Chapter 137

Chapter 137

The possibility of the system leaving was not entirely unexpected to Rong Tang.

Perhaps it left to assist another host after completing its task, or it was recalled by the mainframe for not undertaking tasks.

Anything was possible. The system's increasing weakness and longer hibernation times were the strongest evidence, but Rong Tang had not expected it to disappear precisely on New Year's Eve, the day after Cheng Chengli's eye was extracted.

He realized something was amiss when Su Huaijing began making risqué jokes without any restraint.

He hadn't noticed at the time due to the emotional upheaval, but when he came to his senses and the system did not jump out to make sarcastic remarks, Rong Tang became suspicious.

Since the moment Cheng Chengli's eye was revealed in the wooden box, the system had gone silent, and he didn't know why.

His little fool of a system couldn't even contact the mainframe, and Rong Tang truly didn't know where it could go after disappearing. Even if it luckily returned to the main system space, a system that couldn't even make its host carry out tasks properly, who knows if it would be punished.

Days passed one by one, winter clothes were exchanged for spring attire, and the willow fluff drifted again over the imperial city of Yu Jing, with Cheng Chengxing starting preparations for the new Flower Folding Festival.

Rong Tang occasionally sat in the courtyard reading storybooks, gazing at the drifting clouds in the sky, lost in thought.

Sunlight filtered through tree branches and clouds, scattering into this world, where he would sometimes call out for the system, entering alone into that indistinct system space to daydream.

Then, when Su Huaijing returned home, they would have dinner and stroll along the streets and alleys of the capital, watching the willows sprout new leaves day by day, and the pear blossoms in their courtyard bloom and fall.

Zhang Baoshan's case inevitably affected Cheng Chengxing, with Xia Jingyi losing his right-hand man, making Cheng Chengli naturally become the thorn in the side of the entire third prince's faction.

But since he never showed himself, naturally no one could harm him.

As for how exactly Su Huaijing injured Cheng Chengli and took one of his eyes, he never said, and Rong Tang did not ask further.

On the day of Jingzhe, Rong Tang and Su Huaijing went to the suburbs to have a meal with the Princess and Wang Xiuyu.

The Princess's habits had changed somewhat, starting to have dinner in the evenings. The separate residence remained unnamed, and Su Huaijing jokingly mentioned that the Princess's residence on Xuanwu Avenue had been renovated, asking when Duan Yi planned to move back.

The Princess glanced at him indifferently, put down her chopsticks, folded her napkin, wiped her mouth, and asked in a calm voice, "The white tiger in the Royal Beast Garden is now mature. When do you plan to release it back into the wild?"

Su Huaijing chuckled lightly and didn't bring up any more unnecessary topics, letting Duan Yi and Wang Xiuyu continue to live in the separate residence.

After dinner, Su Huaijing and Duan Yi went to the study, while Wang Xiuyu and Rong Tang talked together. Wang Xiuyu looked much healthier than when she was at the Ningxuan Wang residence. She still managed the household, but without the grievances from her husband and the trouble from her aunt, her relationship with the Princess was relatively harmonious.

Wang Xiuyu seemed hesitant, as if she had made some preparations but couldn't make a decision, unable to overcome the final hurdle.

Rong Tang poured her a cup of tea, asking warmly, "Mother, is there something you wish to tell me?"

Wang Xiuyu hesitated for a moment, then tentatively asked, "If I were to separate from Wang Ye, would it affect you and Huaijing in any way?"

Rong Tang was slightly startled, and after realizing it, his heart couldn't help but soften.

He knew of Wang Xiuyu's love for her son, but he hadn't expected her motherly affection to extend to considering Su Huaijing's well-being while fighting for her own freedom.

It wouldn't affect Rong Tang at all. Regardless of his average reputation and being labeled as 'the fool Young Master' for many years, it hadn't hurt him, and Wang Xiuyu's separation from Rong Mingyu couldn't change the fact that Rong Tang was the legitimate son of Ningxuan Wang and the nephew of the Queen.

His position was stable—no one cared whether the parents of a sickly child were harmonious.

