The imperial edict from the palace arrived at the Rong residence that very evening, and news of it also reached the ears of the various spies planted there. Huang Lian’s departure from the palace this time was quite a spectacle; many people had likely already pieced together most of the details along the way. 

By the time the edict concluded with the words “By Imperial Decree,” the news had already spread like wildfire throughout the city. Rong Shuang expressed his gratitude and accepted the edict, then cheerfully invited Huang Lian inside for a drink.

Huang Lian beamed, “Thank you for your kindness, Lord Rong. I’m afraid I’ll be imposing on you.” 

Rong Shuang bustled along beside him, saying, “Not at all, not at all.”

After speaking, he casually instructed Old Ge, “Pour Eunuch Huang a cup of water.”

Huang Lian paused in his steps, his smile freezing on his face. Water. 

Rong Shuang asked with concern, “Eunuch Huang, you must be tired from the journey. Have a cup of hot water and rest a while before heading back.” 

Huang Lian took a step forward: “This servant thanks you, Lord Rong, for your concern.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he made a sharp turn: “Back to the palace—” 

Rong Shuang: “?” What?

“Lord Rong, there’s no need for you to see me off.”

The entourage from the palace surged in just as suddenly as it surged out. Huang Lian didn’t even look back.

Rong Shuang called out from behind, “The weather’s been so unpredictable with the change of seasons—Eunuch Huang, remember to drink plenty of hot water~~.”

Huang Lian: “……”

What a cheapskate. 

Once things had quieted down, Old Ge poked his head out: “Sir, should we pour out that hot water?”

Rong Shuang: “Pour it, pour it. Everyone, have some. Drinking plenty of hot water is good for your health—there’s scientific evidence for that.” 

Old Ge: “?” What evidence? 

Rong Shuang turned and walked back, and Old Ge hurried to catch up: “Your Excellency, Your Excellency, why did His Majesty suddenly issue an edict ordering you to go to Lingfu Temple to pray for blessings? This…” 

“Of course, I requested it myself.”

Rong Shuang stopped in his tracks and spoke earnestly: “Old Ge, the political winds at court have been unpredictable lately. I’m going to lie low for a few days, so I’m entrusting all matters in the mansion—from top to bottom—to you.”

Old Ge agreed and wiped away a tear.

“Your Excellency, you’ll really stop at nothing to avoid attending court.” 

Rong Shuang: “……”

You really haven’t changed a bit. 

The next day.

The imperial decree ordered Rong Shuang to depart within two days, so he got up and first wrapped up the matter of distributing money at yesterday’s court session.

Of course, the silver had to be paid out, but besides the silver, there was one more thing that had to be provided.

He obtained a list of officials from Old Ge and included it in the box—a lengthy document stating that all the officials had contributed together out of gratitude for the new emperor’s kindness.

The names of every official in the court—from the first rank down to the ninth—were listed there; no matter how one looked at it, it was a truly commendable act.

Rong Shuang also instructed Old Ge to lead people to set up two soup kitchens each in the eastern and one in the western parts of the city. Starting today, they would distribute free porridge for ten consecutive days, all in the name of the new emperor and the court officials. The plain porridge was cooked until it was fragrant and thick—so thick that chopsticks stuck upright in it. 

This act of charity cost another hundred taels of silver.

Rong Shuang did not forget to send a copy of the ledger detailing the expenses for the porridge distribution to the palace, demonstrating that he had not pocketed a single copper coin. Later that day, Rong Shuang left his residence to take a look around the East Market and, while he was there, helped himself to a bowl of plain porridge. 

He sat casually on the stone steps nearby, watching the common folk happily line up. Feeling in good spirits himself, he took a couple of sips of the porridge. It was delicious.

From now on, this porridge would have to make its way onto the dining table at the Rong Manor as well.

“Oh.”

“Tsk.”

“Tsk…”

Rong Shuang looked up: “Whoa!!!” 

Qin Tianyang was startled by him: “Are you crazy?!” 

Rong Shuang took another sip of porridge: “I thought that was our secret code.” 

Qin Tianyang: “……”

“As if I’d have any kind of secret code with someone like you.”

Rong Shuang: “What’s the Young Marquis doing at the East Market? Got something to do?” 

Qin Tianyang stood beside her with his arms crossed: “Mind your own business—why are you telling this marquis what to do?” 

Rong Shuang let out an “Oh” and obediently stopped bothering him.

After waiting a while, Qin Tianyang couldn’t help himself and started rambling again.

“Do you think I’m the only one who came here?”

Rong Shuang: “(Drinking porridge)”

“You’ve been acting so out of character these past few days—throwing money around and handing out porridge. Do you have any idea how many people are watching you?” 

Rong Shuang continued to eat his porridge.

Qin Tianyang stared at him for a moment: “Aren’t you curious?” 

