Chapter 767: New Affairs, Old Feelings

The girls downstairs were still there, their faces still filled with shock and disbelief.

Just now, the sight of the hawk snatching the gray rat had been utterly shocking; Master Qu had just been introducing a new portrait on stage, and everyone had been waiting for the next auction of “Night Bare,” when suddenly—thud, thud—movement and shadow flashed, and she was pinned against the western wall and bound by Young Master Pei Ye.

Then, grabbed by the nape like a rat caught by its tail, she was dragged upstairs, the door shut, and she vanished.

After a while, people saw Miss Sunsun rush down the stairs in a fluster.

After another while, people saw Miss Sunsun hurriedly leading Young Master Li up the stairs.

And yet again later, people saw Young Master Li leading Young Master Pei Ye down.

Though no one knew what had happened, and no one spoke much for the moment, the joy of seeing Young Master Pei Ye again was real.

Young Master Pei Ye looked somewhat shy; Young Master Li led him to an empty table and seated him, then invited everyone to gather around.

“The earlier meeting was secretly arranged by Qu Xin,” Li Piaoqing smiled. “Young Master Pei Ye thought it was meant to guide younger sword practitioners. He just caught her, and Chief Cui and the others were reprimanded.”

The girls were astonished and delighted; in truth, they were more accustomed to the pattern of paying ten taels for half a moment’s meeting, since Young Master Pei Ye was surely very busy, and his willingness to spare time to meet each of them individually was exceedingly rare.

Besides, it was said his family was poor—perhaps he needed the silver. Their money sat idle anyway; better to spend it supporting Young Master Pei Ye than on rouge and powder.

And besides, Young Master Pei Ye had been so gentle during their meeting.

Nan Yingzhi sat very close to Pei Ye now, hoping the boy might turn and greet her. But she was probably too close, and slightly behind, so she could only see his neck and profile—she likely appeared to him as just a corner of his vision.

Then, after Young Master Pei Ye sat down, she saw the slender, clean hand holding his sleeve loosen its grip, then naturally smooth his sleeve twice before resting it on the nearby table.

Young Master Li’s pleasant voice rang above: “First, let me make it clear: Young Master Pei Ye is uncomfortable with too much physical contact. Treat this like a classroom—raise your hand if you have a question. He turned bright red just seeing the painting you sold.”

Nan Yingzhi stared at the hand resting beside Young Master Pei Ye’s, barely a hair’s breadth away—yet Young Master Pei Ye, who “was uncomfortable with intimate contact,” hadn’t noticed at all.

At that moment, she stared blankly, thinking: all those claims—Master Qu’s personal physician, Chief Cui’s close friend, Miss Sunsun’s classmate at the Imperial Academy—none of them compared to this relationship.

Not even close.

Girls were extremely sensitive to such small intimacies.

A rustling sound filled the hall; nearly everyone present had a portrait. Earlier, behind closed doors, they’d all been lively and wild—but now, with Young Master Pei Ye before them, the mention of that painting filled them with shame. Several looked at Li Piaoqing with pleading eyes, begging her not to mention it again.

Yet the boy’s face showed no anger. After listening to Young Master Li’s speech, he bowed: “Please, don’t make any more portraits or puppets of me. And try not to spend money. For money already spent, Young Master Li… Young Master Li will try to refund part of it. As for the portraits and puppets already bought…”

He hesitated. Everyone held their breath.

“...If you want to keep them, keep them. But please don’t show them to each other.”

A quiet, stifled cheer erupted in the hall.

Pei Ye felt a strange sensation, and smiled slightly in response.

For about two watches, laughter and chatter filled the tables. The faces that had once seemed like monsters to Pei Ye now sat before him, gentle and courteous. One person finished speaking before another asked a question. Pei Ye actually felt a quiet serenity here.

Though many questions were amateurish, each statement sparked unique interpretations, and when spoken again, brought forth clever, imaginative ideas. With Li Piaoqing’s assistance, the atmosphere remained harmonious throughout.

“With corrupt ministers gone, Young Master Pei Ye will come again when he has time—no need to pay anymore,” Li Piaoqing smiled as he rose to leave.

Many still worried about Master Qu’s fate—some inquired, some pleaded; others, hearing Young Master Pei Ye no longer needed their money, felt saddened and pressed close to the girls, whispering about his financial situation.

But this meeting with Young Master Pei Ye ended successfully after all—not a wasted trip to the Sword Banquet. Qu Xin’s remaining four scrolls were, after all, the master painter’s life’s work; Li Piaoqing drew lots for everyone, and Pei Ye stood aside, smiling helplessly.

