Lovable Beauty

Xiao Yuan’s carriage was spacious, allowing him to comfortably recline by bending his knees on the master seat. There was a set of narrow couches to either side that was big enough for two people to sit side by side. So, after the three cousins of the Xie family got into the carriage, he remained seated in the master seat in the center, with no intention of offering the spot out of courtesy.

Xie Lanyin and her sister sat on the right side, Jiang Huaizhou sat opposite them, and Ge Jin stayed outside.

Looking at his aggrieved little cousin, Jiang Huaizhou was amused and took pity on her, deferring to Xiao Yuan, “Please excuse my younger cousin’s impropriety.”

The corners of Xiao Yuan’s lips were slightly raised, and he glanced at the young girl over there.

Xie Lanyin bowed her head, pursing her red lips. Having just made a fool of herself, her fair face was like a peach blossom blown red by the warm wind, alluring and charming. Her long eyelashes fluttered as she discreetly shot daggers at her cousin—or so she thought. Xiao Yuan recalled her lively expressions—she was clearly fuming at her cousin for laughing at her yet because of his presence, she held back; he couldn’t help but feel it was such a pity.

He enjoyed hearing her speak.

Since he was born, he’s liked to hear beautiful sounds. His wet nurse said that every time he cried, all she had to do was hum a ditty and he would stop crying, very easy to coax. Later, when his wet nurse died of illness, he moved into the Eastern Palace and lived with the other princes in the palace. The courtyard was small and wasn’t suitable for keeping actors to play music and sing songs. Hence, he found this black-naped oriole to listen to its birdsong to calm his mind. After leaving the palace, with the procession in front, he had his party walk separately. Passing by well-known music troupes, he’d stop by to listen. Perhaps it was because he was used to the naturalness and vibrancy of birdsong, whenever he listened to the tunes sung and played by those people, Xiao Yuan didn’t find it as pleasing as birdsong; so, he dropped the thought of buying actors to play music for him in his spare time.

But he didn’t expect that a last-minute trip to Mount Hua led him to hear such a voice by chance. It would be too exaggerated to say it was heavenly music; if one must describe it, Xiao Yuan felt her voice was like her beauty, always beautiful whether she was angry or happy. When the palace maids bickered and quarreled, Xiao Yuan only found it too noisy; but when she was angry and complained, he found it was music to his ears, not to mention when she was acting cute, he could close his eyes, and fall asleep with relish.

It’s a pity that the lady silenced herself when he wanted to continue to hear her voice.

Seeing a spot of redness in the middle of her forehead, her tearful eyes appeared in his mind. Knowing that she was in pain, Xiao Yuan paused, opened a drawer in the middle of the small rosewood cabinet next to him, took a green-glazed porcelain bottle, and handed it to Jiang Huaizhou. “This is Jade Lotus Cream, which can reduce swelling and relieve pain. Because of me, your younger sister was injured, so consider this bottle of Jade Lotus Cream Yuan’s apology. Please accept it.”

After hearing so many words from her, this precious medicine that was made with a secret formula by Ge Jin can be regarded as a reward.

He behaved politely and did not give anything directly to his cousin. Jiang Huaizhou had a good impression of him; worried that his cousin wasn’t feeling well from the pain, he did not refuse. Thanking him solemnly, he then handed the porcelain bottle to Xie Lanqiao. “You can help her apply some first, so as not to delay. If we return home and Aunt sees it, she will most likely ground her.”

Xie Lanqiao took it with a smile, thanked Xiao Yuan first, and then turned sideways.

Xie Lanyin’s forehead really hurt, and because she was afraid of leaving traces and being discovered by her mother, she obediently turned to her sister, facing the man in the main seat. Her sister applied the medicine for her. It felt cool and gave off an elegant lotus fragrance. Xie Lanyin liked the smell, and couldn’t help but observe that person secretly.

He was wearing a light gray robe of Hangzhou silk without any fancy embroidery patterns, but the material was smooth and bright, giving off an aura of elegance; ordinary wealthy people could not afford to wear it and matched the cream-like, top-quality mutton jade, it was enough evidence to judge that he was born of high pedigree.

Just as she was about to withdraw her gaze, the man’s hand suddenly landed on the jade pendant around his waist. His five fingers were white and as lustrous as jade, and even more pleasing to the eye than a woman’s hand. Xie Lanyin was startled, and couldn’t help but raise her eyes to look at him.

Xiao Yuan’s five senses were keen, and he looked over suspiciously, only to see her dropping her gaze in a panic.

