Chapter 81 — Showdown Part 2
Edited by DancingDolphinsYo
Expressionlessly, Ping Yifan witnessed Wu Xingzi’s every move. He watched as the old fellow sneaked countless peeks at Guan Shanjin, and the emotion left on his face was very subtle. It was unclear whether he was feeling relieved, or he was feeling a very faint sense of regret, but his attention was quickly taken away by Yan Wenxin.
It had to be said that when Wu Xingzi was secretly looking at Guan Shanjin, he still knew how to somewhat conceal his actions. However, the way he looked at Yan Wenxin was completely undisguised, to the point where it could be considered offensive. It was likely that the old fellow himself did not realise it.
As for Yan Wenxin, he was fine. Despite how overt and brazen Wu Xingzi’s gaze was, he paid no attention to it. After the initial greetings, he seemed to be completely focused on Bai Shaochang’s music, and his expression was fully compatible with the melody. If Ping Yifan had not deliberately paid him a small bit of attention, it was likely that he would not have noticed at all how the other man was currently observing him.
Hmph, what a sly, old fox.
In Guan Shanjin’s case, he was even more distracted. With his head bowed, he was fiddling with Lu Zezhi’s hand. In Wu Xingzi’s eyes, he seemed to be showering Lu Zezhi with warm and tender affection, but both Ping Yifan and Yan Wenxin had long noticed the Great Southern Garrison General’s distraction, and how he seemed to be troubled.
Perhaps due to the worries on the audience’s minds, Bai Shaochang’s tranquil mood was affected. His music gradually became a little disordered, and his playing finally culminated in a string of the qin breaking.
Bai Shaochang’s brows knitted slightly. A drop of blood instantly beaded up on the tip of his finger, staining a small section of the string red.
“Be careful, Bai-gongzi.” Although it was only a perfunctory sentence, Yan Wenxin was still the first to react. Next to them, the servant had already picked up a bottle of medication to clean the wound for his master. Bai Shaochang shook his lowered head.
“It’s Qiuxiao who has been discourteous.”
“How can you say that? I’m afraid, it’s us, the listeners, who have affected the clarity of your mood,” Yan Wenxin spoke as he surveyed the rest of the guests. The moment Wu Xingzi met his eyes, his face flushed red and he bent his neck immediately, regret filling his face.
Ping Yifan pinched his hand, speaking up with an apologetic tone. “What Lord Yan said is true. Everyone says that when playing his qin, Bai-gongzi places great emphasis on the clarity of one’s mind, as well as one’s concentration and focus. Seeing it for myself today, it’s just as they said. I am truly feeling ashamed.”
“… Ping-gongzi is taking it too seriously.” Bai Shaochang pressed his lips together, his face a little pale. The wound on the tip of his finger was fairly serious, and it would be unlikely that he would be able to play well if he were to continue playing. As such, he pushed the qin away, stood up and gave a courteous bow. “Today, I, Qiuxiao, am unable to do the honours of making friends through music, and I am truly apologetic. When the wound on my finger is healed, I hope that all of you would be willing to accept my invitation for another round again.”
“Bai-gongzi is too courteous.” His guests all chimed in with various courtesies, and this gathering somehow just ended like this, and the guests all somehow received another invitation.
Young Master Bai was the first to make his farewells and leave the compound. However, he had no intentions of rushing his guests off. Instead, he instructed his family’s steward to take care of the guests. After some snacks and more tea were served, a few children came in. They were all less than the age of ten, and all of them had a musical instrument in their hands. There were flutes, pipas, xuns1, and even a zither.
They watched as the steward personally packed away Young Master Bai’s qin, and the two smart servants next to the steward tidied up the stand where the qin rested. The children all sat down on their respective seats, and one by one, they started playing.
Although the father and son of the Bai family were skilled in qin-playing, they were also learned in other instruments as well. This was especially so for Young Master Bai, who was extremely gifted musically, and he basically was born with the talent in playing music. No matter the instrument, he was very comfortable in playing them all. Although it could not be compared to his excellence in playing the qin, it was no worse than other famous masters of music.
