Shen Yujiao: “……!”
Pei Xia: “……”
Silence. Silence, and still more silence.
That drawn-out silence, set against the festive noise and laughter of the Lantern Festival, carried an odd air.
Yet Xie Wuling’s smile showed not the slightest awkwardness; his brows lifted. “What’s this? Too surprised? Or do you not recognize me anymore?”
Pei Xia frowned, finding it absurd.
Shen Yujiao had never imagined that when Xie Wuling said “let’s meet again another time,” he would so brazenly appear before her and Pei Xia!
“You…” Her throat tightened with nerves, her voice hoarse. Lifting the veil of her hat a little, her dark eyes brimmed with disbelief. “What are you doing here?”
“I heard the Lantern Festival in Chang’an is a spectacle not to be missed. With such excitement, how could I, Xie Wuling, stay away?”
His black eyes fixed steadily on the lightly powdered, delicate face beneath the veil, his thin lips quirking up. “I just didn’t expect to run into the two of you here. Isn’t this what they call ‘a fated meeting from a thousand miles away’?”
Was it truly a coincidence?
Shen Yujiao’s expression was complicated. Why did she not believe it?
Just as she was about to speak, the hand holding hers suddenly tightened. Startled, she looked up, only to see Pei Xia’s calm gaze fixed on Xie Wuling. “I wonder when Mr. Xie arrived in Chang’an?”
“Not long ago.” Xie Wuling rested the mask atop his head. His lips curved, though the smile did not reach his eyes. “It’s been many days, but Mr. Pei hasn’t changed a bit.”
Still just as detestable.
Pei Xia also caught the hostility in his eyes, and said coolly, “Mr. Xie, on the other hand, seems quite a bit more haggard than half a year ago.”
Xie Wuling’s lips stiffened. Was this Pei fellow insinuating he’d grown ugly?
Yes, in Ningzhou he had trained daily under sun and wind, his skin darkened. On the long journey back to Chang’an, traveling rough, he had indeed grown thinner.
But after resting half a month, he felt much recovered. He had even donned a fresh robe before leaving today, and had burned a fragrant cake he’d begged from the young shizi.
“We who toil for our livelihood can hardly compare with Mr. Pei’s good fortune—born with a silver spoon, dressed in silk, living in ease and comfort.” Xie Wuling’s gaze swept over Pei Xia’s face. “I hear the noblemen of Chang’an also favor powder and adornment. Mr. Pei’s lips so red and teeth so white—did you powder them as well?”
As he spoke, he even leaned forward as though to look more closely.
Pei Xia’s brows knitted, and he shifted aside. “Mr. Xie, I must ask you to show some restraint.”
Shen Yujiao stood to the side, scalp prickling at the verbal sparring between the two men. She quickly interjected: “Mr. Xie, did you come to the festival alone today?”
Hearing her awkward form of address, Xie Wuling knew she was deliberately keeping distance. His heart sank slightly, but his face betrayed nothing. “In Chang’an I’m a stranger with no kin. Of course I can only wander alone.”
Then his gaze flicked to the couple’s joined hands beneath their sleeves. The corner of his mouth pressed into a smile. “Unlike the two of you—paired together, so tenderly affectionate. Truly enviable.”
Shen Yujiao’s eyes flickered. Her fingers instinctively wanted to pull away.
But Pei Xia’s grip held firm. He did not look at her, only gazed steadily at Xie Wuling. “The Lantern Festival of Chang’an is indeed a rare spectacle. Since Mr. Xie has just arrived and encountered such liveliness, it is most fitting to savor it at length. My wife and I will go elsewhere, so as not to disturb your enjoyment.”
“Mr. Pei, those are distant words.”
Xie Wuling raised the lifelike crab lantern to block their path, grinning with a roguish air. “They say there are three great joys in life: the wedding night, one’s name on the honor roll, and meeting an old friend in a faraway land. Isn’t this very thing—an old friend met in a distant place? Wandering the lantern fair alone is dreadfully dull. Since fate has brought us together, surely Mr. Pei won’t mind we stroll together?”
