Chapter 46#

Surprise “Joy” - “The Tale of Pomegranate Flower Night”#

The woman before her was beautiful and glamorous, yet in Bu Suying’s mind, a gaunt, sallow little girl emerged from the mists of time, cheerfully clinging to her and calling her “elder sister.”

She abruptly stepped forward and called out, “Little Pomegranate, is it you?”

“It’s me!” Shiliuniang stepped forward, wanting to reach out and take Bu Suying’s extended hand, but then shyly withdrew it, her voice trembling as she said, “I never thought I would see you again in this life, elder sister…”

Ye Jing was too vast. People from the east might never meet those from the west in their entire lives, let alone them, separated by city gates and mansion gates, by lives and identities utterly different from before.

“I never thought so either…” Bu Suying reached out and took Shiliuniang’s hand hidden in her sleeve, her eyes glistening with tears as she looked her over. “So many years have passed, and you’ve grown into a young woman, graceful and charming. But if I look closely, I can still see traces of your childhood self, especially in these eyes…”

“Yes, time flies, too fast.” Shiliuniang took out a handkerchief, raised it, then lowered it again, finally just pressing it into Bu Suying’s hand. “Elder sister, don’t cry. Wipe your tears quickly. Let’s go inside and talk.”

Bu Suying let out an “ah,” wiped her tears, and was helped by Shiliuniang into the shop.

Pei Jintang walked behind them and said, “I didn’t expect Aunt and Shiliuniang were old acquaintances.”

Pei Xiting recalled the first time they met; Shiliuniang’s look at him had been a little strange. She had glossed over it by saying he and Pei Jintang looked alike. Now he understood—she had seen the face of an old friend in him.

The second floor had no customers. Shiliuniang led Bu Suying to a seat and instructed the waiter, “The second floor is closed for guests tonight. Bring up the food and drinks quickly. Have the kitchen make a few light dishes, and go to Boss Qi’s place to get some crispy bone fish for Third Young Master Pei.”

Pei Xiting thanked her. Pei Jintang casually asked, “Don’t you usually not sell other dishes here?”

“On ordinary days, we don’t. There’s only one cook—how could he keep up?” Shiliuniang sat down on the stool next to Bu Suying and threw Pei Jintang a playful glare. “You brat are lucky today to share in Sister Bu’s good fortune!”

Pei Jintang smiled, his curious gaze shifting between the two, and said, “Elder sister knew Aunt? Why didn’t you mention it before? We could have reunited you two long ago.”

Shiliuniang looked at Bu Suying at this. They had met at the Xianyin Fang. At that time, Bu Suying was fifteen, the leading courtesan of the establishment, while Shiliuniang was a lonely, orphaned girl sold there as a maid.

Back then, Bu Suying’s personal maid had gotten into trouble outside and was thrown out by the manager. Bu Suying had then chosen the thinnest, brightest-eyed girl named Pomegranate to be by her side. Pomegranate had never seen such a celestial beauty, so gentle and kind. Bu Suying taught and cared for her like a little sister. In the five years they lived together day and night, Pomegranate came to regard Bu Suying as a sister from the bottom of her heart. She wished for Bu Suying to shine on stage like an unfading narcissus, and even after the curtain fell, to be deeply cherished.

Therefore, when Bu Suying and Pei Yan developed feelings, Pomegranate was not pleased. In her eyes, her sister deserved better. But that was Bu Suying’s private matter, and she could not interfere. She only hoped Pei Yan would treat her sister well from beginning to end.

Before Bu Suying married into the Pei family, she used her own savings to redeem Pomegranate. This girl was bold and meticulous, always gazing into the distance by the window. She must have had broader horizons in mind—why should she be trapped here as a maid? On the day Bu Suying entered the Pei Mansion, Pomegranate followed the bridal sedan chair to the side gate, kowtowed three times, and they never saw each other again.

“I heard, elder sister, that you haven’t been going out much these past years. How could I presume to disturb you?” The waiter brought up mulberry-infused water. Shiliuniang stood up to pour a cup for Bu Suying. Just as the spout touched the rim, she paused and turned her head to look at Bu Suying. “Elder sister, do you still like drinking mulberry water in summer?”

