Chapter 20#
The Courtyard: “See You There, Don’t Miss It.”#
“My dear sir, I guarantee it—renting this little courtyard will be an absolute steal for you!”
In the evening, the broker led the “master and servant” pair around Lanyin Street, finally stopping before an empty courtyard. Pointing at the antique gate, he said with great enthusiasm: “Lanyin Street is the closest street to the Imperial Palace. All the officials live here. Just look at your neighbors—all lords from the Crane Cage Bureau. Outsiders wouldn’t dare come here, so it’s very safe for you to live in.”
It was indeed quiet here, not even a single peddler in sight. Even with just a wall between, one could sleep in without easily being disturbed. Pei Xiting signaled the broker to unlock the door and asked, “Outsiders wouldn’t dare come—but would ruffians dare?”
The broker lowered his head to unlock the lock, saying: “Anything is possible! But you can build good relations with the neighbors. That way, even if you encounter burglars, you just need to yell once, and you’ll have ready-made guards all around, all of them skilled.”
The courtyard gate swung open, revealing a spacious and clean little yard, clearly well-maintained. The left corridor housed the kitchen and two storage rooms. The center consisted of an open front hall, dining room, and tea room. The right corridor had three bedrooms.
The broker gestured as he spoke: “The master bedroom comes with a small study, fully furnished.”
Yuan Fang saw that the Third Young Master Pei, who had rejected the previous seven houses with seven different excuses, finally showed no intention of turning and leaving. So he went to inspect the rooms, silently praying that Third Young Master Pei would make a decision quickly—he was starving!
—Next time he went out with Pei Xiting, he would definitely need to prepare some dry rations in advance. The man really knew how to shop.
Pei Xiting walked to the right and caught sight of a wall of seasonal roses, pinkish-white dotted with peach-red. He couldn’t help pausing his gaze, murmuring: “‘Suddenly startled by red glazed glass, a thousand brilliant hues bloom.’”
Seeing Pei Xiting’s liking, the broker quickly said: “You’re clearly a man of refined taste! This rose wall blooms beautifully, but it also requires maintenance. That’s why the courtyard remained empty—the lords of the Crane Cage Bureau are too busy with official duties to have such leisure!”
Yuan Fang popped out of the kitchen, nodded at Pei Xiting, his eyes clearly saying: It’s really good. Rent it, rent it.
Pei Xiting also thought it was good, mainly because he liked the rose wall. He asked, “How much?”
“If you sincerely want to rent, I’ll give you a fair price—nine thousand coppers a month. How about that?” Pei Xiting didn’t speak, so the broker quickly added, “You two, you know the housing prices in Yejing, especially on Lanyin Street. If this courtyard were for sale, it would cost at least two thousand silver taels.”
“With the same plot size, the neighbor on the left rents for six thousand, the one on the right for seven thousand, but I’m charged nine thousand,” Pei Xiting said, looking at the broker with a half-smile. “Do I look like a cash cow with too much money to spend?”
Yuan Fang silently nodded: Pretty much.
The broker scratched his head and smiled apologetically, saying: “You really came prepared. Alright, I’ll be straight with you. Your left neighbor is Assistant Envoy You who once saved my employer from bandits’ knives; your right neighbor is Physician Su who cured my employer of a hidden ailment. These are great favors. What’s a few hundred less in rent compared to that? If they hadn’t refused, my employer would have given them the courtyard long ago! In our trade, all plots are good, and the prices won’t be cheap, but we never deliberately cheat anyone—rest assured on that. As for this courtyard, I’ll be honest with you: if you want to rent it, you’d better hurry. A few days ago, a young gentleman came straight to inquire about this courtyard. Judging by his bearing and manner, his background was definitely not simple.”
“Left neighbor is Assistant Envoy You,” Pei Xiting seized on the key point, glanced at Yuan Fang, who nodded to indicate no problem, and then said, “Alright, I’ll rent it.”
“Right away!” The broker took out a lease contract from his satchel, placed it on the stone table in the courtyard, took out a pen, dipped it in ink, and handed it to Pei Xiting, smiling as he asked, “When will you move in? I’ll call people to clean for you.”
Pei Xiting read through the contract, signed his name, and said, “I’ll move in tomorrow.”
He took a silver ingot from his pouch and tossed it to the broker, saying, “You’ve accompanied us for most of the day—you’ve worked hard. Keep the rest for yourself and treat yourself to a foot massage.”
The broker beamed with joy. “It’s my duty, my duty. As long as you two have found a courtyard you’re satisfied with.”
