Chapter 119: Missing You

Miao Xiaoguang searched around with bleary eyes but saw no silver; instead, he spotted a pair of high-soled black boots that looked undeniably expensive.

He froze for a moment, following the person’s legs upward until his gaze met Chang Xi’s impatient eyes.

Miao Xiaoguang was now wide awake. Having worked in the Palace for years, he naturally recognized the head eunuch at the Crown Prince’s side—to him, that was the unreachable peak of an official’s career! The sudden arrival of such a powerful figure filled Miao Xiaoguang with both delight and dread. He scrambled to his feet, bowing as he asked, “Eunuch Chang, what brings you here?”

Chang Xi glanced at him and lowered his voice. “Come outside to talk.”

Miao Xiaoguang followed him eagerly. Chang Xi led him to a secluded street corner, glanced around to ensure they were alone, and pulled a silver ingot from his sleeve. “Your master is currently the manager of the Prince of Jibei’s manor?”

Miao Xiaoguang’s eyes nearly popped out at the sight of the silver. He nodded frantically. “Yes, yes.”

Chang Xi asked, “Then naturally, you can enter and leave the Jibei Manor as you please?”

“Of course,” Miao Xiaoguang replied.

“Do me a favor, and this silver is yours.” Chang Xi tilted his chin at him and pulled a bamboo tube from his sleeve. “Inside is a private letter for the Princess of Jibei. Simple enough, right?”

Miao Xiaoguang was no fool. He asked hesitantly, “Are you asking me to be an informant? No, that won’t do. I’ll be kicked out!”

“Not an informant.” Chang Xi glared at him. “Just delivering a letter and passing along a message. A simple errand. Even in war, one does not kill the messenger; what wrong could there be in passing a word? If the Princess asks, just tell her the truth.”

Miao Xiaoguang licked his lips. “If it’s so simple, why pay such a high price to find me?”

Chang Xi choked. What else could he do? The Prince kept that manor guarded like a fortress of iron. The guards at the gate were like wooden stakes; the moment they heard someone was from the Crown Prince’s estate, they wouldn’t even pass a message, treating them like venomous toads and nearly driving them away with halberds. He truly had no other way in, except through this Miao Xiaoguang who looked desperate for money.

Chang Xi didn’t answer the question. With a dark expression, he moved to put the silver away, threatening, “If you’re unwilling, then forget it. I only thought of you because I was on good terms with your master and didn’t want the profit going to an outsider. Since you don’t seem to need the money, fine, I’ll find someone else…” He turned to leave.

“Eunuch Chang!” Miao Xiaoguang hurriedly pulled him back. “Delivering a letter is no problem at all! Just a small errand! But… may I see what’s written first? If it’s something treasonous, I’m afraid of losing my head!”

“Suit yourself,” Chang Xi said, tossing the bamboo tube into Miao Xiaoguang’s arms.

Miao Xiaoguang caught it and, by the faint light of dawn, read the words inside. They were just a few names: Feng Yongjia, Xu Guang, Zhou Jiangcheng, Qiu Lingjun…

Miao Xiaoguang asked, “What message do I need to bring?”

Chang Xi replied, “You only need to ask the Princess one thing: Does she want to know what happened to these people?”

This wasn’t hard, and it didn’t seem dangerous. Miao Xiaoguang felt relieved. He patted his chest and promised, “Eunuch Chang, rest easy. I’ll definitely get it done!”

Chang Xi instructed, “Remember to avoid the Prince. Find an opportunity when the Prince is not in the manor to ask her. If you do well, I’ll give you an ingot of gold!”

Miao Xiaoguang agreed, then joyfully took the silver from Chang Xi, bit it to check its authenticity, and headed back into the infirmary after giving his thanks.

Chang Xi brushed a stray hair from his temple with a meaningful smile and happily boarded a carriage waiting by the roadside.

He didn’t believe that if the Princess knew how those people died miserable deaths—and just how cold-blooded and ruthless Pei Yuan truly was—she wouldn’t be afraid. The more innocent a person was, the more they feared.

