Chapter 94: Pomegranate Blossoms

Bao Ning felt that Su Mingyou was somewhat foolish. Her intentions were too obvious, and her speech lacked any subtlety. Most importantly, to broach such scandalous topics and attempt to drive a wedge between people before even truly gaining their trust—how could she be so clumsy?

But why was Su Mingyou treating her this way? Bao Ning couldn’t quite figure it out. Things had been perfectly fine at the start; could it be that she had fed her too well, giving her the leisure to breed such idle, malicious thoughts?

Regardless, that casket…

Bao Ning toyed with the small, exquisite lock. She truly wanted to know what was inside; she couldn’t let Pei Yuan keep guarding this secret forever. The more little secrets they kept, the deeper the rift between them would grow. Today it was Su Mingyou’s meddling; what if next time it was someone with real cunning? Would she fall for it then?

Bao Ning placed the casket back on the shelf. She changed into a pomegranate-red skirt—a color Pei Yuan liked—tidied her hair slightly, and headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

She decided to make a novel dish she recalled from some forgotten storybook: clay pot rice, specifically a medley rice.

She diced the remaining vegetables and meat in the house, sautéing them until fragrant before simmering them together with the rice.

Tonight, Bao Ning wanted to coax Pei Yuan into a good mood, so she refined the recipe a bit. First, she set the rice to steam in a wooden bucket. Then, she took the crispy meat left over from the large bones from the previous night and cut it into chunks. She also prepared sweet corn, potatoes, green peas, sweet potatoes, and a golden little pumpkin from the cellar.

After a moment’s thought, she added a portion of smoked ham, which had been sent by the General of Yunnan from a thousand miles away.

Bao Ning had always wondered what Pei Yuan was so busy with every day. She didn’t understand the technicalities, but it seemed his work was bearing fruit. So many people were sending him gifts now: shrimp from the Bohai Sea, smoked meat from Yunnan, lychees from Lingnan… even an official from Jiangxi, whose name she couldn’t recall, had sent two blue-and-white porcelain vats larger than rice bins, which were now sitting by the courtyard gate for raising fish.

She set the sweet corn kernels aside and diced the rest of the vegetables and meat. She heated oil in the wok, added salt, and stir-fried everything until seasoned; a complex aroma soon wafted through the air.

The fragrant medley and the washed corn kernels were spread over the rice, and the lid was closed for a slow simmer over a low flame. While that cooked, she prepared a dish of braised loach. Loach meat was tender and delicious without tiny stray bones—perfect for a picky, lazy eater like Pei Yuan.

Bao Ning timed the meal perfectly. Just as everything was ready, she heard Nanny Liu call out, “His Highness is back!”

By then, the kitchen and the small courtyard were filled with the scent of food. Pei Yuan arrived covered in the dust of the road, looking exhausted. However, the moment he stepped into the courtyard and saw the rising curls of cooking smoke and the warm yellow glow of the lamps in the kitchen and main house, the corners of his mouth curled up.

He handed his outer robe to Nanny Liu and ducked into the kitchen, asking with a smile, “What are we having for dinner, wife?”

Bao Ning sprinkled chopped green onions over the rice and drizzled a spoonful of bone broth over it. “A feast of meat and fish,” she replied.

The scent of green onions mixed with the savory meat wafted into his nostrils. Pei Yuan took a deep breath. “Damn, that smells incredible!”

Bao Ning smiled at him. “Carry it into the house. And give Nanny Liu a shout—it’s time to feed the dogs.”

Pei Yuan rolled up his sleeves to carry the pot. As he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Bao Ning, he caught a glimpse of her and felt she was acting strange today—excessively gentle and dressed up beautifully. It wasn’t that she wasn’t usually gentle or beautiful, but today… it was a bit much.

Bao Ning followed behind him with the fish and asked, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Pei Yuan hit the nail on the head: “Are you about to ask me for a favor?”

Bao Ning stared at him blankly, then looked away unnaturally. “Nonsense, what could I possibly want?”

It was because of that casket. She wanted to ask, but she couldn’t just blurt it out. She had to put him in a good mood first to make things easier, which was why she had prepared this spread. But having her plan seen through so easily by Pei Yuan made her too embarrassed to admit it. How could this man be so unromantic!

Pei Yuan crossed the threshold, set down the pot and utensils, and raised an eyebrow. “What is it? Did you squander all the money? Looking all timid like that—have you come to beg for my forgiveness?”

Bao Ning felt that the wires in Pei Yuan’s brain were definitely not crossed the same way as a normal person’s. How could anyone jump to that conclusion?

She shook her head. “No.”

“It wouldn’t matter if you had.” Pei Yuan used his chopsticks to put a piece of loach meat into his mouth. With his free hand, he pinched Bao Ning’s nose and chuckled. “As long as you aren’t keeping a ‘pretty boy’ on the side, is there anything you could do that I couldn’t handle for you? What’s really going on? What trouble have you stirred up to warrant all this effort?”

Pei Yuan flicked Bao Ning’s earring with his finger. “Dressed up like a little pomegranate blossom.”

Bao Ning’s cheeks flushed crimson. She gripped her bowl with both hands, unsure how to respond.

“Not going to say?”

Bao Ning blurted out, “It’s all because of that ‘wonderful’ sister-in-law of yours!”

Pei Yuan was puzzled. “What did she do?”

Bao Ning recounted everything that had happened that day to Pei Yuan. Watching his face grow darker and darker, she finally concluded, “I didn’t cause any trouble. I just wanted to make you happy so you might tell me about that casket… Of course, if it’s inconvenient, it doesn’t matter.”