Rong Shuang didn’t even look up: “Not curious.” 

Qin Tianyang: “……” 

“Pfft.”

Rong Shuang smiled broadly: “Wow~.”

Qin Tianyang: “I’ll be honest with you—many of the people coming to get porridge are spies sent by officials from various ministries. They’re afraid you’ll mix sand into the porridge.” 

“And there are people from the palace, plus Prince Ning, Prince Xian, Prince Yu, Prince Yong, and Prince Xin…” 

Rong Shuang：“……”

What’s going on? Did you come to the East Market to attend court? 

He looked up and asked, “Would the Young Marquis like to try a bowl? You can keep an eye on me to make sure I’m not sneaking sand into the porridge.” 

Qin Tianyang: “Do you think this Marquis has nothing better to do? I just stopped by on my way…”

Before he could finish, a young servant from the Marquis’s mansion came running over with a bowl: “Young Marquis! Young Marquis! Your porridge has arrived.” 

Qin Tianyang looked as if he desperately wanted to rush over and cover the servant’s mouth.

The servant, not understanding the implication, added, “I’ve disguised myself—there’s absolutely no way they’ll recognize us as people from the Marquis of Xinyi’s mansion!” 

Qin Tianyang shouted at the top of his lungs, “I dare you speak any louder!” 

Rong Shuang was beaming with joy.

After laughing for a moment, he stood up, took the bowl of porridge from the servant, and handed it to Qin Tianyang: “Hurry up and drink it, Young Marquis. Cold porridge can give you a stomachache.”

Qin Tianyang waved the servant away impatiently, took the bowl of porridge, and sat down beside him. He took a sip, then looked up to see Rong Shuang still glancing around.

He asked, “What are you doing?”

Rong Shuang immediately shushed him.

Qin Tianyang looked around warily: “???” What the—! 

Rong Shuang giggled: “Nothing.”

“You surnamed Rong, I suspect you’re mentally unstable.” 

Rong Shuang: “No need to suspect.”

Qin Tianyang opened his mouth to tut, but halfway through, he remembered how Rong Shuang was always making a big fuss, so he forced himself to hold it back. Rong Shuang heard every word.

He thought Qin Tianyang was a bit like that yappy little mutt his mom kept—a blast to tease. Just as he was reminiscing, he suddenly saw a small commotion break out in the line for free porridge up ahead.

“Move aside, move aside!”

“Move it! Can’t you see our young master is coming to get some porridge?” 

“Get out of the way! Don’t you have eyes?!”

“If you bump into our young master, you’ll be in for it!”

The one shoving him was a fat young master with a bulging head, chubby cheeks, and a menacing face, flanked by a large group of henchmen. He kept shoving and yelling. 

Rong Shuang: “Tsk.”

Qin Tianyang, who had just taken a sip of porridge: “?” Why are you stealing my lines?

The moment he looked up, he saw Rong Shuang bending down to scoop up a handful of small pebbles from the ground. He asked, “What are you doing…?”

Rong Shuang had already flung them toward him with a “whoosh.”

“Thud”—it hit the chubby young master right in the face.

“Ouch, ouch, ouch! Who just hit me?!”

The sycophants were horrified; they stretched out their arms to form a pentagonal protective circle around the chubby young master: “Protect the young master! Protect the young master!” 

Rong Shuang whistled—or tried to—for a while: “Look this way!”

Just as the chubby young master turned to look, Rong Shuang flung another one with a “biu”—this time it missed, whizzing past his face. The chubby young master spotted him and immediately flew into a rage, charging out of the line for porridge.

“Do you take this young master for dead or something?!”

A sycophant standing nearby recognized Rong Shuang, grabbed the chubby young master, and whispered, “Young Master, that looks like Lord Rong Zhihuan!”

Hearing the name only fired up the chubby young master even more: “So what if it’s Rong Zhihuan? Everyone knows His Majesty hates that corrupt official with a passion. Just last night, he issued an imperial decree ordering him to go to Lingfu Temple to chant sutras and pray for blessings. It’s only a matter of time before his entire clan is executed. Do you really think this young master is afraid of him?” 

Rong Shuang idly weighed the pebble in his hand.

To be honest, this situation was entirely within Rong Shuang’s expectations; after all, it was common knowledge throughout the entire Great Liang Dynasty that he wouldn’t live much longer.

A smart person with even a modicum of manners could maintain a veneer of politeness toward him—for example, even while cursing him to a miserable death in their heart, they’d still feign concern for his health.

But as for someone like the fat young master—who had a powerful backer but no manners—he certainly wouldn’t be afraid of him. There was nothing to be done.

Seeing the fat young master storming over to pick a fight, Rong Shuang took a step back and looked at Qin Tianyang. 

Qin Tianyang, holding a bowl of porridge ready to drink: “……” I’m really at a loss.

