WMSG Chapter 23
by VolareIn the sparsely populated shop, Liu Qingying turned away, showing no intention of further pleasantries with Ye Yueshen. Compared to the enthusiastic attention he received at the academy these days, Ye Yueshen was somewhat surprised.
But then he thought, as expected of the protagonist shou, he couldn’t be ordinary, otherwise how would he move the protagonist gong’s heart?
“The Ye family’s tutor bought brown sugar from your shop. May I ask, does the shopkeeper know about this?” Yuan Bianyin stepped forward to inquire, with Ye Yueshen waiting behind.
Liu Qingying placed the prepared honey tangyuan into his lunch box and closed it. He touched his waist, then his chest, his gaze pausing with hesitation.
It was clear he was wondering where he had put his money. Ye Yueshen took out his purse and walked over, asking, “Did you forget to bring money?”
Liu Qingying’s eyes darted away, as if unwilling to face Ye Yueshen.
Ye Yueshen knew their last meeting wasn’t pleasant, being compared and discussed by a group of imperial relatives. He wouldn’t be happy either if he were in Liu Qingying’s shoes.
“Use mine for now.” Ye Yueshen wasn’t quite familiar with the prices of things, for example, he thought the food and pastries would be cheap, but they were more expensive than the iron shovel he thought would be expensive. No matter the era, the premium on consumption for the upper class was ridiculously high.
He placed a gold nugget on the blackened wooden counter. The shopkeeper’s eyes almost popped out, and Liu Qingying’s gaze also became a bit complicated.
Ye Yueshen thought it was better to give too much and get change than to make a fool of himself by giving too little. But in other people’s eyes, the gold nugget was a bit humorous.
“As expected of the Ye family’s young master,” the shopkeeper said with a smile, handing the gold nugget back and proactively taking Ye Yueshen’s purse. He took out a silver tael and gave him a string of copper coins in return.
Ye Yueshen said to the stunned Liu Qingying, “If you want to repay me, there will be many opportunities to meet in the future. Don’t bother making a special trip, it’ll cost carriage fare. The coachman will earn everything going back and forth, it’s not worth it.”
Liu Qingying bowed to him, “Thank you, Yue Gongzi.”
“You’re welcome.” Ye Yueshen went to find Yuan Bianyin, who had collected the brown sugar. He heard the shopkeeper behind him ask Liu Qingying, “You know the Ye family’s Third Master. May I ask, which family’s young master are you?”
Yuan Bianyin walked to the door and held up an umbrella, also sizing up Liu Qingying. After a moment, he “deigned” to ask Ye Yueshen, “Who is he?”
“The Fifth Prince’s close attendant.” Ye Yueshen remembered that Yuan Bianyin and Liu Qingying were rivals in love, so he couldn’t help but add, “He is the Fifth Prince’s wet nurse’s son. He has a sizable fortune and is considered a proper young master outside the palace, not just any servant.” But rather, the protagonist shou.
Yuan Bianyin withdrew his gaze, his expression revealing no interest.
Now that he knew Qi Wang, who was second only to one person, he really looked down on an unfavored prince born to a dancer.
After returning, the teacher didn’t dwell on their argument. He simply reprimanded them a few times, and Ye Yueshen and Yuan Bianyin both admitted their mistakes. Compared to Ye Yueshen’s sincerity, Yuan Bianyin seemed to admit his mistakes, but his words were full of excuses.
Ye Yueshen didn’t want to argue with him. Compared to Yuan Bianyin’s death next spring, being mocked by a fake and pretentious guy wasn’t important at all.
The teacher let them go. Yuan Bianyin and the servants left, and the teacher called out to Ye Yueshen again, smiling as he said, “I’m an old bone, but my eyes are sharp. I can see who is cleverly deceitful and who is truly open-minded. Your character is very good, and I hope you can maintain this purity and integrity.”
Ye Yueshen rarely heard others praise his personality and character. When he was a student and got good grades, the teachers would only praise him for being smart and hardworking, which only related to the outcome, not his character.
Suddenly hearing such high praise, Ye Yueshen was a little surprised. He paused for a moment before thanking the teacher.
It was still raining when he left the academy. The servant Xuédōng had an extroverted personality and loved when Ye Yueshen took him out to stroll around. He suggested, “Isn’t it said that the court officials have been uneasy lately? Why doesn’t Third Master take a sedan to pick up First Master?”
