Chapter 78: Chapter 57 Marshal Collects Debts_3
She paused for a mont, her smile suddenly becoming a bit shy as she spoke softly,
"The Palace Marshal’s Mansion is busy with official duties. How could I trouble the Marshal so many tis with such trivial matters?"
Lady Dong noticed that she used the term "so many tis."
Did that imply she often "troubled" Pei Yunng?
Instantly, in Lady Dong’s eyes, Miss Lu’s originally shy smile appeared rather coy and conspicuous.
Indeed, if there was nothing between them, why would Pei Yunng have defended the Female Doctor at Wan’en Temple, knowing the Commander was not one to be easily provoked and certainly not known for being chivalrously inclined?
If Miss Lu truly was Pei Yunng’s woman... he was soone they couldn’t afford to offend.
With this thought, Lady Dong smiled and invited her to sit down,
"Doctor Lu is perfect in many ways, but just too polite... Speaking of which, there was a misunderstanding between myself and Lord Pei at Wan’en Temple before. He didn’t take it to heart, did he?"
Miss Lu smiled faintly, lying without batting an eyelid,
"No, not at all, Lord Pei is magnanimous, he wouldn’t get angry over such a small matter."
"Really? Then when Lord Pei is free, he should co visit our mansion. The master has wanted to chat with him for a long ti."
"Certainly, I will be sure to pass on the lady’s invitation."
...
"Achoo—Who’s talking behind our backs now."
A loud sneeze suddenly broke the morning stillness of the Palace Marshal’s Mansion.
The night’s rain had scattered the petals of a rose trellis in the courtyard, rendering the pond’s surface mirror-like, dotted with drifting vibrant blossoms.
On a purple sandalwood carved desk in the room, there was a jade chess set.
Pei Yunng was sitting in a nanmu armchair, chin resting on his hand, his interest waning as he gazed at the half-finished chess ga on the table.
Duan Xiaoyan, rubbing his nose, entered from outside and comnted,
"It’s been a month. Haven’t you solved the chess problem Xiao Zhufeng gave you yet?"
Pei Yunng humd in acknowledgnt.
The Deputy Commander of the Tianwu Right Army from the Palace Front Office, Xiao Zhufeng, as Pei Yunng’s close friend, was reputable, of outstanding character, without any vices. He didn’t indulge in food or lust, his only passion collecting chess manuals.
His own skills in chess were poor; whenever he encountered a new strategy that he couldn’t decipher, he would insist on Pei Yunng’s help. Pei Yunng had no interest in chess, but the stakes Xiao Zhufeng offered were always tempting. This ti, the bet included a silver inox knife Xiao Zhufeng had found on his travels, rumored to be exceptionally sharp, said to slice through jade as easily as cutting through mud.
For that inox knife, Pei Yunng could but apply himself to the ga whenever he was not on duty.
Morning light stread through the window, casting a hazy glow upon his face. Pei Yunng picked a bright green chess piece from a jade bowl and gently placed it in one corner of the board.
In that instant, the complicated tangle of the remaining ga cleared up, breathing life into a scene of death.
His eyes and brows twitched slightly.
It was done.
Duan Xiaoyan stretched his neck to see,
"You’ve solved it?"
Pei Yunng blocked his prying hands,
"Don’t touch; later we’ll have Xiao Er bring the knife to trade."
"That will have to wait until his duty is over," Duan Xiaoyan said with a grimace. "He’s rested enough lately, but he must make up for missed duty days; it’ll be a few days before he’s free." He sighed, "Usually when on duty, ti never seems enough, yet during rest days, I don’t know what to do with myself, pretty boring."
Pei Yunng glanced at him,
"Bored? Head to the training ground and practice archery."
Duan Xiaoyan gasped,
"Bro, making soone practice archery on their day off, is that human? It’s so hot and you send
to the training ground; you might as well prepare so dicine for
in advance." When he got to the word ’dicine,’ Duan Xiaoyan suddenly paused and looked up at Pei Yunng, "Right, bro, didn’t you forget sothing?"
"What’s that?"
"Have you forgotten?" Duan Xiaoyan clumsily gestured as he spoke, "Rember at Lu Yuan Pawnshop on Qinghe Street, you paid the silver for Miss Lu, and she said she would repay you with dicinal tea. You haven’t forgotten, have you? That was fifty silver taels, almost two months of my salary!"
Pei Yunng was montarily stunned, then after a mont of deliberation said,
"Indeed, there was such an affair."
"Don’t you plan to collect the debt?" Duan Xiaoyan reminded him, "Even if you don’t lack silver, you can’t just waste it... I’ve heard West Street is full of snacks and goodies; since it’s still early today, why not drop by. If you don’t want the dicinal tea, I can take it to honor my father, saving
the trouble of finding a birthday gift."
He babbled on, watching Pei Yunng’s expression. Seeing that Pei Yunng remained indifferent, he leaned in closer, drawing out his words reluctantly,
"Brother—Yunng, bro—"
Pei Yunng frowned and couldn’t help but raise his hand to block the incoming head, giving Duan Xiaoyan a look. Duan Xiaoyan gazed back at him with a pitiful expression.
After a while, Pei Yunng let out a sigh,
"Fine."
Surprised by the easy acquiescence, Duan Xiaoyan was sowhat incredulous,
"Really? Why are you so easygoing today?"
"As it happens, I have to head to the east side of town," Pei Yunng stood up, casually picking up the long knife on the table,
"It’s on the way."
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