Chapter 45: The Bet

Zhou Jiangcheng was a fierce general. He wasn’t particularly smart, but he was extremely strong, all muscle and sinew—a force no one in the army dared challenge.

Suddenly, seeing a hulking man charging at her, Bao Ning was nearly scared senseless. Only when Zhou Jiangcheng was right in front of her did she react, instinctively dodging backward.

Zhou Jiangcheng staggered and, with his eyes shut, fell onto Liu Momo, who was holding an umbrella beside Bao Ning, clutching her shoulders tightly.

His expression was strange. At first, his face flushed with sweetness and he called her “Lü Yun” a couple of times. Then, as if possessed, he suddenly flew into a rage, clamping his hands around Liu Momo’s neck:

“Lü Yun, was it you who deceived me? Was it you? Did you steal the tiger tally? Tell me it wasn’t you, please!”

Liu Momo screamed in terror. Her umbrella was ripped apart in Zhou Jiangcheng’s grip, leaving only a sharp, exposed rib. Screaming, she jabbed the umbrella bone into Zhou Jiangcheng’s leg.

Startled by the pain, Zhou Jiangcheng opened his eyes and realized he had grabbed the wrong person. Lifting his head sharply, his gaze locked onto Bao Ning not far away.

Bao Ning stood in the rain, unsure what to do, a slender figure in green.

“Lü Yun?” Zhou Jiangcheng panted like a beast, then suddenly lunged at her. He was fast and powerful, tearing one of her sleeves in an instant.

It all happened in the blink of an eye—only a few breaths had passed since he had burst through the door.

The guards at the gate were paralyzed with fear, not daring to move until Qiu Mingshan barked, “What are you waiting for? Hold him down!” Only then did they leap into action, rushing to restrain Zhou Jiangcheng.

Bao Ning, snapping back to her senses, helped the terrified Liu Momo to her feet and rushed inside.

Pei Yuan happened to be coming out of the house and frowned deeply when he saw her disheveled state. “Who did this?”

Bao Ning was soaked, tears in her eyes, the right sleeve of her robe torn to shreds, revealing pale skin. Before she could speak, Liu Momo cried out, “A lunatic! That mad brute outside!”

Pei Yuan’s eyes blazed with fury. He stripped off his cloak and draped it over Bao Ning’s shoulders. With a sharp “clang,” he drew the sword hanging on the wall and turned to head out.

Bao Ning grabbed him tightly. “Pei Yuan, don’t be reckless!”

Outside, Qiu Mingshan had already struck Zhou Jiangcheng unconscious with a single palm. Zhou lay limp in the muddy ground, several guards bearing fresh wounds from his rampage. Half-conscious, Zhou still muttered deliriously, reaching in Bao Ning’s direction and suddenly breaking into a grin—a chilling expression that made Bao Ning shudder.

“You idiot!” Pei Yuan roared, hurling his sword. It zipped past Zhou Jiangcheng’s cheek and buried itself deep in the ground beside him. Blood ran down Zhou’s face, mingling with the rain.

Liu Momo screamed and collapsed to the ground.

Bao Ning, terrified, dragged Pei Yuan back inside.

She wasn’t unfamiliar with the sight of blood, but this was the first time she’d witnessed someone so ruthlessly violent. Her heart raced with fear. If that sword had been just an inch off, it would’ve gone right through Zhou’s neck. The thought made her swallow hard. She was more frightened than when Zhou had charged at her.

Wiping her tears with a trembling hand, her wet clothes clinging coldly to her skin, Bao Ning looked to Pei Yuan for comfort. But when she raised her head, she met only his cold gaze.

His voice was equally cold: “Why did you come here for no reason?”

Bao Ning froze, unable to believe what she’d just heard. “What did you say?”

Pei Yuan frowned. “This is the study—a restricted area. No one enters without permission, especially women. Didn’t you know that?”

It was like a bucket of icy water had been dumped over her head. She stared at his calm face, breath catching, eyes slowly turning red.

Pei Yuan noticed the look on her face. His fists clenched at his sides—tight, then tighter—before he finally let go. With a sigh, he reached up and gently brushed her tears away with his thumb. “Enough. Don’t cry.”

