TL: Hua
At the end of the You hour[mfn]The period of the day from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.[/mfn], the sky looked like a lake of autumn water turned upside down.
Qing Lingling was wearing a lake blue dress with silver hibiscus embroidery today. He was slender and graceful, wearing a female crown on his head and adorned with flower petals on his forehead. His eyebrows slanted into his temples, and his cheeks were rosy like fragrant peach blossoms. He bowed gracefully in front of the side gate of Mei Mansion.
“The dancing waist is tender and supple, exuding grace and charm, much like a willow swaying gently in the evening breeze.” The steward came out singing the lyrics, smiled, looked Qing Lingling up and down, clapped his hands, and said, “Qingge’er, you look particularly good with such bright but fresh makeup.”
Qing Lingling pursed his red lips and smiled like a flower. He pulled the person behind him out and said, “Steward Li, this is the makeup artist I sent someone to tell you about before.”
Pei Xiting stood beside Qing Lingling and said, “Hello, Steward Li.”
“This look… is really too outstanding.” Steward Li looked at the young man’s face, feeling it was familiar, but couldn’t remember for a moment.
Qing Lingling wasn’t a small-minded person, so Steward Li teased, “I say, Qingge’er, you don’t have to worry about him stealing the limelight if you keep him around. With his appearance and demeanor, he could be a nobleman from any family.”
This statement raises doubts about Pei Xiting’s identity. Qing Lingling let out an “ah” and said with a smile, “Yejing is so big; can I do all the business by myself? I can’t handle it. But you really have a pair of sharp eyes!”
He touched Pei Xiting’s face and said frankly, “He is the third young master of the Guanglu Temple official’s family. He is short of money, so he came out to look for a job. Please keep it a secret for him; otherwise, if his family knew that their young master came out to do makeup for a prostitute, they would probably beat him to death.”
In Yejing, the Guanglu Temple official’s mansion wasn’t a noble family, and the young masters and young ladies who weren’t valued were indeed not very rich. In fact, it wasn’t uncommon for them to come out to earn money.
Steward Li instructed his servants to take down the small wooden box that Pei Xiting was carrying on his shoulder for inspection and politely said, “I hope you don’t mind, Third Young Master Pei. All the things outside need to be checked before entering the mansion.”
Besides, there are distinguished guests in the mansion now. Although outsiders are unaware, security cannot be neglected.
“I will cooperate with the inspection of the items and the body. The identity certificate is also in the box.” Pei Xiting said.
Seeing that he was sensible, Steward Li smiled.
After the search, the small wooden box was returned to Pei Xiting’s left shoulder, and then a group of several people entered the side gate together.
Steward Li led the way and asked Pei Xiting while walking, “Is your mother’s surname Bu?”
“Yes.” Pei Xiting showed just the right amount of surprise, “Does Steward Li know my mother?”
“I don’t know her personally. Back in the day, the dancer Bu Suying from Xianyin Fang was famous in Yejing for her stunning dance performance. The audience said she was as beautiful as the goddess of water and called her ‘a fairy dancing on the wave’. At that time, not only did many nobles want to take her back to their mansions, but the dance and music house in the palace also wanted her. However, contrary to their expectation, she ended up marrying a seventh-rank official.” Steward Li tilted his head to glance at Pei Xiting and said with emotion, “Now her son is already so big.”
Pei Xiting smiled and said, “If my mother knew that after so many years, Steward Li still remembered her dance in the sea of people, she would definitely be grateful.”
With just a few words, he praised Bu Suying’s unforgettable dance and the long-lasting appreciation of the guests who watched the dance that year. It was fresh and natural, neither humble nor arrogant. Steward Li smiled, and his eyes softened when he looked at Pei Xiting.
Qing Lingling breathed a sigh of relief when she saw this. Steward Li was the one who had taken care of Mei Jiang since he was a child and was well respected by him. It was a good thing that Pei Xiting knew how to leave a good impression.
When they arrived at the backyard, Steward Li asked the servant to lead Qing Lingling to the water pavilion outside the moon cave gate and turned around to take Pei Xiting down the corridor, not noticing that Qing Lingling looked at Pei Xiting worriedly.
Standing in front of the stone table, Steward Li said, “My lord doesn’t like crowds, so he only invited a few friends tonight. It is said to be a birthday banquet, but in fact it’s just a drink and a chat among friends. Qingge’er has gone to the back. You can wait for him here so that you can touch up his makeup when needed. I’ll have someone bring you food.”
