Chapter 26

The next day, Bao Ning got up early and first checked on the leech. Seeing it was still alive, she felt relieved.

She stirred the jar with a stick and noticed that the egg yolk she had put in last night was all gone. She muttered to herself that it had quite an appetite. Bao Ning sat on the kang, peeled another egg, gave the egg white to Ah Huang, and tossed the yolk into the jar. She kept the eggshells to crush later and feed to the chickens.

After wiping her fingers with a cloth, Bao Ning got dressed, combed her hair, and started making breakfast.

Remembering her aunt's instructions, Bao Ning paid extra attention to Pei Yuan's meals. She didn't mind the trouble and prepared a plate of fried dumplings and a bowl of red date and goji berry soup. Knowing Pei Yuan didn't like sweet things, she also made a bowl of radish soup with a few pieces of beef, cooked until tender and soft.

Soup is good for nourishment and suitable for someone recovering from illness.

Bao Ning started her day before dawn, and after a busy hour, it was just past the Hour of the Rabbit (5-7 AM).

She placed the dishes in a food box and brought it to Pei Yuan, feeling cheerful. After knocking on the door twice and hearing an invitation to enter, Bao Ning pushed the door open.

Pei Yuan was in the middle of changing clothes.

He showed no sign of embarrassment, fully undressed, and facing the door. Without looking up, he asked, "I smelled something good. What did you make for breakfast?"

Bao Ning froze for a moment and quickly turned her head away. She hadn't meant to look, but the scene had caught her eye.

Pei Yuan's upper body was bare, his muscles well-defined. His shoulders and arms were strong, with biceps as thick as her calves. His abdomen was perfectly sculpted with eight distinct abs, more precise than the steamed buns she cut with a knife, and his slightly tan skin bore several scars.

Bao Ning, being highly protective of her own, had perhaps grown to accept Pei Yuan. Now she saw him as good in every way, her mind embellishing his image, and even the scars seemed to exude masculinity.

Yet, she still felt embarrassed.

"You could've said something while changing clothes," Bao Ning said, turning her back to him, a hint of reproach in her voice.

There were rustling sounds behind her as Pei Yuan put on his clothes. His tone was serious, "No need for that."

Bao Ning looked up at the ceiling and muttered silently: No shame.

"I'm done changing. Come over," Pei Yuan said.

Bao Ning touched her flushed face, picked up the food box, and walked over. The man was not very tidy, his quilt was thrown in a corner, and she couldn't stand it. She put the food box aside, spread the quilt, folded it neatly, and then moved the kang table over, setting the dishes out one by one.

Pei Yuan propped himself up on his arms, quietly watching her do all this, his eyes narrowing in enjoyment.

He had never realized before how interesting it was to watch a girl busy with household chores.

A table full of sumptuous food: fragrant fried dumplings, a plate of pickled cucumbers, two bowls of soup, one savory and one sweet, and a small bowl of chicken porridge.

Pei Yuan asked in surprise, "Why so much?"

He stirred the porridge, the aroma wafting up, and couldn't help but laugh, "Even the emperor doesn't eat as well as I do in the morning."

Bao Ning rested her chin on her hand and smiled, "I'll make fish for you tomorrow, divine fish, it's very delicious."

Today, Bao Ning had braided her hair, the soft braid hanging down her chest. She played with the ends of her hair, which were tied with a ribbon adorned with small bells that jingled softly when she touched them.

Pei Yuan watched her delicate fingers for a while, his gaze darkening, shifting upwards to the small pink mole on her collarbone.

Bao Ning, unaware, leaned over to serve him soup, mumbling, "Eat more, don't waste my efforts."

Pei Yuan snapped out of his thoughts, took the bowl from her hands, and sipped the soup. Bao Ning's posture was awkward, holding the bowl with her hands, her hand being held by him, leaning forward. She widened her eyes, watching Pei Yuan drink the soup, puzzled by his sudden strange action.

Pei Yuan put down the bowl, wiped the soup from his lips with his finger, and watched as Bao Ning's cheeks gradually turned pink.

She hurriedly pulled her hand away, wiping it on her skirt. Seeing this, Pei Yuan's face gradually darkened.

