Chapter 126: Stinky Tofu

Pei Yuan subconsciously lowered his head to look.

Last night, he had been forced to dye his toenails; that patch of orange-red was so piercing it made his eyes ache. Though they were hidden now that he was wearing shoes, he still felt uneasy. It was as if that balsam flower had been dyed onto his heart—he wanted to ignore it, but he simply couldn’t forget. Even while attending to official business, his mind kept drifting back to those ten toes, and he constantly felt the urge to scratch them.

“It’s nothing,” Pei Yuan said indifferently. “Just an itchy mosquito bite.”

Having said that, he walked away with his hands behind his back, trying his best to keep his stride natural.

Wei Meng stared at his retreating figure and couldn’t help but whisper, “All fidgety and bashful… acts just like a young lady hitting the streets.”

Hearing this, Pei Yuan paused mid-step. He turned back with a glaring gaze and snapped, “What did you say?”

Wei Meng shut his mouth immediately, offered a slight smile, and asked, “Is the Little General returning to the barracks or the manor?”

Pei Yuan glared at him for a long while before letting out a huff from his nose and sweeping away with a flick of his sleeves.

Chang Xi returned to the manor through the side gate, avoiding eyes along the way until he reached the door of Pei Xiao’s study.

Pei Xiao had just come out of Gao Feihe’s room. Instead of entering the study to handle government affairs, he stood at the threshold, eyes downcast as he toyed with a blooming Chinese rose. Not daring to disturb him, Chang Xi waited nearby. Observing Pei Xiao’s expression, he could tell at a glance that the Prince was in a foul mood and secretly guessed the reason.

The Crown Prince and his consort were famous for being a loving and harmonious couple; they almost never quarreled. Even last time, when the Consort had plotted to kill Yuanzi and Pei Xiao was furious, the two hadn’t openly broken their facade.

Compared to a grand blowout, this kind of superficial harmony—this strained effort to maintain a mask of mutual respect while being at odds internally—seemed even more exhausting.

Every three days, Pei Xiao would spend the night in Gao Feihe’s courtyard without fail. Chang Xi deeply admired this clockwork regularity, yet also felt that Pei Xiao didn’t seem like a human being at all. Back when the assassination attempt at Yandang Mountain failed, Pei Xiao had stabbed himself in the stomach to clear himself of suspicion; the wound hadn’t healed for half a month. Even then, he still went to Gao Feihe’s room. If he couldn’t do anything else, he would simply stay to talk with her.

Chang Xi thought to himself that there was a reason Grand Preceptor Gao favored this son-in-law so much and did his best to support and cultivate him.

It was because Pei Xiao was gentle, polite, knew when to advance or retreat, and treated others with apparent sincerity. Besides being skilled in both the pen and the sword, he was sufficiently decisive—a prime candidate to ascend the throne.

Only Chang Xi knew what kind of heart was hidden beneath Pei Xiao’s warm-as-jade exterior: a twisted, sinister one, along with a loathsome penchant for loving another man’s wife…

Pei Xiao tore off a petal, rubbing and kneading it slowly until it was crushed. He flicked the fragments away with two fingers, tilted his head to glance at Chang Xi, and asked warmly, “The task I entrusted to you—how did it fail?”

Chang Xi immediately knelt to beg for forgiveness.

Pei Xiao pushed open the door and walked into the room. “Come in and speak.”

Chang Xi stood up and followed. Once inside the back of the room, he knelt again and recounted everything that had happened that night and this morning in full detail.

Pei Xiao listened quietly, the teacup held at his lips, yet he never took a sip.

When Chang Xi finished, he kowtowed and said, “This servant handled the matter poorly and ruined Your Highness’s great plan. I beg Your Highness for punishment!”

Pei Xiao had felt a headache coming on after leaving Gao Feihe’s room; after hearing Chang Xi’s report, it throbbed even harder.

He set down the teacup and pinched his forehead with two fingers. After closing his eyes for a long moment, he asked softly, “Tell me, do you think there is someone in this world who would treat you like that—sincere, open, and completely without guard?”

Chang Xi stuttered, not daring to speak. Pei Xiao opened his eyes to look at him and suddenly said, “Oh, I forgot. You are a eunuch; eunuchs can’t marry. I’ve just poked at your sore spot, you won’t blame me, right?”

Chang Xi said hurriedly, “This servant wouldn’t dare, wouldn’t dare.”

