Chapter 37#
Teacher, Little Pei Goes South of the River (V)#
“How is Auntie’s health, Doctor Su?”
Doctor Su packed up his acupuncture kit and came out from behind the bamboo curtain. “An old ailment, hard to cure completely. It can only be managed. I’ll prescribe a pill and a plaster—internal and external use combined—to relieve the pain.”
Pei Jintang said, “Good, please write the prescription.”
Doctor Su took out paper and brush from his medical case and quickly wrote out a prescription for Pei Jintang. “Have the herbs made into pills, take one with water morning and evening. The plaster I’ll have someone deliver later. Apply it to the painful area before sleep, and wash it off upon waking. Also, you must advise Auntie Bu not to make any strenuous movements around the old injury for now, to avoid further harm.”
Pei Jintang looked over the prescription and said gratefully, “Understood, I’ve noted everything. Thank you for making the trip, Doctor Su.”
“No need to be so polite, Second Young Master Pei.” Doctor Su lifted his medical case, his delicate features soft and gentle. “I’ll take my leave now. If there are any issues, just send someone to ask. My humble home is right next to your younger brother’s residence.”
Pei Jintang agreed and personally saw him out of the courtyard, instructing Old Nanny Chang to escort him out of the mansion and pick up the medicine along the way. He returned to the room, poured a cup of hot water for Bu Suying, who had come out from behind the curtain, and asked with concern, “Are you feeling better, Auntie?”
Bu Suying took the cup, smiled, and nodded. “Doctor Su used the needles, and I feel much better. Thank you, Second Young Master, for today.”
Pei Jintang pulled up a chair and sat down. “I heard Doctor Su had returned to the capital and was at the opera on Baitou Street, so I thought to invite him first. More importantly, Auntie, you have an old ailment—why didn’t you mention it before?”
“I injured my lower back back when I used to dance. It’s usually fine, only hurts when I twist too much.” Bu Suying said sheepishly. “I haven’t danced much over the years, but I wanted to pick it up again these past few days, and my body just couldn’t keep up.”
Pei Jintang said, “You can’t rush back into skills you’ve let slide. You have to take it easy. And if there’s any pain, you need to call a doctor promptly. If I hadn’t happened to come visit you today and caught you pale-faced and holding your back, would you have just tried to tough it out again?”
Calling a doctor for minor aches and pains seemed a bit delicate and fussy. Bu Suying was worried people in the household would gossip, but she didn’t voice her concerns to Pei Jintang. She simply said, “I’ll remember that. I’m really sorry for the trouble today, Second Young Master.”
“What trouble?” Pei Jintang said. “Xiting specifically asked me before he left to look after you, Auntie. I agreed, so I have to follow through. The medical fees today were paid with the silver Xiting left behind, so you don’t need to credit me.”
Bu Suying said, “Ah, you can’t say that. The fact that Second Young Master was willing to agree to Xiting’s request shows great kindness and compassion.”
Pei Jintang, for the first time, realized that passing on a message or running an errand could earn praise from an elder. He paused, then grinned and said, “Then when Xiting gets back, I’ll have to make him treat me to a good meal.”
Bu Suying smiled. “Speaking of Xiting, does Second Young Master know when he’ll be back?”
“I don’t know that,” Pei Jintang said thoughtfully. “If you miss him, you can write a letter. I’ll help you send it.”
“Really? That would be wonderful. Second Young Master, please wait a moment. I’ll go write it now.” Bu Suying poured Pei Jintang a cup of water and went into the inner room to write the letter.
Pei Jintang sipped the hot water. After a short while, Bu Suying lifted the curtain and asked him, “Does Second Young Master have any message for Xiting? If so, I’ll add it to the letter.”
“Sure.” Pei Jintang put down his cup, walked over, sat behind the desk, and glanced at the letter. Most of it was filled with questions about food, clothing, health, mood, and whether his work was difficult—all concern, not a single word of reprimand.
