The Prince’s Mansion was given to him by the late Emperor. It had a vermilion door and a glazed roof. The courtyard was lined with rockeries and strange stones, and the verandas and pavilions were winding and towering.
The housekeeper followed him respectfully, took a sneak peek at Rong Xi, and saw Qin Ke’s gentle expression, so he knew that this young man was an honored guest in the house and should not be neglected.
“Uncle Zhao, go and clean up the wing room.” Qin Ke ordered.
Uncle Zhao accepted the order and retreated.
The sun was setting in the west. Qin Ke led Rong Xi to the bathroom. They each took a bath and washed themselves. After putting on clean clothes, dinner was set on the table.
When Qin Ke presented the cooking method to the Emperor before, he also kept two copies for himself. One part was given to the cook in the mansion so that she could study it; the other part was given to the Marquis’s house so that his parents could also try it out.
Now the cook in the mansion had acquired some skills, and the food was quite delicious, and both of them enjoyed it.
After eating and digesting for half an hour, Qin Ke led him to the study.
The study was elegant, bright, and equipped with desks and chairs.
Rong Xi looked surprised and asked, “What will you do if others find out about this layout and accuse you of not following the etiquette?”
Rong’s house was remote and desolate, and no one cared about it. But in the Prince’s Mansion of Shengjing County, there were many people spying secretly. If he were not careful, he would be criticized.
“Since ancient times, etiquette has not been static,” Qin Ke looked indifferent, “How you know that today’s etiquette will not be abolished in the future?”
Rong Xi was slightly surprised.
Of course he knew, but he was surprised by Qin Ke’s advanced thinking. It seemed that there was no time and space barrier between the two, and the spark of the collision of ideas was even more exciting.
“I don’t know what will happen in the future, but I know,” Rong Xi couldn’t help but kiss him loudly, with surprise on his face, “You are very good.”
He was a handsome person with a beautiful heart.
It was hard to find a close person in your life. Rong Xi felt himself so lucky that he could have both a close friend and a lover.
Rong Xi became more and more skillful in his sweet words and his actions became bolder. Although Qin Ke was used to it, he often couldn’t control it.
He suddenly stood up, turned his face away from Rong Xi, and said, “The bedroom is ready. You are tired from running around for several days. You go and rest first.”
Without waiting for Rong Xi to respond, he opened the door, called Uncle Zhao and said, “Introduce Master Rong Xi to the bedroom to rest. Don’t neglect it.”
Uncle Zhao respectfully obeyed the instructions.
Seeing this, Rong Xi had no choice but to follow Uncle Zhao to the bedroom.
“Young master, if you need anything, just ask the old servant.” Zhao Bole said cheerfully.
Rong Xi nodded obediently, “Thank you, Uncle Zhao.”
He was handsome and had a gentle face, which makes him popular among the elderly. When Uncle Zhao saw that he was well-spoken, gentle, courteous, and respectful, he actually felt a bit of affection of Rong Xi.
“The old servant don’t dare. Young Master, please rest early.”
After saying this, he bowed and retreated.
After Rong Xi left, Qin Ke sat alone in the study, his face hidden in the backlight, unable to see clearly.
After a while, Uncle Zhao came to report.
“Prince, the young master has rested.”
Qin Ke nodded and suddenly said: “Where is Chen Chuangu? Let him come to see me.”
Uncle Zhao took the order and retreated. In an instant, Chen Chuangu came excitedly.
“You didn’t tell me in advance when you came back!”
He sat down and asked, “What do you want from me?”
Qin Ke looked cold and said, “I asked you to investigate the doctor earlier. What happened?”
“I found the man and used some methods to force him to tell the truth,” Chen Chuangu sighed. “Young master Rong is really pitiful. His stepmother bribed the doctor and deliberately prescribed powerful tonics, which made him increasingly fat and weak.”
Qin Ke’s eyes turned cold and stern, and he asked after a while: “Apart from that?”
“You also know that there are a lot of dirty things in the deep house,” Chen Chuangu shook his head and sighed. “She doted on the surface but slandered behind the scenes. It was her blowing behind the scene which made Rong Weijing got angry and sent Rong Xi to Linxi’s ancestral house.”
With a kind face and selfishness heart, they didn’t know how Rong Xi could endure staying in that house for more than ten years.
“It’s okay, just let them pay it back.”
Qin Ke gave instructions, stood up and left the study.
He walked lightly to Rong Xi’s bedroom and saw that the candles in the room had been extinguished. He stopped in the courtyard for a long time before leaving.
The next day, Rong Xi felt refreshed. When he got up, he saw that Qin Ke had finished his morning exercise.
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.
“There are still two days before the Queen Mother’s birthday,” Qin Ke led him to the dining hall, “Is there anything you want to do?”
