Chapter 120: Boldness

The Ruyi Pavilion brought in a significant daily income, but Lihu was, after all, a small county town. Customers were few, and traveling there from the capital was inconvenient.

Bao Ning had been contemplating opening a branch in the capital, but with so many things to handle after the move, she hadn’t been able to attend to it. Now that things had settled down, she spent her time mulling over where to select a site.

Inside the room, the abacus beads clicked and clattered. Bao Ning was so focused that she didn’t hear Nanny Liu knock the first time. Only at the second knock did she raise her head, asking blankly, “What is it?”

“Miao Xiaoguang is here,” Nanny Liu said. “He says he needs to see the Princess.” Fearing Bao Ning might not remember him, she added, “It’s Manager Miao’s little apprentice.”

Bao Ning gave an “oh” of recognition, closed her account book, and instructed, “Let him in.”

Bao Ning originally assumed Miao Xiaoguang had come to plead for mercy on his master’s behalf—perhaps asking to return to the manor or seeking more money for medicine. However, looking at the expression on his face as he entered, he seemed quite joyful rather than distressed. His eyes were bright as he knelt to perform his salutations with great etiquette. This reaction exceeded her expectations, and Bao Ning’s gaze turned a bit more scrutinizing.

After telling him to rise, Bao Ning asked warmly, “What are you here for? Is there a problem on your master’s end?”

“Master is doing very well,” Miao Xiaoguang replied, meeting Bao Ning’s eyes candidly as Chang Xi had coached him. “I encountered someone at the manor gate who said they had a letter for the Princess, so I acted as a messenger.”

With that, he produced the bamboo tube from his sleeve and presented it to Bao Ning with both hands.

Seeing his behavior was normal and unhurried, Bao Ning nodded. The reason was plausible enough. Miao Xiaoguang saw that her expression remained calm and breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself that this was indeed a good job—safe and very profitable. If only there were more tasks like this in the future, he could save enough to buy a house and stop living as a servant at the beck and call of others.

Bao Ning motioned for him to hand it over. As she began to open it, she asked, “Who is the letter from?”

Miao Xiaoguang, dropping his guard, answered, “It is from Eunuch Chang Xi.”

Bao Ning’s movements froze, and her face turned cold.

Her feelings toward Pei Xiao and Chang Xi could only be described as loathing. Hearing that name, she knew nothing good would come of it. She had specifically instructed the guards at the gate to have no contact with anyone from the Crown Prince’s estate, yet somehow, this Miao Xiaoguang had managed to sneak the letter in.

Under Miao Xiaoguang’s startled gaze, Bao Ning stuffed the half-opened tube back together and slammed it onto the floor with a loud thwack , demanding sternly, “How bold of you! Who exactly are you working for?”

Miao Xiaoguang jumped in fright and fell to his knees with a thud . Not knowing why Bao Ning had suddenly turned hostile, he hurriedly begged for mercy. “Princess, please be discerning! This servant harbors no second heart!”

“Then why was this letter delivered by you instead of the gatekeeper?” Bao Ning questioned. “Are you well-acquainted with Eunuch Chang Xi, or are you in close contact with His Highness the Crown Prince?”

Actually, Bao Ning had been unhappy the moment Miao Xiaoguang walked in. She had thought sending Manager Miao out of the manor would be the end of it, but she had forgotten he had an apprentice. Since Miao Xiaoguang hadn’t made a mistake, she had no reason to kick him out, but keeping him in the manor was an eyesore; he wasn’t one of their own. She intended to use this incident to set him straight.

Dizzy with shock, Miao Xiaoguang hadn’t expected Bao Ning to pin such a heavy accusation on him. He kowtowed and cried, “This servant is wronged! How could I have a private acquaintance with Eunuch Chang? It was only because Eunuch Chang is an old friend of my master that he entrusted me with the letter. I truly didn’t expect it would displease the Princess…”

“Do you think your master is some sort of upright gentleman?” Bao Ning interrogated. “He has ears like a hawk, eavesdropping wherever he goes. I saw that he was sent by the Emperor and didn’t wish to scold him, but I didn’t expect such shamelessness! Go back and tell him that if he’s been bitten by a dog, he should rest properly. Is he not tired of meddling in this and that? Even if he luckily survived a dog’s mouth, he’ll work himself to death sooner or later! And you—you’re certainly enthusiastic about helping others. Since you can’t stay idle, go scrub the latrines!”

This scolding was like a bucket of cold water over Miao Xiaoguang. He didn’t dare explain anything and submissively accepted the reprimand.

Bao Ning pointed at the letter on the floor. “I will not read such a letter to avoid suspicion. You would do well to avoid suspicion too. Don’t go around delivering letters in secret; if you’re caught and labeled a spy, they’ll break your legs!”

Manager Miao turned ashen and kowtowed, saying he understood.

“Get out,” Bao Ning said coldly.

Miao Xiaoguang couldn’t understand how he had botched this so badly. Everything had started fine—how did it spiral into him being cursed out? He walked out dejectedly, wondering how to explain this to Chang Xi, unaware that Bao Ning had been staring at his shoes for quite a while.

Just before he stepped over the threshold, Bao Ning suddenly said, “Stop right there.”

A chill ran down Miao Xiaoguang’s spine. He froze, inwardly lamenting his luck. He used to think the Princess was beautiful and gentle—even eunuchs appreciated a beauty—and he had fantasized about having a chance to speak with her. But now, her voice sounded like a death knell.

“Turn around,” she commanded.

Miao Xiaoguang turned stiffly. Bao Ning looked closely at his shoes and asked, “Where did those shoes come from?”

