Rong Xun forced a pathetic-looking smile.
He had truly lifted a rock only to drop it on his own feet. He had just finished eating his evening meal, so how could he possibly be hungry?
Yet judging by Tan Taisi’s expression, the man had no intention of letting him return.
Before long, Duo Fu led a maid in with several platters of food, along with a bowl piled high with rice.
Just looking at it made Rong Xun’s stomach cramp in pain.
Tan Taisi set aside the military treatise in his hands, clasped his hands together over the desk, and looked at Rong Xun with amused leisure.
“Eat. Once you’re full, go back and rest. As for practicing calligraphy, you can do that whenever you like.”
The aroma rising from the dishes before him was quite enticing, yet Rong Xun felt not an ounce of hunger.
Torn for a moment, he looked up and cast a pitiful, pleading expression at Tan Taisi.
“Your Highness, I, can I not eat?”
“No, you cannot. How can the Prince Consort rest on an empty stomach? If word of this got out, people would say I, your husband, am abusing you. Be a good boy and eat up.”
Rong Xun drew in a sharp breath.
Wasn’t this exact situation a form of abuse right now?
Staring at the charming smile on Tan Taisi’s face, Rong Xun thought to himself that indeed, the prettier something was, the stronger its poison!
Resentfully, he picked up the bowl and his chopsticks, and began eating with the tragic air of a martyr.
He just prayed he wouldn’t burst from overeating.
After managing half the bowl, Rong Xun’s previously upright posture slumped forward.
Tan Taisi found the sight immensely entertaining.
He hadn’t realized before how amusing it could be to tease Rong Xun.
Naturally, Rong Xun had no inkling of what was running through Tan Taisi’s mind.
After forcing down a few more bites, he surrendered completely.
“Your Highness, I’m full, I’m really full.”
“Why are you eating so little? Have a little more.”
Tan Taisi made as if to place more food in Rong Xun’s bowl.
Startled, Rong Xun leapt to his feet. “No need, no need, I’m truly full.”
If he ate another bite, he was going to explode.
“Very well.”
Tan Taisi laid down his chopsticks. Rong Xun’s pitiful appearance made it difficult for him to press the matter further.
“Since that is the case, the Prince Consort may do as you please.”
Goodness knows how long Rong Xun had been waiting to hear those words.
“Then good night, Your Highness, this subject will take his leave.”
With that, he forgot to even offer a formal bow.
Clutching his stomach, Rong Xun turned tail and fled.
“Hmph, what an idiot.”
Watching Rong Xun’s flustered retreat, Tan Taisi couldn’t help letting out a chuckle.
Back in the southern courtyard, Rong Xun collapsed onto the soft couch the moment he returned, groaning in misery and unable to get up for ages.
Tan Taisi, you absolute bastard!
Unaware of what had transpired, Wenxi cheerfully walked in carrying a plate of freshly made pastries from the kitchen.
“Your Highness, come look, the kitchen just made these new pastries. You’re bound to love them.”
“Take them away!”
As though seeing some monstrous flood or ferocious beast, Rong Xun swatted Wenxi’s hands away from the pastries.
“Do not let me lay eyes on the shadow of any food tonight!”
“Ah.”
Wenxi stared blankly at the pastries in his hands.
“But these pastries taste really good.”
“Eat them yourself, I don’t want any.”
“Understood.”
Wenxi cast several worried glances at Rong Xun, and only after confirming he was unharmed did he take the pastries to the outer room and happily nibble on them.
Ever since the incident in the study that night, Rong Xun had steered clear of Tan Taisi for several days, not daring to linger anywhere near him.
The moment dinner ended, he would slip away as though greasing the bottoms of his feet.
After the severe cold passed, Tan Taisi resumed attending court sessions at the palace.
On this particular day, Prime Minister Yan invited Tan Taisi to the Prime Minister’s Estate, giving Rong Xun the peace of mind to wander freely around the manor.
Certain that Tan Taisi wouldn’t be back until late, Rong Xun sent Wenxi out to inspect the taverns and fabric shops registered under his name.
As for himself, after going over the account books with Duo Fu, he sat down in the small study to practice his calligraphy.
From now on, he must never give Tan Taisi another chance to find an excuse to tease him.
“Your Highness, have some hot tea.”
Changning set a cup of tea down nearby, then stood quietly off to the side like a statue.
Finishing another page of imitation, Rong Xun picked up the cup and took a sip.
His gaze drifted to Changning in the corner.
“Is Changji’s injury healing up?” he asked.
“Replying to Your Highness, he is much better.”
Rong Xun nodded. “That’s good. I wonder what on earth he went off to do, ending up with such a severe wound.”
Changning lowered his head slightly and remained silent.
