Chapter 56: Jealousy

Madam Liu went to prepare breakfast, and Bao Ning led Qiu Lingyan into the room.

Pei Yuan stayed in the courtyard for a while playing with Ah Huang. When Madam Liu returned with the food box, he took a portion and went elsewhere to eat, not entering the room.

“Yanzi, what’s going on with you today? You seem distracted.” Bao Ning picked up some cucumber with her chopsticks and placed it on Qiu Lingyan’s plate. “Is something on your mind?”

Qiu Lingyan forced a smile and looked out the window. “Is the Fourth Prince not eating with us?”

“That’s just his habit. He doesn’t like to share a table with others.” Bao Ning comforted her. “It’s nothing to do with you, don’t take it personally.”

Qiu Lingyan smiled in response. But she couldn’t stop thinking about what her older sister instructed her before she left the house. Her nerves were stretched tight. When she saw Bao Ning’s smiling face, all she felt was guilt, and she absentmindedly ate, one grain of rice at a time.

Back when they saw Pei Yuan and Bao Ning in the rain, Qiu Lingjun had taken an interest. She had told Qiu Lingyan to report everything she found out. But Qiu Lingyan had never even met Pei Yuan. She recounted everything she knew, but it didn’t satisfy her sister. Now that Pei Yuan was home, her sister had sent her to gather more information.

And there was a more important task—she was told to steal something Pei Yuan carried on him, preferably something obvious like a waist pendant.

Qiu Lingyan didn’t know what her sister planned to do with it, but she had a bad feeling. Still, she couldn’t disobey. She remembered how her sister had glared at her, accusing her word for word of all the sacrifices she had made to keep this jinx of a sister alive. It made Qiu Lingyan want to cry.

Bao Ning called her, “Yanzi, what’s wrong?”

“I’m fine, Sister.” Qiu Lingyan raised her head and replied in a voice as soft as a mosquito.

Bao Ning looked at her with concern. Thinking of Qiu Lingyan’s sensitivity and low self-esteem, she assumed that perhaps Pei Yuan’s aloofness had hurt her feelings. After all, she was just a child, not even ten years old.

Bao Ning asked Ah Huang to fetch Pei Yuan back.

Seeing that Qiu Lingyan had lost her appetite, Bao Ning asked Madam Liu to clear the dishes and sat chatting with her instead.

Bao Ning thought of her newly remade bracelet and asked, “Is your sister still angry at you?”

She motioned toward her wrist. “About the bracelet.”

When Bao Ning mentioned her sister, Qiu Lingyan stiffened like someone had pressed an acupuncture point. “N-no, she’s not angry anymore.”

“That’s good.” Bao Ning smiled. “I heard your sixth sister has been betrothed to the Second Prince, is that true? When’s the wedding? Once it’s done, we’ll be sisters-in-law.”

“I’m not sure…” Qiu Lingyan shook her head. “The betrothal gifts haven’t been sent yet.”

She swallowed and said tentatively, “Sister, did you know? The Second Prince, Pei Shu… he has a bit of a problem—” Qiu Lingyan tapped her forehead, “—here.”

Bao Ning’s smile instantly vanished. “Who told you to say such things? Speaking the prince’s name directly is already disrespectful, and you say that?” She lowered her voice. “Yanzi, don’t ever say things like that again. If the wrong person hears it, it could bring trouble to your family.”

Qiu Lingyan’s eyes began to redden.

Bao Ning realized she had been too harsh and sighed. She brought over a box of candied dates and smiled. “Have something sweet, it’ll calm your nerves.”

By the time Pei Yuan returned, the atmosphere in the room was more relaxed. After eating, he got restless and wandered around the residence to digest his food. Ah Huang was out of breath from trying to follow him. Qiu Lingyan stood up and respectfully greeted him, then sat back down. As if summoning all her courage, she asked, “Fourth Prince, do you remember my sixth sister? Her name is Qiu Lingjun.”

