That afternoon, Cloud Silk Atelier was unusually quiet.
Shen Nianyi was chatting idly with Madam Wang and Auntie Liu, who had dropped by for a visit.
“Nianyi, I’m not one to gossip, but that Young Master Pei is handsome and comes from a good family, yet his reputation as a playboy… you really ought to be careful!”
Shen Nianyi felt an immediate wave of exasperation.
The way they spoke made it sound as if she were his lawfully wedded wife, responsible for managing his outside dalliances.
Between her and Pei Yanshu, at most, they were creditor and debtor… no, colleagues, nothing more.
Madam Wang, fanning herself with a round fan, chimed in, “Indeed, I heard just yesterday that a certain official’s daughter, after hearing him play a tune at Pingkang Lane, couldn’t forget him and has been asking about him everywhere…”
Shen Nianyi thought to herself: Whoever wants to ask about him, let them! Even if a hundred, a thousand girls were pining for him, what did that have to do with her, Shen Nianyi?
She wished some noble lady would hurry up and take this troublesome deity away, saving everyone the daily nuisance and aggravation.
“Aunties, you jest. He is he, I am I. Even if he attracts a princess, what concern is it of mine…”
Before she could finish, the loud greeting of the shop assistant, Da Chun, sounded from the entrance:
“Young Master Pei is back! Oh, and you’ve brought a distinguished guest…”
Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives.
Pei Yanshu sauntered in, fan in hand, and behind him followed a young woman dressed in luxurious, unfamiliar attire.
The way the girl looked at Pei Yanshu was shy and timid, her affection practically overflowing.
Madam Wang and Auntie Liu immediately exchanged a look that said, “Just as we thought.”
The smile on Shen Nianyi’s face instantly stiffened.
Pei Yanshu, as if oblivious to the strange atmosphere in the shop, leaned lazily against the counter and introduced to Shen Nianyi, “Nianyi, this is the granddaughter of the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments. She happened to see my calligraphy for the ‘Cloud and Rainbow Garment’ and specially came to our shop to look at the fabrics.”
The young Miss Sun nodded primly, her gaze still glued to Pei Yanshu, and said softly, “Young Master Pei’s calligraphy… is truly unique and unforgettable. I wonder if the young master has any new works recently?”
Pei Yanshu’s peach-blossom eyes curved as he was about to reply, but his peripheral glance caught Shen Nianyi’s increasingly dark expression and the amused looks on Madam Wang and Auntie Liu’s faces.
A brilliant idea suddenly flashed through his mind—one that could tactfully discourage this enthusiastic Miss Sun and also… well, incidentally let him see the shopkeeper’s vivid reaction. Wouldn’t that kill two birds with one stone?
Instead of avoiding it, he took a step closer to Miss Sun, half-hiding his face with his folding fan, lowering his voice in a manner that appeared extremely intimate. “If Miss Sun likes it, I’ll write a piece specially for you another day…”
“Young Master Pei!”
Before he could finish, Auntie Liu couldn’t hold back anymore, raising her voice at Pei Yanshu, “What is the meaning of this? Right in front of our Nianyi, you’re being so… so familiar with another girl? Have you forgotten all those words you said in front of the entire Chang’an at the Silk Competition?”
Madam Wang immediately followed up, “Exactly! Are words like ‘pledging oneself’ something to be spoken lightly? Carrying on like this, what position does it leave our Nianyi in?”
She grew angrier as she spoke, recalling what she had witnessed a few days earlier: “Besides, we all saw it that morning! You wandered out from the backyard in your nightclothes, looking like you’d just woken up, and even complained in front of us that you were hungry. This—this is utterly improper! And now you want to deny everything after having your fill?”
The two women went back and forth, treating Shen Nianyi as if she were a young wife wronged by a heartless man, determined to seek justice on her behalf.
In the shop, Miss Sun was so startled by this sudden outburst that her delicate face paled. She stared in disbelief, her gaze darting between Pei Yanshu and Shen Nianyi as if witnessing some scandalous disgrace.
Shen Nianyi stood protected beside Auntie Liu, listening as the two women took turns demanding justice. Her vision darkened, and she nearly fainted from embarrassment, wishing she could vanish into the ground.
What on earth was all this?!
