Chapter 141

Chapter 141

At the end of March, the folding flower event hosted by Chengxing Sheng was held once again.

The second prince went to his fiefdom, the fourth prince passed away, the fifth prince closed his doors to visitors, and the sixth prince was Chengxing Sheng's own younger brother, while princes seven and eight were too young.

This year, having barely passed its first half, Chengxing Sheng's influence in the capital had once again grown, especially since the downfall of Zhang Baoshan last year. Therefore, this year's folding flower event was exceptionally lively.

Su Huaijing and Mu Jingxu attended, and naturally, Rong Tang and Ke Hongxue also went to join the fun at Song Garden.

They stayed in the same small courtyard with the lacquered red attic, their state of mind completely different from their first visit.

On the first night of their stay, they set up a banquet on the upper floor, overlooking the garden's blooming flowers and the sunset, each cheerfully drinking several pots of wine.

Waking up the next day, Rong Tang didn't see Su Huaijing and, upon going outside, saw Ke Hongxue playing chess on the attic. Seeing him, Ke Shoufu smiled slightly and waved his hand, "Good morning, young master."

Rong Tang took the opportunity to go up and sat opposite him.

The chess game was entangled, seemingly with a clear outcome, but in reality, it was filled with both danger and opportunities, each struggling for survival.

Not in the mood to play chess and feeling the breeze of late spring, he asked, "Where are Mr. Mu and Huaijing?"

Ke Hongxue placed a black piece and said, "They went outside the garden to meet someone."

Rong Tang frowned slightly, a strange premonition surfacing in his heart: "To meet whom?"

Ke Hongxue glanced at him lightly, saying, "The Fifth Prince."

Rong Tang was stunned for only a moment, then relaxed, showing no additional emotion.

Ke Hongxue, finding it intriguing, asked, "Aren't you surprised, young master?"

"Not really," Rong Tang shook his head, focusing on the chessboard, speaking softly, "He's always been that kind of person."

If someone broke their leg, they would find a way to leave the capital. Disappearing for three months after losing an eye was already the limit. How could Chengxing Li let himself be away from the center of power for so long?

Even if the ancestral laws do not allow a prince with physical impairments to ascend to the throne, isn’t it enough if there are no other princes left?

There’s always a way. As long as Chengxing Li is alive, he can find a way to make himself the most likely of Emperor Renshou's sons to become the emperor.

But due to the constraints of Heaven's Will, Rong Tang can't eliminate him so soon.

Therefore, any move by Chengxing Li is entirely normal from Rong Tang’s perspective; there’s no need for excessive worry or panic.

Compared to this male protagonist, he’s more concerned about the so-called orthodox Heaven's Will and the mainframe. They are the ones who might, in their effort to push Chengxing Li to the top, do something beyond comprehension.

Ke Hongxue watched him for a few moments, suddenly smiled, carelessly placed a piece on the chessboard, and softly said, "Sometimes I feel like we must have a deep connection."

Rong Tang, who had shown no emotion when mentioning Chengxing Li, was inevitably startled at this moment. He lowered his gaze, hiding his unease, and asked, "Like what?"

Ke Hongxue: "Like having met in a previous life, or perhaps a bond destined for three lifetimes?"

"He always speaks this way, half-serious and half-joking. Such remarks might seem frivolous to outsiders, who'd think it's merely a jest. Even if Shu Huaijing and Mu Jingxu heard it, they probably wouldn't feel any displeasure."

"Rong Tang's Adam's apple bobbed, staring at the interwoven black and white chess pieces, he replied softly, 'Perhaps, who knows.'"

"Ke Hongxue stared intently at him, unable to meet his gaze, and instead looked at his jet-black hair."

"After a while, Ke Hongxue chuckled softly, enigmatically saying, 'Lately, I've been having a dream. In the dream, there's a sky full of snow and the ground covered with gold paper money. I'm carrying a coffin, step by step from the main gate of the Ke mansion to the ancestral grave in the suburbs.'"

"He asked, 'Young Master, do you know who that is?'"

