TL: Hua
Chapter 75: Red String – Xiao Pei goes to Enzhou (15)
The carriage stopped in front of the Bai Mian Fang. Yu Shaoyun got out and opened the carriage door, stepping aside to invite Zong Suiyang to alight.
Zong Suiyang stepped down, his gaze sweeping over the cursive plaque above the entrance. They had never entered this way before; this was their first time using the main entrance.
The madam, swaying her hips, greeted them with eager hospitality. She subtly assessed the two of them, her smile broadening as she invited them upstairs.
Xian Yin stood on the second-floor corridor, fanning herself with a round fan. Her gaze lingered on Zong Suiyang as he ascended the stairs. This man, though ordinary in appearance, possessed an exceptionally noble and rare demeanor.
Xian Yin’s eyelids twitched, wondering about his identity, until she saw the man behind him.
The lean man wore a straw hat, obscuring most of his face, making his features hard to discern. However, the sword hanging at his waist was well-known.
Xian Yin’s expression subtly shifted. She immediately turned and walked to the corner, beckoning a hall attendant. “Immediately inform Immortal Envoy Huo that Dang Yun Xue has appeared, and the Crown Prince is at the Bai Mian Fang.”
The attendant quietly assented, turned, and quickly departed.
Xian Yin stood contemplating for a moment, then fanned herself and summoned the madam who had just emerged from a room. She asked softly, “Did those two say anything?”
“They just asked for a pot of good tea, saying they wanted to sit for a while and look for someone,” the madam replied truthfully.
“You go ahead, entertain them as usual,” Xian Yin instructed the madam. After a moment, the previous hall attendant reappeared and nodded to her.
Xian Yin looked around, then turned and went downstairs to a back room. Once the door closed, a young man sat at a round table, his expression inscrutable, lost in thought.
“Yu Shaoyun and the Crown Prince are inseparable. Since he has appeared, the young man he’s accompanying must be the Crown Prince in disguise,” Xian Yin said, her willow-like brows slightly furrowed. “Li Da went to Yejing this morning, but the Crown Prince is now in Enzhou. Could he have discovered something?”
“Li Da went to Yejing to confess his sins; it’s understandable for him to be sidelined for a few days. Moreover, if the Crown Prince leaves Yejing, someone in the East Palace would surely issue orders on his behalf. Li Da isn’t such an important figure that the Crown Prince needs to personally summon him,” Immortal Envoy Huo said. “As for why the Crown Prince is here, you go and find out.”
Xian Yin assented, turned, and left the room. She took a tray from the madam and went to a private room on the second floor.
Inside sat the Crown Prince. Xian Yin slowly exhaled before having the person behind her gently knock on the door. After a voice from inside said, “Enter,” the hall attendant behind her pushed open half the door, and she stood at the entrance, saying, “Your tea has arrived.”
Zong Suiyang was playing the zither by the window. Yu Shaoyun stood beside him, glanced at Xian Yin, and said, “You don’t look like a girl from the brothel. Who exactly is in charge of this Bai Mian Fang?”
“I am in charge. Mama Liu is only responsible for entertaining guests and looking after the girls,” Xian Yin said, pouring two cups of tea. She looked up and smiled at Yu Shaoyun. “Mama Liu said you two came here looking for someone. Many people come and go from my Bai Mian Fang every day, and some, like you two, come looking for people. However, most are women looking for their men. May I ask who you are looking for? Is there anything I can do to help?”
Yu Shaoyun glanced at Zong Suiyang, then walked to the table. “We’re looking for a young master, about eighteen or nineteen. As for his appearance, that’s simple: he’s as beautiful as jade, unforgettable after just one glance. Also, this young master is often accompanied by a refined and handsome young man.”
They were looking for Pei Xiting. Xian Yin’s thoughts stirred. She fanned herself, pretending to recall. “Such a pair, I have indeed seen. They were here just a few days ago, but I don’t know where they’ve gone now.”
“We found out they had been here, which is why we pursued them,” Yu Shaoyun said. “Since you’ve seen them, I’d like to ask you some questions.”
