Chapter 94

Chapter 94

As the banquet proceeded, some guests were deep in their cups, while others remained alert and clear-headed.

Rong Tang was about to return to his seat, but upon hearing this, he stopped in his tracks, standing still, waiting for Su Huaijing to join him.

Ke Hongxue raised an eyebrow, returning to his seat with a smile. Spotting a cup of tea on the table just right for a sip, his eyes brightened, asking Mu Jingshu, “Is this a reward for me, senior?”

Mu Jingshu glanced at him, his gaze falling to Ke Fufu's folding fan, which he kept even in winter.

Good, it’s been changed to white jade.

His voice clear and meaningful, he asked, “Are you being frugal as possible?”

Ke Hongxue, composed and unflustered, took a sip of tea, deliberately savoring the lingering aroma in his mouth, and said, “Of course, I’ve been quite frugal. I haven’t changed this fan for several days.”

Mu Jingshu turned away, rolling his eyes, uninterested in engaging further, but the corners of his lips lifted unconsciously into a slight smile.

Meanwhile, Su Huaijing approached Rong Tang and bowed to Emperor Renshou, “Your servant is here.”

As a male spouse, his title naturally followed that of Rong Tang.

Emperor Renshou, seated at the head, scrutinized him with his gaze for a long while, finally resting on the couple's hands stealthily clasping each other under their sleeves.

He laughed heartily, turning to the Empress, “Indeed, they are a picture of affection.”

Empress Wang responded with a dignified smile.

Emperor Renshou then inquired, “Have you ever attended school?”

Rong Tang’s heart leaped, fearing Su Huaijing might blurt out something about not having attended school.

But he heard Su Huaijing reply, “In my youth, I lived with my maternal uncle and started my studies alongside my cousins. Later, I continued learning from a private tutor at home and did not attend formal schooling.”

Upon hearing this, Emperor Renshou’s expression subtly changed, as if just recalling something, his tone deepening, “Is the maternal uncle you speak of Li Changfu, the Vice Minister of War?”

Su Huaijing nodded, “Indeed, he is.”

Emperor Renshou asked, “What is your relation to him?”

Su Huaijing replied, “Lady Li is my distant maternal aunt.”

Emperor Renshou pondered for a moment. The smile coaxed out by Ke Hongxue’s flattery gradually faded, and he asked seemingly casually, “A relative on the Wei family’s side?”

At this remark, the entire assembly was startled.

The fire on Xuanwu Avenue a month ago was still vividly remembered. In Emperor Renshou’s many years of reign, no one in the court dared to mention the name of the Duke of Xianguo. Now, it was Emperor Renshou himself who brought it up…

Some officials, long weathered in the ways of the court and more perceptive, were taken aback, feeling an unexpected surge of panic.

It seemed as if... the skies of the capital were about to change.

The focus of everyone's gaze, however, remained neither servile nor overbearing. Su Huaijing respectfully replied, "To answer Your Majesty, if we trace it back strictly, my mother's foster father was the elder brother of General Wei's deputy. After the deputy's death and with my grandfather aged, on the day of my mother's marriage, the wife of the Duke acted as a matchmaker and recognized my mother as her adopted daughter, allowing her to marry far away in the south."

Róng Táng spent a long time trying to understand Sù Huáijǐng's explanation of their relationship, finally concluding:

——There's no relation!

Although referred to as distant relatives, in truth, they had no actual connection. Their association with the Exalted State Duke was purely out of his sentimental remembrance.

Sù Huáijǐng's explanation was complicated and bizarre, making everyone in the audience follow along with his convoluted narrative, ultimately leaving them speechless once they sorted out the relationship.

Kē Hóngxuě, who was initially not worried about him facing Emperor Rénshòu alone, was taken aback by his response. After recovering, he turned away from the Emperor and the courtiers, sharing a barely controllable smile with Mù Jǐngxù, whispering, "Is there really such a person?"

Mù Jǐngxù, who had been watching Sù Huáijǐng with a complex expression, was momentarily distracted, frowning at Kē Hóngxuě, "How would I know?"

Kē Hóngxuě: “...” Right, he forgot his Senior Brother was still keeping things from him.

Kē Hóngxuě reined in his smile and turned his attention back to the performance.

For the first time that evening, a look of astonishment appeared on Emperor Rénshòu’s resolute face.

As described in “The Emperor’s Conquest,” the royal bloodline was known for their handsome features. Although Emperor Rénshòu was over forty, his demeanor remained distinguished. Usually, he carried the majestic aura of royalty, but his surprised expression now brought a rare sense of approachability.

Princess Duān Yì, laughing, said, “What a coincidence! I was adopted by Emperor Xuān, and your mother was adopted by my elder sister. No wonder you ended up in my household.”

The wife of the Exalted State Duke was two months older than Princess Duān Yì. Their residences being adjacent, over the years, Princess Duān Yì had grown accustomed to calling her ‘elder sister’.

