Chapter 41#
Breaking the Rein: Little Pei Goes South of the River (VIII)#
In the Bai family garden, a swing was set up. In days past, the young ladies of the household loved to frolic here. Now, with everyone ordered to stay indoors, it was Pei Xiting who reaped the benefits.
Walking along, the vast courtyard was utterly silent. This once prosperous home felt uncharacteristically desolate for a moment.
Pei Xiting shook the swing, turned around, and plopped down onto it. Lazily, he said, “Based on the current situation, the fake Ma Bi, the plum-blossom sleeve arrows, the fake Wang San, and the white-clad assassin are all one group. The fat and thin duo and their so-called ‘Gate Master’ are another group. Both sides are after the four treasures. This Liao Yuan’s identity is clear now. Even though he died at the hands of the plum-blossom sleeve arrows and fake Ma Bi, we still can’t be sure which organization he belonged to.”
The crepe myrtle beside the swing was blooming brilliantly. The Crown Prince gazed at it, Pei Xiting’s mutterings in his ear. After a moment, the chatter beside him gradually died down. He turned his head and abruptly met Pei Xiting’s gaze.
It was earnest, tinged with fondness.
The Crown Prince was silent for a moment. “What are you looking at now?”
Pei Xiting pointed to his own left cheek. “That little red mole of yours is like a splash of blood-red sunset on an ink-wash landscape painting. It’s truly a stroke of genius.”
This person was just like that—talking about serious matters while his eyes roved most improperly. The Crown Prince said, “Craving something again?”
Pei Xiting’s smile was knowing. The Crown Prince glanced at him, then turned and walked away. “Craving this, craving that—I’m afraid you won’t be able to stomach it all.”
“I’ll stretch my stomach. Even more than that wouldn’t be a problem.” Pei Xiting jumped off the swing and followed. “I only sat for a little while.”
The Crown Prince said, “I didn’t tell you to come with me.”
“I definitely have to attend to you at all times. As your subordinate, I have at least that much self-awareness.” Pei Xiting said.
“I think you’re treating me as your bodyguard,” the Crown Prince exposed him.
Pei Xiting was unabashed, saying with righteous indignation, “Didn’t you tell me to stay close?”
The Crown Prince glanced sideways at him but didn’t reply. Pei Xiting thought to himself: I’ve got him speechless. He can’t refute me. He’s shot himself in the foot.
“Sigh.” He let out an exaggerated sigh and followed closely behind His Royal Highness as they strolled toward the front hall. Before they even got close, they heard a roar from inside:
“All my life, Father has only had eyes for you two. When has he ever seen me? Our family’s vast estate—he wouldn’t spare a single share for me. His heart is completely biased toward Mother’s side. So why should I care about so-called family bonds!”
The hall was packed with people. The elder and second branches sat on either side, while Third Master Bai stood alone in the center, shouting hoarsely about injustice.
“You’ve never studied or learned a proper trade since childhood. If we let you handle the family’s business, we’d all be begging on the streets by now! And,” Second Master Bai slammed the table, “Father isn’t even dead yet. Who’s dividing the inheritance?”
Third Master Bai said, “Even while he’s alive, I get nothing. When he dies, you two will gobble up the estate cleanly. Will there be any scraps left for me?”
“No matter who manages the household, we won’t abandon the third branch. Third Brother, why judge others by your own standards? Even if you don’t trust us, you could just go speak to Father directly. Why resort to such a wicked scheme and harm your own niece?” Just as First Master Bai finished speaking, First Madam covered her face, weeping bitterly for her unfortunate daughter and demanding an explanation.
“Cry, cry, cry. You’re crying so hard now, but why didn’t you beg half a word before Father earlier? We’re all family here, Elder Brother, Elder Sister-in-law, you two can drop the act. If your branch eventually takes charge, I’m afraid the second and third branches will be wiped out, right?” Third Master Bai sneered. “After all, I’m not the first one here to harm his own brothers.”
At these words, the hall fell into an awkward silence.
First Master Bai glanced at Second Master Bai. The latter was cradling his belly, eyelids drooping. He showed no reaction, which made it all the harder to guess what was going on in his mind.