He stood up, and Rong Shuang exclaimed in surprise, “Young Marquis, what are you doing here?”

Qin Tianyang’s face went stiff, his acting clearly amateurish: “This Marquis has come to the East Market to see… to see if anyone is… oppressing the common people. That is what this Marquis hates most in the world…” 

Rong Shuang pointed at the chubby young master running toward them: “Did you hear that? He was talking about you.” The chubby young master looked terrified and froze in his tracks.

Rong Shuang seized the opportunity to lavish praise on him: “Your Lordship is truly wise and valiant. It is a blessing for the common people to have you upholding justice!” 

Qin Tianyang was so flattered by Rong Shuang’s praise that he didn’t know how to respond.

He could only furrow his brow at the fat young master and snap, “Is the Vice Minister’s mansion short on food or clothing? You’re nothing but a pile of fat, yet you come out here to scramble for food with the common folk. You’ve brought utter shame upon your father’s name, you beast—get out of here this instant!” 

The chubby young master was terrified and didn’t dare say another word: “Please calm down, Young Marquis! Please calm down! I’ll get out of here right away!”

With that, he quickly gathered his gang of henchmen and slunk away.

Rong Shuang stood behind them with her arms crossed, watching the spectacle unfold, and didn’t forget to give Qin Tianyang a round of applause.

“The young marquis is so commanding.”

Qin Tianyang turned around: “You dare to use this marquis?”

Rong Shuang admitted candidly, “That’s putting it too nicely—you flatter me. Young Marquis, I was just borrowing the tiger’s might.” 

Qin Tianyang snorted derisively.

Rong Shuang gave his bowl a little shake. “Want some more porridge?”

Qin Tianyang replied stiffly, “This marquis isn’t here to compete with the common folk for food; I’m just checking to see if this porridge meets the standards.” 

“Oh~~”

Qin Tianyang: “Don’t you have anything else to say?” 

Rong Shuang thought for a moment: “Wow! We’re really on the same page!” 

“……”

After a long silence, Qin Tianyang asked, “The whole capital is abuzz with rumors that His Majesty has demoted you to Lingfu Temple to recite sutras. Why don’t you seem the least bit worried?”

Rong Shuangxin thought to himself, “What nonsense,” because he’d been the one to bring it up in the first place.

But what actually came out of his mouth was: “Thunder and rain are both gifts from Heaven—what’s there to rush about? Why don’t you, Young Marquis, go plead my case with His Majesty?” 

Qin Tianyang shouted back at the top of his lungs, “Am I supposed to give up my entire clan?” 

Rong Shuang chuckled, “Well, you’d better keep them. All right, all right. I’d better head back and pack my bags—I have to hit the road first thing tomorrow morning.”

With that, he went into the soup kitchen to serve bowls of porridge.

Qin Tianyang, however, felt a sense of unease.

This “great pest” didn’t seem as bad as everyone said—was it just him? Oh no, was he about to go down the wrong path alongside Rong Zhihuan?

That simply wouldn’t do.

For the sake of his nine clans, Qin Tianyang decided—

Over there, Rong Shuang set down his bowl of congee, exchanged a few words with Old Ge, then turned back and waved to Qin Tianyang: “Young Marquis! I’ll be taking my leave now!”

After speaking, he didn’t forget to add, “Young Marquis, please drop by more often to keep an eye on things!”

Qin Tianyang: “This Marquis will be coming by to supervise you all the time!” Two voices rang out simultaneously.

Both fell silent.

The next second, the two voices rang out simultaneously once more.

Rong Shuang: “What if someone cuts corners? What do you think?”

Qin Tianyang: “If anyone cuts corners, I’ll report it all to His Majesty!”

……

Rong Shuang: “We really are on the same page, Young Marquis.” 

Qin Tianyang felt as if the sky had fallen.

His nine generations!!!

That very evening, Qin Tianyang went to the palace to apologize. He recounted everything that had happened at the East Market that day.

“Your Majesty, this humble subject absolutely had no intention of engaging in an illicit affair with Rong Zhihuan! I beg Your Majesty to see this clearly!” 

Ying Wujiu, who had known about this for two hours already, didn’t even look up as he said, “Instead of worrying about that, you’d be better off worrying that your martial arts training isn’t up to par—and that your father will return from the Northwest to break your legs.” 

Qin Tianyang: “……”

Ying Wujiu: “The idea of going to Lingfu Temple to recite sutras was his suggestion to me—and you actually believe his nonsense.” 

Qin Tianyang fell silent.

Ying Wujiu set down his brush and, as a final parting shot, hurled a provocative remark. 

“Can’t you see? He’s treating you like a dog.” 

Meanwhile, Rong Shuang, who was packing his belongings at the mansion, sneezed violently.

Who’s thinking about him anyway?