Rong Xun chuckled softly. “Alright, I’m not even mad, what are you getting worked up about? Besides, they wouldn’t dare say it to my face, so let them be.”
“Rumors are a fearful thing, Your Highness; you cannot just brush this aside. Otherwise, let’s report this to His Highness.”
“There’s no need. Do you really think a prince would care about inner courtyard gossip? At most, he’d just send Duo Fu to give them a warning and be done with it.”
Wenxi frowned deeply. “Then what should we do?”
“Take it one step at a time.”
Rong Xun shifted into a more comfortable sitting position, resting one arm against the headrest.
“Speaking of which, did you go check on that girl Qing’er like I told you to? How is she doing now?”
“This slave certainly went to look.”
At the mention of this, a hint of amusement crept into Wenxi’s features.
He leaned closer to Rong Xun. “This slave went personally to check the manor’s laundry quarters. That girl Qing’er was sent there by you, and she has become a lot more obedient.”
“And Mammy Wang?”
Wenxi dutifully replied, “Although Mammy Wang is unhappy about being in the small kitchen, she is at least behaving within her bounds.”
“Behaving within her bounds?”
Rong Xun laughed. “If they were truly behaving themselves, then the manor wouldn’t be spreading talk about how the Prince and I haven’t consummated our marriage yet.”
“Ah!”
Wenxi’s jaw dropped in shock. “Your Highness, you, how did you know about that?”
“The whole manor is whispering about it, and I’m not deaf. How could I possibly not know?”
“Then, Your Highness means to say that these rumors originated from Mammy Wang and Qing’er?”
“Whether it was directly them remains to be seen, but it certainly has everything to do with the two of them.”
Ever since the return visit to the bride’s parents concluded, the moment they stepped back into the Prince’s Manor, Rong Xun had found an excuse to transfer both women away from his side.
Mammy Wang and Qing’er were most likely planted here to keep tabs on him.
Keeping them close was unsafe.
Yet Rong Xun hadn’t expected that no matter how hard he tried to avoid them, trouble would still find him.
It seemed the Yong’an Marquis Residence wouldn’t stop until they achieved their goal.
When dinnertime arrived, Rong Xun went to the front hall first to wait for Tan Taisi.
Though the two men didn’t sleep in the same quarters at night, they still shared their meals together.
Not long after he sat down, a tall figure slowly approached along the stone-paved path of the front courtyard.
Entering the doorway, Tan Taisi handed his cloak to Duo Fu and brushed the snowflakes from his shoulders.
Rong Xun stood up and offered a token greeting.
“Your Highness.”
“Mm.”
Once Tan Taisi took his seat, the attendants standing nearby began serving the dishes.
The two men generally didn’t speak while eating, but halfway through dinner tonight, Tan Taisi took the initiative to ask Rong Xun,
“The Prince Consort has been lingering idly at home lately. I wonder how far you’ve gotten into the Classic of Xia and Yu?”
He had long since thrown that book somewhere to gather dust.
Rong Xun silently swallowed the piece of fish in his mouth.
Had Tan Taisi moonlighted as a schoolteacher in a past life, always springing unannounced homework checks on people?
“I, I haven’t read much of it.”
Rong Xun glanced up at Tan Taisi before quickly looking away.
“Ahem. The doctor said my health is poor, so I need plenty of rest and shouldn’t overtax myself.”
“Oh!”
Tan Taisi drew out the syllable, eyeing Rong Xun with amused interest.
“So, for the Prince Consort, reading a book is considered an exhausting and taxing endeavor.”
“O, Of course.”
Rong Xun answered with a distinct lack of conviction.
“The book Your Highness gave me is obscure and difficult to comprehend, so naturally, studying it takes a lot of mental energy.”
The servants waiting at the dinner table couldn’t help lowering their heads to stifle their laughter upon hearing Rong Xun’s declaration.
Tan Taisi fell silent for a moment.
With magnanimous indulgence, he said, “Since that is the case, the Prince Consort may study it at your own pace. I hear that male spouses in the capital often gather at the Maple Leaf Pavilion to brew wine and compose poetry. If you feel bored cooped up in the manor, I’ll have Duo Fu accompany you out for a stroll tomorrow so you can make some acquaintances.”
“I…”
“It’s settled then. Tomorrow, you will take Duo Fu, Changji, and Changning with you.”
Rong Xun had grievances he couldn’t voice. How did it get settled just like that? He hadn’t even agreed yet.
Besides, what on earth was he supposed to do over there?
Write poetry?
Don’t make him laugh.
Still, Tan Taisi likely wouldn’t care whether he wanted to go or not.
Rong Xun had no choice but to silently acquiesce.
After dinner, Tan Taisi took Tang Jiu and headed back to the study.
Rong Xun couldn’t fathom it.
Tan Taisi didn’t even have to attend court sessions nowadays. Why on earth was he still so busy every single day?
Returning to the southern courtyard, Wenxi went off to oversee the servants boiling water.