Pei Xiao said slowly, “Regarding this matter, although you failed, strictly speaking, you weren’t at fault. I am not a cruel or evil person; I won’t kill you. However, you can no longer stay in this manor. You won’t blame me, right?”

Chang Xi said, “I wouldn’t dare, wouldn’t dare.”

Pei Xiao nodded. Remembering something, he asked again, “That Sun Xingye—what is his background? Did you ask?”

Chang Xi replied, “He is a scholar from the Eastern Camp who came for the exams. Through casual conversation, I learned he has no parents. He sold his property to afford the travel expenses and is now all alone. I saw that although he is physically weak, his heart is brave; he possesses a spirit of loyalty and courage. He could serve as a death soldier.”

Chang Xi didn’t believe Pei Xiao was a wise master, but since Sun Xingye admired Pei Xiao and had saved his life, Chang Xi was willing to fulfill the man’s wish by recommending him.

Pei Xiao stood up and said, “I’ll go meet him.”

“You don’t need to go.” He looked at the struggling Chang Xi and smiled. “Oh, there is one thing I forgot to inform you. You should know that I am a cautious person. You know so many of my secrets; I am not at ease.”

Chang Xi was startled and was about to argue his loyalty, but Pei Xiao interrupted him and continued, “I won’t take your life. But, you must make me feel at ease.”

Looking at his eyes, Chang Xi’s heart skipped a beat. Pei Xiao continued to smile warmly, reaching out to tap Chang Xi’s lips. “I worry about this mouth of yours. I’m afraid you’ll talk too much, so let’s strike you mute.”

He then grabbed Chang Xi’s wrist. “And these hands; they can write. I’m afraid you’ll write things you shouldn’t, so let’s just chop them off.”

Chang Xi had already collapsed to the floor, shaking like a sieve, unable to even speak. Pei Xiao’s gaze then landed on his feet, and he asked suspiciously, “I heard that even if someone has no hands, they can use their feet to write? I’m truly afraid you might develop such a skill. Let’s just chop those off too.”

After saying this, a genial smile spread across his handsome face. “You won’t blame me, right?”

The following day, Pei Yuan received a large crate sent by Pei Xiao. Upon opening it, he found Chang Xi, who had been turned into little more than a “human swine.”

Pei Xiao had already taken Sun Xingye as a retainer. He sent him to deliver a message saying that he had been unaware of Chang Xi’s actions. According to him, after Chang Xi escaped back to the manor, he hid the truth and was trying to flee with stolen money when he was caught. He was punished severely and sent back to the Prince of Jibei’s estate as an apology.

Even Wei Meng was shocked by such a bloody and cruel scene. It took him a long while to recover before he said to Pei Yuan, “That fellow Pei Xiao—his heart is becoming increasingly venomous and terrifying!”

Pei Yuan had someone give Chang Xi a swift end.

Living in such agony was worse than death. Sending him on his way was, in fact, doing him a kindness.

With one month left until the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, Pei Yuan gradually became busier.

Bao Ning received the invitation from the Ministry of Rites half a month in advance, inviting her to attend the feast.

In the seventh lunar month, the weather was finally cooling down. Picking an auspicious day, Bao Ning and Pei Yuan returned to the Duke of Rong’s estate together.

Pei Yuan was truly busy to the limit. Even in the jolting carriage, he took the time to read letters.

Bao Ning glanced over; the signature was Gao Dacheng.

Gao Dacheng was Sun Xingye. His real name was indeed Sun Xingye, but he had to change it when writing letters to avoid suspicion.

The carriage was large and spacious, carpeted with soft goose-feather rugs. Bao Ning knelt behind Pei Yuan to massage his shoulders. When she got tired, she rested her head against the crook of his shoulder and asked, “What does it say?”

Pei Yuan said, “Sun Xingye says he has gained Pei Xiao’s trust and presented the formula for the ‘Small Fragrance Pill.’ Pei Xiao had the imperial physicians examine it; after confirming it was real, he trusted him even more and gave the formula to Gao Feihe. Sun Xingye knows a bit of medicine, so Pei Xiao tasked him with making the pills. He now frequently accompanies Gao Feihe and acts as one of the eyes Pei Xiao uses to monitor her.”

Bao Ning asked, “Are you finished reading?”

“Yes.” Pei Yuan tossed the letter into the ice basin in the carriage. The black ink dissolved upon touching the water, turning into a crumpled blur.

He reached behind him to pull Bao Ning out, leaned back comfortably against the chair, and pulled her onto his lap. Hooking her chin, he asked, “What, did you miss me?”