“What’s wrong?” Bu Suying saw Pei Jintang staring blankly at the letter paper and, worried she had written something wrong, quickly said, “I’m being too wordy. Don’t laugh at me, Second Young Master.”
Pei Jintang snapped out of it and said, “Auntie is showing concern for Xiting. How could I laugh at that?”
He picked up the brush and wrote a few lines, then said with a smile, “You’ve already said all the caring words, Auntie. I’ll just ask him to bring back some local specialties from Ningzhou.”
Bu Suying smiled, folded the letter paper into an envelope, sealed it, and handed it to Pei Jintang. As he was leaving, she called him back and said, “I steamed a batch of lotus flower cakes in the small kitchen. They’re light and fragrant, not too sweet. Would Second Young Master like to take a few to try?”
Pei Jintang said, “I won’t stand on ceremony then.”
Bu Suying took a food box, went to the small kitchen, packed six cakes for Pei Jintang, and said, “Take these to try, Second Young Master. If you like them or want a different flavor, just tell me. I’ll make them in my spare time.”
Pei Jintang opened the food box and sniffed. “Such a strong lotus fragrance. They must be delicious. Thank you, Auntie.”
“Don’t mention it.” Bu Suying shook her head and saw Pei Jintang out of the courtyard.
Pei Jintang carried the food box, feeling cheerful as he walked out. Halfway, he ran into the steward, who asked what was happening at Suying Studio. He told him truthfully.
The steward’s expression soured. Pei Jintang asked, “What’s wrong?”
The steward sighed and said, “Auntie was dancing in the courtyard. It’s not dignified.”
“Just dancing in her own courtyard—how is that undignified?” Pei Jintang stopped and frowned.
The steward said, “If she sets a bad example for the maids in the courtyard and they start singing and dancing in front of the young masters of the mansion, I’m afraid—”
“Mother sent you to ask, didn’t she?” Pei Jintang’s grip on the food box tightened. He stared at the helpless steward, silent for a moment before swallowing his irritation. “Words don’t mean much to someone who has no intention of listening. I’ll say just one thing. Consider it carefully before you report back to Mother.”
The steward said, “Please, go ahead.”
“Doctor Su is a medical officer of the Longhe Department. Even dukes and marquises have to send a sedan chair to invite him for consultations. The fact that he came today with just a word from me was entirely for Xiting’s sake.” Pei Jintang’s voice turned cold. “Xiting is no longer what he used to be.”
The steward understood the implication and said with an awkward smile, “Still, we can’t overstep the Mistress. Filial piety comes first.”
“Auntie Bu is Xiting’s biological mother. If it comes down to choosing between the two, based on my understanding of Xiting, he would choose Auntie Bu. These years, Xiting has called the Mistress ‘Mother’ not out of affection or a desire for the prestige and benefits of the main wife’s nurturing, but simply to follow the so-called rules. The Mistress managed him but never taught him, treating him with nothing but strictness and no warmth. Do you think he holds any real affection for her?” Pei Jintang patted the steward’s shoulder. “Going to reprimand Auntie Bu over something so trivial won’t do anyone any good. I promised Xiting I’d look after things here. You ran into me today. If you actually go to Suying Studio and make things difficult for Auntie Bu, I will tell Xiting exactly what happened when he returns. If he gets angry and takes it out on someone, I won’t be the one to handle it.”
With that, Pei Jintang walked away, but his good mood was completely shattered. The fingers holding the food box felt only a sticky warmth from the lingering heat.
“So muggy,” Pei Xiting muttered, lying slumped over the table. “The brush handle is slipping in my hand. Your Highness, can we continue another day?”
It had started raining again in the evening, a continuous, dense curtain of darkness that made the plants and trees in the courtyard seem lonely.
Yu Shaoyun stood by the door with his arms crossed, glancing at the prince reading under the eaves. The latter seemed accustomed to and unbothered by Pei Xiting’s disrespectful tone.
