Pei Yan extended his right arm to embrace her, laughing heartily, “So this is what Miss Jiang meant by serving. How novel indeed.”
Jiang Ci desperately tried to break free from his embrace, but her arms had lost their strength. Pei Yan, whether intentionally or not, pressed his right hand on her waist acupoint, rendering her completely powerless. She could only collapse helplessly against his chest, inhaling a faint scent that made her feel increasingly dizzy. In her panic, tears spilled from her eyes.
Pei Yan laughed with extreme satisfaction. Having just left the capital and relinquished his heavy responsibilities, he now had this interesting “little plaything” to tease occasionally. He felt this was the most relaxed and joyful moment he had experienced in a long time. Reluctant to let go, he only loosened his grip when he felt the tears soaking through his clothes.
The carriage seemed to hit a stone on the road, causing a slight jolt. The teardrops clinging to Jiang Ci’s long eyelashes fell in quick succession. Pei Yan’s smile faded as he released the acupoint on Jiang Ci’s arms. Seeing her still lowering her head and weeping, he hesitated before saying softly, “Alright, I was just teasing you. I didn’t consider you a maid. If you don’t want to serve, you don’t have to.”
He turned to pour himself a cup of tea. Noticing Jiang Ci still sobbing, he offered the teacup to her, “Have some tea. It’s a long journey to Changfeng Manor, let’s not quarrel.”
Jiang Ci looked up in surprise, “Are we going to Changfeng Manor? What for?”
Seeing tears still on her face but curiosity in her expression, Pei Yan smiled, “Don’t you like to watch exciting events? On the tenth day of the eleventh month, there’s a martial arts gathering to elect a new alliance leader. I’m taking you to attend this grand occasion.”
Noticing Jiang Ci still somewhat annoyed, Pei Yan tugged at her sleeve, “Come, massage my legs.” After a pause, he added, “I’ll pay you, of course.”
When Jiang Ci didn’t move, Pei Yan had to ask, “Then what would make you willing to serve me?”
Jiang Ci thought for a moment, then smiled slightly, “You were once the Martial Arts Alliance Leader. If you tell me some interesting stories about the martial arts world, I’ll massage your legs.”
The journey through wind and rain was rushed, with most time spent in the carriage except for brief stops. Fortunately, Pei Yan was an excellent storyteller, and his martial arts tales kept Jiang Ci thoroughly entertained, making the trip far from boring. By nightfall, they arrived at Qinghe Town.
The Pei family owned a large mansion in Qinghe Town, and servants had already made all the preparations. As the heavy rain had just subsided, a cold wind hit their faces when they jumped down from the carriage. Jiang Ci shivered. Pei Yan reached back into the carriage, retrieved a fox fur cloak, and with a flourish, draped it over Jiang Ci’s shoulders. The cloak was long and large, enveloping Jiang Ci. With her snow-white skin and delicate features, she looked like a porcelain doll.
Following Pei Yan into the mansion, Jiang Ci saw embroidered curtains, spacious halls, and plum blossoms surrounding the building. Despite it being early winter, the scene was quite elegant and charming. She couldn’t help but shake her head, muttering, “Who knows how much money squeezed from the common people it took to build such a luxurious villa!”
Pei Yan turned back with a smile, “You’re mistaken. Although my Pei clan has considerable wealth, it’s not from corruption.”
Jiang Ci didn’t believe him but kept her thoughts to herself as she followed him into the main hall’s warm room. After a brief rest, steaming hot dishes were served one after another.
After dinner, Pei Yan spent nearly an hour reading confidential documents. Then, the maids who looked after the mansion came in to attend to his bathing needs. Jiang Ci, unsure where she was supposed to sleep, grabbed one of the maids and asked, “Sister, please—”
The maid smiled respectfully but didn’t answer. She freed herself from Jiang Ci’s grasp and retreated with the others.
Seeing only herself and the “big crab” (Pei Yan) left in the room, with Pei Yan’s face bearing an extremely ambiguous smile, Jiang Ci’s heart began to race. She slowly backed towards the door, forcing a smile, “Your Excellency, please rest early. I’ll take my leave.”
Pei Yan, while loosening his outer robe, walked over and closed the door, dropping the bolt with a “clack.” Jiang Ci’s expression changed slightly as she forced a smile, “Your Excellency, um, you, I—”
Pei Yan laughed and tapped her head lightly, “The security in this villa isn’t as tight as in the official residence. If you sleep elsewhere, I fear Alliance Leader Xiao might get wind of it and come to silence you. Only by sleeping in the same room with me can you ensure your safety.”
