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Seeing that their expressions were perfectly ordinary, he was puzzled but did not show it, merely lowering his head to taste the food. Before the dishes even entered his mouth, their fragrance had already intoxicated him. Once he tasted them, they seemed like celestial delicacies, leaving an endless aftertaste.

Even someone as lofty and proud as Rong Lian had no choice but to yield before the dishes.

After the meal, he rarely offered praise. "Mengshan County is truly blessed with outstanding people and rich lands. The jade-platter delicacies in Brother Duan's shop cannot be found even in Shengjing. It is truly astonishing."

Duan Changjin froze, then looked at Rong Xi in a daze.

Had Eldest Brother never mentioned it to his family?

Seeing his expression, Hu Yulin suddenly laughed heartily. "Brother Wenxiu, the dishes in your shop truly deserve such praise!"

The days were short and the nights long now. The sun had already sunk behind the mountains, and evening was approaching. Rong Xi rose to take his leave. "Brothers, no need to see us off. My second brother and I will return home first."

The three saw them off beyond the city. As they watched the carriage gradually disappear into the distance, Hu Yulin sighed. "Second Young Master Rong is neither false nor pretentious. His nature is sincere and genuine. He is indeed a fine young man."

After they returned home, night fell, and stars dotted the sky.

Liu Zishi and Xi Yan carried the goods out of the carriage.

"Second Young Master, why did you buy all this rice and grain?" Liu Zishi asked without thinking as he carried a heavy sack.

Rong Lian answered expressionlessly, "I should bear some share of the household's mundane affairs as well."

He was not good at expressing his emotions and had always been mistaken for aloof and unsociable. Liu Zishi did not think much of it and was about to explain when he heard Rong Xi give an instruction.

"Just move them into the kitchen."

Night fell.

Rong Xi slept soundly in bed, but Rong Lian tossed and turned.

After observing Elder Brother for an entire day, he seemed far more spirited than he had been in Shengjing. Moreover, his words and conduct were no different from those of a refined young scholar. Though his friends were merchants and craftsmen, their characters were far from ordinary. They treated others sincerely and were worth befriending.

Elder Brother had changed so much. Why, then, had Qian Zhong claimed after returning to the capital that Elder Brother was arrogant and spoiled?

Rong Lian was no fool and had a mind for calculation. Past events all surfaced in his mind, each one arranged clearly. Of the matters concerning Rong Xi, aside from forcing Liang Siwen, there seemed to be nothing else.

Only countless rumors still lingered in his ears.

Elder Brother's vile reputation was widespread throughout Shengjing. Yet when it came to actual examples, no one seemed able to name any.

Though he and Elder Brother had both been raised by their mother since childhood, he had his concubine mother to look after him. She had been strict with him and never indulged him.

Later, when he began his studies, he showed some talent and earned Father's regard. Father often taught him personally.

Elder Brother, on the other hand, had grown steadily fatter after the age of three. Their mother indulged and spoiled him, while Father had no time to discipline him, so he often caused trouble.

But looking at it now, all those so-called "misdeeds" had merely been spoken of by outsiders or household servants. He had never personally seen Elder Brother bully anyone.

He still remembered that when they were young, Elder Brother had treated him very generously. It was only after he came to understand the ways of the world that their estrangement gradually began.

The only time he had seen Elder Brother lose control was when he forced Brother Liang.

Rong Lian pondered for a long time before finally falling into a deep sleep at the hour of the Ox, only to awaken with a start again at the hour of the Rabbit.

The sky outside the window was dark, and the golden sun had not yet appeared.

Unable to sleep any longer, he walked into the courtyard. Hearing activity next door, he went to investigate out of curiosity.

Rong Xi and Liu Zishi were exercising in the courtyard. When they saw Rong Lian arrive, neither of them stopped.

"Second Brother, you are up early today, but breakfast is not ready yet. Wait a moment."

The slightly plump youth spoke as he ran. A thin layer of sweat covered his forehead, a faint flush colored his cheeks, and though he was panting, he did not stop.

"It is nothing. I am not hungry." The cold breeze immediately cleared Rong Lian's head. Realizing that he was disturbing them, he turned to leave.

Just then, Liu He arrived carrying a tray.

"My lord, the medicine is ready."

Steam rose from the medicinal broth in the bowl, and its bitter smell drifted into Rong Lian's nose. He stood there stunned, then asked after recovering himself, "Elder Brother, are you ill?"

Rong Xi wiped away his sweat with a cloth and replied casually, "My body is weak. I received a good prescription from a physician, so I brew and drink medicine every day."

After Elder Brother fell ill as a child, Mother had often used precious medicinal ingredients to brew tonics for him. How could Elder Brother's body be weak? And medicines were expensive—where did Elder Brother get the money to buy them?

Rong Lian's mind immediately became a complete mess.

He could understand classics and statutes, yet he could not see through the many strange things before him.

Once the medicinal broth had cooled, Rong Xi drank it in one gulp before returning to his room to bathe.

After breakfast, Rong Lian sent Xi Yan to find Liu Zishi, intending to draw information from him. Unexpectedly, Xi Yan returned quickly and said in puzzlement, "Second Young Master, Liu Zishi is reading and practicing calligraphy in the study."

Ink dripped onto the paper. Only after Xi Yan's reminder did Rong Lian come back to himself. "He is reading and practicing calligraphy. Where is Elder Brother?"

"If this servant did not see wrongly, Eldest Young Master is teaching him."

Had Xi Yan not seen it with his own eyes, he would not have believed that Eldest Young Master, who had never studied properly, could teach a young servant to read.

"Elder Brother... is completely different from before." Rong Lian let out a soft sigh. "Grind the ink for me. I wish to send a letter back to the capital."

Linxi was very pleasant, and he had to report his safety to the family. Besides, many new things were produced in Mengshan County and could not be found even in Shengjing. He found the new coal briquettes and coal stoves exceedingly convenient, so he wanted to mention them in the letter and let his family purchase them from traveling merchants.

Over the next several days, Rong Lian and his servant gradually grew accustomed to the peaceful life at Rong Residence.

The horseshoes were successfully made, and Rong Xi was invited to Hu Residence.

"Eldest Brother, you truly are a lucky star!" Hu Yulin said with high spirits. "This will drastically reduce the losses suffered by the merchant caravan, and the horses will be spared much pain as well."

Jiang Weiping was also filled with excitement. He hesitated before asking, "Eldest Brother, should this method be reported to the authorities?"

Remembering how the authorities had taken the iron-smelting method for themselves last time, he was now rather unwilling to go to them again.

A person appeared in Rong Xi's mind, and he replied with a smile, "Not this time. I have my own means."

Hu Yulin and Jiang Weiping thought of his identity and agreed completely. Reporting it to the county yamen was inferior to informing Minister Rong directly. The Ministry of Works and the Ministry of War were both inside the imperial city, very close to the Ministry of Personnel.

The two had misunderstood.

"Eldest Brother, a few days ago, you asked me to find kilns and kiln workers. I have found them. I have also purchased ample raw materials for firing the new wares. When can we begin firing them?"

Hu Yulin appeared even more anxious than Rong Xi.

A merchant's instinct for profit made him seem somewhat endearing.

Rong Xi broke into a smile. "Any time."

After returning home, he personally wrote a letter and sent it to the Prince's Residence in Shengjing. Several days later, Qin Ke, who had returned to the capital, happened to receive the letter.