Chapter 118: Auspiciousness

Bao Ning was utterly astonished. She and Qiu Mingshan had only met a handful of times and were hardly well-acquainted. Why would he come deep in the night and specifically ask to see her?

Bao Ning turned to Nanny Liu and said, “Wait for me while I change my clothes.”

Pei Yuan was still bathing. He usually wasn’t this slow, but he was in a foul mood this time, slamming the soap box inside the tub with loud thuds as if venting his frustrations.

Bao Ning changed into slightly more formal attire and touched up her hair and makeup in front of the mirror. She knocked on the bathroom door: “General Qiu is looking for me at the back gate. I’m heading out for a moment.”

The sound of splashing water rose from within; he likely didn’t hear her clearly and didn’t respond. Bao Ning didn’t call out again and hurriedly left with Chen Jia and Nanny Liu.

She had no idea what Qiu Mingshan wanted, but he was a man and an elder; a private meeting was out of the question. Having Nanny Liu along provided a witness. As for Chen Jia—to be honest, Bao Ning was afraid Qiu Mingshan might try to kidnap her.

The thought sounded somewhat absurd, but Bao Ning couldn’t say for sure whether Qiu Mingshan was friend or foe, and she certainly didn’t trust him. Hadn’t he always harbored ambitions to usurp the throne?

At the corner of the back gate, through a moon gate, Bao Ning caught sight of Qiu Mingshan’s figure. He wore plain clothes and carried no sword, instead holding a whip in his hand as he sat on a stone platform teasing a dog. Under the hazy moonlight, he looked like a kind old man.

Bao Ning knit her brows and called out softly, “A-Huang.”

The dog looked back, wagged its tail twice, and ran to Bao Ning’s feet.

Qiu Mingshan looked over as well. He stood up, somewhat stiffly straightened the hem of his robe, and smiled. “Bao Ning, you’ve come.”

Bao Ning asked, “Does General Qiu have urgent business? Meeting like this is, after all, inconvenient. If there is something, please speak quickly.”

At such an obvious display of distance, Qiu Mingshan’s expression stiffened for an instant. He quickly recovered his gentle demeanor and smiled. “I am returning to the Northern Border tomorrow. I came tonight to let you all know.”

He was leaving? Bao Ning was a bit surprised. She nodded with concern. “The journey is long and arduous. Please take care of your health, General.”

“I know you all… don’t quite care for me,” Qiu Mingshan smiled forcedly, the wrinkles deepening at the corners of his eyes. “I’ve grown old and can’t find common ground with you young children. My temperament is a bit stubborn and old-fashioned, making you dislike me even more. But Bao Ning, your uncle’s heart for you both is sincere. I watched Yuan-er grow up, and I truly hope he fares well in the future. I was too aggressive before, which caused the rift between us to deepen. I said many things he didn’t want to hear. The misunderstandings between us cannot be explained in just a few words.”

Bao Ning tilted her head slightly, meeting his eyes. “General, what exactly are you trying to say?”

“A few days ago, an old friend sent me a message in a dream, and I suddenly understood,” Qiu Mingshan said. “If the things I give him are things he doesn’t want, even if I were to seize all the treasures in the world and place them before him, he wouldn’t necessarily be grateful. What I want is actually very simple: as long as he is satisfied and happy. So, from now on, I won’t force him to do anything anymore.”

Qiu Mingshan’s tone was slow. Bao Ning was soft-hearted; hearing him speak this way, she immediately thought of her late grandmother. Her grandmother had been a kind woman, and the feeling Qiu Mingshan gave her now was one of kindness and paternal concern.

Bao Ning’s voice softened as well. “General, is the ‘he’ you’re speaking of the Prince?”

“Yes.” Qiu Mingshan nodded slightly, still smiling gently. “His temper is too hasty. If I spoke to him face-to-face, he might not listen. So, I must trouble you, Bao Ning, to pass your uncle’s words to him. Tell him I am leaving, but if he needs me, I will certainly stand up for him. If he doesn’t, then let it be. Whatever he wants to do, let him do it freely. I and the 200,000 soldiers of the Northern Border will forever be his solid backing.”

Hearing him speak like this, Bao Ning suddenly felt a pang of sadness. She nodded. “Don’t worry, General. I will pass it on.”

“Good child,” Qiu Mingshan said, pulling a command token from his sleeve and pressing it into her hand. “This is the mobilization tally for Yangmagang. There are 3,000 elite heavy cavalry there. Give it to him; he can use them if needed.”

Bao Ning said she would.

