Chapter 87: Taste

By the time they finally had a moment to pull back the bed curtains, the candle on the table had already burned down halfway. The room was warm and cozy, filled with a lingering scent that invited certain imaginings.

Pei Yuan’s voice was low and hoarse. With a chuckle, he asked, “Does it taste good?”

Bao Ning pushed him away forcefully. Covering her mouth, she jumped off the bed barefoot and spat into a small basin. She turned back, her face flushed with bashfulness. “Don’t ever get it in my mouth again!”

“It was my fault.” Pei Yuan sat up. Completely unclothed and utterly unashamed, he leaned back on his hands against the edge of the bed, laughing softly. “I just couldn’t help myself.”

He was covered in a light sweat; his pale wheat-colored muscles shimmered with a thin sheen, looking taut and powerful. It was one thing to be bare-chested, but he wasn’t wearing anything below, either! Bao Ning couldn’t help but recall what had just happened and didn’t dare look at him again. Having finished spitting, she still felt a strange taste in her mouth and went to the table to grab some tea to rinse.

“You aren’t wearing shoes; what if you catch a small illness later?” Pei Yuan stood up, walked over to her side, and nudged her back toward the bed. “Go sit down. I’ll take care of it for you.”

Bao Ning covered her eyes. “Can you please put on some pants!”

In high spirits, Pei Yuan leisurely poured half a cup of tea and held it to Bao Ning’s lips. He teased, “You’ve already held it in your mouth—why are you still afraid to look?”

Bao Ning was filled with shame and indignation. Not knowing how to refute his logic, she turned her face away, ignored him, and gulped down the tea. Pei Yuan brought the basin over to catch the water as she rinsed. Seeing how much she despised the taste—rinsing several times over—he crouched on the floor and laughed.

Bao Ning kicked his shoulder with her foot. “What are you laughing at?”

“Bao’er, that’s good stuff.” Pei Yuan wiped the water droplets from the corner of her mouth with the back of his hand. “Let’s negotiate—don’t spit it out next time. It’s a waste.”

“I won’t! I’m never helping you with that again!” Bao Ning pulled the quilt tight, wrapping herself up like a cocoon, and looked at Pei Yuan warily. “I was tricked by you this time. Don’t push your luck!”

Her hair was disheveled and her cheeks were still flushed. As Pei Yuan watched her small mouth open and close, he began to miss the wonderful sensation from earlier. She was inexperienced yet adorable, her movements clumsy and her gaze shy—but that very shyness only served to ignite his desire further.

“You little ungrateful wolf.” Pei Yuan’s eyes darkened. “Didn’t I make you feel good?”

He intentionally used the finger that had just been up to no good to poke her cheek. “I wanted to serve you like that too, but you were too shy and unwilling. You wasted my perfectly good tongue. Nectar and jade dew—who wouldn’t like it? I wanted yours, but you were stingy. I generously gave mine to you, yet you won’t drink it. If that’s not being an ungrateful wolf, what is?”

Bao Ning gave a small shriek, grabbed a soft pillow, and pelted him with it. “How can you still talk about it!”

Pei Yuan caught her hand, kissed the back of it, and laughed loudly.

The gloom and depression he had felt earlier had vanished completely. Looking at Bao Ning now, he found her endearing in every way; he wished he could swallow her into his stomach so they would never be apart.

He did not fear the likes of Pei Xiao, but when it involved Bao Ning, he couldn’t help but overthink.

Pei Yuan felt he might actually have a bit of a problem. More than once, he had thought about how wonderful it would be if Bao Ning could stay in this room forever and go nowhere else. He would forge a chain out of the world’s treasures, lock it around her slender white ankle, and tether it to the head of the bed. He would bring her everything she liked, cherish her, and dote on her—so long as she saw no one else and did nothing else. Like a bird in a cage, her eyes and heart would belong only to him.

If his love for Bao Ning were even a fraction less, Pei Yuan thought, he might have actually done it.