He accepted a few children as students, and the reason why they were not referred to as his disciples was because Young Master Bai was a player of the qin, and for him to accept disciples, he naturally had to teach them how to play the qin. However, as of now, although Young Master Bai had taught the children a type of instrument each, letting them play and perform during the banquets hosted by the Bai family, he had never taught any one of them the art of the qin.
All the children performing in front of the audience had been taught by Young Master Bai.
Despite the children’s young age, as well as the lack of strength in their fingers and lungs, they had been trained since young. The sound of their music was already beyond mediocre, and with the summer sun and cool breeze, as well as the scenery in front of the audience, it was extremely pleasant to the ears. Just like a bout of rain after a long drought, it made the listeners feel refreshed and alive.
Wu Xingzi listened for a while, and once again, he could not help sneaking looks at Guan Shanjin.
Just now, seeing Yan Wenxin had caused Wu Xingzi too much of a shock, and he had been unable to gather back his wits for a moment. This, Ping Yifan could understand. Now, in Wu Xingzi’s mouth was a bit of a snack that Ping Yifan had personally fed him, yet those deceitful eyes were fixed directly upon Guan Shanjin, almost undressing him. Ping Yifan could not help but frown, and he gave “Guan Shanjin” a harsh glare.
On that side, the “Guan Shanjin” who was currently behaving affectionately and tenderly towards Lu Zezhi stiffened abruptly. All his hair stood on ends, and in no time, he broke out in cold sweat. In his heart, he could only complain bitterly, yet he still had to pretend as though nothing had happened, and exchange a vague hint of an icy smile with Ping Yifan. His attitude seemed full of scorn, yet people who understood his disposition well would know that he was somewhat fearful of the plain-looking man in front of him.
The ongoings naturally did not escape Yan Wenxin’s eyes. With lowered lids, he sipped on his tea with no hint of a reaction, yet many thoughts were already running through his mind.
“Umm… Is he ill?” Wu Xingzi mumbled softly.
When Ping Yifan heard that, a trace of hostility flashed past his warm eyes. “Who’s ill?”
“Ahh…” Only then did Wu Xingzi realise that he had accidentally voiced out his thoughts. Hurriedly, he closed his mouth, looking very awkward. Ping Yifan sighed softly, grabbing Wu Xingzi’s hand gently and pulling it to his lips, pressing a kiss on it.
“Ai, don’t be like this… there are many people around…” Wu Xingzi’s face was a bright red. For now, Guan Shanjin was shoved to the back of his head, and he nearly could not even remember who the man was.
“Hmm? You don’t like it?” Ping Yifan leant over and tugged the man into his arms, then kissed his palm another two times, looking rather wicked.
Wu Xingzi did like it very much, but he was not bold enough for such behaviour! In the past, when he was together with Guan Shanjin, all their intimacy had been in private. At the very most, only Rancui, Hei’er and the two maid servants had witnessed them in action before, and they had never been so blatant about it. Wu Xingzi tried a few times to tug his hand back, but he failed. As such, he gave up and just hid his head away, pretending to be dead instead.
This was exactly what Ping Yifan wanted, for Wu Xingzi to not look at that Guan Shanjin or Yan Wenxin anymore.
Fortunately, Guan Shanjin too did not stay for long. After having some tea and a piece of a snack, Lu Zezhi revealed a look of fatigue. The young man pampering him naturally did not miss it. He spoke quietly into Lu Zezhi’s ear, then stood up and made his farewells to the group.
Of course, as the Great Southern Garrison General, as well as the Protector General’s son, Guan Shanjin paid no attention to Ping Yifan and Wu Xingzi, two members of the common folk. He did not hesitate in putting on airs, and even his courtesies towards the Minister of Personnel, Yan Wenxin, were very perfunctory. He did not want to stay for a second longer.
Before their departure, Lu Zezhi again glanced over to Wu Xingzi. His mouth curled up in a faint, graceful smile, seeming as though there were a thousand and one words in the curve of those lips. Simply put, the meaning of that smile was — a dog who lost its master.
It was unclear if Wu Xingzi understood the implication, as the old fellow was still looking at Guan Shanjin dazedly. However, both Ping Yifan and Yan Wenxin picked up on it.
