TL: Hua
Wang-shi sat in the main seat, wearing a bamboo green cross-collar skirt decorated with a set of deep dark green jade ornaments, talking with the chief secretary of King Ning’s Mansion, whose temperament reminded Pei Xiting of his junior high school class teacher and pancake-selling uncle.
After he went abroad to further his studies, he often received WeChat messages from the pancake uncle. The simple and capable middle-aged man was not good at speaking. He would capture just a few photos of the steaming pancakes and his well-behaved little dog, who was dutifully guarding the stall, and send them to him as a token of thought for his loyal customer.
It’s a pity that he won’t be able to see him again in the future. He didn’t know if Uncle received the snack cart[mfn]
[/mfn] and the “Captain Paw Patrol” puppy motorcycle he bought… He hopes this man and his dog can be happy every day and have everything they want.
Pei Xiting lowered his eyelids and thought of the crown prince’s string of glazed rosary beads. He should also make a string of beads so that he can play with them when he is upset.
Speaking of which, the crown prince’s beads are black glass. Black belongs to water, which restrains fire and means fire prevention. The black rosary is mainly practiced in the method of the wrathful lotus master[mfn]Deity in Tibetan Buddhism. In a nutshell, his role and symbol is to eliminate evil, bring inner peace, and prompt sentient beings to walk out of the quagmire of suffering.[/mfn]. It seems that the crown prince’s heart isn’t a solid rock without any crack.
The chief secretary drank a cup of tea and explained his purpose. It turned out that Prince Ning was going to hold this year’s Qixia Banquet in Pixia Mountain in a few days, and he needed several painters.
The so-called Qixia Banquet is a banquet attended by the children of the court on the day of Grain in Ear[mfn]Grain in Ear—the 9th of the 24 solar terms; the day marking the beginning of the 9th solar term (June 5, 6, or 7, the end of the grain-growing season and the last chance for sowing).[/mfn] every year. This banquet aims to promote friendly exchanges among peers, and if they are not on friendly terms, a tug-of-war arena was also provided. It is hosted by the children of the noble families in turn. This year it’s Prince Ning’s turn. He doesn’t like to appreciate flowers and weave ropes but wants to organize horse racing and hunting.
It is said that Prince Ning is a person who values appearance. All the people who are close to him are good-looking, so this time the painter will be selected from various families.
The chief secretary looked at the two brothers standing in the hall. He had seen Pei Jintang several times, a very handsome and generous young man, but this was the first time he saw Third Pei… He was really good-looking.
“Can Third Young Master Pei paint and ride a horse?” The chief secretary asked.
Pei Xiting replied, “I have dabbled in it a little.”
Wang-shi frowned slightly and glanced at Pei Xiting. She remembered that Pei Xiting couldn’t ride a horse. But because people from King Ning’s Mansion are still here, she couldn’t say anything. If others knew that their son lied, where would the Pei family’s face be?
The chief secretary looked at Pei Xiting’s slender figure and his pair of thin wrists that were weak against his snow-white skin. He looked so weak that he didn’t look like he could ride a horse. But Pei Xiting doesn’t seem to be lying, so he said, “On the 29th of this month, the two young masters should come to Pixia Mountain together. It will be lively, with a lot of delicious food and fun activities that day.”
He put down two gold-sprinkled invitations, gave a few more instructions, and got up to leave.
The steward waited outside the hall to see the guests out.
Wang-shi sat down again without saying anything. The two of them thought at the same time: they were going to be lectured.
As expected, Wang-shi said in a deep voice, “Prince Ning is of noble status, so he’s naturally haughty and not easy to get along with. There are many noble children at the horse racing meeting. They each have different temperaments. If you are not careful, you will easily offend them. You must follow the rules and etiquette, not be afraid to shrink from the stage, and not lie or bring disaster to your family just to show off.”
Pei Xiting was daydreaming. He felt a stern look on his face and knew that Wang-shi was pointing at him.