Bao Ning said, “I didn’t.”

Pei Yuan narrowed his eyes. He stopped thinking about other matters and focused entirely on her. Using his thumb to push her nose upward, he laughed, “You look like a little pig.”

Bao Ning, hurt by the pinch, defiantly tried to push his nose up too. Pei Yuan grabbed her wrists, leaned down to bite her lower lip, and whispered, “The little pig didn’t miss me? Then why so clingy, insisting on burrowing behind my back?”

“You leave early and return late every day. How long has it been since we’ve had a proper conversation? We finally have a moment alone during the day, and you spend it reading letters,” Bao Ning grumbled softly. “If you keep this up, you’ll be dim-sighted when you’re old, maybe even blind. Stop reading.”

“It’s only busy for this period; things will get better later.” Pei Yuan kissed her eyes again.

Bao Ning laughed and dodged. “Don’t touch. I’ve applied rouge to my eyelids and sprinkled on a bit of silver powder. Careful you don’t get an upset stomach from eating it.”

Pei Yuan pulled back a bit, and only then did he see that she had indeed dressed up specially.

Bao Ning asked, “Does it look good?”

“…” He couldn’t say no, but didn’t want to lie, so he asked, “How much silver does it cost to put on makeup like this?”

“…” Bao Ning thought to herself that asking him was truly pointless; he understood nothing.

After a brief silence, Pei Yuan felt the awkwardness. It was just one white lie—he might as well say it. He cupped Bao Ning’s face and praised, “You are as beautiful as Chang’e.”

Bao Ning asked, “Have you ever seen Chang’e?”

Pei Yuan fell silent again.

Bao Ning secretly pinched his thigh. Seeing him wince in pain, she felt much better.

She rested her face against Pei Yuan’s shoulder, listening to his heartbeat. Remembering something, she sat up and asked, “General Wei has been taking those Fragrance Pills for over half a month now. How are the results? Come to think of it, I haven’t seen him for a few days.”

Mentioning this, Pei Yuan broke into a smile. “It was extremely effective. After only ten pills, I thought his skin looked much finer, and there was a faint fragrance on him. He couldn’t smell it himself, but the other brothers in the barracks were laughing at him behind his back, though they didn’t dare say it to his face. Later, Chen Jia told him. Wei Meng was overjoyed and immediately decided to go to Qingluo Pavilion again…”

Bao Ning clapped her hands. “Then it worked! Surely a lady must have taken a fancy to him this time!”

Pei Yuan shook his head. “The ladies thought he had a change of heart. They surrounded him and mocked him, saying he must have gone to another brothel to mess around—otherwise, why would he have such a heavy scent of women on him? Especially the few who were close to him before; they were convinced he was a heartbreaker. They cried until their eyes were misty. Wei Meng’s explanations were useless. In his anger, he drank too much, missed a step on the stairs, and fell down.”

“I didn’t expect that.” Bao Ning covered her mouth in surprise. “How badly was General Wei injured?”

“The injury was fine, just a scrape.” Pei Yuan’s smile grew wider. “But when he returned to the barracks, he happened to run into a few soldiers mocking him, saying he was a ‘butterfly-chaser’ and ‘girly.’ In a fit of rage, Wei Meng punished the gossiping soldiers. When he got back, he threw away the rest of the pills and tried everything to get rid of that scent.”

Bao Ning asked, “What method did General Wei come up with?”

“Fighting poison with poison. Since the fragrance was too strong, he used a stench to cure it. He had his subordinates buy the smelliest stinky tofu in the capital and ate it for three days straight.” Pei Yuan looked at Bao Ning. “Who would have thought the tofu they bought was truly too foul? He ended up with diarrhea for three days—vomiting and purging. He could only lie in bed. He only managed to get up today, letting me take a day off to accompany you home.”

“General Wei is too pitiful.” Bao Ning sighed, then glanced at Pei Yuan. “Why do you look so happy?”

“Do I?” Pei Yuan turned serious. “It’s because I see his illness has taken a turn for the better, so I am happy for him.”

Bao Ning didn’t believe him. But the carriage had already stopped, and Chen Jia knocked from outside saying they had arrived. Pei Yuan got off first, Chen Jia brought the small stool, and Bao Ning slowly followed.

The Duke of Rong was there with the whole family, having waited for a long time.

In the crowd, Bao Ning saw a familiar face—one she never, ever expected to see here.

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