With this revelation, Emperor Rénshòu’s wariness about Sù Huáijǐng’s background eased, and he addressed the Princess, “Aunt, although you were a foster daughter of my grandfather, you have made immense contributions to Dà Yù and rightfully deserve the title of Princess. Please don’t belittle yourself.”

“I understand,” Princess Duān Yì nodded with dignified grace.

The Emperor, losing interest in delving further into Sù Huáijǐng’s complex lineage, knew the truth could be easily uncovered by sending his spies.

Sù Huáijǐng, unafraid of any investigation, was confident in the credibility of the identity he had concocted.

Emperor Rénshòu, getting straight to the point, asked, “Do you wish to hold an official position?”

Róng Táng was slightly startled and looked up at the Emperor, who smiled and said, “There’s talk of buying official ranks among the common people. Your remarkable service deserves more than just rewards, yet considering your frail health, which your aunt is already worried about, it’s unlikely to let you work hard in an official position. Since you and the Crown Princess are family, let him accept this honor on your behalf. What do you think?”

[This is earlier than expected.] The system quietly reminded.

This was half a year earlier than scheduled.

Rong Tang did not immediately respond. After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "May I inquire what official position Your Majesty intends to bestow upon my beloved?"

……

"The value of these dishes is truly remarkable," Ke Hongxue commented with a shake of his head, smiling as he spoke to Mu Jingshu.

Spending a bit of silver for such a prime seat, witnessing these several plays in succession, it's certainly worth the expense.

Mu Jingshu exposed his trick: "Isn't it you who arranged these plays?"

Ke Hongxue smiled slightly, changing the subject: "Senior, I have a keen eye for people. I've always told you that this young lord is no ordinary person."

Without any forewarning or collusion, his vehement confrontation with Rong Mingyu would have spelled disaster for any thoughtless fool, let alone landing oneself in trouble.

Yet Rong Tang remained impressively composed, using the situation to question Rong Mingyu. He managed to stand there, unflinchingly, without revealing a trace of his emotions to anyone.

To achieve this, one must not only instantly understand the purpose behind Ke Hongxue's words and quickly predict the consequences of various reactions; but also have enough confidence in him, knowing that he would not lead one into a trap.

Both aspects are challenging.

The former requires intelligence, while the latter demands sincere trust.

The world is full of clever but deceitful people, yet those who are honest and naïve often fail to accomplish great things.

Even though it's just a banquet, it's undeniable that this is a high-pressure environment. A single misstep in speech before the emperor can lead to an immediate death sentence.

Yet Rong Tang not only caught the opportunity Ke Hongxue gave him, but also dared to calmly ask the Ren Shou Emperor about the specific official position after the offer was made, as if he would decline the favor if it wasn't to his liking.

Utterly audacious.

The Ren Shou Emperor was momentarily taken aback by the question, having never been spoken to in such a manner during his reign.

The Emperor fiddled with his prayer beads, giving it some thought, then casually inquired, "Minister Zhang, didn't the Imperial Censorate submit a memorial a few days ago?"

Elder Minister Zhang, suddenly questioned, quickly stood and bowed: "Your Majesty, indeed a memorial was submitted, stating the shortage of staff in the Imperial Censorate. It requested that after next year's imperial examinations, some scholars should be selected to serve in the Censorate."

The Ren Shou Emperor nodded, turning to Rong Tang with a smile, "How about your young lord serves in the Imperial Censorate?"

He had never shown such warmth and pleasure, even towards his own son. The Empress, repeatedly startled by her husband's demeanor that night, quickly signaled to Rong Tang with her eyes, urging him to accept.

Yet, Rong Tang couldn't clearly discern whether he felt relieved or confused, asking Su Huaijing, "Would you be willing?"

Su Huaijing replied with a light smile, "I will follow Tang Tang's wishes."

Outside the Shaohua Hall, winter snow fell from the treetops, filling the entire palace with the fragrance of plum blossoms.

The burnt residence of Sheng Chengli remained unresolved, and Ning Xuanwang's already awkward position further embedded an invisible thorn in the Ren Shou Emperor's heart.

The Imperial Censorate operates independently from the Cabinet, not supervised by other officials, solely following the Emperor's commands. They are truly the close ministers of the Emperor, his instruments of power.

Su Huaijing, nearly seventeen, was about to step into this vortex of power just eight days before his eighteenth birthday.

Rong Tang withdrew his gaze, tugging at Su's hand, and together they knelt, offering deep respects to the Emperor above: "We humbly thank Your Majesty for your gracious favor!"

In the winter of the ninth year of Qingzheng, on New Year's Eve, a butterfly once again fluttered its wings, bringing an unpredictable storm.

However, at this moment, once back in their seats at the eye of the storm, Su Huaijing simply reached out, gently massaging Rong Tang's knees and brushing off the dust from his robe.

His little Bodhisattva should not have to kneel before anyone.