Chapter 80#

Playing Hard to Get: Little Pei’s Escape Record (2)#

If the person outside the door were an ordinary customer, opening or not wouldn’t matter. But if it were someone following him, not opening would only make him seem guilty and invite suspicion.

Haozi stood at the door, regulating his breath, then reached out and opened it.

Three “guests” stood outside. The leader was clearly the master—wearing a dark robe with an understated crane pattern, his long hair bound in a crown, as elegant and sharp as a jade sword. When Haozi met his gaze, a pair of phoenix eyes cold and oppressive, sending a chill down his spine—there was no need to guess; this man had immense influence.

Haozi hastily cupped his hands and said, “Sir, what are your orders?”

Zong Suiyang remained silent, but the guard behind him said, “Our master has a business matter to discuss with you. Due to its urgency, we must trouble you at this hour. Please don’t take offense.”

The words were polite enough, but they left no room for refusal. Haozi smiled and said, “You’re too kind, sir. I’m idle anyway, so it’s no trouble at all. I’m just curious—what business does your master wish to discuss with me?”

Zong Suiyang met Haozi’s eyes and said, “Shall we talk inside?”

For some reason, the moment Haozi met those eyes, his heart raced. Heaven knew how those eyes were made—so beautiful, yet so dangerous. He sighed inwardly, silently praying for divine protection. Even if he had to give up those two living Buddhas, please leave him a path of escape!

“What’s the matter?” Zong Suiyang’s eyelids drooped slightly at Haozi’s momentary hesitation, his tone ambiguous. “Is it inconvenient?”

“How could it be? How could it be? I’m a bachelor—no women in my shop, so how could it be inconvenient? I was just worried that a man of your esteemed status might dirty your robe on my shabby wooden chairs.” Haozi spoke while ushering the “guests” inside, his smile full of attentive .

One guard followed Zong Suiyang inside, while the other remained at the shop entrance, his right hand resting on his sword hilt. Though there was no hint of malice, there was equally no hint of goodwill. Haozi withdrew his gaze, turned around, and picked up the teapot to pour Zong Suiyang a cup of tea. He knew this gentleman wouldn’t touch it, but he didn’t care—it was simply a gesture of hospitality.

Haozi set down the teapot and said, “May I ask what business you wish to discuss with me?”

“Someone from my household has gone missing, currently within Enzhou’s borders. I’d trouble the shopkeeper to help me find him,” Zong Suiyang said.

The secret chamber wasn’t completely soundproof, and Yuan Fang’s ears were sharp. The moment he heard Zong Suiyang’s voice, he immediately turned to Pei Xiting and made a fist gesture.

Pei Xiting lay on the bed, utterly resigned. It had only been half a day, and that bastard Zong had already tracked him here?

Yu Shaoyun had already come. He didn’t think Zong Suiyang was here now just to discuss business—he was most likely targeting Haozi, coming personally to investigate.

No matter how cunning Haozi was, how could he escape the tiger’s jaws and dragon’s fangs?

Pei Xiting pulled the thin blanket over his face, his expression serene. But only for a moment. Like a salted fish flipping over, he clutched his backside and limped over to the secret chamber entrance, grimacing as he pressed himself against the wall to eavesdrop.

Inside the shop, Haozi scratched his head and said, “To be honest, sir, you’re the second person today to ask me to help find someone. Normally, I wouldn’t pry—I’m afraid of offending your household’s privacy. But seeing that you’re no ordinary man, I figure the person you’d personally come looking for must be extraordinary. I hope it’s not some vicious criminal?”

He rubbed his hands together and smiled apologetically. “My shop is small, and I only have one life. I can’t handle such dangerous business.”

“You’re overthinking it. The missing person is no vicious criminal,” Zong Suiyang paused briefly, then said, “He is my younger brother.”

When Pei Xiting vaguely heard this, he instantly clenched his teeth. Who’s your brother! You pierced my ass, and now you call me brother—do you think this is some incest novel? Zong Suiyang, you bastard born from a turtle, your mouth is harder than a tortoise shell!

Yuan Fang crouched nearby, feeling the person beside him burning like a raging fireball. Afraid that he might impulsively charge out and start a fight, Yuan Fang reached out and gently squeezed his shoulder.

Pei Xiting came to his senses, made a circular motion with his hand as if gathering energy, and let out a long breath, barely suppressing his anger.

“Younger brother?” Haozi thought to himself, the way you spoke just now didn’t seem like ordinary brotherly affection. But he couldn’t find the right word to describe that expression. It always felt a bit inappropriate to look at one’s own younger brother with such deep, almost longing eyes, didn’t it?

