Chapter 90: Do You Have a Carriage?

Pei Yuan’s finger throbbed with a burning pain. He looked down to see a deep set of teeth marks.

Pretending to be composed, he raised a hand to wipe the candy residue from his face, wrapping it back into the candy paper.

He was in trouble; Bao Ning was truly furious. If this were the old days—when her courage was small and he could still act the tough guy—he might have been able to scare her off with a few harsh words. That wouldn’t work now. She wasn’t afraid of him anymore; she had been so spoiled by him that she actually dared to spit candy in his face.

Pei Yuan didn’t even have time to curse whoever had a loose tongue and leaked the business about Qingluo Pavilion. His mind raced to find a solution.

How on earth was he going to coax her out of this!

Bao Ning sat on Pei Yuan’s lap, her finger lifting his chin. In a low voice, she asked, “Exactly how many more things are you hiding from me?”

“Nothing else.” Pei Yuan remained in that slightly humiliating posture, looking up at Bao Ning. “Truly nothing else. Just this one thing!”

Bao Ning asked, “Then why did you lie to me?”

Pei Yuan answered honestly, “I was afraid of making you angry.”

“Why would I be angry? That’s all stuff you did in the past. What’s done is done; I’m not angry about that.” Bao Ning looked at him suspiciously. “Do you have a lover at Qingluo Pavilion? Is that why you’re hiding it out of a guilty conscience?”

Pei Yuan gasped, “How is that possible! How could I ever take an interest in those women!”

Bao Ning pressed on: “What do you mean by that? If she weren’t from Qingluo Pavilion, but a girl from a good family, beautiful and virtuous, then you would take an interest?”

Pei Yuan couldn’t win this argument. Bao Ning wasn’t being rational at all; anything he said would be wrong, so it was better to say nothing. He clamped his mouth shut.

“Fine.” Bao Ning grew even angrier. She pushed his face away. “You can’t find a way to argue back, so you’re admitting it by default?”

Pei Yuan groaned inwardly. He had never known that a woman could be this unreasonable when being difficult. Bao Ning used to be so sweet and well-behaved. She was occasionally willful, but she knew where to draw the line; now, she was completely illogical. It was indeed his fault for not admitting it openly at the start, but she shouldn’t be pinning false labels on him!

Pei Yuan started to get annoyed too.

Sitting astride his lap, Bao Ning felt a flicker of panic when she saw Pei Yuan’s face suddenly darken. She quickly steadied herself. She wouldn’t panic—she wasn’t the one who did something wrong, so why should she be the one to worry!

To be honest, she hadn’t actually considered the possibility of Pei Yuan keeping a mistress; in matters like this, she still trusted him. Most of what she just said was to provoke him, to make him worry a bit and remind him not to keep secrets in the future. But seeing Pei Yuan’s stubborn look, he actually had the nerve to pull a long face!

Bao Ning had originally planned to cook something delicious tonight to improve their diet and reward Pei Yuan for his hard work at Ruyi Restaurant over the past two days.

But now she felt uncomfortable and didn’t want to cook for him anymore. He could make do with pickled vegetables!

Bao Ning climbed off him, straightened her skirt, and headed for the door.

Pei Yuan grabbed her sleeve and asked in a heavy voice, “Where are you going?”

“You don’t want to see me, and I don’t want to see you.” Bao Ning didn’t look at him, her gaze sweeping elsewhere. “Sit here and calm down by yourself. I’m going downstairs to stew some pear soup. I’ll make a giant pot, and if customers come, I’ll give them a bowl, but I won’t give any to you. If you want to go home, go home. If you want to go to Qingluo Pavilion, then go. I’m staying at Ruyi Restaurant tonight. I’ll stay far away from you so we don’t annoy each other.”

Pei Yuan’s face darkened further. “What, you want a trial separation?”

Bao Ning’s wrist hurt from his grip. The anger she had held for so long finally turned into a sense of grievance. Looking at Pei Yuan’s face made her teeth itch with frustration. “A separation it is, then.”

Pei Yuan continued, “If you don’t go home, what about those little brats you’re raising? The sheep will starve, the dogs will starve—I certainly won’t be the one to bury them.”

Bao Ning thought, How can this man say such nasty things? He is so annoying.

She pursed her lips and said, “I’ll have someone pick them up in a bit. They’ll be well-fed and looked after; you don’t need to worry about it.”

“Have you thought this through?” Pei Yuan barked at her. “I’m giving you one more chance. Quit while you’re ahead! Don’t push your luck and force me to lose my temper. If things get messy then, you’ll be the one losing face!”

Chastised by him, Bao Ning’s nose stung and her eyes reddened. She had been with Pei Yuan for so long, and he had cherished her, indulging her temper. Bao Ning thought that ordinary couples bickered too; if it didn’t go too far, it was just part of a couple’s dynamic. She had only bitten him—how could he get so angry? Especially when he was the one in the wrong first.

Was he trying to assert his “male authority” again?