He listened with one ear[mfn]Meaning he didn’t pay attention.[/mfn] and said, “Don’t worry, mother.”
Pei Jintang also said, “Don’t worry, mother, I will take good care of my third brother.”
Wang-shi originally wanted Pei Xiting to come clean so that she could find a reason to withdraw his invitation. Seeing this, she frowned and said, “You are full of promises, but if anything goes wrong, you will be heavily punished.”
Wang-shi got up and left. Pei Xiting and Pei Jintang walked back together.
On the way, Pei Jintang said, “I remember that you don’t know how to ride a horse. You tried to learn once a few years ago and almost broke your leg, so you haven’t tried since.”
Pei Xiting also fell when he first learned to ride a horse, but after falling a few times, he learned it. He tilted his head to meet Pei Jintang’s curious eyes and smiled shyly, “I went to learn again in secret. It’s embarrassing if I keep falling again and again.”
Pei Jintang originally felt that his third brother was a little different today. He was not as timid as before when he came to the front hall to greet his mother. He spoke confidently and calmly in front of the guests, but at this moment, seeing this familiar smile, he couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.
“What’s so embarrassing about falling? I also fell when I first learned it.” Pei Jintang emphasized, “I won’t laugh at you.”
Pei Xiting could hear the friendliness and intimacy that Pei Jintang was trying to express.
Pei Jintang didn’t like being pressed behind the desk by Wang-shi to study for the imperial examination, nor did he want to learn all kinds of rules and etiquette all day long. He just wanted to be a wandering scholar and travel around the world. Even if he lived in a dilapidated temple and wore coarse cloth, to him, that would be freedom. He was an open-minded person with a youthful spirit in his bones. In contrast, “Pei Xiting” was a disciplined soft gourd with a soft shell and an empty heart. Being friends with Qing Lingling was one of his few outgoing decisions. Therefore, after Qing Lingling was gone, “Pei Xiting” couldn’t last long.
“I didn’t think you would laugh at me, second brother.” Pei Xiting said, “Don’t misunderstand me.”
“I don’t. Thinking too much all day will only narrow your heart, “Pei Jintang patted Pei Xiting’s shoulder. “Don’t be afraid on the day of the Qixia Banquet. Just follow me; nothing will go wrong.”
Follow you, and everything will go wrong, ok? The scum gongs will gather in groups where you are. But Pei Xiting said gratefully, “Then please take care of me, second brother.”
“Don’t be quick to thank each other between brothers. It sounds very distant if you say too much.” Pei Jintang hugged Pei Xiting, “Our family is small, so there’s no need for brother’s rivalry. Relax a little— to be honest, if you can surpass me and bring honor to the family, I will definitely thank you!”
Pei Xiting said, “Good. But the responsibility of bringing honor to the family should be borne by the second brother.”
Pei Jintang was a little surprised, because in the past, Pei Xiting would immediately avoid the topic and nervously say: It’s not decent to hug each other’s shoulders.
It’s all because their mother is too strict! What’s wrong with hugging each other’s shoulders between brothers?
Therefore, Pei Jintang was very happy at this moment. He hugged Pei Xiting again for the sake of novelty and then said, “Come on, let’s go back. I’ll take you out to make new clothes another day.”
“I have–”
“This is an occasion where nobles gather. Even if you don’t want to compete for beauty, you have to dress up. Otherwise, there will inevitably be gossip that mother has deducted your monthly allowance. If it’s reported back to the mansion, you will be scolded again.” In fact, Pei Jintang doesn’t care about this default trend of comparison, but he deeply knows how afraid this younger brother is of his mother, worried that Pei Xiting will return to his former state after being scolded; that’s why he said so.
He patted Pei Xiting’s shoulder, “It’s settled. I’ll go first.”
Pei Xiting no longer refused, nodded, and said, “Second brother, take care.”