Pei Xiting glanced at the pink and white rose that was leaking out of the window behind him. His heart had settled down a little as he nodded, “Many thanks, Steward Li.”
Steward Li waved his hand to signal Pei Xiting to sit down, thinking that this child is disciplined and polite, so he didn’t need to keep an eye on him the entire time. “I still have to go to the kitchen to inspect the dish samples, so I’ll leave first.”
“Standard Li, take care.” Pei Xiting watched as the person left, then opened the box, took out the prepared brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and spread the paper to paint.
After a while, a servant put a tray with a plate of fruits, two plates of snacks, and a pot of tea on the side of the table. He glanced at Pei Xiting’s painting and couldn’t help but exclaim, “This flower looks so familiar.”
He looked up at the lattice window in front of him, behind which were the very roses with their folded strips and branches.
Pei Xiting looked up and saw that the servant had thick eyebrows and big eyes, a slender figure, a light body, and thin clothes that showed the muscles of his arms—he didn’t look like an ordinary servant. But Mei Jiang rarely appeared, so he couldn’t guess this person’s identity for the time being.
“What do you think of this painting?” Pei Xiting asked.
The servant knew how to read, but he didn’t like poetry and prose. He also couldn’t write ornate sentences now, so he said, “It’s like the branches outside the wall flew into your paper!”
“This is a very high evaluation; thank you.” Pei Xiting lowered his head and continued to paint.
The servant stood there with his arms folded, kindly introducing ways to make money, “Many rich people who love elegance are happy to be scapegoats, and some even spend all their fortunes on calligraphy and painting. The pieces at the art galleries in Yejing can often sell at sky-high prices, which is much more than what you can earn as a makeup artist for Qingge’er.”
Pei Xiting said, “Qingge’er is also very generous, and putting makeup on a beauty is like painting something beautiful, which is also an enjoyable activity that brings delight.”
“You literati and poets have so many enjoyable activities.” The servant tutted twice and was about to say something but suddenly caught a glimpse of something in his peripheral vision; his face changed, and he immediately put down his hand and said, “I won’t disturb you any more. Please enjoy your time here.”
Pei Xiting looked up and said politely, “Goodbye.”
The servant ran away quickly, as if there was a ghost chasing him.
Pei Xiting lowered his head, changed his brush, and was about to write in the left corner, “What name should I give it? Red clothes, brocade curtains, pink waist…”
The sound in the water pavilion was still melodious; the night wind made it more graceful, and the water surface swung more clearly. Pei Xiting hummed a few lines along with it, recalling the line from “Moonlit Night”: “Waiting for the moon to fall under the western wing, the windward door is half open. Brushing against the wall, the flower shadows move. I wonder…”
He was about to write while silently reciting when suddenly a male voice sounded behind him, flat and low, like a towering jade peak.
“‘Jade Man Comes[mfn]The complete sentence from the previous poem. “Brushing against the wall, the flower shadows move; I wonder if the jade man comes.”[/mfn]’—how about this for the title?”
Pei Xiting’s wrist trembled; his hair stood up. This person walked without making any sound. Is he a ghost?!
“…Just what I want.” Pei Xiting wrote down, and what he wrote was the square-structured and rounded small regular script of “Pei Xiting”.
Then he put down his brush, stood up, and turned to look at the person who came.
He is a very tall man, estimated to be 190 cm tall, with a very good body proportion. What’s more rare is that he has a face that matches this good posture, with long eyebrows and calm eyes, like a person in an ancient painting. The skin is elegant, and the bones are noble; this is a face that deserves such a metaphor. And the left cheek is even adorned with a red mole …… f*ck.
How interesting.
Pei Xiting’s eyelids were slightly raised, his gaze slipped, and he uncontrollably peeled off the man’s clothes… This was simply an ideal human model.
He has seen many handsome guys, and he has come into contact with many models from various countries during the two years before and after studying art in London, but he has never seen such a beautiful and handsome guy.
Beauty is really a powerful weapon. Pei Xiting’s palms are itchy… he wants to paint. Not only does he want to paint the body, but he also wants to paint this face.
If he fails the negotiation later, will the handsome guy agree to his last wish and let him paint a portrait of him? Probably not.