“Back then, when Second Brother was gravely ill, you brought a doctor to Father, saying Second Brother’s sickness was highly contagious and no one should go near him, or they’d fall like dominoes. You got Father to clear out all the servants in Second Brother’s courtyard, and you volunteered to personally care for him. What a paragon of elder brotherly virtue! If Second Brother hadn’t been lucky, he would have been ‘cared for’ to death by you!” Third Master Bai said. “You two are full of venomous intent. What right do you have to accuse me? And besides,”
He let out a derisive laugh. “You clearly saw that girl Zhi had feelings for the Hereditary Prince long ago. As her parents, you didn’t stop her. Weren’t you just waiting to see it happen? You hoped that if you could secure another marriage with the Duke’s estate, the engagement with Magistrate He’s family would naturally come to nothing. Bah! Dream on! Don’t forget how you and Father forced Qinglan to marry back then. For the sake of currying favor with the powerful, you two were hand in glove. When gentle persuasion failed, you resorted to force—you tied Qinglan up and put her in someone else’s bed. But then Duke Wen of the state came to her rescue like a knight-errant, and Qinglan became the Duchess. She leaped over the dragon’s gate, but she never looked back at you again! I’m no saint, but you hypocritical, malicious, selfish people—what face do you have to play the saint here?”
“So that’s how it was. No wonder the Hereditary Prince Zhao said that Lady Zhao had a falling out with her father and brothers and cut ties long ago,” Pei Xiting clicked his tongue and whispered, “If I were the Hereditary Prince Zhao, I’d beat them every time I saw them.”
The Crown Prince said, “Childish talk.”
“Yes, yes, you’re the most composed,” Pei Xiting muttered, secretly rolling his eyes. But then his earlobe was pinched. He let out a soft hiss and turned to look at the Crown Prince. “What are you doing?”
The Crown Prince saw him pouting, cheeks slightly puffed. He had wanted to pinch Pei Xiting’s cheek, but felt that gesture was too intimate, so he settled for the earlobe instead—a thin, small piece of flesh, soft and warm.
“Nothing,” the Crown Prince said.
Pei Xiting touched his earlobe, rubbing it until it felt hot and flustered. He couldn’t help but turn his face away and fell silent.
The corridor was empty, and today even the rain had stopped disturbing them. The stillness was absolute.
Inside the hall, chaos reigned, turning into a battlefield between First Master Bai and his wife against Third Master Bai, until Bai Yunluo said, “Enough.”
Young as he was, he had long been involved in major decisions in the Bai family. When he spoke, the hall instinctively fell silent.
Bai Da Madam immediately followed up: “Yunluo, you must seek justice for your own sister!”
“Third Uncle,” Bai Yunluo, however, turned to Third Master Bai, “How did you know about that white mutton-fat jade pendant?”
“The owner of Qibao Pavilion is an old acquaintance of mine. Over drinks, he mentioned that one day, the Hereditary Prince and girl Zhi visited his shop, and the Hereditary Prince ordered that peach-patterned white jade pendant,” Third Master Bai saw no point in hiding anything now. He sneered, “Young people’s little affairs—people like us can see them at a glance. Especially girl Zhi. The way she looked at the Hereditary Prince, the shop owner could tell exactly what was on her mind.”
“I see. Third Uncle, I won’t comment on your intentions, but your actions are no different from playing with fire,” Bai Yunluo said. “Even if you did become the head of the family, you’d just be a puppet. The Bai family would fall into the hands of those people. At that point, forget the family fortune—even our lives might not be spared.”
Third Master Bai said nothing.
“You cannot escape your guilt. The family law will decide your punishment,” Bai Yunluo said. “Third Uncle, please proceed to the ancestral hall.”
Third Master Bai turned and left, passing by Bai Yunduan, who ran into the hall and said to Bai Yunluo, “Third Sister is back!”
Bai Yunduan pushed Bai Yunluo out. The hall emptied quickly. By then, Pei Xiting had already walked through the covered corridor and was heading out. He put his hands on his hips, his figure graceful, and muttered to himself, “Hungry. Going to eat.”
He turned to ask the Crown Prince what he wanted, only to meet a pair of dark, deep eyes staring directly at him… at his waist? His bottom?
Pei Xiting looked down, then looked up. “Your Highness, is it nice?”
The Crown Prince withdrew his gaze. “It’s not.”
Pei Xiting smiled. “Then you were staring?”
The Crown Prince didn’t answer. Pei Xiting said, “Got it. You just like staring at things that aren’t nice. It’s your hobby, right?”
The Crown Prince said, “And if it is?”
Pei Xiting said, “Nothing. But from now on, you can’t even glance at me once. Otherwise, you’d be slapping your own face.”
“You’re not good-looking either,” the Crown Prince blurted out.
Pei Xiting wasn’t annoyed at all. “Your Highness, if your eyes are bad, you’d better get them treated early.”
The Crown Prince sneered. “Can’t stand anyone saying you’re not good-looking?”
