At the beginning of the new year, the Emperor changed his reign name to Qingfeng.
At three o’clock on the eighteenth day of the first lunar month, except for Rong Xi, all the masters and servants of Rong’s house gathered in the kitchen. Under the command of Liu He, people were in full swing in kneading noodles and rolling noodles.
Qin Ke couldn’t do these delicate tasks, so he could only add firewood to the stove to add fire.
When the noodles were put into the pot, several people’s faces were covered with flour, which was quite funny.
At Mao’s hour, Rong Xi woke up, washed and dressed, and was about to go to the kitchen, but was stopped by Jin Jili halfway.
“Young master!”
Jin Jili bared his big white teeth, and his golden hair had grown a little longer, now hanging loosely on his shoulders, emitting a dazzling light in the morning light.
“Jili?” Rong Xi was confused.
Why didn’t he see anyone when he got up today?
“Young master, I have a question for you.” Jin Jili scratched his head and tried to block Rong Xi’s way.
Rong Xi smiled and touched his head, “How about I explain to you after breakfast?”
“Young master!” Jin Jili remembered his job, pulled Rong Xi’s sleeves, and led him to the dining hall, “I want to know why you know those numbers?”
Rong Xi was startled and was dragged to the dining hall by him.
“I heard it mentioned by a merchant, so I wrote it down.”
Jin Jili was quick with his hands and feet and was very attentive in pouring tea and water for him.
“Young master, let me dance for you!”
After saying this, he really started dancing, his dance was quite exotic and pleasing to the eye.
At this point, Rong Xi finally understood and couldn’t help but laugh.
After Jin Jili’s dance ended, several people appeared outside the hall. Qin Ke was the leader, holding a lacquer plate in his hand, walking steadily and placing the food on the table in front of Rong Xi.
“Brother Rong, please have a meal.”
He spoke in a teasing tone and there was a smile in his eyes. After putting down the lacquer plate, he stood up and looked at Rong Xi.
Rong Xi was very surprised and lowered his head to see what was in the bowl.
“Longevity noodles?” he asked with a smile.
The noodles were garnished with chopped green onion, and the noodle soup was made from tube bones, which was extremely delicious.
Picking up the noodles with chopsticks, Rong Xi looked up at the people in front of him with a gentle and moving smile, “Thank you.”
For the first time, his birthday was so lively and full of sincerity and affection.
The warm noodle soup entered his stomach, quenching the winter cold. He ate it all in front of everyone, feeling warm in his heart.
After dinner, Rong Xi wanted to go to the kiln workshop, but was stopped by Qin Ke.
“Lanzhi, today is your birthday, please take a day off and stop working too hard.”
After the Lantern Festival, Rong Xi started to bake phosphate fertilizer and went to the workshop for two days. His face was no longer as rosy and energetic as before. Qin Ke felt sorry for him and persuaded him to stay at home on the grounds of his birthday.
Rong Xi felt strange.
“Are you hiding something from me?”
At this point, Qin Ke could only reveal a few details, “You may stay at home today, and there will be a surprise coming later.”
There were only two people in the study. Rong Xi was not afraid of others seeing their affectionate movements. He was quite bold. He stretched out his hand to pinch the prince’s cheek and said with a crooked look, “Birthday gift?”
Qin Ke nodded gently, “That’s right.”
The two of them stood together for a moment, and suddenly heard a commotion outside the house, as if something big had happened.
Qin Ke arranged his clothes and hair for him and said with a smile, “Go to the front yard.”
The two walked to the front yard and saw that the villagers had gathered outside the house, all curious and envious to take a look.
There was a person standing proudly in the courtyard, who looked quite familiar.
It’s the imperial attendant who came to Mengshan to announce the decree! He had the low-ranking imperial attendants accompanied him, standing in two separate rows on the left and right. After them, there was a long object covered with red silk, which could not be seen clearly.
When the Emperor’s servant saw Qin Ke and Rong Xi, his face instantly burst into smiles.
“Your Majesty, Master Rong, thus servant has been ordered by the Holy One to escort the imperial plaque here. Master Rong, please receive it.”
Although he was an imperial servant, it was reasonable for him to call himself a servant in front of Qin Ke.
Rong Xi was shocked in his heart, but his face was extremely calm, and he knelt down to worship.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Ktf lwqfglji jaafcvjca rwlifv jcv jrxfv rbwfbcf ab ygert boo atf gfv rlix, gfnfjilcu atf agef jqqfjgjcmf bo atf qijdef.
Ktf obeg mtjgjmafgr ulia bc la kfgf “ibsjias, ygjnfgs jcv yfcfnbifcmf”, ktlmt wjvf fnfgsbcf fzmijlw.
Ktlr kjr j nfgs tlut mbwqilwfca!
