Chapter 64 — Intentions
Lord Bai Jiu looked at her for a moment and shook his head. “This matter is not for me to decide.”
Liu Ruyi pleaded, “I don’t ask you to say anything else—just a single phone call will do. Please, let me speak to Master Cao, just one sentence.”
Lord Bai Jiu said, “He left some words before leaving.”
Liu Ruyi lifted her head, eyes full of hope. “May I ask what Master Cao said?”
“He left some money. He said that if any of you no longer wish to stay here, you may take a silver coin and leave on your own.”
Liu Ruyi’s face turned pale. Her eyes were bloodshot, and tears fell at the blink of an eye. In a hoarse voice, she whispered, “He… he really said that?”
“Yes.”
“Not a single word directed at me?”
“No.”
Liu Ruyi knelt there, stunned for a long while. Biting her lip, she finally gathered her courage and asked, “May I ask when Master Cao will depart, and when he will return?”
Lord Bai Jiu shook his head again. “I do not know.”
Liu Ruyi opened her mouth to speak, but quickly closed it again. She lowered her head, clutching her pipa, and thanked him quietly, deciding not to press further.
A light knock came at the door, followed by the entrance of a close guard. He hurried over to Lord Bai Jiu, bowing and whispering a few words.
Lord Bai Jiu’s brows relaxed slightly. In a calm voice, he asked, “He really left?”
“Yes. Once Steward Sun Fu got the news, he sent me to inform you. They are about to enter the East Courtyard side gate. Second Young Master accompanied him all the way, and they even stopped at Liuxiang Zhai to buy a box of pastries.”
Xie Jing liked meat, and Bai Mingyu was also someone who could never be without it. If it came to the lightly flavored pastries of Liuxiang Zhai, these two always had them delivered to a single place—the East Courtyard study, paired with tea for him.
Lord Bai Jiu’s expression softened considerably. He rose and led the way back.
Passing through the hall, he brushed past Liu Ruyi, who remained kneeling long after everyone had left.
Unfortunately, Lord Bai Jiu was not the type to indulge a delicate sentiment. He gave her no hope at all and left.
East Courtyard, side gate.
Xie Jing carried the pastry box, walking along and dealing with Bai Mingyu, who was making a racket and giving him a headache.
Bai Mingyu tugged on his arm, refusing to enter immediately. Excited, he said, “Little Xie, guess what! Everything we predicted came true! Your friends on the road are skilled, but you’re not bad either. You pieced together all these tiny clues and found this huge deal!” He leaned close to Xie Jing and lowered his voice. “I wrote the letter as you said, matching several points. Even the quantity of liquor matched. My brother already believes seven or eight parts of it. He thinks I have a master guiding me. So what do we do next? My brother wants to meet that person to discuss the liquor in detail.”
Xie Jing said, “Just reply to him. Say nothing more. Only eight characters.”
Bai Mingyu: “What?”
Xie Jing: “Far away in the heavens, yet near before your eyes.”
Bai Mingyu blinked, then suddenly understood. Eyes wide, he whispered, “You mean… I should—” He dared not say the words aloud, as if even uttering them would command respect.
Xie Jing nodded.
From the start, he had no intention of proceeding cautiously. This deal had to be swift and precise, executed decisively.
If he hesitated, notifying the provincial lord and reporting to the Heihe lord, the plan would be understood, but the meat would be eaten by those who smelled it coming. Only scraps would remain.
The Heihe Bai family business, closest to the border, would hear the slightest disturbance first. By responding as they did, they had already shown interest. Now, invoking Lord Bai Jiu’s name was perfect. After all, the people in Heihe were loyal to him.
Bai Mingyu hesitated. “What if Lord Bai Jiu finds out?”
Xie Jing patted his shoulder reassuringly. “What are you afraid of? It’s not a bad thing. I’ve calculated this trip; it won’t lose money. Besides, didn’t your brother write that he wanted you to gain experience? Even if it costs some money, it’s no matter.”
Bai Mingyu still felt something wasn’t quite right, but couldn’t argue.
Xie Jing knew perfectly well in his heart. This would definitely not lose money. Bai Mingyu, though quick-tempered, was smart. Otherwise, Lord Bai Jiu would never have chosen him, both then and now.
Lord Bai Jiu was training Bai Mingyu as a successor, and Xie Jing was willing to assist. According to his memory, after the New Year, Bai Mingyu pulled off a full success, winning an old-brand plaque for Lord Bai Jiu. From then on, he was respectfully called the Great Manager.
Xie Jing only moved the timeline ahead by half a year, presenting Bai Mingyu with a great gift.
It was meant for both the Second Young Master and Lord Bai Jiu.
“I’ve assumed Master Cao thinks the master is Lord Bai Jiu. And Lord Bai Jiu doesn’t know I’m planning a big move. If the two meet, what happens?” Bai Mingyu, tall and burly, no longer looked domineering. Frowning, he consulted Xie Jing. “I can’t return to Qinghe alone. Little Xie, will you come with me? Lord Bai Jiu cares most for you. If it happens, you must plead for me. Most of this idea was yours!”
Before Xie Jing could reply, someone approached—it was the guards returning. Curious, he asked, “Where have you been?”