Bao Ning sensed his displeasure.

She didn't understand why.

The atmosphere in the room was tense. Ah Huang, having finished its meal, ran in, meowing softly. Bao Ning picked it up, and avoiding Pei Yuan's gaze, said, "I just remembered, Sai Feng hasn't been fed yet, I need to mix the feed."

Pei Yuan called her, "Eat with me."

Bao Ning replied, "I've already eaten."

Pei Yuan said nothing more. Bao Ning waited a bit longer, seeing he had no more to say, and then left with Ah Huang in her arms.

Her figure disappeared at the door, which was left open, letting in a flood of morning light, with tiny dust particles dancing in the air. The fence gate opened, and the chickens and ducks ran out, scattering around the yard, cackling and quacking.

Pei Yuan thought back to Bao Ning's actions earlier, growing more and more annoyed, slamming his chopsticks on the table.

Why was she so clueless!

After a few deep breaths, Pei Yuan picked up his chopsticks again, picked up a piece of cucumber, and sighed, "Forget it, take it slow."

Bao Ning moved a small stool to the eaves and sat there weaving a net bag.

Ever since Sai Feng arrived, the courtyard had become livelier. The tall horse stood in the center of the courtyard, very obedient, not needing to be tied up and not running around, exuding a steady and imposing aura. Ah Huang, the dog, seemed to love such a companion, running back and forth to chase it, even jumping up to bite its tail in a friendly manner.

The first time Bao Ning saw this, she was startled, fearing that Sai Feng might get annoyed and kick Ah Huang. But fortunately, Sai Feng was truly steady, not bothering to pay attention to Ah Huang and just continued to eat its feed, not even lifting its eyelids. Bao Ning then let Ah Huang be.

She found a suitable thin stick from the firewood pile, used a small knife to shave it smooth and round, and set it aside as a handle. She also prepared strips of cloth to weave the net bag.

The cloth strips were cut thin, twisted into a thin rope, then three thin ropes were braided into a thicker rope, with both ends sewn tight. With seven or eight of these thicker ropes, a sturdy net bag could be woven for catching snails.

Bao Ning was focused on her work and didn’t notice when Pei Yuan came out.

It wasn’t until a shadow fell in front of her, blocking the light, that she looked up in confusion.

Pei Yuan touched her nose, which was sweating, and frowned, “Are you hot?”

Bao Ning smiled, “Not hot.”

She thought for a moment and then said, “Sunbathing is good. Let me get you a stool. You can sit next to me, and we can sunbathe together.”

Pei Yuan said, “I won't sit. I'll take a walk.”

This was the first time Pei Yuan said he wanted to walk around the courtyard in such a long time, and Bao Ning was overjoyed. He was finally not so pessimistic anymore. Bao Ning felt like when Ji Yun first recited the Three Character Classic to her; there was a sense of pride, like her younger brother had finally grown up and become sensible.

Bao Ning couldn't sit still, wanting to do something for Pei Yuan.

Pei Yuan pressed her shoulder, with a crutch under his arm, and said softly, “You continue with your work. You don't need to accompany me.”

Bao Ning responded with an “Oh,” but she couldn't help feeling happy inside. Seeing her smile, Pei Yuan's eyes also showed a hint of a smile.

Ah Huang, always where the action was, ran over to join Pei Yuan, leaving Sai Feng alone. Pei Yuan walked ahead, and Ah Huang followed behind.

Pei Yuan's left leg was still useless, dragging him down like a dead weight, making it difficult for him to walk fast. Man and dog strolled slowly around the courtyard twice, and when Pei Yuan got tired, he returned to Bao Ning's side.

Bao Ning was working on that thin stick, trying to carve a hole but couldn't find a way. She was dexterous but lacked strength, making it hard for her to do this kind of work.

Pei Yuan watched her for a while and then reached out, “Give it to me.”

Bao Ning handed him the stick and the carving knife. Pei Yuan took them, leaned his back against the wall for support. Bao Ning, worried he might fall, stood beside him and held his arm.

Pei Yuan glanced at her and, thinking of something, chuckled softly.

The stick was about the thickness of his thumb. Bao Ning had spent half a day trying to poke the knife a third of the way through. Pei Yuan, however, penetrated it in the blink of an eye.