Then he’d better do his best. Pei Xiting lowered his eyes and clasped his hands together, saying, “This humble one is named Pei Wenjuan.”
“Fuchuan.” Fuchuan did not return the greeting but instead walked to the table to look at the painting.
It’s beautiful and lively, with both form and rhyme. The simple but high evaluation of “the servant” before is not false at all.
Fuchuan likes lively brushstrokes because the form under his own brush is too real, but the soul is only two or three points, which cannot be added no matter what. Perhaps because he’s a bit harsh on “feelings” and “desires,” and in turn, these traits within him were also stingy, making his brushstroke lifeless, and everything he draws is just a dead thing with form but no soul.
“There are many peonies, gardenias, and water lilies in the courtyard. Why did you choose roses to be included in the painting?” Fu Chuan tilted his head to look at Pei Wenjuan, who was standing beside him looking at the painting. Hearing this, he looked up at him with his eyes slightly raised, “Because I want to eat crispy fish.”
“En?”
“Rose wine is the best match for crispy fish.” Pei Xiting licked his lips a little greedily.
Fu Chuan imagined it and said, “I haven’t tried it.”
Pei Xiting shared his experience. “After the rich spices have been boiled, the crispy fish is full of juice. However, the fishy smell is easy to get greasy in the mouth. At this time, if you can pair it with a fragrant rose liqueur—chilled even better—it will relieve the greasiness and make the taste crispy. It’s just my own preference. I hope Brother Fuchuan doesn’t mind.”
Fuchuan didn’t mind, “Then in your opinion, which crispy fish in Yejing is the best?”
“Pei Xiting” seldom ate out, and the crispy fish wasn’t among them. How can Pei Xiting answer?
Fuchuan’s narrow eyes are looking at him, neither focused nor contemptuous, neither cold nor gentle, plain and casual, but naturally have a kind of restrained aggression and strength. This unobtrusive sense of oppression made Pei Xiting’s heart jump. He said nonsense: “In my opinion, the one that I didn’t need to pay for is the best.”
Fuchuan has eaten all the fish dishes in Yejing, and after a moment of thinking, he said, “I have never heard of this one.”
“Far away,” Pei Xiting raised an eyebrow, ”but close at hand.”
Fuchuan said with an ambiguous meaning, “It turned out to be Boss Pei.”
“My crispy fish is very fragrant, and customers will definitely get what they paid for.” Pei Xiting generously solicited customers, “If Brother Fuchuan doesn’t hate eating fish, you can come and try it some other day.”
Fuchuan asked, “I wonder where Boss Pei started his business?”
Pei Xiting pointed to his head and said, “If Brother Fuchuan comes early, please have someone go to Qing Lingling in Yuanyang Pavilion ahead of time, and I’ll go borrow a stove somewhere else to make it.”
“Boss Pei is really working hard for a single business.” Fuchuan said.
“Business is built one order at a time. If this order is done well, maybe I can get another repeat customer like Brother Fuchuan. There are many nobles in Yejing. A small fish like me does not seek to be rich. I just want to do some small business that does not lose money, not worry about food and drink, and live a leisurely life.” Pei Xiting sighed, “But to do small business, you also need capital.”
He hinted at something, and Fuchuan understood, “Are you going to get the capital from me?”
Pei Xiting said openly, “Brother Fuchuan comes and goes freely in Mei Mansion, so you must be a big shot. A little gold thread from you is enough to cover my capital. As for opportunities, it’s not enough to be lucky enough to meet; you have to be brave enough to fight for it.”
Fuchuan looked into Pei Wenjuan’s eyes, and the other party also looked at him straight. The phoenix eyes resembled spring water, with a clear surface that hid unfathomable depths and a smile that was neither cold nor warm.
——A bird with hidden intentions, refusing to be confined to its cage, and unable to break free for now, thus restrained yet boldly displaying its magnificent feathers and charming demeanor to passing guests, striving to capture attention and garner support for its eventual escape.
Fuchuan raised his chin slightly, almost half a head taller than Pei Xiting, and now he looked even more condescending. He stared for a while and did not miss the slight movement of “Pei Wenjuan’s” eyelashes trembling because of nervousness.
——Bold and careful, but not experienced enough.