Bu Suying nodded. “I do.” Then she added, “I really haven’t been going out much these years. But if I had known you were here, I would definitely have come to see you.”

Shiliuniang tightened her grip on the teapot handle before saying after a moment, “Ah, now that we’ve met, if elder sister ever wants to come, you can anytime. If it’s inconvenient to go out, just send word, and I’ll have someone deliver things to your doorstep.”

Bu Suying had rarely gone out over the years. One reason was her fear that being seen in public would displease Lady Wang and consequently implicate Pei Xiting. Another was that whenever she went out, she would be reminded of her life before entering the Pei family. Her heart would be filled with melancholy, so she simply stopped going out.

But now… She looked at Pei Xiting, who was huddled with Pei Jintang, whispering. Her child had changed and always encouraged her to follow her heart. She thought she should be bolder too.

Bu Suying smiled unconsciously and turned to Pomegranate. “I’ll come to see you more often from now on. If you ever need to enter the city, you can come find me.”

Pomegranate smiled and agreed.

Old friends reunited, and their conversation was endless. It was already fully dark when they parted.

Shiliuniang saw Bu Suying to the carriage and said by the window, “It’s dark. Elder sister, take it slow on the way.”

“Alright.” Bu Suying reached out and touched her face, saying softly, “Go back now.”

Pomegranate smiled, let out an “ah,” gently closed the carriage window, and waited until the carriage had disappeared into the night before slowly withdrawing her gaze and turning back inside.

The carriage returned to the Pei Mansion through the night, stopping at the side gate. Pei Jintang and Pei Xiting got off one after the other.

Pei Xiting helped Bu Suying down and said, “Aunt, rest early after you go back.”

“Are you still going back to your small courtyard? Why not stay in the mansion tonight and save yourself the trouble?” Bu Suying said.

Pei Xiting shook his head. “I have to go to the government office tomorrow. It’s really inconvenient to get up early from here.”

“That’s true too,” Bu Suying straightened Pei Xiting’s collar and said with a smile, “Then go back and rest quickly.”

Pei Jintang picked some local specialties and gifts from the carriage, saying, “You take the carriage back. I’ll have someone drive it back tomorrow.”

Pei Xiting acknowledged this, took two bundles from the carriage, and handed them to a nearby servant. To Bu Suying, he said, “I bought you some clothes and jewelry. If you don’t like them, feel free to put them aside or give them away as gifts.”

Bu Suying shook her head. “How could I not like something you bought? Go on back now.”

“Mhm.” Pei Xiting stood by the gate, waiting until Bu Suying and Pei Jintang had entered before turning around, boarding the carriage, and returning to Lanyin Street.

It was already late that day. The next morning, Pei Xiting had Yuan Fang deliver the gifts to the Duke of Wen’s mansion, while he took his own gifts and headed to the Longhe Si.

“The days you’re away, I find it quite dull sitting here alone.” Lu Mang shook the bundle he had received and said with a smile, “How can I accept this?”

Pei Xiting replied, “They’re just local products and trinkets—nothing valuable. Chief Clerk, please don’t worry about it.”

Lu Mang accepted the gift, and a feeling of obligation naturally settled in his heart. So half a month later, Pei Xiting received a “return gift” from Chief Clerk Lu.

“The Tale of Pomegranate Flower Night? What new script is this?”

Today, Pei Jintang had a rare day off. He had openly sneaked out of the city to play all day and only came back in the evening to meet up with Pei Xiting and Zhao Yi for dinner. After eating, the three strolled down the street. Zhao Yi wanted to buy his mother some storybooks, so they wandered into this bookshop, where Zhao Yi discovered this volume, The Tale of Pomegranate Flower Night, which he had never seen in his mother’s collection.

“It’s a new script indeed. It came out just three days ago. For now, this shop is the only one in Ye Jing that carries it.” The shopkeeper introduced it familiarly. “But may I ask, does the Duchess enjoy reading male-male romance tales?”

