TL: Hua
Chapter 46: A “Pleasant” Surprise – “Night Records of Pomegranate Flowers”
The woman in front of her was beautiful and charming, but in Bu Suying’s mind, there was a skinny little girl with a pale face who broke through the clouds of time and happily clung to her, calling her “sister.”
She suddenly took a step forward and called out, “Xiao Shiliu (little pomegranate), is that you?”
“It’s me!” Sixteenth Lady stepped forward, reaching out to grasp Bu Suying’s outstretched hand, but then withdrew it shyly, her voice trembling, “I never thought I would see you again in this life, Sister…”
Yejing was too vast; people on the east side might never see those on the west, let alone with city gates and mansion gates between them, and lives and identities completely different from before.
“I never thought so either…” Bu Suying reached out and took Sixteenth Lady’s hand, which was hidden in her sleeve, tears welling in her eyes 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, you still have traces of your childhood, especially those eyes…”
“Yes, time flies too quickly.” Sixteenth Lady took out a handkerchief, raised it, then lowered it, finally just handing it to Bu Suying. “Sister, don’t cry. Wipe your tears quickly. Let’s go inside and talk.”
Bu Suying said, “Mm-hm,” wiped her tears, and was helped into the shop by Sixteenth Lady.
Pei Jintang walked behind them, saying, “I never expected yiniang and Sixteenth Lady to be old acquaintances.”
Pei Xiting recalled their first meeting, when Sixteenth Lady had looked at him a little strangely, then covered it up by saying he resembled Pei Jintang. Now, he realized she had seen an old friend in his face.
The second floor had no customers. Sixteenth Lady seated Bu Suying and instructed the attendant, “The second floor is closed to guests tonight. Quickly bring food and drinks, ask the kitchen to prepare a few light dishes, and then get some crisp-boned fish from Boss Qi for Third Young Master Pei.”
Pei Xiting expressed his thanks. Pei Jintang casually asked, “Doesn’t the shop not sell other dishes?”
“Normally, no, we only have one cook; how could he manage?” Sixteenth Lady sat on a stool next to Bu Suying and playfully glared at Pei Jintang. “You’re getting a treat today thanks to Sister Bu!”
Pei Jintang smiled, his curious gaze moving back and forth between the two women. “Sister, since you know yiniang, why didn’t you mention it before? Otherwise, I would have reunited you two old friends ages ago.”
Sixteenth Lady looked at Bu Suying. They met at Xianyin Workshop. At that time, Bu Suying was of marrying age and the lead performer of Xianyin Workshop, while she was a lonely, orphaned girl who had sold herself into service as a rough maid at the workshop.
Back then, Bu Suying’s personal maid had caused trouble outside and was driven away by the manager. Bu Suying then chose Shiliu, the thinnest and brightest-eyed girl among the maids, to be by her side. Shiliu had never seen such a graceful and beautiful woman, who was also so gentle and kind, teaching and caring for her like a younger sister. Having been together day and night for five years, she regarded Bu Suying as her sister from the bottom of her heart, hoping that she would shine brightly on stage like an unbeatable narcissus and be cherished after her curtain call.
Therefore, when Bu Suying and Pei Yansheng fell in love, Shiliu was not happy. In her eyes, her sister deserved better. But that was Bu Suying’s private matter, and she couldn’t comment, only hoping that Pei Yansheng would treat her sister consistently from beginning to end.
Before Bu Suying married into the Pei family, she used her savings to redeem Shiliu. This girl was bold and meticulous, always standing by the window gazing into the distance, surely with a broader world in her heart. Why should she be confined here as a maid? The day Bu Suying entered the Pei mansion, Shiliu followed the sedan chair to the side gate of the mansion, kowtowing three times. Afterward, they never saw each other again.
“I heard that you haven’t been going out much these past few years; how could I disturb you?” The attendant served mulberry water. Sixteenth Lady stood up to pour a cup for Bu Suying. As the teapot spout touched the cup rim, she paused, tilting her head to look at Bu Suying. “Sister, do you still like to drink mulberry water in summer?”