Rong Xun pulled out the romance novel he hadn’t finished reading the night before and picked up right where he left off.
The candle on the pearwood table had burned halfway down.
The wick inside had drooped over, making the flame much smaller.
Feeling the light had grown somewhat dim, Rong Xun reached out to grab the snuffer and trim the wick.
The door pushed open, and Mammy Wang walked in carrying a bowl of calming soup.
“Your Highness, this old slave has something to report.”
“Mammy Wang?”
Rong Xun set the scissors down.
“What is it?”
“Your Highness, as someone hailing from the Yong’an Marquis Residence and now serving as your dowry matron, there are some things I cannot fail to remind you of. You must consummate your marriage with His Highness Prince Chen as soon as possible.”
The candlelight on the table grew increasingly dim. A single droplet of wax rolled down, landing on the candlestick and solidifying instantly.
Half of Rong Xun’s face remained half-shrouded in shadows.
Mammy Wang couldn’t make out the expression on his face.
Whatever it was, it certainly couldn’t be pleasant, yet she seemingly had no intention of keeping her mouth shut.
“This slave knows I am overstepping, but this concerns both the Yong’an Marquis Residence and Your Highness. You really ought to consummate the marriage with His Highness Prince Chen at the earliest opportunity.”
With the candlelight in front of him flickering near extinction, Rong Xun picked up the scissors once more and snipped off the overgrown wick.
The circle of light around them instantly flared brightly again. Under the warm glow of the candles, Rong Xun looked even more fresh and refined, retaining an air of gentle elegance.
He fell silent for a moment, resting his forearm on the table.
He asked, “Mammy Wang, you only need to tend to your own duties. Other matters are none of your concern.”
Rong Xun had figured that Mammy Wang was getting on in years, older than his own mother even, so he hadn’t wanted to make things difficult for her. Yet he had dropped hints to this extent, and this old matron was still treating them like wind passing by her ears.
“Your Highness, as your personal dowry matron, some matters must be considered on your behalf. If you continue to avoid consummating the marriage with the Prince and word gets out, once the Marquis and Madam find out, you won’t have a leg to stand on.”
Here it came again. Barely three sentences in, and she had to drag Rong Huaizhou and Madam Chen into the mix.
As if he were actually terrified of those two.
Rong Xun’s expression grew somewhat gloomy.
“Mammy Wang, you claim to be my dowry matron, but your mind is entirely preoccupied with plotting for the Marquis Residence’s interests. Since that is the case, you might as well pack up and go back. I have no need for your service here.”
“What is Your Highness saying? Since Madam assigned me to accompany you as a dowry servant, this slave naturally belongs to Your Highness’s household. Everything this slave says is for Your Highness’s own good. If this matter leaks out, neither you nor the Marquis Residence will save face.”
“What you’re saying is laughable.”
Rong Xun simply crossed his legs and sat upright, resting his hands on either side of his knees.
Perched on the waist-high soft couch, he said coldly, “If you don’t go around flapping your gums everywhere, who would even know about this? Or do you suppose the servants in Prince Chen’s Manor have a death wish, using this as idle table-talk to broadcast across the streets?”
“Your Highness, spare me.”
Frightened out of her wits, Mammy Wang dropped to her knees before Rong Xun.
“Your Highness has wronged this slave. This slave has not breathed a word of this outside.”
“Whether you spoke of it or not, you know best in your heart, Mammy Wang. Let me remind you one last time: don’t rely on your age to throw your weight around. If you truly have no desire to serve in the Prince’s Manor, I’ll have Duo Fu sell you off to some far-off place.”
“Your Highness…”
“To think the Prince Consort could be so decisive behind closed doors.”
Tan Taisi, who hadn’t set foot in the southern courtyard for days, suddenly pushed the door open and walked in.
Still carrying the chill of the night air outside, he offered Rong Xun a faint smile the moment he stepped inside.
“This slave greets Your Highness.”
Mammy Wang’s greeting trembled audibly, retaining none of the self-righteous bravado she had just displayed before Rong Xun.
Tan Taisi paid her no mind.
He walked straight over and seated himself right beside Rong Xun.
“Why has Your Highness suddenly come over?”
Rong Xun started to stand up to greet him, but Tan Taisi raised a hand to stop him.
“Sit. This Prince was standing outside listening for a moment, and I never imagined a servant of the Yong’an Marquis Residence could be so high and mighty that she presumes to instruct her master on what to do.”
As he spoke, he cast a casual, indifferent glance at Mammy Wang.
“Spare me, Your Highness, this slave had no such intention!”
Mammy Wang hurriedly lowered her head until her forehead nearly touched the floor.
“When returning for the bridal visit, Madam instructed this slave to serve Your Highness and the Prince Consort well. This slave was merely acting for Your Highness’s sake, and out of a desire to keep Madam from worrying excessively over Your Highness.”
“The Marquis’s Madam is truly full of tender affection for the Prince Consort.”
Tan Taisi refrained from addressing Madam Chen as his mother-in-law. Aside from the Son of Heaven himself, who else would show such blatant disregard for ritual and propriety?