After signing the contract, the broker went to find people to tidy up the courtyard. Pei Xiting and Yuan Fang had a bowl of stir-fried chicken noodles on the street, then went back to pack their things.
The next day at the chen hour, Pei Xiting arrived at the Crane Cage Bureau on time for check-in. You Zong hadn’t slept all night but was in good spirits. He led him to the Document Tower and said, “You won’t have much to do. You’ll mainly assist with documents and case files, and your primary task will be drawing wanted portraits… This is Registrar Lu Mang, your superior.”
Behind a mountain of documents, a person lay sound asleep, snoring. The exposed half of his face was fair and delicate, but the drool at the corner of his mouth was quite inelegant.
You Zong took out a handkerchief, folded it into a square, and expertly placed it under Lu Mang’s chin, saying, “If he soils the documents, we’ll have to rewrite them. That would require us, for the twenty-eighth time, to summon at least five people to stop Registrar Lu from jumping into the river to drown himself… I suggest you prepare a bib.”
“Thanks for the advice, but I don’t drool when I sleep.” Pei Xiting followed You Zong further inside. “Does Registrar Lu often work through the night?”
“Normally, he’s quite idle. Registrar Lu often spends half the day working and the other half cataloging books for His Highness the Crown Prince at the Eastern Palace—not that the Crown Prince is exploiting him; Registrar Lu himself covets His Highness’s book collection. Of course, when it gets busy, he might not come home for days at a time.” You Zong said, “You’re lucky. Registrar Lu probably got all his busy work done in the past few days; otherwise, right now he’d be burning the midnight oil, writing with both hands, using an awl to keep himself awake.”
Hearing this, Pei Xiting openly breathed a sigh of relief. He followed You Zong for a tour around the Document Tower. When they left, You Zong said, “Neither you nor your aunt need to worry. Just do your work well, and no one in the bureau will bully you.”
Pei Xiting asked, “My aunt?”
“Your aunt wrote a letter entrusting matters to Aunt Leng of the Dance and Music Studio. Last night, Aunt Leng personally came out of the palace to find me, asking me to look after you a bit,” You Zong said.
Pei Xiting was somewhat surprised. “My aunt also knows people in the palace?”
“Back in the day, Bu Suying of the Xian Yin Studio was unrivaled in dance. Aunt Leng was the number one palace dancer, but she was also defeated by that flowing water sleeve. That competition was Bu Suying’s final dance. Not long after, she became Consort Bu. But her grace back then is clearly unforgettable to Aunt Leng, otherwise she wouldn’t be willing to owe me a favor for it many years later.” You Zong turned his head to look at Pei Xiting, paused, then said, “Secretary Pei, don’t let Consort Bu down.”
Pei Xiting sensed the warning behind the gentle tone, but he didn’t mind at all. He said, “Rest assured, sir. I only wish to be a carefree idler, wealthy and at ease. Since you pleaded with the Crown Prince for me to stay, I will naturally fulfill my duties and not let you down.”
You Zong nodded, saying, “I heard you’re moving. Go back and pack today; start your duties tomorrow.”
“Thank you, sir. I’ll take my leave then.” Humming a tune, Pei Xiting returned to his new residence. The courtyard gate was open. Yuan Fang stood with his arms crossed in the yard, directing the movers from the brokerage as they unloaded items. Very few pieces had been brought from Wangchun Courtyard; most were new items they had bought from various shops on the way back yesterday, along with some things Pei Jintang had forced into the carriage the night before.
The sound of wheels came, and Pei Xiting looked to the left to see a carriage driven by two servants arriving.
The carriage stopped in front of him. One servant dismounted and bowed, saying, “We are servants of the Duke of Wen’s manor. The fourth young master left for Baoci Zen Temple today and couldn’t come personally, so he ordered us to deliver some furniture as a gift to celebrate Third Young Master Pei’s move.”
The other servant added: “The fourth young master said the cart is full of painting supplies, such as easels and frames, and asks you not to decline them.”
This wasn’t about fearing he’d refuse; it was to ensure he wouldn’t reject them. Pei Xiting understood and said, “I will thank him in person another day.”
“Then allow us to help move them inside.”
Pei Xiting nodded and was about to go in when another carriage approached. The driver jumped down, cupped his hands, and asked, “Are you Third Young Master Pei?”
Pei Xiting nodded. The driver then said: “I’m here on behalf of Brother Qing to deliver some things for you—some bedding and curtains for summer use, as well as a few sets of clothes and accessories that Brother Qing picked out for you. Brother Qing said that after sending these things, he and you will be even, debts settled. From now on, when you meet, you’ll be strangers, and you shouldn’t try to drag him into anything!”
