Chapter 61: The Hairpin

After Pei Yuan left, the room instantly quieted down.

The candle on the table had been dimmed. The little lamb lay quietly under the bed. Ah Huang nestled beside Bao Ning’s neck, breathing softly. The recent heart-stopping events now seemed like a dream.

Bao Ning reached out and pulled open the bed curtains. The cherry-pink gauze curtain allowed light to filter through, falling gently on her eyelids.

She let out a soft sigh, finally calming down. She stopped thinking about what had happened in the plum grove of the Crown Prince’s residence, closed her eyes, and drifted into sleep.

…

Just as Pei Yuan stepped out, he was stopped by Wei Meng. The door hadn’t fully shut yet when Wei Meng leaned sideways to peek inside and quietly asked, “The young madam’s asleep?”

“She’s resting.” Pei Yuan had his sleeves rolled up. He was still in his black fitted outfit. Due to earlier movement, his belt had loosened, and his clothing was a bit wrinkled.

Wei Meng caught a faint scent of a woman on him and, seeing his somewhat disheveled appearance, grinned knowingly and gave a teasing smile.

“I’m in a hurry to cook. What do you want?” Pei Yuan frowned at him. “Speak quickly.”

Wei Meng straightened his expression. “I came to apologize. To you and the young madam. I shouldn’t have underestimated her or said women bring trouble.”

He paused. “If it hadn’t been for the young madam, Gongsun Zhu might have truly escaped, and I would’ve failed my mission. I believe in giving credit where it’s due. I want to thank her in person.”

As he finished speaking, Wei Meng moved toward the room. Pei Yuan gave a cold hiss and yanked him back by the collar.

“You’ve spent too much time in the army—has your brain rotted?” Pei Yuan cursed. “You think a woman’s private quarters are somewhere you can just walk into? You better check if your legs are even worthy of stepping inside. I’m telling you, from now on, without my permission, don’t take a single step into this courtyard! You stink and disturb the peace!”

Wei Meng was stunned speechless by the scolding.

Pei Yuan, remembering Bao Ning was still asleep, lowered his voice. “She was frightened. Don’t mention this again in front of her.”

Wei Meng replied with an “Oh,” and followed Pei Yuan as he walked away. He had planned to say a lot but got completely derailed and now couldn’t remember anything.

He casually suggested, “Next time we get a chance, bring the young madam. Let’s all have a meal together.”

“Are you sick in the head?” Pei Yuan shot him a sharp glance. Talking with this barely literate bandit chief was hopeless, so he kept silent and picked up his pace toward the kitchen.

Wei Meng finally remembered why he had come and stopped him. “I remember now—I came to tell you about Pei Xiao.”

Pei Yuan paused, but didn’t stop walking. Wei Meng continued, “I snuck into Pei Xiao’s study and saw a topographic map on his desk along with a secret letter. The hottest part of summer is coming soon, and as usual, His Majesty is expected to go to the summer palace next month. That map shows the route to the palace—it passes through Lihu, which is nestled against high mountains. It’s easy to defend and hard to attack. I’m suspicious Pei Xiao is planning something big there.”

Wei Meng walked backward, facing Pei Yuan. “I didn’t take the map since I feared arousing his suspicion, but I memorized it. I’ll trace it out for you tonight, and we can discuss it further.”

“I don’t have time tonight,” Pei Yuan said. “Or the next few days. I need to stay with her.”

“You’re lovestruck again, Little General!” Wei Meng tugged his sleeve. “How can you accomplish great things like this?”

“I don’t know how to accomplish great things,” Pei Yuan said, eyes narrowing. “All I know is that without her tonight, you’d be nothing but a fart. I’ve told you again and again—post guards and ensure her safety. Look at what you did—let her end up in the plum grove. If she hadn’t been quick-witted and unharmed, I’d have skinned you alive!”

Wei Meng was at a loss for words. “How was I supposed to know Gongsun Zhu was hiding there—and that the young madam would go there too…”

Pei Yuan brushed him off and strode away. “Just don’t bother me for the next few days!”

In the kitchen, dumplings were already prepared and sitting on the shelf. Pei Yuan had been learning to cook recently. Though his skills weren’t great, steaming dumplings was easy enough.

Late at night, no one else was around. Pei Yuan got to work himself—lighting the fire, boiling water, placing the dumplings into the steamer. While waiting, he smashed some cucumbers, steamed an egg custard, and prepared garlic sauce.

Wei Meng stood at the doorway, dumbfounded, muttering that Pei Yuan had completely changed—like a good wife and loving mother in just six months.

Pei Yuan ignored him and stayed busy. When the dumplings were ready, he tossed Wei Meng two to shut him up and sent him off. Then he hurried back to the courtyard with the food box.

…

Bao Ning was sleeping soundly. Ah Huang nestled in her arms, eyes wide open, too nervous to move.

When it saw Pei Yuan approach, it let out a low growl from its throat—likely uncomfortable after being restrained too long.

Pei Yuan gestured for it to be quiet. Ah Huang settled down.

He placed the food box on the nearby table, sat beside Bao Ning, gently brushed her eyebrows, and said softly, “Wake up, you lazy piglet. Come eat something.”

Bao Ning murmured and stirred. Pei Yuan gave her cheek a couple of pats, giving her time to wake, then lifted the blanket and gently pulled her out, setting her on his lap.

“Did you eat anything during the banquet?”

Still half-asleep, she replied with her eyes closed, “No, the food hadn’t been served yet when I left.”

“I’ve steamed dumplings for you,” Pei Yuan said, kissing her eyelid. “Shall I feed you?”

What happened today wasn’t supposed to involve Bao Ning. Witnessing such cruelty—even if she wasn’t physically harmed—would inevitably leave a mental scar. Pei Yuan felt guilty and blamed himself for failing to protect her.