This was unheard of in any ordinary household.
Perhaps seeing how violently Mammy Wang was shaking, Tan Taisi couldn’t be bothered to continue tormenting an old servant.
“Get out. If I ever hear of such nonsense again, I will personally visit the Yong’an Marquis’s Madam to inquire about it.”
“Yes, yes.”
Mammy Wang kowtowed in gratitude, scrambled to her feet, and hurriedly backed out of the room.
Rong Xun generally disliked having too many servants lingering in his inner chambers, usually relegating them to wait in the outer rooms. With Wenxi currently absent, only Rong Xun and Tan Taisi remained inside the inner chamber.
A lone man and another lone man, the atmosphere suddenly felt somewhat off.
Tan Taisi picked up the romance novel resting beside Rong Xun’s arm and casually flipped through a few pages.
The more he read, the stranger his expression became.
He handed the book back to Rong Xun.
“The Prince Consort would do well to read fewer of these peculiar things in the future. Who knows, reading too many might actually rot your brain.”
Feeling rather awkward, Rong Xun took the novel and tucked it behind his back, though the gesture was entirely futile at this point.
Seeing that Tan Taisi was still staring at him, Rong Xun gave a soft cough.
“Your Highness, I just read this to pass the time when I’m bored. I don’t read it often.”
“Is that so?”
Rong Xun nodded.
Of course not!
He read these novels every single night; otherwise, what else was he supposed to do in this godforsaken place without computers or cell phones?
What else could he possibly look at if not romance books?
Judging by Tan Taisi’s expression, however, the man clearly didn’t believe him.
Resting his chin in one hand, Tan Taisi softened his tone and asked, “Does the Prince Consort know why I came here at this hour?”
“I, don’t know.”
As long as he hadn’t come here to consummate the marriage, everything else was none of his concern.
Even if the man had come here just to sleep, Rong Xun could now maintain a calm and composed mindset, treating him like an ordinary roommate.
“Then I’ll spell it out directly.”
Tan Taisi produced an account ledger, placed it on the table, and slid it over to Rong Xun.
“The other day, Mr. He from the accounts department mentioned to me that the Prince Consort has frequently been visiting him lately to learn how to use an abacus.”
Rong Xun felt a twinge of guilt as he looked at the ledger on the table, though he had no choice but to bite the bullet and admit, “I did.”
“Why?”
“Because, because I figured I’ll soon have to take over management of the inner courtyard, and I can’t afford to be clueless about bookkeeping.”
Rong Xun couldn’t tell him the truth. If Tan Taisi found out he was learning abacus and bookkeeping for his own private business ventures, there was no telling whether he’d still allow him to keep learning.
He could sense that Tan Taisi was constantly guarding against him.
Without acquiring some business acumen of his own, what would happen if he divorced Tan Taisi in the future?
He needs to be able to make a living and support himself through commerce.
Tan Taisi seemed to have bought Rong Xun’s explanation.
“The Prince Consort is truly virtuous and dutiful, already thinking about managing the Prince’s Manor not long after our wedding.”
Saying this, Tan Taisi tilted his head slightly.
“Only, I am surprised the Prince Consort doesn’t already know how to use an abacus?”
Rong Xun looked up. “What?”
Tan Taisi offered a wicked smile. “Mr. He told me that the Prince Consort seemed completely unfamiliar with the abacus, acting as though you had never laid hands on one in your life. Had the Prince Consort truly never studied it before?”
Rong Xun felt like crying without tears.
Why did this Mr. He feel the need to report every little detail to Tan Taisi?
Steadysing his nerves, he replied, “My mother doted on me and spoiled me a bit too much when I was growing up, so I genuinely never touched an abacus. I’m afraid I’ve made Your Highness laugh at me.”
“Hmph.”
“No matter.”
Tan Taisi tapped the edge of the table with a single finger.
“As long as the Prince Consort is willing to learn. The hour is late, you should rest early.”
Seeing him stand up to leave, Rong Xun felt a wave of relief. The man must have developed a conscience today, letting him off the hook so easily without giving him a hard time.
“Safe journey, Your Highness.”
It was much better when Tan Taisi wasn’t around. At least nobody would bother him while he read his novels.
“Oh, by the way.”
Walking halfway to the door, Tan Taisi suddenly turned around to ask Rong Xun, “How did you find the ointment Her Ladyship gave you last time?”
“I found it quite good.”
Rong Xun answered honestly.
“I use it every single night. The things the Empress Dowager sends are truly top-notch.”
He wasn’t just buttering anyone up; he actually applied that oil-based ointment to his body, and it really did make his skin feel noticeably smoother than before.
Yet upon hearing this, Tan Taisi offered an inexplicable, rather strange smile.
“As long as the Prince Consort likes it, then by all means, keep using it.”
“Yes.”
After seeing Tan Taisi off, Rong Xun couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
That parting smile of Tan Taisi’s clearly meant he was up to something.