Ktf Lbis Swqfgbg qfgrbcjiis kgbaf atfrf obeg kbgvr ab Ebcu Wl. Vemt kbcvfgoei atlcur rqgfjv atgbeutbea Zfcurtjc lc jc lcrajca.
Rong Xi’s name resounded throughout Qingzhou again.
After enjoy a banquet at Rong’s mansion, the imperial attendant returned to the capital satisfied. Rong Xi was slightly drunk and smiled stupidly at Qin Ke.
Rong Lian and others gathered around the plaque. Seeing the four gilded characters on it made people’s hearts surge!
“It is Rong’s blessing that our young master is valued by the majesty!”
Liu He was filled with emotion and bursted into tears.
Qin Ke helped Rong Xi into the bedroom. Seeing his flushed cheeks and misty eyes, he said softly, “Get some sleep first.”
Rong Xi obediently lay down on the couch and let Qin Ke take off his shoes and socks for him, smiling to himself so that it was heart-warming.
“Very happy?”
Qin Ke leaned close to his ear, asked softly.
“Happy,” Rong Xi stretched out his hand to hook the back of Qin Ke’s neck and asked with a serious look on his face, “Did you ask for it on my behalf?”
Qin Ke kissed his forehead, “I didn’t ask for it, it was the Holy One’s wish.”
“You lied to me. If you hadn’t mentioned the refugees to the Holy One, how would the Holy One know about it?”
Rong Xi finished speaking and stared at Qin Ke for a moment. Just when Qin Ke thought he had something to say, he suddenly tilted his head and fell into a deep sleep.
“If I don’t mention it, others will do it for me.” Qin Ke chuckled and stayed with him quietly.
The imperial plaque was awarded in secret, and no one knew about it before.
The news reached Shengjing, and Rong Weijing was congratulated by his colleagues again. He was full of energy and walked with wind.
After returning home, Mrs. Ron poured tea for him. Seeing his happy expression, she asked, “Is there something happy?”
Rong Weijing took a sip, nodded and said, “How can you not be happy that the Majesty sent the four words ‘loyalty, bravery and benevolence’ to my son?”
A happy event indeed.
Rong Zhou’s smile frozed slightly, then covered her face with a handkerchief, and said with a smile: “Congratulations, husband. Now that Xi’er is respected by the saints, he has a glorious family name, he has established a business, but the family has not yet been completed. I still feel uneasy.”
Hearing this, Rong Weijing strongly agreed.
“He is already sixteen and should really start a family.”
Mrs. Rong Zhou chuckled lightly, but did not say anything to remind him that Rong Xi had just celebrated his birthday and was already seventeen.
“I heard from Qian Zhong that Xi’er’s appearance changed drastically after he went to the ancestral home. Now he is a handsome young man. His appearance becomes one of the best in Shengjing, and he is worthy of a noble girl from a high family.”
Rong Weijing paused while stroking his beard, “Seriously?”
He didn’t know yet about the change in Rong Xi’s appearance. The fat and stupid look he had in the past still remained in his mind, and he couldn’t imagine how he could be so handsome.
Rong Zhou had a smile in her eyes, “Can there be any lies? Xi’er is not young anymore. As the eldest brother, it’s time for him to get a wife. Could it be that husband doesn’t want his eldest grandson?”
Of course!
Rong Weijing waved his hand and said, “Xi’er’s marriage will be left to Madam.”
The Rong Mansion asked a matchmaker to help Rong Xi, and the people in Shengjing heard about it.
A few days later, Bai Shuang flew to Rong’s house with a tied mailbox to his feet.
Qin Ke looked at the letter, his face darkened, and his heart surged with anger.
Bai Shuang, who was eating meat, saw the sudden change in his master’s demeanor and no longer cared about the meat on the plate. He shouted, flew out of the window, landed on the eaves of the corridor, and looked down at the courtyard.
After the white paper was crumpled, Qin Ke calmed down and went to Rong Xi’s study.
Rong Xi was writing at his desk when he saw him approaching with a serious look on his face. He stopped writing and asked with concern, “What’s bothering you?”
He had never seen Qin Le with such an expression, as if someone wanted to take his treasure by force.
After Qin Ke moved the chair and put it in place, he sat down with Rong Xi and handed him the letter.
“Take a look at the letter from Shengjing.”
Rong Xi read through it, suddenly overjoyed, “Are you angry because of this?”
“Aren’t you angry?” Qin Ke pinched his wrist and asked in a ruthless manner, “Do you really want to get a wife?”
Rong Xi smiled slyly and asked, “You sent someone to spy on Rong Mansion secretly?”
Qin Ke choked and said uncomfortably: “I’m afraid that someone will hurt you, so I’m just looking for information. If you feel that I’m offended, I will withdraw the spy.”
His expression was slightly aggrieved.