Rong Xun didn’t press the matter, picking up his brush to resume writing.
After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Rong Xun stood up and rubbed his stomach.
A sudden, strong craving for the spiced duck from Wenxiang Pavilion hit him.
“Changning.”
“What are Your Highness’s orders?”
Rong Xun unfastened the pouch from his waist and tossed it to Changning.
“I suddenly have a craving for the duck from Wenxiang Pavilion. Go buy two of them back so we can eat together.”
“This.”
Changning hesitated. “Duo Fu instructed us never to leave Your Highness’s side.”
“It won’t take long just to buy two ducks. I’ll be right here in the study practicing my calligraphy and won’t be going anywhere.”
“But.”
“No buts. Hurry off and buy them. I’ve been writing for half the day and I’m starving.”
Changning tightened his grip on the pouch.
Stepping out for just a moment should be fine.
“Yes, Your Highness, this slave will fetch them for you right away.”
After Changning left, Rong Xun stretched his back, intending to resume his calligraphy practice.
Yet casting a glance at the sky outside, something struck him as wrong.
Wait, it was getting this late. Why wasn’t Wenxi back yet?
Those shops weren’t particularly large, after all.
Could he have gotten carried away playing outside and lost track of time?
Pondering this, Rong Xun stood up, intending to step outside and take a look.
“Your Highness.”
Before Rong Xun could even reach the door, it was pushed open.
Mammy Wang walked in carrying a bowl of hot soup and promptly closed the door behind her.
Rong Xun had no pleasant expressions left for her.
“This is no place for you, get out.”
“Your Highness needn’t be in such a rush to dismiss this slave. It won’t hurt to look at this first.”
With that, Mammy Wang produced a jade tally from her sleeve and placed it on the table before Rong Xun.
Rong Xun picked it up for a look, his pupils contracting instantly.
This was the waist pendant he had given to Wenxi!
Forcing himself to stay calm, Rong Xun kept his voice cold as he addressed the woman before him.
“How did this end up in your hands, and where is Wenxi?”
“Right now, Wenxi is at the Yong’an Marquis Residence. Your Highness, the Marquis and Madam request your presence at home, and this slave hopes Your Highness will return with me.”
Wenxi had been captured by them.
Rong Xun gripped the jade tally tightly in his hand.
He had clearly underestimated the Yong’an Marquis Residence; they had actually stooped to using Wenxi to threaten him.
Steadying his nerves, he asked, “What if I refuse to go back? What can you possibly do to me?”
Mammy Wang offered a dismissive, mocking smile.
“This slave is merely an aging matron, what could I possibly do to Your Highness? However, Your Highness must understand that Wenxi is not in this slave’s hands, but in the Marquis’s.”
Rong Xun pocketed the jade tally.
“Fine, I will return with you.”
“Then please follow this slave out through the back door. The Marquis gave strict instructions: since you are merely returning to receive a few words of instruction, there is no need to alarm the rest of the Prince’s Manor.”
Rong Xun glared at Mammy Wang.
These people were truly cunning to the core.
A carriage was parked quietly near the back door of the manor.
Rong Xun boarded it, and the vehicle set off in the direction of the Marquis Residence.
Half an hour later, Rong Xun found himself once again standing inside Rong Huaizhou’s study.
This time, Rong Xun couldn’t even be bothered to keep up any pretense.
He asked straight to the point, “Where is Wenxi?”
“Rebellious son, do you not even know how to address your own father upon seeing him?”
Rong Huaizhou slammed a hand hard against the desk, growling, “Get down on your knees! Did you really think that once married off, I would have no way to discipline you?”
The remark nearly made Rong Xun laugh aloud.
For the past seventeen years, the man had never once acknowledged his existence, and now he wanted to put on paternal airs here.
Rong Xun endured and endured, drawing upon every ounce of civility he possessed to keep himself from cursing out loud.
He straightened his spine and stood his ground.
“Why should I kneel? Who do you think you are? You cast me aside to fend for yourself all those years without a single inquiry, and now that you have use for me, you expect obedience. Well, I refuse to kneel! Release Wenxi right now!”
“You scoundrel!”
Pointing a shaking finger at Rong Xun, Rong Huaizhou shook with rage, his facial hair quivering uncontrollably.
He roared toward the doorway, “Someone come here!”
Before the echo had even faded, several burly guards rushed in and surrounded Rong Xun.
Fuming, Rong Huaizhou barked, “Hold this rebellious son down and force him to his knees!”
“Stop right there!”
Rong Xun crossed his arms over his chest in a defensive posture.
“Fine, fine, if it’s kneeling you want.”
