Chapter 122

Chapter 122

The Emperor's birthday is celebrated universally.

Coinciding with the tenth anniversary of the new era, Emperor Renshou's concern for this celebration is extremely high. Just looking at the Ministry of Rites' workload in recent months gives a glimpse into its importance.

Multiple banquet halls were set up in the palace. The main hall was filled with royal relatives, high-ranking officials, and foreign delegations. Rong Tang didn’t join the crowd. His, Mu Jingxu’s, and Su Huaijing’s ranks weren’t high enough, so they sat in a side hall, enjoying some tranquility.

Every word and action at the banquet was monitored by eunuchs. Some laughed genuinely, while others wore masks.

Rong Tang watched Mu Jingxu change into clean white robes before getting off the carriage, and Ke Hongxue's cloak carried into the palace, feeling unable to swallow even a bite of food.

Yet he had to put on a show of gratitude for imperial grace and prosperity, feeling somewhat irked.

The attendees varied in status. Sitting at his table, Rong Tang pretended to sip from a bowl of soup before setting it down. His gaze casually swept the hall, pausing upon a figure, then glanced at Su Huaijing with an inquiring look.

Su Huaijing followed his gaze, noticing Qin Pengxun rising, apparently leaving the banquet for a moment.

He watched intently for a few seconds before diverting his gaze and nodding at Rong Tang.

The decree for Sheng Chengming to take his princely position was issued two days ago; he was to leave for his fiefdom after the Wanshou Festival.

Rumor had it that the newly promoted Noble Consort Yi and Zhang Gelaohad had a fierce argument with Sheng Chengming over this.

But the Second Prince was determined, not wishing to stay in the capital amidst turmoil. The Emperor, acknowledging his pure filial piety and sense of duty, specially granted him the title of "Rui," signifying the Emperor's high regard.

Watching Qin Pengxun leave the side hall, Rong Tang for the first time in three lifetimes found this foolish prince somewhat appealing.

In the original story, the rebellion of Duke Wukang occurred in this autumn, but not during the Wanshou Festival celebrations.

However, this life, influenced by various factors, Su Huaijing recently received information that Duke Wukang had laid a trap in the palace, planning to assassinate Sheng Xuyan after the banquet.

Whether the plan would succeed was uncertain, but Rong Tang actually felt inclined to join in. Whether for Su Huaijing, for Mu Jingxu, or to vent his own pent-up frustrations.

Even if it were for those innocent souls who died tragically in the former regime, who should have been alive and vibrant...

The palace banquet lasted from dawn until dusk. Leaving the palace, Rong Tang glanced back and saw a radiant city of jade buildings and ivory towers, never sleeping.

Princes emerged from Shaohua Hall, with Sheng Chengming in the lead, his face slightly flushed, seemingly having been plied with quite a bit of alcohol.

Surrounded by eunuchs and palace maids, someone at the end of the procession walked slowly, their steps unsteady, quickly falling behind their brothers.

Rong Tang coldly withdrew his gaze, walking side by side with Su Huaijing, merging with the exiting crowd in their court attire, leaving the grand palace, utterly disconnected from the fifth prince of Great Yu.

Su Huaijing glanced in that direction and held Rong Tang's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

Rong Tang understood, looking up at him with a smile.

The Wukang Earl's rebellion was a significant turning point in the original story, shifting the focus from early court intrigue to later power struggles, a godsend opportunity for the male lead, Sheng Chengli.

However, in this lifetime, for Rong Tang, it seemed more like a spectacle to enjoy.

He was quite happy to see the capital become mired in filth, no longer needing to meddle as he had in the past two lifetimes, scheming for Sheng Chengli's benefit.

Wukang Earl was destined to die, and with Sheng Chengli’s return from the imperial tombs before the Wanshou Festival, he surely had his own plans and schemes.

But all this had little to do with Rong Tang or Su Huaijing. What he was more interested in seeing was the medical report from the Imperial Medical Bureau after tonight.

Surely, they wouldn't let Sheng Xuyan escape unscathed from his birthday, right?

Thinking this, Rong Tang left the palace in silence. The imperial city remained bustling with excitement. During the Wanshou Festival, there was no curfew, lights and decorations were everywhere, and fireworks lit up the city walls, dotting the night sky with stars.

Sitting in the carriage, Rong Tang asked Su Huaijing, "When do you think the news will come out?"

Su Huaijing replied, "In three days, after the Wanshou Festival ends, while the foreign delegations are still in the capital."

Rong Tang casually asked, "Why then?"

Su Huaijing, offering a plate of candied fruits for Rong Tang to eat since he hadn’t at the banquet, explained, "The Emperor being attacked on his birthday is an ominous sign, hinting at illegitimacy of his reign. Sheng Xuyan would never leave such a loophole on such an important day."

Rong Tang popped a candied fruit into his mouth, "Then why wait until the foreign delegations haven’t left the capital?"

Su Huaijing said, "An assassination on the Emperor's birthday by a high-ranking official implies a crime punishable by the execution of nine familial generations and would cause public outcry. But if His Majesty generously invites princes, princesses, and envoys from other countries to Great Yu, and then they are attacked by traitors, it suggests sabotage of peace and provocation of conflict. Then, the Emperor can detain the delegations and demand explanations from neighboring countries."

The carriage slowed suddenly, and Su Huaijing paused, adding, "After all, Duke Wukang alone couldn’t evade the palace’s intensive search. Assassinating the Emperor during the banquet implies outside assistance, which is quite normal."

