TL: Hua
Chapter 49: The Bet – Xiao Pei is a Reliable Young Man
Half an hour after transcribing a volume of the “Tibetan Bodhisattva’s Fundamental Vows Sūtra,” the Crown Prince set down his brush, and the guards at the door immediately entered to take the thin booklet, which was then sent to the hall for offerings.
Yu Shaoyun promptly offered hot tea. The Crown Prince pushed the lid aside, took a sip, and said, “Please invite Marquis Mei in.”
Pei Xiting, who had been dozing on the bamboo mat, jolted awake, stretched, yawned, and sat up, asking, “Your Highness, do I need to withdraw?”
“You hit someone else’s child; do you still want to withdraw?” The Crown Prince glanced at the slumped and drowsy figure and said blandly, “Sit up straight.”
Pei Xiting instantly straightened his back with a “swish,” his eyes wide open, sparkling with lightning-like intensity as he stared straight ahead.
Yu Shaoyun, by the table, chuckled at the sight, thinking to himself that Pei-wenshu was usually cool and distant outside, but playing the fool came so naturally to him.
A moment later, Marquis Mei quietly entered the small room, bowed, and greeted the Crown Prince before the table, saying earnestly, “This subject truly should not disturb Your Highness, but upon hearing of my son’s unruly behavior, my heart is filled with immense worry and anxiety. I only regret that I cannot immediately seek Your Highness’s forgiveness. My son is currently kneeling outside, awaiting Your Highness’s admonishment.”
“Marquis Mei, you’ve waited long enough; please sit,” the Crown Prince said. “As for Mei Xiu, it wouldn’t hurt to let him kneel a bit longer to calm down. After all, his bones are sturdy, and his legs won’t break.”
How could Marquis Mei dare to feel even a hint of pity? He quickly agreed, and as he turned his head, he noticed someone sitting on the bamboo couch opposite him. The person was dressed in a red gown with black hair, astonishingly beautiful. He then asked, “This must be Pei-wenshu, I presume?”
Young Marquis Mei’s “flower butterfly” fashion style was probably inherited from his father. The Marquis Mei before him was clad in a dazzling, multicolored brocade robe that almost blinded Pei Xiting’s beautiful titanium alloy eyes, clearly a dashing, middle-aged “gentleman.”
Pei Xiting propped himself up on the couch, cupped his hands, and bowed respectfully, his demeanor gentle and polite, completely unlike the fiery temper he’d shown earlier when fighting Mei Xiu in the back mountains.
“Pei-wenshu is young and impulsive, sometimes a bit arrogant. It’s truly because I am busy with state affairs and have little time to guide him,” the Crown Prince said, looking sideways at Pei Xiting. “Xiting, aren’t you going to apologize to Marquis Mei?”
A guard brought in hot tea. Upon hearing this, Pei Xiting immediately limped forward to take the hot tea and presented it to Marquis Mei, saying, “Today, it was this junior’s rashness and impulsiveness that caused a conflict with the Young Marquis. This junior feels extremely ashamed and remorseful. Please allow this junior to apologize and await Marquis Mei’s teaching.”
Marquis Mei looked at the respectful and obedient Pei-wenshu, inwardly sneering: What a little brat, so good at feigning innocence!
Yet, the Crown Prince was openly protective. Did he have the right to admonish on behalf of the Crown Prince?
How come this nobody from the Pei family was so favored by the Crown Prince? Marquis Mei felt puzzled and somewhat resentful, but on the surface, he smiled kindly and reached out to accept Pei Xiting’s apology tea.
However, he dared not drink it yet and turned to the Crown Prince, saying, “Your Highness exaggerates. Pei-wenshu appears to be disciplined and sensible. It is only because this subject has been inadequate in his guidance, indulging my son’s wild impudence, which is truly a sin.”
The Crown Prince leaned back slightly in his chair, a relaxed posture. He then gestured for Pei Xiting to sit back down, saying, “Occasional scuffles between young people are not a big deal.”
With that one sentence, he settled the matter. Marquis Mei breathed a sigh of relief and took a sip of tea. But no sooner had he swallowed the tea than he heard the Crown Prince ask, “The autumn examinations are approaching. Do you have any children participating this time?”