“You can say I’m not your type—after all, you prefer Doctor Su’s style. But saying I’m not good-looking? That either means you have a fetish for ugly things, or your eyes are diseased, or…” Pei Xiting smiled, a meaningful expression on his face, then turned and walked away.
The Crown Prince felt that expression was dangerous. Pei Xiting must be thinking something dangerous. So he said, “Stop.”
Pei Xiting stopped and turned to look at the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince walked toward him, each step landing on the rhythm of Pei Xiting’s heartbeat. Pei Xiting kept his face neutral. “What are your orders?”
“What are you thinking?” the Crown Prince said.
“Guess,” Pei Xiting said.
“I can’t guess. Your mind is like a horse that’s broken its reins,” the Crown Prince said.
“I dare not say,” Pei Xiting frowned, feigning difficulty. “I’m afraid that if I say it, Your Highness will fly into a rage out of humiliation.”
The Crown Prince let out a crisp “Ha.” “Don’t worry. You don’t have that ability.”
“Then I’ll speak plainly,” Pei Xiting looked at the Crown Prince. “I was thinking about the third possibility: that deep down, you actually think I’m good-looking, but you’re too embarrassed to admit it, so your words don’t match your heart.”
The abyss-like eyes flickered. Even the slightest movement didn’t escape Pei Xiting’s notice. His heart skipped a beat, feeling a flutter of joy, and his mouth grew bolder. “Actually, admitting I’m good-looking is nothing out of the ordinary. Lord You, who is usually so reserved and taciturn, doesn’t spare his praise when complimenting me. Your Highness…”
He paused. The Crown Prince said, “What about me?”
Pei Xiting said, “Your Highness is not frank enough.”
Not frank enough meant hiding something. And hiding something inevitably invites speculation.
The Crown Prince fingered his prayer beads, also catching onto this line of thought. For a moment, he was silent.
Pei Xiting still looked at him, his gaze straightforward—so brazenly honest. Was this then the absence of any concealment?
The Crown Prince had pondered this question before. Pei Xiting lacked any sense of propriety from head to toe, and those eyes were especially captivating. Did he harbor improper thoughts, or was it simply his nature?
He hadn’t figured it out then, and he still couldn’t now.
The joy in Pei Xiting’s eyes and cheeks was impossible to miss. The Crown Prince could almost see a bright red fox tail behind his back wagging smugly. A flicker of irritation rose in him. His gaze and voice dropped together. “Nonsense.”
Flustered and exasperated. Pei Xiting said, “I spoke out of turn. Your Highness, don’t take it to heart.”
The Crown Prince said nothing, walking past him and away.
He doesn’t want to talk to me anymore? Pei Xiting scratched his head, reflecting on his behavior just now. It had indeed been a bit too unruly.
His Royal Highness, tall and long-legged, quickly passed through the moon gate and disappeared. Pei Xiting didn’t hurry to follow. He ambled along slowly, heading outward, when he bumped into Bai Yunduan.
“Hey.” Bai Yunduan’s eyes widened. “Young master, what are you doing in my house?”
Pei Xiting said, “Ask your big brother.”
Bai Yunluo had been prepared. The Crown Prince was coming and going freely in the Bai residence, which meant that You Zong and Bai Yunluo must have already reached a secret agreement to turn the tables.
The Bai family would hand over the draft copy, ending future worries. Yu Shaoyun would seize the draft copy from behind, like a mantis stalking a cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. To the two groups of villains, each would believe the other took the draft. A double win.
Bai Yunduan didn’t know about the secret pact between his elder brother and You Zong. He only remembered his brother’s instructions on how to act to trick the fake third sister into the mansion. But he wasn’t stupid. That “guard” was extremely skilled—definitely no ordinary person. His elder brother must have been perceptive and cautious, making preparations in secret.
And this young master in front of him was likely an accomplice of that guard.
“How is Third Miss Bai?” Pei Xiting asked.
Bai Yunduan said, “She’s not physically injured, just frightened. Plus, she was unconscious for a few days, so she’s still groggy. Big brother is with her now. I’m going out to buy her favorite pastries.”
“I’m heading out too. Let’s walk together,” Pei Xiting said.
Bai Yunduan had no objection. On the way, he asked, “Where’s my benefactor?”
“Holed up somewhere, no idea,” Pei Xiting said.
They chatted idly, when they suddenly ran into someone—it was Zhao Fan and his attendant Gao Liu.
Bai Yunduan now knew about the matter between Bai Yunzhi and Zhao Fan. He felt a bit awkward and a little displeased, guessing that Zhao Fan must be a frivolous womanizer who had seduced his third sister’s heart.