Bao Ning slapped his hand away. “I don’t need your pity, heartless bastard.”

“…Alright, I take back what I said just now.” Realizing he had gone too far, Pei Yuan grabbed her wrist and gently pulled her into his arms. “I was impulsive. I didn’t mean it.”

But Bao Ning didn’t want his embrace. She struggled to get away, but he pressed her to his chest. “Why are you squirming?”

Her shoulders trembled with rage. “Pei Yuan, aren’t you being a bit too overbearing?”

“My fault.” Pei Yuan sighed.

He did feel guilty for not protecting her just now. He cared about her, but he was terrible at expressing emotion. He’d never been a gentle man. Even when he wanted to show his care, the words came out like a soldier reprimanding his men.

Bao Ning shoved him, her hand slapping the bruise he’d received earlier. Pei Yuan hissed in pain.

The pain wasn’t actually that bad, but he exaggerated the sound, hoping to win her concern. Bao Ning noticed—but only scoffed and said nothing.

She turned to leave.

Seeing that tactic fail, Pei Yuan hurried forward and blocked her path. “I’ll take you back.”

“No need.” Bao Ning clutched her robe tighter, voice cool and distant. “Go back to your important military matters. I’m just a woman—I shouldn’t be here anyway.”

A few days had passed and they were arguing again. But this time, Bao Ning was genuinely angry—she wasn’t going to back down.

They stood in a standoff for a while.

Pei Yuan was the first to relent. “It was my fault. I shouldn’t have said what I did.”

Bao Ning sneered. “Oh no, you were right. You’re the man—‘the husband is the wife’s ruler,’ right? Whatever you say, I’ll just listen.”

Pei Yuan placed his palm on her forehead, coaxing her: “Let me take you home. You got soaked—drink some ginger soup or you’ll catch a cold.”

Bao Ning snapped back, “I came here without reason. If I catch a fever, I deserve it.”

Pei Yuan was speechless.

He didn’t know where her sudden defiance came from. Normally, she would have softened by now—especially with him not feeling well today. She’d usually be full of concern.

But not today. She had a fire in her chest.

She felt that if she kept letting things slide, Pei Yuan would never learn. Like when they lived in the Duke’s residence—Tao-shi used to scold the old Duke and say, “Men are shameless. Give them an inch and they’ll take a mile. Only when you put on a stern face do they finally start to respect you.”

Bao Ning had always found that saying unpleasant. But now… maybe there was truth to it.

Pei Yuan still clutched her sleeve, trying to stop her from leaving. Bao Ning turned her face away, ignoring him. Her eyes happened to land on the desk, where two finely carved tiger talisman pieces sat. Together, they would form a complete whole.

She loved these kinds of artifacts and couldn’t help but take a closer look.

Both carvings were intricate. At first glance they looked identical, but upon closer inspection, the expressions and colors of the tigers were subtly different.

Suddenly, Bao Ning recalled Zhou Jiangcheng shouting about a missing tiger tally while grappling with Liu Momo earlier.

It clicked instantly.

Half of the tiger tally was missing. One of the two on the desk had to be fake—they didn’t fit together properly.

Bao Ning’s heart skipped a beat.

Pei Yuan lowered his gaze, carefully observing her expression, and he seemed a little anxious.

He had never encountered a situation like this before. His expression remained serious, but his eyes unconsciously revealed a hint of wanting to please her.

He gently turned Bao Ning’s face toward him and softly touched her cheek. “Alright, don’t be angry anymore. Go back first, I’ll come home earlier tonight to keep you company.”

Bao Ning parted her lips. “You—”

Just then, Qiu Mingshan’s voice came from outside: “Zhou Jiangcheng has been taken away and tied up in the woodshed. I noticed something strange about his expression and suspected he might’ve been drugged, so I’ve sent someone to investigate. As for the tiger tally, the craftsman—”

He spoke while walking in, and just as he stepped past the inner gate, he caught sight of Pei Yuan holding Bao Ning in his arms. Embarrassed, he abruptly stopped talking.

Pei Yuan immediately straightened and subtly pulled some distance between him and Bao Ning.

Bao Ning’s heart sank.

