Chapter 95

Chapter 95

After the New Year's Eve banquet at the palace, many relatives, old friends, and officials visited the Ning Xuanwang Mansion.

The snow in the capital had yet to melt, falling like goose feathers every few days. Rong Tang, accompanied by Rong Mingyu or Wang Xiuyu, repeatedly entertained those who came under the guise of New Year's greetings to probe him, watching the snow fall on the steps outside the front hall.

Su Huaijing, fearing Rong Tang would be bored, insisted on accompanying him. Initially, Rong Tang agreed, but after four to five meetings a day, even he grew weary, not wanting the main antagonist to neglect his duties just to keep him company in trivial matters. He then refused to let Su join him.

No sooner had Su Huaijing agreed than he entered the meeting hall where Rong Tang was chatting sleepily with some relative, asking Wang Xiuyu in a polite and gentle manner, "Mother, Tang Tang mentioned feeling lethargic lately, and Doctor Lin has returned home. May I take him out of the mansion to consult a doctor and get some medicine?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Xiuyu was immediately alarmed and stood up quickly, agreeing, "What's wrong with Tang? Go with Huaijing at once."

Then turning to Shuangfu, her face unintentionally stern, she asked, "Why wasn't I informed about the young master's discomfort?"

With guests in the room, it wasn't appropriate to say much, but once they reached the doorway, out of earshot, Rong Tang immediately explained, "Mother, I'm not unwell, please don't blame Shuangfu and the others."

Wang Xiuyu was skeptical, her gaze shifting to Su Huaijing, who smiled slightly and nodded, "Tang Tang hasn’t really gone out for fun during the New Year for many years. The pear gardens and teahouses in the city opened yesterday, and some venues are even more lively. I thought of taking him out for a stroll. If there is any blame, please say that I am thoughtless."

The Wangfei was momentarily dazed, her gaze somewhat stunned as she looked at the two young men, speechless.

Having grown up in a strict and rule-laden noble family, and later married into an even more rigid royal family, she knew how to be a mistress and had seen countless superficial couples. But now, upon closer reflection, she realized she had never seen such a young couple deeply in love.

Su Huaijing stood under the eaves, with the snow-covered courtyard behind him, and Rong Tang stood in front of him, his face brightening with excitement after hearing Su's words, yet he couldn't help but look anxiously at his mother.

Sounds of tea cups clinking came from inside the room, and Wang Xiuyu snapped back to reality, smiling and nodding, "Go ahead, you shouldn’t be troubled with these formalities at the mansion."

He was the crown prince of Ning Xuanwang, but to Wang Xiuyu, he was still a child who never really had a proper childhood. To confine him to formal dining and tea tables now seemed too cruel.

Wang Xiuyu was about to return to the room when she saw Shuangfu and paused, saying, "It’s the New Year, go to the storeroom and get some silver to make two new sets of clothes for you and your brother."

After saying this, she put on a flawless smile, stepping back into the obligations that came with the title of 'Wife of Ning Xuanwang', leaving Shuangfu standing there, bewildered, exchanging glances with Shuangshou, who stood behind Su Huaijing.

Rong Tang was momentarily stunned, but couldn't help smiling when he realized what was happening.

Given Wang Xiuyu's upbringing and environment, it was inevitable that she wouldn't develop a habit of apologizing to servants for her mistakes. Still, realizing she had wrongly blamed Shuangfu, she chose to offer monetary compensation to make amends for her hasty words.

Even by modern standards, she would be considered a pretty decent boss.

Shuangfu, utterly confused, asked Rong Tang, "Young Master, what does the Wangfei mean by this?"

Rong Tang replied, "Mother is too proud to apologize to you directly, yet feels she was in the wrong, so this is her way of compensating you. Just accept it graciously."

Shuangfu questioned, "But why apologize? The Wangfei was just... just..." He paused, his face creasing in thought, unable to find the right word, until Su Huaijing intervened, suggesting, "Acting out of concern?"