A wise man knows better than to fight when the odds are against him. If he let these hefty brutes shove him to the ground, his knees would either be ruined or in agony for days.
“I’ll kneel, alright?”
At least it wouldn’t cost him a limb.
With exemplary flexibility, Rong Xun dropped to his knees, pointedly turning his back so as not to face Rong Huaizhou.
Rong Huaizhou’s face twisted in fury. “You!”
Rong Xun cut him off first. “You called me back here just to watch me kneel?”
He chuckled, adding, “There was no need to go to such lengths. When you kick the bucket one day, I’ll gladly kneel for seven days and seven nights straight.”
“Rebellious son!”
Rong Huaizhou snatched up an inkstone from his desk and hurled it at Rong Xun.
Rong Xun nimbly ducked to the side, narrowly avoiding the projectile.
Damn it, the old bastard was actually trying to kill him.
Rong Huaizhou grabbed the whip hanging on the wall.
“Today I’m going to thrash this unfilial, disloyal wretch to death!”
“Wait, think this through. If you beat me to death, how will you explain yourself to His Highness Prince Chen?”
Rong Huaizhou’s raised whip hung suspended in the air before slowly lowering.
With a dark expression, he waved his hand to dismiss the guards.
Turning his back to Rong Xun, he took several deep breaths to force down the surging rage in his chest.
“I called you back for the same matter we discussed last time. You surely haven’t forgotten.”
Rong Xun feigned ignorance. “Pardon me, but I really have forgotten. What matter?”
“You!”
Rong Huaizhou felt another wave of violent anger rising, but remembering there was a far more important objective at stake, he forcibly swallowed his wrath.
Soothing his breath, Rong Huaizhou said in a deep voice,
“Go and steal the Prince’s military tally for me.”
Silence settled heavily over the room, chilling to the bone.
Rong Xun slowly lifted his gaze to Rong Huaizhou, asking in disbelief, “What did you just tell me to steal?”
“The Prince’s military tally. The moment you get your hands on it, I will release Wenxi.”
Rong Xun let out a cold laugh.
He had truly underestimated Rong Huaizhou. The man’s ambition knew no bounds.
Monitoring Tan Taisi hadn’t been enough; now he had actually set his sights on the military tally. g Though he was no genius, he knew full well the significance of that tally.
With that single object in hand, one could mobilize every single armed force in the realm outside of the imperial guards.
If such a tally were to fall into the hands of someone like Rong Huaizhou, would the entire realm be thrown into chaos?
“Is Father’s brain filled with water? You cannot simply spout such nonsense.”
Rong Huaizhou glared fiercely at Rong Xun. “Do you think I am joking?”
With that, he summoned the guards waiting outside.
“Take him down to the dungeons!”
“Hey, what do you think you’re doing?”
Two burly guards grabbed Rong Xun by his arms as effortlessly as lifting little chicks and dragged him toward the dungeons.
Rong Huaizhou followed close behind.
Rong Xun felt a wave of bitter regret. If he had known this would happen, he should have learned some self-defense techniques.
Then he wouldn’t have been left in such a passive position.
Passing through a hidden door, the two guards finally released their hold on him.
Rong Huaizhou pointed toward a cell at the very end of the corridor.
“You may go take a look, and then think carefully about whether you will agree to my terms.”
Following the direction Rong Huaizhou indicated, Rong Xun looked over.
The dungeon was damp and chillingly cold, illuminated by only a few flickering oil lamps.
Cockroaches scuttled across the corners from time to time.
The moment one stepped inside, a faint odor of decay assaulted the senses.
To think the Marquis Residence housed such a place.
Clenching his fists, Rong Xun slowly walked forward.
Drawing closer in the dim light, Rong Xun caught sight of a blood-soaked figure lying inside the cell.
He drew in a sharp breath, his eyes widening in horror. “This, this is.”
“Can’t even recognize him? This person is Wenxi.”
Rong Huaizhou appeared behind Rong Xun at some point, letting out a cold laugh. “Whatever I set my mind on doing has never failed. Think carefully on whether you will give me your answer.”
“Wenxi, Wenxi!”
Rong Xun threw himself against the iron bars, shouting Wenxi’s name in a frantic frenzy.
Wenxi lay motionless on the cold stone floor, unconscious. Only the faint rising and falling of his chest indicated he was still breathing.
Though Rong Xun had lived through plenty of hardship before his transmigration, when had he ever witnessed such brutality?
Wenxi was someone who had treated him with genuine kindness upon his arrival in this world.
Yet now, he had been beaten half to death by these monsters.
A rush of hot tears pricked his eyes, flooding him not only with heartache for Wenxi, but also with a searing hatred for Rong Huaizhou.
This man was truly utterly ruthless and devoid of human conscience.