Bao Ning exclaimed, “You're amazing.”

Pei Yuan said, “This is men's work. Next time you encounter it, come directly to me.”

It was rare for him to say something pleasant. Bao Ning was elated and agreed.

Pei Yuan looked down at her. Her skin was like creamy jade, her chin sharp, leaning against him so obediently. Pei Yuan suddenly felt his heart soften and moved his hand to the back of her neck, giving it a gentle squeeze.

“What are you making this for?”

Bao Ning said, “To catch snails to feed the leech.”

Pei Yuan said, “Why didn't you buy some from the market yesterday? Why bother catching them yourself?”

“You don't understand.” Bao Ning was busy tying the rope knots and didn't lift her eyelids. “It's more reassuring to catch them myself. Who knows if the ones at the market are fresh and what they've been eating.”

Pei Yuan didn't respond.

He originally didn't like these domestic trivialities. If he had the time, he'd rather ride a few laps on his horse than sit idly at home.

Now it was different. Maybe it was because he was getting older or because he had company, but he found himself immersed in this tranquility.

……

As noon approached, the sun became more intense. Bao Ning felt hot and didn't stay outside any longer. She brought Pei Yuan back inside for a nap.

She had a regular schedule, always taking a short nap at noon, usually waking up after a quarter of an hour. Today, perhaps her eyes were tired, and she accidentally slept longer. When she opened her eyes again, the sun was already down, and it was raining lightly outside.

Bao Ning thought to herself, "Oh no." With the rain, she couldn't go to the river. She didn't know when it would stop, so she probably couldn't catch any snails today.

She sat on the kang for a while and suddenly thought of Sai Feng. There wasn't a stable yet, and it was getting rained on. What if it got sick?

Bao Ning couldn't sit still. She grabbed an umbrella and hurried outside.

There was no sign of Sai Feng in the courtyard. Bao Ning anxiously searched everywhere, checking the front and back yards. Just as she was about to think it had run off, she glanced into the chicken coop and felt relieved.

Sai Feng was smart enough to hide under the coop, lying down as if it were about to sleep.

It was Bao Ning's first time seeing a horse lying down. It was novel to her, so she looked a bit longer. Sai Feng's legs were thin and dry, like sticks, and suddenly a thought struck her.

Pei Yuan walked with difficulty because his left leg couldn't support him. If she could find a way to fix his left leg, providing some support, wouldn't it be less strenuous for him?

The more Bao Ning thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. She put away her umbrella and hurried back inside, eager to find something to make a support for Pei Yuan.

What if it actually worked?

In the nearby forest, Xu Guang leaned against a willow tree, his tongue picking at his teeth, staring at Bao Ning’s retreating figure as she entered the house, undisguised desire in his eyes.

It wasn’t until the door closed with a bang that he shifted his gaze and crooked a finger at Feng Yongjia beside him, “Is everything ready?”

Feng Yongjia, drenched like a drowned rat, shivered and stammered, “R-ready.”

Xu Guang said, “The knockout incense takes effect in just one quarter-hour. Time it right, wait until that cripple is limp, go in, and finish him off. Understand?”

Feng Yongjia, feeling a surge of fear, trembled and couldn’t respond.

Xu Guang pointed the tip of his knife at Feng Yongjia’s neck, threatening in a low voice, “If you get it done, there’ll be women and money. If not, I’ll use this knife to slit your throat and your dying father’s!”

Feng Yongjia, pale as a sheet, clenched his sleeves, nodding repeatedly, “Un-understood.”

Xu Guang put away his knife and sneered, “This rain came just at the right time.”

He patted Feng Yongjia’s shoulder, “Go on, young scholar, do it well.”

Feng Yongjia nodded but didn’t move until Xu Guang’s subordinate gave him a shove. Only then did he start to walk slowly, then broke into a run through the rain curtain.

“Coward.” The subordinate spat on the ground and said to Xu Guang, “Sir, why do you need that coward to do it? With one order, I could break in and finish it in three moves.”

“Three moves? It wouldn’t take two,” Xu Guang smirked. The subordinate thought he was being praised and smiled, but Xu Guang continued, “Before he could drop your head!”