The black glazed rosary on his wrist slipped into his hand. Fuchuan gently stroked it once or twice, feeling that Pei Wenjuan’s eyes were very similar to it, crystal clear and shining, but not pure, hiding calculations and shrewdness.
The corridor quieted down, the night breeze rustled, and the moon was about to depart, a sign of torrential rain. Fuchuan withdrew his gaze and said, “I have the most beautiful rose wine in the world. It depends on how much Boss Pei’s craftsmanship is worth.”
“I’ll try my best.” Pei Xiting’s heart finally settled down, and he gestured with his hand, “If Brother Fuchuan doesn’t mind, this humble work will be a gift for our first meeting as well as a token.”
Fuchuan looked at Pei Wenjuan and slowly and methodically unclipped a pink and white rose jade pendant from his waist. “This thing is worth a lot of money, a thousand gold. Would Boss Pei dare to take it?”
Pei Xiting looked at the pendant under the cold white fingertips, which was exquisite and delicately carved. He asked, “Has anyone owned this before?”
“Not yet. But there are a few others.” Fuchuan shook the pendant. “Some people took it, and some people didn’t.”
Pei Xiting is aware that “other” does not necessarily mean objects; it could be opportunities, tests, etc. Those who passed the test, such as Mei Jiang, would flourish to the top, and those who didn’t would naturally be extremely disgraced. He doesn’t want fame, fortune, or family honor; he just wants to keep his butt, but in the other party’s eyes, whether the “business” is big or small doesn’t make much difference, does it?
Pei Xiting stretched out his hands and answered, “I dare.”
Pei Wenjuan’s facial features were undoubtedly delicate and beautiful, but his temperament was somewhat cold and indifferent, without any hint of vulgarity. At this moment, he lowered his eyebrows and eyes, but his jaw was imperceptibly tense. Fuchuan looked down and saw the raised hands clasped together, with slightly curled fingertips and a small mole on the right palm.
Fuchuan’s fingertips loosened, and the pendant fell on the white palm. The snow-white beads under the pendant just happened to hit the small mole.
“Pop.”
Pei Xiting heard the almost inaudible sound very clearly along with Qing Lingling’s singing and the rustling wind. When Fuchuan’s eyes finally moved away, his stagnant heartbeat started again with this “pop”.
Pei Xiting clasped his hands together. “Many…”
His voice was tight, so he cleared his throat and said again, “Many thanks.”
Fuchuan looked down and asked, “Thank to whom?”
Pei Xiting’s eyes were like water, answering, “Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
*
It really rained in the middle of the night, whipping the leaves, tossing the lotus blossoms, and battering the banana leaves. The candlelight in the hallway swayed gently, creating a hazy, indistinct atmosphere.
Mei Jiang walked up behind the Crown Prince, put a coat on him, and whispered, “Your Highness, don’t catch a cold.”
The crown prince asked, “Has Xu Bai[mfn]Xu Bai is probably Mei Jiang’s courtesy name. A courtesy name in Chinese is a name given to someone when they become an adult, in addition to their given name.[/mfn] ever kept a bird?”
Mei Jiang shook his head and said, “I don’t like it. Your Highness wants to keep one?”
“I met a very beautiful one. No,” the prince said, “He flew here by himself.”
Mei Jiang asked, “More beautiful than the peacock in the East Palace?”
“Not as dazzling as a peacock, and not gorgeous enough to be called a crane.” The crown prince stroked his rosary. “Anyway, he’s very beautiful.”
“It doesn’t matter what kind of bird he is. If your Highness likes him, just keep him.” Mei Jiang said.
The crown prince said, “I think he is a bit rebellious.”
“How about chaining his feet?” Mei Jiang said, “There are plenty of them in the prison of the Ministry of Justice. If you want something nice, a gold and jade chain will also be suitable.”
The crown prince thought for a while and said, “That would diminish his charm.”
Mei Jiang looked at the prince for a while and said sincerely, “Please forgive my incompetence and inability to relieve Your Highness’s worries.”
The rain was pouring down, hitting the eaves and making crackling sounds. The lilac in the corner of the wall could not bear the damage, and one leaf was broken. The prince saw the purple color drooping down, desolate and beautiful, but it was not as vibrant and fragrant anymore as it was in the continuous drizzle.
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when I read stories like this, it feels like my last two braincells are about to go out
Ehh whyy??😅
I think the plot is relatively simple and sweet 😄