Bao Ning’s heart turned cold. She ignored him, feeling as though her past sincerity had been fed to a dog—a wolf-dog that could turn on her at any moment.

She wrenched her hand from Pei Yuan’s grip. Just as she turned to leave, she heard the sound of Pei Yuan standing up behind her.

He stepped beside her in two strides. Bao Ning was startled, thinking he might actually get physical or something. Just as she was about to dodge, she heard a loud, booming:

“Woof!”

Bao Ning stared at Pei Yuan in shock.

“Woof! Woof!” Pei Yuan barked as he leaned toward her. Bao Ning’s initial surprise turned into a burst of laughter. She retreated as Pei Yuan stepped forward, and after a few steps, she fell back into the rattan chair. Pei Yuan propped his arms on the armrests, his nose only an inch from hers, and continued: “Woof! Woof!”

“Stop it, stop it! My ears hurt from the noise.” Bao Ning laughed so hard she was doubled over.

Pei Yuan pressed her shoulders and gave a fierce “Woof!” before saying, “I told you, don’t push me, or you’ll be the one losing face!”

Bao Ning’s eyes were misty from laughing. In just fifteen minutes, her emotions had swung wildly. First, she found him hateful, then so annoying even a dog would shun him, and now he seemed incredibly endearing. She cupped Pei Yuan’s face, rubbing it in her palms, thinking that he really had grown a bit thinner from exhaustion lately; she needed to nourish him.

As for the Qingluo Pavilion business, it wasn’t that important anyway. She would forgive him—after all, learning to bark like a dog was quite cute.

Pei Yuan rubbed his forehead against hers and squinted. “Not angry anymore?”

Bao Ning wrinkled her nose and gave him a “Meow.”

Pei Yuan laughed too. Seeing her mood had settled, he crouched down before daring to explain: “I wasn’t trying to deceive you, and there’s no one else out there. But the matter is truly embarrassing to speak of. You know how petty you can be—don’t give me that nonsense about how you wouldn’t have been angry if I’d just been honest at the time…”

Bao Ning glared at him. “Am I very petty?”

“Um… I was judging a noble heart with my own lowly thoughts.” Pei Yuan gently bit her finger. “You are very magnanimous.”

Bao Ning said, “Then you shouldn’t have been so mean to me just now.”

“I wanted to save face,” Pei Yuan said. “Men care about face; you have to understand me. I also know girls like to throw tantrums. You can throw them with me, but you aren’t allowed to do it with anyone else—not even Ji Yun. You’re only allowed to act spoiled for me. At home, I’ll indulge you; you can do whatever makes you happy, alright?”

Bao Ning asked, “And when we’re not at home?”

“When we’re not at home, you have to give me face. Let people think I’m the one in charge.” Pei Yuan rubbed her fingers. “Can we make a deal?”

“I know.” Bao Ning smiled and hugged Pei Yuan’s neck, whispering in his ear, “I’ll be good to you too, and make all the other husbands jealous of you.”

Pei Yuan lifted her up by her waist and asked with a smile, “So, are we turning the page on this matter?”

“Wouldn’t that be too easy for you?” Bao Ning leaned against his shoulder. “Don’t think you can fool me with just a few words. You’re cooking dinner tonight. I want braised pork.”

“I don’t know how. Pick something simpler.”

Pei Yuan carried Bao Ning around the room. She seemed to enjoy nesting in his arms, which gave him the illusion of raising a daughter ahead of time, as if he were coaxing a child.

It felt very comfortable; he liked being relied upon by Bao Ning.

“Fine, I’ll do the braised pork, you cook the rice.” Bao Ning smiled. “What else do you want to eat?”

“I want the fried meatballs you make.”

“Then you have to help me mix the meat stuffing.”

Pei Yuan pouted his lips. “Then give me a kiss.”

Bao Ning laughed and pushed his face away. “Stay away from me! No, no!”

Pei Xiao had been waiting for Bao Ning in the teahouse for nearly four hours.

The person he sent had seen Bao Ning at Ruyi Restaurant. He said Bao Ning and Pei Yuan had gone into a second-floor private room together, and Bao Ning looked unhappy, as if she were angry. Later, sounds of an argument were indeed heard.

Pei Xiao was somewhat pleased. He was waiting for Pei Yuan to leave in a huff so he could visit. Or, if Bao Ning left in anger, he would go to meet her.

But the sun was nearly setting. He had drunk cup after cup of tea, and there was still no movement from Ruyi Restaurant.

Yuanzi, accompanied by a dark-faced guard named Chen Jia, was riding a small wooden horse at the entrance, laughing so hard his teeth showed. Pei Xiao stood by the window watching, suddenly feeling that Yuanzi, Bao Ning, and Pei Yuan looked like a family of three. He, instead, had become the outsider.

He was busy with affairs every day; had he carved out a day of leisure just to watch his son be happy with someone else?

Realizing the foolishness of his actions, Pei Xiao knit his brows in annoyance. He didn’t want to wait any longer. Taking Chang Xi and two sword-bearing guards, he left the teahouse and walked straight toward Ruyi Restaurant.