“You may ask, sir. Whatever I know, I will certainly tell you everything. However,” Xian Yin hesitated, glancing at the two, and smiled apologetically, “it concerns a guest’s private matters, so I’m afraid it’s not good for me to casually tell others. May I ask what relationship that young master has with you two sirs?”
“That young master is my young master’s younger brother, young and naive, lured out by someone, causing worry at home. So, my young master had to come out personally to find him,” Yu Shaoyun said, pulling a banknote from his chest and handing it to Xian Yin. “Just speak freely, without any concerns.”
Xian Yin smiled, took the banknote, and thanked him for the reward. Then she said, “Ask away, sir.”
“When they came here, what did they do?” Yu Shaoyun asked.
“They just drank tea and wine and listened to music. Nothing else,” Xian Yin said. “They didn’t ask for any girls or male escorts when they came; they just stayed in their room. So, I have no idea if they did anything else. It’s just that…”
She paused, and Yu Shaoyun asked, “Just what?”
“It’s just that those two were extraordinarily intimate, their relationship quite unusual,” Xian Yin smiled ambiguously.
Yu Shaoyun turned his head to look at the silent Zong Suiyang, his eyebrows subtly moving. He said, “In that case, please help us keep an eye on these two. If they come again, please immediately go to the counter of the teahouse across the street and report it, and also help us delay them. If we can bring them back sooner, you will certainly be well-rewarded.”
Xian Yin took in Yu Shaoyun’s reaction and smiled, saying, “I’ll remember that.”
“We don’t need you here anymore; you can go attend to your duties,” Yu Shaoyun said.
“Then you two sirs, please sit comfortably. If you have any instructions, just call for me,” Xian Yin said, curtsied, and quietly withdrew.
Xian Yin closed the door and quickly returned to her room, relaying the matter to Immortal Envoy Huo. The latter was silent for a moment before saying with a faint, knowing smile, “The esteemed Crown Prince himself has come to apprehend a canary who eloped with someone. It seems he truly cherishes this little trinket.”
“Even if he doesn’t like him, the Crown Prince’s arrogant nature wouldn’t allow his possessions to be stolen by others; this is undoubtedly a provocation and betrayal,” Xian Yin said. “In my opinion, this is a good opportunity.”
Whether Pei Xiting’s words were true, and to what extent, they couldn’t confirm or investigate. Now that the Crown Prince had come to Enzhou for Pei Xiting, it was a good chance to test if their relationship was truly as Pei Xiting claimed.
“Have someone contact Young Master Pei. Tell him I have something to discuss with him,” Immortal Envoy Huo said. “If what he said is true, then he’ll have to endure a little hardship this once. If not…”
Zong Suiyang and Yu Shaoyun sat in the room for a moment, then got up and left. As they descended the stairs and exited through the main entrance, Yu Shaoyun paused while opening the carriage door.
Zong Suiyang, behind him, asked, “What is it?”
Yu Shaoyun stepped aside, indicating for him to see for himself.
Zong Suiyang stepped forward and saw someone lying on the main seat, head on a pillow and covered with a blanket, brazenly occupying the seat and sleeping soundly.
Zong Suiyang quietly got into the carriage, touched Pei Xiting’s flushed face, opened the carriage window a crack, and nodded to Yu Shaoyun to close the door.
Yu Shaoyun gently closed the door and sat in the driver’s seat, driving away. After they had gone some distance, Yuan Fang appeared from who knows where and agilely got into the carriage.
“How did you two follow us?” Yu Shaoyun asked.
Yuan Fang pulled down his hat brim and said, “He couldn’t sit still, afraid you two would be eaten by goblins.”
It wasn’t that he was afraid for them, just for His Highness, Yu Shaoyun thought, smiling without a word.
Inside the carriage, Zong Suiyang gazed down at Pei Xiting’s sleeping face, extremely patient and engrossed. Suddenly, Pei Xiting seemed to sense his gaze, frowned and hummed, rubbing his head against the pillow. His beautiful phoenix eyes then slowly opened, taking in Zong Suiyang.