Then, they dismissed the crowd to stroll in the garden. Pei Ye and the girl cleaned up, then returned upstairs.

They placed two large bundles of tools before Qu Xin.

Qu Xin stood by the wall, staring down at the small brushes, knives, and seven or eight half-carved puppet mechanisms.

“You’re not allowed to run this business anymore,” Pei Ye said. “Your reputation in the Society of Enthusiasts is ruined.”

Qu Xin fell into thought.

“Don’t even think about recruiting new members to trick them.”

Qu Xin looked up, startled.

Li Piaoqing said: “Pei Ye has handed you over to me. Starting today, you’ll sleep with me at the Tian Shan Villa.”

“Little duck, what are you going to do to me?”

Li Piaoqing said: “All your ill-gotten gains are confiscated. For two months, you must stay by my side. If you try to leave secretly, I’ll report you to Mount Tai Pharmacy—they’ll drag you back.”

Qu Xin fell silent for a moment: “Little duck, what’s the punishment for robbery and kidnapping? I’m going to report you.”

“For two months, you will obey my orders to treat the injured Tian Shan disciples, the Immortal Platform’s Feather Inspector, and the Eight Waters Water Gang outside the city.”

"In two months, you must follow my orders to treat the Tian Shan disciples injured earlier, the Feather Inspector from Immortal Platform, and the Eight Waters Water Gang outside the city."

“I’ll refund most of the silver you earned from the Society—about six hundred taels remain, temporarily held by me. When you finish treating the patients, I’ll return it.” Li Piaoqing said. “But this silver melts. Today it’s six hundred taels; tomorrow it might be ten less; in a few days, perhaps only five hundred.”

"I’ve calculated that I’ll return most of the silver you earned—about six hundred taels remain, temporarily held by me. I’ll give it back to you once all your patients are healed," Li Piaoqing said. "But this snow silver melts—today it’s six hundred taels, tomorrow it may be ten less, and in a few days it might drop to just over five hundred."

“I don’t know. But it melts in my hands.”

“...Then how much will be left when you give it back?”

“That depends on how hard you work to heal the patients.”

“I’ll go now.” Qu Xin turned, presenting her bound wrists to Li Piaoqing.

Li Piaoqing knelt to untie her, smiling: “Not now. I have matters this afternoon. I’ll explain everything tonight.”

“So my silver starts melting today?”

“It still melts.” Li Piaoqing said.

Qu Xin lowered her head, rubbing her wrists, saying nothing. She squatted, wiped each small puppet clean, stacked them neatly, and carefully wrapped them in cloth.

Pei Ye frowned curiously: “Didn’t your palace visit earn you three or four hundred taels in fees? Why do you need so much silver?”

“To buy things,” Qu Xin muttered.

Pei Ye looked at her attire—her hair always tied with a single cord, no ornaments on her clothes.

Rouge and powder were entirely foreign to this girl.

“What are you buying?”

“Medicine. And other things you wouldn’t understand.”

“Does Mount Tai Pharmacy not give you money?”

“They won’t let me buy.”

“...Then you’d better not buy at all—wait, are you planning to test these things on me later?”

“...” Qu Xin looked up at him.

“Don’t just stare at me without speaking.”

Qu Xin spoke seriously, calmly: “Little duck, you’re very clever.”

“Don’t worry—I won’t kill you,” she reassured him again.

“Do you have any senior or junior disciples? I’d like to find another doctor,” Pei Ye said seriously.

Qu Xin thought: “They’re all older and uglier than me…”

Li Piaoqing slapped her small green cap over her face, silencing her.

“You’re a criminal now. Say one more word, and I’ll melt another tael.”

Qu Xin lowered her head.

Cui Zhao and Sun Jue sat upright, one dignified, one noble, clapping in unison. Cui Zhao said: “Young Master Li is wise and mighty—finally, you’ve purged the villain and restored purity to the Society!”

Li Piaoqing smiled. Pei Ye ignored her, turning to say: “Miss Sun, I have a question.”

Li Piaoqing smiled; Pei Ye ignored her and turned to say, "Fellow student Changsun, I have a question for you."

“I heard from Yiner that you play the qin—is that true?”

“I know a little,” Sun Jue blinked. “I started learning at five, practiced often, but after studying, I practiced less—still, I play twice a month.”

“Can you teach me?” Pei Ye smiled. “I’ll pay tuition—ten taels.”

Qu Xin looked up: “I can play the qin.”

Li Piaoqing: “Deduct one tael.”

Sun Jue widened her eyes, delighted: “Young Master Pei Ye wants to learn the qin? No tuition needed.”

Changsun Jue widened his eyes in pleasant surprise: "Master Pei Ye wishes to learn the qin... no tuition is needed."