Pei Xia’s face darkened slightly.
He had known this man was shameless, but had not thought him so brazen.
Yet in the next instant, Xie Wuling grew even more brazen: “If Mr. Pei does mind, that’s fine as well. After all, it is Jiaojiao and I who are the old friends. You may stroll your way—she and I will stroll ours, it’s the same either way.”
Years of cultivated composure nearly slipped from control in that moment.
“Mr. Xie, please show some restraint. How could my wife’s maiden name be something you call directly?”
Pei Xia’s voice carried a trace of coldness. “As for this so-called past acquaintance you speak of—my wife is a woman of the inner chambers. What past ties could she possibly have with you? Rumors spread by many mouths turn false into truth, words can tarnish like gold melts—watch what you say, and do not sully my wife’s good name.”
“So this is how the famed Gentleman Pei treats his benefactor? I really have seen it all today.”
Xie Wuling raised his brows, casting Pei Xia a sidelong glance, half-smiling yet not, before lowering his eyes. With a hint of grievance, he said to Shen Yujiao: “Jiaojiao, you once told me—‘isn’t it a joy to have friends come from afar?’ You also told me that a gentleman can accommodate others, while a petty man harbors only jealousy… But look, I don’t even mind walking with him, yet he is in such a hurry to cut ties, all but pointing to my nose and telling me to get lost. Is this truly the gentleman you praised in your words? Don’t let him deceive you.”
Pei Xia frowned. “Stop talking nonsense.”
“How am I speaking nonsense?”
Xie Wuling let out a cold laugh. “Not long ago, he kept calling me his benefactor. Fine then—meeting me here in Chang’an from so far away, he doesn’t so much as invite me for a meal or drink, to show the least bit of hospitality. Seeing me all alone and desolate, he can’t even bear to let me walk with them. Hah, what did I say? You people with power and status are all the same, eyes fixed high above, never sparing a glance at the likes of us. Only pitiful Jiaojiao, kept in the dark by you, truly thinking you some noble, broad-minded gentleman.”
“Enough, enough.” Xie Wuling shook his head with a sigh, then handed over the pale green crab-shaped lantern in his hand to Shen Yujiao. “Today is a day for family reunions. Since he finds me unwelcome, I won’t make things difficult for you. This lantern I made with my own hands—it even moves when you turn the mechanism…”
As he spoke, he shot a glance at Pei Xia. “Sir Pei, we’ve met at least once. On such a holiday, if I gift this lantern to your lady for amusement, surely you won’t forbid even that?”
Pei Xia’s eyes flickered, knowing full well the man was laying a snare.
If he refused even a lantern, he would only prove the label of ‘jealous husband.’
Ridiculous. He and Yuniang were husband and wife in truth and in name. How could jealousy arise over such a rogue?
“Sir Xie is thoughtful indeed,” Pei Xia said calmly, then turned to Shen Yujiao. “This lantern does show some cleverness. If Yuniang likes it, then accept it.”
Shen Yujiao’s face showed reluctance; reason told her she ought not accept the lantern.
Yet in Xie Wuling’s eyes shone earnest anticipation, and on his hands were small cuts from carving the bamboo strips—
On a day of reunion for all families, he stood alone, waiting in the cold wind for who knows how long, just to bring her this lamp.
Her lips pressed lightly together. Glancing again at Pei Xia, seeing his expression calm and unconcerned, as if he truly did not mind such a trifle, her heart eased a little. She lifted her hand and accepted the lantern. “Thank you.”
“What need is there for thanks between us?”
Seeing her accept it, Xie Wuling’s eyes at last held a smile of relief.
He had not hoped to walk the lantern fair with her this night; all he wanted was to make a lantern unlike any other, just to win one smile from her—that would already be enough.
“Go on, enjoy your stroll.” Xie Wuling looked at Shen Yujiao. “It’s the lantern fair—you should be happy.”
Catching the smile in his eyes, Shen Yujiao felt a pang of guilt. She clutched the lamp and asked softly: “Then you… won’t walk?”