But Zhao Fan wasn’t looking at him. He stared straight at Pei Xiting. “Xiting, what are you doing here?”
“I thought about it later and still felt uneasy, so I came over,” Pei Xiting glanced at Bai Yunduan beside him. “Fortunately, I know Yunduan from before, so I got into the mansion.”
His elder brother’s schemes were secret. Bai Yunduan understood discretion and didn’t expose Pei Xiting. Instead, he sniffed the air. “Where’s that smell of blood coming from?”
“Here.” Zhao Fan tapped his folded fan, pointing it at the box Gao Liu held in his hands. “Open it and take a look.”
Gao Liu opened the box as instructed. Inside was a human head.
Pei Xiting quickly averted his eyes. Bai Yunduan’s face twisted in shock for a moment. “…Who is this?”
Gao Liu closed the lid. Zhao Fan said, “I promised my uncle and aunt that I would get the villain’s head for them. This is it. Since we’ve run into each other, you might as well take it.”
Bai Yunduan didn’t dare accept it. “I’ve seen it. I’ll tell my brother later. This head doesn’t really need to be…”
“Then just take it and throw it away,” Zhao Fan said nonchalantly, instructing Gao Li to place the box on a nearby lounging chair. He turned to Pei Xiting, whose face had paled. Realizing something, he walked over. “Startled?”
Pei Xiting nodded honestly.
“My fault. I forgot to consider your feelings,” Zhao Fan opened his folding fan and fanned Pei Xiting. “Where were you heading?”
“I was going out to eat, but now I’ve lost my appetite,” Pei Xiting said.
“How about some cold drinks?” Zhao Fan said. “I know a dessert shop with good flavors. Let me treat you to some, as a way to apologize.”
The way he said it was already quite “condescendingly gracious.” It sounded like an inquiry but actually didn’t allow refusal. Pei Xiting didn’t waste any more words and went along with him.
The group exited the mansion. Bai Yunduan took his leave first to buy pastries. Pei Xiting got into the carriage with Zhao Fan.
Gao Liu tightened the reins, and the carriage drove off steadily.
Around a corner not far away, Yu Shaoyun withdrew his gaze, turned, and walked to a carriage. “Your Highness, Secretary Pei has left with the Hereditary Prince Zhao in his carriage.”
Inside the carriage, tea smoke curled. The Crown Prince said nothing. Earlier, when he left the mansion and turned back, there was no one behind him. The sparrow hadn’t finally learned to keep quiet—it had simply flown off elsewhere on its own.
The carriage was silent for a long time. Yu Shaoyun hadn’t expected His Highness to wait for Secretary Pei. Now, recalling the matter His Highness had broached earlier, his heart began to pound nervously. He chose his words carefully. “Although the Hereditary Prince Zhao has ill intentions, with Yuanfang following discreetly, Secretary Pei should be fine.”
The Crown Prince stared at the smoke before him. “Let’s go.”
Yu Shaoyun sensed a trace of displeasure and dared not ask further. He quickly replied, “Yes,” and drove the carriage away.
Pei Xiting sneezed and gently rubbed his nose. Listlessly, he leaned against the carriage window.
Zhao Fan watched him for a moment. “Should we go to a medical clinic and get a calming prescription?”
Pei Xiting hated drinking bitter medicine the most. He shook his head. “It’s fine. By the way, aren’t you going to see Third Miss Bai?”
Zhao Fan said, “She has her own elder brother and cousin to keep her company. I, as her cousin, won’t intrude.”
“But I heard you two have feelings for each other,” Pei Xiting said.
Zhao Fan was taken aback, then laughed. “Who told you that nonsense?”
Pei Xiting asked, “If there were no feelings, why did you give her a jade pendant?”
Zhao Fan looked confused. “What jade pendant?”
Pei Xiting was startled. “The white mutton-fat jade pendant from Qibao Pavilion. That villain used it to lure Third Miss Bai to the Little Spring Garden.”
Zhao Fan suddenly understood. “Oh, that. Just a pendant. It wasn’t worth much. She liked it, so I gave it to her. I’ve given away no fewer than a thousand jade pendants. Does that mean I have feelings for everyone who received one?”
So everyone else was exchanging love tokens with sachets and pendants, while the Hereditary Prince Zhao was just casually tossing money around without a second thought.
Pei Xiting shook his head. “So you’re saying you have no special feelings for Third Miss Bai?”
Zhao Fan could see Bai Yunzhi’s feelings, of course. But she was a member of the Bai family—untouchable. And he wasn’t lacking in companionship. “If I had anything else with her, my mother would probably kill me when she found out.”