The Crown Prince turned to look inside the room. The man slumped over the table also looked up, his cheek resting on the table, squeezing out a bit of chubby flesh, making the red tint of his lips more prominent.
“Your Highness,” Pei Xiting said again.
The Crown Prince stepped into the room and stopped beside Pei Xiting. A gauze candle lamp stood on the table, casting the curve of Pei Xiting’s lashes in shadow. His gaze flickered and landed on the paper crushed under Pei Xiting’s cheek. “What awful handwriting. Even a chicken pecking at rice would be neater.”
Pei Xiting’s handwriting was actually quite good, but right now, he was like a distracted student in class—he’d taken notes mechanically without really thinking, and his writing was sloppy.
A light, firm tap landed on his lower back. Pei Xiting snapped out of it and instinctively asked, “What are you doing?”
The Crown Prince didn’t correct him. “Sit up properly and write.”
“My writing is like this,” Pei Xiting said, sitting up straight.
“Your writing is too constrained; it doesn’t match your state of mind.” The Crown Prince’s gaze lifted to the small black mole under Pei Xiting’s left eye. “Is it your hand not following your heart, or are you not being true to yourself on the outside?”
Pei Xiting’s heart skipped a beat, and his lashes fluttered. Of course, his state of mind wouldn’t match “Pei Xiting’s” handwriting.
The Crown Prince’s tone was casual, which only made his thoughts seem deeper, like an abyss. Pei Xiting couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt. “How would I know? Anyway, it’s like this. I can’t develop the skill of a master calligrapher in just a day or two.”
“Then practice every day.” The Crown Prince didn’t press Pei Xiting on his evasion. “Starting today, practice calligraphy daily until you write well and write correctly.”
Pei Xiting pondered the meaning of “write correctly” but couldn’t figure it out. So he asked, “What model copybook do you want me to practice?”
The Crown Prince turned and walked to the cool couch by the window and sat down. “Choose your own.”
“Then I want yours,” Pei Xiting said.
The Crown Prince looked up. “You want to imitate the Crown Prince’s handwriting?”
That was taboo. Pei Xiting realized his mistake and immediately said no, but then a new idea struck him. Seizing the opportunity, he said, “I won’t learn your handwriting, but can I learn the qin from you?”
“Why should I teach you?” the Crown Prince asked.
Pei Xiting raised an eyebrow. “You teach me the qin, and I’ll teach you painting.”
The Crown Prince’s hand holding the book paused. He looked at Pei Xiting for a long moment. The young, handsome face was confident and dazzling, almost blinding. He lowered his eyes and turned a page, but realized he hadn’t finished the previous page. “…Arrogant.”
Pei Xiting let out a soft, scoffing laugh, leaning back in his chair. “There are countless masters and experts in the world. Perhaps the best is most qualified to teach Your Highness, but can they definitely teach you well?”
The Crown Prince asked, “And you can teach well?”
“At least, I’ve already identified the crux of Your Highness’s problem,” Pei Xiting said. “For now, I’m about fifty percent confident.”
The Crown Prince intuitively felt that Pei Xiting was implying more than just teaching painting.
The room was silent for a moment. He said, “If you can’t teach well, then what?”
Pei Xiting looked at the Crown Prince and smiled. “Then I’ll take the blame and resign, and I won’t learn the qin from Your Highness anymore.”
A glint of determination appeared in those autumn-water eyes. The Crown Prince’s mind wavered. He felt both a trace of liking and a trace of resistance, both inexplicable. He thought Pei Xiting was arrogant and reckless and deserved to be taught a lesson, yet he also felt that Pei Xiting should be this way—that it was good.
Such a contradiction.
He turned another page of the book, a rare frown creasing his brow. But he didn’t drive Pei Xiting away—when faced with trouble, the worst thing was to avoid it. He vaguely sensed that Pei Xiting was a new kind of trouble.
After a long pause, the Crown Prince said, “If you study the qin with me, you must follow my rules.”
Pei Xiting said politely, “Please state them.”
