At this hour, few people were on the village paths. Bailan turned and saw a man dressed in a rich-toned, cross-collared brocade robe.
Perhaps he had traveled lightly, without much jewelry, but even understated, a person of noble bearing stood out in the countryside.
Bailan noticed he had no attendants and, both surprised and uneasy, adopted an expression of innocent ignorance, treating the man as a mere passerby. “Sir, who are you looking for?”
Ning Muyan lifted his eyes, calm and sharp, and studied the wide-eyed, seemingly innocent young man before him. “Don’t recognize me with your clothes on?”
Bailan’s eyes widened; he parted his lips in shock.
“?!”
In broad daylight, under the open sky—was this really the time to say such a thing?
Ning Muyan spoke plainly: “Seems not.”
Bailan, seeing he couldn’t keep up the pretense, switched to a tone tinged with mild defiance, lacking the usual awe for nobility: “If you’ve come because of that incident before, there’s no need.”
“Why not?”
Bailan straight-facedly lied: “Because I’ve already decided to forget that unlucky matter, and I want no further entanglement with you, Ning Young Master.”
Ning Muyan frowned. “Do you dislike me that much?”
The faintly accusatory tone made Bailan feel almost guilty, as if he had abandoned someone unfairly. He grit his teeth: “Even if you are a remarkable man, what happened… after that, if I didn’t dislike you, how could I still like you?”
Ning Muyan studied him for a long moment. Bailan could not read the thoughts behind those eyes, so he kept silent, letting him look. After a pause, Ning Muyan spoke:
“I know you’re unhappy. Though we were both wronged, by reason and by emotion, you suffered more. I ought to make amends.”
Bailan couldn’t understand this sudden patience from the usually proud Ning Young Master. Regardless, he resolved not to be deceived by appearances or repeat past mistakes.
“To make amends, huh? Fine.” Bailan spread his hands, brazenly: “I’m just a poor country boy. Nothing else to ask for—just some silver, enough to settle the matter.”
He fixed his face in a look that said: Just pay me off, I’m cheap.
He knew exactly what Ning Muyan detested—being seen as a petty, greedy commoner, short-sighted, money-loving… and now, less lascivious than before.
Ning Muyan frowned at this, clearly displeased. They remained at a standoff for a while before Ning Muyan finally moved.
Bailan saw Ning Muyan, clearly unable to endure any longer, reach into his sleeve to fetch money. He let out a barely audible breath of relief.
But when he saw the young master of the Ning family fumble around before producing only a few copper coins, Bailan’s eyes widened. Even a Ning family person can be this stingy!?
“I… I’m only worth this much?!”
He hadn’t come for money in the first place, but seeing such paltry coins offered as compensation still made him a little indignant.
If someone politely offered some silver, Ning Muyan could indeed hand it over—he knew how to act tactfully. Yet even the lowest-ranking companions in the manor could command more than this when drinking; and Ning Muyan managed to produce it so calmly!
Ning Muyan’s expression remained serious: “I didn’t carry much silver while traveling. Please forgive me.”
Not carry any silver? Any reasonable person knew to bring some along when traveling! Who was he trying to fool?
“If you don’t believe me, why not name an amount? I can accompany you to the manor to fetch it—any amount you need.”
Bailan was slightly surprised and glanced toward the distance. “That’s the Ning family’s estate?”
“Mm.”
Bailan had never realized that this manor in their village belonged to the Nings.
“And…?”
No, he thought, that would just create trouble. What if he followed him inside, only to be shut out again?
“Forget it. I’m just a rough country boy. No need to embarrass such a treasure.”
Bailan lowered his gaze, settling on the rigidly bound waist of Ning Muyan. He glanced up and said casually, “I’m not one to force things. Since you have difficulty with money, why not give me the jade at your waist? That way, it’s settled.”
Ning Muyan looked down at the jade pendant on his belt. Using his finger, he lifted it slightly; the white jade contrasted beautifully with his slender hand, making it look even more precious.
He showed no hesitation, curling his fingers to hand it to Bailan.
Bailan waited quietly. After a moment, Ning Muyan raised his eyes: “Usually, servants handle this. My hands are clumsy at the moment—you take it.”
“…You live in comfort, pride yourself on refinement, and can’t even remove a jade pendant yourself!”
Bailan pouted, reluctantly stepping forward. Ning Muyan was tall; Bailan barely reached his ear and had to tilt his head to undo the pendant. As he leaned closer, he caught the faint, lingering scent of agarwood on Ning Muyan.
Ning Muyan liked this scent; his study had always burned agarwood. Later, when the Ning family fell into decline and could no longer afford it, Bailan often still noticed it on him during their travels.
“The knot is really tight,” Bailan muttered, struggling for some time. He forgot the private criticisms he had been mumbling about Ning Muyan, tugging hard. Suddenly, he regretted asking for the pendant—it must be valuable.
“The jade is secure,” Ning Muyan said, voice warm as he exhaled over Bailan’s head, “but my belt isn’t.”
Bailan’s ears flushed at the ambiguous remark. He looked up and scowled. “Are you… really a scholar…?”
Before he could finish, clack! The waist cord came undone, and his outer robe loosened, revealing the pristine white undergarment beneath.