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Qin Sizhi didn’t tell him!
“Brother Chen, I haven’t seen you for a long time. I miss you very much.” Rong Xi said with a slight smile.
Qin Ke lowered his eyebrows and coughed lightly.
However, Chen Chuangu only heard Rong Xi’s words and immediately smiled brightly. He took a few steps forward, held Rong Xi’s wrist and praised: “I haven’t seen you for several months, and your appearance has become more and more impressive. If all the ladies in Shengjing see it, they will definitely…”
“Chen Chuangu.” Qin Ke raised his eyes and looked at him with a rather unkind tone.
Rong Xi laughed out loud and replied: “Thanks to Brother Chen’s wonderful help, without Brother Chen, I would still be as fat as a pig.”
His self-deprecating words reached to Qin Ke’s ears, which made him extremely depressed.
“Rong Xi, don’t belittle yourself. Even if you are fat, you are far superior to others.”
His words were loud and clear, and his expression was extremely solemn. Rong Xi looked at him for a few breaths, and then replied with a gentle smile: “Thank you, brother Si.”
On a rainy night last year, when they first met in Rong’s house, Rong Xi was quite fat, but Qin Ke didn’t show any disdain.
He never paid much attention to appearance.
When Chen Chuangu saw Uncle Zhao coming with a plate, he laughed and said, “Let’s have breakfast first. Brother Rong has been away from Shengjing for a long time. After dinner, why don’t we go to Fangshi together?”
“He and I have something important to do, you can go alone.” Qin Ke refused expressionlessly.
Chen Chuangu rolled his eyes and secretly scolded someone surname Qin for being rude.
After the meal, Qin Ke ordered people to buy saltpeter, sulfur, charcoal and other materials, all in powder form, and place them in the courtyard.
Chen Chuangu had not heard of fireworks yet and mistakenly thought that Rong Xi was going to make fire bombs. He couldn’t help but asked in surprise: “Rong Xi, fire bombs are weapons. Now we don’t make them privately?”
“It’s not fire bombs,” Rong Xi replied with a smile, “You’ll know when the time comes.”
Qin Ke stood by and helped silently.
Now that he was skilled in techniques, the fireworks were quickly built. Seeing that the sun was shining, Rong Xi smiled and asked, “Brother Si, why don’t we go to Fangshi?”
“I’ll go too!” Chen Chuangu said hurriedly.
This time Qin Ke did not refuse. The three of them walked to Fangshi.
For Rong Xi, it was his first time in Shengjing, but with the help of his original memory, he roughly knew the location, so he didn’t expose it in front of the other two people.
Compared with Mengshan, Shengjingfang City was more prosperous, with neat layout and strict control.
Shops and vendors gathered in the West Market.
When the three of them arrived at the West Market, they saw huge crowds of people. There were many shops on both sides of the street, crowded vendors, and shouts and shouts could be heard throughout the streets and alleys.
“Rong Xi, look at that tofu shop!” Chen Chuangu raised his hand and pointed.
Rong Xi looked in the direction and saw that the tofu shop was quite large and crowded with people, and the business was quite prosperous.
Rong Xi was very pleased that the people loved the food he found so much.
When Qin Ke saw that he was happy, his heart was like honey pouring over him, and the corners of his lips could not help but curl up.
The three of them all had good looks and demeanor, and many ladies raised the curtain to take a peek, and even the bolder ones threw the delicate silk handkerchiefs in their hands at Qin Ke.
In fact, this was Qin Ke’s first time wandering around the West Market. If Rong Xi hadn’t invited him, he would never have come here.
Before the handkerchief touched him, he quickly avoided it and let the it fall to the ground and be trampled on.
When Chen Chuangu saw this, he felt quite sympathetic to the young lady.
A few people walked through the crowd and went to a quiet place in Fangshi to rest for a while.
The location here was not good, there were very few people, the shops were deserted, and the shopkeepers all had sad faces and spent their days worriedly.
Rong Xi looked up and saw that the plaque was mottled and the door had been damaged by wind and rain and had not been replaced. He suddenly felt something in his heart and couldn’t help but step in.
Qin Ke and Chen Chuangu naturally followed.
Seeing the noble air of the three of them, the shopkeeper hurriedly cheered up and said with a smile, “Look at the three gentlemen, the prices are easy to talk about.”
The store was stocked with groceries and daily necessities.
Rong Xi walked around and suddenly asked: “What’s your name, the shopkeeper?”
“My surname is Du, what are your orders?” Shopkeeper Du asked with a smile.
Seeing Rong Xi’s kind face, he felt a little favorable for no reason, so he smiled very kindly.
“This store is owned by Shopkeeper Du?”
Shopkeeper Du shook his head quickly, “I’m just guarding the shop for my master.”