Miao Xiaoguang’s heart skipped a beat. He stammered, “I… I bought them new.”

“Where did the money come from?” Bao Ning looked at him suspiciously. “Did you embezzle your master’s medicine money?”

“How would I dare!” he cried out.

Bao Ning nodded knowingly. “I see. It must be the money Chang Xi gave you. You’ve taken a bribe!” Without waiting for him to speak, she waved her hand. “Call the men! Search him!”

Nanny Liu stepped out, and in the time it took to take a breath, several burly men burst into the room. They pinned Miao Xiaoguang’s head to the floor and searched him thoroughly, eventually finding a bulging coin purse which they handed to Bao Ning.

Bao Ning weighed it in her hand. “Your master is destitute. If Chang Xi didn’t give this to you, where would you get so much money? Don’t tell me a silver ingot fell from the sky and hit you on the head!”

Miao Xiaoguang was deathly pale. He had never seen such a display of force. His tongue felt tied, and filled with regret, he kowtowed and wept, “Princess, please be discerning! This servant truly has no traitorous intent! I was momentarily possessed by greed and took the money, but I did nothing else…”

“I don’t believe you.” Bao Ning tossed the purse onto a nearby table and took a sip of tea. “I don’t dare keep people like you and your master, with your crooked hearts, around. When the Prince returns, I will ask him to petition the Emperor. You two can go wherever you like, but do not come back here.”

Miao Xiaoguang was horrified and tried to beg to stay. Bao Ning gave a sharp look, and the guards on either side immediately dislocated his jaw and dragged him out by the shoulders.

The room fell silent once more.

After such an ordeal, Bao Ning was in no mood for accounts. She took out her mortar and pestle and some flowers she had gathered during the day, casually making medicinal pills according to a recipe. It was a new formula she’d found in an ancient book that claimed the body would emit fragrance after consumption, and long-term use would make the skin fair and supple. She wanted to try it out.

Nanny Liu poured her a cup of tea and smiled. “In just half a year, the Princess has truly changed a lot. I remember when I first met you at the General’s Manor, you didn’t have this kind of boldness.”

Bao Ning laughed. “The boldness to scold people? Spending so much time with the Prince, I’ve learned a bit through osmosis.”

“You are more elegant,” Nanny Liu noted. “You don’t use foul language.”

Bao Ning thought of Pei Yuan. When he got angry, he lost all royal decorum—calling people ‘brats’ and ‘lambs,’ using every animal name as an insult, and even kicking people. By comparison, she was indeed very elegant.

“People strive for higher ground,” Bao Ning said. “I also want to learn how to be a good Princess.”

“You are already very good.” Nanny Liu looked at her profile and sighed with emotion. “I truly admire someone like you, and I’m fortunate to work by your side.”

“Why?” Bao Ning asked.

“Because it’s not tiring at all,” Nanny Liu replied.

Bao Ning laughed bashfully. She said no more and continued making the fragrant pills, thinking she would let Pei Yuan try them too. Every time he came back from outside, he was covered in sweat and didn’t smell right, not to mention he’d tanned quite dark. She wondered if these pills would work—to turn Pei Yuan into a fragrant, fair-skinned beauty!

In a secluded alley in the capital, Chang Xi was pointing at Miao Xiaoguang’s nose and cursing: “You idiot! You couldn’t even handle such a small task! You’ve ruined my grand plan!”

Miao Xiaoguang’s nose was red as he bowed his head and took the scolding, feeling incredibly wronged but not daring to talk back. He thought to himself: It’s the Princess who dislikes you, what does that have to do with me? And you’ve dragged me down with you! How will I explain this to Master… I’ll get another earful. And the Princess kept the money!

Chang Xi continued his incessant cursing until Miao Xiaoguang couldn’t stand it anymore. “Why don’t you go see the Princess yourself?”

Chang Xi kicked him hard. “If I could enter the manor, would I have come looking for you?”

“I know of a dog hole in the manor wall,” Miao Xiaoguang said. “It’s right by the chicken coop in the South Courtyard. Usually, no one goes there. I dug a hole in the wall to hide my silver.”

Chang Xi squinted. “You hide your silver inside the wall?”

“I hide it on the other side of the wall, in the ground,” Miao Xiaoguang gestured. “The manor is the safest place, but I was afraid that if I were kicked out one day, I wouldn’t be able to get the money out, so I dug a hole. That way, even if I can’t get in, I can reach through the hole and pull the silver out.”

Chang Xi laughed and scolded him, “You’re quite clever—in a poor man’s sort of way.”

Miao Xiaoguang hesitated. “But, Eunuch… the Prince has military power, and the manor is full of his personal guards. Aren’t you afraid of being caught?”

Chang Xi flicked his sleeve and said confidently, “Wealth is found in risk. If I didn’t have this much courage, how could I serve the Crown Prince?” His expression softened as he patted Miao Xiaoguang’s shoulder. “Later tonight, give me the guard rotation schedule. Is 50 taels of silver enough?”

Miao Xiaoguang’s eyes lit up. “Enough! More than enough!”

Such a desperate look—truly a pauper. Chang Xi looked at him with disdain. “As soon as possible.”

With that, he dusted off his sleeves and walked away with his back straight. Chang Xi was confident; the information he held would cause a drastic change in Bao Ning’s attitude! He would let her know that the person sharing her pillow was actually a wolf—a madman whose victims’ blood could float a boat—and that he had been deceiving her all along…

Would she not be afraid? Would she not hate him? Would she not be angry?

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