“What’s the point of me walking alone? Others come in pairs, families together. If I mix in among them, what meaning is there? Better I go back to sleep. Who knows, maybe in my dreams I’ll see a family reunited.”
Though he smiled, Shen Yujiao clearly saw the endless loneliness behind that smile.
She knew his stubbornness, knew as well that if not for meeting her, he would never have traveled so far to Chang’an, only to suffer this cold reception.
“It’s a holiday—be cheerful,” Xie Wuling said, seeing her brows knit like endless drizzle in Jiangnan. He raised his voice, laughing as though carefree: “You taking this lantern is enough to make me happy.”
Then, turning again to Pei Xia, the tenderness and longing in his gaze vanished, replaced by cool detachment. “Since you won’t let me accompany her, then tonight you must see she enjoys herself. I’ve already asked around—walk a hundred paces ahead and there’s a lantern riddle and poetry gathering. To the west, they’re setting river lanterns and sky lanterns; buy them together and you save three coins. At midnight, the yamen will set off fireworks. Climb the southern city wall for the best view; you’d best send someone now to hold a spot, or you’ll find no good place later… Oh, and it’s windy up there. If you take Jiaojiao to see, wrap her warmly so she doesn’t catch cold.”
He rambled on, and Pei Xia’s heart grew ever heavier.
He himself was Yuniang’s husband—yet why did this Xie Wuling sound like the true one, fussing endlessly that she be well cared for?
His eyes fell sideways on Shen Yujiao, frowning as she gazed down at the crab lantern. Pei Xia’s lips pressed into a thin line.
This Xie Wuling was truly cunning—retreating in order to advance, already tugging Yuniang’s heart aside.
If he really let the man walk away now, knowing Yuniang’s nature, she would be guilt-ridden for long after, unable to enjoy the lantern fair at all.
“Since Sir Xie has already scouted out the path—if you do not mind, then come walk with us husband and wife.”
Pei Xia looked at Xie Wuling with calm eyes. “Isn’t it a joy when friends come from afar? For my wife and me, naturally it is. Just now I only thought Sir Xie might have other plans, and we would not presume to intrude.”
As he spoke, he tightened his hold on Shen Yujiao’s hand, lowering his gaze to her. “Yuniang, what do you think?”
Shen Yujiao: “…”
A moment ago, she still felt guilty toward Xie Wuling. Now, seeing Pei Xia’s tolerance and magnanimity, she suddenly felt sorry toward Pei Xia instead.
If she had known stepping out today would turn into such a scene, she might as well have stayed in the courtyard roasting pears.
“I think…” Her gaze wavered, scalp prickling as she felt both men staring at her intently.
Forget it—things had already come to this. Since neither of them seemed to mind, she might as well smash the pot along with the broken shards.
“Then… let’s…” She drew in a deep breath. “Walk together.”
Pei Xia smiled. “Good.”
Xie Wuling raised his brows. “Then shall we stroll around this Great Ao Mountain first, and after that guess lantern riddles?”
Shen Yujiao’s mind was half-numb at this point; she had no wish to consider anything further, only carelessly murmured twice in assent.
Whatever they said, so be it.
Thus, Pei Xia held her hand, walking on her right; Xie Wuling carried her flower lantern, walking on her left.
The three circled the Great Ao Mountain, each harboring their own thoughts, none speaking a word.
Perhaps finding the silence too awkward, Shen Yujiao glanced at the pitch-black Kunlun slave mask on Xie Wuling’s face and sought to make conversation. “Why did you buy such a mask?”
Through the two holes of the mask, only his fine eyes showed. “You don’t like it?” Xie Wuling asked.
Shen Yujiao felt awkward. This man—why did he always bring “like” into every sentence?
She lowered her eyes. “Just thought it doesn’t look very nice.”
“Then that’s just right. I picked the ugliest one on purpose,” Xie Wuling said. “Your husband, I—”
Pei Xia cut him a sidelong glance, cold and indifferent.