Shuangfu slapped his forehead, "Right! The Wangfei spoke that way because she cares about the Young Master. She did nothing wrong!"

Rong Tang: "..."

He hesitated for a long time, standing still, silently watching Shuangfu, then opened his mouth.

Suhuai Jing opened his umbrella, standing under the eaves while waiting for him and lecturing Shuangfu, "Don't be so naive, think more for yourself," "I am your young master, not your father," "Once the servitude contract is redeemed, I won't even be your young master anymore"...

But Shuangfu only heard the last part, his face filled with disbelief and shock, "Young master, are you abandoning me? What did I do wrong?"

Rongtang: "..." Well, that was pointless.

He sighed heavily: "After finishing at the storeroom, go to my private treasury and get some money to buy walnuts for brain nourishment."

The young master Rong felt weary, not wanting to deal with this blockhead anymore. He turned and walked under Suhuai Jing's umbrella, heading out into the snow, with Shuangfu confusedly following behind with Shuangshou.

Rongtang, having just choked him speechless, still couldn't help feeling elated, whispering to Suhuai Jing, "Both mother and Shuangfu are doing well."

Suhuai Jing added, "Shuangshou is also doing well."

"Right," Rongtang agreed, "You all are doing well."

He wondered why he had wasted two lifetimes helping Shengcheng Li, when there were so many lovely people in his house.

Suhuai Jing smiled, "It's because Tangtang is good."

Rongtang understood the implication, not embarrassed at all, but clearly showing an indulgent attitude, yet not annoying, "Right, right, right, I'm super good!"

Suhuai Jing: "..."

He wasn't sure if Tangtang was too happy, or if the New Year made everyone childlike. Suhuai Jing paused unusually, shaking his head with a light laugh.

Rongtang, instead of following the path, occasionally stepped out from under the umbrella to tread in the snow. Suhuai Jing, having no choice, grabbed his arm, asking in a deliberately deep voice, "Does Tangtang also need to buy some walnuts?"

Rongtang replied indifferently, "Walnuts can't really nourish the brain."

He simply wanted to give Shuangfu some extra New Year's money.

Suhuai Jing was choked by his matter-of-fact attitude for the second time, but eventually let him be, only pulling him back to his side when Rongtang eagerly attempted to jump into the deep snow.

In January, most shops are closed, but there are those who specifically do business at this time. Once the snow stops, they all set up their stalls, so the streets remain bustling.

As the years rolled by, the sugar figurine maker at the street corner tirelessly crafted this year's zodiac animal, and lively little rabbits appeared in the hands of waiting children.

Rongtang's eyes lit up, and without a second thought, he bought one for Suhuai Jing.

Suhuai Jing: "?"

Rongtang: "Don't you like sweets? And this rabbit suits you well."

Suhuai Jing gazed thoughtfully at the malt sugar rabbit on the stick, its clarity and silliness apparent.

How does it suit me? To decorate my skull?

But Rongtang's attention was already caught by a ring toss game with a big goose on the other side. He ran forward a few steps, then suddenly came back to his senses, turned around, and grabbed Suhuai Jing's arm, "Huaijing, I want to ring toss the big goose!"

He might not have realized the coquettish tone in his words.

It sounded less like he wanted to play the ring toss himself, and more like he was saying, "Huaijing, help me with the ring toss!"

Suhuai Jing paused for a moment, then smiled indulgently. Holding the sugar figurine in one hand and being pulled by Rongtang with the other, they moved through the noisy and lively crowd, experiencing an ordinary New Year's celebration.

Well, it does suit, indeed.

He originally thought he had set a trap, waiting for Rongtang to fall into it.

But isn't he just like this silly rabbit, unhesitatingly jumping into Tangtang's net?

Suhuai Jing took Rongtang's hand amidst the bustling crowd, leaned close to his ear, and asked in an unusually high volume he seldom used, "How many do you want to ring?"

Rongtang: "Four!"

Suhuai Jing was stunned, not understanding why he wanted so many geese.

Rongtang explained, "One to eat, two to raise, and one to give to my brother!"