Wang Xiuyu's question was more about Su Huaijing, who now held an official position in the court, had frequent interactions with Rong Mingyu, and was of lower rank than Ningxuan Wang. She worried if offending Rong Mingyu might implicate Su Huaijing.

Rong Tang didn't answer immediately but asked, "Mother, have you made up your mind?"

Wang Xiuyu had some things she couldn't directly tell Rong Tang, but upon reflection, she probably understood that Rong Mingyu's action of moving his legal wife out of the house after the birth of his young son deeply hurt Wang Xiuyu.

She struggled for a moment, then said, "The Wang residence is complex with many affairs. I've grown accustomed to the tranquility of the separate residence. After spending a month at the Wang residence during the Spring Festival, I found it exhausting."

Rong Tang smiled and asked, "Then why not separate?"

Wang Xiuyu was clearly unprepared for this, her eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at Rong Tang, "Separate?"

Rong Tang spoke softly, "Mother and father have been married for over twenty years, always proper and measured. If you’ve reached the point of considering leaving father's side, why bother maintaining this last semblance of relationship? Better to separate straightforwardly."

Wang Xiuyu was slightly shocked, her gaze at Rong Tang revealing astonishment.

After a long silence, she asked, "You don’t even ask what happened, yet you advise me to separate from your father?"

Rong Tang countered, "Doesn’t mother feel tired?"

Wang Xiuyu nodded, and Rong Tang said, "That’s enough."

He added, "Mother should do what she wants, without worrying about me and Huaijing. We’ve already moved out of the Wang residence, so why should mother be overly concerned?"

Wang Xiuyu stood there stunned, murmuring, "So it was for this reason?"

"Not entirely," Rong Tang said.

Wang Xiuyu looked at him, a trace of confusion in her expression. Rong Tang spoke softly, "I always fear that father might do something irreversible one day. If I'm gone and it implicates mother, I wouldn’t be at peace even in death. That’s why I thought of persuading mother."

Wang Xiuyu’s heart jolted, she quickly grasped his hand, stopping him from continuing, and after a long pause, said with difficulty, "I need to think about it."

Rong Tang didn’t rush her, but he noticed something, his eyes flickering slightly.

—Wang Xiuyu did not refute him.

His words weren’t too subtle, and Wang Xiuyu, being a smart person, should understand that the 'irreversible' actions he referred to, for a prince second only to one, were all listed at the forefront of the Dali Temple's laws.

These were grave sins that could lead to execution, but when Rong Tang mentioned them, Wang Xiuyu did not refute, only stopping him from talking about his own death.

Now it was the eleventh year of Qingzheng, and many old acquaintances died in this year.

Wang Xiuyu, Mu Jingxu, Li Changfu…

He originally thought Wang Xiuyu's death was caused by Qian Shi, but now, he realized Rong Mingyu could also be a possibility, as Wang Xiuyu almost never guarded against him.

Realizing this possibility, a chill flashed in Rong Tang's eyes. His long-dormant mind began to work, considering what leverage he could use against Rong Mingyu, a fatal blow that would not harm the innocent.

Mother and son sat in silence. After a while, Wang Xiuyu tugged at his hand, changing the subject, "How is your relationship with Huaijing?"

Rong Tang was momentarily startled, pulling himself out of those dark schemes, and honestly replied, "Very good."

Wang Xiuyu looked at him, hesitating to speak.

Rong Tang asked, puzzled, "Mother, what do you want to say?"

Wang Xiuyu asked, "Has Huaijing ever expressed a desire for children?"

Rong Tang paused for two seconds, then smiled and shook his head gently, "He hasn’t mentioned it."

Wang Xiuyu still seemed worried and spoke softly, "Huaijing married you primarily to seek refuge from the difficulties at his uncle's house. Now he has become an official, and I’ve heard that the Imperial Censor Lord Su is gaining favor with the Emperor..."

She paused mid-sentence, and Rong Tang patiently waited for her to continue.

Wang Xiuyu: "After all, he is healthy and in the prime of youth. If he desires children—"

Sensing the direction of the conversation, Rong Tang interrupted her, "Mother means it would be understandable?"

