Chapter 14: Which Young Master Dares to Be So Arrogant

At night, He Xuandu had a dream.

He dreamed again of the rabbit he had kept as a child, and of… Liu Shunhua.

This was the second time he had dreamed of her since returning from Floating Cloud Garden.

Unable to sleep, he sat up, bending one leg and resting his arm on it as he rubbed his forehead vigorously.

“Liu Shunhua, it’s her again.”

That woman made him feel uneasy all over whenever he saw her, especially when she cried.

Green Jade was abruptly awakened by his movements and mumbled drowsily, “Liu Shunhua, Liu Shunhua.”

Hearing this, He Xuandu grabbed a nearby sachet and threw it at the bird. “Shut up! Don’t say that name again.”

Green Jade fluttered to the windowsill with a thud and dozed off with its head drooping.

Outside the latticed window, the night was still deep. The lanterns under the corridor had gone out at some point, and the night watch servant hadn’t bothered to replace them, leaving everything pitch black.

Xuandu gazed out the window for a while, yawned, pulled the quilt over himself, and went back to sleep.

The night was still long. After tonight, he won’t remember anything about Liu Shunhua.

The next day, Fangcao brought it in a food box, saying someone had delivered it.

When Liu Shunhua opened it, she saw two words scrawled crookedly on the upper layer: “My Apologies.”

She recognized the handwriting it was He Xuandu’s.

Just like in her previous life, his calligraphy was distinctive and unforgettable, though now it was equally striking in its own way.

Inside the box there were various pastries and some dried fruits. Liu Shunhua picked up a piece and tasted it sweet.

The fact that He Xuandu had taken the initiative to send these with the words “My Apologies” specifically written showed he believed the story she had fabricated that day.

He must have thought that he had failed to protect the rabbit back then, betraying her expectations and causing her sorrow.

Everyone said He Xuandu was a reckless and absurd dandy, but how could they see the kindness hidden in his heart?

Liu Shunhua was delighted to have glimpsed the softness in He Xuandu’s heart yet saddened that he was misunderstood by others.

She set aside a portion of the pastries and dried fruits for Tanghua and stored the rest.

Although He Xuandu had sent the treats as an apology, Liu Shunhua still wanted to send something in return.

Firstly, she felt undeserving. Secondly, she wanted to use this opportunity to get closer to The Xuandu.

In her previous life, she would have simply sent some writing supplies, but after what happened yesterday, she realized he probably wouldn’t appreciate such gifts now.

Having barely established a sliver of trust with He Xuandu, her current task was to continue winning his favor.

Liu Shunhua recalled the several jars of Liang Province Wine she had brought back from Floating Cloud Garden. Xuandu’s maternal grandfather was also from Liang Province, and he had lived there for a time in his youth, so he would likely enjoy it.

She sent someone to deliver a message to The Xuandu at the ministerial residence, and he was indeed very pleased.

However, he said drinking within the ministerial residence felt restrictive and asked her to leave the wine at Moon Gazing Tower, where he often went.

Moon Gazing Tower, the finest tavern in Chang’an, was in the East Market.

It took over an hour to get there from the Liu residence.

As the carriage approached Pinging Quarter near the East Market, it gradually slowed down.

Liu Shunhua lifted the carriage curtain and saw a street crowded with people.

The coachman said to her, “There seems to be some incident ahead. I’m afraid we won’t arrive anytime soon.”

Liu Shunhua glanced forward. “It’s fine, there’s no hurry. Go slowly and be careful not to hit anyone.”

The carriage moved at a snail’s pace, and the sounds from the street occasionally drifted inside.

“What’s going on? I just arrived and something’s already happened in Pingqing Quarter.”

“I heard someone inside got a finger chopped off, blood splattered everywhere.”

“Who would dare cause trouble in Pingqing Quarter?”

“No one really knows, but guess who got injured? The prefect’s son.”

“I know, I know. I just came from Thousand Pottery House. The perpetrator looked like nothing more than a servant, claiming his master had taken fancy to Mei Hao and wanted to take her out for drinking companionship. Zhuo Gongzi naturally objected, and in a fit of rage, that person chopped off one of his fingers,” someone squeezed into the crowd, speaking with animated excitement.

“A mere servant daring to be so arrogant – what powerful background must this person have?”