Qiu Mingshan breathed a sigh of relief. “Then I shall be going.”

The whip in his hand moved, hooking A-Huang over. He smiled and said, “Little A-Huang, Grandpa is leaving. Say something to see me off.”

A-Huang wagged its tail and let out a sweet bark.

Bao Ning smiled, suddenly feeling that this abrupt, playful side of Qiu Mingshan was exactly like Pei Yuan—or rather, that Pei Yuan was exactly like him.

She suddenly remembered that yesterday was Qiu Mingshan’s birthday and they had forgotten to offer their congratulations. Bao Ning called Nanny Liu over and had her wrap up two roast chickens for Qiu Mingshan to take with him. It wasn’t worth much, but it was the thought that counted. Bao Ning figured that compared to treasures and antiques, Qiu Mingshan might prefer this gift more.

Sure enough, Qiu Mingshan accepted it with great joy. Before leaving, he gave her a deep look, his eyes full of affection.

Bao Ning watched him mount his horse and gallop away, tightening her grip on the token. She couldn’t help but wonder why General Qiu was so good to Pei Yuan—a silent kind of goodness. This level of concern truly exceeded typical affection for a junior. Compared to the one in the Palace, Bao Ning had a better impression of Qiu Mingshan; at least between them, there was no suspicion, only a thread of warmth.

Nanny Liu stepped forward to support her arm. “Princess, let us head back. The Prince is likely getting anxious waiting.”

Bao Ning nodded. After a few steps, she suddenly remembered: “Where is Chen Jia?”

Nanny Liu didn’t know either. As the two looked around, a wail that seemed to split the sky suddenly erupted from behind a willow tree nearby. It hardly sounded human. Bao Ning flinched in fright, and then saw Jixiang leap out, the fur around its mouth stained as if with blood, its eyes shining like a wolf’s.

Bao Ning was stunned and asked anxiously, “Who did you bite?!”

Jixiang tossed its head, looking very pleased with itself. Bao Ning was dizzy with confusion. “Just how badly did you bite them?!”

The moment she finished speaking, Manager Miao crawled out from behind the willow tree, clutching his leg and howling, “Princess! Princess, save me!”

“…”

Bao Ning squinted her eyes at him, wondering why he was here. She quickly realized this must have been a trap set by Chen Jia. She was no longer in a hurry and asked coolly, “Manager Miao, what were you doing behind the tree? Eavesdropping?”

“Princess, I’m bleeding so much. Am I going to die?” Manager Miao’s lips were pale as he reached out a trembling hand toward her. “Princess, that vicious dog bit my leg… it bit off a chunk of meat as big as a bowl…”

He had happened to be passing by and saw Qiu Mingshan handing the token to Bao Ning. Remembering the Emperor’s instructions to investigate the Fourth Prince’s movements and social connections, he stayed behind to listen more. Just as he was finished and about to leave, this massive dog suddenly jumped out without a single bark and lunged straight for his leg!

Manager Miao pounded the ground in tears. “The Princess must give this old servant justice!”

Jixiang turned around at the sound. The Mastiff’s head was as large as a millstone, as powerful as a wild beast. Manager Miao was terrified, trembling so hard he couldn’t speak clearly. Just as Bao Ning was about to ask something else, his eyes rolled back and he fainted.

“How can this man be so easily frightened?” Bao Ning knit her brows. “Send him to the infirmary. Inform his apprentice to look after him and leave enough silver. Don’t worry about anything else.”

Nanny Liu said worriedly, “He is, after all, someone personally appointed by His Majesty…”

Bao Ning replied, “The one who bit him is a dog that was personally gifted a plaque by His Majesty!”

She remembered that the dog with the plaque was actually A-Huang. She pursed her lips and added, “It’s a dog friend of the dog gifted a plaque by His Majesty!”

“He was eavesdropping. It’s a mercy his leg wasn’t bitten off entirely. He deserves it.”

Manager Miao was carried away by the men who were called. Once they were far off, Chen Jia stepped out. “I saw Manager Miao behind the tree long ago acting suspiciously. Since it wasn’t easy to drive him away, I came up with this idea to let Jixiang chase him… I didn’t expect Jixiang to be so fierce that it went straight for the bite.”

“Jixiang has always hated evil,” Bao Ning said. “Go back and prepare some warm salt water to clean its teeth.”

By the time Bao Ning returned, Pei Yuan was already very displeased, sitting in the room drinking tea. “Where did you go for so long? Were you fishing?”

Bao Ning retorted, “What fishing! I bought 81 fish, and Jixiang counts them; not a single one can be missing.”