Male-male romance tales? Zhao Yi suddenly felt the book was a bit hot in his hands. Awkwardly, he said, “My mother isn’t picky…”

“The Duchess has quite an extensive reading range.” Pei Jintang took the finely bound thin volume from Zhao Yi and curiously flipped open a page. “A cold, restrained prince and a handsome, dashing painter—damn, this author actually dares to write about a prince’s romantic escapades!”

“That’s where you’re mistaken, young master!” the shopkeeper explained. “The story’s background is all fabricated by the author—it has nothing to do with the real Great Ye. Naturally, the prince in the story isn’t a real prince either. Otherwise, even with a hundred heads, I wouldn’t dare sell it!”

Pei Xiting said from the side, “It’s called an alternate world.”

Pei Jintang and Zhao Yi both looked at him simultaneously. The shopkeeper also exclaimed in surprise, “What a novel, concise description! Young master, you… have read a few books too?”

“I’ve read a few.” Pei Xiting didn’t hide it. He reached out, took the storybook from Pei Jintang’s hand, and was about to see what the local danmei novels looked like when he unexpectedly spotted the signature on the corner of the page. “This is…”

The shopkeeper craned his neck to look and said, “Oh, that’s the author’s own signature. Only the first batch of copies for sale have it.”

“Fengyue Scholar”—Pei Xiting stared at the signature and easily recognized the handwriting as that of his boss, Chief Clerk Lu.

So Chief Clerk Lu was also a danmei novel author.

Pei Xiting had never noticed Chief Clerk Lu’s potential and talent in danmei novels before. Couldn’t resist, he flipped to the next page, which revealed the basic introduction of the main characters:

【Male Lead: Yang Pei

Age: Eighteen

Identity: Painter

Personality: Outspoken and straightforward, bold and meticulous

Appearance: Likes to wear red, delicate brows and phoenix eyes, fair and handsome, a small black mole on the corner of the lower left eyelid】

—Huh?

【Male Lead: Xi Zong

Age: Twenty-three

Identity: Prince

Personality: Cold and reticent, dignified and abstinent

Appearance: Exceptionally handsome, long eyebrows and phoenix eyes】

—Huh??

Wait, aren’t these two main characters a bit too similar to… Pei Xiting slammed the book shut and decided to take it back to admire his boss’s writing style and conduct an in-depth study of these two all-too-familiar protagonists.

“I’ll take this one,” he said.

“Ah?” Pei Jintang cautiously advised, “You’re reading… male-male romance stories?”

Zhao Yi also said carefully, “There are plenty of male-female romance books here, Xiting. How about swapping it?”

“I can engage in male-male romance; what’s wrong with reading a story about it? Sifan, I’ll pay for yours too. I’ll head back first. You two take your time shopping.” Pei Xiting took out silver, tossed it to the shopkeeper, paid no heed to how his words left the other three dumbfounded, and sauntered downstairs.

A moment later, Pei Jintang said stiffly, “Sifan, did you hear that?”

“I heard it,” Zhao Yi said, dazed. “When did this happen? I haven’t gotten even a hint of the wind…”

“Me neither.” Pei Jintang wiped his face, then suddenly reached out and grabbed the shopkeeper, who, sensing trouble, had tried to slip away. He warned fiercely, “Listen up. If you dare spread even a word of what you heard outside, I won’t let you off!”

“Oh, my young ancestors!” The shopkeeper cried out in grievance. “I truly didn’t mean to eavesdrop! That young ancestor of yours had no consideration for me, an outsider! But rest assured, I heard nothing!”

Zhao Yi came to his senses and said upon seeing this, “Rest assured, Hanzhang. Boss Niu is not a gossip.”

“Exactly, exactly!” Boss Niu nodded frantically. “I’ve been doing business in Ye Jing for years. I know how to behave!”

Pei Jintang released Boss Niu, straightened his collar for him, and said with a mock smile, “Alright, I won’t make things difficult for you. Go wrap up Sifan’s books.”

“Right away!” Boss Niu swiftly went downstairs.

