Chapter 15#
Confessing Guilt – Little King Makes His Official Debut.#
Mingzheng Hall.
Shangguan Jie stood in the hall, and upon hearing footsteps, immediately turned and bowed. “Your subject pays homage to Your Highness, may you live a thousand years.”
The Crown Prince bypassed Shangguan Jie, took his seat behind the desk, and said, “Rise.”
Shangguan Jie turned to face the Crown Prince, lifted his robes, and knelt. “Your subject carelessly lost Po Yinlin and has come specially to confess my guilt.”
“When was it lost?”
“…At the end of the third month.”
The Crown Prince said, “You only come to report to me on the first day of the fifth month. It seems you have not caught the thief.”
Shangguan Jie felt both guilty and fearful, and also somewhat disgraced. For a moment he choked on his words, then buried his head and said, “Your subject is incompetent. I beg Your Highness to punish me for losing the precious artifact and concealing it without reporting.”
“I bestowed Po Yinlin upon you because of your merits in guarding, and because the precious artifact matched your bravery,” the Crown Prince said. “I will not punish you today, but weapons from the Forbidden Palace must not fall into the hands of others.”
Not expecting the Crown Prince to let him off lightly, Shangguan Jie heaved a great sigh of relief and immediately clasped his hands and said, “Your subject will spare no effort in pursuing the thief and recovering the precious artifact!”
“Mm,” the Crown Prince said. “Rise.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.” Shangguan Jie stood and straightened himself.
The Crown Prince looked at Shangguan Jie and said, “I have heard a certain salacious rumor these past few days, that Fushu often carouses with the male entertainers of the Mandarin Duck Pavilion. Is there any truth to this?”
Fushu was Zong Rui’s style name. Shangguan Jie knew that the Crown Prince was not really asking him to tattle, so he said, “In reply to Your Highness, that entertainer sings well. I have heard that when Vice Minister Mei celebrated his birthday previously, he also summoned this entertainer to perform at his residence. I imagine that the Crown Prince (heir) also simply admires his fine voice.”
“You are often together, so remember to remind the Crown Prince of his conduct from time to time. I don’t care if he is indiscriminate with gender or only favors men, whether his affections are sincere or merely transactional—none of that can go too far.” The Crown Prince paused slightly, then said coolly, “Acts of bullying men and women, or forcing oneself upon others, are even more forbidden.”
Shangguan Jie’s heart jumped, and he hastened to say, “Your subject will keep this in mind. I will speak to the Crown Prince about it upon my return.”
The Crown Prince said, “You may go.”
“Your subject takes his leave.” Shangguan Jie bowed and withdrew.
When the man was far away, Yu Shaoyun turned sideways to look at the Crown Prince, perplexed. “I thought you never interfered with how the Prince of Ning’s household raised their children?”
The Crown Prince said flatly, “I choose to interfere now. Is that not allowed?”
“Of course it’s allowed!” Yu Shaoyun said. “By the way, will you be going out tonight?”
“If you want to sneak the cat out, feel free to go ahead.” The Crown Prince saw right through his circumlocution to his true intention.
Joy rose in Yu Shaoyun’s heart, and he immediately said, “Then I’ll be off!”
“Remember to handle your official duties first,” the Crown Prince said. “Otherwise, the two of you, man and cat, can pair up and wander the ends of the earth together.”
Yu Shaoyun instantly put on a serious and solemn expression. “Understood!”
He turned and walked out of the hall, flipped a somersault down the white jade steps, and whistled toward the covered corridor. Little King immediately dashed out from behind the corner and followed him out for some fresh air.
A few breaths later, Bai Tang landed from the rooftops, strode quickly into the hall, and stood before the desk, reporting Pei Xiting’s movements for the day. Finally, he said, “People from the Prince of Ning’s household are also shadowing him.”
“Fushu’s people?” the Crown Prince asked.
“The fifth young master,” Bai Tang said. “Among the Prince of Ning’s several sons, the fifth young master keeps the lowest profile. He is said to have a gentle disposition, quite similar to the former Pei San. However, I have not heard of any association between the two of them.”
The Crown Prince said, “Shangguan Jie and Pei Wenjuan also had no dealings before. Yet now they are suddenly entangled together.”
Bai Tang said, “I cannot fathom their motives.”
“Simple,” the Crown Prince said. “Attracted by looks, and intending to possess.”
Bai Tang suddenly understood. “Then that day at the Fu Meng Tower, when Pei San was disheveled, was it because he had shared a room with the young Marquis Shangguan?”
The Crown Prince looked up at his subordinate, who was deep in thought, and said, “Are you very curious?”
“A little,” Bai Tang admitted without reservation. “Last time, Yu Shaoyun tricked me into going to the brothels to listen to songs, and we stumbled upon a pair of illicit lovers. Thus, I have a basic understanding of matters between men and women, but I have no knowledge whatsoever of matters between men.”
“Next time, you can have Shaoyun take you to the southern pleasure quarters to chance upon another pair of illicit lovers, and then you will understand,” the Crown Prince suggested.
“Understood. I will keep that in mind,” Bai Tang said solemnly.