“Little Master, Little Master!” Chang Xi called from a distance.

On the street, it wasn’t convenient to call him “Little Highness” or “Little Imperial Grandson,” but the title “Little Master” was new to Yuanzi. He didn’t react, continuing to rock on his wooden horse.

Chen Jia had known they were coming and didn’t have much of a reaction, crouching to the side silently watching ants build a nest.

Chang Xi, being completely ignored, felt a moment of awkwardness. He wanted to call out again, but Pei Xiao stopped him. He walked up to Yuanzi and somewhat awkwardly stroked his head. “Yuanzi, I’ve come to take you home.”

Yuanzi looked up blankly. Once he recognized the face, a heavy look of disappointment flashed in his eyes. He gave an “Oh,” climbed off the horse, and ran inside. “Auntie, Auntie!”

Chang Xi felt even more awkward. Weren’t they here to pick up the child? The imagined joy from Yuanzi, or the shock and sadness from Pei Yuan’s family, never happened. From beginning to end, it felt like they were the only ones performing a play. They had waited so long, prepared their expressions and tone, and the other party simply didn’t care.

Even with waves of emotion in his heart, Pei Xiao’s expression remained indifferent. He watched Yuanzi’s back and followed him in.

Bao Ning was at the counter using an abacus while listening to the female accountant check the books. Pei Yuan had gone to great lengths to hire a female teacher, paying her three times the monthly salary of a male teacher. She was in her thirties and worked very efficiently. A pot of narcissus sat by the counter; it wasn’t blooming season, but the leaves were lush and green. Bao Ning was thinking about the dinner menu and her performance during the argument with Pei Yuan earlier.

She had forgiven him too easily. Thinking back now, she felt like Pei Yuan had cheated. He had used military tactics—what was that move called? Was it a bluff or a feint?

Bao Ning couldn’t figure it out and sighed with regret inwardly. Two barks had fooled her; it would be hard to find such a good opportunity to punish Pei Yuan next time.

Yuanzi’s shouts brought her back to reality. Looking up, she saw Pei Xiao standing at the door.

He wore a deep purple robe with a black belt and a long sword hanging from his waist. He looked noble, refined, and gentle.

Bao Ning quickly looked away. In her mind, she had categorized Pei Xiao as a harbinger of bad luck; seeing him meant misfortune. She wanted to send him away quickly.

Bao Ning caught the lunging Yuanzi and gently pinched his nose. “Alright, your family is here to pick you up. I packed your things last night. Take them home; there are sugar cakes I made for you inside.”

He had known he was leaving today, but when the time came to part, Yuanzi’s eyes still turned red with tears. Bao Ning comforted him for a moment and told Chen Jia to see him off.

Chen Jia held the bundle in his arms and asked Pei Xiao, “Do you have a carriage?”

Chang Xi answered dumbly, “Yes.”

Chen Jia nodded. He didn’t know who Pei Xiao was—Pei Yuan hadn’t told him. He assumed he was just a common wealthy merchant or official. Seeing the way Pei Xiao stared at Bao Ning, he was very displeased.

“Young Master, if you aren’t buying anything, don’t block the door.” Chen Jia grabbed Pei Xiao’s sleeve and pulled him out, threatening in a rough voice, “Avert your eyes, or you won’t even know how you died!”

Chang Xi gasped. “You!”

Pei Xiao stopped him. “Forget it.” This was an experience he had never encountered. If someone else had done it, he would certainly be angry. But if it was Bao Ning driving him out, he wasn’t that angry; he just found it novel. Pei Xiao pressed his forehead; he had a headache. Every time he met Bao Ning, something happened to give him a headache. Yet, he couldn’t help but want to see her again.

Chen Jia lifted Yuanzi onto the carriage and urged them to leave quickly. The carriage shouldn’t block the street, or the officials would fine them.

Chang Xi was crooked with rage, but since Pei Xiao didn’t speak up, he didn’t dare to curse.

Pei Xiao sat firmly in the carriage, leaning back against the soft cushions. As the carriage moved forward, the silhouette of Ruyi Restaurant gradually faded. He closed his eyes to rest.

After a moment, he turned to Chang Xi. “Was the note delivered to her hand?”

Sansukini: Bao Ning is 15 years old and Pei Yuan is 17 (I think.. I forgot). They certainly argue like kids. I kinda appreciate that kind of writing from the author.

I recieved some kofi this week. Thank you so much! I love doing translations and your support really gives me a boost to translate more. Someone replied to me saying she read all of my works, and honestly, that’s the best reward. (୨୧•͈ᴗ•͈)◞ᵗʱᵃᵑᵏઽ*♡

I’m not really an expressive person. I’m an introvert and a lot of times, I will type my thoughts here then I will just end up deleting them. So I just want to put it out here now. I appreciate you all for reading. -`ღ´–`ღ´–`ღ´–`ღ´–`ღ´-

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