Ye Yueshen thought about it. It had been several days since he had picked up his brother after court. Although it was raining.
They didn’t want a carriage. At the gatehouse, he and Xuédōng put on servants’ raincoats. These days, he had learned that Xuédōng was one of the best at martial arts. He had once gone to a foreign country with a young master from a branch family. Because his father was the steward of the main family, he was brought back when he was seventeen or eighteen and given to Ye Yueshen.
So he didn’t let too many people follow, just him and Xuédōng went to the palace, not to pick him up at the palace, but to meet him on the way.
Others might be alarmed, thinking it was too sensational that court officials were disappearing in the palace, but Ye Yueshen knew the inside story. He had personally beaten the person to death.
Thinking that the court officials were terrified because of this, fearing him, made him feel a little guilty.
Xuédōng was very close to the previous “Ye Yueshen,” always saying what was on his mind, sometimes seeming a bit outspoken. This was related to his travels to the north and south. People on journeys in foreign lands tended to dilute the sense of hierarchy that was rooted in a large courtyard.
The sound of the rain was very loud. He shouted to Ye Yueshen as they walked, “Third Master, it’s been a long time since we’ve seen your friends from the pugilistic world.”
Ye Yueshen didn’t know who the friends from the pugilistic world, who were only briefly mentioned in the original book, even were. He vaguely said, “I have to study.”
“Yes.” Xuédōng’s voice cut through the stuffy sound of the rain, “Don’t be angry with me, Third Master. It’s a good thing that you’re approachable, but sometimes you don’t know what’s good for you. Those idle drunkards and loafers, they’ve cheated you out of so much money. Some people just can’t be helped. They call you Second Master to your face, but how many of them aren’t doing it for profit? What are they? How dare they call you brothers?”
Ye Yueshen didn’t know these details at all. He didn’t say anything.
“Don’t be angry, Third Master.” Xuédōng quickened his pace, falling slightly behind Ye Yueshen, “It’s a good thing that you’re willing to stay in the academy to study now. My words are harsh, but I’m saying them for your own good. Think about it, I could follow you around the capital, watching the excitement, but I have to think for my master’s sake. I’d rather be bored in the academy’s corridor.”
“I know.” Ye Yueshen turned his head and smiled at him.
Xuédōng’s face flushed instantly, and he frowned, pretending to be serious, muttering, “Don’t smile at outsiders like that. It’s not right.”
“What’s not right?” Ye Yueshen didn’t understand.
Xuédōng averted his eyes, his face red, and repeated firmly, “It’s just not right.”
The two of them chatted casually in the rain. Ye Yueshen tended to be the listener. Before long, Xuédōng reached the stage where he dared to act spoiled and complain, “Third Master, you used to call them brothers, and you even sent me to run errands for them…”
As he spoke, his voice grew smaller and smaller, as if he had frightened himself. He slapped his own mouth, “I’m confused. I’m your servant, Third Master. It’s right for you to send me to do anything. Just pretend you didn’t hear anything I said just now, please…”
Ye Yueshen was startled by his action of hitting himself and subconsciously grabbed his wrist.
From Xuédōng’s words, he could understand roughly what had happened. Perhaps the original Ye Yueshen was busy with his studies or had other reasons why he couldn’t leave, so he sent Xuédōng to help his friends from the pugilistic world.
But in Xuédōng’s view, he was extremely wronged. He was “Ye Yueshen’s” servant, eating the Ye family’s food, but he was being used for free by a bunch of “people from all walks of life.” Yet, while he was Ye Yueshen’s “servant,” those people were Ye Yueshen’s “brothers from the pugilistic world.”
“Why are you hitting yourself while talking?” Ye Yueshen let go of his hand, “I didn’t say anything to you, and no one else heard. There’s no need for such strict rules.”
Ye Yueshen’s tone wasn’t harsh. Xuédōng was completely won over by his words “outsiders.” Everyone else was an outsider, and he was one of his own. That was right. So he happily followed behind Ye Yueshen.
Before long, the sound of hooves grew closer. Ye Yueshen and Xuédōng hid by the side of the road to avoid being run over by the horse in the rain and fog.
