Volume 1, Chapter 54: Mandarin Ducks Playing in the Water, Let's Join In

Soon, Greenwillow rubbed her head and walked in, looking tense. "Crown Prince's Consort, are you alright? Just now... it felt like someone hit me on the head!"

Seeing that she was unhurt, Xie Shu felt much relieved. She gently massaged the back of Greenwillow's neck. "I'm fine, don't worry."

"But..." Greenwillow still wanted to ask something.

Seeing this, Xie Shu picked up several garments and handed them over. "Let's decide on these first. Have Brocade Embroidery Hall alter them to my previous measurements."

With the business concluded, Xie Shu had no desire to waste any more time here.

Greenwillow was still feeling a bit dizzy. Seeing that Xie Shu had handed her the items, she immediately reached out to take them. The questions on the tip of her tongue were swallowed back, and she responded, "Yes."

Downstairs, Madam Mo was sighing, clicking her abacus beads with a look of utter regret.

"Why is Madam Mo sighing so?" Xie Shu asked with a smile upon seeing her looking troubled. "Could it be you've earned too much and can't keep up with the accounts?"

Madam Mo looked up, her face slightly flushed and her eyes sparkling. She leaned in closer and said to Xie Shu with a deeply regretful expression, "The Crown Prince's Consort has no idea what I just witnessed!"

Xie Shu's interest was piqued, and she leaned her ear closer.

"That young gentleman said he wanted some fine fabrics, so I specially went downstairs to fetch and deliver them upstairs. But when I got up there! I actually saw his personal attendant changing clothes in the inner chamber..." Madam Mo half-covered her mouth, looking thoroughly distressed. "Alas, it's so hard to come across such a handsome man, only to find out he swings the other way!"

Xie Shu never expected that Pei Xuanqing swung that way!

She let out a startled "Ah!", only to have her mouth covered by Madam Mo. Madam Mo blinked at her several times, prompting Xie Shu to follow her line of sight.

On the stairs, Pei Ji'an was carefully supporting his master, muttering under his breath, "Why must you always take the window? You've sprained your ankle and will need to rest for a few days now. My lord, you surely didn't do this on purpose, did you?"

"Shut up!" Pei Xuanqing's cheeks were flushed red, one hand resting on Pei Ji'an's shoulder. He had been hopping down the stairs on one foot, but the moment his eyes met Xie Shu's amused expression, he immediately forced himself to look unconcerned and withdrew his hand.

For some reason, Pei Xuanqing simply could not bear to be seen in such a disheveled state by Xie Shu. Bracing through the sharp pain in his ankle, he shook his folding fan and descended with an air of carefree elegance.

Pei Ji'an followed closely behind, staring fixedly at his master's left foot, terrified that he might accidentally take a tumble. He couldn't help but reach out to offer invisible support. "My lord, let me support you after all."

From Xie Shu's perspective, this master and servant looked almost ready to embrace. Yet the exact second their eyes locked, Pei Xuanqing hurriedly yanked his arm back.

Covering up one's faults only makes them more obvious!

Xie Shu muttered inwardly.

No wonder Pei Xuanqing's attitude toward her was so abysmal—it turned out he didn't even like women to begin with. Fearing that his secret might be discovered, he deliberately put on the facade of a dissolute playboy.

Tsk tsk, a man who preferred his own gender; she had encountered one or two in her past life, so it wasn't all that strange.

What kind of look was that? Seeing Xie Shu turn her head back away from him, Pei Xuanqing felt deeply displeased by that probing and playful gaze. Could it be that she had noticed his sprained ankle?

It was all Pei Ji'an's fault for telling him to put on a show in the inner chamber, only for the fellow to actually start trying on clothes. Just as Pei Xuanqing turned around and slipped in through the window, he happened to catch sight of a stark-naked Pei Ji'an, which startled him into a misstep and caused him to twist his ankle.

"My lord... didn't you say you'd also have two new padded jackets made for your subordinate? In the dead of winter like this, those of us running errands outside need to stay in good health too." Meeting Pei Xuanqing's glare, Pei Ji'an could only offer an awkward, sheepish smile in explanation.