“Yes. I’m training a new sword technique. Master Qiu said I should first learn the qin—master three pieces before returning to sword practice.”

Sun Jue was intrigued: “Which three?”

“‘Guangling,’ ‘Yu Hui Tu Shan,’ ‘Shui Yun Zhi Jun,’” Pei Ye said. “Can you play them?”

"The 'Guangling,' 'Yu Hui Tu Shan,' and 'Lord of Water and Clouds,'" Pei Ye said. "Can you play them, Fellow Student Changsun?"

“What’s wrong?”

The girl smiled helplessly: “Young Master Pei, you’re truly brilliant at everything... I don’t even have the scores for these pieces. Even if I did, I couldn’t learn them myself, let alone teach you.”

She thought: “To play these pieces well, you must find a true master of music.”

In the capital, true masters shouldn’t be lacking... but hiring one certainly wouldn’t cost ten taels. Pei Ye thought, then smiled: “Alright, I’ll look around some more.”

Then, the green-robed girl beside him gently tugged his sleeve. Pei Ye bowed: “Then I’ll leave with Piaoqing—we have matters this afternoon.”

Then the green shadow leaning against the table, smiling, tugged at him; Pei Ye bowed: "Then I’ll take leave with Piaoqing—we have matters to attend to after noon."

“Goodbye, Young Master Li.”

Pei Ye and the green-robed girl descended the stairs. The hall was empty now, silent and still.

Outside, the sun had dimmed, softening its glow. As they stepped out, the sounds from the garden beyond seemed quieter too.

“When I first met them, I was shocked too,” Li Piaoqing smiled. “I thought the capital had too many strange things—does every swordsman have his own Society of Enthusiasts?”

"I was just as startled when I first saw them," Li Piaoqing smiled. "I thought, the capital is full of strange things—does every swordsman have their own like-minded society?"

“So many young girls admire you—aren’t you happy?” Li Piaoqing laughed. “Don’t be ungrateful.”

“Fine. So that’s how you see me... Girls or not, admiration or not—I don’t care.”

“So many young ladies admire you, Pei Ye—aren’t you happy?” Li Piaoqing laughed. “Don’t act like you’re being wronged when you’ve got it so good.”

“Fine then—you’ve always thought of me this way… whether I’m a girl or not, whether anyone likes me or not—I don’t care.”

“I haven’t been looking at you much—it’s only natural. It’s just that Young Master Pei always has a stubborn mouth.”

“...How did you end up with them? I truly didn’t expect to see you just now.”

“Yesterday I went strolling around Leyou Plain and ran into Miss Cui and Miss Changsun,” Li Piaoqing said with a smile. “You’d have been utterly ashamed if you’d seen it—so many lovely girls gathered around a small pavilion, with a large banner beside it bearing five big characters: ‘Pei Ye’s Admirers Club.’ I froze right where I stood.”

“...I’m already feeling dizzy just hearing you say that.”

The girl clearly longed to share the scene she’d witnessed the day before, chattering away beside him, her fresh fragrance faint yet present. For a moment, Pei Ye felt dazed—the girl beside him seemed strangely unfamiliar, yet also deeply familiar, with not the slightest barrier between them. Without thinking, their shoulders brushed together.

As if the half-year separation had never happened, all the anxiety and timidity he’d felt when apart were merely his own wild imaginings.

“Piaoqing, you seem to have grown a little.” Pei Ye suddenly said.

The girl’s chattering stopped. She smiled at him. “Oh? So everything I just said, you didn’t listen to at all.”

“...I was distracted.”

“You’ve grown a bit too,” Li Piaoqing studied his face and smiled. “More handsome now.”

“...What?” Pei Ye knew he shouldn’t blush at such jokes anymore, yet his cheeks warmed, and he instinctively turned his face away.

Li Piaoqing fell silent. They walked along the garden path, willow breezes rustling, the horizon streaked with a faint yellow, the entire sky like a piece of jade with amber inclusions—perfect for delicate carving.

“What are you off to do? I’ll go say goodbye to He Zhenchuan and Yiner first,” Pei Ye said, pulling his gaze back. Even if everything else had changed, the sky of Bowang and the sky of Shenjing would never differ. Eight months ago, they’d often walked like this, gazing at the horizon.

“I saw He Zhenchuan just now as I came up—she’s standing by the gate waiting for you,” Li Piaoqing paused, curious. “Who’s Yiner?”

“Oh, a new acquaintance—my junior sister by family ties.”

“A new acquaintance... why Youshi a junior sister?” Li Piaoqing smiled, puzzled. “How do you have so many strange connections?”

“...”