But he couldn’t now. Compared to his own satisfaction, he wanted Bao Ning to be fulfilled. Binding and controlling were his nature, but for Bao Ning’s sake, he was willing to learn to let go.

He just didn’t know how much Bao Ning truly loved him. Was this care and concern because he was her husband, or simply because he was Pei Yuan?

…

“Why have you stopped talking?” Bao Ning watched Pei Yuan for a long while. He was still crouching on the floor; he had been laughing just a moment ago, but now his gaze seemed vacant.

Worried, Bao Ning pulled him up and checked his knees. “Is it because you were crouching too long? Does it hurt?”

“Lie down here, I’ll massage them for you.” Bao Ning patted the space beside her, her brow furrowed. “Does it hurt a lot? Should I get some hot water for a compress?”

Pei Yuan snapped out of it. Looking into Bao Ning’s eyes and feeling her kindness, his heart softened. He wondered again why Bao Ning stayed by his side, but perhaps that question wasn’t so important. As long as she stayed, it was enough. Their lives were destined to be inseparable. From the day she first chose to stay, this ending was unchangeable.

“It doesn’t hurt. Don’t fuss.” Pei Yuan pulled Bao Ning back, preventing her from moving.

Pei Yuan licked his lips and asked suggestively, “Do you want to eat candy again? Long candy.”

Bao Ning didn’t catch on at first, but upon meeting Pei Yuan’s mischievous gaze, she gasped. “No!”

Pei Yuan said, “Then it’s my turn to eat yours. Pink bean candy.”

Before Bao Ning could escape, she was pinned against the pillow. He leaned over her, whispering, “Ningning, don’t hide from me. The closer our bodies are, the better I feel.”

…

By the time he was finally satisfied, it was already the following evening. Within twenty-four hours, they had eaten two meals in bed. Mother Liu had brought the food to the door, and Pei Yuan had opened it to take it in.

Bao Ning spent half the time in a daze, sleeping. She didn’t know how Pei Yuan had so many tricks up his sleeve; he held her and refused to let go, acting clingy and annoying. Later, when she didn’t want to move, Pei Yuan entertained himself just fine, licking and nibbling as if she were a large piece of succulent meat. He would eat for a while, sleep for a while, and continue eating upon waking. Tossing and turning, the day passed quickly.

Bao Ning thought to herself that she would never dare accept gifts from others again, nor did she want anyone sending her things. She really couldn’t handle Pei Yuan’s “after-effects.”

Having slept all day, she felt energetic once night fell. Feeling famished, Bao Ning dressed and went to the kitchen to cook glutinous rice balls ( tangyuan ).

Pei Yuan was beside her, tending the fire.

Bao Ning asked, “What time is it?”

Pei Yuan went out to check the moon. “Probably around the hour of Xu (7–9 PM).”

“It’s not too late.” Bao Ning told Pei Yuan to watch the pot so the rice balls wouldn’t stick together while she went aside to chop some side dishes. “Should we bowl some for Yuanzi? He might not be asleep yet.”

“Doesn’t he usually go to bed early?” Pei Yuan balanced a piece of firewood in his hand. “Kids shouldn’t eat sticky things like this at night. If he gets indigestion and his stomach hurts, he’ll be too noisy when he makes a fuss.”

Bao Ning glanced at Pei Yuan with a smile. “By the sound of your voice, you actually care about him quite a bit?”

“Care, my foot,” Pei Yuan snorted, shoving the wood into the stove. “I’m not raising a son for my enemy.”

Bao Ning thought to herself, Keep pretending.

The rice balls were soon cooked—soft, tender, white, and plump in their porcelain bowls. Paired with the refreshing side dishes, they tasted excellent. Too lazy to carry them back to the room, they just ate in the kitchen. The lit candles were attracting mosquitoes that couldn’t be chased away, so Pei Yuan simply blew them out. The two sat at the doorway, finishing their meal by the bright moonlight.