Xie Wuling’s smile stiffened. Inwardly, he cursed. What are you looking at? If it weren’t for you, pretty-faced interloper, it should be me holding Jiaojiao’s hand right now!
Silently chanting to himself, A man with great designs does not fuss over trifles, he changed his words. “If I had no wife, it’d be another matter. But a married man ought to keep a low profile—best wear a mask, saves trouble. Unlike some men, who think just because they’ve a handsome face, they must parade it about everywhere.”
The yin-yang sniping could not have been more obvious.
Shen Yujiao, both exasperated and amused, secretly shot Xie Wuling a glare. Stop dragging Pei Xia into this.
Understanding her meaning, Xie Wuling was still unconvinced, but he held his tongue, tilting his head up instead to gaze at the mountain. “This thing really is huge—we’ve walked half the day round it and still haven’t finished.”
At this, Pei Xia suddenly spoke, looking toward Xie Wuling. “This time, did you come to the capital along with Young Shizi Huo?”
Both Xie Wuling and Shen Yujiao were startled.
Shen Yujiao’s eyes flickered. Inwardly she thought, So Pei Xia really did already know about Xie Wuling going to Ningzhou to join the army.
Xie Wuling thought of the same, and recalled how the other day when he met Shen Yujiao, she had been so surprised to learn he had enlisted.
So—it seemed this pretty-face was not entirely frank with Jiaojiao either.
The corners of his lips curved in a smile-not-smile. He looked at Pei Xia. “Yes. I went to join the army in Ningzhou, and gained Commander Huo’s appreciation. Only, I wonder—how did the great Gentleman Pei know I entered the capital with the Young Shizi? Could it be you’ve been keeping watch on me?”
Pei Xia’s brows moved slightly. After a moment’s pause, he said: “A letter came earlier from Jinling, saying you had gone to Ningzhou.”
Xie Wuling narrowed his eyes. So the man admitted it.
No fun—he had thought the fellow would at least try to dodge.
Shen Yujiao, hearing Pei Xia speak so plainly, felt a faint ripple in her heart, though she had no grounds to reproach him.
Just then, Pei Xia spoke again. “You wear the mask to avoid being noticed by the Princess’s people?”
Xie Wuling: “…”
This pretty-face—always pressing on the sore spot!
And what’s more, Pei Xia turned to Shen Yujiao with a considerate air, explaining: “I heard the Princess has taken a liking to a handsome bodyguard at Young Shizi Huo’s side. Since Sir Xie serves at the Marquis’s residence, he may know the inside story.”
Shen Yujiao tugged at her lips awkwardly. “…Is that so.”
She hadn’t expected Pei Xia to stumble right onto the very worry she’d been nursing. So she followed the opening, turning wide, doubtful eyes upon Xie Wuling. “That handsome bodyguard—it wouldn’t be you, would it?”
At that moment, Xie Wuling was only grateful for the mask on his face. Otherwise, his complexion—flushed red then pale—would have had nowhere to hide.
His thoughts flashed back to that night. Bored and idle, he had been sitting atop the driver’s seat of the carriage, waiting to fetch the brat from the palace.
Suddenly, a lavish carriage with green canopy and jeweled tassels stopped beside him. The curtain lifted, and a noblewoman glittering with pearls and jade stared at him with a lovesick gaze, calling him: “Older Brother Jinghuai.”
He had been utterly baffled. The woman, though well-maintained, was of an age to be his mother—yet she was calling him elder brother? Could she be drunk?
Just as he was about to drive the carriage away, the woman stumbled out, nearly falling, her attendants crying out in panic: “Eldest Princess!”
Xie Wuling, born of the streets, had never before come face to face with such an exalted figure. He was startled out of his wits, hastily bowing along with the rest.
That noblewoman said to him: “Lift your head.”
Xie Wuling had no choice but to raise his head.
The woman went dazed again, staring fixedly at his eyes: “Like, truly too much alike.”
