Chapter 44 A Heart of Iron: "Make sure you forget everything you saw before..."

As the sun set and the evening drums sounded, Meng Yan followed Pei Xu toward his residence. He had expected to reach the century-old Pei family mansion, but Pei Xu led him into an alley not far from the Dali Temple.

At the end of the bluestone path, a two-courtyard house stood quietly. Meng Yan looked at the two characters "Quiet Observation" above the door and couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Does the Junior Minister not live in the Pei residence?"

"I'll stay here temporarily for the sake of convenience." Pei Xu pushed open the vermilion courtyard gate. "Lord Meng, please."

Qingzhou, who was following behind, secretly grumbled to himself, "The master clearly bought this house because he thought the Pei residence was too far away. But he's always too busy to go back. What difference does it make whether he bought it or not?"

Meng Yan stepped across the threshold and secretly surveyed the residence. Living in the capital was no easy feat; though called a "small courtyard," in this city where land was incredibly valuable, such a two-courtyard house was already a luxury that was unattainable for officials newly arrived in the capital.

However, for someone of Pei's status as heir, it does seem too plain.

The courtyard was simply furnished, with a bluestone path and a few slender bamboos leaning against the wall. Such a scene should have been elegant, but there was not a single superfluous decoration, and even the flowers and plants were trimmed neatly, which instead made it seem a bit lonely.

Meng Yan looked around and inexplicably felt a chill in the air. Coupled with the "Quiet Contemplation" sign at the entrance, it truly resembled a secluded Taoist temple.

"Please wait a moment, Lord Meng. I have already sent someone to fetch the letter," Pei Xu said, leading the guest into the hall and personally pouring him a cup of Biluochun tea. "I apologize for any neglect." The tea was clear and green, reflecting his slender fingers.

Before long, the servant brought over a plate of pastries. Meng Yan glanced at it; it was almond pastry from Su Yun Ji. If he remembered correctly, Su Yun Ji was the closest pastry shop in the area, and ordinary officials on duty would often buy some to fill their stomachs on their way.

As for the taste... well, it was enough to fill me up.

It was obvious that the chefs here didn't have much time to make pastries on a regular basis, and since they didn't have time to prepare any right now, they had to rush out and buy some to serve the guests.

Meng Yan recalled that her daughter had specifically instructed the kitchen to prepare shredded eel wrapped around tender asparagus for dinner the previous night, mentioning that eel was a must-eat for the Dragon Boat Festival, and even giving it an elegant name, "The Spirit Snake Protects the New Bamboo Shoots." Looking at the dry and unappetizing snacks, she had no appetite at all and just buried her head in drinking tea.

After all, this tea is quite good—it must be a fine tea from the Pei family.

"The buds and leaves of this Biluochun tea are spread out like clouds, and its fragrance lingers on the lips and teeth when tasted. It is truly a top-quality product," Meng Yan praised.

"I'm glad you like it, sir." Pei Xu said calmly, "Please enjoy your meal."

Before they had finished drinking half a cup, a servant brought a letter and an inkstone. Pei Xu handed the letter to Meng Yan, saying, "This is a letter from the Princess herself. Please give it to your daughter, Lord Meng."

Meng Yan took the letter, which bore the seal of the Princess's residence. Upon closer inspection, the inkstone turned out to be a Duanxi purple stone inkstone. He quickly declined, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, Shaoqing. But this inkstone is very precious, and I am truly unworthy of such a gift."

"The Princess said that a good painting needs a good inkstone. Lord Meng, please do not refuse." Pei Xu sighed softly, as if there was a hint of helplessness in his voice. "Otherwise, I would really have a hard time explaining to the Princess."

After another round of polite refusals, Meng Yan finally accepted the inkstone.

After finishing his tea and glancing at the sky, Pei Xu stood up and said, "It's getting late. I suppose Lord Meng has been waiting for me for a long time, so I shouldn't stay any longer."

Meng Yan, who was already eager to return home, immediately took his leave upon hearing this. Pei Xu escorted him to the courtyard gate. After returning home, he changed out of his scarlet official robes and wore only plain clothes, making him look even thinner. Meng Yan glanced at his empty courtyard and remembered the dry pastries from earlier, and was suddenly moved with pity.