Miss Sun was already on the verge of collapse. She looked at Pei Yanshu, her eyes instantly reddening, her voice trembling: “Young Master Pei… is… is what they said true? Have you and this Manager Shen… already…”
She was too ashamed to utter the final two words, but her expression said it all.
She had thought Pei Yanshu was merely charming and flirtatious, never imagining he could be entangled in such an unsavory way with a merchant’s daughter.
Pei Yanshu was momentarily stunned by the accusations, then a flicker of amusement and helplessness passed through his eyes.
He had only intended to put on an act to extract some information, never expecting the two aunties to be so formidable, exposing his supposed secrets outright. He glanced at Shen Nianyi and suddenly found her flustered, angry, and speechless expression far more amusing than her usual cold and disdainful demeanor.
Seizing the opportunity, he decided to play along.
The playful arrogance on his face faded slightly, replaced by a look of helpless affection. He cupped his hands toward Miss Sun and said, “Miss Sun, I truly apologize. I… have my difficulties.”
His gaze drifted “lovingly” toward Shen Nianyi as he sighed. “Some fates are simply beyond human control. Nianyi… may have a fiery temper, but since I’ve… made a promise, I must take responsibility.”
His words were vague and suggestive, leaving enough unsaid for anyone to imagine an entire romantic tale! It was more ambiguous than a direct admission and more damning than an outright denial!
“Take responsibility?!” Shen Nianyi snapped her head up, staring at Pei Yanshu in disbelief.
What nonsense was this scoundrel spouting now? Who asked him to take responsibility?!
When Miss Sun heard the words “take responsibility,” it felt like a thunderbolt striking her, shattering her last shred of hope.
Looking at Pei Yanshu’s seemingly helpless expression and Shen Nianyi’s mix of shame and anger, she felt her heart shatter into pieces. Grief, humiliation, and the fury of betrayal instantly overwhelmed her reason.
“Pei Yanshu! You… you shameless! You vile man!”
With a cry of despair, summoning strength from somewhere, she suddenly rushed forward before anyone could react and raised her hand with force—
Slap!
A crisp, resounding slap landed squarely on Pei Yanshu’s handsome face!
The sound was so sharp that Madam Wang and Auntie Liu gasped in shock, falling silent instantly.
Pei Yanshu’s head snapped to the side from the blow, a clear handprint instantly appearing on his cheek.
He was completely stunned, clutching his face, his eyes filled with astonishment and disbelief.
He… he had merely played along with the two aunties’ words and put on a show, speaking a bit ambiguously, but he hadn’t even touched a corner of Miss Sun’s clothing. How did that earn him a slap?
After delivering the slap, Miss Sun herself froze. Staring at the red mark on Pei Yanshu’s face, she grew both furious and fearful, tears streaming even more fiercely. Stamping her foot, she cried, “You deserve it!” Without another word, she turned and ran out of Cloud Silk Atelier, weeping.
A deathly silence enveloped the shop.
Madam Wang and Auntie Liu wore expressions of relief, as if thinking, “Finally, we’ve vented some anger for Nianyi.”
Da Chun and A Man hid behind the shelves, watching with wide-eyed astonishment.
Xiao Ya also held her breath.
Shen Nianyi’s heart, filled with shame and indignation, was somewhat scattered by this sudden slap. Looking at the clear palm print on Pei Yanshu’s face, she momentarily didn’t know how to react.
Pei Yanshu slowly turned his head, touched his slightly numb cheek, and looked at Shen Nianyi. His eyes were filled with absurdity and grievance, his tone tinged with disbelief. “Nianyi, what… what is this?”
His innocent, almost accusatory expression made the inexplicable anger in Shen Nianyi’s heart “puff” out, nearly causing her to laugh aloud.
She forced herself to keep a straight face and stiffly retorted, “You deserve it!”
Seeing this, Madam Wang and Auntie Liu also felt the situation was awkward and quickly tried to smooth things over. “Oh dear, this… Miss Sun’s temper is truly too fiery…”
“Exactly, exactly, we should talk things out properly. How could she resort to violence…” Auntie Liu chimed in, though her eyes couldn’t help drifting toward Pei Yanshu’s face.