Pei Jintang left, pacing dignifiedly, and couldn’t help jumping when he reached the corner—this is also a caged bird, but his mind is active, always thinking about flying out.
Pei Xiting retracted his gaze, looking back at the courtyard while thinking: It’s not easy to hug the crown prince’s thigh. In doing so, he hopes that it can save his life in case of emergency, but it doesn’t hurt to have more connections.
Qixia Banquet is an opportunity.
Pei Xiting sighed and muttered, “It’s annoying.”
If only Shangguan Jie and other scum gongs could have stumbled and died for no reason.
*
“Brainless idiots!” Shangguan Jie smashed the teacup, furious, “Didn’t see it, didn’t see it, did the person grow wings and fly away!”
The two people in charge of surveillance knelt in front of the couch, both pale, and one of them said, “Young Marquis, please understand! We really didn’t slack off, but from last night to when we came back, we really didn’t see Third Pei.”
“Shut up!” Shangguan Jie’s forehead, which was already aching, became even more swollen. He pressed the white cloth on his forehead and fell back on the pillow, his fists cracking.
If the theft of Po Yinlin was publicized, he would be held responsible for losing the imperial gift, so after waking up last night, he could only send guards to look for it secretly. Those people in the martial arts world have their own way of hiding, and the thief has excellent skills, leaving no trace behind, so it was naturally troublesome to find him, but the strange thing was that Pei Xiting was also nowhere to be found.
Shangguan Jie had previously sent people to Yuanyang Pavilion. Qing Lingling said frankly that he took Pei Xiting in for one night, but Pei Xiting left in the morning; his attitude when answering questions was quite arrogant. Due to Prince Ning’s influence, he couldn’t be rough with this person.
The doorman also saw Pei Xiting leave Yuanyang Pavilion, but when asked along the way, no one saw where the person had gone. He didn’t go back to Pei Mansion either… Could it be that he was killed by the Po Yinlin thief and his body was abandoned in the wilderness?
Shangguan Jie was angry, not because he was worried about Pei Xiting, but because his skin was really wonderful. It would be a pity if he died like this.
“Young Marquis.” The guard walked into the room quickly and said, “We found him.”
Shangguan Jie abruptly lifted the quilt, but it affected the wounds on his forehead and lower abdomen, so he couldn’t help but gasp.
The guard wanted to come forward to help, but Shangguan Jie raised his hand to stop him and said with all his strength, “Where is he?”
“In Pei Mansion. Today, someone from King Ning’s Mansion went to Pei Mansion to hand over the invitations for the Qixia Banquet to the two young masters. My subordinates met him on the street and asked him casually, only to find out that Third Pei was indeed at the Pei Mansion today.”
“Drag these two rubbish away and give them twenty lashes.” Shangguan Jie sneered without even looking at the two rubbish being dragged out, “Qixia Banquet… he really dares to go.”
The guard lowered his eyes and lit a stick of incense for Pei Xiting in his heart.
*
“What incense?”
At noon on the 21st, Pei Xiting and Pei Jintang were choosing the fabrics and styles at a cloth shop on Yangliu Street and then strolled into the incense shop next door. Without waiting for Pei Xiting to answer, Pei Jintang leaned over to the small jar in his hand and sniffed it, identifying it as “Citrus fruit wine, citron, tea fragrance, ginger, and it seems there is also musk…”
“Dog nose.” Pei Xiting said.
He didn’t change perfumes frequently. One of the perfumes he used most often in the past was Sparkling Gin and Tonic. He definitely can’t buy the same one in Daye. The material in the jar was somewhat similar, and it smelled good. Although it has a paste-like texture, it’s not sticky. After applying it on the body, the smell won’t be too strong.
Pei Xiting took the jar to the counter, and the shopkeeper quoted a price of twenty taels.
“How much?!” Pei Jintang took a breath.
