Zhu Xingxu jumped in fright. When she saw Pei Xie, she felt as if she had seen a savior and instinctively grabbed his arm.
“You finally came…”
The sudden warmth of her hand through his sleeve startled him for a moment. The heat seeped through the fabric and spread inward, and for no reason at all, he felt at ease.
Zhu Xingxu quickly realized what she had done and withdrew her hand in embarrassment.
The warmth vanished at once. Pei Xie lowered his eyes, hiding the emotion within them.
“The Third Prince… truly…”
She sighed, wanting to say more but worrying that he might be displeased. After all, that was his third brother.
Pei Xie understood the Third Prince’s temperament well. He was too soft-hearted.
Looking at her, he said quietly, “I will not be like him.”
Zhu Xingxu nodded in agreement. “I know!”
In the original story, he had never been involved with any woman. Of course he would not behave that way.
He was faintly surprised by her certainty, yet quickly regained his composure, though a trace of amusement lingered in his eyes.
The two of them returned to Wenxin Theater and went upstairs. Zhu Xingxu headed back to the same private room. Since Shang Wenxiu had already reserved it for them, it would be a waste not to use it.
Pei Xie followed her inside. He glanced beneath the window toward the hall and understood the situation at once.
The pastries on the redwood table remained untouched. Zhu Xingxu sat down and casually picked up a piece to eat. The pastries were made small in keeping with the refined manners expected of noble ladies, each bite-sized and delicate.
To maintain his disguised identity, Pei Xie merely stood beside her and watched her eat.
After a while, Zhu Xingxu began to feel something was off. She looked up and met a pair of deep, unfathomable eyes.
Her heart stirred slightly, and she even forgot to chew.
Thinking she had choked, Pei Xie reached for the teapot. It felt cool to the touch, likely untouched for some time. He opened the door and called for a server to replace it. Soon fresh hot water was poured in.
After the server left, he poured her a cup of tea. “Drink some.”
Zhu Xingxu swallowed her pastry and took the cup, murmuring her thanks before sipping.
Even after several mouthfuls, the ripple in her heart refused to settle.
Another performance had begun on stage. The singers who had been crooning about longing and romance withdrew, replaced by a dignified actor with a long beard portraying a stern role.
Zhu Xingxu had little interest in this and instead focused on the foreigners downstairs.
They appeared equally uninterested, yawning frequently and chatting among themselves. She guessed they were waiting for the acrobatic acts.
Even in ancient times, there were those who preferred to idle about. They clearly had official duties, yet they sat here listening to opera they did not enjoy.
She asked Pei Xie softly, “Is that scroll really so important?”
He nodded. “With it, we can pressure the Crown Prince and make him hand over the Vermilion Bird totem.”
Though in practice, it would not be so direct. If the Crown Prince realized their true aim was the token, he would guard it even more closely.
After some time, the foreigners rose, seemingly heading to relieve themselves.
Zhu Xingxu quickly stood and followed at a measured distance. Pei Xie trailed behind her, his gaze fixed on them.
They indeed entered the latrine together, laughing and chatting. Zhu Xingxu stopped at a distance.
Pei Xie lowered his head and walked inside like a humble servant.
Zhu Xingxu pretended to wait for someone nearby while keeping watch.
Inside, the foreigners continued chatting. Pei Xie selected a corner stall. As he passed them, he deliberately bumped into one.
The foreigner flared up at once. Seeing only a poorly dressed servant, he grew even more arrogant and seized Pei Xie by the collar.
“You wretched servant, how dare you bump into me?”
Fear appeared on Pei Xie’s face. “I am sorry, I did not mean to.”
The foreigner snorted and shoved him to the ground. “If I see you again, I will knock your teeth out.”
Pei Xie apologized repeatedly and moved to the corner, pretending to relieve himself.
When the foreigners emerged, Zhu Xingxu turned her back to them at once.
They had not gone far when Pei Xie rejoined her. The foreigners noticed and addressed her.