Looking at the little girl’s lips pursed because of nervousness, Xiao Yuan seemed to understand something, but asked, seemingly speculative, “Is the young lady’s pain relieved?”

There are countless women who have peeked at him, and he didn’t care if there is one more added to the numbers, but he wanted to hear her talk.

Being caught peeping, Xie Lanyin felt awkward. She just looked at him out of curiosity; please don’t let him misunderstand…

Just as this thought popped up in her mind, Xie Lanyin breathed a sigh of relief when she heard his question. Quickly pushing away her wild thoughts, she kept her gaze on his black boots as she said, “It doesn’t hurt anymore. I am grateful to the young master for offering me the medicine. It was I who wasn’t paying attention. Young Master has nothing to do with me hitting my head. Young Master does not need to blame yourself”

She disliked him for being rude to her eldest cousin, but now that he was being polite, Xie Lanyin is also reasonable, so she couldn’t forget her manners.

Xiao Yuan nodded, looked at the oriole, and explained to Jiang Huaizhou, “I am fond of birds and like to take it with me wherever I go; I didn’t expect it to frighten your sister.”

“Young Master has elegant taste,” Jiang Huaizhou praised with a smile. Looking up at the cage for a while, he boasted sincerely, “Almost all the orioles I have seen are black, but this one is golden all over—it is really rare. No wonder its song is incomparable to that of ordinary orioles; it is mellow and crisp, and pleasant to the ear.”

Xiao Yuan gave a rare smile and glanced imperceptibly at the young lady. In terms of melodiousness, his oriole was not half as good as her. It’s a pity that she was a daughter of a government official. If she was an orphan or low-born,* he would be able to buy her and have her serve by his side.

“Young Master, the East Street is ahead. I’ll take you to the Bright Moon Inn first, and then take the Third Young Master and them back to their residence?” Outside the carriage, Lu Jun glared at Ge Jin who was winking at him and called out loudly.

Jiang Huaizhou looked at Xiao Yuan in surprise. “Young Master Yuan is going to the Bright Moon Inn?”

Xiao Yuan was surprised. “Could it be that Third Young Master also…”

Jiang Huaizhou was overjoyed and warmly invited him, “It is by chance that we meet, so let’s not postpone an invitation to a later date. Since we are all going to the Bright Moon Inn, let us be the host today. It can be regarded as a thank you for Young Master Yuan’s assistance” He originally planned to pick a time to invite the other party to a restaurant to thank him. He’d only go himself, without his cousins, but now that they both know where the other was going, it would be too rude for him to change their destination at the last minute. His younger cousins were all in men’s clothing, and they have ridden together all this way so there is no need to shun away for propriety’s sake.

Xiao Yuan humbly declined but Jiang Huaizhou insisted several times before he accepted.

Xie Lanyin had no objection to this. Her thoughts were all on her forehead. About a quarter of an hour later, the carriage stopped in front of the Bright Moon Inn. Jiang Huaizhou got off first. Xiao Yuan motioned for the two ladies to go first. Xie Lanqiao was about to get up, when Xie Lanyin secretly tugged her sister’s sleeve and quietly said to Xiao Yuan, “Young Master Yuan, I-I want to have a few words with my sister. It will be quick.”

Her dainty face was blushing red.

Xiao Yuan nodded and got out of the car without asking any further questions.

When the carriage curtain fell, Xie Lanyin quickly touched her forehead to make sure it wasn’t swollen, and asked her sister in a low voice, “Is it red?”

If it was red, how can she go out to meet people? She was aching to ask this question but held back in the presence of others.

“No, I can’t see it at all,” Xie Lanqiao snickered at her younger sister in amusement, “Let’s go.  We don’t want to make the others wait.”

Xie Lanyin was relieved that her appearance was intact, and when she turned around, she couldn’t help raising her hand to tease the bird inside the cage. This oriole was really beautiful; Xie Lanyin wanted to buy one to keep herself.

She liked it wholeheartedly. The oriole was not used to strangers approaching, so it flapped its wings and flew to the crossbar, calling twice as a warning.

Xie Lanyin nearly jumped in fright. Feeling inexplicably guilty, she glared at the bad-tempered oriole and gave up on buying a bird. She picked up the curtain and went out, putting on an unaffected face as if the screeching bird had nothing to do with her.