“Young Master Pei…” Meng Yan hesitated for a moment, “If you don’t mind, why don’t you come to my humble abode for a meal? It would be more accurate for you to convey the Princess’s preferences to me personally than for me to relay them.”

Pei Xu's eyes flickered slightly, and he declined, saying, "Wouldn't that be too much of a bother?"

"Not at all!" Meng Yan hurriedly replied, "It would be an honor to have you grace my humble abode with your presence, Young Master Pei."

Pei Xu nodded, "Then I will trouble you, sir."

-

The Meng residence was exquisitely decorated everywhere. As soon as Pei Xu passed through the hanging flower gate, he heard many different sounds. Birdcages hung under the eaves, and thrushes inside were chirping. The stream babbled, and daylilies were planted on the bank, their pink, yellow, and orange-red blossoms in full bloom. A few soft creaks came from a wooden swing swaying gently.

The quietest were the servants coming and going, their steps steady and light, walking quietly and with great discipline.

"If Father doesn't come home soon, the food will get cold!"

A clear, melodious female voice came from the inner courtyard; the voice arrived before the person. Pei Xu paused slightly.

Meng Yan hurriedly explained, "My daughter was unaware that we had guests, and she has been very impolite."

As soon as she finished speaking, Meng Lingyao appeared from behind the moon gate. She wore no makeup, her face was bare, and she was dressed in a soft lotus-colored dress. Her black hair was loosely tied up with a jade hairpin, and she walked straight out.

She was clearly taken aback when she met Pei Xu. "What are you doing here?" she asked, forgetting even how to address him.

Pei Xu paused for a moment, then lowered his eyes. He had diligently trained his memory skills, and he gleaned enough information at a glance. Aside from her lips being slightly paler, she seemed no different from usual.

No, there was one more thing—he realized that her eyes were rounder, not upturned at the corners as he remembered. They inexplicably gave her a touch of childlike innocence and cuteness.

"It was I who asked Lord Pei to deliver the Princess's letter," Meng Yan explained.

Meng Lingyao glared at her father, disregarding etiquette, and turned to leave, saying, "In that case, Father, please entertain him properly."

"This..." Meng Yan apologized to Pei Xu repeatedly, "My daughter has been spoiled, please forgive her, Lord Pei."

Pei Xu lowered his eyelashes. "It's alright."

At dinner time, Meng Lingyao reappeared, now dressed in a moon-white ruqun with gold trim, and her makeup had been redone, making her eyes and brows even more delicate and expressive. Pei Xu's gaze quickly swept over her eyes, a hint of regret in his eyes—sure enough, the corners of her eyes had once again turned slightly upturned.

Suddenly, his gaze froze on Meng Lingyao's left palm. For some reason, there was a bandage wrapped around it. If you weren't paying attention, it would blend in with her white sleeve, but once you noticed it, it stood out conspicuously.

Pei Xu finally looked away when he saw her casually pick up the teacup with her left hand.

On the octagonal table, servants laid out the food one by one. Meng Lingyao had an idea and beckoned a maid over, asking her to lead Pei Xu to a dimly lit, shaded spot to sit down.

Pei Xu didn't react much and calmly sat down as instructed.

But the lamplight only made his features stand out even more clearly.

Admiring a beauty under the lamplight. The ancients were right!

The increasingly gentle tone of Mrs. Zhong's voice alone shows that the effect is remarkable.

"I've heard that you're usually very busy with official duties and don't even come back to the Pei residence often. I wonder how you manage your daily life?" Madam Zhong asked with concern.

"Everything is taken care of by the servants in the manor," Pei Xu replied modestly. "Simple meals are enough to fill my stomach."

Upon hearing this, Madam Zhong's smile grew even more amiable, and she nodded repeatedly.

It's rare to find someone from a prestigious family who doesn't have those extravagant and dissolute habits.

Meng Lingyao suddenly looked up. "If it's just simple food, how come I heard from my father that you tasted some excellent Biluochun tea at Lord Pei's place today?"

A slight silence fell over the room as soon as he spoke. Meng Yan was a little embarrassed and was about to speak when Pei Xu said unhurriedly, "We have distinguished guests today, so we must be extra attentive."