In any case, this man’s features bore no resemblance to those of the person inside. Haozi guessed that “brother” was just a cover— “sworn brother” or “lover” seemed more likely. Could the two inside be a red apricot branching out over the wall and a thieving eagle, fluttering and flying to Enzhou, with the legitimate man tracking them down to catch them in the act?

“We had a disagreement. He ran away from home today, hiding from me. But I can’t rest easy with him out there alone,” Zong Suiyang looked at Haozi. “The sooner I see him, the sooner I can relax.”

As he finished speaking, the guard behind Zong Suiyang untied a pouch of gold from his waist and placed it on the table with a dull thud. “Please do us this favor.”

Haozi looked at that bag of money—heavy, its sound on the table like a death knell. He raised his eyes to meet Zong Suiyang’s pitch-black gaze, swallowed, and said, “That’s too much. I’ll take the payment after I find the person.”

Zong Suiyang smiled faintly. “What’s your reasoning?”

That smile made Haozi’s heart tremble even more. He quickly said, “Enzhou isn’t small. Finding someone isn’t easy. Besides, I suspect your younger brother is frightened and will try every means to hide, making it even harder to track him down. If I can’t find him, how could I accept so much money?”

“Frightened?” Zong Suiyang shook his head slightly. “If he dared to run away from home, why would he be frightened?”

“Doing something without fear is one thing; fearing the aftermath is another—they’re not mutually exclusive,” Haozi smiled apologetically. “A younger brother naturally reveres his elder brother. If your younger brother knew you came personally to catch him, how could he not be afraid? Even if you wouldn’t harm him, family discipline is still strict, after all.”

Zong Suiyang didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he stood up from his chair, surveyed the surroundings, and walked over to the nearest counter, hands clasped behind his back, examining it.

His posture was casual, like a customer browsing a shop. But Haozi’s heart raced with terror, and he couldn’t help but shoot a quick glance at the cabinet against the wall opposite the door.

On the other side of the wall, Pei Xiting held his breath, listening intently to the sounds outside.

After a moment of silence, Zong Suiyang spoke unhurriedly, “Right now, I’m not thinking about how to punish him. I just want to find him quickly.”

Yeah, yeah, find him first and punish him to death later. Pei Xiting curled his lip—he wasn’t falling for that.

“Of course, of course. You dote on your younger brother—how could you bear to really do anything to him? At most, a few words of scolding,” Haozi said.

Zong Suiyang raised an eyebrow at this, a faint, ambiguous smile on his face. Haozi’s throat tightened, and he quickly added, “Rest assured, sir. I’ll do my best to help you find him.”

Zong Suiyang said, “I must see him within two days. Today counts as the first.”

Haozi’s eyes widened. “What?!”

Inside, Pei Xiting’s eyes also widened. How did it suddenly change from three days to two days? And more importantly, that bastard Zong was clearly hostile—he had Haozi dead to rights.

“I’m not an unreasonable man. But my mood is truly foul right now, so I’ll dispense with reason,” Zong Suiyang walked up to Haozi, towering over him. “You have a reputation. If you fail to live up to it, I’ll smash your signboard. Consider it a public service, wouldn’t you agree?”

Haozi smiled bitterly, then dryly, then couldn’t smile at all.

Pei Xiting couldn’t smile either. He understood now—Zong not only had Haozi dead to rights, but he was also certain Haozi knew their whereabouts. These words were directed at him.

Come back obediently before tomorrow night, or else he would settle this harboring charge with Haozi.

Furthermore, these words were a carrot and stick for Haozi: if Haozi handed over the person, he would not only forgive past transgressions but also reward him handsomely. Otherwise, he would be implicated. And since they were “brothers,” nothing fatal could come of it between family. But Haozi, this kind-hearted man, was an outsider—the consequences would be unpredictable.

As long as Haozi wasn’t an idiot, he knew which side to choose!

That treacherous, ruthless, merciless bastard! Pei Xiting was going crazy inside, wishing he could rush out and bite Zong Suiyang to death. Fortunately, he still had a shred of reason left. If he charged out now, at best he’d bite Zong once, but he’d definitely get trashed so badly not even his ancestors would recognize him!

Zong’s tone was normal, even willing to chat with Haozi. But the more normal he seemed, the more Pei Xiting’s heart pounded. Only four words came to mind: a storm is brewing.

Maybe he should just go out and “surrender” now? He was still injured—Zong probably wouldn’t torment him again, right? At worst, he could hug Zong Suiyang’s thigh and cry his heart out. A wise man knows when to bend—no shame in that.