The carriage bumped along and screeched to a halt in front of them with a “Whoa!”
Gong Xunwu walked out from under the eaves of an inconspicuous little courtyard gate. The large, dark oil-paper umbrella shielded him from the rain, but the puddles on the ground splashed by his footsteps still wet the hem of Gong Xunwu’s clothes.
He walked to Ye Yueshen’s side, his tone cold and distant, as if he had to be polite as an elder: “What are you doing?”
Xuédōng had seen Gong Xunwu from afar once when Gong Xunwu came to find Ye Lingshen for the jade, so he quickly pulled Ye Yueshen to bow.
Before Ye Yueshen could kneel, a strong hand supported his arm. No emotion could be seen in Gong Xunwu’s eyes: “The ground is full of rain, why are you kneeling?”
So only Xuédōng reluctantly wet his clothes.
Gong Xunwu glanced at Xuédōng, and Xuédōng immediately straightened his pouting lips, looking meek and obedient.
“Dragging people around in the heavy rain.” Gong Xunwu squinted at him: “Aren’t you supposed to be studying?”
“Yueshen wanted to pick up his brother.” Ye Yueshen glimpsed at Xuédōng out of the corner of his eye, so he also acted meek and obedient.
Gong Xunwu frowned when he saw him like this. How long had it been since they shared a bed? He was already putting on a distant posture, as if he thought that kissing and hugging was enough to repay the favor of him cleaning up the mess?
Gong Xunwu frowned even more, unable to help but wonder in his heart: Was this an equal exchange?
“You’re not riding a horse or driving a carriage, and you’re wearing a raincoat yourself. Does Ye Yuanshen need you to pick him up?” Gong Xunwu’s tone was very bad: “He has a perfectly good sedan chair, why would he brave the rain to walk back with you? What’s the point?”
Ye Yueshen wanted to ask, then what’s the point of you waiting here, with the carriage ready, just to scold me in the rain?
“Your Highness’s criticism is correct.” Ye Yueshen took a step back: “Then Yueshen will go home and won’t delay Your Highness’s ride.”
“Come back!” Gong Xunwu’s eyes were already as gloomy as the dark clouds in the sky: “You get in the sedan, I’ll have someone…”
The sound of approaching hooves drowned out his voice. Seeing the “obstacle” here, the horse slowed down and gradually stopped. Ye Yuanshen, who opened the sedan door, was bewildered. Just as he was about to get out of the car to pay his respects, Gong Xunwu didn’t even give him a glance, got in the car, and left.
According to etiquette, Ye Yuanshen had to get out of the car to see Gong Xunwu’s carriage off, but Ye Yueshen quickly pushed him back into the sedan: “You don’t even have an umbrella, don’t get drenched.”
Ye Yuanshen argued: “Xiao Yue, don’t be silly. This is not in accordance with the rules. What if Qi Wang…”
“Qi Wang can’t see!” Ye Yueshen was a little anxious without realizing it. He took a deep breath: “Brother, get in, Qi Wang won’t look back in such heavy rain.”
Seeing that his expression was bad, Ye Yuanshen didn’t insist any further. He pulled him into the carriage, and the two of them returned to the marquis’s residence in silence.
Seeing that the atmosphere between them wasn’t right, Xuédōng became active beside them and said, “Third Master heard that some court officials had gone missing and was very worried about First Master, so he braved the rain to pick you up. I couldn’t stop him.”
Ye Yuanshen looked over at his younger brother. Seeing that his brother was turning his head to look at the curtain, he didn’t ask anything.
Ye Yueshen didn’t even appear for dinner. He lay in bed, covering himself with the quilt up to his chin. Every time he saw Gong Xunwu, it made him feel bad, reminding him that his weakness was in someone else’s hands.
Clearly, he also participated in the cleanup, so there was no reason for only him to be afraid. Ye Yueshen couldn’t understand it, but he was indeed psychologically afraid of Gong Xunwu, perhaps because of his power.
Someone knocked on the door outside. Ye Yueshen shooed them away: “I’m not hungry. Tell Mother there’s no need to send anyone to ask. I want to sleep for a while.”
“Third Master, the Fifth Prince from the palace has arrived. He said he’s here to return your money. Junzhu and Marquis want you to go to the front hall to meet him.”