Rong Xi smiled and asked, “May I ask who your master is?”
Shopkeeper Du hesitated for a moment and then sighed: “The master’s surname is Zhang.”
“Zhang?” Rong Xi looked around at everything in the shop and continued to ask, “I wonder how much the monthly profit from this shop is?”
If it were anyone else, he would definitely be angry when he heard this. How could he ask someone so straightforwardly for money? Wasn’t it just to cause trouble?
But shopkeeper Du saw Rong Xi’s expression which showed no intention of finding trouble, so he asked, “I don’t know what your surname is, young man?”
Rong Xi’s eyebrows were curved, a smile filled the corners of his eyes, and he said in a warm voice: “My surname is Rong, I am oldest son in the clan, and my mother’s surname is Zhang.”
His surname was Rong, his mother’s surname was Zhang, and he was the oldest son in the clan.
There was a sudden thunder in Shopkeeper Du’s mind. He stared at Rong Xi blankly for a long time, and finally understood why he felt so good just now.
“I’m sorry for my poor eyesight, but I didn’t recognize young master!”
He bowed sincerely and his eyes filled with tears.
Rong Xi helped him up and said warmly: “Uncle Du Weng doesn’t need to be so nervous. I’m here to ask for some advice.”
Shopkeeper Du didn’t dare to be negligent and said hurriedly: “If you don’t mind me, young master, you might as well follow me to the back to drink some tea. You two distinguished guests, please follow me.”
With Rong Xi’s agreement, he quickly closed the business and led the three of them to the back room to serve tea one by one.
“Uncle Du, please sit down” Rong Xi sincerely invited.
Shopkeeper Du knelt down in response and couldn’t help but ask: “Is young master still stay at the ancestral home in Linxi?”
“I have important things to do so I enter Shengjing this time,” Rong Xi asked, “I just walked through the market and saw several shops of Zhang’s are all replaced. What happened?”
Qin Ke and Chen Chuangu were suddenly shocked. It turned out that Rong Xi’s visit to the market was not aimless, but had a plan.
The Zhang family was a merchant, and in the eyes of the people at the time, being married to a minister was really a high achievement. But without Zhang’s money and silk support, Rong Weijing’s promotion path would not have been so smooth.
Rong Xi’s biological mother was the only daughter, and all the shops under Zhang’s name were gaven to her.
According to the laws of the Wei Dynasty, a woman’s dowry belonges to herself and her husband’s family was not allowed to touch it without permission. When she died, if she had children, the dowry would be inherited by the children; if there were no children, the dowry would be returned to the mother’s family.
Rong Xi was the only son of the Rong and Zhang family, and his maternal grandparents had passed away. Nowadays, several shops should be Rong Xi’s private property, and others were not allowed to interfere or take any action.
Hearing this, Shopkeeper Du sighed deeply and said, “Report to young master, you used to be young and out of touch with ordinary affairs. Your mother’s dowry went to tue hand of your step mother. It was inevitable that they would be replaced.”
“That’s too much!” Chen Chuangu said angrily.
Although Qin Ke’s expression was calm, his eyes were sharp and murderous.
It was originally the property of Lanzhi, but now it fell into the hands of others. When he arrived in Linxi, he was penniless and had to work hard to make utensils to earn money and silk to support his family. However, the people in the Rong’s mansion secretly used his property to live extravagantly!
Anger surged forward, and the cup in his palm was crushed in an instant.
“Let me take a look!” Rong Xi was startled and hurriedly opened his palm. He saw that there was no wound and felt a little better.
Seeing that he was frightened, Qin Ke looked apologetic and was secretly annoyed.
“Why is your shop…” Rong Xi asked curiously.
Shopkeeper Du was both helpless and thankful, “Business is not good so she just doesn’t like it.”
“Do you have a ledger?”
Shopkeeper Du stood up hurriedly, “Yes, yes, young master, wait a moment, I will bring it for you to take a look at.”
After a while, the account book was put in place.
Because business was bad, there were not many records. In addition, Rong Xi had a good memory and strong mental arithmetic skills, so he could read through them very quickly.
Shopkeeper Du stood aside in shock. If Rong Xi hadn’t looked serious, he would have thought Rong Xi was joking.
Qin Ke’s eyes were very soft, and it was really nice to see Lanzhi being so serious.
After finishing one, Rong Xi put down the account book and praised, “Well done.”
Shopkeeper Du waved his hand quickly, “The shop does not run well, I am really ashamed of myself.”
“It’s not uncle’s fault.”
Rong Xi stood up with a slight smile and saluted sincerely, “Uncle Du stick to the store, Xi is very grateful.”
“Young master is flattering me. I am not that good” Shopkeeper Du quickly returned the gift.
Rong Xi smiled and said: “I still have something to do, so I won’t disturb you much. However, this shop should be closed for a few days, and uncle Du can also rest for a few days.”