In the capital, everything is expensive. Buying things in the best shops is like delivering yourself to their doorsteps, opening your purse, and saying, “Come and grab it, come and grab it”. His third brother will immediately put the incense back in its place with a red face… Forget it; he finally wants to buy something, so as his big brother, he will suffer the pain to pay for it.
Pei Jintang reached out to touch the deflated purse on his waist, but with a “pop,” the money was already on the counter. His third brother said calmly, “Wrap it up.”
“Huh?” While the boss was wrapping the jar, Pei Jintang approached the little rich man and asked in a low voice, “Where did you get so much money?”
“Saved.” Pei Xiting had secretly sold two paintings at the art gallery for the past half month and had a little money.
Pei Jintang naturally didn’t know that his brother had followed him twice to climb over the wall to earn extra money and was in shock. “You are so good at saving. Besides, this is one year’s worth of savings, and you’re willing to spend it all at once just to buy a jar of incense? Such a small jar too. If you use it every day, it will only last a month at most.”
“I need incense, so I buy it. What’s the problem?” Pei Xiting took the brocade bag handed over by the shopkeeper, put it in his sleeve pocket, and glanced at Pei Jintang, “Should I buy you one too?”
“I bought you a set of clothes, and you want to repay me? Goodbye, keep it for your children; I don’t like to use incense.” Pei Jintang looked straight and said firmly, “You are really, indeed, absolutely different.”
After these days, Pei Xiting realized that in order to make connections, he couldn’t perfectly replicate the character of “Pei Xiting”. On top of that, he was Pei Xiting now, and no one could find anything out even if they suspected him.
The brothers weren’t living with each other day and night or knew each other very well, so there was no need for him to pretend too much. He turned around and walked out, saying, “Really?”
“Yes, it’s like your soul has changed.” Pei Jintang followed.
“Oh,” Pei Xiting said, “then you go and ask the monks and Taoists to perform a ritual.”
It’s better to send him back.
There’s really not much fun in this place. Although he could stay in the ravines and set up a drawing board for a day before, now he has to guard against the scum gongs group. Every time he goes out, he feels like a thief. It’s so troublesome.
Besides, his schedule is completely different from that of Pei Mansion. He can get up early, but he can’t go to bed late. But if he wants to stay up late, he can only pretend to study hard in the study room. It’s even more troublesome and inconvenient to sneak out.
Pei Jintang chirped, “Why would I waste money looking for monks and Taoists? I couldn’t wait for you to be more like this. I told you before that people still need to have a bit of a temper; otherwise, they will be bullied wherever they go… Jingzhu?”
Hearing these two words, Pei Xiting raised his eyes.
There was a man standing in front of the shop, wearing a cream-yellow gauze robe, without a crown. His hair was tied up with a thin green bean-colored ribbon. His exquisite face was inlaid with a pair of beautiful and lovely deer eyes.
At this moment, he was staring at Pei Jintang with his clear and bright eyes, calling him affectionately, “Brother Hanzhang.”
“Hanzhang” is Pei Jintang’s courtesy name. Nowadays, it’s not necessary to wait until you reach the age of 14 to get a courtesy name. Some children who are valued or children of large families are even born with courtesy names.
Pei Xiting watched the man come up to talk to Pei Jintang, smiling. It was such an innocent face, supplemented by superb acting skills, that deceived “Pei Xiting” and made him deliver himself to this “sincere friend”. After being r*ped, he even cried bitterly to the real culprit.
“Who is this?”
The pair of eyes suddenly looked over. Pei Xiting keenly caught a fleeting gleam in his eyes.
Heh, pretentious.
“It’s my third brother, Xiting.” Pei Jintang was oblivious to the two actors’ psychological activities. He patted Pei Xiting on the shoulder and introduced enthusiastically, “Xiting, this is the fifth son of King Ning’s Mansion.”
Thank god Pei Jintang is a normal person ┌( ಠ_ಠ)┘
