Chapter 11: Temperament

“It’s called Tiantian,” Bao Ning said with a cheerful smile as she introduced it to Peiyuan. “You saw it yesterday.”

“I did?” Peiyuan grabbed the puppy by the scruff of its neck and tossed it aside, rubbing his forehead.

He barely remembered anything from yesterday. He only recalled drinking a lot, his stomach aching terribly—so bad he felt like he was dying. He had collapsed on the kang to warm his stomach and, without realizing it, fallen asleep.

He seemed to have woken up once in the night, muttered some nonsense, ate something—and that was it. He had blacked out from drinking, even the events before he got drunk were blurry. He genuinely didn’t remember seeing the dog.

Tiantian looked at him with wide round eyes and stuck out its pink tongue to lick his hand. Peiyuan shuddered and pushed it even farther away.

He turned to Bao Ning, his tone unfriendly: “Why did you bring it into my room?”

Bao Ning pressed her lips together, thinking to herself how bad-tempered this man was.

Last night he was tugging at her sleeve, begging her not to leave. Now, as soon as he woke up, it was as if nothing had happened. He wore that sour expression again, like she owed him a fortune.

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Jys Lkdt pyke, “R jllr psxl nbknjp yde ewnjzkdtp kd xu assx, vblu’al pvkzz pxyzz. Mkydvkyd kp vss rzyuqwz. R’x osaakle kv’zz nywpl vaswczl, ps R oydvle vs ypj usw vs oyvnb kv qsa xl.”

Vlkuwyd qkdyzzu dsvknle vbl pkzj pnyaq oayrrle yaswde Jys Lkdt’p dlnj. Tkp lmralppksd qzknjlale okvb pwarakpl. “Gald’v usw bsv?”

Jys Lkdt oyp yv y zspp qsa osaep. Gqvla y zsdt rywpl, pbl ypjle kd ekpclzklq, “Zsw alyzzu esd’v alxlxcla yduvbkdt?”

“Tsze sd, zlv xl vau vs alnyzz.” Vlkuwyd rkdnble vbl caketl sq bkp dspl, vaukdt byae vs rklnl vstlvbla ulpvlaeyu’p lhldvp.

Tl alxlxclale psxlvbkdt. Fsxlsdl bye nsxl kdvs bkp assx ewakdt vbl dktbv. Rv nswzed’v byhl clld ydusdl lzpl—sdzu Jys Lkdt. Xb aktbv, lyazkla vbyv eyu, Jys Lkdt’p uswdtla casvbla bye nsxl cu. Mbl jke nzlyazu eked’v zkjl bkx, pyke bl oydvle vs vyjl bkp pkpvla yoyu. Wkdl, obyvlhla, zlv vblx ts. Vlkuwyd eked’v nyal. Jwv psxlbso, bl qlzv y pvaydtl blyhkdlpp kd bkp nblpv, yde obldlhla bl qlzv vbyv oyu, bl oydvle vs eakdj.

Tl eaydj vss xwnb, vakttlale bkp pvsxynb nsdekvksd, yde dlyazu rypple swv qasx vbl rykd. Mbld psxlsdl nyxl kd, vyzjle vs bkx qsa y obkzl, okrle bkp qynl, yde xyel bkx rsaaketl.

Vlkuwyd jdlo bkp sod byckvp olzz. Tl’e prldv ulyap kd vbl yaxu, yzoyup sd yzlav yv dktbv. Rq ydusdl nyxl nzspl vs bkx obkzl bl pzlrv, vblu wpwyzzu ldele wr pwqqlakdt qsa kv.

Nssjkdt yv Jys Lkdt ytykd, bl qlzv y zkvvzl twkzvu. “…Pke R es vbyv?”
Jys Lkdt oyp ydtau yde yttaklhle. “Zsw alyzzu esd’v alxlxcla, usw blyavzlpp flaj!”