Perhaps because of that, along with his affection and pride in her bravery, he was especially gentle and indulgent tonight. Bao Ning had never seen him like this—so careful, like he was coaxing a child.

Ah Huang climbed onto the lamb again. The lamb had grown fast. The two of them stacked together, stretching their heads to sniff the dumplings in the food box.

Pei Yuan waved them away.

Bao Ning said, “Your clothes smell weird—not pleasant.”

Pei Yuan sniffed himself but didn’t notice anything. Then, seeing her expression, he understood—she meant the scent of blood.

Though he hadn’t been directly stained with blood today, the faint scent lingered. He was used to such things and hadn’t noticed, but Bao Ning was especially sensitive to it.

He took off his clothes with one hand and tossed them aside, revealing his bare, strong chest.

“How about now?”

Bao Ning immediately nestled into his arms and whispered, “Now it’s fine.”

This was the first time she had ever taken the initiative to throw herself into his embrace. Pei Yuan laughed and pinched her nose. “Good girl. You’ve improved.”

Bao Ning chuckled softly. Her eyes remained shut, and her arms looped around Pei Yuan’s neck. Normally, such closeness would’ve made her flustered and awkward. But tonight was different—his scent made her feel completely at ease.

Pei Yuan held her securely around the waist with one hand to keep her from falling and used the other to bring over the food box. As he lifted the lid, a delicious aroma wafted out.

Bao Ning opened her eyes and was surprised to see that Pei Yuan had also made egg custard—bright yellow with a sprinkle of fresh green scallions on top.

Pei Yuan took out a small bowl and scooped up a spoonful, offering it to her with a proud lift of his chin. “Tasty?”

Bao Ning nodded. “Delicious.”

“Mhm.” Pei Yuan curved his lips into a smile. “Didn’t I say I had some talent? You’re the one always discouraging me. But look—now my talent’s finally showing, right? Give me another half a year or so, and I’ll be even better than those grand masters in the Imperial Kitchen. Then you’ll get to eat gourmet food every day at home.”

Bao Ning played along, sitting on Pei Yuan’s thigh, her legs swinging freely. Ah Huang jumped down from the lamb’s back and started nibbling at her toes. Its bites were gentle and ticklish rather than painful. After playing with it for a bit, Bao Ning rested her foot on Ah Huang’s back to feel its soft fur.

“Don’t play while you’re eating,” Pei Yuan scolded gently. He scooped up a dumpling, cut it in half with the spoon, revealing the steaming, fragrant filling inside. After dipping it in vinegar and minced garlic, he brought it to Bao Ning’s lips.

Bao Ning tilted her head away. “It’s too big. I don’t want it.”

“The big ones have more meat. More meat means more flavor,” Pei Yuan coaxed her. He spoke like a storyteller, extending the spoon an arm’s length away and narrating, “Look, my spoon is a carriage. It’s coming from the other side, carrying supplies and provisions. It’s about to reach the gates now.”

He brought the spoon back to her lips. “General, please open the city gates!”

Bao Ning burst out laughing. Seeing her crescent-moon eyes crinkle with joy, Pei Yuan finally relaxed. “Good, you’re really hard to cheer up. Took me forever to get you to smile like that.”

Bao Ning huffed and slid off his lap, settling by the edge of the bed. “I’ll feed myself.”

Pei Yuan watched her with a smile. There were twelve dumplings in the bowl—Bao Ning ate six, gave two to Ah Huang, and the rest went into Pei Yuan’s mouth.

Feeling full and more awake, Bao Ning got up to take a bath.

Pei Yuan had already prepared the water and clean clothes. He followed her behind the screen, joking that he wanted to bathe with her. Bao Ning was so embarrassed her neck turned red, and Pei Yuan finally relented and returned to the room.

Behind the screen, the sound of splashing water echoed. Ah Huang, ever clingy, followed Bao Ning even to the bath and sat nearby, watching. A-Mian was more composed—either lying at the foot of the bed eating or sleeping. When it needed to relieve itself, it would push the door open with its rear. It was smart enough to lift the latch and open the door on its own.

Pei Yuan kicked off his boots and lay sprawled on the bed, legs apart, arms behind his head.

He was in a great mood. Today had been a good day. Both his mission and his relationship with Bao Ning had gone well. Especially when he thought about the moment she instinctively leaned close to him, his smile grew even wider.

A-Mian, after eating some grass earlier, had gotten up to relieve itself. As it stood, it bumped into the cabinet by the bed, knocking something down with a clack.

Pei Yuan sat up. The item that had fallen was a hairpin.

He didn’t think much of it and bent down to pick it up. Just as he was about to put it back on the table, he felt a small crack along the middle of the hairpin.

Frowning, he brought it closer for a better look—and realized it could be taken apart. He gripped both ends and pulled. The hairpin split open. Inside was a hollow compartment containing a tiny slip of paper.

Pei Yuan’s heart skipped a beat. He glanced toward the screen. Bao Ning was still unaware, the sound of water continuing behind it.

Pei Yuan rolled the note between his fingers, hesitated, then decided to read it.

The moment he saw the handwriting, the last hint of a smile vanished from his face.

“I send you this box—do you like it?

It’s been so long since we’ve met, my longing for you grows stronger.

Two days from now, meet me at the southern corner gate of the General’s Manor.”

Signed: Meng Fan.

Pei Yuan’s eyes turned cold, his gaze fixed on the hairpin. His fist clenched tightly. He wanted nothing more than to smash it right then and there.

The sound of water stopped behind the screen. Bao Ning was drying off and getting dressed.

Pei Yuan shut his eyes, let out a slow breath to calm himself, and with effort, stifled his rage. He put the note back inside the hairpin, reassembled it, and returned it to where it had fallen.

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