The night was tranquil and the stars were bright. Bao Ning didn’t want to disturb the peace, so she spoke to Pei Yuan in a low voice.

In such a quiet environment, the creak of a door being pushed open sounded extremely piercing.

Bao Ning looked toward the sound and saw Yuanzi carefully slipping out of the side room, gently closing the door behind him. He first ran to the door of the main house to check; seeing the lights were out, he relaxed. He then trotted to the weeping willow tree near the courtyard gate, tilted his head back, and made strange “coo-coo-coo” sounds with his mouth.

“What’s wrong with Yuanzi?” Bao Ning looked at Pei Yuan in surprise. “Is he sleepwalking?”

She put down her bowl. “I’ll go check on him.”

“Wait.” Pei Yuan stopped her, whispering, “Let’s observe a bit longer. This kid has always been odd. Let’s see what he’s trying to do this time.”

Yuanzi stayed in that head-tilted position for nearly fifteen minutes, muttering to himself, “Why isn’t she here yet? Am I early?”

Pei Yuan led Bao Ning silently behind him. After staring at Yuanzi’s back for a moment, he spoke: “Who is supposed to come?”

“Ah!” Yuanzi jumped in fright.

Once he recognized the faces in front of him, Yuanzi patted his chest, still shaken. “Auntie, you didn’t make a sound.”

“Who is Yuanzi waiting for?” Bao Ning stepped forward to stroke his head and looked up into the tree with him. Amidst the lush green leaves, there was only the sound of cicadas—no sign of a person.

Yuanzi hesitated. “I don’t know who I’m waiting for. She… she won’t let me say.”

“Are you really not going to tell?” Pei Yuan gripped the back of the boy’s neck threateningly, whispering a scare tactic. “I’ll give you one more chance. If you keep being evasive, I’ll treat you like a bad kid. With a snap , your neck will break.”

Yuanzi was easily frightened. Moreover, he trusted Pei Yuan; he felt Pei Yuan wouldn’t hurt him. Also, he was worried the person wouldn’t be able to find him, so he was anxious for Pei Yuan’s help.

Yuanzi clenched his small fists and said to Pei Yuan, “When I was at my old home, at the end of every month, I would wait under the tree in the courtyard at night, and candy would fall from the tree!”

Pei Yuan and Bao Ning exchanged a glance. “Are you dreaming?” Pei Yuan asked incredulously.

“No! It really falls! Only at the end of the month, at night, when no one is around, candy falls!” Yuanzi looked up at the tree. “I once saw the shadow of the person in the tree. She looked like an Auntie—very, very thin, wearing a black veil. She gave me the candy.”

Bao Ning felt Yuanzi’s words were too… she couldn’t believe it. She suspected he hadn’t fully woken up and was talking nonsense. Children often spoke gibberish when they were half-asleep.

“Now that I’ve moved to a new home, I was afraid she wouldn’t find me, so I came early to wait.” Yuanzi said disappointedly, “Did I lose her?”

Bao Ning sighed. “Yuanzi, go back to sleep.”

Yuanzi asked, “Auntie, don’t you believe me?”

“How about this: you go back to sleep, and I’ll keep watch for you here,” Pei Yuan lied to him. “If someone really throws candy from the tree, I’ll tell you so you can get up and pick it up.”

Yuanzi said, “You can’t let others see. That Auntie said I have to do it behind people’s backs.”

Pei Yuan nodded. “I understand. I’ll have A-Huang and Jixiang keep watch. Go to sleep with a peaceful mind.”

Yuanzi believed him. Led by Bao Ning back into the room, he still held her hand even after lying down. “Auntie, you must wait for the Auntie who throws candy, okay? You have to wake me up!”

Bao Ning agreed. Yuanzi soon fell into a deep sleep. Bao Ning watched him for a while; seeing his breathing was steady and he wasn’t faking, she finally went back out.