After the snow, the sun shone just right. The weariness of the past year and the hard work of the coming spring hadn't yet begun, inducing a season-appropriate lethargy and fatigue.

Suhuai Jing, who had been tense for nearly a decade, now felt that occasionally being lazy and figuring out with Tangtang how to better ring toss the big goose at the end of the street wasn't so bad.

He smiled, "Alright, one for my brother, one for your brother."

Rongtang was taken aback, then blushed slightly upon realizing, "You're already eighteen!"

Suhuai Jing feigned sadness, "Ah, I'm already eighteen, and my husband still insists on sleeping in separate beds. I'm so sad."

Rongtang: "..."

The system coldly commented: [His acting is so bad!]

Rongtang silently nodded, "Indeed!"

This look of saying he's sad but with eyes and brows full of smiles, was nothing like the villain who could win the Best Actor award when they first met!

Rongtang shook his head inwardly, reflecting on what exactly he had turned Suhuai Jing into.

System: [He's developed a love-struck brain.]

After a pause, it added: [You're close too.]

Rongtang: "..." How annoying!

Both of them are so annoying!

Not as cute as the big geese!

Ignoring them, Rongtang enthusiastically bought fifty rings from the stall owner, trying to ring his lunch like scattering flowers from heaven. After ten attempts, he hadn't caught a single goose, and they all honked at him in response.

Rongtang: "..."

It's over, even the big geese aren't cute, I'm going to be hungry today!

Suhuai Jing came over and took the rings from him, "If Tangtang sleeps with me tonight, I'll help you catch four to take back."

Rongtang looked at him skeptically: "Can you really do it?"

He felt these geese were cunning.

Suhuai Jing, offended by the doubt, confidently declared: "Of course I can."

Rongtang stepped aside to watch him try.

Then, after ten attempts, the scene was exactly the same – rings on the ground and geese honking.

Rongtang felt a surge of mature understanding, walked over, and patted his shoulder, "Let me do it, you're not up to it."

Suhuai Jing, for the first time in his life, felt such defeat, his face ashen.

Rongtang casually gave it a try, confident after a comical exchange, continuing to throw down ten bamboo rings—

History repeated itself!

This was common among those playing the ring toss game; only a few ever succeeded. However, sudden laughter erupted from nearby.

Ke Hongxue, dressed in fiery red winter clothes, pulled along Mu Jingshu, who had been watching for quite a while, "Senior, what are they doing, amusing the geese?"

Beside them was a stifled but unable-to-hold-back laughter from the young official Lu, who turned his head and chuckled.

Rongtang instantly fell silent, exchanging a glance with Mu Jingshu, who seemed out of place in such a noisy environment, then both averted their gazes.

As Ke Hongxue continued to mock, Suhuai Jing observed how others were ring-tossing and took back the rings from Rongtang.

Rongtang hesitated, "Shall we stop? I don't want you to lose face."

Suhuai Jing shook his head, "I've learned."

As he spoke, he tossed a ring, which landed perfectly around the neck of a strutting, proud goose, flapping wildly, much like Young Master Ke!

Rongtang's eyes lit up as he watched Suhuai Jing throw three rings, catching three geese, then glanced at Lu Jiaxi next to Mu Jingshu and casually tossed another ring, snagging another goose.

The stall owner, almost numb to the spectacle, quickly tied up five geese together and handed them over, hoping for these formidable customers to leave.

Rongtang, ignoring the other three, counted, "One to eat, two to keep, one for my brother, and one for Xiao Lu!"

Suhuai Jing coldly said, "Not giving."

Rongtang, puzzled: "Eh?"

Suhuai Jing looked up at Ke Hongxue: "Let him buy them. One is his senior, the other calls him senior. It's the New Year, shouldn't he give some gifts?"

Rongtang was momentarily stunned, almost charmed to death, then turned his head and chuckled softly.

When did you become so petty, my great villain?

Ke Hongxue, who just heard this, was puzzled: "?"

Do you think this is reasonable, little brother?