But Pei Xiting reconsidered. If he went back like this, all his efforts would be wasted, and he’d lose all leverage. How could he fight Zong then? What would that embarrassing morning, when he barely managed to climb from the bed onto Yuan Fang’s back, mean? Did it mean his knees were just very resilient?

Fuck!

Inside, Pei Xiting scratched his head anxiously, caught between advancing and retreating. Outside, Haozi was doing the same, furious but afraid to speak, pleading with his eyes.

Zong Suiyang gave him a cold glance, said nothing more, and left.

Haozi: “…”

After walking a few steps, Zong Suiyang didn’t stop, saying, “Keep the shop under surveillance. Don’t disturb Haozi when he goes out to buy medicine or food.”

The guard acknowledged, not daring to ask why His Highness, since he was certain that Pei Wenshu was hiding in the shop, didn’t just grab him. Wasn’t he anxious to see the person?

Zong Suiyang was indeed anxious, but he also knew his emotions were unsettled. If he saw Pei Xiting now, that mischievous thing loved to provoke him. If he lost control and hurt him again, what then?

At most, it was just one night. He would calm down first, then go catch him tomorrow.

Zong Suiyang had made his plan. But that very evening, he received word from the surveillance team: Haozi had urgently gone to the pharmacy to buy antipyretics—a strong dose. They wondered how high the fever was.

“Last night, Your Highness couldn’t control himself. You must have hurt Pei Wenshu. Add to that…” Matters of the bedchamber were too private to discuss openly in front of so many people. Su Zhongyan only said vaguely, “Better bring him back early. Let me examine him, clean and apply medicine properly.”

Yu Shaoyun draped a cloak over Zong Suiyang. As he stepped out, someone beside him asked, “Should we have Hall Master Fu accompany us? That way, we won’t have to waste effort on Yuan Fang’s end.”

Yu Shaoyun glanced at Zong Suiyang. He had thought that His Highness would absolutely not leave any “loose ends” this time. But it was still the same answer: “We’ll see.”

The party hurried toward the toy shop.

Pei Xiting was kneeling on a cushion, putting on makeup.

Yuan Fang held a mirror beside him and commented, “You look like a ghost.”

“You don’t understand,” Pei Xiting turned his head, blinking his dark-rimmed eyes, and said solemnly, “This is a sickly pallor.”

Haozi crouched nearby, sighing. “Actually, without the makeup, you look more pitiable. Now you look like someone wants to punch you.”

“Is it that ugly?” Pei Xiting looked left and right. White face, rosy cheeks, dark circles, pale lips—clearly, he looked very weak.

Yuan Fang said, “Do you think your… brother is blind? Can’t he see that your face has plaster on it?”

“That’s not my fault. It’s because the cosmetics are bad,” Pei Xiting absolutely refused to blame his makeup skills and gave an example. “Look at the lotus flower beauty look that Qing Lingling made popular in the capital. I did that.”

Qing Lingling was naturally fair and didn’t need powder on normal days. Pei Xiting only used rouge for decoration. If he really did a full face of makeup, Qing Lingling would probably fall from her throne as the top courtesan immediately. If she went out at night in white, she could scare quite a few people to death.

Yuan Fang silently cursed but didn’t say it, afraid of provoking Pei Xiting into beating him out of shame. He only said, “So why did you get up in the middle of the night to create this ‘sickly pallor’ look?”

“I couldn’t sleep, so I’m rehearsing ahead of time,” Pei Xiting said while looking in the mirror. “When they come knocking, I definitely won’t be able to run. But I need to buy time for you to escape. I’ll just fall to the ground with this face, and my brother will be too busy with me to chase you.”

Haozi heard this with relief. “At least you have a conscience, thinking about letting me run.”

“Brother Haozi, don’t worry. At most, you’ll have to lay low for a few days. Once I calm him down, you can come back and do business,” Pei Xiting reassured him. “I won’t short you a single coin.”

“I’m not even hoping for the money anymore. Just let me keep my life,” Haozi sat down on the floor, sighing. “Your brother, his killing intent is restrained. He must be someone who kills without blinking.”

Pei Xiting patted his chest. “Don’t worry. I’m here.”

Yuan Fang chuckled. Pei Xiting punched his leg.

Pei Xiting continued, “Haozi, you’ll be fine. Fang, when the time comes, you must turn and run without looking back. Don’t worry about me. Take our belongings and go enjoy yourself for a few days. I’ll come for you.”