“Then Master Bai and First Madam Bai’s hopes are dashed,” Pei Xiting said. “They were still hoping to further strengthen ties with the Duke’s estate.”
Zhao Fan sneered. “Just daydreaming.”
“Master, we’re here,” Gao Liu stopped the carriage and tapped lightly on the door.
Zhao Fan said, “Get out.”
The two got out of the carriage one after the other and entered a dessert shop by the street. They sat down in a corner.
The owner presented a menu, a long list of items. Pei Xiting’s eyes glazed over. He ordered a bowl of grape iced snow balls. Zhao Fan ordered iced soy milk.
The owner quickly brought out two porcelain bowls. “Enjoy, gentlemen.”
Pei Xiting took a bite of the iced snow at the bottom and a ball. “Sweet but not cloying. Quite refreshing.”
Zhao Fan smiled. “There’s a dessert shop in Yeijing that’s just as good as this one. It’s on Willow Street. You can try it when you get back.”
Pei Xiting had never been there. “Alright, I’ll remember…”
Before he finished, he saw someone walking straight toward them. He slowly swallowed the grape ball in his mouth.
Zhao Fan turned and met Shangguan Jie’s gaze. He smiled. “Jinhe, here for cold drinks too?”
“Yeah, what a coincidence?” Shangguan Jie raised an eyebrow, grinning. “I’m all alone, a bit lonely. Xingjian, you don’t mind if I join you, do you?”
“Of course not,” Zhao Fan said. “Please, have a seat.”
At a small square table, Pei Xiting and Zhao Fan sat across from each other. Shangguan Jie sat down on the left side after lifting his robe and ordered a bowl of iced syrup from the owner.
Zhao Fan said, “I haven’t asked you yet. Why did you come to Ningzhou?”
“The Po Lin Yin was stolen. That employer is dead, but I’ve been tracking his accomplices. I followed them to Ningzhou,” Shangguan Jie said.
Zhao Fan thought for a moment. “Could it be related to the Bai family affair?”
“Exactly. They’re the same group that kidnapped Bai San,” Shangguan Jie said. “But they’re all dead today.”
Pei Xiting listened on the side. Liao Yuan’s accomplices and the group of fake “Ma Bi” who killed Liao Yuan were actually the same faction. So was this an internal conflict? Or had Liao Yuan betrayed his organization and been eliminated by it?
Zhao Fan said, “You should have told me earlier. I would have kept that villain alive for you to interrogate before killing him.”
“No matter.” Although Shangguan Jie was a bit annoyed, this wasn’t Zhao Fan’s fault. He turned and happened to see Pei Xiting deep in thought. “What are you pondering?”
“None…” Pei Xiting quickly swallowed the “of your business” and smiled gently. “Just pondering a bit.”
Such a soft tone and expression were rare from Shangguan Jie. He actually forgot to pursue Pei Xiting’s empty words. “You come to Ningzhou on business, yet you spend all your time wandering around?”
Pei Xiting pursed his lips at this, not daring to retort. He looked a little aggrieved and lowered his head.
“That’s because you came late. Xiting already went to the yamen and handed in his assignment,” Zhao Fan said with a smile. “This is his first time in Ningzhou. He has to walk around a bit, doesn’t he? Why be so harsh, Jinhe?”
The owner brought the porcelain bowl. Shangguan Jie reached for his spoon and curled his lips. “You sure know how to curry the Hereditary Prince’s favor.”
“Let alone Xiting being a good friend of Sifan, just his gentle and sensible nature makes him easy to like,” Zhao Fan glanced at Pei Xiting, who was still looking down, no longer eating his grape balls. He patted Pei Xiting’s wrist. “It’s nothing. Hurry up and eat.”
Pei Xiting smiled at him, afraid to look at Shangguan Jie, and silently swallowed the ball from his spoon.
Shangguan Jie sneered inwardly and said nothing more.
The three finished their meal in silence. Zhao Fan offered to take Pei Xiting back to the inn, and Shangguan Jie cheerfully asked for a ride. So the three rode together in the carriage for a while.
Pei Xiting listened to them chat idly, secretly yawning. Before getting off the carriage, he thanked Zhao Fan politely and softly, ignoring Shangguan Jie’s stare. He simply bowed properly at the end, then turned and entered the inn.
The inn was quiet. The rear courtyard was empty. Pei Xiting hummed a tune as he walked toward his room. The door ahead suddenly opened.
Yu Shaoyun came out, glancing at him inscrutably for a moment. “Secretary Pei, you’re finally back. His Highness has some free time tonight. Go into his room and study the qin.”