Pei Jintang and Zhao Yi stared at each other in bewilderment. Then Zhao Yi picked up another copy of The Tale of Pomegranate Flower Night, hastily selected a few others, and went downstairs together.

That night, Pei Xiting reclined in a bamboo chair, flipping through the storybook.

Chief Clerk Lu’s writing style was surprisingly straightforward and wild. The first volume, “First Meeting at the Yamen, Unspoken Feelings Burgeon,” was written with such heat; it was about ten thousand characters long, and Yang Pei and Xi Zong spent at least half the length of the text doing it, including desk play, bookshelf play, standing behind a door play, and outdoor pavilion play.

The language was explicit, making Pei Xiting feel scorching hot. He simply couldn’t imagine what the hell Chief Clerk Lu was thinking about every day while working in the Document Building.

Yuan Fang, munching on a steamed bun, poked his head in from outside and said, “In heat?”

Pei Xiting snapped back to reality and glared up. “You’re the one in heat.”

“I’m perfectly fine, unlike you, grinning like…” Yuan Fang couldn’t find the words, shook his head, and walked away. “Take a look at yourself in the mirror.”

Hearing this, Pei Xiting got up and walked to the dressing table to look. He saw that face: the brows and the corners of the eyes were all flushed, brimming with lust.

Pei Xiting stared blankly at himself in the mirror, then suddenly slammed the book down on the dressing table in frustration and rushed out, shouting, “Boil some water! I want a bath!”

Yuan Fang drawled, “Got it.”

Pei Xiting picked a fight. “I want to bathe right here, right now!”

Yuan Fang walked over, grabbed Pei Xiting, and dragged him into the kitchen, apparently ready to toss him into the pot to fulfill his wish of bathing immediately.

Pei Xiting certainly didn’t want to go into the pot. By the stove, he struggled fiercely, twisting his arms and kicking his legs, trying to escape from the demon’s clutches. But in the middle of their roughhousing, they got too close, and something went wrong—

Pei Xiting inadvertently rubbed against Yuan Fang’s thigh. As a man, Yuan Fang could naturally feel Pei Xiting’s “excitement” down there. He quickly let him go, stepped back two paces, covered his forehead, and said, “And you still deny it!”

“…” Pei Xiting felt a bit embarrassed but stuck his neck out and said, “It’s not because of you!”

“Did I say it was because of me?” Yuan Fang knew very well who it was because of. He couldn’t help rolling his eyes, then reached out and pulled Pei Xiting, who was slumped over the stove, away. “Get out of the way. I’ll boil water for your bath.”

Pei Xiting let out an “oh,” sat down on a small stool nearby, and stayed sullen and silent, clearly having gone into a tantrum.

Yuan Fang skillfully lit the fire and boiled the water, glancing at him as he said, “Alright. Tomorrow, I’ll get you some medicine to bring down the fire.”

“It’s all your fault.” Pei Xiting blamed the emotionally oblivious Yuan Fang. “In a situation like this, you should pretend you didn’t notice anything.”

Yuan Fang snorted coldly and said, “Dare to be in heat but won’t let anyone call you on it?”

“Who’s in heat? I’m a normal man. I don’t believe you’re always as calm as still water—if you are, you’re practically a born eunuch. I’ll send you to the palace tomorrow!” As soon as he finished speaking, Pei Xiting got up and ran, just barely dodging Yuan Fang’s claw that tried to drag him into the pot.

That night, Pei Xiting took proper care of things, enjoyed a nice hot bath, felt refreshed, and guessed his fiery mood had subsided. So, with a calm mind, he lay down flat to sleep.

Perhaps because he was a bit tired during the day, Pei Xiting slept particularly “deeply.” He felt something pressing down on him, making it hard to breathe.

“Don’t press on me… Get off…”

Pei Xiting frowned and muttered a curse, but his neck was grabbed. The grip was neither too hard nor too soft—it wouldn’t hurt him, but it certainly wouldn’t allow him to escape.

He reached up to touch the shackle around his neck but instead touched a warm, strong set of finger bones. The touch was very familiar… Who was it?

“Who are you telling to get off?”