The crowd buzzed with astonished murmurs.

Upon hearing it involved the prefect’s son, Liu Shunhua slightly raised her eyes.

Young nobles were often frivolous, frequently competing for women’s affections, but chopping off the prefect’s son’s finger in broad daylight was truly shocking.

Having once been the daughter-in-law of the prime minister’s household, Liu Shunhua was somewhat familiar with all the notable nobles in Chang’an, yet she had never heard of any young master who would dare to be so audacious.

However, thinking it was Zhuo Gongzi who got beaten, Liu Shunhua couldn’t help but snort coldly.

This Zhuo Gongzi, named Zhuo Liang, was originally one of Chang’an’s local tyrants.

In her previous life, after he married her cousin Manhua, he began acting like royalty, frequently engaging in extortion and seizure.

Truly, every villain meets their match.

As the carriage slowly departed from Pingqing Quarter’s streets, Liu Shunhua merely treated it as a story she’d heard, soon forgotten.

Moon Gazing Tower stood by the riverbank where spring flowers bloomed abundantly, emerald waves rippled gently, and green trees surrounded the building front and back, creating a warm spring atmosphere.

Approaching noon, yet the establishment remained deserted.

Liu Shunhua stood at Moon Gazing Tower’s entrance, glanced up at the plaque to confirm she hadn’t come to the wrong place, then entered.

Inside, she discovered only two people seated by the window, with another attendant standing nearby.

Puzzled, before she could start her business with the shopkeeper, she saw him waving at her, signaling not to enter.

“Drink when you’re told to drink. All this hesitation is utterly boring,” came a lazy, careless voice tinged with impatience.

Following the sound, Liu Shunhua saw a youth lounging by the window holding a wine cup, his pampered hands slowly tracing the rim.

The youth appeared around her age, dressed in magnificent crimson-purple brocade robes, his entire demeanor radiating arrogance from his smiling lips to his raised eyebrows.

His noble bearing made it clear he was no ordinary young master.

The woman sitting opposite him trembled as she lifted the wine cup to her mouth, spilling most of it before it reached her lips.

The youth’s hand tracing the cup rim suddenly stepped, and he abruptly splashed the remaining wine onto the woman’s delicate face.

Startled, the woman dropped the cup with a clatter onto the table.

The youth raised an eyebrow and sneered, “Can’t even hold a cup properly? What use are you to me?”

The woman hurriedly used her sleeve to wipe the spilled wine from the table, but in her panic only made things worse. The wine flowed off the table, thoroughly drenching the youth’s luxurious robes.

Rubbing his forehead with half-closed eyes, the youth complained, “Cheng Chuan, where did you find this useless creature? What should have been a pleasant meal has completely ruined my appetite.”

The attendant immediately knelt. “Young Master, this is actually the most beautiful beauty from Pingqing Quarter’s Thousand Pottery House. I even had to snatch her from someone else.”

Thousand Pottery House in Pingqing Quarter – so he was the one who chopped off the prefect’s son’s finger.

The young man said lazily, “Oh, so you snatched her. Weren’t we supposed to invite her properly? No wonder she’s terrified with your methods.”

The attendant named Cheng Chuan chuckled, “That man was holding onto Miss Mei Hao and wouldn’t let go, so I had to break one of his fingers. But don’t worry, young master, I left him ten strings of coins.”

The young man gave a slight nod and asked Miss Mei Hao in confusion, “We paid for you, so why are you still afraid?”

The young man was exceptionally handsome, with features as delicate as a painting, clear eyes, and a gaze as gentle as that of an innocent child.

Yet Miss Mei Hao couldn’t stop trembling all over.

Just one incense stick’s time ago, she had witnessed Young Master Zhuo’s severed finger—a bare stump with stark white bone, his entire hand drenched in blood.

Miss Mei Hao’s legs gave way, and she knelt prostrate before the table. “Spare me, young master, spare me!”

The young man poured a cup of wine, his long lashes lowering as his voice carried a hint of melancholy. “All I wanted was to spend some money to find someone to share a proper meal with. Why is it so difficult?”

Mei Hao trembled. “I… I am unworthy of such fortune. I beg you to let me go.”

The young man patted his wine-soaked robe, looked up, and smiled. “But you’ve ruined my clothes and my mood for dining. You’ll have to compensate for that.”

