The maids and servants at Feihua Courtyard, hearing that the young master intended to keep Pei You hungry, naturally made no preparations for her meal.
"Miss Pei You, the young master says you must handle your own dinner tonight," a maid said.
Hearing this, Pei You asked with a pitiful expression, "Can you at least give me a steamed bun?"
The maid folded her arms, looked at her haughtily, and shook her head. "There were no instructions from the main courtyard. We servants have no way to help you. You’d better figure something out for yourself, Miss Pei You."
Pei You sighed as she watched the maid walk away. She hadn't eaten lunch, and the feeling of hunger was truly unpleasant. She rummaged through her room, found her small parcel, and tucked a few pieces of broken silver into her clothing.
"I just learned the way this morning. I should be able to go out and find something to eat now," she reasoned. Having made up her mind, she changed into a nimble and practical cross-collared outfit.
As she passed the guard post by the main gate, she heard the sounds of laughing and drinking from within. Pei You hesitated for a moment, but then she stepped out firmly. When she had left Feiyi Workshop earlier, she had caught the sweet scent of pastries from a nearby teahouse, so she quickly decided on her destination.
With light, quick steps, she rounded the street corner, leaving the solemn and imposing Marquis Manor behind her as she entered the bustling crowd. Clad in simple, understated clothing, Pei You moved through the throngs like a fish in water, following her memory until she found the teahouse.
The three-story building was elegant and discreet, with fresh, green bamboo by the entrance adding a touch of natural purity.
A waiter dressed in white came up to greet her.
"A pot of Jingting Lvxue and a plate of peach blossom pastry," Pei You ordered, her choices familiar, before pausing to ask, "Do you have them?"
The waiter in white nodded and respectfully led her to a private room on the third floor. "The Changjun Pavilion room on the third floor. Please, make yourself comfortable."
Pei You turned and headed upstairs, strolling as if she were entering her own home.
"Hey, isn't Jingting Lvxue an imperial tribute tea? Since when does this teahouse have such high-quality tea?" a guest, busy drinking tea and listening to a storyteller, looked up to ask.
"Who knows? Probably just trying to look rich," the person opposite him replied, glancing at Pei You as she ascended the stairs. She was wearing a mist-gray cross-collared top and possessed an incredibly beautiful face, her aura pure and spirited, yet she didn't look like someone of great wealth.
The moment Pei You stepped onto the third floor, she sensed a familiar presence. She looked up and locked eyes with a pair of phoenix eyes brimming with a smile.
Pei You studied Jiang Sinian, dressed in his white robes, his hair secured with a smooth, lustrous white jade hairpin. That refined and noble face bore the faint smile she knew so well.
Pei You's almond eyes widened in an instant. "Are you working as a waiter at this teahouse?" she asked, sounding utterly incredulous.
The smile on Jiang Sinian’s face stiffened. He really hadn't expected this to be the first thing the girl would say upon seeing him.
"...Yes."
Pei You suddenly broke into a smile, revealing two adorable little dimples. "Stop working then. I ordered peach blossom pastry; let’s eat together."
Noticing the wooden plaque hanging by the door of the private room, Pei You quickly led the man—who followed behind her—to "Changjun Pavilion."
Opening the window offered a full view of the scenery outside, including the Feiyi Workshop across the way. Pei You sat in a chair, watching Jiang Sinian as he strolled around the room, completely at ease.
"When did you arrive in the Capital? And you found a job so quickly?" Pei You’s incredulous look made Jiang Sinian unable to suppress a chuckle.
"A couple of days ago. If I don't work, I won't have anything to eat," Jiang Sinian leaned in toward her. "Or perhaps Miss Pei plans to provide for me?"
Pei You actually gave this serious thought. "I’m about to go hungry myself, so I probably can't provide for you."
Thinking of how the massive Wangyuan Marquis Manor couldn't even ensure the young girl had enough to eat, Jiang Sinian felt a twinge of heartache. Even the gatekeepers were allowed to drink and make merry in the manor, yet the girl he looked after had to sneak out just to find dinner.