Zhao Li, incredulous, said, “He’s just a cripple. How could that be?”

Xu Guang replied, “I crossed paths with him a few days ago. He may be weaker now, but his skills are still sharp. With Pei Yuan’s former martial prowess, even the Crown Prince couldn’t get close to him, let alone us.”

Zhao Li insisted, “But we don’t need that scholar. A bit of knockout incense, and I could still manage it!”

Xu Guang frowned, “Killing him personally would leave a trail. Are you mad?”

Zhao Li argued, “The Emperor doesn’t favor him. If he dies, so what? Power is in our hands, and the Crown Prince stands with us. With a little cover-up, if the cripple dies without clarity, we’d have done a great service!”

Xu Guang eyed him, “With your reckless nature, you’ll only ever be an eighth-rank blade guard. You’ll never amount to anything.”

Knowing he had misspoken, Zhao Li swallowed hard and humbly asked, “Sir, please enlighten me.”

Xu Guang, his eyelids drooping, tapped the knife handle and said slowly, “The Grand General of the Nation is returning from the northern border and should arrive in three days.”

Zhao Li’s expression changed, “Qiu Mingshan?”

Xu Guang’s eyes were sharp, “That old man wields military power, and even the Emperor fears him. He’s also that cripple’s master. If he comes back and the cripple is dead, don’t you think he’ll find out it was us?”

Zhao Li conceded, “You’re right, sir…”

“So you need to use another's blade to kill him,” Xu Guang scoffed, continuing, “Feng Yongjia just met the cripple. He’s resentful and dissatisfied. The coachman from that day can testify, and with heavy debts, it’s plausible he lost his head and wanted to rob and assault. Once things escalate, the Court of Judicial Review investigates, we step in, and the blame falls on Feng. Then, we quietly eliminate him, and it’s all seamless.”

Zhao Li’s eyes lit up, and he bowed deeply, “Sir, you are wise!”

……

Feng Yongjia squatted by Pei Yuan’s window, the pouring rain drenching him. He clutched a dagger in his bosom, the knockout incense hidden in his sleeve, head down, sheltering from the wind with his clothes, and fumbled to light the incense with a fire starter.

Watching the incense tip glow, Feng Yongjia breathed a sigh of relief, slightly at ease.

He stood on tiptoe, holding the incense to burn a small hole in the window paper, inserting half of it inside.

Fearing one stick wouldn’t be enough for Pei Yuan, he repeated the process with three sticks.

The sound of the rain masked his actions. After finishing, he squatted down, calculating the time.

Feng Yongjia’s mind was a mess, staring at the window, his thoughts drifting. It wasn’t until a while later that he sensed something was wrong.

Suddenly, he remembered, the base of the knockout incense was yellow, but the one he lit was red.

Did he get it wrong? Feng Yongjia’s heart skipped a beat.

The red incense was brought to his courtyard by Qingqing from the brothel, claiming it had miraculous effects. Feng Yongjia loved beauties but despised such trickery, never using it, and had casually put it in a box.

Last night, Xu Guang told him to buy knockout incense. Distracted, he must have put it in the same box.

Did he really mess up?

Feng Yongjia’s heart pounded, nervousness making his limbs numb. He wanted to slap himself, hurriedly stood up, intending to pull out the incense to check. Suddenly, the sound of a door opening came from the west wing.

Bao Ning, holding something, came out and immediately saw someone standing at Pei Yuan’s door.

The rain was heavy, and the sky was dark. She couldn’t see who it was and was startled, about to call out for Pei Yuan. Before she could, a flash of light broke through the window, slashing the person’s neck.

The person screamed, clutching their neck, and fled.

Bao Ning stood dumbfounded for a moment before coming to her senses and rushing toward Pei Yuan’s room.

Pushing the door open, she smelled a faint fragrance, barely noticeable unless one paid close attention. With her sharp senses, Bao Ning noticed something was off and anxiously asked, “Are you alright?”

In the darkness, Pei Yuan sat by the kang, clutching a broken teacup, his fingers dripping blood.

He didn’t seem to feel the pain, his eyes locked onto her with the intensity of a wolf.

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