TL: Hua
Chapter 30: Chatting – Xiao Pei is testing the water
The Crown Prince looked at Pei Xiting’s casual and ordinary smile, and after a moment he parroted, “Good afternoon.”
Pei Xiting said, “Did you ask Little King to attack me?”
The Crown Prince denied, “No.”
“That’s good. Your little tiger is very dishonest. As your loyal subordinate, I must share your worries.” Pei Xiting rolled up his sleeves, shook his fist at the Crown Prince, and said righteously, “I must rub it bald today.”
“This is a good idea,” the Crown Prince thought about it and agreed, “In the future, there’s no need for it to bathe, saving time, effort, and water.”
Little King, hiding behind the tree, originally planned to appreciate the heroic posture of its master fighting off the “enemy,” but it never expected that its master would be so cruel and ruthless that he wanted to turn it into an ugly bald cat. It felt so aggrieved that it rushed out to rub the crown prince’s calf in fury.
The Crown Prince lowered his eyes to look at the noisy little tiger, then moved his leg away slightly. Pei Xiting subconsciously wanted to stop him but realized that the Crown Prince was probably moving away because he felt itchy.
The Crown Prince took in Pei Xiting’s subconscious reaction and thought: Afraid that he will kick this little thing away?
The Crown Prince glanced at Pei Xiting and said, “Don’t you want to rub it?”
Pei Xiting looked at the cute little guy that was throwing a tantrum around the Crown Prince and asked cautiously, “Where can I touch it?”
Its owner gave guidance: “Head.”
Pei Xiting bent down, slowly extended his claws, and tentatively touched the round tiger’s head. Little King didn’t avoid his hands, so he rubbed it a few more times. The little tiger couldn’t help but show a “comfortable” expression from being rubbed and even arched its neck, raised the front paw, and stared at him.
This reminds Pei Xiting of the little dog. The pancake stand was doing very well, but he had changed from a regular customer to a customer who only visited once every six months. However, “Pancake” would jump off the board and run to pick him up every time until it was restrained by the rope and finally jumped into his arms.
The furry little black dog, with a pair of black grape-like eyes, was playing around with the friend whom it had not seen for a long time. Such moments once brought him a strange sense of security.
Pei Xiting’s face was filled with melancholy and longing. The Crown Prince noticed it, but Little King didn’t understand. It was just very dissatisfied with being ignored, so it patted Pei Xiting’s leg impatiently, and its amber eyes clearly said: How dare you! Hurry and attend to your king!
Pei Xiting came back to his senses, stretched out his hand, and shook its paw tentatively; his heart softened. He pointed at the longevity thread and said, “I’ll make you another small pendant in a few days, hmm?”
Little King patted Pei Xiting’s hand, and the latter took it as consent. He smiled, looked up, and asked the Crown Prince, “It’s so clever and spirited. Where exactly did you find this little treasure?”
From this completely top-down angle, Pei Xiting’s face looked even smaller—so small it seemed a single hand could cover his eyes, nose, and mouth all at once, depriving him of his senses and breathing.
Pei Xiting said, “Your Highness?”
The Crown Prince retracted his gaze and said in a calm voice, “It was brought to my carriage by its mother on her dying breath. Perhaps its mother left a last word to it before she died, so it has been very dependent on me since it was small.”
Pei Xiting rubbed Little King’s head and said softly, “So it has been following Your Highness since it left its mother; that’s why it’s very dependent on you. But more importantly, Your Highness has raised it very well. Everything has spirits, and this little thing can naturally feel it, which is why it’s so affectionate toward you.”
Little King shook its head as if agreeing with his words.
Pei Xiting chuckled at the sight, reached out, and picked up Little King. It weighed only about thirty jin, so he lifted it with ease. The little beast didn’t fuss, just clung to his shoulder and sniffed at his face. Pei Xiting laughed and turned his head to dodge, saying, “Don’t nuzzle; it tickles.”
He turned to look at the Crown Prince. “It must have felt nice and warm to hold it in winter. Like a fuzzy little blanket.”
The Crown Prince gave a low hum in response.
Pei Xiting, rubbing cheeks with Little King affectionately, glanced at the Crown Prince with interest. “When you’re around other people, do you usually not talk much?”
“They do the talking,” the Crown Prince replied.
Pei Xiting was intrigued. “Then have you ever had a casual chat with someone? Just talking about anything, really.”
“I used to. Not so much now.” The Crown Prince turned to walk under the corridor.
Pei Xiting followed with Little King in his arms. “I heard you used to travel a lot. Then you must’ve seen some beautiful scenery.”
“I have been to many places. As for beautiful scenery,” the Crown Prince said, “I’ve seen it, then forgotten it.”
Little King squirmed to be let down. Pei Xiting bent down to place it gently on the ground, gave its back a pat, then straightened up, saying, “Your words have betrayed your heart. If what you said were true, then why ask me to paint a landscape in the rain?”
The Crown Prince stopped and turned to glance at him. “You talk too much.”
Pei Xiting raised an eyebrow. “So I was right.”
“You’re overstepping the boundary,” the Crown Prince said.
“Everyone else stays so proper around you, and yet it doesn’t seem to win your favor. So I figured I’d try the opposite. Besides,” Pei Xiting gestured around them, “you’re out for a casual afternoon stroll, without servants or ceremonial guards. If I acted all cautious and reserved, it would feel wrong. If every word I said was weighed with fear, how would you ever see my sincerity?”
The Crown Prince asked, “And what is your sincerity?”
Pei Xiting said, “I want to see you smile.”
The Crown Prince paused, then said, “Nonsense.”
“Some people wait all night just to see the sunrise. Others cross mountains and rivers to witness the tide. Who doesn’t want to chase the beauty in their heart? I want to see you smile—what’s strange about that?” Pei Xiting said.