“You came down so quickly?” Pei Xiting mumbled, reaching out a finger to scratch the blanket near his chin.
Zong Suiyang mimicked him, “You fell asleep so quickly?”
Pei Xiting snorted, “The weather is cold; I’m always sleepy. I even hibernate in winter.”
“Aren’t you going to paint for me?” Zong Suiyang said.
“Easy enough. You just need to urge me three or four times at my door and offer a generous reward. Then it’s not impossible for me to reluctantly pause my hibernation and paint for you.” Pei Xiting turned over, stretched, and yawned loudly, completely disregarding his manners.
Zong Suiyang observed him and said, “Pig.”
“You’re the pig,” Pei Xiting said, displeased, and kicked out. Zong Suiyang didn’t dodge, reaching out to grasp his ankle.
The warmth of his palm seeped through the sock, faintly scalding the skin on Pei Xiting’s ankle. Pei Xiting’s toes tensed, wanting to pull back, but he couldn’t break free. He simply relaxed his muscles and lightly stepped on Zong Suiyang’s waist, saying, “It tickles.”
His tone carried a hint of coquetry. Zong Suiyang rubbed the ankle beneath his fingertips, saying, “You say it tickles wherever I touch you. Is this your excuse to resist and reject me?”
“It really tickles,” Pei Xiting complained. “Don’t rub me with your fingers.”
Zong Suiyang moved his fingers upwards along the ankle in his hand, gently gripping Pei Xiting’s slender ankle. He had seen it before, a delicate, pale leg, like jade or lotus root. He wondered what it would taste like to take a bite.
“Want an anklet?” Zong Suiyang suddenly asked.
“No,” Pei Xiting said, looking at Zong Suiyang lazily. “But if someone sends me a pretty one and says some nice words, I might consider wearing it for him to see.”
Zong Suiyang asked, “What counts as nice words?”
“Anything that makes me happy to hear is a nice word, for example,” Pei Xiting propped himself up on his elbow and hooked a strand of hair in front of Zong Suiyang’s shoulder, “you call me something nice.”
Zong Suiyang lowered his gaze to the fingers playing with his hair. “What should I call you?”
“Do I have to teach you that?” Pei Xiting pouted, looking up at him. “You think of it yourself.”
Zong Suiyang gazed into Pei Xiting’s smiling eyes and called him “Xiting.” Pei Xiting raised an eyebrow, lazily saying it was “nothing special.” When he then called him “Wenjuan,” Pei Xiting didn’t comment. After a pause, he suddenly said, “No one else knows that name. You’re the first and the only one.”
Zong Suiyang curled his lips at that but said, “Sweet talk.”
“You don’t believe me?” Pei Xiting said, sounding wronged. “Then who have you heard call me that? If you can’t say, you’re slandering me, and you must apologize to me.”
Zong Suiyang indeed couldn’t say. After a moment’s thought, he said, “Didn’t the elder who gave you that courtesy name call you that?”
Pei Xiting wouldn’t budge. “I said ‘others.’ Of course, the person who gave me the name doesn’t count as ‘others’.”
“Alright,” Zong Suiyang said. “Then does this count as ‘nice’?”
“Not right now.” Pei Xiting tugged lightly on Zong Suiyang’s hair, clearly intending to make things difficult. “After all, you’ve already called me that. I want to hear something new.”
Zong Suiyang narrowed his eyes, finding this little fox difficult to please.
“Oh, you can’t come up with anything? Then forget it,” Pei Xiting began to withdraw his foot, causing Zong Suiyang’s hand to sway forward. He said, with feigned regret, “Anyway, I don’t really want to wear it.”
Zong Suiyang stared at Pei Xiting’s face, then suddenly smiled. Pei Xiting’s heart skipped a beat. Just as he was about to ask why he was smiling, Zong Suiyang had already released his ankle.
Pei Xiting hummed, sat up, and reached for his boots. He glanced at Zong Suiyang a few more times but said nothing.
