Chapter 125: Fingernails

Bao Ning noticed that when Pei Yuan returned, he looked even happier than when he had left.

Although he didn’t let it show too much on his face, his expression was relaxed. He sat by the table drinking tea with his legs crossed, his foot swinging rhythmically.

Bao Ning asked, “What joyful thing happened to you?”

“Nothing.” Pei Yuan put his foot back on the floor, shifting into a dignified sitting posture and looking at her solemnly. “I’m just happy looking at you.”

Bao Ning, having already finished washing up, kicked off her shoes and climbed onto the bed. Leaning into the corner, she gave a soft huff. “So sappy. I don’t believe you.”

“What’s wrong?” Pei Yuan sensed something was off. She looked listless, a complete contrast to how she was a moment ago.

He walked over and sat beside her, carefully examining her face. “Are you feeling unwell?”

Bao Ning whispered, “My monthly cycle has started.”

Pei Yuan understood immediately. He affectionately rubbed her cheek and instinctively looked toward the door. “Is the brown sugar water boiling? I’ll go check and bring it to you.”

“I’m fine, it doesn’t hurt.” Bao Ning caught his sleeve, her brow furrowed as if she were hesitating to speak.

“Then what is it?” Pei Yuan couldn’t figure it out. He pulled her into his arms, rubbing her lower belly, and asked with a smile, “Want to hear a song? Pick any one, and I’ll sing it for you.”

He was exceptionally gentle today, pressing his lips to her forehead and rocking her like a child. “Why aren’t you smiling? You were laughing like a little puppy when I went out earlier. Did someone upset you? Or did dinner not sit well? Let me guess… you missed me?”

Bao Ning bit his neck and asked indignantly, “Who’s a puppy?”

Pei Yuan laughed, tilting his head back to let her bite.

Bao Ning still couldn’t bring herself to smile. She pulled back slightly to create some distance and said with frustration, “You still don’t get what I mean. My cycle starting means there won’t be a child this month.”

Pei Yuan froze for a second before reacting. “Just that?”

“Isn’t that important?” Bao Ning reached behind her and pulled out a small pellet drum. “I was really hoping for a child. I remember you said you wanted one too.” Her voice trailed off.

Pei Yuan stared at her drum and suddenly said, “The donkey hair on your drum skin wasn’t singed off properly.”

Bao Ning’s attention was successfully diverted. “Impossible!” she said disbelievingly.

She held the drum close to her face, searching carefully. “Where is there hair?”

Pei Yuan pointed randomly. “Here, and here.”

Bao Ning stared until her eyes ached, but she still couldn’t see the flaw he mentioned. It wasn’t until she heard the suppressed laughter beside her that she realized he was teasing her.

She angrily tapped his head with the drum. “Are you a child? I’m talking about serious business, and you’re talking nonsense!”

Pei Yuan laughed loudly, caught her wrist, and kissed it. “Of course I want a child, but I don’t care when they arrive or whether it’s a boy or a girl. It’s also fine if they don’t come at all; let nature take its course. Our lives are so stable right now, yet you insist on finding trouble for yourself. Thinking about this every day—isn’t that just ‘the mediocre man troubling himself’?”

Bao Ning was left speechless. Thinking about it carefully, it seemed he was right.

“So we just wait for fate?” she asked.

Pei Yuan took the drum from her hand, tossed it onto the floor, and lifted her hand to inspect it. “Your nails are getting long.”

He didn’t want her dwelling on the child issue, so he deliberately changed the subject. “Stay here. I’ll get some water and trim them for you.”

Bao Ning watched him in surprise. Seeing him walk out as if he weren’t joking, she couldn’t help but clench her hands.

She was both happy and worried. On one hand, Pei Yuan had become much more tender and attentive, which she welcomed. On the other hand, those hands of his… Bao Ning was always afraid he’d snap his chopsticks when he held them. Now he wanted to fiddle with her fingers?

Please be gentle, she thought. My bones are brittle; one ‘crack’ and they’ll break.

Despite her worries, when Pei Yuan placed a basin of warm water and dried flowers on the table, she obediently put her hands in.

Pei Yuan suddenly remembered Wei Meng’s bucket of tea leaves. Looking at Bao Ning’s hands, he blurted out, “It looks like a dish: Pickled Beauty’s Talons .”

Bao Ning stared at him blankly for a moment. Once the meaning sank in, all the romance in her heart vanished. She yanked her hands out. “And you look like a braised pig’s head !”

“Alright, alright, my mistake,” Pei Yuan coaxed, pulling her hands back into the basin. “Be good, let me wait on you.”

Bao Ning scolded him, “Such a fine man, if only you didn’t have a mouth.”