Before, Zong Suiyang was willing to help him block Hall Master Fu. But now, he would definitely let Fu take Yuan Fang away. Pei Xiting originally planned not to ask Yuan Fang for help—he could just slide down from the second floor using bedsheets. But he was afraid that if he wasn’t there, Zong Suiyang would take his anger out on Yuan Fang, and Hall Master Fu would seize the chance to take him away.

After much thought, his provocation tactic was still too incomplete. Pei Xiting felt low. Besides blaming his own bad brain, Zong Suiyang was also at fault. After all, his brain was only slightly damaged before Zong had turned it half-crippled last night.

“Don’t worry about my matters,” Yuan Fang said.

Pei Xiting had just taken medicine, and his head was throbbing. When a person is sick, they tend to be fragile and sensitive. Pei Xiting, being occasionally slow on the uptake, misunderstood and thought Yuan Fang was angry. He turned his head, showing a trace of guilt.

Yuan Fang was startled by his expression. “I wasn’t scolding you. Don’t you dare cry.”

Pei Xiting pouted and said nothing. Yuan Fang rubbed his face. “I meant exactly what I said—don’t worry about me. Your brain is already burning. If you worry more, the fire will grow bigger, and you’ll really burn it out. When you were watching me at Baimei House and told me to buy chicken congee, I had already planned out our escape route. I really thought I’d have to take you on the run. I didn’t expect you were just playing at provocation. But that’s better—one less burden for me, and I can run faster.”

Pei Xiting breathed a sigh of relief. “What will you do after you run?”

“First, I’ll return to the Southwest. Since the Hall Master caught me, I can’t just run blindly a second time—that would be asking for death. I’ll go back first, beg for leniency, then find an opportunity to slip away to Yejing to see you,” Yuan Fang said. “This was already my plan. After all, I can’t stay away from home forever. Even if you hadn’t done this, after we returned, I would have had to part with you for a while.”

“But with what happened before, will Hall Master Fu let you run a second time?” Pei Xiting worried. “Will he lock you up so we never see each other again?!”

“As long as he doesn’t break my legs, I can run. And he won’t break my legs,” Yuan Fang chuckled. “My legs are valuable.”

Pei Xiting finally relaxed and said confidently, “Don’t worry. Let’s set a deadline of a month and a half. If I haven’t seen you by then, I’ll go to the Southwest to find you.”

Since its founding, no one had ever located the Immortal Corridor’s exact position. Pei Xiting sure had big talk. But Yuan Fang didn’t dampen his spirits. He nodded and agreed. “Alright.”

The two discussed their future arrangements, unaware that Haozi had slumped to the side, staring at them with lifeless eyes.

Southwest… Hall Master… Could it be the Immortal Corridor? Yes, yes! No wonder this man could wield a dagger with bloodless precision, killing without a trace. This wasn’t just any assassin—this was a master from the Immortal Corridor!

Enzhou was under martial law, with Cage Crane Guards appearing at the city gates. The “elder brother” who had just left came from Yejing, with an aristocratic air. And these two living Buddhas hadn’t denied offending the Eastern Palace…

“Ugh!” Haozi suddenly gasped and fell backward.

The current Crown Prince had no younger brother. This living Buddha was clearly the Crown Prince’s lover! The Crown Prince had been cuckolded and chased all the way here, and he had taken in this audacious pair of illicit lovers!

Haozi saw white before his eyes. When Pei Xiting crawled over on his knees and anxiously rubbed his chest, Haozi coughed weakly and said, “After I die, please bury me with a jar of rice wine. That way, I won’t feel lonely or cold on the road.”

Pei Xiting said earnestly, “Brother Haozi, don’t die! Don’t die!”

“Young Master Pei, in this life, you have wronged me. In the next life, please meet me again and inexplicably bestow upon me countless gold, silver, and jewels to compensate for this karmic debt we share in this life.” Having left his final words with difficulty, Haozi’s eyes flew open, he let out an “ugh,” turned his head, and breathed his last.

Pei Xiting stared at Haozi in disbelief, suddenly clutched his chest, tilted his head back in a silent wail, then lay on Haozi’s body, sobbing.

Yuan Fang sat to the side, raised his hand, and clapped slowly, his expression blank. “In this scene, you two still have the mood to act. Your lightheartedness is worthy of my study.”

Haozi opened his eyes, resurrected. Pei Xiting sat up and knelt properly. They both smiled sheepishly, their smiles restrained.

Yuan Fang rolled his eyes, stood up, and patted his pants. “Stop fooling around. Wipe that ghost face off and lie down.”

Pei Xiting said miserably, “Lying on my stomach to sleep is uncomfortable. I can’t sleep at all.”