Marquis Mei immediately replied, “To answer Your Highness, I have three: my fifth, eighth, and ninth sons.”
The Crown Prince “hmm’d,” “Is your ninth son taking the exam for the first time? How old is he?”
“To answer Your Highness, he is exactly twenty-one,” Marquis Mei said.
“A good age. I’ve read his essays; they are concise and refined. Tell him to prepare well and not slack off at the last minute,” the Crown Prince said.
Marquis Mei inwardly rejoiced, but before he could assure the Crown Prince on behalf of his son, the Crown Prince asked again, “What about Mei Xiu? How is his studying?”
“… ” Marquis Mei was speechless.
Pei Xiting watched the drama from the opposite side and found it amusing.
Mei Xiu was the tenth among his brothers, almost twenty, and had not yet passed the provincial examination. Yet, he was the legitimate son, the Young Marquis, and the heir who was provided with the best resources the family could offer.
Similarly, as a young marquis, Shangguan Jie also disliked studying, but he came from a martial arts background and was also ranked high in the Imperial Guard. Likewise, as a dandy, King Ning’s heir, Zong Rui, was even more distinguished. Two years ago, he voluntarily went to the Bureau of Military Affairs to train, doing repair work and suppressing the mountain bandits. He had already risen to the rank of fifth-grade Langzhong [mfn]Modern equivalent to a director.[/mfn] Similarly, as a prodigal, Prince Zhao, though often frequenting pleasure quarters, did not neglect the various construction projects managed by the Ministry of Labor and occasionally served as an imperial envoy on the spot—in comparison, they were all the proud sons of heaven, but Young Marquis Mei seemed the least promising.
If one were to avoid comparing him with others, comparing him within his own family was even more interesting.
Mei Jiang passed the imperial examination at the age of 21, but unfortunately, Marquis Mei never valued this seventh son. Now, the duck egg had soared to the sky and transformed into a phoenix, while Mei Xiu, this naturally golden egg, still couldn’t hatch.
Marquis Mei was on tenterhooks, his face unable to maintain its composure. The Crown Prince looked at him and smiled, his tone rather gentle. “Indulging a child is not loving a child. You cannot shirk the responsibility of admonition and education by merely being a hands-off manager who builds golden nests and sprinkles silver. The Mei family is so large; it will still rely on Mei Xiu to uphold it in the future. You are still in your prime; don’t just spend your days busy adding new offspring; you must also spend time teaching your children well.”
Marquis Mei, who had just welcomed his eighteenth son, blushed and laughed awkwardly, “Your Highness is right; this subject will certainly bear it in mind. I will go back and properly whip that little beast into shape and make him do something proper!”
“Aside from other things, it would be good if he simply went to pleasure quarters less. At such a young age, with blurry eyes and droopy brows from overindulgence, what kind of appearance is that? He hasn’t even been betrothed with a legal wife; which respectable young lady would be willing to marry him in the future?” The Crown Prince twirled his teacup lid. “My mother used to say that the Mei family’s Xiu’er was a bit mischievous but still endearing. Go back and teach him well, straighten him out, and don’t let my mother be disappointed.”
Marquis Mei immediately stood up and said, “This subject will bear it firmly in mind and will not fail Your Highness’s and Her Majesty’s teachings.”
The Crown Prince nodded and said, “Take him back. Let him rest for two days before letting him run wild again.”
Marquis Mei bowed respectfully and withdrew. Seeing this, Pei Xiting quickly got up from the bamboo couch, hopped on one foot to the Crown Prince, picked up a thin book beside him to fan him, and diligently said, “Thank you, Your Highness.”
The Crown Prince looked at him and said, “You dared to hit Mei Xiu, on what grounds?”
“When I hit him, I didn’t know he was Mei Xiu,” Pei Xiting said truthfully.
“What if you had known?” the Crown Prince asked. “Would you still have hit him?”
Pei Xiting pursed his lips and said, “No.”
The Crown Prince saw through him at a glance and said, “You’re not being sincere.”
Pei Xiting was quite honest: “I’m afraid that if I were too sincere, I would make Your Highness angry.”