Two days later, Bao Ning went to the infirmary to check on Manager Miao.

He seemed to be in better spirits, leaning against a soft couch and drinking soup. Bao Ning comforted him, telling him to rest well and mentioning she had rented a small house for him to move into in a couple of days to recover. Manager Miao was shocked; Bao Ning was using this incident as an excuse to kick him out!

Full of worry and fear, he hurriedly tried to apologize and admit his faults, but Bao Ning didn’t listen. She left some money, bid him a smiling farewell, and returned to the manor.

For the past few days, she had been troubled over how to quietly remove this “nail” the Emperor had hammered into her home. She hadn’t expected things to be so coincidental. Jixiang’s bite had solved her biggest headache.

When Pei Yuan came home, Bao Ning was braising pork ribs with potatoes; the savory aroma of meat could be smelled from the courtyard gate.

“What’s the special occasion? Making all this meat and fish.” Pei Yuan set down his sword and walked toward the kitchen. “Did we strike it rich?”

“Look at that aggrieved face of yours. Did I feed you wild herb soup when we weren’t rich?” Bao Ning waved him over, using a chopstick to poke the meat on a rib. “Look, see how tender it is? It’ll definitely melt in your mouth, perfectly seasoned.”

Pei Yuan said, “Let me have a taste.”

Bao Ning picked off a piece of meat with her chopsticks, cupping her hand underneath as she fed it to his lips. “Is the saltiness alright?”

“Just right.” Pei Yuan’s hand naturally rested on her waist. “A sip of wine would make it even better.”

Bao Ning huffed. “Dream on. You’re not having another drop of wine for the rest of your life.”

She remembered something and threatened him: “When you’re out tomorrow and I’m not watching, you are not allowed to drink in secret. I’ll have Chen Jia keep an eye on you. If you sneak a drink, don’t think about stepping foot in my door.”

Tao Maobing had died during that assassination attempt, and a suitable replacement for the Capital Guard position hadn’t been found yet. Pei Yuan had taken over some of the responsibilities and needed to go on patrol for a few days every half-month. He was leaving tonight and would likely return in two or three days.

Pei Yuan asked, “Then what should I drink if I’m thirsty? Look how hot it is at night; plain water turns lukewarm after sitting out for a bit, it doesn’t quench thirst at all.”

“I’ve already thought of that!” Bao Ning set down the spatula, reached up to take a leather flask from the shelf, and presented it to him like a treasure. “This is red date and brown sugar tea, and it’s chilled! The craftsmanship of this flask is ingenious—there’s a small layer between the outer skin and the inner flask filled with crushed ice. It shouldn’t melt away even by nightfall. This should quench your thirst and nourish your body.”

Pei Yuan touched the flask; it was indeed cold to the touch and very refreshing.

“What a waste to put nourishing tea in this flask. If word gets out and people ask what I’m drinking, how will I save face?”

Bao Ning said, “With that scowl of yours, who would dare ask? If they mock you, it’ll be behind your back, and since you won’t hear it, just act like you don’t know. Regardless, you must drink the tea. I’ve told Chen Jia to watch you; if you secretly pour it out, don’t bother coming home.”

Pei Yuan’s expression wasn’t great. Bao Ning gave his arm a playful shove. “Hurry and take the mantou out. After dinner, we’ll have some time left for me to show you the chickens I’m raising.”

Dinner was served in the courtyard. The summer evening breeze was comfortable, and the scent of flowers lingered in the air. The mantou had been steamed over the rib broth; the bottom layer of the dough was soaked through with the color and flavor of the meat, making it delicious. Looking at the plate of mantou, Pei Yuan suddenly recalled their early days in that small courtyard.

Back then, Bao Ning often made dishes like this. The yard was tiny, the weather was a bit cold, and there were many living things in the garden. For the first time, he had truly felt that life was an interesting thing. One didn’t need battlefields or blood to be happy; small, trivial matters could be just as wonderful.

