Su He hurried into the Bamboo Garden and immediately spotted Pei Yan sitting in a rocking chair, holding the copy of the Book of Songs she had transcribed.
“My lord,” she greeted respectfully with a curtsy, then walked past him toward the well.
Rolling up her sleeves, she scooped well water and rinsed her mouth.
Many wealthy families avoided the sick, fearing contagion. Though her condition involved regulating a woman’s health, it still involved medicine, and Pei Yan might not appreciate the scent of herbs.
“My lord, will you be dining in the courtyard this evening?” Qiu Yun curtsied and asked softly.
“No need. I’ll be dining with my mother tonight,” Pei Yan replied, setting aside Su He’s calligraphy and turning to look at her.
The Anwei had already reported the day’s events. Like yesterday, Su He had remained silent, not uttering a single complaint. He found it curious—wasn’t she supposed to be acting spoiled and willful? Why wasn’t she showing any sign of it?
“My lord, has my calligraphy improved?” Su He returned, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him, awaiting praise.
“Yesterday it was chicken legs, today it’s duck feet,” Pei Yan remarked, his slender fingers resting on the arm of the rocking chair, tapping lightly.
Su He felt a pang of disappointment. She crouched by the table, picked up the characters she had written during the day, and examined them carefully.
Calligraphy wasn’t something one could master overnight; it required years of practice. This was only her second day formally practicing with a brush, and she had already made decent progress.
“I think I’ve improved quite a bit,” she said with a faint smile, carefully folding the paper and turning her small face toward him. “It’s just that you’re too stingy to praise me.”
Qiu Yun, standing nearby, was so shocked by Su He’s words that her eyes nearly popped out. She had thought Su He was a timid, pitiable little thing—how dare she act so boldly in front of Pei Yan?
“My lord, were you happy at court today?” Su He sat on Pei Yan’s lap, leaning softly against his chest.
“Hmm, not bad,” Pei Yan replied, his hand resting on her slender waist, gently kneading it.
“My lord, I want to eat pork knuckle tonight. Could you ask the kitchen to make one for me?” Su He tugged at his sleeve and pleaded softly, “I’ve never had pork knuckle before.”
She was too thin. With her current frail frame, she couldn’t fight anyone. She needed to learn skills and seize every opportunity to build up her weak body.
“Your stomach has been used to a vegetarian diet for a long time. You can’t handle pork knuckle right now,” Pei Yan explained patiently.
“Then just a small one,” Su He insisted, shaking her fist in front of his eyes. “My stomach is perfectly fine.”
“Be good,” Pei Yan said, pressing her fist down.
Qiu Yun was utterly dumbfounded.
Before Su He, Princess Chang had arranged concubines and maids for Pei Yan, but none had lasted more than a day in his presence. None dared to sit on his lap and make demands, let alone speak loudly.
How did Su He dare to do this!
“My lord, Princess Chang has already had the meal served,” a respectful female voice called from the garden entrance.
Su He glanced over and saw it was the same woman who had brought her the contraceptive soup earlier.
Pei Yan held Su He’s slender waist, lifted her from his lap, patted her cheek, and hurried off with her.
Qiu Yun muttered “goodness” to herself several times before finally having the evening meal served.
“Was that Princess Chang’s personal maid just now? What’s her name?” Su He whispered.
“Baozhu. Her mother was Princess Chang’s wet nurse, and that wet nurse once took a sword for Princess Chang. After her death, Baozhu stayed by Princess Chang’s side. In the future, when you see her, you must be especially cautious.”
So Baozhu actually had such a background—it seemed she truly needed to be careful.
Dinner was soon served, still consisting of two vegetarian dishes and one meat dish, with the meat not being overly greasy.
Su He had just taken a few bites when Baozhu arrived again. She stood at the courtyard gate, a mocking smile curling at the corner of her lips, looking disdainfully at Su He. Just from that gaze, Su He knew this visitor meant no good. Could it be because she had visited the pavilion across the way today?
“Miss Su He, Princess Chang summons you to attend to her,” Baozhu announced loudly.
Qiu Yun helped Su He up and whispered, “Don’t be afraid, miss. The master is there too. Once you arrive, remember to keep your head down and speak as little as possible.”
“Alright.” Su He steadied herself, straightened her clothes and hair, and walked out of the courtyard. Fortunately, what she wore today wasn’t as flamboyant as yesterday; otherwise, Princess Chang would have been even more displeased with her.
Princess Chang’s residence was quite a distance from Pei Yan’s Bamboo Garden, and it took a while to get there. At the entrance of the hall, she could hear light, cheerful laughter from inside, accompanied by the melodious sounds of strings and singing.
She stood obediently with her head bowed outside the door, waiting for Baozhu to announce her.
After standing for quite some time, Baozhu finally emerged and led her inside.
At the front of the hall were two low tables, with three more placed on each side. Princess Chang and Pei Yan sat at the front, while several others were seated behind the tables on either side. That seventy-year-old marquis was conspicuously present! In the center of the hall stood five exquisite women, each as fresh and lovely as spring onions.
“Princess Chang, this little girl is quite the climber. The Su family originally intended to give her to me, but she took advantage of Young Master Yan’s drunkenness and actively climbed into his bed,” the old marquis said, holding a wine cup, his aged face dark as he stared at Su He.
Su He looked at him, feeling a wave of nausea in her stomach.
How had this perverted old thing managed to find his way here?
“Princess Chang, this girl’s birth chart is auspicious for me. Why not bestow her upon me? These few here are all carefully selected by me—I offer them to Young Master Yan,” the old marquis added, pointing to the beauties in the hall.
Princess Chang adjusted the tassels of the gold hairpin by her ear and turned slightly to look at Pei Yan, smiling as she asked, “Yan’er, what do you think?”
Su He kept her head lowered, her small hands clutching her skirt tightly, her heart pounding wildly.
Five for one—only a fool wouldn’t make the trade.
Moreover, these women were outstanding in both looks and figure—some were enchanting, others pure. If Pei Yan were to take a fancy to them and accept these women, she would be done for today.
A sense of helplessness gripped her throat. Disregarding Qiu Yun’s warning, she lifted her head and looked directly at Pei Yan, her watery eyes fixed on him.
The entire hall fell silent.
Pei Yan held his wine cup, his dark, cold gaze lingering on her for only a moment before shifting to the five beauties.
With a thud, Su He’s heart sank to the depths.
Was this dog of a man about to abandon her? Fine—he wouldn’t even give her a pork knuckle to eat, so stingy. She didn’t want to stay anyway.
Pei Yan watched as Su He’s little face flushed crimson, then as she buried her head, on the verge of tears. Only then did he lift his wine cup, took a sip, and slowly said, “Kowtow to me three times.”
“Ah?” Princess Chang was taken aback for a moment and asked, “Do you want Su He to kowtow to you, or these women to do so?”
The old marquis waved his hand, shouting in a hoarse voice, “You lot, why aren’t you stepping forward to kowtow to Young Master Yan?”
The five beauties gracefully stepped forward and knelt before Pei Yan.
Su He bit her lip tightly, shifting her steps to the side to make room for the five beauties.
“Zhang Jiulu, how have you become so foolish? Get over here now.” Pei Yan tossed the wine cup back onto the table, the smile at the corner of his mouth turning cold.