The Crown Prince shook his head and said nothing more. For some reason, Pei Xiting suddenly thought of his grandfather. In the past, when he caused trouble outside, the old man would always resolve the external problems first, then close the door and lecture him, but he would never truly do anything to him.
The Crown Prince was true to his word, truly shielding him, even protecting him in front of Marquis Mei. Holding onto such a strong thigh, he should be happy, but he couldn’t quite be happy; it seemed to be mixed with some other feeling.
This feeling was like being pricked by a needle—a small hole on the skin, unnoticeable unless looked at closely, but sharp and full of presence.
Pei Xiting pondered on the mountain, pondered after Yu Shaoyun kindly carried him down, and continued to ponder in the carriage. This pondering lasted all the way back. Upon returning to his small courtyard, he tossed and turned on the bamboo chair for a long time, finally figuring something out.
The Crown Prince didn’t mind his covetous desires; not only did he not push him away, but he also cultivated and protected him. This was called generosity and magnanimity, bestowing kindness. At this point, if he still harbored covetous desires for the Crown Prince, it would truly be improper.
“Then just don’t show it,” Yuan Fang said casually, sweeping the dirt from under Pei Xiting’s reclining chair. “I think you’re just unwilling to give up.”
Bro Fang hit the nail on the head. Pei Xiting didn’t retort, gazing at the stars and moon in the sky, complaining that they hung too high, only to be looked at, not picked.
But he just wanted to.
He tried to pick it once and failed, but he still wanted it.
The furthest distance in the world wasn’t being unable to see but being right there, able to see, occasionally even touch, but simply unable to take one more step. Pei Xiting thought, somewhat theatrically, it would be better if the Crown Prince rejected him from a thousand miles away; he wouldn’t be able to see or touch him, and any desire would be futile. As things stood now, it was a hundred times more cruel than tempting Yuan Fang with various kinds of steamed buns and meat pies but forbidding him from taking a single bite.
Pei Xiting sighed, his gaze mournful, giving Yuan Fang goosebumps. “Aren’t you someone who believes in letting things take their natural course?”
“Exactly,” Pei Xiting scratched his head.
In the past, when he saw someone around him crying and lamenting, feeling melancholic and wistful for love, he completely failed to understand. He wondered, there are so many people in the world, good ones are like radishes in the field, one after another, each better than the last; is it really worth it?
Besides, people don’t necessarily need love to live. There are so many delicious, fun, and beautiful things in the world; aren’t they more appealing than a lost ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend?
At this moment, Pei Xiting was still a single dog, but he finally felt a bit of empathy. No wonder love is a classic theme in literature and art—just unrequited love alone can stir so many emotions in a person. Why worry about not having inspiration?
Grand Master Pei suddenly had an idea.
For the next half month, Lu Mang could see Pei-wenshu across from him, passionately wielding his brush, sketching something unknown, foolishly smiling, hesitating, daydreaming, excited… The complexity of his emotions and the variety of his expressions changed daily, occasionally even showing a hint of spring on his face.
Pei-wenshu was in love—Lu Mang concluded.
It was a rainy day. Heavy rain poured outside the hall, making a continuous splashing sound. Lu Mang didn’t go to the East Palace to borrow documents from His Highness. He grabbed a book and quietly sidled up to Pei Xiting, quickly glancing at the paper in front of him.
“Are you drawing erotic paintings?” Chief Lu stared in shock at the two people kissing on the paper. “Is kissing considered an erotic painting?” Pei Xiting had never been on guard against Lu Mang from the beginning, so he naturally didn’t mind him looking. He declared, “This is called a picture book.”
He glanced at Lu Mang and said meaningfully, “Compared to storybooks, the difference between writing and drawing is not as explicit as others.”
Lu Mang was completely unaware that his disguise had been ripped off. Hearing this, he cleared his throat and said, “Are you drawing… a male erotic picture book?”
“Yes,” Pei Xiting said with a hidden meaning, “After all, I have so many handsome gentlemen around me, why would I lack material, right, Chief?”
Lu Mang cleared his throat again, coughing even louder.