“If I didn’t have a mouth, wouldn’t I starve to death?” Pei Yuan grabbed the clippers and replied casually, “If I didn’t have a mouth, then I wouldn’t need a throat, or a stomach, or intestines. My belly would be empty. Would I even be a person then? Stuff some straw in, and I’d be a scarecrow standing in a rice field.”

Bao Ning couldn’t win an argument against him. She splashed the water in frustration, soaking everything, and then commanded, “It’s spilled. Go wipe the table.”

Pei Yuan choked back a retort and resignedly cleaned it up.

Once her nails had softened, he removed the basin and sat cross-legged beside her. Resting her hand on his knee, he carefully made the first cut.

Bao Ning leaned in to look and smiled. “Not bad.”

Pei Yuan rubbed her finger and shot her a smug look. “Of course.”

Bao Ning shifted closer, leaning her face against his arm. “Be very gentle and careful. They must be trimmed beautifully and rounded.”

“What happens if they aren’t rounded?” Pei Yuan asked.

“I don’t know yet,” Bao Ning said softly. “But I’ll make sure you don’t have a good time.”

She closed her eyes to enjoy it. Pei Yuan looked at her and thought her lazy appearance was incredibly cute. Snuggling in his arms like this, life felt sweet and warm again.

A warm night breeze blew through the window. Pei Yuan hummed a nameless tune as he slowly trimmed her nails, while Bao Ning wrapped her free arm around his waist.

When one hand was finished, Bao Ning inspected it and was satisfied, so she handed him the other.

“A-Yuan, actually, I’ve been wondering why the Emperor hasn’t summoned me yet,” Bao Ning said, blowing on her fingers with a worried tone. “It’s been a month since the Lihu villa. Summer is almost over, yet there’s no decree. Is he dissatisfied with me?”

“It has nothing to do with you.” The tune stopped. Pei Yuan paused before adding, “It’s that he still has reservations about me.”

Bao Ning frowned.

Pei Yuan suddenly smiled. “But the Mid-Autumn palace banquet is coming up soon.”

“What about the banquet?” Bao Ning asked.

Pei Yuan acted mysterious and didn’t answer immediately, but his gaze turned deep. Bao Ning saw his expression and understood instantly—he was planning something for this banquet, likely involving Pei Xiao and the old poisoning case.

Her heart skipped a beat. Just as she was about to ask for details, she heard a sharp crack .

They both looked down. The clippers in Pei Yuan’s hand had slipped. Bao Ning’s nail was ruined—the beautiful long nail she had grown was cut off at a hideous angle.

The nails she had nurtured for so long were ruined. Bao Ning’s mind went blank with shock.

Pei Yuan sucked in a breath and quickly covered her eyes. “You saw wrong! It’s not like that! Don’t look yet…”

Bao Ning pulled his hand away and said furiously, “I will not let this go!”

She scrambled off the bed. Pei Yuan tried to catch her, but she was like an eel and slipped right through his grip.

A moment later, she returned holding a mortar filled with crushed balsam petals.

She stared grimly at Pei Yuan’s fingers. His heart jumped; he vaguely understood her intent and tried to summon his manly authority. “Ji Bao Ning, remember, I am your husband! Little pranks are one thing, but don’t go too far! It’s just a nail. It’ll grow back. What are you trying to do?”

Bao Ning didn’t speak. She just pursed her lips and stared at him.

Pei Yuan slowly backed down.

The next day, Pei Yuan was in a terrible mood. When he stepped out with his sword, the cold aura around him was even heavier than usual.

Furthermore, his gait was strange—stiff, as if he were constantly looking down. Nanny Liu noticed that when he stepped over the threshold, he hesitated between his left and right feet for a long time, as if they weren’t his own. His face was full of loathing.

She asked Bao Ning what happened. Bao Ning smiled brightly and said, “A mosquito bit him. It’s nothing, don’t worry, Nanny.”

Pei Yuan ordered two guards to escort Chang Xi to the Ministry of Justice.

Chang Xi was tied up tightly with his feet bound, so he couldn’t walk properly. He had to hop along, and the guards mocking him.

Chang Xi wanted to die of shame! He thought his plan was foolproof, but not only did it fail, his true identity was exposed, and now he was a humiliated prisoner.

He didn’t care if he died, but the Crown Prince’s reputation would inevitably suffer. Thinking of Pei Xiao’s ruthless methods, he was gripped by fear that Pei Xiao would take his anger out on his family.

As they walked, Chang Xi grew exhausted from hopping. Combined with the beating he received before leaving, his body was in pain. Soon, his knees gave out, and he wanted to sit and rest.