"Rong Tang remained silent for a long time, then looked up at the morning light and the spring sun, asking softly, 'Would you say an elder brother is more like the cold snowflakes or the warm morning sun?'"

"As the wind passed and clouds drifted, an anachronistic conversation unfolded in the attic. Ke Hongxue fell silent for a moment, chuckled lightly, put down the chess piece, stood up, tidied his sleeves and robe, and gave Rong Tang a formal bow."

"No words were needed between them, as both understood the meaning behind it all."

"Thus, Rong Tang didn’t stop him, just collected the chess pieces one by one, and then started another game of chess with Ke Hongxue."

"When Shu Huaijing and Mu Jingxu returned, the chess game was halfway through, with no clear winner in sight."

"As Shuangshou prepared the morning meal, the four of us took our seats. I caught a glimpse of Mu Jingxu's slightly furrowed brow and, combining this with Su Huaijing's noticeably somber mood, I understood that something uncontrollable must have happened."

"Biting into a pan-fried bun, I jokingly asked, 'What's the matter? Did Cheng Chengli's eyes heal again?'"

"Su Huaijing pressed his lips together in silence, while Mu Jingxu looked at him, a strange glimmer passing through his eyes."

"Taken aback, I softly said, 'As I thought...'"

"Su Huaijing asked, 'Tangtang, did you know this would happen?'"

"I replied, 'Just a wild guess. Lucky guess, that's all.'"

"This wasn't a matter of luck. Cheng Chengli's eyes, plucked out by Liuyun himself and presented to Su Huaijing in a box, were not something that could be simply put back. Even if reattached, they would be lifeless, devoid of any function."

"However, the officials who attended the meeting this morning saw the Fifth Prince at the entrance of Song Garden, whole and intact."

"His legs were fine, his eyes were complete. The three months of his disappearance seemed like a mere whim, devoid of any hardship or setback. His impromptu appearance at the meeting even prompted the Emperor to send a eunuch with a message, instructing all officials to welcome him."

"What does this mean?"

"Su Huaijing, overwhelmed by emotions, unconsciously clutched my hand, his barely concealed panic surfacing."

"Yet, I comforted him in return, 'It's actually good.'"

"Su Huaijing looked puzzled, a faint worry creasing his brow."

"I explained, 'It's much better than him not showing up at all.'"

"Heaven's favor towards the protagonist has reached an extreme. No one can guarantee that amidst Cheng Chengli's repeated failures, an extraordinary twist of fate won't befall him. Instead of worrying about such elusive possibilities, it's better to confront each other openly and honorably as we are doing now."

"Continuing the path set in every previous life, manipulating hearts, and plotting both in the shadows and the open."

"Moreover..."

"Rong Tang's eyes narrowed slightly as he gently patted Su Huaijing's hand, 'For me, this is a good thing.'"

"Su Huaijing looked at him, puzzled, but ultimately didn't say a word, just nodded."

"The four of them had different thoughts. Ke Hongxue kept thinking about the question Rong Tang had asked him earlier, while looking at Mu Jingxu."

"Meanwhile, Rong Tang took the opportunity to visit the system space, chuckling softly as he gazed at the two swirling clouds."

"After returning, he looked up at the sky, his lips curling into a slightly mocking smile, devoid of any particular emotion."

……

"Meeting Cheng Chengli at the Shehua Gathering was nothing unusual."

"During the ninth year of Qingzheng, the protagonist pretended to be ill while secretly plotting; it wasn't suitable for him to make a public appearance."

"By the eleventh year of Qingzheng, with Zhang Baoshan's corruption scandal in the southwest and the emperor's favoritism, Cheng Chengli became the most prominent figure at the Shehua Gathering, aside from the host."

"Su Huaijing, as always, didn't hold back. In every life, by this time, he was almost integrated into the center of power. The aged Imperial Censor was weak, the Censorate was nearly his own platform, and Emperor Ren Shou trusted him immensely. He was just one step away from his revenge and wouldn't miss putting in extra effort now."

"Everyone stepped onto the stage of history in this year, and this Shehua Gathering became the beginning of many entanglements of power."