Stupid block of wood, if you don’t want to say it, then don’t.
Pei Xiting was unhappy and wasn’t hungry that evening. He washed up and went to bed without eating. Zong Suiyang waited quietly by the table for a moment. When Yuan Fang came to report that Pei Xiting had already had three rounds of dreams, he got up and left, going directly to the adjacent room.
“You should eat first,” Yu Shaoyun told the little prince.
Zong Lu nodded. After a moment, he said, “Are Fifth Uncle and Pei-wenshu having a disagreement?”
Yu Shaoyun also didn’t know, thinking that everything was fine on the way back. He could only say, “No, they’re not.”
Hearing this, Zong Lu didn’t press the matter and began eating.
Zong Suiyang gently pushed open the door and walked to the bed. The bed curtains were drawn, revealing a face with its chin mostly covered by the quilt. He sat on the edge of the bed, quietly watching Pei Xiting, not intending to wake him. Unexpectedly, Pei Xiting woke up on his own after only a short sleep.
Pei Xiting had intended to turn over and continue sleeping, but when he opened his eyes a crack, he saw someone sitting by the bed. He thought it was a dream and blinked hard. Zong Suiyang was still sitting there, so he said, “Are you trying to scare me to death?”
“You weren’t scared to death,” Zong Suiyang said.
“…” Pei Xiting rolled his eyes, turning his body away, refusing to look at him. “If Your Highness doesn’t want to scare me to death, please go back quickly. I want to sleep.”
“You haven’t had dinner yet,” Zong Suiyang said.
“Missing one meal won’t kill me. I wasn’t always punctual with my meals before either,” Pei Xiting rubbed against the pillow and mumbled, “I’m not hungry, so I might as well go to sleep early.”
“No, today looks different from before,” Zong Suiyang paused. “Are you feeling unhappy or have something on your mind?”
“No,” Pei Xiting said with his eyes closed.
“Then why were you so quiet on the way back?” Zong Suiyang asked.
“Does Your Highness care so much?” Pei Xiting said. “It’s a trivial matter; no need for Your Highness to worry. The fact that Your Highness spared a thought for me already makes me grateful… wu.”
Before Pei Xiting could finish speaking, his face was grasped, forcing him to turn. He met Zong Suiyang’s gaze and could no longer speak.
Zong Suiyang looked at Pei Xiting expressionlessly for a moment, then said, “What are you upset about? Tell me.”
“What am I upset about?” Pei Xiting pushed away Zong Suiyang’s hand. “I haven’t even raised my voice much. What am I upset about?”
I said the wrong thing, Zong Suiyang realized. He paused, then said, “My meaning is, what mood are you in? If you’re feeling unwell, you can tell me.”
Pei Xiting said, “I’m not in any mood. I have no emotions at all. Your Highness has misunderstood.”
Zong Suiyang looked at Pei Xiting, remaining silent.
“I’m really going to sleep now. Your Highness, please go back and have your meal soon. Excuse me for not seeing you off.” Pei Xiting pulled up the blanket, closed his eyes, and turned over, pretending to be asleep, though his ears were secretly perked up.
Zong Suiyang got up to leave. Pei Xiting pouted, but unexpectedly, after a few steps, the other party suddenly stopped and turned back.
Pei Xiting quickly composed his expression, pretending not to notice.
Zong Suiyang sat back on the bed and said, “I didn’t call you nicely this afternoon. You’re unhappy about it, aren’t you?”
“…Your Highness is overthinking it,” Pei Xiting said.
With his feigned nonchalant tone, Zong Suiyang was utterly convinced. He said, “It’s not that I didn’t want to call you; I just didn’t know how to call you in a way that would sound nice.”
Pei Xiting kept making things difficult for the other party. “How dare I get upset with you over such a small matter?”
Unbeknownst to them, whenever Pei Xiting said “you[mfn]Polite/respectful version of you 您 [nín].[/mfn]” in that manner, it was either playful teasing or sarcastic mockery. Zong Suiyang knew well that this time it was definitely the latter. He looked at Pei Xiting’s bland expression and deliberately asked, “Really?”