Rong Tang hesitated for a moment before asking, "Did you do anything?"

Su Huaijing slightly curled his lips, showing the only genuine smile in the past three days, "Are you asking if I helped Duke Wukang?"

Rong Tang nodded.

Su Huaijing said, "It's easy to get caught if I did anything openly, I never take that risk."

At most, he had someone send Duke Wukang mixed real and fake information, making him believe today was a good opportunity. With many people coming and going in the palace and the guards unable to thoroughly check everyone, it was suitable for him to make his move on Emperor Renshou.

There were no other contacts beyond that.

Rong Tang couldn’t help but feel that Su Huaijing, with his nature, couldn't possibly restrain himself from adding fuel to the fire.

Mu Jingxu’s back was marked with visible scars. The blood-stained white robes were washed, dried, and hung in the yard. Rong Tang had seen Su Huaijing staring blankly at those bloodied cloths more than once.

How could he truly stand idly by?

Noticing his concern, Su Huaijing smiled and gently held Rong Tang’s hand, speaking in a calm and gentle tone, “Tang Tang, you know some wounds, if not treated properly, might seem normal at first and heal quickly. But as time goes by, they fester internally, reaching the bone marrow, and one day they suddenly erupt, becoming incurable, leading to death within days, right?”

Rong Tang was momentarily taken aback, almost blurting out: Tetanus.

Su Huaijing continued, “Duke Wukang’s rebellion has nothing to do with me, nor does the Emperor's injuries. Someday, His Majesty must meet his end, but I always thought, if he just dies simply, perhaps usurped or killed by his son, or betrayed by his concubines...”

The villain smiled lightly, his expression seemingly innocent, “I always feel that’s not enough.”

He must experience it all, fall hard from the throne, experiencing betrayal from everyone, from those beside his pillow, from his own children, from his subjects... then gradually inflict physical pain.

Whipping, pinching, branding, tendon picking, amputation, eye gouging, reducing to a human stick...

Then leave him with snakes, rats, and insects, in a dark dungeon, in a bustling marketplace, on the high city walls, day after day, to feel despair, hearing but unable to see the people’s gaze and gossip, dying like the lowest of animals under the bright sky.

Otherwise, how could he avenge the death of his father and brothers? How could he repay his third brother for his reconstructed bones and the crisscrossed scars on his back?

Su Huaijing smiled gently and warmly, without a trace of darkness.

He was just seeking justice for his family, not some irredeemably wicked person.

No one in this world could punish Sheng Xuyan, no law could be applied to the reigning Emperor. So, he would take it upon himself. It was only reasonable and natural, and no one had the right to interfere.

Rong Tang looked into his eyes, and after a long time, added softly, "And make public all that he has done."

Su Huaijing was slightly startled, looking at Rong Tang with surprise. Rong Tang said, “It’s about rectifying the misunderstood and fabricated history.”

The young master appeared frail and pale, his complexion worse than an average person even after two years of recuperation. Yet in this bustling, lively night, moving through the streets in a carriage, Rong Tang's eyes shone with a clarity that was captivating.

Su Huaijing felt a stir in his heart and leaned in to kiss him, but the slowly moving carriage suddenly jolted to a stop. The horse neighed, and Shuangfu, the driver, pulled the reins with a long “Shh.” Amidst the commotion from the crowd, Rong Tang, seated inside the carriage, lurched forward due to inertia, crashing into Su Huaijing’s chest before stopping.

It wasn’t painful, but in that moment, the villain, whose emotions had not shifted even at the mention of his father’s killer, suddenly darkened, his expression turning severe.

The carriage curtain was lifted from the outside, and someone impudently jumped in, immediately pleading pitifully, “Young master, please help me. I need to get away. My uncles want me to marry at ten to benefit the family. Please, take me with you. Otherwise, I’ll be sold to a sixty-year-old lady to become her young consort. Woe is me.”

Shuangfu, driving the carriage, was momentarily stunned, then quickly turned the horses around and sped away from the street.

Su Huaijing’s already stern expression grew colder.

Rong Tang’s head was buried in his chest, too embarrassed to move for a while.

Su Huaijing remarked, “Shuangshou wouldn’t be fooled.”

Rong Tang: “…”

Su Huaijing added, “Shuangshou is still a younger brother.”

Rong Tang softly protested, “...Stop it.”

Loyal servants mirror their master. The villain was implying he was a fool.

That’s too harsh…

Rong Tang took a moment to recover, rubbing his aching head, and then sat up straight in the carriage, observing the boy who had suddenly jumped in.

The boy, about ten years old, was thin and frail but had a fair and handsome face. His eyes were beautifully shaped like a phoenix’s, still unformed in his youth, but already hinting at a charm that would captivate many in the future. When he grew up, he would probably be a real heartbreaker.

The boy wore ordinary civilian clothes from Great Yu, but they seemed new to him. The right panel was wrongly tucked to the left, and one sleeve was shorter, tucked into the undergarment. His head was devoid of any accessories, and his long black hair fell loosely, creating an androgynous allure.

His eyes, brimming with tears, looked timidly at the people inside the carriage. He sat cross-legged on the carriage floor, obediently, with his hands on his knees and head tilted up, looking so pitiful and somehow familiar.

— Apart from his eyes, there was nothing about him that resembled Su Huaijing.

Rong Tang gazed at him bewildered for a while, then turned his head, echoing in a low voice, “Black-hearted uncles…?”

Su Huaijing: “…”