A cold, pleasant voice sounded against his cheek, like a snake’s tongue licking Pei Xiting’s earlobe. He abruptly opened his eyes and met a pair of dark, sea-deep eyes.

The Crown Prince stared at him steadily, his long hair hanging down beside Pei Xiting’s face like a cage woven of black silk. Pei Xiting felt weaker and panted slightly, “Get… ngh…”

The hand around his neck squeezed hard. Pei Xiting groaned and tilted his head back, hitting the railing of the headboard. He struggled with all his limbs but heard the jingling of bells. Only then did he realize his hands and feet had been cuffed to the railing at some point.

The Crown Prince seemed to have transformed into something demonic and strange. His eyes churned with dark waves as if he wanted to devour someone. Pei Xiting grew timid but refused to beg for mercy, only pursed his lips tightly. Yet the Crown Prince closed in without allowing refusal.

The tips of their noses rubbed together, their breaths mingled. Pei Xiting was captivated and lost in the enveloping fragrance of cold bamboo.

Beneath the Crown Prince’s cold and restrained exterior was a ferocious, greedy prison of desire. Once unleashed, it stretched endlessly. Pei Xiting fell into it, battered and tossed about by his unrestrained assault, rising and falling without cease, long and unending.

When Pei Xiting opened his eyes and woke, his whole body felt weak, as if he truly had gone at it vigorously. He stared blankly for a moment, then reached out and tugged the bell by the headboard.

Yuan Fang pushed open the door and came in. He walked to the bedside and looked at Pei Xiting. “Why are you sweating so much?”

Pei Xiting didn’t answer the question. Absentmindedly, he said, “Go help me ask for leave. Say I’m not feeling well and won’t be going to the office today.”

His voice was hoarse, he was drenched in sweat, and the rims of his eyes were slightly red, as if he had just been bullied. He really didn’t look well. Yuan Fang didn’t ask further, left a “breakfast is in the pot,” and went out to the office.

Pei Xiting wiped the sweat from his face, turned over, and buried himself in the thin quilt, letting out a sigh.

Damn it.

In the afternoon, the Crown Prince entered the palace to pay his respects.

Empress Qu was flipping through a book of beauties with Qu Zhao. Seeing the Crown Prince arrive, she immediately waved him over and said, “You’ve come just in time. They just sent up the roster. Come help Furu take a look and choose a consort for the Crown Prince .”

Qu Zhao turned and bowed. The Crown Prince said, “No need for formalities,” and walked over to the long scroll of beauties’ names. He only cast a casual glance before turning to sit on the couch and said, “This is the Ning Prince’s household matter. Why are you troubling yourself?”

“The fifth prince and his consort specifically asked me!” Empress Qu shot a glare at the Crown Prince. “Not everyone is like you, who doesn’t worry about a thing!”

Qu Zhao laughed and said, “His Highness has enough to worry about with state affairs every day.”

“Isn’t a marriage alliance for the prince an important matter? Besides, I don’t believe he spends every moment on official business without ever thinking of something else.” Empress Qu said.

An auntie served hot tea. The Crown Prince took it and said indifferently, “You’re worrying here, but if the person you ultimately pick doesn’t suit Fusu’s wishes, won’t it all be wasted effort?”

Empress Qu rolled her eyes. “If Furu were willing to take it to heart, would I need to worry? I heard from the fifth prince that they’ve brought it up several times, but Furu always acts like ‘whatever you want.’ He doesn’t take his marriage seriously at all. Naturally, we elders have to make plans for him.”

Qu Zhao’s eyes flickered, and he said, “Aunt, something’s off here.”

“What’s off?”

“I’m afraid the Crown Prince isn’t just uninterested, but rather stalling for time—he simply doesn’t want to get married, right?” Qu Zhao snapped open his folding fan and pondered, “Given the Crown Prince ’s temperament, Prince Ning and his consort wouldn’t dare push him too hard. But they can’t let him keep wasting time like this, so they turned to you to arrange a marriage.”

“Ah,” Empress Qu mused, “So I’ve been used as a knife?”