Rong Xi smiled secretly in his heart, but said seriously on his face: “How did you know that someone wanted to hurt me?”
“Chen Chuangu once said that the reason why you were so fat before was due to overuse the supplements when you were young,” Qin Ke’s eyes were cold and he continued, “The person who could control a doctor’s prescription should be a person with a great power in the Rong’s mansion. You were sick and the doctor diagnosed you, it was impossible for him to not know how to treat a patient but he still gave you that harmful medicine. Someone must had ordered it.”
He didn’t name anyone, but besides Rong Zhou, who else had the authority to control the upbringing of the children in the house?
Anyone who knows this knows it well.
“Fortunately, Brother Chen helped me.” Rong Xi said with a gentle smile.
Qin Ke nodded, “And the fact that you were sent to the ancestral home was all because of Rong Han, the forth child. He is just an ignorant child. If no one instigates him, how can he threaten you?”
Thinking that Rong Xi had been full of grievances and left Shengjing in panic, Qin Ke felt sour and bitter in his heart.
“Rong Xi…” He suddenly turned around with a stern expression, “Who is outside?”
Rong Xi was startled and stood up quickly.
Outside the house, Rong Lian stood stunned.
He just had something to look for his brother. He went to the study door and heard Qin Ke’s voice inside. He thought the two were discussing important matters, so he was about to leave, but he heard the word “Rong’s mansion”.
He stopped for a moment and heard the whole words behind the closed door.
The study door was opened, and Rong Lian suddenly looked up. Seeing Rong Xi’s gentle expression, he couldn’t help asking, “Brother, did she really harm you?”
Rong Xi smiled lightly and said: “It’s just some speculation, it can’t be taken as true. Second brother, don’t think too much, just concentrate on studying.”
Although he said in a calm and peaceful tone, Rong Lian’s heart was like a strong wind and huge waves.
He had read books since he was a child, listened to the words of the masters, and practiced the way of a gentleman, but he did not know the sufferings of the people and the disputes in the house. What was the use of him?
Now that all the dirty things were happening before his eyes, he felt ashamed, guilty, and self-doubt, and he had no face to face Rong Xi.
There were few fat people in the Rong family, but his brother’s situation was different from ordinary people. If something looked wrong, there would be an evil’s hand behind it. The truth was so simple, how could he not see it?
It’s just that he didn’t care.
He didn’t care, father didn’t care, no one in Rong’s house cared.
If he couldn’t even see through the affairs of his family, and he didn’t even care about the difficulties of his relatives, what would be the use of him even if he became an official in the future?
“Brother, even the King Qin was so angry, how can I remain calm?”
Rong Lian looked blank, “Brother has been wronged for many years, but I didn’t hear anything about it. I learned to be a gentleman and magnanimous, but what I did was indifference. If everything the prince said is true, I will definitely ask for an explanation for you!”
Although these words were innocent, the affection was sincere.
Rong Xi shook his head and said: “What happened when I was a child has been a long time ago, and there is no trace of it now. If there is no evidence, don’t accuse it easily.”
Although everything pointed to Rong Zhou, there was insufficient evidence. How could they convict the person?
Qin Ke suddenly smiled and said: “No problem. Those who have evil thoughts will have habit of doing evil things.”
Although they could not prove this one, there were traces of other things that could be followed.
Rong Lian’s mind was a little confused. Rong Xi called Rong Lian’s servant and asked him to help Rong Lian return to his room and took good care of him.
“With your ears, you must have known that my second brother was standing at the door. Did you tell him on purpose?”
Rong Xi glanced sideways at Qin Ke and turned back to his room.
Qin Ke followed closely behind, closed the door tightly, hugged Rong Xi into his arms, and sighed: “He is too naive and stupid which make him heartless, I can’t stand it.”
There should be someone who understood Rong Xi in Rong’s mansion, otherwise wouldn’t Lanzhi’s injustice be in vain?
Knowing that he felt sorry for him, Rong Xi felt happlu in his heart, but pretended to be displeased on his face, “This is the matter of my Rong’s mansion. How can you, an outsider, intervene to judge?”
“Am I an outsider?” Qin Ke pinched his waist and asked fiercely, “Say it again?”
Rong Xi was tickled by him and was eager to escape, but was imprisoned in someone’s arms and unable to move.
“I am going to marry a wife. You are not an outsider, are you still an insider?” Rong Xi took advantage of his words, “You want me to marry who?”
Seeing him itching to the point of tears and the ends of his eyes turning red, Qin Ke couldn’t bear it. However, what Rong Xi said was really irritating. If he didn’t punish him even once or twice, he wouldn’t know how high the world is.
He reached out and flicked Rong Xi’s forehead. When Rong Xi covered his forehead with his hands, he immediately bent down and took the young man’s lips, tasting them carefully.