“Let me see how bad it is.” Peiyuan motioned her over and leaned forward to untie the scarf from her neck. The gesture was somewhat intimate. Bao Ning’s heart skipped a beat—she stepped back and shielded herself with her hand.

The bruises on her wrist were exposed—startlingly dark.
Peiyuan’s heart clenched at the sight, and he felt a headache coming on.

His throat was dry. He frowned and asked, “Does it hurt?”

Bao Ning stared at him without speaking. Her feelings were written all over her face—Peiyuan could tell she was unhappy, even a little disappointed and hurt.

But he didn’t know how to comfort her.

Apologizing had never come easy to him. He wasn’t the type to admit fault, especially not to a woman. He had no experience.

After a long silence, he forced out, “It was my fault. Go put some medicine on it. Don’t be mad anymore.”

Bao Ning’s chest was full of frustration. It might’ve been better if he had just said nothing at all. That offhand apology made her feel even worse.

She asked, “What exactly was your fault?”

Peiyuan looked at her in confusion. After a moment, he snapped, “Enough already. Don’t push your luck.”

What a terrible man. Bao Ning was usually mild-tempered and good at comforting herself. But in front of Peiyuan, she realized none of her coping skills worked.

He had a knack for driving people crazy—whether by speaking or not, with just a look or his tone, he could infuriate you.
Softly, Bao Ning said, “I won’t argue with you.” Then she bent down to pick up Tiantian and prepared to leave.

Peiyuan, feeling guilty, grunted a couple of times, then suddenly said, “Leave the dog. I’ll watch it for you.”

“No need,” Bao Ning replied.

“I said leave it, so leave it. Why so much nonsense?”

“…” Bao Ning looked at him, clutching her chest from the frustration, trying to calm herself.

Even if he didn’t remember what happened last night, something about him had changed.

In the past, he would never have spoken this much. He’d just give her a half-lidded glance, wave her off with a cold “Get lost,” or say nothing at all—just tilt his chin to indicate they should leave.

Bao Ning almost missed the old him. Maybe it was better when he said nothing and kept that golden mouth shut.

She didn’t know which version of him was his true self.

Tiantian squirmed in her arms, eager to get down. Her bruised wrist hurt from the dog’s kicks, and as soon as she loosened her grip, it leapt down and landed in Peiyuan’s lap.

Peiyuan pushed it away in disgust.

“What’s this dog called?”

“Tiantian,” Bao Ning answered.

“What a dumb name.” Peiyuan lifted one of the puppy’s hind legs with a weird expression. “Isn’t this a male dog?”

Tiantian shyly pulled its leg back and lay down flat.

Bao Ning didn’t want to argue. She just followed his lead. “Then what do you think it should be called?”

Peiyuan flicked its ear. “It’s got yellow fur, just a mutt. Let’s call it Ah Huang¹Yellow.”

As if your name is so much better, Bao Ning grumbled inwardly. But on the surface, she didn’t argue and nodded. “Okay.”

Peiyuan said no more. Bao Ning patted her skirt and lowered her head. “Then I’ll go make lunch.”

She still looked dispirited. Peiyuan glanced at her and gave a quiet “Mm,” feeling an odd twist in his heart.

Just as Bao Ning stepped out of the door, he called out, “Hey, bring some medicinal wine with you later. I’ll massage it for you—it’ll heal faster.”

Bao Ning turned to look at him and nodded, not taking it to heart.

Her silhouette vanished at the door. Peiyuan stared after her, feeling a strange emptiness.

It was the first time he’d swallowed his pride to coax someone. Though he did screw up.

Ah Huang wagged its butt and rubbed up to him again, trying to nibble on his hand. Peiyuan pushed its head away in annoyance. “Can’t you be more manly? Always clinging like this—what kind of behavior is that?”

Ah Huang didn’t understand what he was saying and tilted his head in confusion.

Pei Yuan pointed to the end of the heated brick bed and scolded with a frown, “Go sit over there! Don’t bother me!”