“Oh, Bao Ning, you’re still here,” Qiu Mingshan said, then asked with concern if she had been frightened. Seeing she was in decent spirits, he relaxed and continued, “I just saw your maid leaving and thought you had left too. I didn’t mean to intrude.” He explained himself politely.

“Well, I’ll let you two talk first. I’ll come back later,” Qiu Mingshan said tactfully, giving them space before turning to leave.

Pei Yuan, his expression still cold, placed a hand gently on Bao Ning’s back and urged her forward, “Let me take you back.”

Bao Ning said, “I’d rather not—”

Pei Yuan snapped, “Enough nonsense. This isn’t a place you should be lingering.”

Bao Ning dug her fingernails into her palm. Then, suddenly lifting her head, she said, “I can help you.”

Pei Yuan looked surprised. “What?”

Bao Ning enunciated clearly: “If you’re going to forge the tiger tally, I can help.”

Not only Pei Yuan but also Qiu Mingshan was skeptical. “Bao Ning, can you really do it?”

Bao Ning replied, “At the very least, I can make it look more like the real one than that half on the table.”

Qiu Mingshan still looked doubtful, but with the matter so urgent and only three days left, they had no better option. A desperate situation called for desperate measures.

Clenching his teeth, Qiu Mingshan said, “Bao Ning, if you truly manage this, whatever you want—Uncle will get it for you.”

Bao Ning glanced at Pei Yuan, then smiled at Qiu Mingshan. “General, I don’t want anything. I just want Pei Yuan to agree to three things. What they are, we’ll settle privately afterward.”

Pei Yuan raised his brows at her, and Bao Ning, sensing his gaze, said nothing.

…

The next morning, Bao Ning followed Pei Yuan to a discreet location in the suburbs—a small smithing house equipped for alchemy.

A metalsmith was already waiting. He was the one who had forged the half of the tiger tally Zhou Jiangcheng had brought.

Bao Ning hadn’t spoken to Pei Yuan the entire night. Even upon arriving, she alighted from the carriage by herself, refusing his help.

Pei Yuan rubbed his nose and trailed silently behind her.

At the doorway, Bao Ning suddenly stopped and turned around. “The three promises we spoke of in the study—do they still count?”

Pei Yuan grew solemn. “Of course.”

“First,” Bao Ning said, “I want you to apologize for your attitude yesterday. You’re to write a reflection letter—at least 500 characters—and memorize it. Then recite it to me with full emotion.”

Pei Yuan’s face darkened.

He held back and asked, “And then?”

Bao Ning pursed her lips. “You’ll also wash my feet for a month. During that time, you’ll help me dress, eat, and attend to all daily needs. Whatever I say, you’ll do.”

That demand was still tolerable—at least more so than the repentance letter, but only slightly.

Pei Yuan’s lips tightened. “And the third?”

“I haven’t decided yet,” Bao Ning lowered her eyes. “I’ll tell you when the time comes.”

She ignored him after that, lifted her skirt, and stepped over the threshold into the house.

Pei Yuan followed her in.

The metalsmith, named Meng Fan, had received news late the night before. Upon hearing that a young woman was to take over his task, he felt insulted. He hadn’t slept, just waiting for Bao Ning to arrive.

Bao Ning sat at the table and began discussing the work with him. They didn’t get along—Meng Fan spoke in a hostile, mocking tone.

Several times, he crossed the line, and Pei Yuan, though on Bao Ning’s side, nearly lost his temper. But Bao Ning stopped him.

Toward the end, Meng Fan snorted, “The tiger tally comes in two parts, like a person’s left and right hands. Now that only the left remains, no matter how detailed your mold, it can’t replicate the right. You’ll have to carve it piece by piece. But the remaining half is old, its texture and coloring changed, and it’s full of wear and tear. Even if you had divine skill, you couldn’t make an exact replica. I’ve studied the craft for ten years, and this is the best I could do. You’re just a naive little girl—you’d best go home.”

Pei Yuan looked nervously at Bao Ning. He didn’t want her to be discouraged and leaned in to whisper, “If it doesn’t work out, we’ll leave now. I’ll pretend none of this happened. Don’t feel embarrassed.”

Bao Ning suddenly curved her lips into a smile. “Worry about yourself first.”

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