Mei Hao hurriedly replied, “I’ll compensate, I’m willing to compensate.”

Resting his cheek on one hand and tapping the table with the other, the young man said slowly, “Good. Then I’ll give you two choices. One: leave behind one of your fingers and keep me company while I eat. Two: leave behind one of your eyes and watch me eat.”

He leaned down, bringing his face close to Mei Hao’s, and asked softly, “Which will you choose?”

Liu Shunhua watched the young man quietly. There was no murderous intent in his eyes, only mockery.

He seemed to take pleasure in others’ fear, the more unsettled they were, the deeper his smile grew.

Especially the way he looked at people, no different from how one might regard livestock penned behind a fence.

Her skirt swayed as Liu Shunhua snapped out of her thoughts and glanced down at Miss Mei Hao kneeling on the ground.

Mei Hao, her face full of terror, clutched tightly at Liu Shunhua’s skirt as if grasping her last lifeline.

“Miss, please, save me.”

Liu Shunhua had not wanted to cause trouble, which was why she had remained an observer until now.

But seeing someone prostrate at her feet, treating her as their only hope, her heart softened.

She bent down to help Mei Hao up, dusted off her clothes, and comforted her gently, “Don’t be afraid, miss.”

The young man looked at Liu Shunhua with a smile. “What, do you intend to compensate on her behalf?”

Liu Shunhua shook her head. “That robe of yours is far too luxurious for me to afford. As for my fingers and eyes, I still have use for them and cannot part with them either.”

Surprised, the young man raised an eyebrow. “You’ve been watching for so long, I thought you would help.”

Liu Shunhua smiled. “I do want to help, but one must act within their means. You, young master, are of noble status not someone I can easily offend.”

From what she had observed, this young man’s behavior was truly unusual. Pleading recklessly or acting impulsively would only anger him. It was better to be straightforward; perhaps there was still room for negotiation.

Three years in the prime minister’s residence had taught her to read situations and people to perfection.

The young man hadn’t expected such a response and was taken aback once more. Then, a trace of mockery tugged at his lips. “Since you’re unwilling to help, why give her hope? Offering hope without following through isn’t very honorable, is it?”

At these words, Miss Mei Hao was also stunned and turned to gaze pitifully at Liu Shunhua.

Liu Shunhua nodded, “You’re absolutely right. I was being inconsiderate. Thank you for pointing that out, young master.”

Though her tone was gentle and her attitude respectful, the young man inexplicably felt thwarted.

This woman was completely different from what he had expected.

The women he had encountered before either flattered him obsequiously or avoided him like the plague, and he had grown accustomed to that.

But the woman before him had a calm gaze, was frank and upright, and looked at him no differently than she would anyone else.

She wasn’t afraid of him.

This feeling wasn’t particularly comfortable, but at least it didn’t disgust him.

The young man examined her with interest dressed in a simple green robe, her figure graceful but not overly slender, with bright eyes and brows that carried a touch of free-spirited charm.

He twirled the cup in his hand, “Interesting.”

Seeing his gaze soften slightly, as if he had relented a bit, Liu Shunhua seized the moment to say, “This young lady has disturbed your enjoyment of the meal, which is truly inappropriate. It’s only natural that you’re upset. Since she can’t add to your amusement, why bother keeping her around and feeling annoyed? Why not send her away? I have some excellent Liang Province Wine here. If you don’t mind, I’d like to offer you a jar to enhance the mood.”

The young man suddenly straightened up and leaned forward, “You also think it’s wrong to ruin someone’s mealtime enjoyment?”

Liu Shunhua followed his lead, “Of course.”

Rubbing his hands together, the young man’s eyes gleamed with inexplicable excitement, “I’ll make her leave, and you can join me for the meal!”

Liu Shunhua was taken aback. She had originally thought the young man was merely looking for an excuse to deliberately humiliate Mei Hao for amusement, and she had only agreed with him to save face for him.

Who would have thought he’d circle back to the meal? How obsessed was he with eating?

Liu Shunhua felt a headache coming on this person was truly difficult to deal with.

“How about I join you for the meal?”

A lazy voice came from outside the door as He Xuandu walked in with a smile.

💝 Support the Team

Zephyr Yizelle

✍️ Translator

🍵 Ko-fi