Pei Xiting pursed his lips and said, “Re-ally.”
These two words were quite forceful, lacking some of the pretense and revealing his true emotions. Zong Suiyang saw Pei Xiting’s eyes flickering, refusing to look at him, and couldn’t help but find it amusing.
The two engaged in a brief staredown, their gazes constantly shifting. Finally, when Pei Xiting’s gaze landed on Zong Suiyang, he was caught. Zong Suiyang’s eyes were deep, and he suddenly said, “Ting’er.”
Damn, who are you trying to scare to death!
Pei Xiting was struck by lightning, his whole body bristling. He jolted up, looking at Zong Suiyang in disbelief, “You did that on purpose, didn’t you!”
Zong Suiyang looked puzzled. “This isn’t good either? The closest I usually call someone is ‘Lu’er’.”
It was truly difficult to ask Zong Suiyang to think of something “nice” to say. Pei Xiting wasn’t unaware of this; earlier in the carriage, he wasn’t insisting on hearing something genuinely nice. As long as Zong Suiyang was willing to call him something, anything would do.
“Are you really treating me like your son?” Pei Xiting glared at Zong Suiyang. The slight disappointment and displeasure in his heart vanished because of that unsettling “Ting’er.”
“Why does it have to be a father and son relationship to call someone that?” Zong Suiyang saw Pei Xiting’s brows relax, and his own heart lightened as well. He continued, pressing his advantage, “If you don’t like this, then tell me what way of addressing you prefer.”
His Highness is determined to coax him. Pei Xiting’s eyes rolled. “Whatever I say, you’ll call me that?”
“Naturally.” Zong Suiyang saw Pei Xiting’s mischievous smile, but he didn’t care, simply waiting quietly.
Sure enough, Pei Xiting could never change his habit of knowingly bringing misfortune to himself. He repeated his old mistake and said with reserve, “Then you can call me ‘father’.”
Zong Suiyang smiled. “Are you sure?”
That smile was truly beautiful, truly dangerous. Yet, Pei Xiting was a mischievous imp. Even though he felt a bit timid and flustered, having finally caught an opportunity to gain an advantage, he would enjoy it first, even if it killed him.
“Yes,” Pei Xiting nodded, “I’m sure.”
He put on an expectant expression. When Zong Suiyang leaned down, he even raised an eyebrow. Zong Suiyang moved closer, their noses mere millimeters apart. Pei Xiting’s heart pounded, and his rosy lips involuntarily pursed. He leaned in to kiss, but Zong Suiyang stopped him with a finger.
Pei Xiting came to his senses, slightly displeased. He rubbed his lips against the finger, exhaling softly. Zong Suiyang felt a tickle from his rubbing and subtly pulled back but didn’t remove his hand. Instead, he pinched Pei Xiting’s chin, and his nose brushed subtly against the soft cheek, sliding down. He whispered something into Pei Xiting’s ear.
Pei Xiting’s ears burned, and his whole body shivered. Then he chuckled, “That sounds good. Since you’ve called me that, I’ll definitely pamper you well in the future.”
“Oh?” Zong Suiyang’s tone was gentle. “How do you plan to pamper me?”
Pei Xiting said earnestly, “Just like all good fathers pamper their children, I’ll follow suit and do even better.”
“All talk and no action is a sham,” Zong Suiyang said softly, pinching Pei Xiting’s chin. “You have to do something to prove it first.”
“I’d like to pamper you, but you make me uneasy.” Pei Xiting lifted his chin, gesturing to the hand. “After all, what son would treat his father like this?”
“Just because you haven’t seen it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.” Zong Suiyang’s fingers slid down the soft flesh of his chin, pressing on Pei Xiting’s bobbing Adam’s apple.
Pei Xiting hummed, rubbing his foot against the bed, and chuckled, “My son, what keen insight. Your father is very pleased.”