What an act. Pei Xiting sighed as if very sad, his voice low: “Alright… I understand. Move them inside.”
The driver said, “Right away.”
After bustling around for half a day, the courtyard was completely transformed. Pei Xiting gave each person a tip. When everyone had happily left, the two of them stood in front of the kitchen, each silent for a moment.
Shortly after, Yuan Fang offered his opinion: “Should we hire a cook?”
“Is there a cook who can kill with a kitchen knife?” Pei Xiting said seriously. “Otherwise, I’m afraid he might be dragged into my troubles and lose his life in this little yard.”
Yuan Fang said, “Where would we find such a cook on short notice?”
“Forget it, let’s eat out.” Pei Xiting made the final call. “Out of the alley is the street with all kinds of food stalls. Eating normally won’t be too expensive.”
Yuan Fang said reservedly, “Alright, so now—”
“Let’s go,” Pei Xiting said.
The two went out and had a bowl of tofu soup. Yuan Fang loved carbs and also ate two chicken-stuffed buns.
On the way, Pei Xiting bought a small basket of plums and strolled back swinging them.
“Really, walking for so long without seeing a soul… Huh?” As they neared the corner, Pei Xiting was cut off mid-sentence by a raised hand.
“Someone’s at the door,” Yuan Fang said softly.
Able to hear that from a distance—much better than the fat and skinny duo. Pei Xiting gestured for him to stay put. Hooking the basket in his hand, he stepped around the corner and saw the person standing at the courtyard gate.
The moonlight was cold and clear. The man’s black robes swayed lightly. The curves of his forehead, brow bone, nose bridge, and lip contours were exquisite—utterly captivating.
“A rare and honored guest.” Pei Xiting walked over and bowed. “The ground before my door, once stepped on by Your Highness, is sure to double the rent next time.”
The Crown Prince turned his head to look at him. “Fast hands and feet.”
Pei Xiting paused for a moment before understanding. Pointing at the courtyard, he said, “Was it your man who inquired about this courtyard with the broker a few days ago?”
The Crown Prince said nothing. Pei Xiting smiled and said, “My apologies then. But if you had wanted it, you could have bought it with a snap of your fingers. The fact that you hesitated and let me slip through must mean you weren’t entirely satisfied.”
If it had been anyone else, they would have immediately handed the keys to the Crown Prince as a token of respect. But he showed no such intention—not because he was being “difficult,” but because the thought hadn’t even crossed his mind. The Crown Prince said casually, “The courtyard itself is passable, but if I had rented it, the two neighbors would be constantly on edge.”
“Your Highness cares for your subordinates—a rare quality,” Pei Xiting said. “I’ve finished tidying the yard today. If you ever don’t mind, feel free to drop by and sit whenever you need to unwind. After all, these walls are practically nonexistent to you.”
The Crown Prince was silent for a moment. “What do you mean?”
When he looked at someone, his eyes were like black jade—dense and deep, showing only the surface, never the core. For some reason, Pei Xiting went still for a beat before snapping back and saying, “I’m ready to share your burdens anytime—am I not trying to cling to your coattails?”
“You’re honest enough,” the Crown Prince said. “Aren’t you afraid to be around me?”
“Being near a ruler is like being near a tiger—I’m certainly afraid. But if I stop talking to you because of fear, how can I cling to your coattails? Besides,” Pei Xiting casually tossed a plum into the air and caught it, shamelessly admiring the Crown Prince’s face, “I think you’re usually quite easy to talk to. For instance, you didn’t even make me kneel to answer you. Your official dignity is even smaller than that of a low-ranking official.”
“Seeing others kneel and speak to me neither delights nor gratifies me, after all, making someone kneel prostrate is very simple,” the Crown Prince said flatly. “If you think that makes me easy to talk to, you don’t know me.”
“What I mean by ’easy to talk to’ is that you usually don’t put on airs and can communicate; I’m not saying you’re soft-hearted like a wish-granting bodhisattva who answers any request. And indeed, I don’t know you well enough yet—but how can anyone fully understand another at first meeting? I’m not a god.” Pei Xiting revealed his little scheme: “But if you meet with me more often, won’t I gradually figure out the best way to cling to your coattails?”
The Crown Prince neither agreed nor denied, saying, “Looking at the weather, the next two days will be rainy.”
Pei Xiting: “Huh?”
The Crown Prince said: “Tomorrow evening, Mount Zhaohua. Make me a painting of heaven and earth in the rain.”
It was clearly an order, but Pei Xiting treated it like an invitation, cupping his hands with a smile: “As you command. Tomorrow, Mount Zhaohua—see you there, don’t miss it.”