Jiang Ci couldn’t reveal that “Alliance Leader Xiao” had already reached a friendly cooperation agreement with her and certainly wouldn’t come to silence her. She could only force a smile and say, “Your Excellency has considered everything thoroughly.”
Pei Yan pointed to a couch near the large bed, “You can sleep there.”
Jiang Ci had never slept in the same room with a man before, let alone this particularly annoying “big crab.” She slept uneasily, tossing and turning on the couch for over half an hour. She had drunk too much tea after dinner and gradually felt the urge to relieve herself.
She knew there must be a chamber pot behind Pei Yan’s bed, but she would never dare to use it in the dead of night with a grown man sleeping nearby.
She held it for a while, but it became increasingly difficult. Finally, hearing Pei Yan’s breathing become slow and steady, she estimated he had fallen asleep and quietly slipped off the couch.
Holding her breath, she tiptoed to the door, slowly moved the bolt, and squeezed through a small gap she had opened. She then carefully made her way through the main room and out into the courtyard.
Not knowing where the latrine was, and with only a dim oil lamp swaying in the corridor providing little light to see the path, she pondered for a moment before unable to hold it any longer, she ran behind a rockery and squatted down.
The night was bitterly cold, with gusts of north wind. Jiang Ci wore only a padded jacket, and the wind chilled her to the bone as she stood up. She sneezed twice, fearing the worst—if someone discovered she had relieved herself in the courtyard, it would be utterly humiliating.
Hearing Pei Yan’s sharp exclamation from inside, “Who’s there?!” Jiang Ci froze. But a flash of inspiration struck her, and she cried out “Ah!” as she ran towards the corridor.
Following her cry, Pei Yan leaped out of the room like a swallow, breaking through the window frame. His right arm was quickly extended, shielding Jiang Ci behind him. Trembling all over, Jiang Ci cried, “It’s him! He’s come to silence me!”
Pei Yan’s expression changed slightly. He put his fingers to his lips and blew a sharp whistle. Before the sound faded, dozens of Changfeng guards rushed in from outside the courtyard, with An Chen leading the way. Pei Yan commanded coldly, “Xiao Wuxia has appeared. Search the surroundings thoroughly!”
Jiang Ci, hugging herself and hiding behind Pei Yan, shivered violently and couldn’t help stamping her feet. Pei Yan turned around, picked her up, kicked open the door, and placed her on the bed, covering her with thick blankets. He frowned, “Why did you run out for no reason?”
Jiang Ci’s cheeks flushed slightly, and feeling the lingering warmth and a pleasant scent in the bedding, she found herself speechless. Pei Yan reached out to feel her forehead, “I hope you haven’t been frightened too badly.”
He called out loudly, “Someone!” Several people outside the window responded, and Pei Yan ordered, “Go fetch a physician!”
Jiang Ci hurriedly waved her hand, “There’s no need, I’m not ill.” Looking up, she saw Pei Yan wearing only his inner garments, standing by the bed. She let out a small cry and turned her face away.
Pei Yan smiled and slowly lifted the covers, lying down beside Jiang Ci.
Jiang Ci was shocked and quickly tried to scramble out of the bed, but Pei Yan pulled her back, causing her to fall on top of him. She exclaimed urgently, “What, what are you doing?!”
Pei Yan laughed heartily, wrapping the blanket around Jiang Ci and pressing her back onto the bed. He lowered his head, looking at her shocked, angry, embarrassed, and anxious expression, and said slowly, “What do you think I’m doing?”
Seeing his hand gently caress her cheek, Jiang Ci’s face turned pale with fright. Pei Yan felt an inexplicable joy and fell laughing onto Jiang Ci.
Jiang Ci hurriedly tried to push Pei Yan away, but couldn’t budge him. After laughing for a while, Pei Yan sat up and said seriously, “It seems Xiao Wuxia is determined to come and silence you. From now on, you need to stay within three steps of me. Any further, and I won’t be able to protect you fully.”
Jiang Ci exclaimed anxiously, “So even if I need to use the latrine or take a bath, I must stay within three steps of you?”
“Naturally,” Pei Yan said with a straight face, lifting the covers again. “So from now on, you can only sleep in the same bed as me. I must protect your little life well.”