Ping Yifan lowered his lids, concealing the disgust in his eyes. Gently, he spread apart Wu Xingzi’s palm with his hand. After tweaking all of the older man’s fingers one by one, he interlaced their fingers together.
As for Yan Wenxin, there was no change in his expression. Under the cover of light and shadows, he eyed Wu Xingzi from head to toe, then used his teacup to hide the hint of a smile on his lips.
Since Guan Shanjin had left already, Ping Yifan too was not in the mood to continue lingering there anymore. His reason for bringing Wu Xingzi here today was that he wanted to probe Wu Xingzi a little, as well as knowing that the old fellow liked listening to the music of the qin. That was why he had accepted Bai Shaochang’s invitation. Why else would he have spent so much effort for this farce?
However, the snacks laid down in front of them had yet to be finished. The snacks provided by the Bai family were truly delicious. They were not especially exquisite, and were only just steamed cakes. There were rose flavoured ones, as well as ones studded with pine nuts, and they were coated in a layer of sugar. The steamed cakes were soft and tender, extremely fluffy, and the aroma of the milk and dough could be tasted in every bite. The flavour was not covered by the rose or the pine nuts, and the flavours all melded perfectly well together.
The sugar coating the cakes was clearly a traditional type that was used in worship and offering. Glittering and translucent, the sugar looked like fine crystals, and it was most definitely gifted to the Bai family by the emperor. Just this snack alone was enough to see how highly the Bai family viewed their guests. Wu Xingzi had always liked to eat, and he did not like to see things go to waste. So, he could not help but eye the snacks left on the table Guan Shanjin and Lu Zezhi were using. That look of pain amused Ping Yifan greatly, and so he curled a finger under Wu Xingzi’s chin, turning the man’s head towards himself as he laughed. “They all say that a person’s appearance could be so good looking that one could feast their eyes on it. Does that mean that my looks cannot compare to some pieces of steamed cake?”
The words sounded teasing, but the sour jealousy in those words was so thick that it could overwhelm Fang Xuanling’s wife2.
How could such a comparison be made?! Enchanted by the male next to him, Wu Xingzi momentarily forgot about those pieces of steamed cake that shared no fate with him. Obediently, he opened his mouth and accepted a piece of snack Ping Yifan fed him.
Looking at how intimate the two people were, Yan Wenxin smoothed his beard as he spoke, “This young lad looks rather unfamiliar. Where are you from?”
Wu Xingzi naturally did not think that he was the “young lad”. However, to suddenly hear Yan Wenxin striking a conversation, the steamed cake in his mouth seemed to turn into wax. Despite having a touch more of reservedness and loftiness, that bright and clear voice was still as gentle and warm as it was twenty years ago.
As for Ping Yifan, who had no choice but to accept the label of “young lad”, he felt extremely unhappy. However, not a hint of his feelings was revealed on his face. After pushing a cup of tea into Wu Xingzi’s hand, he lifted his head and cupped his hands at Yan Wenxin. “I was born and raised in the capital, just that I’m only one of the common folks, and have yet to achieve anything even today. It’s natural that Lord Yan finds me unfamiliar.”
“Young lad, you look hale and hearty, and your appearance is good too. How could it be that you don’t have any achievements?”
Yan Wenxin himself had been born in a poor and humble family, and he naturally understood the mentality of poor, young men. Every man had a dream of shaking free from the shackles of poverty. Who would be willing to muddle along in life, remaining mediocre and unambitious? However, which of those mediocre men ambling along would have the ease and confidence of the young lad in front of him? And how could they be neither humble nor servile when facing an important court official? To give such a perfect reply, leaving no room to seek faults with, yet still leaving cracks to tempt others to probe into it, this was definitely something that could only be learnt in the aristocratic and noble families.
“I’m unlearned, and I don’t care much about the teachings of sages and wise men. However, I’ve gained a little in the path of trade, but I’m only someone who makes profits off others. How could I be unabashed enough to become familiar with Lord Yan?”
Hearing the response, Yan Wenxin burst out in laughter. “Young lad, you’re too humble. The Great Xia dynasty does not look down on merchants and traders. It’s said that every trade has its master, and I can see that you’re not just some small being muddling their way through life.”