“Miss, you should discipline your servant. He bumped into me in the latrine.”
Zhu Xingxu had not expected them to speak to her, yet she maintained her composure.
“My apologies. He behaves well at home, but perhaps he has not seen much of the world and gets flustered outside. Please forgive him.”
She spoke confidently, embodying the poise of a woman of the Rui Dynasty.
The foreigners laughed. “You are quite spirited.”
She smiled and led Pei Xie back inside. The foreigners followed behind them, intrigued.
“Ah, Miss, you came to watch the opera too?”
Unwilling to engage further, she attempted to ignore them, but Pei Xie lightly tugged her sleeve.
Suppressing a sigh, she turned and replied with a polite smile, “Yes. The theater opened today, so it is quite lively.”
By then, the opera had ended and the acrobats had taken the stage. Young boys and girls in matching outfits began their performance.
The foreigners’ attention shifted at once. When they tried to return to their seats, they found several commoners occupying them.
“Move aside. Those are our seats.”
Seats in the main hall were unassigned. Anyone could sit in an empty place, unlike the private rooms.
The foreigners assumed the seats were theirs by right. The commoners, intimidated by their imposing stature, withdrew resentfully.
The foreigners felt no shame. On the contrary, they seemed pleased with themselves.
Zhu Xingxu snorted softly and returned upstairs with Pei Xie.
As soon as they entered the room, she asked, “How did it go?”
He shook his head slowly. “When I bumped into them, I felt nothing.”
After a moment’s thought, he added, “They must have hidden it somewhere deeper.”
Resting her chin in her hand, she murmured, “Where could it be?”
Pei Xie stood in the shadow near the window, continuing to observe them. They cheered loudly at the acrobatic feats.
The foreigners wore garments made of animal hide and coarse cloth, appearing rugged and fierce.
Given that…
A possibility formed in his mind. Yet he would need assistance.
He recalled that the owner of the theater was on close terms with Zhu Xingxu. Though somewhat reluctant, he asked, “Do you know where Shang Wenxiu is?”
She hesitated. “I do not know. He went out earlier.”
Pei Xie sensed her reluctance but did not press further.
He leaned against the window, considering other methods. Though he had altered his appearance, the stage lights cast a faint loneliness across his features.
For some reason, Zhu Xingxu found that expression difficult to bear, as if she had wronged him.
Turning away, she opened the door and decided to search for Shang Wenxiu. Surely he would return eventually.
In the corridor, she looked about until a server noticed her. Knowing she was a friend of the young master, he approached respectfully.
“Miss Zhu, is there anything you require?”
She was startled. The server lowered his voice. “The young master instructed us to assist you with anything you need.”
Understanding, she brought him back to the private room.
Pei Xie studied the server carefully. The man met his gaze steadily, loyal and unflinching.
After a long moment, Pei Xie leaned in and whispered instructions into his ear.
The server frowned slightly, hesitated, then agreed and left.
“What did you tell him?” Zhu Xingxu asked curiously.
“You will see soon,” Pei Xie replied with a faint smile.
She pouted in dissatisfaction, half tempted to expose his previous servile act as Ah Gui to embarrass him.
Meanwhile, the hall remained peaceful as the acrobatic troupe performed skillfully.
A new group of slightly older performers took the stage, their physiques nearly that of adults.
They bowed and began with a daring feat. One by one they formed a human tower. The largest man balanced twenty bowls upon his head as he climbed to the top.
The audience held its breath. With each step upward, cheers erupted.
At last, he reached the summit, bowls steady upon his head. Applause thundered.
Then disaster struck.
The man at the bottom began to tremble from exhaustion. The entire formation wavered. The man at the top swayed slightly.
The twenty bowls, delicately balanced, crashed down in a flurry of shattering porcelain.
Those seated nearby scrambled backward to avoid the shards.
A server weaving through the crowd with a teapot was jostled and stumbled sideways.
The boiling tea spilled directly onto the foreigners.