His long, slender fingers brushed over Pei You’s hair, patting it gently. "It’s alright. I’ll just wait for you to make a fortune, Miss."
Pei You tilted her head slightly and smiled at Jiang Sinian, her eyes curving into crescent moons that rippled like a clear spring. "When I make a fortune, I’ll keep you in a house of gold."
As soon as she said it, she stunned herself. A "house of gold" didn't quite suit Jiang Sinian. She pondered it carefully and decided she would build a palace of fine white jade with a natural hot spring—that would be a suitable place for him to live.
The man himself, supposedly tarnished by the "vulgarity" of a house of gold, felt no awkwardness at all regarding the mismatch. Instead, the corners of his mouth lifted, and his eyes crinkled with deep amusement. "Very well. I shall leave that to you, then."
Footsteps sounded outside. Just as Pei You moved to open the door, a warm hand rested on her waist, and in a whirlwind of motion, she was swept behind a screen.
In the narrow corner behind the screen, Pei You’s eyes rounded as she looked up at the man’s exquisite chin. "What are you doing?"
"Shh," a finger pressed gently against her lips. The man’s clear, slightly husky voice whispered in her ear, "I’ll be in big trouble if I’m caught slacking off."
The waiter in white tapped lightly on the door. Receiving no answer, he pushed it open and sensed the presence of his master and the girl behind the screen. Feeling a slightly threatening gaze sweep over him, the waiter wisely remained silent. He set the pot of tea and the plate of peach blossom pastry on the table and retreated.
As the oppressive masculine form in front of her pulled slightly away, Pei You let out a long, silent breath.
Stepping out from behind the screen, she caught the familiar scent of the peach blossom pastry and sat quietly to eat. However, Jiang Sinian’s face turned cold the moment his gaze fell upon the red, swollen marks on her delicate skin.
He only knew that Pei You had been locked in a room to study etiquette for three hours; he hadn't realized the wicked servants of the Wangyuan Marquis Manor would dare to be so heavy-handed.
"How did you get hurt?"
Pei You glanced at her swollen hand and gave Jiang Sinian a strained smile. "Am I very stupid? I still can't learn such simple etiquette."
Seeing this smile made Jiang Sinian’s heart ache. He wanted to take her away right now, but he knew how much Pei You longed to find her own blood relatives. She certainly wouldn't go back to the village with him yet.
He took her hand gently and applied medicine. "Little You is very smart... It is they who have gone too far."
The cool ointment spread over her skin, easing the pain significantly. The faint scent of herbs at the tip of her nose was the Huasheng Ointment her grandfather used to make. Thinking of him, Pei You felt her eyes grow sore again. Although she was often told she was clumsy when she learned to treat minor illnesses from her grandfather, he had never struck her with a cane.
She took the silver she had brought and handed it to Jiang Sinian, her eyes red as she looked at him. "This is all the money I have. The ladies at the manor are quite kind; they gave me a lot of jewelry, though most of it is of average quality."
Looking at the little rabbit before him, Jiang Sinian felt both heartbroken and amused. He listened as she continued, her voice choked with emotion, "They say you need a lot of money to live in the Capital. I’ll bring you more next time."
Jiang Sinian suddenly laughed, his typically cool face appearing as vibrant as peach blossoms in that moment, even his voice tinged with mirth. "Are you really planning to provide for me?"
Pei You looked at him, bewildered, but nodded firmly and earnestly nonetheless.
"Alright." Jiang Sinian agreed. Seeing the girl, who could barely look after herself, wanting to provide for him—how could he not be moved?
He accompanied the girl as she finished the plate of peach blossom pastry and drank the pot of Jingting Lvxue. Standing at the teahouse, Jiang Sinian watched as Pei You’s thin, small figure merged into the crowd until she disappeared at the end of his sight.
"Find out who struck Little You, and get her a new etiquette teacher."
The waiter in white acknowledged the order and vanished from where he stood.