Bu Suying nodded, “I do.” Then she said, “It’s true that I haven’t been going out much these past few years, but if I had known you were here, I definitely would have come to see you.”
Sixteenth Lady gripped the handle tightly. After a moment, she said, “Oh, well, now that we’ve met, Sister, you can come anytime you wish. If it’s inconvenient to go out, just send someone to tell me, and I’ll have someone deliver things to your door.”
Bu Suying hadn’t left the house much over the years. One reason was fear of displeasing Wang-shi by appearing in public, which could then affect Pei Xiting. Another reason was that when she went out, she would always remember her days before entering the Pei mansion, and her heart would be filled with countless worries, so she simply stopped going out.
But now… she looked at Pei Xiting, who was huddled with Pei Jintang talking. Her child had changed and always encouraged her to follow her heart. She thought she should be bolder too.
Bu Suying unconsciously smiled and turned to Sixteenth Lady, saying, “I’ll come to see you more often from now on. If you come into the city, you can also come find me.”
Sixteenth Lady smiled and agreed.
Once old friends reunited, their conversation was endless. By the time they parted ways, it was completely dark.
Sixteenth Lady escorted Bu Suying to the carriage and said by the window, “It’s getting dark, Sister, please take care.”
“Alright,” Bu Suying reached out and gently touched her face, saying softly, “Go back inside.”
Sixteenth Lady smiled, said “Mm-hm,” and gently closed the carriage window. She slowly withdrew her gaze only after the carriage had driven into the night, then turned and entered the door.
*
The carriage drove back to the Pei mansion under the cover of night, stopping at the side gate. Pei Jintang and Pei Xiting disembarked one after the other.
Pei Xiting reached out to help Bu Suying out of the carriage, saying, “Yiniang, please rest early after you get back.”
“Are you still going back to your small courtyard? Why not just stay in the mansion tonight and save yourself a trip?” Bu Suying said. Pei Xiting shook his head, saying, “I have to go to the government office tomorrow. It’s really inconvenient to get up early from here.”
“That’s true.” Bu Suying smoothed Pei Xiting’s collar, smiling. “Then you should go back and rest quickly.”
Pei Jintang picked out some local products and gifts from the carriage and carried them down, saying, “You can take the carriage back. I’ll have someone drive it back tomorrow.”
Pei Xiting agreed, took two bundles from the carriage, handed them to a servant nearby, and told Bu Suying, “I bought some clothes and jewelry for you. If you don’t like them, just put them aside or give them away as gifts.”
Bu Suying shook her head, saying, “Why would I dislike what you bought? Go back quickly.”
“En.” Pei Xiting stood at the gate, waiting for Bu Suying and Pei Jintang to enter, then turned and got back into the carriage, heading for Lanyin Street.
—
The day was already late. The next morning, Pei Xiting sent the idle Yuan Fang to deliver the gifts to the Duke Wen’s mansion, while he himself carried gifts to the Longhe Division.
“It’s been a bit boring sitting here alone while you were away,” Lu Mang said with a smile, shaking the received bundle. “How can I accept this?”
Pei Xiting said, “They’re just some local products and small items, nothing valuable. There’s no need for Chief Lu to dwell on it.”
Lu Mang accepted the gift, naturally feeling obliged. So, half a month later, Pei Xiting received a “return gift” from Chief Lu.
“‘Night Records of Pomegranate Flowers,’ is this a new storybook?”
Today, Pei Jintang had a rare day off and openly snuck out of the city to play for a day. In the evening, he met up with Pei Xiting and Zhao Yi for dinner. After eating, the three strolled down the street. Zhao Yi wanted to bring some storybooks back for his mother, so they walked into a bookstore. Then Zhao Yi discovered this book, “Night Records of Pomegranate Flowers,” which he had never seen his mother own.
“It is indeed a new storybook, released just three days ago. Our humble shop is the only place in Yejing that has it,” the owner introduced with familiarity. “But I wonder if the duchess likes to read male-romance storybooks?”