…

He was truly fed up with the puppy. It wouldn’t listen to a word he said, and he couldn’t hit it either. It was round and tiny, barely the size of his palm—Pei Yuan figured he could probably crush it with two fingers.

But he didn’t dare actually hurt it. Otherwise, Bao Ning would definitely be furious.

Pei Yuan genuinely wanted to get along with her now. He didn’t want to make her mad.

Even though she wasn’t scary when angry—she’d just get quiet, hang her head like a grass-eating rabbit.

After a while, Bao Ning came by with lunch—meatball soup and scallion oil buns, still steaming and fragrant.

While Pei Yuan ate, she played with the puppy, her eyes bright, as if she’d already forgotten their earlier unpleasantness.

Pei Yuan secretly watched her expression and felt relieved.
In his impression, Bao Ning had always been a gentle soul. Even when upset, she’d never stay that way for more than a day.

Pei Yuan tore a bun in half and soaked it in the soup to soften it before eating.

“Your Highness, take your time. If it’s not enough, just call me,” Bao Ning said with a smile, cradling Ah Huang in her arms. “I’ll head back now.”

That “Your Highness” made Pei Yuan feel a bit off. She had always addressed him like that, but now it sounded distant—cold, even.

Trying to ease the atmosphere, Pei Yuan pointed to the seat across from him. “Sit and eat a little with me.”

“I’ve already eaten,” Bao Ning replied.

“Then just have a little more.”

She frowned, puzzled. “Your Highness, are you still drunk?”

…Right. He shouldn’t have said anything.

Pei Yuan jabbed a finger toward the door. “Get out.”

And Bao Ning really did leave with Ah Huang in her arms. She walked away whispering and laughing softly, now scratching its neck, now patting its tail.

So affectionate with a dog—was that necessary? Meanwhile, she acted all polite and distant with him.

Pei Yuan stabbed his chopsticks into his food, trying to shake off the weird feeling in his chest, and continued eating.

…

And so the days passed uneventfully, and before long, spring arrived.

Ah Huang had grown a lot, and Pei Yuan’s leg was nearly healed.
Their interactions remained the same, which Bao Ning found comforting. Pei Yuan spent most of his time indoors, rarely going out even for sunlight. He’d sit in a chair by the window. Perhaps because he lacked sunshine, his mood was often gloomy—his temper swinging unpredictably like a sulky monkey.

Sometimes he’d be kind and speak to her gently, but it wouldn’t last long before he’d go cold again, tossing in some sharp words.

Bao Ning had grown used to it and learned to accommodate him.

She had tried asking about his leg, but Pei Yuan was evasive and refused to discuss it. She even offered to massage it, but he’d only respond with a sour face if she pushed him.

On the day of the Spring Equinox, Bao Ning was busy in the kitchen preparing spring pancakes.

She planned to treat him to something good, let him have a drink, and then coax him about the injury again. It couldn’t keep dragging on—he was still so young, he needed to stand up again.

In the room, Pei Yuan was flicking corn kernels with his fingers. With a snap, he launched them like arrows at the door—each one embedding deep into the wood.

The chickens Bao Ning raised had grown too and were now wandering around the courtyard. When they saw the kernels, they rushed over in flocks to peck at the door.

Pei Yuan found it irritating and flicked a few more kernels to scare them off.

His skills weren’t what they used to be. A shadow of frustration passed through his eyes.

The little courtyard was unusually peaceful that afternoon. The occasional clucks of chickens and ducks mingled with the sound of chopping vegetables coming from the west wing, where Bao Ning worked.

When the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ carriage arrived, Ah Huang woke with a start and dashed out barking. Pei Yuan heard it too and looked out the window.

A high-ranking eunuch stepped down from the carriage and waved the dog away with his horsetail whisk, eyes full of disdain as he surveyed the humble courtyard.

Someone shouted from outside, “Eunuch Huang has arrived! Why hasn’t anyone come out to greet our guest?”

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