“Only four: diligence, seriousness, obedience,” the Crown Prince said, “and no crying.”
“I didn’t cry when I was learning painting,” Pei Xiting said.
“If there are things you can’t learn or do quickly enough, you’ll be disciplined with the ruler. If it hurts enough, crying is inevitable,” the Crown Prince said flatly.
When Pei Xiting was a child practicing calligraphy and painting with his grandfather, the old man had never even brought out a ruler. Besides, the Crown Prince looked like he had a strong arm and probably wasn’t the type to go easy when hitting someone…
Pei Xiting gritted his teeth. “Fine.”
The Crown Prince said, “I don’t easily take students.”
Pei Xiting understood the implication. “I won’t formally enter your tutelage, Your Highness, and you don’t need to enter mine. We’ll just be ordinary teacher and student. I absolutely won’t use this as a pretext to boast or promote myself. How about that?”
The Crown Prince looked at Pei Xiting but said nothing.
Pei Xiting smiled, stood up, poured a cup of tea, and offered it with both hands. “Teacher.”
His tone was serious, carrying a hint of deference and respect.
The Crown Prince looked at Pei Xiting for a while, then put down his book, took the cup, and drank the tea. But then he saw Pei Xiting give a half-smile and say, “Shouldn’t you be offering me tea now?”
The Crown Prince’s dark eyes were still, fixed on Pei Xiting. Pei Xiting couldn’t hold out for more than three seconds. “If you won’t offer…”
His voice trailed off as the Crown Prince, holding the teacup, stood up, walked around him to the round table, changed the cup, poured tea, and actually turned around to hand it to him.
“Teacher.” The Crown Prince offered the tea with both hands, looking calmly at Pei Xiting.
“…” For some reason, Pei Xiting’s heart suddenly began to race. He stood motionless, looking at the Crown Prince, who also stood motionless, looking at him. “Aren’t you going to take it?”
“…I am.” Pei Xiting took the teacup with both hands, accidentally brushing the Crown Prince’s fingertips. The warm touch felt strangely stirring in the silent yet noisy rainy night. The tea splashed a little, but the Crown Prince steadily held the bottom of the cup.
The Crown Prince said nothing, just watched Pei Xiting quietly.
“Sorry.” Pei Xiting took the tea and gulped it down hastily, his cheeks puffed out before he swallowed after a moment.
Yu Shaoyun, listening from outside, clicked his tongue inwardly. This Third Young Master Pei, using casual speech with His Highness, and now half-seriously calling him “Teacher”—it was really something.
Youzong came from the courtyard gate, wearing a bamboo hat. He took it off at the door and casually placed it between Yu Shaoyun’s arms, cursing under his breath in response to the latter’s muttered complaints. He cupped his hands and said, “Your Highness.”
“Enter.” The Crown Prince turned and sat down, glancing at Pei Xiting, who was still standing frozen. The latter obediently moved to the side.
Youzong stood before the couch and said, “Xifeng found Ma Bi’s body in a dried-up well in his backyard. He’d been dead for two days. Two knife wounds—one on his back, one on his neck. I made a personal comparison. The knife wound on Ma Bi’s back is half an inch with a serrated edge, matching the knife wound on the mysterious employer. It should be from the same weapon.”
“The person who killed Ma Bi is either the kidnapper of Bai San or an accomplice of the kidnappers, and it’s the same person who killed the mysterious employer.” Pei Xiting said. “In that case, could that plum blossom sleeve dart also be in Ningzhou?”
“That’s possible. Also, there’s another group looking for Ma Bi’s whereabouts—it’s Prince Zhao’s people. But I don’t know if it’s because of the Bai family or because of Bai San.” Youzong said. “That white mutton-fat jade pendant was ordered by Prince Zhao from Qibao Pavilion, but ‘Ma Bi’ picked it up. The shopkeeper knew Prince Zhao was at Xiaochun Garden and knew he wouldn’t come to pick up the pendant himself, so he actually gave the pendant to Ma Bi.”