Pei Xiting raised his hand worriedly to pat Lu Mang’s back, asking knowingly, “Chief Lu, are you not feeling well?”
Yes, Chief Lu’s heart wasn’t feeling well; it was too weak. He patted Pei Xiting’s hand back, smiled slightly, and said, “Thank you for your concern; I’m fine.”
“That’s good,” Pei Xiting smiled, withdrew his gaze, and continued drawing.
Lu Mang looked at the pair of men on the paper. Pei-wenshu’s painting skills were undoubtedly excellent, harmonious, beautiful, and extremely vivid. He felt somewhat moved and said, “Pei-wenshu, are you drawing this picture book for yourself or for someone else?”
“I haven’t thought about it. I’ll just use it to pass the time for now, occasionally drawing,” Pei Xiting said.
But you seem very engrossed in it. Lu Mang thought to himself. Then, his eyes darted, and he tentatively asked, “Since you know about storybooks, do you know of an author called ‘Scholar of Wind and Moon’?”
“I do. I even read his new storybook ‘The Night Record of Pomegranate Flowers’.” Pei Xiting looked up at Lu Mang and smiled slightly. “The ‘Yang Pei’ in the book even resembles me somewhat.”
Oh dear. Lu Mang started sweating. “Is that so?”
“Not only that, I think that Xi Zong and…” Pei Xiting glanced outside, then covered half his face with his hand and whispered to Lu Mang, “And His Highness are also similar.”
Oh my ancestors. Lu Mang was sweating profusely internally and forced a laugh: “Is… is that so?”
“It’s just what I think; maybe it’s a coincidence,” Pei Xiting shrugged, his tone light. “After all, who would be so audacious as to write a male erotic storybook about the Crown Prince?”
Lu Mang plopped down, bumping into Pei Xiting. He met Pei Xiting’s unconcerned smile and chuckled, “Then, does His Highness… know?”
“Of course not.” Pei Xiting didn’t try to scare him this time. “How could His Highness read a romantic storybook, let alone a male one?”
That’s right. That’s exactly right. Isn’t that how it is? Otherwise, how would I dare to write it! Lu Mang shouted in his heart, finally calming down. But he still had one concern.
“Pei-wenshu, do you mind that Yang Pei resembles you somewhat?”
Chief Lu thought he was just casually chatting, restraining his smile, but under the discerning eyes of Pei Oscar Winner, his acting was rather clumsy.
“I don’t mind. Anyway, my name isn’t written there.” Pei Xiting reached out and patted Lu Mang’s shoulder. “Besides, I read it myself. If he stopped writing, what would I read?”
Oh, good. Chief Lu’s heart finally settled. He patted Pei Xiting’s shoulder back and said with a smile, “Pei-wenshu, what magnanimity! Don’t worry, the Scholar of Wind and Moon never stops his storybooks without reason.”
“Oh,” Pei Xiting drew out the sound, “Chief Lu is his loyal reader?”
“We understand each other without words,” Lu Mang smiled gracefully. “You and I understand each other without words, Pei-wenshu.”
Pei Xiting looked at Lu Mang, finding it quite amusing. Just then, someone came from outside—it was the kitchen’s head chef, Uncle Wei.
Uncle Wei, true to his surname[mfn]His surname (魏) actually means high and lofty??[/mfn], was primarily responsible for feeding the diligent young men of the Longhe Division and also assisted Dr. Su in preparing nourishing meals for his stomach ailment.
Uncle Wei was a native of Yejing and knew many different dishes, constantly changing the menu. Among them, a particular braised fish dish was a favorite of Pei Xiting’s. Pei Xiting was handsome, had a sweet mouth, and carried himself with a noble air, yet he was easygoing to be around. Thus, he was also a favorite of Uncle Wei’s and had recently become the “kitchen’s special favorite.”
Sure enough, as soon as he saw the man, Pei Xiting exclaimed he was hungry, “Uncle, what delicious dishes did you make for me today?”
“There’s a sweet osmanthus shad tonight!” Uncle Wei, with rain on his shoes, didn’t enter but called out to Pei Xiting from the doorway, “I just stopped by to relay a message. Someone is looking for you at the gate; she says she’s your family’s Li-yiniang.”
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