Bailan: !
“I meant it literally,” Ning Muyan said with mild exasperation, seeing Bailan dumbfounded. Calmly, he added, “Better fix it properly before something else happens.”
“Oh… oh!” Bailan hastily picked up the belt and fallen jade, face flushed to the neck. He scrambled to re-tie the cord over Ning Muyan’s robe. “S-sorry, I didn’t know your belt was so loose.”
“No harm done; now you know.”
Bailan bit his lip—why was he saying all this?
Both of them focused on the waist cord, unaware that two village women, returning from errands and chatting, were approaching. One carried a hoe, the other a basket, eyes wide as they stared at the pair.
“Brother Lian, what are you two doing here?!”
Bailan whipped his head around, nearly losing his footing.
“N-no!” He stammered, suddenly aware he was still holding Ning Muyan’s waist. From afar, it looked scandalous. He immediately let go as if discarding a bad omen. “We… don’t know each other!”
“Don’t know each other, and still like this?!”
“No, no! His robe was loose, I was just helping him adjust it.”
Bailan felt speechless, gestures tangled, and quickly signaled Ning Muyan, thinking: You—quick, say something!
Ning Muyan lowered his eyes, calmly straightening the outer robe that Bailan had only partially managed: “If you say it’s so, then it is.”
“You—!”
The women, embarrassed for the young man, quickly pulled Bailan aside, smiling mischievously. “Brother Lian, when did you get yourself a young master like this? Handsome too! Where’s he from? Looks like a scholar.”
“I didn’t—” Bailan’s mouth went bitter. Really didn’t!
“Don’t lie; your aunt isn’t blind! Don’t hide it, tell her!”
Seeing Bailan cornered, Ning Muyan lightly tapped the edge of his robe, speaking to him familiarly: “I’m heading back to the manor first.”
With that, he nodded to the two village women. Though there were scholars in the village, none were so strikingly handsome. Even with his cold demeanor, the women smiled like spring breezes. Age did not stop them from gazing in delight.
Bailan wanted to call after him, but in this scene, it would only look as if he were reluctant to part. He could do nothing but watch him leave gracefully.
After he disappeared, the two women still lingered, eyes twinkling: “Brother, don’t forget to invite your aunt to the wedding banquet! Such a young master is rare even in the capital!”
“Stop staring, you’ll shorten your life,” Bailan muttered.
Bailan muttered an angry curse under his breath, speaking from the heart, but the women mistook it for jealousy.
“You brat, you’re not happy even when Auntie glances at you? What, you think Auntie would compete with you?” One sentence was barely out before the woman tugged at Bailan and continued gossiping: “He said he’s returning to the manor—could it be someone from Zanyu Manor?”
“Could it be the son of Tian Manor? I heard he’s a scholar! Bailan, your family grave must be smoking green!”
“Still, it’s all thanks to Doctor Jiang. He really knows how to point out a good family for you.”
Bailan felt as if two bees were buzzing in his ears, making his head ache.
“No, no, it’s all not true!”
“Not true? Don’t be shy, Bailan.”
Seeing that Ning Muyan had left and was out of sight, Bailan immediately flipped his expression and feigned innocence. Wide-eyed, he asked, “What are the two aunts saying? I don’t understand a word! I’m going back to cook for my father. If you two have been overworked in the fields and are hallucinating, I can get you some medicine!”
Having said that, and while the two women were stunned at how convincingly he could play dumb, Bailan bolted like a shot.
He wasn’t worried about village gossip; who would believe such a story? In any case, the city was full of people who loved to fabricate tales of Ning Muyan’s romantic exploits for attention.
“What, the scholar with the swallow-shaped jaw!”
Back home, Bailan grabbed an axe and started chopping wood, sending logs flying. He went through a whole basketful.
“Such cunning and slyness…”
Jiang Zichun, in the back room, grinding herbs, heard the commotion and peeked out with a medicine jar in hand.
“Bailan, don’t be angry. Perhaps the Liu family had urgent matters and didn’t explain properly. Your father will go again tomorrow.”
Hearing his father, Bailan understood that he had been mistaken for being upset over the Liu family. He sulkily lowered his hands: “It’s nothing. I just wanted to chop more wood—it looks like it’s about to rain.”
Jiang Zichun glanced at the sky. Indeed, it did look like the weather would turn. “That’s enough. Come help your father a bit; I’ll teach you some herbal knowledge.”
Bailan made a small sound of agreement. “I’ll bring the wood to the kitchen and come.”
By evening, two rumbles of thunder shook the sky. Clouds gathered quickly; dusk fell heavily, and in less than half an hour, the rain began in earnest.
Bailan went to close the windows and doors. The wind carried rain into his sleeves; it was chilly. Shivering, he quickly shut the doors and retreated indoors.
That night, lying in bed, Bailan looked at the flawless jade pendant on his pillow and saw that face, like a piece of carved jade, appearing vividly in his mind.
He felt vexed and restless, turning from side to side, unable to sleep. Why would someone who didn’t stay in the city’s school come to the village? Had he returned to the city? Now that the jade pendant had been given, would they truly consider the matter settled?
Outside, the rain fell chaotically through the night.