Jiang Ci regretted her actions immensely. She wanted to confess that Xiao Wuxia hadn’t appeared and that she had made it up to cover her embarrassing need to relieve herself. But she couldn’t bring herself to say it. She could only watch helplessly as Pei Yan nonchalantly got back into bed.
Utterly helpless, yet adamantly unwilling to share a bed with this “big crab,” she could only curl up in a corner of the bed, silently cursing until the Changfeng guards outside announced the arrival of the physician. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief?
Pei Yan lowered the bed curtains, and Jiang Ci extended her right hand. The physician carefully took her pulse, then stood up and said, “This lady—” He paused, as the pulse indicated it was a young woman, but the man before him wore only white silk undergarments, creating an ambiguous situation. After hesitating for a moment, he continued, “This lady has caught a slight cold and has been frightened. The cold has entered her meridians, and she needs to take some medicine to dispel it.”
Pei Yan nodded, and an attendant led the physician out. Half an hour later, maids brought in a bowl of medicine. Jiang Ci frowned as she drank it, then curled back into the corner of the bed.
As the maids withdrew, An Chen sought an audience outside. Pei Yan put on his outer garment and went out. Jiang Ci faintly heard An Chen reporting in detail about the search and defensive measures taken. Pei Yan then gave instructions on which troops to summon and how to search the surrounding hundred li. Thinking about how her single lie had thrown the entire Changfeng Guard into chaos, she felt a little proud. Soon, the medicine took effect, and she began to feel drowsy. Already disturbed for half the night and with sleepiness overtaking her, she dozed off leaning in the corner of the bed.
Pei Yan pushed open the door and entered the room. Walking to the bedside, he looked at Jiang Ci sleeping in the corner and smiled. He bent down to lay her flat, placed a silk pillow under her head, tucked her in properly, and went to lie down on the nearby couch.
The next morning, from finishing breakfast until boarding the carriage, Jiang Ci didn’t say a word. She kept thinking about how she had fallen asleep the night before and whether she had slept in the same bed as the “big crab” all night. Catching Pei Yan’s amused glances, she quickly averted her gaze.
The north wind was even stronger that day, though the rain had lessened. Pei Yan ordered his subordinates to bring a hand-warming brazier. Jiang Ci, wrapped in the fox fur cloak, hugging the brazier, and surrounded by brocade blankets, shared the couch with him. They chatted occasionally, without further conflicts. She noticed that the “big crab” seemed to be in an excellent mood and no longer ordered her around at will.
At night, Pei Yan still insisted that Jiang Ci sleep in the same bed with him, under the pretext of protecting her. Jiang Ci again curled up in a corner of the bed. In the first half of the night, she listened to Pei Yan’s breathing, deeply regretting having spun herself into such an awkward situation. In the latter half, she dozed off, only to wake up in the morning to find herself comfortably nestled in the blankets.
Traveling by day and resting by night, they arrived in Hongzhou two days later. The weather had gradually improved, with thin sunlight breaking through the clouds.
The Pei family owned a famous garden in Hongzhou called “Wenyi.” As soon as Pei Yan’s group entered the garden, the Governor of Hongzhou, having somehow caught wind that the Left Chancellor was returning home to recuperate and passing through Hongzhou, sent a visiting card to pay his respects. Pei Yan ordered his attendants to bring him to the East Flower Hall, where he exchanged pleasantries with Governor Yang. Excited, Governor Yang suggested taking Chancellor Pei to tour Cuiguang Lake and enjoy the “acrobatic festival” held in Hongzhou every fifth and tenth day of the month.
Jiang Ci had heard that Hongzhou’s acrobatics were unparalleled in the Hua Dynasty and felt intrigued. Seeing Pei Yan holding his cup in silent contemplation, she couldn’t help but cough lightly.
Pei Yan turned to look at her, his face impassive. After a moment’s thought, he nodded and said, “Governor Yang’s hospitality is hard to refuse. Very well, please lead the way, Governor.”
Jiang Ci was secretly delighted. Seeing Pei Yan turn back and look her up and down, she understood his meaning and hurried into the inner room to change into a page boy’s attire, then rushed back out.
Pei Yan was standing with his hands behind his back at the garden gate. Governor Yang and the others, not understanding why he had stopped, stood respectfully waiting. Seeing Jiang Ci run out, Pei Yan smiled slightly and took the lead in walking forward.