"At Lanyue Pavilion, the opera continued. Su Huaijing and Mu Jingxu had politicians to meet, so Rong Tang joined Ke Hongxue to enjoy the opera."

"As the moonlight bathed the lake, the opera concluded, and everyone departed. Rong Tang bent to board the returning boat. No sooner had he seated himself than someone gently pressed down on the stern. Dressed in apricot yellow finery, the person bowed towards the boat. With picturesque eyebrows and eyes, charming as if naturally so, a teardrop-shaped mole under the eye added a bewitching touch to their bright eyes, making anyone say that the creator favored them immensely."

"Cheng Chengli asked, 'May I hitch a ride on your boat?'"

"Ke Hongxue, composed, declined, 'The space inside the boat is limited, and it may not suit your noble status, Your Highness.'"

"Cheng Chengli smiled warmly, 'Is that so? But all the boats on the shore are full. Waiting further might only leave me with the option of an empty return boat, which would be both time-consuming and taxing for the boatman.'"

"As he spoke, he turned to Rong Tang with a slightly troubled expression and asked again, 'Cousin, may I join you for the ride?'"

"Ke Hongxue frowned slightly, about to refuse again, but Rong Tang gestured for him to stop and, after a few moments of eye contact with Cheng Chengli, said, 'Song Garden is a royal residence; you, Your Highness, are the true host. How can there be such a request from a guest?'"

"Rong Tang said indifferently, 'Please.'"

"Cheng Chengli smiled faintly and stepped aboard."

"Although Ke Hongxue did not want him to join, once Rong Tang had agreed, he couldn't well ask him to leave. He naturally shifted his position, sitting alongside Rong Tang, and said with a smile, 'Sharing a boat with Your Highness is already a great honor; I dare not sit beside you as an equal.'"

"Cheng Chengli's initial move to sit next to Rong Tang paused, and he smiled slightly, not minding, and took the seat in the direction Ke Hongxue had faced before."

"As the boatman rowed, gentle waves pushed the boat forward. Cheng Chengli sporadically initiated conversation, to which Ke Hongxue responded without giving anything away."

"The moonlight was serene, and the lake was filled with the jovial voices of young lords and ladies."

"Rong Tang wanted to tell Ke Hongxue there was no need to be so guarded, but he himself was not keen on conversing with Cheng Chengli, so he remained silent, leaning against the cabin, gazing out the small window at the lake."

"Suddenly, a cry of alarm rose from outside. Ke Hongxue leaned out to look and saw a young lord who had drunk too much, taking the boatman's place, rowing while reciting poetry to the moon."

"Unfortunately, his rowing skills were quite poor, bumping into countless boats in a zigzag course, heading in their direction."

"Ke Hongxue clicked his tongue lightly, 'Such an embarrassment.'"

"Rong Tang glanced around and realized they were precisely at the lake's deep center."

"Without much thought, he looked up at Cheng Chengli and asked, 'Did you do this?'"

"Cheng Chengli's lips curled into a pleased smile, 'So, cousin, you're finally willing to speak to me?'"

"Ke Hongxue stiffened, immediately on guard, and pulled Rong Tang to stand up, intending to jump onto another nearby boat."

"Cheng Chengli remained calm, his eyes as beautiful as a pair of glass orbs."

"The chaotic flow of boats surged around them, eventually brushing their boat lightly before moving away, far from the expected entrapment, more like a comical misunderstanding."

"It was like a harmless punishment."

"Observing the overly tense duo before him, Cheng Chengli asked with a smile, 'I was just curious, cousin, what brought you to the meeting? Did you forget about that cup of tea?'"

"In that instant, Rong Tang felt as if he had plunged into an ice pit."

"Without falling into the lake, he understood the underlying meaning of Cheng Chengli's words."

"In their first life, during the fourth month of the eleventh year of Qingzheng, Rong Tang died a failed mission due to a cup of poisoned tea at the Shehua Gathering."

"Cheng Chengli asked softly, genuinely puzzled, 'Why did you trust him so much?'"