Just as the awkward moment lingered, a startled exclamation came from the doorway: “Oh, heavens above! Sixth Brother, what happened to your face?”
There stood the Second Madam of the Pei family, supported by her maid, her eyes wide as saucers, fixed on the clear slap mark on Pei Yanshu’s face.
She hurried inside, circled Pei Yanshu once, then suddenly turned to Shen Nianyi, her voice rising sharply:
“Manager Shen! This is your fault! Although our Sixth Brother is a child of a concubine, he is still a member of the Pei family! Even when beating a dog, one must consider its owner. How dare you strike him so casually? Do you have no regard for our Pei family at all?”
Shen Nianyi was left speechless by this sudden tirade. Just as she was about to explain, Second Madam gave her no chance, continuing her rapid-fire accusations:
“I know there are rumors outside about an ink-dipped promise of marriage, but those were just foolish words spoken by Sixth Brother in a moment of immaturity! How could you, an unmarried young lady, actually resort to violence? If this gets out, where will our Pei family’s reputation go?”
“Second Sister-in-law…” Pei Yanshu began, only to be shoved aside by Second Madam.
“Be quiet! This is all your doing!” Second Madam angrily patted her chest, then turned back to Shen Nianyi. “Let me tell you, our Pei family will absolutely not acknowledge this marriage arrangement! You’d better give up on this idea right now!”
Just as Shen Nianyi trembled with rage, and Madam Wang and Auntie Liu anxiously tried to explain, Pei Yanshu’s voice suddenly rang out:
“Why can’t it be acknowledged?”
His question was posed so matter-of-factly that Second Madam was momentarily stunned. She instinctively replied, “Of course it can’t be acknowledged! This kind of unclear, ambiguous…”
Halfway through her sentence, she abruptly stopped and turned to Pei Yanshu with disbelief.
What did he mean by that? Shouldn’t he have taken the opportunity to step down, saying it was all a misunderstanding? Why was he questioning her instead?
“You… what did you say?” Second Madam’s voice changed pitch.
Not only Second Madam, even Shen Nianyi was stunned. She instinctively looked toward Pei Yanshu, only to see him leisurely wiping the slap mark on his face with his sleeve.
“I said,” Pei Yanshu raised his head, his gaze lazily sweeping toward Second Madam, his tone carrying a hint of confusion, “why can’t I acknowledge it?”
He took a step forward, pointing at his own face: “Second Sister-in-law, look at this face of mine—it’s now the most famous face in all of Chang’an. First, I was embraced by Manager Shen at the Brocade Competition, and today I was passionately slapped by Miss Sun.”
He then pointed at Shen Nianyi: “And look at Manager Shen—for my sake, she’s been gossiped about, misunderstood by Miss Sun, and just now, she was scolded by you right to her face.”
“Things have already reached this point. If I don’t acknowledge it, what will people outside say? That the Sixth Young Master of the Pei family is a heartless scoundrel? That the Pei family bullies others with their power? Second Sister-in-law, tell me… does that sound good?”
His words were flawless—every single word was pure sophistry, yet there was no fault to be found.
Second Madam was left speechless by his questions, her face alternating between red and white.
“You… you’re twisting logic!” Second Madam stamped her foot in anger.
“Second Sister-in-law, what are you saying?” Pei Yanshu looked aggrieved. “Aren’t I reasoning with you? Besides…”
He suddenly leaned close to Second Madam, lowering his voice to a volume only the two of them could hear:
“Haven’t you always been worried that I might compete with Eldest Brother and Second Brother? Now that I’m finding a merchant’s daughter and settling down peacefully to dye cloth in the West Market, shouldn’t you feel relieved?”
These words landed precisely on Second Madam’s greatest concern.
She looked up, meeting Pei Yanshu’s eyes, and all the prepared reprimands stuck in her throat.
“You…” Second Madam stammered for a long while before finally squeezing out: “The Buddha’s Hand gold fabric that Mother wants—deliver it as soon as possible!”
After uttering this near-surrender, Second Madam fled in disarray, her retreating figure carrying an air of embarrassment.
After Second Madam left, Shen Nianyi immediately grabbed Pei Yanshu’s sleeve and asked through gritted teeth: “Pei Yanshu! What did you mean by all that just now?”