He was a bit afraid that Wang Xiuyu had been assimilated by the traditional views of the era, believing it normal for a man to want children and be fickle.

Rong Tang’s brows furrowed slightly. Wang Xiuyu was startled, then firmly refuted, "Of course not. What I mean is, you once said he was the one you loved, that you admired him for many years, and thus sought to marry him regardless of everything. But if his heart changes regarding children, don’t compromise yourself."

Rong Tang was slightly bewildered, "What do you suggest I do, Mother?"

Wang Xiuyu: "Separate from him."

Young Master Rong Tang laughed at this, nodding, "I will heed your advice, Mother."

Wang Xiuyu relaxed a bit, but then Rong Tang added, "But he won’t."

"In Huaijing’s heart, I am always his priority. It's impossible for him to turn away from me because of wanting children."

Whenever Yuan Yuan joined Rong Tang to read storybooks or play with toys, Su Huaijing would get jealous and send someone to find Ke Hongxue, asking why he hadn’t taken his nephew back yet, questioning why the boy was always clinging to his husband at their residence.

Not to mention that in terms of kinship, the child was indeed closest to him.

No wonder Yuan Yuan wasn't close to his seventh uncle.

How could someone who spoke of being buried with Rong Tang betray him for the sake of children?

Which words were merely spoken and which were heartfelt, Rong Tang, who had been deceived so many times before, could now discern.

Yet, Wang Xiuyu was still not reassured, not knowing whether it was due to her own experiences or understanding how fickle the human heart can be, she once again advised, "Being a bit more cautious is never a bad thing."

Rong Tang didn't argue with her and joked, "I know, but if one day Huaijing really wants to marry and have children, I wouldn't separate from him."

Wang Xiuyu frowned, genuinely worried her son might end up in an unhappy relationship with his beloved.

Rong Tang said, "I would divorce him."

“……！”

Unflinchingly, Rong Tang added, "I'll have him return the house and the carriage, hire the best lawyer to sue him, making sure he leaves with nothing. I'll use those assets to comfortably care for my mother in her old age."

Young Master Rong Tang smiled, his dimples showing, which shifted Wang Xiuyu's initial shock to amusement as she chided him, "You’re grown up now, yet you don't speak seriously."

"Who says I'm not serious? I'm the most serious person in the world, wanting to care for my mother, what's wrong with that?" Rong Tang sweetly retorted.

Wang Xiuyu laughed, her wrinkles showing, and after chatting for a while longer, she sent him back to the city before nightfall to avoid being stopped by the Jinwu Guard due to the curfew.

Rong Tang said goodbye, boarded the carriage at the gate, and as soon as he settled down, Su Huaijing leaned over him, undoing his belt. With his lips against Rong Tang's cheek, he teasingly asked, "Tangtang has been infatuated with me since his youth?"

Rong Tang, still distracted trying to grab Su Huaijing's wandering hand, stiffened at the words.

When deceiving Wang Xiuyu, he was confident, but feeling embarrassed when the subject of those words heard them is only natural.

He swallowed and pretended to scold, "Were you eavesdropping?"

"I listened openly; Tangtang just didn't notice me," Su Huaijing argued.

Rong Tang, slightly annoyed, asked, "How much did you hear?"

"Everything," Su Huaijing murmured, his hand slipping under Rong Tang's clothes. The carriage jolted on the rural road, bumping occasionally, causing Rong Tang some discomfort.

So, a cushion was placed behind him, and Su Huaijing's kisses landed near his ear, whispering, "I heard Tangtang talking about divorcing me."

His voice was soft and slow, like a delicate Dodder flower, seemingly fragile yet slowly consuming its host's body and nerves, almost devouring the flesh completely.

Rong Tang was pushed back until his back hit the carriage wall.

The carriage door was pulled down, allowing occasional slivers of moonlight to seep through the wooden gaps, while the incense in the burner remained devout and pure.

Su Huaijing leisurely kissed Rong Tang, untied his hairband, pressing several acupoints before tying it elsewhere, softly chuckling, "How dare you, huh?"

"Tangtang said the wrong thing, there should be some punishment," Su Huaijing murmured, his eyes and brows brimming with pleasure.