"What is the 'regular tea' that you usually drink, Shaoqing?" Meng Lingyao persisted. "It must be something extraordinary, right?"

Pei Xu put down his teacup and said slowly, "If Miss Meng likes it, I will send someone tomorrow..."

"I was just asking casually," Meng Lingyao interrupted him hastily.

Why do you make it sound like she specifically asked him for tea!

Madam Zhong quickly raised her hand and tapped her forehead. "Rude!"

"Yaoyao is spoiled by her father, please don't be offended, Lord Pei."

Meng Yan: "..."

Meng Lingyao: "..."

A barely perceptible smile flashed in Pei Xu's eyes. "It's alright."

"Miss Meng is well-educated and reasonable. Both the Emperor and the Princess have praised her on many occasions, which shows that Lord Meng and his wife are very well-mannered."

Meng Lingyao glanced at him a few times, then lowered her head to look for his shadow at his feet.

There shouldn't be any problems. Her father had specially arranged the feng shui, saying it was the most effective way to ward off evil spirits and avoid harm, so there couldn't possibly be anything unclean attached to Pei Xu.

Then he continued, "...He is genuine and straightforward. That is also rare."

In Meng Lingyao's memory, the last person to be called straightforward was Zhao Ruxuan.

She thought to herself, "He's definitely up to something."

The Meng family's dinner did not feature any rare or expensive ingredients like dragon liver or phoenix marrow, but everything was meticulously prepared. Even the soups were differentiated. Two white porcelain bowls were placed in front of Meng Yan and Pei Xu, while two small blue-and-white porcelain bowls were placed in front of Madam Zhong and Meng Lingyao.

"I didn't know Lord Pei's usual preferences, so I had a servant bring me the same soup as I do," Meng Yan explained. "It's different from what women drink."

As soon as he finished speaking, the two women at the table glanced at him simultaneously. Meng Yan immediately fell silent, his low status within the family immediately apparent.

After a moment, he coughed softly and warmly greeted Pei Xu, "Lord Pei, please don't be shy, drink, drink... We used an old duck raised on the estate, it's old enough, the soup tastes very good, it clears heat and removes dampness, strengthens the spleen and stimulates the appetite."

Pei Xu obediently drank the soup with the Meng family. Because it had been simmering for a long time, the soup was delicious, and it felt as if a warm current was washing over his internal organs.

That was a taste of deliciousness he rarely experienced in the Pei family.

After the meal, Pei Xu rose to take his leave. Meng Lingyao suddenly said, "Mother, I'm going to see Lord Pei off. I have a few words I'd like to ask him to convey to the Princess."

Mrs. Zhong nodded in agreement.

The moonlight bathed the path as the two walked side by side. The lanterns cast their shadows on the pink wall, sometimes overlapping, sometimes separating.

"Miss Meng, is there anything you wish to convey to His Highness?" Pei Xu stopped and asked.

Meng Lingyao turned around, the moonlight reflecting off her newly applied eye makeup. "Lord Pei is acting very strangely today. Why did you suddenly come to my house for a meal?"

"I cannot refuse your father's kind invitation."

"Is that so?" Meng Lingyao tilted her head. "I thought someone as hard-hearted as Lord Pei wouldn't be easily swayed."

She said "hard as iron," but her tone was gentle and tender, more lingering than the moonlight.

Pei Xu gazed at her eyes, which were illuminated by the lamplight, and slowly said, "Indeed."

He made no attempt to embellish the situation.

"Then why did the master still come?" Meng Lingyao pressed on relentlessly.

Pei Xu glanced at her. "What does Miss Meng think?"

Meng Lingyao's smile faltered slightly. She gave a soft hum and, after a few breaths, casually tossed the question back, "Your Excellency is far-sighted; how could a mere woman like me possibly know such things?"

Trying to extract information from the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was no easy task, so she quickly gave up and brought up another important matter, "I have heard that Lord Pei has a photographic memory?"

Pei Xu did not respond, which was taken as tacit agreement.

Meng Lingyao took a light breath, then suddenly took a step closer, tilting her head back and staring intently at Pei Xu. "Then please take a good look, remember my current appearance, and make sure to forget everything you saw before!"