After a long time, the big bad wolf let go of the quiet and docile little white rabbit. When he saw the little white rabbit’s eyes were red, he felt more love and affection in his heart.
“Lanzhi, how about not marrying a wife?”
He had no plan to marry a wife. Now that Rong Xi had chosen to be with him, he could only belong to him.
Getting married was absolutely impossible.
Rong Xi reached out and touched his lips, feeling a slight sting and swelling, secretly thinking that someone was too strong.
But he liked the strong.
“Since ancient times, a son should listen to the orders of parents and the words of matchmakers,” Rong Xi frowned deliberately, “As a good son, I dare not disobey.”
Qin Ke raised his lips and smiled, “Leave this matter to me, and I won’t let you get a wife.”
Rong Xi didn’t know anything about what happened next. He was busy firing phosphate fertilizer.
The ore was transported to the kiln in piles, fired and melted at high temperatures, then quickly cooled, dried and ground into fine particles to become phosphate fertilizer.
The phosphate fertilizer was put into sacks, and Rong Xi wanted to hire someone to transport it back to Rong’s house.
“No need to hire anyone, I’ll send someone to transport it.” Qin Ke then called for someone.
At that time, Liu Zishi came in a hurry on horseback. After saluting the two of them, he said: “Young master, there are people coming from Shengjing again. Please go back to your house!”
“Who?” Rong Xi asked with a frown.
Could it be related to the marriage?
Qin Ke obviously guessed the same, and his face suddenly became gloomy.
“Xi Yan said he was third young master of the second room.” Liu Zishi replied.
Rong Xi was even more puzzled, “Xi Yan said?”
Didn’t the person who came tell us who he was?
“Young master, third young master doesn’t seem to like talking.” Liu Zishi saw the two of them getting on their horses, and he also got on his horse and rode back.
The three of them returned home together.
Rong Lian and Rong Mo were waiting in the hall.
Seeing Rong Xi coming, Rong Lian immediately stood up, as if he had seen a savior.
“Brother, the third brother came unexpectedly, but didn’t say a word. I don’t know what to do.”
Rong Xi looked at Rong Mo.
He was thin, with his head lowered and his chest buried in his chest. He said nothing and had a gloomy attitude, which was unpleasant to see.
Of course, Rong Xi was not displeased.
Rong’s third young master had always been invisible in the Rong’s family, and he was often ridiculed and scolded by others. Compared to him, Rong Xi was at least the eldest son of a minister, and others did not dare to bully him easily and openly.
“Grandpa Liu, clean up a bedroom for third young master.”
After he finished his instructions, he asked Rong Lian and others: “Where are the servants of our third brother?”
Rong Lian replied: “I don’t know, I only saw him alone.”
Seeing that Rong Mo remained silent, Rong Xi asked no more questions and only told Liu Zishi and others: “Don’t neglect third young master in the future.”
Several people expressed their understanding .
“Second brother, please send a message back to Shengjing and ask for the reason.”
Rong Lian was about to respond, but saw Rong Mo suddenly raise his arm.
Everyone held their breath and watched intently.
Rong Mo still lowered his head, but took out a letter from his arms and placed it on the table. The meaning was quite obvious.
Rong Xi couldn’t help but smile. It was quite worry-free to be able to listen to what others said.
He raised his feet and took a step forward to read.
The letter was written by Rong Weiheng himself.
The letter stated that he sent Rong Mo to the ancestral home in order to gain the blessing of the ancestors and to beg Rong Xi to take care of him.
Rong Xi shook his head and laughed. He didn’t believe a word of what Rong Weiheng said.
If a father truly loved his son, he would not let him travel far away alone. However, the fatherly love between the lines in the letter overflew on the paper, which was really contradictory.
Unless, Rong Mo’s visit to Rong’s ancestral was not what Rong Weiheng wanted.
He suddenly looked at Rong Mo and said with a smile: “Third brother, you are tired from the traveling, you might as well go back to the house and rest first. I will call you during dinner.”
Rong Mo remained silent, bowed his head slightly and left the hall.
I feel like that generation of Rongs is too bad! The poor kids are just getting shuffled around or neglected at their parents’ whims :c
The sad reality of generations of the mega rich asian family. The family’s prestige and achievements are more important than the well being and mental health of the family. Especially in the ancient times I guess.
Thanks for the chapter! Poor kid, I hope he’s another good soul who will blossom away from the vipers’ nest.
Don’t have kids if you can’t look after them! Truly a family filled with trash except for the kids😑
Thanks for the chapter!
Teen babe
Thank you for your translation 💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙
I see the scum parents trope so often in these novels…I guess it does not matter where in the world one comes from, there are plenty of people everywhere who shouldn’t have been parents or deal with children at all…but still ended up traumatizing the next generation
another abandoned Rong baby 🥹