Seeing that Ping Yifan was about to give another courteous reply, Yan Wenxin gave a wave of his hand. “Ai, I am still able to discern talents amongst us. Young lad, you don’t have to be that unassuming. You say that you were born and raised in the capital, may I know which area?”
“It’s around the Winding Liantang Path in the south of the city. With Lord Yan’s nobility and aristocracy, I’m afraid that you’d be rather unfamiliar with the city south.” Since Yan Wenxin had already made his point, Ping Yifan no longer maintained his submissive and overawed attitude. Instead, his words were laced with a trace of mockery.
“The city south…” Yan Wenxin stroked his beard, smiling. “I have to make it clear, naturally, I’m not as knowledgeable as you with regards to the area. However, compared to the other court officials, I can be said to be familiar.”
“Oh, Lord Yan truly cherishes the entire country.” Ping Yifan returned a smile.
However, he clearly had no intentions to chase after the bait in Yan Wenxin’s words. After giving him a perfunctory reply, he lowered his head, asking Wu Xingzi, “Are you hungry yet? It’s about time for lunch. The Bai family should be inviting us to have a meal, or would you rather go have something else more interesting?”
Wu Xingzi had just finished his snack and tea, and his appetite had basically been whetted. Rubbing his belly, he said, “Let’s not disturb Bai-gongzi any more. Rancui says that a roast duck shop just opened a few days ago. I do want to try it.”
“Let’s settle on that. Now that the steward has yet to invite us, we should quickly make our farewells.” Ping Yifan then deftly stood up, before helping Wu Xingzi up as he teased him. “In any case, the Great Southern Garrison General is no longer here. It’s all just things and people of the past, why do we have to get so hung up on it?”
“Ai…” Having his thoughts exposed, Wu Xingzi could not help blushing. Just as he wanted to settle Ping Yifan’s concerns, a thought suddenly flashed past his head. Jealousy was simmering under Ping Yifan’s words. At any time else, Wu Xingzi would be very embarrassed, yet secretly revelling in it. After all, only when their hearts were towards each other, would they be so concerned with the other.
However, why did this jealousy surface? Was it just a simple reason, that Ping Yifan did not like the fact that he was looking at other men, or did he know about the previous tryst he had shared with Guan Shanjin?
If it was the former, the number of times he had peeked at Guan Shanjin was much less than the number of times he had sneaked a look at Yan Wenxin. However, Ping Yifan held no jealousy towards Yan Wenxin. Although he did give the man a few gentle jabs, it was because of his annoyance from being questioned, as well as he did not wish to have more interactions with such court officials.
No no no. Reflexively, Wu Xingzi shook his head. He must be thinking too much, and his thoughts must have strayed too much… That tryst between Guan Shanjin and him, at the very most, the news had only spread around Bastion City for a few days, and then again in Qingcheng County for a few days. After that, the news about Guan Shanjin going to the Yue Manor to snatch the groom had been suppressed as well. There was no reason to suspect that any information had been carried to the capital, and Wu Xingzi also did not believe that while liking Mr. Lu, Guan Shanjin would allow such ambiguous and scandalous rumours to spread around for other people to gossip over. In the capital, it was likely that no one dared to spread any gossip about the private matters of the Great Southern Garrison General, unless Guan Shanjin had deliberately allowed it.
However, Wu Xingzi had been in the capital for quite some time already, and Rancui was very well-informed about various news and gossip. If he had heard something about it, he would have most definitely let Wu Xingzi know.
Then, the meaning implied in Ping Yifan’s words…
“What’s wrong? Look at how dazed you look.” Ping Yifan pinched Wu Xingzi’s fleshy nose. He wrapped an arm around the older man’s waist, and enveloped him in the scent of orange blossom and white sandalwood.
“No… I’m just hungry…” Wu Xingzi forced a smile out, then bent his neck, as though he was bashful. Ping Yifan pinched at the soft skin around his waist, sighing, “Ah, why do you never put on weight?”
Without saying goodbye to Yan Wenxin, Ping Yifan led Wu Xingzi away from the qin compound.
Yan Wenxin did not mind that he was snubbed. Not too long after, the steward of the Bai family brought along Young Master Bai’s invitation to lunch, and he accepted it with pleasure.
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