Pei Yuan set down his teacup, still annoyed. “Then what were you doing? Counting fish by the lake with a lantern in the middle of the night to see if they’ve died?”

“I…” Bao Ning suddenly realized she had been led off-track by Pei Yuan.

She quickly stopped talking about the fish and recounted what had happened to Pei Yuan, handing him the token from Qiu Mingshan. Pei Yuan flipped the token over under the lamp and flicked it with his finger. “It’s real.”

It was hot outside, and Bao Ning felt uncomfortable after her return. She grabbed her undergarments to go bathe. Hearing Pei Yuan’s words, she turned back to ask, “Are you going to see the General off tomorrow?”

“He’s leaving the capital in plain clothes. It would be bad if I went.” Pei Yuan tossed the token back onto the table. “We’ll see when there’s a chance in the future.”

Bao Ning added casually, “General Qiu seems quite pitiful. He always looks so lonely.”

Pei Yuan laughed. “He has so many wives, concubines, and children. How could he be lonely?”

Bao Ning spoke up for him: “But I feel his heart for you is real.”

Pei Yuan didn’t want to hear it, so she stopped talking. She walked toward the bathroom clutching her clothes. Just before entering, she remembered something and called back to Pei Yuan, “Husband!”

Pei Yuan’s wrist gave a little jerk. Bao Ning had never called him that before—it was a respectful and elegant form of address, yet hearing it suddenly felt rather nice. Pei Yuan put on a warm smile and answered her, “Wife.”

Bao Ning rubbed her arms as goosebumps broke out. She wrinkled her nose, grabbed the doorframe, and whispered to him, “Husband, I think what you said earlier was right.”

Pei Yuan was puzzled. “Which part?”

“About how the number of fish should be counted often.” Bao Ning tried to negotiate with him. “The carp in the manor are newly bought. Having suddenly changed locations, I don’t know if they’re used to it. Why don’t you go take a look? Report the count back to me so I can fill any gaps. The number 81 is really good, very auspicious, and carp are auspicious too. 81 fish makes it double the luck…”

Pei Yuan asked, “You want me to go count fish with a lantern?”

“You don’t seem busy right now.” Bao Ning hid her body behind the door, only peeking her head out with a wheedling smile. “Just do it for the sake of good fortune over the manor…”

Bao Ning saw the corners of Pei Yuan’s mouth turn down as if he were about to scold her. She didn’t dare wait for an answer and quickly ducked back into the bathroom, slamming the door shut with a bang.

The more Pei Yuan thought about it, the angrier he got. He kicked a stool far away and couldn’t help shouting at the door: “You’re afraid your fish will die, but you’re not afraid I’ll be bitten by toxic mosquitoes?”

“Tomorrow I’ll pick an auspicious day to grill all those fish and send them off to the Western Paradise with ‘great fortune’!”

“Burn those books on the I Ching too! Such fine scholarship, and you’ve learned it into such a twisted mess!”

“Since you love ‘Jixiang’ (Luck) so much, why don’t you just call me Pei Jixiang from now on!”

Bao Ning finally spoke up from inside: “Jixiang is a dog!”

Pei Yuan realized the implication, his anger flaring even more. He cursed at her: “Ji A-Huang!”

Bao Ning slapped the wall angrily. “Is there something wrong with you…”

Late into the night, Manager Miao lay ashen-faced on a small cot in the infirmary, letting out occasional groans of pain. Miao Xiaoguang served him by his side, looking equally dejected.

It was embarrassing enough for a manor manager to be bitten by a dog, but to be sent to an infirmary without a single person coming to check on him or offer condolences was the height of humiliation!

Miao Xiaoguang looked down at his tattered cloth shoes where his toes were about to poke through. He suddenly wondered what he had been aiming for by following his master for so long. Forget money—even decent clothes were hard to come by. He used to have some status and hoped for a promotion and a bright future. Looking at today, they were practically outcasts. A future was out of the question; if they didn’t end up on the streets, it would be a blessing from the Buddha.

Miao Xiaoguang’s eyelids were too heavy to stay open. Full of worry, he rested his chin on his hand and dozed off.

Chang Xi slipped in through the back door of the infirmary. Seeing this scene, he tapped lightly on the door. “Little Manager Miao?”

Miao Xiaoguang didn’t wake up.

Chang Xi called a few more times, but the boy remained in a daze. Unable to bear it any longer, Chang Xi shouted, “Whose silver fell on the floor?!”

Miao Xiaoguang sat bolt upright and answered loudly, “Mine! Don’t tell my master!”

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