No wonder Prince Zhao was known for his romantic affairs and widespread dalliances, Pei Xiting clicked his tongue. “Even Bai San’s personal maid didn’t know where her young lady was going to meet someone. How did ‘Ma Bi’ know? Ah, tomorrow is the third day. The kidnappers should make a move soon.”
“They’ve already made a move,” Youzong said. “Someone sneaked into the Bai residence tonight. Xifeng didn’t send a signal, so the person probably hasn’t come out yet.”
“I’ve been thinking about one thing.” As Pei Xiting spoke, he sat down on the edge of the couch. Both the Crown Prince and Youzong immediately looked at him.
Pei Xiting: “…”
Pei Xiting shot up from beside the Crown Prince as if burned, then found a stool to sit on instead. “It’s common knowledge that the Mountains and Rivers Scroll is in the palace. The person who painted it died long ago. What use is it for the kidnappers to cling to the Bai family now?”
Youzong said, “Could there still be someone in the Bai family who knows the contents of the Mountains and Rivers Scroll?”
Pei Xiting said, “Chronologically, the elder Mr. Bai and his son’s generation might know, but they weren’t the ones who painted the scroll. Even if they remember, it probably wouldn’t be detailed enough to recreate the scroll. So, could it be about a sketch draft?”
Youzong nodded. “That’s possible.”
“Such an important long scroll as the Mountains and Rivers Scroll—the fabric, threads, various powdered pigments, and all materials were the finest from the Bai family. The process involved painting, dyeing, and embroidery simultaneously. A single mistake could ruin the entire scroll, so they would have been extremely careful. It’s highly likely that a draft existed. After the Mountains and Rivers Scroll was placed in the imperial palace, it not only propelled the Bai family’s business to new heights but also brought great honor to their lineage. The draft would naturally become very precious, worthy of being collected and passed down to future generations. Its value and significance are no less than that of a family heirloom.”
The Crown Prince said nothing, listening as Pei Xiting analyzed everything methodically. He took a sip of tea.
Pei Xiting, however, had some doubts. “Since the kidnappers wanted to take hostages, they must have considered the ‘price’ of the hostage. Bai San is indeed favored by the elder Mr. Bai, but that’s just among the granddaughters. Favor is just favor. In terms of status and importance, she definitely can’t compare to the Bai grandsons, especially Bai Yunluo, the eldest legitimate grandson deeply trusted and most likely to inherit the position as head of the family.”
“Bai Yunluo has a leg condition. He doesn’t usually go out much, and when he does, he has bodyguards protecting him closely. It’s not easy to get to him,” Youzong said. “Bai San is engaged to someone in Magistrate He’s family. The Bai family places great importance on that match. But after this incident, the engagement might fall through. If this gets out, the Bai family’s reputation will suffer greatly, and all their daughters will find it much harder to marry well in the future.”
Pei Xiting tapped his knee. “True enough.”
“Commander You,” Yu Shaoyun called from outside the door, “urgent message.”
Youzong snatched the message paper from Yu Shaoyun’s hand, scanned it, and turned back to say to the Crown Prince, “The fake Wang San has moved. I’ll go.”
The Crown Prince nodded. Pei Xiting said, “Be careful, Commander.”
Youzong acknowledged with a nod, bowed to the Crown Prince, and left quickly.
“It’s already midnight,” Pei Xiting said, stretching. “Aren’t you going to sleep?”
The Crown Prince turned a page of his book and said, “Go to bed if you’re tired.”
Finally having some alone time with this beauty, Pei Xiting wasn’t about to let it go. He definitely wanted to look a bit longer. So he said, “No, I can’t sleep anyway. I’ll sit a while longer.”
The Crown Prince asked, “Why can’t you sleep?”
Pei Xiting was about to answer when he saw the Crown Prince put down his book and stand up, making a motion to cut him off. Seeming to share some unspoken understanding, Pei Xiting followed suit, stepping back two paces as the Crown Prince lowered the bamboo curtain between the inner and outer rooms, concealing his figure.
