Chapter 23

 The door creaked open, and Feng Xiang stood at the entrance, squinting inside. His vision wasn't great due to his age; he only saw Xu Guang's burly silhouette and didn't catch his menacing expression. "Oh," he said, "Yongjia, I've been calling you for ages. Do you have a guest?"

Feng Yongjia, clearly anxious, glanced nervously at Xu Guang, fearing he might say something incriminating in front of his father. He hurriedly tried to get Feng Xiang to leave, "Dad, can't it wait until tomorrow? I'm busy with a guest right now."

"My guest is even more important," Feng Xiang insisted. "Yongjia, he's our benefactor. He needs to leave, and his legs aren't good. You should take him."

Feng Yongjia, barely hiding his impatience, lowered his voice, "We have so many servants. Let them do it. I'm busy."

"You unfilial son!" Feng Xiang scolded, but softened his tone immediately, "Everything you have now is thanks to that benefactor. Don’t be disrespectful. Go and help him."

Turning to Xu Guang, Feng Xiang bowed, "Honored guest, I apologize for the poor hospitality."

Xu Guang sneered, "Your old man’s got a good heart. Too bad he raised a wastrel."

Feng Yongjia, keeping his head down, muttered apologies. Feng Xiang, hearing this, was puzzled. How was his son a wastrel?

Before he could ask, Feng Yongjia suddenly stood up and quickly ushered his father out, "Dad, just give me a moment to finish talking. I'll be right out."

As Feng Xiang left, Feng Yongjia shut the door with a bang. Turning back to Xu Guang, he swallowed hard, pleading, "Sir, please give me a few more days. Five days, at most. I'll definitely get the money together for you."

Xu Guang leaned back in his chair, tapping his whip against his knee, and raised an eyebrow, "Alright."

He then stood, getting close to Feng Yongjia's face, and whispered menacingly, "If you don't, I'll cut off a few parts of you to sell for wine money."

Feng Yongjia's face went pale, and his legs nearly gave out beneath him.

Xu Guang grabbed him by the collar and pulled him up, "Let's go. I want to see what your father’s benefactor looks like."

...

Bao Ning and Pei Yuan sat in the carriage, the door open, allowing them to see outside.

A brown mare was harnessed to the carriage, while Saifeng stood a few steps away, flicking its tail impatiently. The mare leaned over, trying to nuzzle Saifeng, who glanced at her and then walked away with a clatter of hooves.

The mare’s eyes lingered longingly on Saifeng, looking a bit disappointed.

Bao Ning thought to herself, the master trains the horse to be just like them—aloof and proud.

Remembering Feng Xiang’s earlier words about the horse farm being under Pei Yuan’s care, Bao Ning's curiosity got the better of her, and she leaned over to ask, “Is that old man, Feng Xiang, an old friend of yours?”

Pei Yuan, looking down at his nails, replied, “You could say that.”

After a pause, he continued, “Feng Xiang was my old stableman.”

Bao Ning was surprised, “And the horse farm…”

“I gave it to him.” Pei Yuan’s head remained lowered, making it hard for Bao Ning to read his expression. His voice was calm as he explained, “When my estate was confiscated, he protected something very important to me and got injured in the process. I had nothing else to give him. He loves horses, so I gave him the horse farm, hoping he could enjoy his old age in peace.”

What could be so important? Perhaps it was something very private. Since Pei Yuan didn’t elaborate, Bao Ning didn’t press further. Instead, she smiled and said, “I didn’t expect you to be so sentimental.”

Pei Yuan curled his fingers and blew on his nails, “There are many things about me you wouldn’t expect.”

He seemed to remember something and turned to her, “My reputation isn't great, is it? Weren’t you afraid when you married me?”

“You know your reputation is bad, huh.” Bao Ning giggled, cupping her face as she looked at him earnestly, “I was a bit scared, but not too much. I thought, at worst, you’d scold me a bit. You wouldn’t hurt me, so I wasn’t too scared. As for your past, that’s in the past. It’s like turning a page in a book—once it’s turned, it’s onto the next page. I don’t dwell on it; we should look ahead.”