It was Wang Su, wiping sweat from his brow. “Where else? Just back from Jingshui Alley. I now know what they mean by a ‘femme fatale.’ They fought inside the house and even brought in outside thugs to cause trouble. They even blocked Lord Bai Jiu’s carriage. He ordered all those people sent to the authorities. Just got back…”
Xie Jing interrupted: “Is His Lordship alright?”
“Of course. He had people with him. Only the horses were startled—nothing else.”
“Did he go to Jingshui Alley?”
“Yes, for a while. Soon after you left, His Lordship went. Liu Ruyi played the pipa for quite a while.”
Xie Jing’s expression darkened.
Bai Mingyu leaned in curiously, “Who is Liu Ruyi?”
“She’s a woman living in a small house in Jingshui Alley,” Wang Su replied.
Bai Mingyu’s curiosity grew. “Lord Bai Jiu keeps a woman outside? Is she pretty? Since when?”
Xie Jing scowled. “Don’t speak nonsense. That’s not true at all.”
Wang Su added, “It has nothing to do with our Lord. She was sent by Master Cao’s family.” He briefly explained the raid on Cao’s mansion, venting along the way.
Bai Mingyu listened with interest and asked more about Liu Ruyi. “So she played the pipa tonight. More than one piece?”
“Yes.”
“Did she play before?”
“Well… kind of. Second Young Master, don’t ask too much. I don’t know clearly.” Wang Su hesitated, unwilling to corrupt the young master, and made up stories from others, saying, “Liu Ruyi used to manage things in the mansion. She was a female steward, very capable, top-ranked.”
Bai Mingyu frowned. “But you said she fought and got hurt?”
Wang Su nodded.
Bai Mingyu: “If she’s a steward, why does she handle nothing here?”
Wang Su: “…I don’t understand either. Perhaps this isn’t her original house, and the people here don’t listen to her.”
Bai Mingyu nodded slowly. “You’re right. But today, she got lucky. Lord Bai Jiu’s time is precious. Taking time to listen to a few pieces is rare. Even I have to be careful speaking to him. Hey Xie Jing, isn’t that so?”
Xie Jing remained silent, lips pressed, eyes dark, concealing their sharpness.
Bai Mingyu had never seen Liu Ruyi, but Xie Jing had.
Judging by appearance alone, she was indeed beautiful.
Xie Jing had been praised by Lord Bai Jiu for his looks, but he wasn’t sure if Liu Ruyi’s beauty would catch the master’s eye—or, like him back then, be kept.
Just thinking this made his fingers clutch the pastry box until they whitened.
Wang Su didn’t notice and hurried off to find Steward Sun Fu.
Bai Mingyu wanted to discuss the liquor matter with Xie Jing, but Xie Jing’s mind was elsewhere, and he no longer paid much attention to him. His reaction made Bai Mingyu nervous. “Little Xie, what’s wrong? Why so impatient? I didn’t provoke you. Did I say something wrong?”
Xie Jing shook his head.
Bai Mingyu grew more confused. “Has something big happened? Don’t scare me. I’ve never seen you like this.”
Xie Jing frowned. “I won’t go to Heihe yet. Second Young Master, return on your own. One month at most, half a month at least. I’ll find you then.”
“Alright.”
Bai Mingyu agreed and asked, “I won’t pry into your matters. Just one question—do you need money?” Without waiting, he pulled out some bills. “Take this. I’ve saved a few hundred silver. Spend them if needed.”
Xie Jing considered saying he didn’t need it, but finally took it. “I’ll keep it for emergencies.”
After sending Bai Mingyu off, Xie Jing went to the study with the pastry box.
In the East Courtyard study, everything was as usual. Only the book had been replaced. Xie Jing placed light-flavored pastries on a small plate, set them on the table for Lord Bai Jiu, poured hot tea, and opened the book to the page Lord Bai Jiu had been reading. He placed a delicate gold-luan bird bookmark, its beak seeming to hold the page.
Xie Jing stared, lost in thought, until he heard footsteps. Lord Bai Jiu had returned.
He glanced at the pastries and tea, letting much of his anger dissipate. Slowly, he sat and looked at the open page. Finally, all his anger vanished.
“Do you remember which page I was on?”
Xie Jing nodded. “Yes. You were reading in bed yesterday and fell asleep. I closed the book.”
As Xie Jing reached for the tea, Lord Bai Jiu grabbed his wrist, pulled him closer, lifted his chin, and examined him carefully. “Your attention to detail remains, but I feel… Jing’er, you are different from before.”
Xie Jing avoided his gaze.
Lord Bai Jiu applied slight pressure, lifting his chin: “You’ve grown a bit. You know how to look at women.”
Xie Jing: “!!”
Lord Bai Jiu studied him for a moment, then let go. “It’s natural to admire young beauty. I know you haven’t seen many women. It’s normal to be curious about one or two in the house. But Jing’er, you must know—those women are not good. Each has their own tricks. You are no match. Don’t go back to Jingshui Alley.”
Xie Jing looked at him for a moment, then suddenly asked, “Lord, tonight you listened to the pipa. Was it good?”
Lord Bai Jiu frowned, expression darkening.
In that Jingshui Alley house, the only remarkable thing was a woman who played the pipa.
He already knew Liu Ruyi could not stay!