“Young master?” Shopkeeper Du was puzzled.
Rong Xi calmed his anxious heart, “Don’t be impatient, uncle Du. When I have time, I will come back to you to discuss business matters.”
Shopkeeper Du felt relieved and respectfully sent the three of them off.
“Rong Xi, you came to Fangshi just to see the shops?” Chen Chuangu asked curiously.
Rong Xi nodded, “These are all my mother’s relics. They have been under the control of others for more than ten years. I have to take them back.”
He had already planned this, and luckily he had the memory of the original body to help him, otherwise he really wouldn’t know where to go to pave the way for Zhang.
“If you need anything, just tell me.”
Qin Ke expressed his position in a low voice.
“Thank you, brother Si.” Rong Xi smiled back.
He raised his head and saw the sun was going down. It was too late, so he asked the two of them: “I want to pay homage to my ancestor, but I don’t know…”
“I’ll go with you.” Qin Ke responded immediately.
Chen Chuangu was clever to not be a light bud, “Brother Rong, I still have something to do, so you two can go together.”
After they parted, Rong Xi purchased sacrificial paper, etc., and took Qin Ke to the cemetery on the outskirts of the city.
His mother’s tomb was adjacent by his maternal grandparents. After Rong Xi came here, he saw desolation everywhere and couldn’t help but feel sad.
The people in the tomb did not know that her own parents and child had also passed away.
Qin Ke saw his sad expression and couldn’t help but hold his hand. He felt his palms were cold and felt very distressed. He comforted him softly: “Don’t worry. If your mom is alive in heaven, she would hope you are safe and happy.”
Rong Xi smiled lightly and said, “Go back.”
The day after tomorrow, the Empress Dowager’s birthday came, and the Emperor held a banquet in the Qifeng Palace. Courtiers of the third rank and above came to the palace with their relatives to celebrate her birthday.
At Chen time, the palace attendants began to be busy, and at noon, the courtiers slowly entered the palace gate with their relatives, met the Emperor and the queen mother in the palace, and sang salutes one by one.
After the ceremony, the Emperor, queen mother and courtiers shared a birthday banquet. Needless to say, there was a lot of singing and dancing at the banquet.
Princess Mingyi was the late Emperor’s sister and had a close relationship with the Queen Mother, so she came to the palace early.
The two chatted for a while, and the Queen Mother smiled and asked: “Ah Ke is now twenty-five years old, why don’t you get a wife?”
Mentioning this matter, Princess Mingyi lamented, “In a few days, he will be twenty-six. He doesn’t want to get a wife, and there is nothing I can do about it.”
The Queen Mother smiled solemnly and said, “No matter what, I have to find someone for him.”
“You should not spend time thinking for him. He decides on his own, and I don’t want to worry about it.” Princess Mingyi shook her head and sighed.
After a while, the palace attendant came to report that Prince Qin and young master Rong had come to pay homage.
The Queen Mother was overjoyed, and quickly announced the order, and then said to Princess Mingyi: “I have long wanted to see the Rong family’s oldest son’s glass.”
“The glass is indeed exquisite.” Princess Mingyi agreed.
After the palace attendant passed the order, Qin Ke and Rong Xi entered together.
The tall man had a handsome appearance and majestic charisma, which was very impressive. Looking at the thin young man next to him, he had a slender appearance and a gentle temperament, which made people feel like they were taking a breath of spring breeze.
The two walked side by side, with completely different styles, but extremely harmonious, one cold and the other gentle, complementing each other.
The Queen Mother and Princess Mingyi both admired them their hearts.
After the two knelt down and saluted, the Queen Mother kindly asked them to stand up.
Rong Xi entered the palace for the first time, but he was not in a panic. He stood in the palace, as calm and elegant as a lush green bamboo.
“Are you Rong’s first son?” the Queen Mother asked.
Rong Xi lowered his head and responded calmly: “Rong Xi, a common man, wishes the Queen Mother good health.”
“He is a handsome man,” the Queen Mother smiled even brighter and suddenly asked, “Have you ever been married?”
Translator’s Note: Rong Zhou’s surname is Zhou. Rong Xi mother’s surname is Zang, so in the text it was named Rong Zhang. I didn’t know Rong Zhou had that meaning at first LOL
Madam Queen, why you be asking my boy Rong Xi if he is married.. why?
Okay.. the quick answer is almost ..I mean he is almost about to get 🤭you know what am saying..lol
Thanks for new chapter
…He raised his head and saw the run was going down…
Thanks!
Thank you so much ^^
Thanks for the chapter!
Ahahah, sometimes senior people all have the same questions for youth
Thank you for your translation 💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙
🤗Almost married Queen mother
Thanks for the chapter!