The little beggar had a pair of flying feet, and the trio of pursuers returned in defeat. Zhao Yi in particular had practically collapsed on the ground. They had no choice but to agree to rest at home for a few days before going to spank the little thief’s bottom, then each went their separate ways.
Pei Jintang, who had been at the forefront, had nearly run his legs off, muttering the whole way. Midway, he ran into the steward who had come to fetch them, and sighed.
The steward had certainly been sent by the madam to question them. “Why are the two young masters back so late? The curfew passed long ago.”
Pei Xiting’s calves were trembling. He spoke before Pei Jintang could. “Master Zhao Si was extremely hospitable and insisted we stay. It would have been rude to refuse and risk offending him, so we could only stay a little longer.”
“Exactly, exactly,” Pei Jintang nodded beside him, speaking with great conviction. “Master Zhao Si is genial, but given our difference in status, how could we presume to be so bold as to ask to leave first?”
“That’s one way to put it,” the steward said, looking at the two of them. “But why are both young masters dusty and disheveled, stooped over and shaking?”
Pei Xiting said, “Someone snatched Master Zhao Si’s purse, and we helped chase after the thief. We’re tired from running.”
This was true, so Pei Jintang had more confidence. He cursed with genuine feeling, “You should have seen that little thief—his legs were like they had wheels on them. He ran so fast!”
“Blasted villain, daring to steal from Master Zhao Si. He’s definitely in for it! The two young masters have worked hard. Look at your legs shaking—you should go back to your courtyards, soak in a bath, and rest early.” The steward bowed. “I’ll go report back to the madam.”
“Go on, go on.” Pei Jintang nodded. Once the steward was gone, he couldn’t help winking at Pei Xiting. “Hey, is it okay to slander Sifan like that?”
Pei Xiting asked, “Did Sifan ardently invite us to stay?”
Pei Jintang said, “Seems… yes.”
“Then what slander is there?” Pei Xiting walked forward, massaging his lower back. “Just telling the truth and using it as a shield. Otherwise, you’d be waiting to get a lecture.”
“Then forget it. I don’t want to hear a single word. My ears are calloused already.” Pei Jintang sighed. “As for me, I think I’m usually pretty easygoing, but every time I hear Mother’s lectures, I feel my head buzzing and this fire building up inside me. But I don’t dare let it out, and it just suffocates me… Ugh.”
“Who actually enjoys listening to a whole bunch of things they don’t want to hear?” At the fork in the road, Pei Xiting patted Pei Jintang on the shoulder. He didn’t offer much comfort; it wasn’t his strong suit.
Pei Xiting returned to Wangchun Courtyard. After washing up, he had the servants set out a reclining chair on the porch, and the maid in charge of combing stood behind him to dry his hair.
In a bamboo basket lay five-colored threads of red, green, yellow, white, and black, along with a box of small white crystal beads. The young maid sneaked a peek and saw the various threads being neatly woven around slender, fair fingers. The third young master was deftly stringing beads and tying knots, actually making a set of long-life threads that were in no way inferior to those sold outside.
“Your hands are so clever!” Perhaps because the third young master was usually gentle, the young maid wasn’t too afraid of him at heart and blurted it out without thinking.
“Is it pretty?” Pei Xiting asked.
The young maid nodded emphatically. “Very pretty!”
Pei Xiting picked up the long-life thread and held it out. “Then I’ll give it to you.”
Who would have expected a master to give a maid something he’d made with his own hands? The young maid was flattered. “Really?”
“Isn’t this thing just meant to ward off evil at the Dragon Boat Festival?” Pei Xiting said. “Just for the occasion.”
“Thank you, Third Young Master!” The young maid took it with both hands, carefully put it on her wrist, and pulled the two knot beads at the end. The long-life thread tightened to fit her wrist perfectly.
The young maid’s wrist was slender and rather pale. Pei Xiting withdrew his gaze. “Very pretty.”
“It’s because Third Young Master is so skilled!” The young maid continued drying Pei Xiting’s hair. Seeing him lower his head to start braiding a second one, she found it strange—she had never seen the third young master touch a needle or thread before.
When the hair was nearly dry, the young maid put the towel into the basket, took out the safflower oil Pei Xiting had bought earlier, and used it to condition his hair. Finally, she fanned it for a while and said, “Third Young Master, it’s done.”
Pei Xiting hummed in acknowledgment. “You may go.”
“Yes, please rest early.” The young maid curtsied, picked up her basket, and left.
Pei Xiting finished braiding the second thread, stood up, and stretched. He took the long-life thread and went into the bedroom.
The bed was already made, with only a single candle lit. Pei Xiting rolled over and burrowed into the covers. He tucked a soft pillow under his face, arched his bottom up, knelt with both knees on the bed, and stretched his upper body forward with his arms, letting out a comfortable groan.
Maybe because he was so tired today, once he hit the bed and relaxed into the position, Pei Xiting quickly grew sleepy. In a daze, something fluffy was rubbing against the back of his head. Fur brushed his ear, and he woke with a start, turning his head abruptly—
A large cat with a round head, short ears, and orange-yellow fur with black horizontal stripes was staring at him with round, amber eyes.
Where did a tiger come from?!