Xie Wuling was so stared at that gooseflesh rose all over his body, yet she kept on questioning him endlessly, and finally even stepped forward, reaching out as if to touch his face: “Would you be willing to enter my household? Gold and silver, jewels and treasures, high office and great rank—whatever you want, I can give you.”
Xie Wuling indeed longed for high office and great rank, but to sell his looks and betray Shen Yujiao—such a thing, he would never do.
“I dodged away right then!”
Lifting his mask, Xie Wuling looked at Shen Yujiao with earnest eyes: “I told her, I already have a wife at home.”
Though that excuse did not seem to quench the woman’s infatuation, the young shizi of the Huo family happened to arrive in time—
“That little brat… I mean, that little shizi, though he’s usually sharp-tongued, when it comes to real matters, he does protect his own. He said I was his trusted guard, so even the Princess had no way to snatch someone from the Huo household, and could only leave in her carriage.”
Though no one knew how this matter spread, several different versions soon circulated, and the other guards of the Huo household teased him endlessly about his “not lacking in amorous fortune.”
“Whoever wants that fortune can take it, I sure as h*ll don’t.”
After finishing his explanation, Xie Wuling only wished he could take Shen Yujiao’s hand and press it to his heart. With utmost gravity, he declared: “Jiaojiao, in this life of mine, alive I am yours, dead I am yours—”
“Sir Xie, don’t speak nonsense.”
Pei Xia’s tall figure cut off Xie Wuling’s tender gaze, his jade-pale face utterly cold: “The ancestral tombs of my Pei clan cannot accommodate a ghost with the surname Xie.”
Xie Wuling choked: “Who wants to enter your family’s tomb? Don’t flatter yourself.”
Shen Yujiao: “…”
Here we go again, the two of them.
“It’s a festival day, don’t say such ill-omened things.” Shen Yujiao glanced at Xie Wuling, then gently shook Pei Xia’s hand: “Langjun, I’m a little hungry. Why don’t we find a place to sit and eat something?”
Pei Xia lowered his eyes, looking at his wife’s delicate face tinged with a pleading look. The suffocating weight in his chest eased slightly.
Enough. Why lower himself to bicker with a street rascal?
He looked around, and spotting a lively shop not far off, said: “Over there, they seem to have tangyuan and wontons.”
At present, Shen Yujiao only wanted to stuff food into these two men’s mouths to shut them up. She hurriedly nodded: “Let’s go there then. Today is the Lantern Festival—we must eat a bowl of tangyuan to match the occasion.”
So the three of them walked to that shop and chose the innermost table.
The helper there was the owner’s daughter, a girl of about ten, with a pair of round, bright eyes. Seeing this table of customers—the man handsome, the woman lovely—she couldn’t help sneaking several more glances.
“What would the three honored guests like to eat? We have fried dumplings, tangyuan, small wontons, osmanthus rice wine…” The little girl rattled off fluently.
Shen Yujiao said: “Just a bowl of tangyuan for me.”
“Alrighty.” The little girl crisply responded. “What flavor would the lady like? Our shop has black sesame, red bean paste, rose sugar, peanut filling…”
“Not peanut—she gets rashes from eating peanuts.” Xie Wuling set aside his Kunlun slave mask and looked toward Shen Yujiao. “Get one bowl of each of the other three flavors. You can taste them all, how about it?”
During those days of living and eating together, Xie Wuling had bought her different foods every day, gradually learning her tastes. He also knew she tended to be a bit greedy, wanting to try this and that, though years of upbringing taught her to maintain restraint at the table and not appear gluttonous.
“All three? Is that okay?” She bit her lip, hesitant. “Better just one bowl… if we order too much, I won’t finish it.”
“That’s fine. Whatever you leave, I’ll eat.” Xie Wuling spoke with perfect ease, then turned his head and told the girl: “All three flavors, one bowl each—except peanut.”
The little girl was secretly surprised. Could it be she had guessed wrong—that this lady wasn’t paired with the white-robed gentleman, but with the red-robed one?