“You took the medicine earlier. Once your stomach digests it and the effects kick in, you’ll fall asleep naturally,” Yuan Fang said, bending down to scoop Pei Xiting up from the floor and telling Haozi to fetch water.

Haozi chuckled. “Alright, this servant will come serve the young master.”

He shook his head, walked to the washstand, picked up the previously boiled kettle, poured half a basin of water, mixed in cold water, tested the temperature with his finger, and soaked the cloth inside.

Pei Xiting lay on the bed, head on the pillow. When Haozi handed him the hot cloth, he bared a row of white teeth in thanks.

Yuan Fang shook out the cloth and was about to wipe Pei Xiting’s face when his ear twitched. He suddenly sat up straight.

Seeing this, Pei Xiting and Haozi both stiffened. Haozi rolled and hid beside the bed. Pei Xiting scrambled behind Yuan Fang, poking his shoulder with a finger.

“Someone’s picking the lock,” Yuan Fang said.

Pei Xiting frowned. “That bastard Zong wouldn’t bother picking a lock. He’d just have someone break the door down.”

“That bastard Zong”—very good, very good. “Zong” was the imperial surname. Haozi smiled weakly and crept over to the two of them. “Could it be my enemy coming in the middle of the night to kill me?”

“Even if it is, I’ll handle it for you, as thanks for sheltering us,” Yuan Fang said.

Haozi immediately cupped his fists in gratitude to the expert.

“Who can know through a door?” Pei Xiting whispered. “Maybe it’s just a thief, come to steal your money.”

That would be the best-case scenario. Haozi sighed.

The three remained motionless. Pei Xiting couldn’t hear any noise, so he stayed put behind Yuan Fang.

Yuan Fang heard the door creak open. He pulled the dagger from his leg and, the moment the secret chamber door opened, shot forward like lightning, the blade aimed at the other’s throat.

But the visitor had anticipated this. He blocked the dagger with a folding fan and looked at Yuan Fang warmly. “You haven’t slacked off.”

Yuan Fang instinctively pulled back, retreating three paces, and bowed his head. “I’ve offended the Hall Master.”

“Come with me.” Fu Wei didn’t wait for Yuan Fang’s reply. He reached out like lightning, grabbed Yuan Fang’s shoulder, and yanked him out.

Yuan Fang slipped like an eel, dodging, but Fu Wei caught him again. He leaned in and whispered, “The young couple is playing their games. Why are you butting in? Fuchuan isn’t easygoing. When he goes crazy, there’s no limit. Aren’t you afraid of death? Think about your good young master. Can he afford your life?”

Yuan Fang bit his lip at this. In that moment of distraction, Fu Wei struck him with a knife-hand blow, knocking him out, then bent down and hoisted him onto his shoulder.

Fu Wei turned and smiled at Pei Xiting. Hall Master Fu was handsome, and his smile was gentle and refined. But his eyes held no warmth, no matter how charming the smile. Unlike Zong Suiyang, Pei Xiting was a bit afraid of him. But that didn’t stop his mouth from being defiant. “If you dare hit him, I’ll tell His Highness. Just wait and see. You’re the one who encouraged me to run!”

“…” Fu Wei squinted his eyes at this but said nothing. It was more important to get the person away from the scene of trouble. He turned and quickly left.

Pei Xiting couldn’t stop him, so he could only pound the bed. He turned to look at Haozi, only to find him already kneeling on the ground.

“… No, big brother,” Pei Xiting said warily. “What are you doing?”

Haozi stammered, “Th-th-that was the Immortal Corridor master?”

“Y-y-yes,” Pei Xiting replied.

Haozi’s eyes rolled back, and he fainted again.

Pei Xiting wiped his face and reached out to help Haozi. “Brother Haozi, now it’s just the two of us. This place isn’t safe anymore. How about you take me and we ru—”

Before he could finish, Pei Xiting’s gaze suddenly trembled. He sensed something. It was as if his neck were made of wood as he stiffly turned his head.

A man had appeared silently. He wore a dark robe, exuding cold air, like a ghost of the night—not only there to scare, but to take lives. His tall figure nearly touched the doorframe, filling Pei Xiting’s entire field of vision.

Zong Suiyang first surveyed the shabby furnishings of the secret chamber with slight displeasure. Then he lowered his eyes to look at Pei Xiting, who was kneeling on the bed with a dazed expression. There was no anger in Zong’s eyes. Instead, he was smiling:

“Run?” He leaned against the doorframe, tilting his head slightly as he looked at Pei Xiting, curiosity in his voice. “Where were you planning to run this time?”