Wei Meng had arrived at some point and was talking to Pei Yuan at the door of the main house.

“Young General, the spy placed in the Chongyuan Marquis’s manor just came back with news. He said the Crown Prince’s Consort and the Crown Prince had a major fallout. She had a good cry with the Marquis’s wife and left this morning for Lihu to stay for a while and clear her head. The Consort is currently at the Jia family’s villa, about a dozen miles from here.”

Pei Yuan asked, “Did Jia Ling follow her?”

“How could he?” Wei Meng waved his hand. “Jia Ling goes to Qingluo Alley every day now to see his pregnant mistress. He doesn’t have time for the Consort.”

They seemed to be discussing something important. Bao Ning stood where she was, hesitating whether to go over. Pei Yuan beckoned her.

Wei Meng knew that Pei Yuan and Bao Ning had reached a consensus on this matter and was very happy. He repeated the news of Ji Xiangzhen’s arrival to Bao Ning: “Little Madam, we’re counting on you now!”

Bao Ning asked, “What should I do? Should I go directly to Eldest Sister’s villa and deliver a visiting card?”

“That would be too deliberate; it definitely won’t work.” Pei Yuan shook his head. “You can’t just visit her. Jia Ling must have sent men to watch her. Jia Ling is suspicious; if you show up at the door, he will definitely suspect your motives and think you’re investigating him. We have to make the Consort come to us on her own.”

This was a difficult task. The three were silent for a moment. Suddenly, Bao Ning had a flash of inspiration: “Ruyi Pavilion! Eldest Sister longs for a child so much, and Ruyi Pavilion is a shop opened for children. It’s opening in a few days. If we spread the news widely, Eldest Sister might go.”

Pei Yuan’s eyes lit up, thinking it was a good idea, but he hesitated after a thought: “Would she be afraid of the scenery stirring up her emotions and be even less likely to come?”

“Then…” Bao Ning pondered for a moment and looked up. “I’ve heard that the daughters of noble families in the previous dynasty would throw silk balls from a balcony to choose a husband; whoever caught it became the son-in-law. Why don’t we try something similar? We’ll choose a ‘Woman of Full Fortune’ (a woman with a living husband and many children) to throw a ball. Whoever catches it gets a Child-Sending Guanyin statue blessed by a high monk. They can also share in the luck of the Woman of Full Fortune—bringing many children and much luck. Eldest Sister should come! If she still doesn’t, then we’ll… we’ll think of another way.”

Wei Meng praised, “That’s a brilliant idea!”

Pei Yuan also showed a look of admiration and nodded. “Then we’ll do that. As soon as possible—open in three days.”

Bao Ning smiled.

She felt validated, and it was a wonderful feeling—even better than being praised by everyone after cooking a delicious dish.

After a brief conversation, Wei Meng was about to leave. Before turning around, he remembered something and smiled. “Speaking of high monks, it reminds me of another mysterious matter. Yesterday, when we mentioned Yuanzi was Pei Xiao’s son, I got curious and looked into Pei Xiao’s concubine-maid to see what kind of favor she had that allowed her to bear a son. Guess what? That maid actually died the very day she gave birth. She passed away from a difficult labor—quite a pity.”

Hearing the words “difficult labor,” Pei Yuan subconsciously glanced at Bao Ning, his heart skipping a beat. Even though there was no sign of such a thing yet, he felt a faint shadow of fear.

Bao Ning didn’t think in that direction. Focused on Wei Meng’s words, she nodded. “It is a pity. But how is that mysterious?”

“She was a concubine-maid with no status, so she couldn’t be buried with her husband. Pei Xiao chose a lonely grave with good feng shui for her and had her buried secretly.” Wei Meng stroked his chin. “There’s a rumor that grave robbers thought this maid was favored by Pei Xiao and must have had many burial goods, so they went to dig up the grave. But, when the grave was opened, there was no one inside—not even bones. It’s as if that maid ran away on her own.”

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