The candlelight on the table flickered. The voice that rang out to stop them wasn’t Yu Shaoyun’s outside the door, but Yuan Fang’s from the next room, who had been carving wood.
“Who!”
Sounds of fighting came from the corridor. Pei Xiting walked to the door and looked out. Tangled with Yuan Fang was a black-clad figure, tall and lean. The starry eyes above the face veil glinted coldly.
He recognized the person instantly and spoke out to stop them, “Marquis.”
Shang Ao Jie, his identity exposed, didn’t look flustered. He pulled down his face veil, his gaze cutting toward Pei Xiting. “Who is he?”
Pei Xiting leaned against the door. “The bodyguard I hired. As you can see, he’s already caught a thief.”
“Who’s the thief?” Shang Ao Jie walked toward Pei Xiting. Yuan Fang shifted his stance slightly, his eyelids lowering.
Pei Xiting stood his ground, blocking the man who was a good two inches taller than him. “Isn’t it thievery to come uninvited? This is my room. No admittance.”
Shang Ao Jie gave a cold laugh, turned to look at Yuan Fang, and said, “That man’s moves are ruthless and murderous. He’s no ordinary martial artist. Where did you hire him?”
The Crown Prince was still inside.
Pei Xiting’s eyelid twitched. “That’s none of the Marquis’s business. Speaking of which, Marquis, not in the capital, but here in Ningzhou—what are you doing here?”
He looked Shang Ao Jie up and down and said coldly, “I’ll say this upfront. If the Marquis intends to do anything improper again, I won’t be able to keep my mouth shut when I return.”
Shang Ao Jie laughed in anger. “Threatening me outright, Pei Xiting? Do you really think I can’t handle you?”
“How could that be?” Pei Xiting said with admiration. “Deception, coercion, or even framing someone—the Marquis is adept at all those tricks. How could he fail to handle me?”
“I’ll say it one more time: Wang Yelai’s kidnapping of you was not my doing. Go back and explain that to Jintang.” Shang Ao Jie gritted his teeth.
Pei Xiting said, “Does the Marquis not have a mouth?”
“If Jintang were willing to see me, would I come to you?!” Shang Ao Jie exhaled, glaring fiercely at Pei Xiting. Pei Xiting’s cool, indifferent gaze in return only made him more irritated. “Fine, tell your bodyguard to get lost.”
“No,” Pei Xiting said. “I’m afraid you’ll tear my clothes off.”
Shang Ao Jie clenched his jaw, about to say something, when his eyes suddenly sharpened. He turned his head sharply to look at the eaves opposite the corridor, drew the cross-blade from his back, and hurled it.
The blade cut through the layers of rain, slashing a streak of blood across the shoulder of the eavesdropper, who dodged too late. Shang Ao Jie pushed Pei Xiting back into the room, flipped himself over the railing in a few steps, caught the hilt, and chased out of the courtyard.
“…” Pei Xiting leaned on the doorframe with one hand and held his stomach with the other. “Six.”
Yuan Fang said, “What?”
“Nothing. Go check it out.” Yuan Fang disappeared in an instant. Pei Xiting closed the door and returned to the table.
The Crown Prince lifted the bamboo curtain and walked over to Pei Xiting. Seeing him holding his stomach, he was about to reach for his pulse when Pei Xiting raised his hand and grasped his wrist, holding it not too tightly through the layer of sleeve.
“That Marquis must have been a reincarnation of an ox in his past life—all brute force.” Pei Xiting looked up at the Crown Prince, his eyes a little moist. “He pushed my stomach in.”
The Crown Prince looked at him for a moment, then shook off his hand. Pei Xiting let out a snort of laughter, not intending to tease further, but the Crown Prince gently gripped the side of his neck.
His whole body stiffened. He didn’t dare move.
“That bodyguard,” the Crown Prince said in a measured tone, “where did you hire him from?”