Bao Ning gave her a strange look, unsure why she would ask such a question.

But since Qiu Lingjun was about to marry the Second Prince, and Qiu Lingyan was just a child, Bao Ning didn’t think much of it. She looked at Pei Yuan, waiting for a response.

“I don’t know her,” Pei Yuan replied coolly and walked into the inner room with his hands behind his back.

He had only come back because Bao Ning insisted. He had no interest in entertaining children. Having shown his face, he was ready to lie back down.

Qiu Lingyan felt even worse. She was embarrassed and felt guilty toward Bao Ning. After a moment’s hesitation, she stood to take her leave. Just then, Madam Liu came in holding a box, interrupting her.

“Madam, this was delivered to the residence as an apology gift,” said Madam Liu, placing the box on the table. “From someone named Meng Fan.”

Bao Ning took it in surprise. It was a beautifully crafted box made of nanmu wood, about the size of two palms. She was about to open the clasp when Pei Yuan came out of the inner room with a cold face.

He had heard the name and didn’t look pleased. He repeated it, “Meng Fan?”

Meng Fan was the young shopkeeper of Lian Hengxuan, the one who worked on casting the tiger tally.

Bao Ning remembered him and nodded. “Maybe he felt he offended me last time and sent a gift to apologize.” She smiled. “That’s quite thoughtful of him.”

She made to open the box.

Pei Yuan snorted and snatched it from her. “What’s so special about it? Just some worthless trinket.”

He turned and walked off, shaking the box so that the contents rattled noisily, like he was venting his frustration.

Bao Ning winced, annoyed at his overreaction. She wanted to argue but held back since there was a guest present.

Qiu Lingyan watched the scene uncomfortably.

“It’s okay,” Bao Ning patted her back. “Don’t be scared.”

“Sister, I’ll be going now,” Qiu Lingyan said with an awkward smile. “I’ll come play with you again in a few days.”

Bao Ning saw her out, said a few comforting words, and intended to walk her to the courtyard gate. But as they reached the door, they heard a noise from inside. Pei Yuan was making a fuss again, tossing the box into a corner like it was something filthy. Bao Ning’s anger flared.

“Sister, no need to see me out. I know the way. Go do what you need to,” Qiu Lingyan said.

Bao Ning hesitated. “Alright then, take care. Come whenever you want.”

Qiu Lingyan agreed, and Bao Ning waved her off before returning inside. She was fuming and didn’t look back—unaware that Qiu Lingyan had sneaked back, quietly taking a jade toggle from the table. It belonged to Pei Yuan, the cord worn from use. Bao Ning had planned to replace it and had left it half-finished on the table.

Qiu Lingyan looked apologetically at Bao Ning’s retreating figure before hurrying off.

…

The box Meng Fan had sent lay abandoned in the corner. Pei Yuan lay on the bed, turning away when he heard Bao Ning come in.

Bao Ning picked up the box and opened it. Inside was a set of exquisite hair accessories. It was clearly a thoughtful gift, very fashionable, adorned with luxurious red coral—absolutely beautiful.

Pei Yuan sat up, reaching to snatch it. “Throw it out!”

“Why?” Bao Ning looked at him coolly and put the box away. “He gave it to me. Why should I throw it away just because you say so?”

“It’s just a set of jewelry. If you like it, I’ll buy you a hundred sets,” Pei Yuan said, lips pressed tightly. “You’re not allowed to accept gifts from other men.”

He emphasized “other men” with deliberate weight.

Bao Ning got angry and hurled the box at him, hitting his shoulder. It rolled to the edge of the bed. “Why do you have to be so awful when you speak?”

Pei Yuan said nothing and silently picked the box back up.

He went to the small cabinet by the bed, pulled out a new lock, and with a click, locked it tight—then immediately threw the key under the bed.

The whole series of actions was smooth and quick. After finishing, Pei Yuan looked rather pleased with himself. “Let’s see how you wear it now.”