Watching Pei Yuan finish the whole pot of ribs and toss the bones to the two dogs, Bao Ning contentedly pulled him toward the South Courtyard. “You’ve been coming home too late these past few days. Once it gets dark, the chicks go into their coop and you can’t see them. This is perfect; I’ll let you have a look. They’re fluffy, yellow, and so amusing!”

Pei Yuan stared at her short legs and, for some reason, suddenly asked, “Ningning, do you think if you jumped, you could hit me on the head?”

Bao Ning stopped in her tracks, startled, and looked at him in disbelief. “What did you say?”

Pei Yuan said solemnly, “Nothing.”

Bao Ning had already caught on and said indignantly, “You’re mocking me.”

“I am not.” Pei Yuan touched her face. “But I’ve heard that jumping really does help one grow taller. How about this: when we go back later, I’ll draw a line on the wall according to your height. When I’m not home, try jumping to touch the doorframe. When I get back, we’ll compare you to the line and see if it worked.”

Bao Ning swatted his hand away. “I haven’t complained about you being tanned, yet you complain I’m not tall enough. Let me give you a method too: smear your teeth black with soot from the pot. By comparison, your skin will look much fairer.”

Pei Yuan burst out laughing.

Bao Ning laughed along with him, then looked at the sky and said urgently, “It’s late. Hurry and take a look; once we’ve seen the chicks, I’ll see you off.”

Pei Yuan asked, “I’ll be gone for several days. Won’t you miss me?”

Bao Ning took his arm and smiled. “You’ll be leaving the manor often from now on. I can’t be missing you all the time—worrying too much will make me age prematurely. You do your work well out there, and I’ll raise my chickens and ducks and run my shops. When you come home, we’ll be happy together and I’ll cook you delicious meals. Isn’t that great?”

“You little heartless thing.” Pei Yuan squinted and pinched her nose. “If the dogs or sheep you raise left the manor for days, would you feel the same way?”

Bao Ning said, “Why do you always compare yourself to them?”

Pei Yuan replied, “I’m jealous.”

Bao Ning teased him for being so pathetic. Feeling full after dinner, they walked a lap around the South Courtyard and another by the lake, watching a turtle crawl across a lotus leaf as night fell. Chen Jia had been waiting for a long time. With the manor surrounded by personal guards, he wasn’t needed there anymore and had returned to his unit, having been promoted two ranks; he was now looking very spirited.

Pei Yuan went back to the room to change into his armor, and Bao Ning sat on the threshold watching him. This was the first time she had seen him in such attire; it made his shoulders look broader and his waist leaner, and his face was handsome. Bao Ning took a bite of her pear, thinking proudly that she had raised Pei Yuan well—he was even sturdier than Jixiang now.

Once changed, Pei Yuan’s expression became much more disciplined. He stopped joking and held out his hand. “Sword.”

Bao Ning was confused. “What do you mean?”

Pei Yuan looked at her as if frustrated by her lack of wit. “It means fetch the sword.”

Realizing what he meant, Bao Ning hurried to grab the sword hanging on the wall and placed it in his hand. Pei Yuan looked down at her for a moment, his eyes filled with reluctance to leave. Seeing Bao Ning still looking cheerful, he gave her waist a resentful squeeze and whispered in her ear, “You little white-eyed wolf.”

Bao Ning took the opportunity to give him a peck on the cheek. “Actually, I will miss you. Come back soon.”

Pei Yuan’s face cleared slightly, and feeling much better, he walked out with his sword. Bao Ning leaned against the door watching his back, then remembered something and called out, “Remember to drink the red date tea I stewed for you!”

Pei Yuan looked back at her, waved a hand, and left with Chen Jia.

Bao Ning finished the rest of her pear and tossed the core into A-Huang’s bowl. Under the clear moonlight, her heart was at peace. Looking around her little courtyard, she felt she had worried too much before. Even if they lived in a different place and people called her by a different title, what did it matter? Pei Yuan was still Pei Yuan; he would never change.

Bao Ning was looking over the ledgers for Ruyi Pavilion when Miao Xiaoguang arrived, clutching the bamboo tube Chang Xi had given him.

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