Chapter 66 — A Pot of Wine
Xie Jing reached out and looked down at his own hands.
Unlike Liu Ruyi’s, his were boys’ hands—about a size larger, with more defined knuckles. The fingers were long and well-shaped, but running his other hand over the pads and the webbing revealed a thin layer of calluses—not the soft, delicate hands of a girl.
He hadn’t known much before. Lord Bai Jiu had taught him a lot. Sometimes, someone recognized him as Xie Wanzhou, the opera performer, and wanted him to sing again, but Lord Bai Jiu always stopped them.
Lord Bai Jiu didn’t like listening to him perform.
Or rather, he didn’t like hearing him perform in front of others.
Occasionally, Xie Jing would sing one or two pieces privately for Lord Bai Jiu. He never said much about it, but the next day would bring some loquat syrup to care for his voice.
Lord Bai Jiu seemed to prefer quiet—reading or, when free, playing chess. Sometimes he would make ink-and-wash sketches. He was indifferent to Western paintings. When Xie Jing was in the study, Lord Bai Jiu most often taught him calligraphy—sometimes holding his hand seriously, sometimes less so.
When Xie Jing had first arrived at the Bai residence, he was a little stubborn and didn’t ask for much. Only after repeated questioning did he say he wanted a bowl of sweet rice dumplings. He ate very cautiously; Lord Bai Jiu watched as he slowly finished the small bowl, looking soft and compliant—the type Lord Bai Jiu seemed to like.
Even when he had angered Lord Bai Jiu in the past, he would lower his eyes, keeping his head down, just to get past the immediate tension.
The more Xie Jing thought, the more he felt that this was precisely what Lord Bai Jiu liked.
Liu Ruyi, by contrast, could execute such pleasing gestures effortlessly, gentle and soft-spoken, never inciting annoyance.
The boy in the mirror pursed his lips, his small face scrunching. He reached out to trace the features reflected back, studying them seriously.
Xie Jing thought: he just wasn’t good-looking enough yet. In another year or two, Lord Bai Jiu would surely be unable to part from him.
After Lord Bai Jiu returned, Xie Jing continued the night watch. This time, when Lord Bai Jiu coughed lightly, Xie Jing promptly climbed to the corner of the bed, wrapped in a thin blanket, and stayed put.
Lord Bai Jiu had considered what to say for half a day, but didn’t speak, pressing his fist to his lips, lightly smiling as he shook his head.
On the third day of the ninth lunar month, Bai Mingyu bid farewell to Lord Bai Jiu, taking seven or eight people in a merchant caravan to Qinghe to visit relatives.
Lord Bai Jiu approved. He also wrote a letter as instructed, allowing Bai Mingyu to present it at the Northern Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce, making his journey and lodging along the way easier.
Lord Bai Jiu’s letter simply introduced Bai Mingyu, granting him a position as a provincial clerk—making matters easier once he left. Bai Mingyu accepted it happily, placing it close to his chest and patting it, “Master, don’t worry. With your letter, it’s better than anything else!”
Xie Jing stood behind Lord Bai Jiu, signaling with his eyes, careful that Bai Mingyu wouldn’t talk too much.
Bai Mingyu understood, speaking only agreeable words before departing promptly.
Lord Bai Jiu didn’t finish his tea but had no intention of drinking more. He turned to Xie Jing. “You’ve been visiting Bai Mingyu these past two days. Are you…”
Xie Jing’s heart pounded, but his face remained neutral. He just watched Lord Bai Jiu, waiting for him to finish.
Lord Bai Jiu paused, then suddenly grabbed Xie Jing’s wrist, bringing him close. He asked softly, “Do you also want to leave?”
Xie Jing, held tightly by the wrist, felt his pulse fully pressed in Lord Bai Jiu’s palm. For a moment, he didn’t know if it was the tight grip or something else, only that his blood seemed to rush to his face. Looking away slightly, he shook his head. “Master, I don’t want to leave.”
“Really don’t?”
“No, I just want to stay at home, maybe ride a few laps in the mountains…”
Lord Bai Jiu tapped his head and laughed, “Still saying you don’t want to? I knew it. After a few days locked in, you’d be itching to go play. This afternoon, the tailor will deliver your clothes. Pick a few convenient sets and take Bai Shisi with you. I’ll accompany you.”
Xie Jing looked puzzled. “Go where?”
Lord Bai Jiu said, “Where else? Didn’t I promise you a few days in the mountains?”
The tailor quickly delivered the clothes, knowing the East Courtyard’s matters were pressing. Two or three dozen sets were hung for Xie Jing to choose.
