing's eyes sparkled with amusement, "Why?"

Rong Tang replied, "I haven't had my fill of fun yet."

After a moment of silence, Su Huaijing leaned on Rong Tang's shoulder, chuckling softly, "As Tangtang wishes."

On the eve of the Minor New Year, the capital was extraordinarily lively, with lanterns floating on the Golden Dust River.

Knowing Rong Tang was in low spirits, Su Huaijing coaxed him with a light laugh, "Want to go see the lanterns?"