Pei Yuan tilted his chin slightly, looking down at her, “You’re a bit simple-minded.”

Bao Ning wasn’t pleased with the casual insult.

The next moment, Pei Yuan’s hand moved to the back of her neck, giving it a gentle rub as he murmured, “That’s good. A silly girl tugs at the heartstrings.”

His breath brushed against Bao Ning’s face, making her momentarily breathless and a bit dizzy. She didn’t quite catch what he said.

Feeling awkward, Bao Ning shifted away, pulling his hand off her neck.

She noticed Pei Yuan’s nails, which were not well-trimmed and had grown a bit long.

Eager to escape the awkward, ambiguous atmosphere, she blurted out, “I’ll trim them for you when we get home.”

Pei Yuan added, “The toenails too; they’ve grown long as well.”

Bao Ning's face turned bright red, and after a long pause, she said, "That's a bit too much."

Pei Yuan laughed.

As they chatted, Feng Yongjia approached with the bearded Xu Guang in tow.

Feng Xiang hadn’t told Feng Yongjia much about Pei Yuan’s background. Though Pei Yuan was a prince, he had been disgraced, and Feng Xiang knew his youngest son was a bit naive. He only mentioned that Pei Yuan was a benefactor.

Feng Xiang had always taught Feng Yongjia to be frugal and hardworking, but it seemed his son hadn’t absorbed much of that lesson. Dressed in silk, he stood beside Feng Xiang, looking more like a young master from a wealthy family than an old servant.

Feng Xiang knocked on the carriage window and said, “Sir, it’s not safe for you to go back alone leading that horse. Let my son ride it and escort you home.”

Pei Yuan tapped Bao Ning’s hand, “It’s your horse. You decide.”

Bao Ning was surprised. She hadn’t taken Pei Yuan’s offer to give her Saifeng seriously, but now his words made her feel something stir inside.

Despite his rough personality and bandit-like demeanor, Pei Yuan was a man of his word.

Bao Ning smiled, “Let’s go with what Uncle Xiang suggests.”

Feng Xiang was pleased and turned to beckon Feng Yongjia, “Yongjia, let’s get going.”

Feng Yongjia agreed and whispered a farewell to Xu Guang, “Sir, I’ll be off now.”

Xu Guang, holding his sword, sneered, “Alright.”

Feng Yongjia approached Saifeng with some trepidation. The horse was wild and unruly, and he was afraid of making a fool of himself.

Sure enough, as soon as he touched the reins, Saifeng became agitated, raising its hooves to kick. Feng Yongjia hurriedly stepped back, causing Xu Guang to burst into laughter.

Hearing the commotion outside, Pei Yuan lifted the curtain with his fingers and sternly commanded, “Saifeng, behave.”

Xu Guang turned his head at the sound. Initially, he glanced casually, but upon seeing Bao Ning’s profile by the window, his heart sank.

He recognized Bao Ning and, fearing a mistake, squinted his eyes and took a step forward to get a better look.

Bao Ning, feeling the intense gaze, turned her face towards him. It was already dark outside, and she couldn’t see Xu Guang’s face clearly, so she paid no mind and turned away. Pei Yuan let the curtain fall back.

Saifeng, obeying Pei Yuan, calmed down. Feng Yongjia nervously mounted the horse, and as the coachman called out, “Giddy-up,” the carriage started moving slowly, with Feng Yongjia following behind.

Xu Guang watched the carriage recede, his gaze sharp as if trying to bore a hole through it.

One of his men asked, “Sir, what are you looking at?”

Xu Guang sneered, “A beauty from an enemy’s household.”

The last time he accompanied Huang Ji to confront Pei Yuan, he had lost face and harbored a grudge ever since, waiting for a chance to regain his honor. Now, it seemed, the opportunity had presented itself effortlessly.

He waved his hand, signaling his men, “Let’s go!”

By the time Bao Ning arrived home, the hour of You (5-7 PM) had already passed, and the sky was filled with countless stars.

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