He finally couldn’t resist, reaching out to embrace Zong Suiyang’s shoulders, tilting his head back to kiss those tempting thin lips with a “pop.” Zong Suiyang didn’t have time to dodge. Pei Xiting then leaned in and bit him, saying coyly, “You kiss me too.”
Zong Suiyang’s eyes were deep. He kissed Pei Xiting’s lips and pushed his head back. The tip of his tongue pressed against Pei Xiting’s eager tongue, and they entangled with each other fiercely.
The smacking sounds were utterly ambiguous. When they parted, Pei Xiting’s ears and neck were flushed. Zong Suiyang’s eyes lingered back and forth, finally fixed on those affectionate eyes, without saying a word.
Desire unsheathed itself in his heart, surging like waves in his eyes. Pei Xiting saw it clearly and couldn’t help but tighten his arms around Zong Suiyang’s neck, wishing he could also wrap his legs around his waist, trapping the person on top of him.
Zong Suiyang didn’t move. He asked softly, “Are you hungry now?”
Pei Xiting glanced at Zong Suiyang’s mouth, implying, “I’m not full yet.”
Zong Suiyang replied, “Don’t be too greedy, or you’ll upset your stomach.”
Pei Xiting pouted at that.
“Hungry or not?” Zong Suiyang asked again.
Pei Xiting had been coaxed and even kissed, his heart satisfied. He no longer played coy and said seriously, “I’m really not hungry. If I eat another meal, I won’t be able to go to bed early. I’ll just eat tomorrow morning.”
Zong Suiyang heard him and didn’t ask further, only saying, “Then wake up early tomorrow morning to eat; no sleeping in.”
“Got it,” Pei Xiting seized the opportunity to demand, “but you have to come and wake me personally, otherwise I’m afraid I won’t be able to get up.”
“I’ll only call once. If you don’t get up, there will be slaps to serve.” Zong Suiyang didn’t refuse, leaving a faint threat before getting up.
Pei Xiting hummed, “I want to eat tofu pudding tomorrow morning.”
“Good,” Zong Suiyang said with a faint smile. “You should eat more. Bai Mian Fang will probably contact you soon. I’m afraid you won’t be able to call out by then because you’re too weak to do so.”
“…” Pei Xiting rolled his eyes. “I’ll shake your soul out with one shout.”
Zong Suiyang shook his head meaningfully and reached out to tuck the quilt in for him.
Pei Xiting kicked his leg, accidentally pushing the blanket off.
“…”
Zong Suiyang looked over faintly. Pei Xiting gave an embarrassed dry laugh. “I didn’t do it on purpose.”
Zong Suiyang said nothing, re-tucked him in, and said, “Sleep.”
“Mm,” Pei Xiting said, “Good night.”
Zong Suiyang replied, got up, lowered half the bed curtain, and left.
The next day, Pei Xiting was “woken up” from his sleep. He groggily opened his eyes and, guided by a cool sensation, reached for his left ankle, feeling a thin chain.
“Mmm…” Pei Xiting sat up and pulled back the blanket to see a string of red rope around his ankle, twisted with two segments of gold thread. The design was simple, but the gold thread gleamed brightly, and the red rope was vibrant in color, making for an exceptionally beautiful combination.
“Wear it,” Zong Suiyang said, looking at his ankle. “This won’t interfere with wearing shoes.”
Pei Xiting lifted his leg, resting his foot on Zong Suiyang’s waist, and looked up at him, smiling, “Does it look good?”
Red rope and gold thread both suited a beauty. Zong Suiyang looked down at the foot on his waist, then suddenly reached out and gripped it. Ignoring Pei Xiting’s cries, he vigorously rubbed the sole of his foot.
Pei Xiting fell back onto the bed, trembling all over from the ticklish sensation, and turned his head away. Zong Suiyang stood by the bed, his tall figure blocking the sunlight from outside the door, his face unreadable, his eyes dark and deep, as if he wanted to devour him.
“It looks good,” Zong Suiyang said seriously after a long pause.
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