The Crown Prince gave no answer, only asked, “What’s so beautiful about a smile?”
“You’re not a fish; how can you know a fish’s joy?” Pei Xiting replied.
The Crown Prince didn’t know how to respond. After a moment, he said plainly, “Smiling isn’t hard, but a forced smile is.”
Pei Xiting hadn’t expected that answer. He paused, then couldn’t help but laugh. “Your Highness, you’re really…” He swallowed the word “adorable” and instead said thoughtfully, “interesting.”
The Crown Prince considered himself the dullest man in the world. Hearing this, he replied, “You have unusual taste.”
“No, my taste is very consistent. I just go for what’s ‘fragrant’—like with food. Be it a delicacy or wild herbs from the mountains, if it smells good, it’s all the same to me.” Pei Xiting glanced at the Crown Prince. His leg was nudged; he looked down and reached to stroke Little King, who had returned. “I think you’re quite gentle with the little one.”
His conversation quickly changed, and the Crown Prince said, “You’re mistaken.”
“Pretentious.” Pei Xiting clicked his tongue and seized the opportunity to pry, “Do you like children?”
“No,” the Crown Prince said.
Pei Xiting gave a short “oh” and asked, “Then when do you plan to take a wife?”
“I don’t.” The Crown Prince lowered his gaze, looking at the man crouched before him. He’d never met anyone quite like him before. “You’re very interested in my personal affairs, it seems.”
“Just making conversation,” Pei Xiting replied. “I talk about this stuff with my second brother and Sifan too. Even a restaurant owner once asked me about my marriage prospects.”
“Do you favor men?” the Crown Prince asked.
The question caught Pei Xiting off guard. He blinked, then answered honestly, “I don’t know either. I have never been in love with girls or boys before.”
The only time his heart had raced was because of the man in front of him. Maybe he really was bent.
“But so what?” Pei Xiting said lightly. “Man or woman, they’re all people. If I like someone, what’s so strange about that?”
He probably didn’t see the Crown Prince as royalty, the latter thought to himself. Watching Pei Xiting calmly stroking Little King’s fur, the Crown Prince turned to sit down on the reclining couch. “Your family wouldn’t approve.”
“Oh? And what’s that got to do with me?” Pei Xiting replied.
“In matters of marriage, parents decide. Matchmakers mediate,” said the Crown Prince.
“I don’t agree,” Pei Xiting said. “Whoever’s getting married should be the one to decide. I only want to be with someone I like. If they fancy someone, they can go pursue them. What does that have to do with me?”
The Crown Prince was silent for a moment. “That’s rebellious.”
“Better than being blindly obedient.” Pei Xiting gave Little King a ruffle. “Right?”
Little King nudged him with its head. Pei Xiting took the chance to scoop it up and rubbed his cheek against its furry tiger face. “Besides, believe it or not, if I really ended up in bed with the young Marquis, the Pei family would probably curse at me for bringing shame upon the family while secretly being thrilled that I snagged someone powerful.”
The Crown Prince asked, “You don’t like Shangguan Jie?”
Pei Xiting turned to look at him, eyes wide. “Do I look blind to you?”
The Crown Prince gazed into those autumn-water eyes and said honestly, “No, you don’t.”
“Exactly. Truthfully speaking, whoever marries him is cursed for eight lifetimes.” Pei Xiting shook his head. “His emotions are too unstable—always angry. He needs some calming medicine.”
The Crown Prince listened to him mutter without interrupting, eyes falling on the hand resting on Little King’s back. His fingers were pale, slender, and elegant. His fingertips are pink crescent-shaped, and whether painting, holding an umbrella, combing hair, or bathing… every movement was beautiful, pleasing to the eye.
The Crown Prince watched quietly, as if admiring a painting—a painting by Pei Wenjuan. Then suddenly, that hand turned slightly, revealing a vivid cinnabar mole in the center of the palm.
The afternoon sunlight suddenly felt too bright. The Crown Prince blinked and came back to himself, frowning faintly.
The prayer beads on his wrist silently slid down. His fingers tightened slightly as he looked at Pei Xiting’s relaxed, cheerful profile as if weighing, judging, and deciding something.
Just then, Yu Shaoyun appeared from who knows where and landed behind the Crown Prince, calling out, “Your Highness.”
The Crown Prince’s gaze shifted, finally pulling away from Pei Xiting’s face without saying a word.
Pei Xiting reluctantly let go of the furry little creature, stood, and bowed. “Take care, Your Highness.”
The Crown Prince let out a “hmm” and got up to leave. Little King stood up, and before leaving, it bumped its butt into Pei Xiting, walking with the elegant steps that are in line with its owner’s.
“Hey… Next time I’ll rub you bald.” Pei Xiting muttered, then turned and headed back to the document building to resume his afternoon shift.
You Zong and Lu Mang approached from the corridor. Watching Pei Xiting walk off, Lu Mang asked, “Does His Highness have history with Pei-wenshu?”
“No,” You Zong replied.
“Then he’s far too indulgent with him,” Lu Mang said.
“His Highness knows what he’s doing,” You Zong said. “It’s not a bad thing, having someone around he can talk to casually.”
Lu Mang nodded, then clicked his tongue. “The two of them together—such a pleasing, harmonious sight.”
Knowing one of Lu Mang’s hobbies, You Zong warned, “If you dare write some scandalous fiction about His Highness, you’ll die a horrible death.”
“I’ll publish it anonymously. Who’ll know?” Lu Mang patted You Zong’s shoulder. “Just don’t snitch on me. Where else will you find a clerk as diligent, capable, smart, and sensible as me?”
He whistled and walked off.
You Zong stood in the corridor, shook his head, and said, “Courting death.”
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