The guards refused. Chang Xi argued, and a guard lost his temper, raising a hand to strike him. Just then, a man who looked like a scholar rushed out from the roadside, shouting, “In broad daylight, how can you strike someone? Such binding and private punishment—it’s absolutely heartless! Under the feet of the Son of Heaven, do you treat our Great Zhou laws like dirt? In ancient times, the fox borrowed the tiger’s terror; today, you dogs take advantage of your master’s power! If I don’t stop this, I’ve wasted years reading the words of the Sages!”

Chang Xi looked at this man in surprise. He was a thin, quiet scholar who looked like he’d fall over with a single push, yet he spoke with such righteous indignation. Chang Xi was moved.

“Where did this poor scholar come from?” a guard barked, swinging his club. “Do you know whose prisoner this is? This is from the Manor of the Prince of Jibei! Who are you to meddle?”

“I am not a poor scholar! I am Sun Xingye, a student from the Eastern Camp here for the examinations!” the scholar replied fearlessly. “Regardless of whose prisoner he is or what crime he committed, using private punishment and beating a man in the street is wrong. If he is guilty, hand him to the Capital Prefecture or the Ministry of Justice! It is not your place! Even a prince who breaks the law is equal to a commoner. If you take this man to the Ministry of Justice, your Prince should go too!”

Saying this, he pulled up Chang Xi’s sleeve to reveal the wounds and called out to the passersby: “Everyone, look! This is the Prince of Jibei’s man beating people!”

As the crowd grew and people began to point and whisper, Chang Xi nearly wept with joy. He never expected such a turn of events.

Ever since Wei Meng tied him up, he had only been hanging—never beaten. Who knew that this morning, a group of people would burst in and each give him a blow with a club? Chang Xi had been dazed and resentful. Now, looking at this scholar and the crowd, he thought: Good job beating me!

He joined in the shouting, “So what if he’s a Prince? Can a Prince beat people as he pleases? Today it’s me, tomorrow it’ll be you!”

Hearing this, the people grew even more indignant. Some even stepped forward to shove the guards, demanding the man’s release.

The scholar cried out, “There is no justice! No law! Release him! Otherwise, call your Prince out to be punished as well!”

The guards were stunned. There were only two of them. Though they had weapons, they were no match for a dozen agitated citizens.

They turned cold and prepared to draw their blades to scare the crowd away, but this only enraged the people further. The crowd surged; some even took off their shoes to hurl at the guards’ faces, and a bold one snatched a blade. The scene descended into chaos—a brawl was imminent.

At that moment, Chang Xi felt his wrist being seized. He looked up to see Sun Xingye, the scholar.

“Sir, I recognize you!” Sun Xingye said with fervent eyes. He pulled out a small knife to cut the ropes on Chang Xi’s ankles and pulled him away. “Let’s escape in the chaos!”

Chang Xi glanced back. A real fight had broken out, and the two guards were pinned to the ground.

What is happening? Chang Xi was still confused, but escape was the priority. He followed Sun Xingye in a dream-like state.

Once they reached a safe place and Chang Xi was still catching his breath, Sun Xingye suddenly fell to his knees with tears in his eyes, bowing his head. “Sir, I have a favor to ask. Please allow it!”

Chang Xi hesitated. “Speak.”

Sun Xingye lifted his face. “Since coming to the capital, I have heard of the Crown Prince’s virtuous reputation. I have always admired him and wanted to become one of his followers, but his ranks are full of talent, and I found no way in. Meeting you today… I admire the Crown Prince, and I respect you as I respect him. I immediately thought that I would risk my life to save you!”

Chang Xi was moved. “I didn’t expect that in such a world, there would still be someone with such a pure heart like yours!”

Sun Xingye said tearfully, “I am foolish and my wits cannot compare to others, but my heart is loyal. The sun and moon can witness it.”

“I am already a discarded man,” Chang Xi sighed. “His Highness will not keep me by his side anymore. You needn’t bow to me.”

As Sun Xingye showed a look of grief, Chang Xi added, “But recommending you is still possible. You risked your life for me; I will meet His Highness later and will certainly speak well of you.”

Sun Xingye was overjoyed and bowed again in gratitude.

Not far away, Pei Yuan leaned against a wall, nodded, and said to Wei Meng, “Not bad. The acting was very good. The people you found are excellent. Especially the one who took off his shoe to hit the guard—the anger was very realistic.”

Wei Meng said, “Pei Xiao is too cunning. If we plant someone too smart by his side, he’ll be suspicious. Someone like Sun Xingye is better; it’s easier to gain trust.”

He looked down and asked Pei Yuan, “Young General, what’s wrong with your feet? Why are you so uncomfortable, always curling your toes?”

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