Ge Jin lowered his head to hide his smile. This bird of his master’s was very bad-tempered. Except for his master, if he were to tease it, the oriole would occasionally chirp a few times, but if others were to tease it, the oriole would become mute. Only when strangers approach it would chirp out of vigilance. As for the two ladies from the Xie family: Xie Lanqiao was heroic and valiant; she didn’t seem the type to tease birds; then it only left her younger sister—she was quite good at pretending.

Ge Jin secretly glanced at his master.

Xiao Yuan calmly ordered, “Go and bring the birdcage.” Since she liked the oriole, she will likely tease it a while once they went up, and he’d be able to listen to her talk.

Ge Jin grinned and swiftly mounted the carriage. He just knew that his master took a fancy to the Fifth Young Lady of the Xie family. Look, he was already starting to please her. In the past when he went out, he always left the birdcage in the carriage. Now he guessed that the Fifth Young Lady liked it, so he had him bring it up. Wasn’t it all to please the beauty?

“That’s the person Master has his eyes on. You better be good; what are you screeching about?” Ge Jin whispered while fetching the birdcage. Other princes would already have palace maids serving them in bed at fifteen. His master had a withdrawn personality and didn’t like many people to be around him. He didn’t accept any of the people arranged by the Emperor or Empress. This Fifth Young Master was the first one to catch his master’s interest—not someone they could offend.

The oriole rolled its beady eyes. He didn’t know whether it understood or not.

Jiang Huaizhou had reserved a private room yesterday, and now he went upstairs directly with the waiter.

Jiang Huaizhou asked Xiao Yuan to sit on the east side of the square table. He sat at the head of the table. Xie Lanqiao didn’t want her sister to sit too close to a man, so she took the initiative to sit on the other side of Xiao Yuan, and Xie Lanyin sat opposite Xiao Yuan.

With the lesson of peeping in the carriage and being caught, Xie Lanyin behaved well during the meal, not looking at anything, and obediently listening to her cousin talking with him. Only when the oriole behind Xiao Yuan called out did she raise her head with a curious look.

“If the young lady likes it, you can come closer for a better look. Do as you please,” Xiao Yuan offered generously during the break after their meal.

Xie Lanyin glanced at her cousin. Seeing her cousin encouraging look, she thanked Xiao Yuan softly and went around the table to play with the bird.

“Young Master Yuan, do you want to listen to the opera or storytelling?” Jiang Huaizhou asked Xiao Yuan.

Xiao Yuan smiled slightly, “Both are fine.”

“Then let’s go with storytelling. This oriole sings so beautifully; what other song do you want to listen to?” Xie Lanyin turned her head and interjected. She didn’t have a demure personality in the first place. After a meal, she was no longer so unfamiliar with Xiao Yuan.

Jiang Huaizhou gave Xiao Yuan an exasperated look, and told the waiter outside the door, “Please call Old Gentleman Hu over. He is the best at storytelling,:

The server went immediately and soon led an old man in a black robe who was over fifty years old up.

“Which story does the Third Young Master want to hear?” Because they were acquaintances, Old Mr. Hu asked Jiang Huaizhou with a smile.

“Are there any new stories recently?” Jiang Huaizhou pointed to the little cousin in front of the birdcage, “They are young and like to hear something interesting.”

Mr. Hu lived at the Bright Moon Inn for a long time, and he was very well-informed about the news in the city. He guessed that the two strange young lads in the room were probably the cousin-sisters of the Jiang family who have recently arrived, so he nodded and said, “Yes, it is the story of His Royal Highness Prince Qin and Princess Consort Qin’s deep love for each other. What does the Third Young Master think?”

Prince Qin just came, and everyone in the city was very curious about the nobleman. The young ladies loved to listen to it, and it wasn’t much of a secret, so if the nobleman was to hear of it, he probably wouldn’t mind. Besides, everyone was acquaintances; no one would take this kind of gossip talk to the prince.

Before Jiang Huaizhou could speak, Xie Lanyin got excited and returned to her seat from the birdcage, and said excitedly, “Perfect! Let’s listen to this one!”

Xiao Yuan on the opposite side glanced at her without any objection.

Extra:

Oriole: I’ve heard of raising dogs to pick up girls, but I didn’t expect I as a bird would become a tool for coaxing people!

Prince Qin: Now that you know, work harder.

Oriole: Wawawa… (crying)

Xie Lanyin: Hm, that sounds quite lovely. Ah, the Bright Moon Inn’s pigeon soup tastes quite good.”

Prince Qin looked at his beloved bird.

The oriole fell headlong from the crossbar.