Bao Ning stirred the rice in her bowl. “You just need to know that your sister-in-law is acting a bit strange. If she tries to gossip to you later, don’t believe her.”

Pei Yuan said flatly, “I’m not that stupid.”

Bao Ning stole a glance at him, feeling a bit dejected. He really hadn’t mentioned the casket. Was he unwilling to talk about it?

They ate in silence. Occasional barks from the dogs outside made the room feel even quieter, occupied only by the sound of clinking utensils and chewing.

When the meal was nearly half-finished, Pei Yuan placed a piece of meat in Bao Ning’s bowl and spoke. “Next time she tries to bully you, just throw her out. How can you let yourself be mistreated by an outsider in your own home?”

Bao Ning bit the tip of her chopsticks and whispered, “But she’s my sister-in-law. An elder brother’s wife is like a mother.”

“As if she’s worthy of that.” Pei Yuan huffed. “Keep your distance from her from now on. I’ll give her a warning tomorrow to keep her in line.”

Bao Ning nodded.

They spoke no more. After dinner, Nanny Liu cleared the table, and Pei Yuan went to the washroom to bathe. Bao Ning sat on the steps of the entrance watching the moon, which hung like a silver hook. A-Huang and Jixiang were running around the courtyard. Bao Ning grabbed a few raisins and slowly popped them into her mouth.

Her heart was calm now, and the earlier dejection had mostly faded. She was used to comforting herself; everyone has scars in their hearts. Pei Yuan was a proud man who wouldn’t show weakness in public. If there were things he didn’t want to mention, he locked them away. Bao Ning could understand that.

She didn’t have to get to the bottom of everything. The matter of the casket… she would let it go.

Small mosquitoes buzzed before her eyes. Unable to shoo them away, Bao Ning went inside to get a long piece of gauze, draped it over her head to cover her face, and continued to look up at the moon.

The hazy moonlight looked even more beautiful.

“What are you thinking about?” While she was lost in thought, Pei Yuan walked out. He sat beside her bare-chested, using a dry cloth to rub his hair. He called to her, “My little pomegranate blossom.”

Bao Ning looked down at her pomegranate-red dress. She had even specially matched it with earrings of the same color. Hearing Pei Yuan say that made her a little sad. “Is it very tacky?”

“How could it be?” Pei Yuan tilted his head and kissed her cheek. “Our Ningning is the most beautiful.”

Bao Ning laughed. She turned back and kissed Pei Yuan on the eyelid. The ticklish sensation made him close his eyes. He tossed the cloth onto the ground and pulled Bao Ning onto his lap. The gauze on Bao Ning’s face also fell to the ground, but Pei Yuan ignored it, leaning down to bite her lip. She tasted of tart-sweet raisins—soft and sweet.

“Baby, open up,” Pei Yuan coaxed softly.

Cuddled in his arms, Bao Ning was very obedient in these matters. Her mouth parted slightly, and Pei Yuan praised her, “Good girl.”

Bao Ning caught the faint, cool fragrance on him. She realized for the first time that he smelled so good.

After a long while, they pulled apart.

Pei Yuan tightened his arm around her waist. Bao Ning leaned against his shoulder, breathing softly. Pei Yuan was very gentle today; usually, he wasn’t like this. He liked to bite and often caused a bit of pain, but not this time.

He had become strange ever since he finished his bath.

While Bao Ning was lost in her thoughts with her eyes closed, she suddenly felt her body lighten. Pei Yuan lifted her and placed her on a soft cushion on the floor. When she opened her eyes, something cool was suddenly pressed into her hand.

It was a string of delicate small keys.

Bao Ning’s heart skipped a beat.

“These are for you.” Pei Yuan knelt on one knee before her and hooked his finger under her chin. “Didn’t you want to know what was in that casket? I’m leaving it in your care from now on. Actually, there’s nothing mysterious inside. It’s the only relic left of my mother—your mother-in-law’s last memento in this world. I used to think of her often, but since I’ve had you, I don’t think of her as much. When she was alive, she told me that sons forget their mothers once they have a wife. Looking at it now, she was quite right. However, I never felt good when I thought of her. Now that I don’t think of it, I finally seem like a normal person. If her spirit truly watches from heaven, she should be happy and grateful to you.”

Pei Yuan smiled as he spoke, but looking into his eyes, Bao Ning felt a pang of sadness.

Bao Ning asked softly, “Why is it the last piece?”

“Everything else was burned after she died because her death was considered inauspicious,” Pei Yuan said. “If you want to see it, wait until I’ve left tomorrow and look at it in secret. Don’t let me see it; looking at it makes my head ache.”

Bao Ning felt that Pei Yuan was incredibly fragile right now. There was no grief on his face, and his tone was calm, but that only made her heart ache more for him.

All the tenderness and affection in her heart were stirred up, and a sudden surge of motherly instinct washed over her. She opened her arms toward Pei Yuan and said, “Come here, give me a hug.”

Pei Yuan laughed. “What for? Don’t comfort me, I don’t want to hear it.”

“I won’t say a word.” Bao Ning leaned forward, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling his head to her chest. “I just really want to hold you.”

Pei Yuan’s smile slowly faded. He pressed his palm against Bao Ning’s back, pulling her close against him. After a long time, he slowly let out a breath.

Bao Ning heard him whisper, “I will work hard to take you to the highest position. You can bully whoever you want, and no one will ever dare to bully you again. Also, Ningning… you must love me. Whatever you do, never betray me. I am a sick man; I would die without you.”

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