“So childish!” Bao Ning couldn’t even get angry. It was like punching a cotton pillow—no resistance, no force.

She decided not to argue with him anymore. Instead, she dragged out her own little box and sat on a folding stool, fiddling with it.

While rummaging through the odds and ends inside, Bao Ning couldn’t help but wonder: How do Pei Yuan’s subordinates tolerate him? What kind of person is this?!

Ah Huang and Ah Mian (the little sheep) couldn’t understand what had happened. A moment ago, the room had been full of tension as if a fight were about to break out, and now everything seemed peaceful again. But peace was good. The two little ones bumped heads affectionately, then trotted off into the courtyard to play.

The little lamb wasn’t very tall yet, just a bit above Bao Ning’s knee, so it could still play with Ah Huang.

Ah Huang ran while hopping, trying to bump its rear into the lamb’s. Then, with a final leap, it jumped onto the lamb’s back and bit down on its wool, refusing to let go.

Pei Yuan watched them play and laughed heartily, slapping the bed in amusement.

Bao Ning glanced at him. She felt like Pei Yuan smiled a lot more now than he used to. His skin had gotten thicker, too. He had gone from being the annoying Pei Yuan to being the even more annoying—but slightly cute—Pei Yuan.

Though cute was really just a tiny bit.

Bao Ning took out a little wooden horse she had made and placed it on the ground.

The horse was carved from wood—slim-legged, head held high, sculpted after Saifeng’s likeness. Bao Ning suddenly realized she hadn’t gone to see Saifeng in a long time.

The little horse’s tail could move. Inside its belly were tightly wound metal springs and gears, like the winch of a well. Twisting the tail a few times, she could hear the metal tightening with a creak creak. Once it couldn’t be wound anymore, she let go—and the little horse began to wobble forward, its tail spinning in circles like a tiny windmill.

Bao Ning stared at it. She had tried many times before—this was the first time it had worked. But there were still flaws.

The toy horse walked stiffly—that was forgivable. But the spinning tail looked too strange. If a child saw it, they probably wouldn’t laugh—they’d cry instead.

Pei Yuan, now curious, came over and asked, “What’s this?”

“My little craft project.” Bao Ning held the toy horse in her hand, thinking about what else could be improved.

Pei Yuan suddenly remembered something Bao Ning had mentioned in the morning—that she had something to tell him. His interest piqued, he asked, “Didn’t you say you had something to tell me?”

“Did I?” Bao Ning kept her eyes down, fiddling with the toy. After a while, she remembered and looked up with a smile. “Oh right, I did.”

Pei Yuan sat beside her. “So? Tell me.”

“I like children,” Bao Ning propped her chin on her palm. “And I like toys.”

“In a couple of years,” Pei Yuan said, thinking he understood, “You’re still too young right now—having children would be dangerous. But in a few years, we’ll have one.”

“What are you talking about?” Bao Ning blushed at the mention of children. “I meant I want to make toys to sell to kids. Things like kites, lanterns, clay figures—those are so boring. Look at this little horse, isn’t it much more fun?”

She looked forward with hope: “I want to open a little shop. Every day I’ll work on toys like this—moving horses, donkeys… I want to have the biggest toy store in the entire Zhou Dynasty!”

Pei Yuan’s face darkened. “That’s what you wanted to tell me?”

…

Qiu Lingjun sat by the table, rubbing the jade toggle in her hand, her expression stormy. “He really doesn’t remember me?”

Qiu Lingyan kept her head down and nodded.

“But we used to play together as kids. It’s only been a few years. How can he just forget like that…” Qiu Lingjun muttered, dazed for a moment. “Forget it.”

She gently patted Qiu Lingyan’s face and smiled. “Yanzi, you did very well today. Your sister will remember your kindness.”

Qiu Lingyan couldn’t bring herself to be happy. She still kept her head lowered, fingers nervously twisting.

Qiu Lingjun asked, “The one who brought the box today—his name was Meng Fan, right?”

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