But she had clearly seen just now, the white-robed gentleman had been holding this lady’s hand all along…
Suppressing her puzzlement, she asked the white-robed gentleman: “And you, sir, what would you like?”
Pei Xia glanced at Shen Yujiao and said: “One bowl each of the three flavors as well. I’ll share them with my wife.”
The little girl: “….!”
So she hadn’t guessed wrong—they really were the pair. Then this red-robed gentleman…?
Xie Wuling’s face darkened slightly. Staring at Pei Xia opposite him, he cursed inwardly—copycat.
In any case, they ended up with six bowls of tangyuan on the table.
Shen Yujiao, bracing herself, asked for an extra bowl, and scooped a few dumplings from each.
That meal, all three of them ate until they were stuffed.
Shen Yujiao regretted it immensely. If she’d known eating tangyuan would end up like this, she would have just ordered a bowl of meat wontons and been done with it.
Too full, the three sat digesting, staring at each other.
Shen Yujiao sat as if on pins and needles, while the two men, on the other hand, started chatting away with each other.
“Sir Xie, when do you plan to leave Chang’an?”
“…The young shizi is kind-hearted. He said we should wait until the weather warms before we go.”
“Mm.”
Pei Xia inclined his head, then pondered aloud: “Since Shizi Huo has returned to the capital this time, he likely won’t be going back to Ningzhou?”
“The pirates in Ningzhou are all vicious and brutal. For the young lord’s safety, Commander Huo had him return to Chang’an for a while.”
Xie Wuling thought for a moment: “At least six years, I reckon. By sixteen he’ll be old enough to take a wife, leave an heir for the Huo family, and then it’ll be fine to return to Ningzhou.”
Pei Xia’s hand holding the teacup stilled. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Shen Yujiao’s face grow faintly awkward, and felt Xie Wuling’s words unbearably coarse—how could such things be spoken in front of a lady?
How had Yuniang endured this sort of vulgar man during those days she wandered in Jinling?
And yet, it was this vulgar man who knew that Yuniang would break out in rashes from eating peanuts…
That, as her husband, he himself had never known.
Had she told Xie Wuling? Or had she mistakenly eaten peanuts once, broken out in a rash, and been seen by him?
Just how close had the two of them grown in that small courtyard in Jinling, that Xie Wuling could speak of eating her leftovers with such natural ease…
His long fingers tightened around the tea cup, his jawline tensing.
The table fell silent again, a quiet awkwardness spreading. Shen Yujiao quickly said: “Didn’t they say there’s a poetry gathering with lantern riddles up ahead, and sky lanterns to release? We’ve digested enough—why don’t we go take a look?”
Her proposal—neither man ever objected.
So the three of them left the shop and continued strolling forward.
All along the way were not only flower lanterns to admire, but also stalls selling trinkets, steaming snack vendors, and street performers of every kind—tightrope walkers, sword swallowers, wrestlers, horse dancers, cockfights, fire hoop acrobatics, fire-breathing, face-changing—leaving people dazzled and overwhelmed.
The bustling festivity somewhat eased the awkwardness of their trio. When the two men weren’t quarreling, the Lantern Festival was indeed delightful.
When guessing lantern riddles, Pei Xia nailed every one, winning Shen Yujiao quite a few lanterns.
She couldn’t carry them all in one hand, so she kept the finest—a glazed goldfish lantern—while Xie Wuling handed the rest to passersby.
Later, when it came time to release river lanterns and write New Year wishes, Xie Wuling insisted he couldn’t write and made Shen Yujiao write for him.
When Pei Xia offered to write, Xie Wuling objected: “What, do you want to eavesdrop on my wish?”
Pei Xia sneered: “As if I care.”
Xie Wuling had been waiting for just that response: “If you don’t care, then give the brush to Jiaojiao.”
Seeing them bicker over even this, Shen Yujiao’s head ached. In the end she had the lantern vendor write for them, and only then did the two men finally quiet down.
After the riddles were guessed and the lanterns released, it was already late.
The three of them went together toward the southern city wall to watch the grandest fireworks of the Lantern Festival.