"Hmph," Pei Xuanqing let out a sudden snort. "Fine, I'll pay for these clothes. My medical expenses as the head of the bureau, you'll cover."

"Ah! My lord! Please don't!" Pei Ji'an felt his head spin at those words, and he cried out in dismay, "How about—how about I pay for the clothes myself!"

Greenwillow, waiting off to the side, was also drawn by the commotion over there. This master and servant really were remarkably close!

"Crown Prince's Consort, look, Grand Preceptor Pei is so good to his personal attendant, even buying him clothes personally!" Greenwillow settled the bill and scurried back to Xie Shu's side, whispering quietly.

Xie Shu glanced over and let out a chuckle, "Pfft." The moment Pei Xuanqing swept a piercing glare in her direction, she quickly reined in her smile and said in a low voice, "Too much chatter."

Greenwillow promptly zipped her lips.

"Madam Mo, let's talk business. Tomorrow, please have Aunt Chun take the token and make a trip to the Marquis of Cheng'en's estate. The Marquis's newly favored Concubine Lin is with child, so she needs some new loose and warm winter garments." Xie Shu placed the wooden token for entering and leaving the Marquis's estate onto the counter and instructed, "Be sure to use the finest fabrics and make them extra warm; the Marquis of Cheng'en's estate isn't short of silver."

"Yes, yes, yes, rest assured, Madam! Our shop only makes the absolute best!" Madam Mo's eyes lit up the moment she heard Xie Shu's words; this was going to be a massive transaction.

However, just as Xie Shu lifted her foot to head out the door, Pei Xuanqing also caught up.

She took a few steps, and the person behind her took a few steps.

Rather annoyed, Xie Shu halted her steps, turned around, and asked, "Where does the Head of the Bureau intend to follow me?"

He had already been given his belongings, so why wouldn't the man just leave? Did he have no sense of propriety?

Or was he terrified that others wouldn't know they were acquainted?

Pei Xuanqing wanted to leave; moreover, he desperately wanted to go lie down in his sedan chair. The trouble was that Xie Shu was walking ahead and blocking his path!

Yet, confronted by Xie Shu's question, Pei Xuanqing's rebellious streak flared up once more. His gaze shifted, and seeing her frown, he deliberately adopted a flirtatious and roguish tone. Raising the tip of his folding fan to prop up Xie Shu's chin, he leaned in and chuckled softly, "Good question. Let me think. Ah, why don't I follow the Crown Prince's Consort to go watch the mandarin ducks playing in the water?"

The phrase "mandarin ducks playing in the water" was lingered over on Pei Xuanqing's lips, enunciated deliberately and dripping with ambiguity.

Xie Shu's face flushed instantly, her expression freezing slightly. He—he was clearly alluding to that night when he hid inside the wooden bath barrel! He was doing it on purpose!

Yet when her gaze landed on the person standing behind Pei Xuanqing, the shame hidden deep in her heart instantly evaporated. So what if she suffered a minor verbal advantage at the hands of a man who preferred men? What did it even matter?

He wanted to tease her on purpose? She was certainly not some sheltered maiden whose skin was as thin as paper.

"Oh~" Xie Shu let out a long breath, then turned the tables on him. With her right hand, she lightly pushed his folding fan back, reversed its direction, and pressed the tip directly against Pei Xuanqing's chest, tracing a small circle as she said, "What's the fun in just watching? Why don't I 'play' with the Head of the Bureau once more?"

Her soft, murmuring voice drifted straight into his ear.

A wave of tender itchiness bloomed across his chest. With just a single sentence, she sent Pei Xuanqing's heart into chaos, his thoughts flying back once again to that night's watery seduction...

Throughout their exchange, the two of them stood exceptionally close.

Greenwillow and Pei Ji'an stood guard on their respective sides. Though both sensible enough to step back a couple of paces so as not to hinder their masters' business, they both harbored a strange thought: when on earth did these two become so familiar with each other?

"Is the Head of the Bureau not on duty today?"

Just as Pei Xuanqing's thoughts were wandering far away, a chilling voice echoed from the doorway. He looked up and said, "Oh, Magistrate Zhou."