Qu Zhao said, “An imperial marriage decree is a great honor, but I’m afraid if the person chosen isn’t right, you’ll feel uneasy about it.”

Empress Qu also caught on. “True, I still need to ask Furu first… By the way, don’t you all often spend time together? Does he have any girl he fancies?”

“No girls, the Crown Prince doesn’t usually get close to women,” Qu Zhao said.

“Then is he close to men?” Empress Qu grasped Qu Zhao’s wrist and smiled slightly. “Which family’s child is it?”

Qu Zhao had no intention of revealing the name Qinglingling and said with a smile, “None.”

“Oh,” Empress Qu paused, then asked, “Then does Fuchuan usually get close to any young ladies or gentlemen from certain families?”

The topic abruptly turned to himself. The Crown Prince’s hand holding the teacup paused. He heard Qu Zhao say, “Aren’t the people around His Highness those you already know?”

“I can’t get anything out of you!” Empress Qu released Qu Zhao’s hand, lifted her skirt, and sat down next to the Crown Prince, smacking the table. “Why are all you children’s marriages so delayed? Will I ever see you all settled before I go to my grave?”

The Crown Prince spoke first: “Don’t place your hopes on me. They will be dashed.”

“What do you mean?” Empress Qu looked at the Crown Prince incredulously. “You don’t want it now, fine, but will I not even see it before I die?”

The spearhead had gathered on the Crown Prince. Qu Zhao pretended not to see and stood by, watching the show.

The Crown Prince said, “Mm.”

Empress Qu stared at the Crown Prince and said, “I’ve broadened my mind quite a bit recently.”

“Congratulations,” said the Crown Prince.

Empress Qu took a deep breath and said, “So, even if you like men, I can accept it. Really. Don’t hide it from me anymore. Come on, child. Give me an answer.”

The Crown Prince was silent for a moment, just about to speak, when Empress Qu suddenly slapped the table in excitement and said, “You hesitated! You faltered!”

“…” The Crown Prince closed his eyes. “I was just deciding whether to call for the imperial physician to check your head.”

“Check my head? Then you need to check your body. Useless thing!” Empress Qu said. “Many people your age are already fathers!”

The Crown Prince said indifferently, “And many people my age are already buried in peace.”

Empress Qu furiously poked the Crown Prince’s arm, then turned and grasped Qu Zhao’s hand. “Zhao’er, tell me—with so many talented and beautiful men and women out there, how is it that he doesn’t like a single one?”

Qu Zhao absolutely dared not stand on her side and urge the Crown Prince to take a consort, so he could only pat her shoulder and soothe her, “Fate can’t be forced, Aunt.”

“I’m not forcing it. If I don’t, he might really become a monk.” Empress Qu hugged Qu Zhao’s hand and wailed, occasionally glancing sideways at the Crown Prince. She was so angry at that cold, indifferent profile that she nearly choked. “When I think of decades from now, you, white-haired and all alone, a solitary shadow—it fills my heart with sorrow. I won’t rest easy even underground.”

The Crown Prince comforted her kindly: “Widen your heart a little. Maybe I won’t live long enough to turn white-haired.”

“What are you saying!” Empress Qu turned and started hitting and scratching the Crown Prince’s arm. “Don’t say unlucky things! Shut up, shut up, shut up!”

The Crown Prince did shut up.

“I’m not talking to you anymore!” Empress Qu unilaterally severed relations with the Crown Prince and turned to Qu Zhao. “Do you remember that child who painted for you at the Qixia Banquet last time?”

The Crown Prince’s hand stirring the tea paused almost imperceptibly. Qu Zhao said, “You mean Pei Xiting?”

“That’s him,” Empress Qu said. “Yesterday, your mother came to the palace and said your Zhen cousin has taken a liking to that child. She wanted me to consider whether to grant this marriage.”

The Crown Prince rubbed his teacup, guessing that Empress Qu was perhaps too idle and spent her days playing matchmaker. It was harmless in itself, but unfortunately, her eyesight was poor and her ability insufficient—she was not up to the task.

Objectively speaking, Qu Zhen was lively in nature and not suitable for Pei Xiting at all.