Male romance storybooks? Zhao Yi suddenly felt the book burn in his hands and said awkwardly, “My mother isn’t picky…”
“The Duchess is quite well-read.” Pei Jintang took the thinly bound hardcover book from Zhao Yi’s hand and curiously flipped open a page. “A cold, self-disciplined prince and a handsome, romantic painter—heavens, this person dares to write about a prince’s romantic anecdote!”
“That’s where you’re mistaken, young master!” the owner explained. “The story’s background is entirely the author’s imagination, not truly the Daye Dynasty. And the prince in the story is naturally not a real prince. Otherwise, even if you gave me a hundred heads, my humble shop wouldn’t dare to sell it!”
Pei Xiting, standing nearby, said, “This is called a fictionalized world.”
Pei Jintang and Zhao Yi both looked at him simultaneously, and the owner also said in surprise, “What a novel and concise description! Young master, do you… also read?”
“I’ve read a few,” Pei Xiting didn’t hide it. He reached out and took the storybook from Pei Jintang’s hand. He was about to see what danmei novels looked like in this era when he suddenly caught sight of the signature in the corner of the page. “This is…”
The owner craned his neck to glance at it and said, “Oh, that’s the author’s personal signature; only the first batch of sold storybooks has it.”
“Fengyue Scholar”—Pei Xiting looked at the signature and easily recognized that the handwriting belonged to his superior, Chief Lu.
Chief Lu was actually a danmei novel author.
Pei Xiting had never noticed Chief Lu’s potential and talent in this area before. He couldn’t help but flip to the next page, which prominently displayed the main characters’ basic introductions:
[Male Protagonist: Yang Pei
Age: Eighteen
Identity: Painter
Personality: Direct and candid, bold and meticulous
Appearance: Likes to wear red, elegant phoenix eyes; fair and handsome; a small black mole at the outer corner of the lower left eyelid]
—Hmm?
[Male Protagonist: Xi Zong
Age: Twenty-three
Identity: Prince
Personality: Cold and taciturn, dignified and ascetic
Appearance: Unparalleled handsome, long phoenix eyes]
—Hmm??
No, why do these two protagonists seem… Pei Xiting abruptly snapped the storybook shut, deciding to take it back to admire his superior’s writing style and thoroughly research these familiar-looking protagonists.
“I’ll take this one,” he said.
“Ah?” Pei Jintang cautiously advised, “You’re reading… a male-romance book?”
Zhao Yi also said cautiously, “There are many male and female romance storybooks here, Xiting; why not choose another one?”
“I’m actually into male romance, so what’s wrong with reading a storybook? Sifan, I’ve paid for yours too. I’m heading back first; you two can take your time to look around.” Pei Xiting pulled out silver coins and tossed them to the owner, completely disregarding the stunned faces of the other three, and strolled downstairs.
After a moment, Pei Jintang stiffly said, “Sifan, did you hear that?”
“I heard it,” Zhao Yi said dazedly. “When did this happen? How did I not hear even a whisper…”
“Me too.” Pei Jintang wiped his face, then suddenly reached out and grabbed the owner, who had sensed trouble and was trying to escape, fiercely warning him, “Listen carefully, if you dare to spread any rumors, I won’t let you off!”
“Oh, my little ancestors!” The owner cried out in injustice. “I really wasn’t trying to eavesdrop! That little ancestor completely disregarded me, an outsider! But don’t worry, I didn’t hear anything!”
Zhao Yi came back to his senses, and seeing the situation, said, “Hanzhang, don’t worry. Boss Niu isn’t a talkative person.”
“Exactly, exactly!” Boss Niu nodded frantically. “After doing business in Yejing for so many years, I’m very sensible!”
Pei Jintang released Boss Niu, smoothed his collar, and scoffed with a chuckle, “Alright, I won’t make things difficult for you. Go pack Sifan’s books.”
“I’ll do it right away!” Boss Niu swiftly went downstairs.
Pei Jintang and Zhao Yi just stood there staring blankly. Then, Zhao Yi picked up another copy of “Night Records of Pomegranate Flowers” and haphazardly selected a few other books before heading downstairs together.
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