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Rong Xi walked over slowly and stopped half a person's distance away.

"Second Brother."

The other protagonist of the book had unexpectedly appeared before his eyes.

The two looked at each other for several breaths. Rong Xi recovered first and instructed Liu Zishi behind him, "Go help the Second Young Master unload his luggage."

Liu Zishi answered and left the residence, carrying trunks and cases from the carriage.

Rong Lian glanced at Xi Yan. Xi Yan understood and ran off to help Liu Zishi.

So many people in the residence—it was both unexpected and only natural.

Only upon seeing Rong Lian did Rong Xi recall that the book had mentioned how, after the Rong Clan's eldest legitimate son had tragically drowned, the Rong Clan's Second Young Master returned to live in the ancestral residence in Linxi for nearly a year, citing the need for peace and quiet.

He did not return to the capital until the following year's provincial examination.

"Old Liu, prepare a side room for the Second Young Master." After giving the order, Rong Xi led Rong Lian to the main hall.

"Why has Second Brother come here?" Though he already knew the answer, Rong Xi still asked.

The person before him had grown much thinner, and the outlines of his handsome, refined features had emerged. Rong Lian sighed inwardly and said, "Shengjing has too many troubles. I came here to study in peace. We have not seen each other for months, yet Elder Brother has grown far thinner."

Rong Xi remembered the original novel and knew Rong Lian's character.

As one of the protagonists, he appeared aloof and proud, yet his heart was not narrow. Among the Rong Clan's sons, he was the most outstanding, and he was also the one most sincere toward the original owner of this body.

He harbored great ambitions and possessed remarkable talent, eventually rising to the highest ranks beneath the throne. Yet while his official career went smoothly, his path in love was riddled with thorns.

One thought too much and worried too deeply; the other's thoughts were far too naive. The entire book was a grand drama of

tortured love.

The hardest obstacle to cross was surely that they were both men.

"Elder Brother?" Seeing him staring blankly into space, Rong Lian could not help calling out.

Rong Xi came back to himself and suddenly smiled. "Second Brother, study in peace. I certainly will not disturb you."

Rong Lian had likely fled Shengjing to escape the feelings in his heart as well.

He truly was rather pitiful.

Rong Xi sighed to himself. Both were fine young men. Though they had shared a grave in death, they had never shared a bed in life. It truly made one's heart ache.

There was something inexplicable in his gaze. Rong Lian felt a chill creep down his back and said with a stern expression, "Elder Brother, you should study with me."

No. He did not want to.

"Second Brother has traveled far by boat and carriage. You must be exhausted. Old Liu should have finished preparing your room already. I'll take you there so you can rest awhile." Rong Xi tried to change the subject.

Rong Lian understood that ice three feet thick did not form in a single day, so he said no more and followed him to the side room.

The room was neat and orderly, its furnishings complete, and every item was new.

Rong Lian was secretly startled. He knew the ancestral residence had little income, and the money he had given Elder Brother that day could only have covered rice and grain.

Where had the household found spare money to commission new furnishings?

Having only just arrived, he did not rashly ask. He merely tucked the question away in his heart.

After settling Rong Lian properly, Rong Xi went to the study and bent over his desk to write.

By late afternoon, the meal was set on the table. As Rong Xi had no time that day, Liu He could only take charge of the cooking. There were merely salted flatbreads and soup—truly a shabby spread.

Seeing it, Rong Lian felt guilty.

That day, Elder Brother had bullied Younger Brother Liang, and he too had burned with anger. When Father angrily sent Elder Brother away to Linxi, he had not tried to stop him.

Now that he thought of it, Elder Brother had been living in hardship while they feasted in fine robes and rich food in Shengjing. It truly should not have been so.

"Elder Brother, is the household short of rice and grain? I brought some money and silk. If—"

"Second Brother," Rong Xi interrupted him, "your money and silk should be used for brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. As for household matters, your elder brother is here."

Hearing this, Rong Lian said no more, but he made up his mind to take on the household's affairs.

Early the next morning, Rong Xi and Liu Zishi rose early and exercised in the courtyard.

Rong Lian and his servant had rushed all the way here and were still weary, not yet awake. Only when the golden sun had climbed high did they rise groggily.

Seeing Rong Xi and the other two looking full of life as they waited to share breakfast with them, both showed embarrassed expressions.

Rong Xi had prepared breakfast himself. The lean pork porridge was fragrant, fresh, soft, and glutinous, while the scallion oil pancakes were crisp and refreshing. Even though Rong Lian and his servant were sufficiently restrained, they could not help eating thirty percent more than usual.

After breakfast, Rong Lian believed yesterday's words had wounded Rong Xi's pride, which was why breakfast had been so lavish and delicious.

Seeing Rong Xi preparing to leave the residence, he asked, "Elder Brother, are you going to the county town? Could you take me along?"

Rong Xi heard this and saw the carriage waiting outside the residence, so he agreed.

When the original owner had been driven to Linxi, the household servants had delivered him to the ancestral residence by carriage before returning home. Rong Lian and his servant had driven here themselves, so this carriage had not returned to Shengjing and was conveniently left behind for use.

The two men brought their two servants and rode the carriage into town.

Rong Lian wished to buy rice, grain, paper, and ink, while Rong Xi wished to find Hu Yulin, so they went their separate ways.

When he arrived at the Hu Residence, Hu Yulin received him warmly.

"Eldest Brother rarely leaves the residence. Since you have come out today, why not call Shouyuan and gather together at Gourmet Pavilion?"

Thinking of Rong Lian, Rong Xi shook his head. "My second brother arrived home yesterday. It would not be convenient for me to stay out long."

"No matter. I'll send a servant to invite him. Since he is Eldest Brother's own younger brother, I should naturally be the host." Hu Yulin's narrow eyes curved as he raised his sleeve, about to instruct a household servant.

Rong Xi said helplessly, "There is no need. He is in town as well."

"Then all the better. We can go together to Brother Duan's place later."

With matters having reached this point, Rong Xi could no longer refuse. He could only change the subject and say, "I came today because I wish to ask Brother for a favor."

At the mention of serious business, Hu Yulin's expression turned solemn. "Eldest Brother, speak freely."

"Brother Xuan Shi has seen much and knows much. Do you know whether Mengshan County has any highly skilled kiln workers?" Seeing Hu Yulin's startled expression, he explained, "I wish to fire a new kind of vessel, and I need a kiln and kiln workers to assist me."

Hu Yulin was drawn in by the words "new kind of vessel." Though curious, he did not ask, merely saying, "Leave this matter to me. I will certainly handle it properly for Eldest Brother."

Rong Xi smiled, took a sheet of paper from his sleeve, and handed it to Hu Yulin. "The materials written on this paper are needed to fire the new vessel. I wish to purchase them, but I do not know where they may be bought."

"Quartz sand, alkali, limestone..." After reading it, Hu Yulin's lips curled slightly. "Eldest Brother's thoughts truly are hard to fathom. If I help you purchase these materials, will Eldest Brother tell me what exactly this new vessel is?"

Rong Xi knew he had spotted another business opportunity and did not wish to conceal it from him. "Glass."

Hu Yulin's brows drew together. "I have only heard of glazed glass. It is a rare thing. What is glass? Could it be even more precious than glazed glass?"