After the family had finished dinner and returned to their quarters, Pei Qingyu saw Yu Tingzheng standing at the doorway, peering inside without entering. He frowned and asked, “What are you loitering there for?”
Yu Tingzheng froze, his head drooping in disappointment as he turned to walk away.
Pei Qingyu: “…”
Pei Qingyu chased after him. “Are you leaving?”
Yu Tingzheng had already stepped down the stairs but had no idea where to go. He was thinking of asking Madam Pei for guidance when he was called back. He turned his head blankly toward the youth standing under the eaves.
By now, the sky was pitch black. Lanterns hung under the eaves, fully illuminating Pei Qingyu’s face, which showed a mixture of panic, irritation, and bewilderment. He clearly did not understand why the boy was suddenly walking off.
Yu Tingzheng said, “Yu’er… does not like me… sleeping in the same room. I will ask… Madam… if there are… other vacant rooms.”
“This house is not as large as the main estate. The maids and servants are already crowded together; where else would there be a room for you to sleep?” Pei Qingyu grew anxious. “Moreover, if you act this way, my mother will think I am kicking you out and will surely scold me.”
He spoke harshly, making it sound as if Yu Tingzheng were deliberately making things difficult for him.
Yu Tingzheng shrank his neck in fear. “Then… then I won’t look for… Madam. Yu’er… please don’t be angry.”
“That’s more like it.”
Pei Qingyu was about to turn back into the room, but seeing the boy hadn’t moved, he looked back with a frown. “Why are you still standing there?”
Yu Tingzheng replied, “Since… there are no rooms… for me to sleep in, I will… sleep outside. This place… is far from Madam’s… room; she won’t… see me.”
Pei Qingyu was fuming. “Fine! if you like sleeping outside so much, then sleep there. You need not enter this room to sleep ever again!”
With that, he went inside and slammed the door shut.
A-Tong, who had been bringing over a chessboard, was so startled he nearly dropped his things. He thought to himself that the Young Master was throwing a tantrum again. Usually, it involved throwing pillows, but this time he had slammed the door. Looking up, A-Tong saw Yu Tingzheng standing outside, looking utterly pitiful.
Did the Young Master kick Master Yu out?
A-Tong didn’t deliver the items and immediately turned to find Madam Pei. Upon hearing the news, Madam Pei dropped her rouge and stood up to see what madness her son was up to, but Master Pei stopped her.
“This is a matter between the young couple; we shouldn’t interfere. Let them resolve it themselves.”
“But—”
“Madam, do not worry. With Yu’er’s temperament, how long can he actually keep someone locked out?”
Reflecting on it, she realized he was right. Pei Qingyu was raised to be delicate and overbearing, but he was also awkward and prone to being soft-hearted. It wouldn’t be long before he couldn’t sit still and called the boy inside. Madam Pei sat back down and continued organizing her treasures.
Master Pei sat nearby, leisurely watching her and sharing some interesting news from the city. Having wed in their youth, they were only sixteen when Pei Qingyu was born; now in their thirties, they still appeared as young as any youth due to their excellent self-care.
Madam Pei suddenly remembered something. “Why didn’t Jue’er come with you this time?”
Pei Jue was the younger son of Master Pei’s elder brother, who had been adopted by Madam Pei. He was two months younger than Pei Qingyu. The elder brother had thought that since Pei Qingyu was sickly, having another child in the household would be wise. Pei Jue had been brought to the estate before he could even form memories, and the Peis raised him as their own.
As a child, Pei Qingyu believed Jue’er was his biological brother and spoiled him relentlessly. As he grew older and learned the truth, he didn’t hesitate to discipline him when necessary. Pei Jue feared his brother’s oversight most of all; when Pei Qingyu moved to Yanti Village, no one was happier than Jue’er, who wished his brother would stay there forever.
“I asked him before I left,” Master Pei said with a chuckle. “He told me he had to study for his annual examinations and wouldn’t come. That brat loves to fool people; since when did he enjoy studying? In the past, going to the academy took half his life, yet now he’s suddenly ambitious.”
Madam Pei couldn’t help but laugh. “That child has a lively spirit and can never sit still. At home, he provokes his brother and gets beaten; outside, he causes trouble and comes home only to be beaten by his brother again. No wonder he doesn’t want to see him.”
Speaking of Pei Jue made Master Pei’s head ache. “You have no idea. Just two days ago, he got into a fight at the academy. I had to go in person to bring him home. He nearly made me lose all face.”
“These two brothers truly are” Madam Pei shook her head helplessly. “Only the day before yesterday, Yu’er got into a fight at his academy as well. Fortunately, he wasn’t injured.”
“None of them are easy to worry about.”
Looking at the closed door, Yu Tingzheng felt a dull, tight ache in his heart. Not daring to dwell on it, he sat down directly on the stone steps, intending to make do for the night.
The night wind was slightly cool but not freezing. He pulled his clothes tight and buried his head in his knees. He didn’t fall asleep; he just felt an ache somewhere within him.
After a long while, the door behind him opened with a creak. His shoulders twitched as he turned to look. Pei Qingyu had come out, but he wasn’t there for him. He merely gave the boy a brief glance before heading toward the washroom.
Watching the retreating figure, Yu Tingzheng slowly turned his head back, staring into space before burying his face in his knees again. Whether at the Pei house or the Yu house, it seemed nothing was different.
A-Tong came out after preparing the bath. Seeing Yu Tingzheng still sitting at the door, his heart skipped a beat. He wondered why the Young Master hadn’t let him in yet. He was considering offering his own small shack for the night when he saw Wanxiang walking over in the moonlight.
“Master Yu?”
Hearing the voice, Yu Tingzheng moved slightly. He looked up at her before quickly lowering his head again.
“Why are you sitting here?” the girl asked, tipping her toes to peer into the room. “The night air is chilly; you should go inside soon.”
“I… I’m not… going.” Yu Tingzheng’s nose was stuffed, making his voice sound muffled. “I will… sleep here.”
“Sleep here?” Wanxiang’s eyes widened as she looked at the stone steps. “How… how can that be? It’s so cold at night…”
Yu Tingzheng wiped his face haphazardly. “It’s fine. It’s, not cold.”
Wanxiang froze, leaning down to look closer. Yu Tingzheng turned his head away to hide his face. “Oh dear,” Wanxiang said sympathetically. “How about you sleep at my place tonight? I can share a bed with Wantang.”
“No… that won’t… do.” Yu Tingzheng sniffled.
Wanxiang knelt down. “But how can you sleep outside? If the Madam finds out, she certainly won’t agree. Did the Young Master lose his temper and kick you out? Perhaps I should tell the Madam…”
“Don’t go!” Yu Tingzheng grabbed her in a panic. “Don’t tell the Madam.”
Wanxiang knelt back down. “Then what should we do? Are you really going to sleep here all night?”
Yu Tingzheng nodded and wiped his face again.
Watching from the side, A-Tong felt distressed. He was just about to invite the boy to his room when he felt a sudden chill behind him. He turned to find a figure standing in the shadows, nearly making him scream.
“Young… Young Master?”
Pei Qingyu ignored him. He glared fiercely at the two people who were pulling at each other, his brow furrowed deeply enough to crush a fly.
A-Tong swallowed hard. Seeing that Pei Qingyu was still fully dressed, he laughed awkwardly. “Does the Young Master require me to help him change?”
He was met with a sharp, warning glance from Pei Qingyu.