He flipped through them, frowning. “Weren’t only a few made? Why so many?”
The tailor smiled. “These include other household members’ clothes. We were told that the young master’s matters are urgent, so we delivered them here for your review. The rest will be distributed later.”
Xie Jing’s fingers brushed over one outfit, pausing briefly. He turned back and pinched a corner, frowning. “This is for a female student, right?”
The tailor nodded. “Yes, the house steward arranged it for Jingshui Alley.”
Xie Jing pressed his lips together.
There was a female student in Jingshui Alley who could paint. She lived in the same room as Liu Ruyi, had short hair, and liked wearing this style of modern uniform. It was certainly distinctive.
Xie Jing grew impatient, instructing the tailor to leave only his clothes. He selected a few sets, including the male student uniform, packed them into a trunk, and moved them onto the carriage.
Lord Bai Jiu rarely had two days off, and early autumn wasn’t too cold yet—perfect for enjoying the mountain scenery.
The carriage jostled for half a day before slowly reaching the mountain foot.
Outside, a light rain fell. The still-green mountains were shrouded in a thin mist, the air carrying the scent of rain and earth. The coachman, wearing a straw raincoat, urged the horse quietly, startling a small squirrel in a nearby tree. The clever little creature quickly scampered up the trunk and hid among the dense leaves.
Xie Jing chewed on a long blade of grass, dangling it from his lips, resting his chin as he gazed out the carriage window.
Lord Bai Jiu called twice before Xie Jing looked up. “Master?”
“Come sit inside, don’t catch cold.” Seeing his hesitation, Lord Bai Jiu added, “If you get sick this time, I’ll give you an injection.”
Xie Jing stiffened.
Lord Bai Jiu continued, “This time, no tiny needle. It’s thicker than before. Think carefully.” Last time in Heihe, Xie Jing had a high fever. Lord Bai Jiu personally administered the injection. When the boy woke, seeing the needle made him sweat, and as it went in, the sweat streamed down his back. They had to wipe while administering.
Lord Bai Jiu looked at him. Sure enough, Xie Jing quickly drew the carriage curtain and sat inside.
Lord Bai Jiu had never seen such a person.
He feared broken bones, not a small needle.
Lord Bai Jiu glanced at Xie Jing, then at the window outside, a faint smile on his lips. He coughed once to suppress it.
This mountain residence had originally belonged to Cao Yunzhao. With him absent from the provincial capital, the steward had delivered it for Lord Bai Jiu’s care. Cao Yunzhao still yearned to return and couldn’t bear to sell it. Fearing mismanagement, he trusted Lord Bai Jiu to oversee it.
Xie Jing hadn’t recognized it at first, but after stepping closer and seeing the hot spring water piped into the courtyard, he recalled that Lord Bai Jiu had brought him here before. He liked this place. The house was spacious, with a natural hot spring in the backyard. It was quiet, perfect for relaxation.
Soon, the house no longer bore the Cao name. Like himself, Lord Bai Jiu took possession and never returned it.
Rain and cool weather made the day perfect.
The hot spring had two rooms. Lord Bai Jiu took the larger one alone. After a short soak, there was a knock at the paper door. A voice asked, “Master, the kitchen prepared some snacks and warmed a pot of yellow wine. Would you like some?”
Lord Bai Jiu, lounging in the pool, replied lazily, “No need. Send it to Jing’er.”
The servant acknowledged and carried the tray over.
With only a wall between them, every sound of delivery reached Lord Bai Jiu clearly. He could hear Xie Jing respond, the clinking of cups, and the rustle of small nuts being cracked.
Lord Bai Jiu listened for a while, amused.
Xie Jing, wearing a loose robe, sat across, legs crossed, eating roasted pine nuts.
He reached out with his other hand to poke the tray of treats—four dry and four moist, eight in total, each more exquisite than the last. The pea jelly was especially crafted.
He crumbled a bit with his fingers, tasted it, and realized it had been seasoned.
When in the opera troupe, he had almost suffered from such hidden tricks. Eating something soaked in cold water overnight was unpleasant.
After tasting the pea jelly, he sampled the others. Most contained stimulant herbs; some, even if not, had alcohol. While mild, they were still stronger than eating without drinking. He poured a little warm yellow wine to taste—it was normal, smooth, unadulterated.
He thought for a moment, crushed some cake crumbs, and stirred them into the wine.
Only by eating enough pastries would the effect appear quickly. Putting them in wine was fastest.
