Chapter 78: Chapter 57 Marshal Collects Debts_3
She paused for a moment, 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 times with such trivial matters?"
Lady Dong noticed that she used the term "so many times."
Did that imply she often "troubled" Pei Yunmeng?
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 Yunmeng 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 Yunmeng’s woman... he was someone 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 come visit our mansion. The master has wanted to chat with him for a long time."
"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 Yunmeng was sitting in a nanmu armchair, chin resting on his hand, his interest waning as he gazed at the half-finished chess game on the table.
Duan Xiaoyan, rubbing his nose, entered from outside and commented,
"It’s been a month. Haven’t you solved the chess problem Xiao Zhufeng gave you yet?"
Pei Yunmeng hummed in acknowledgment.
The Deputy Commander of the Tianwu Right Army from the Palace Front Office, Xiao Zhufeng, as Pei Yunmeng’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 Yunmeng’s help. Pei Yunmeng had no interest in chess, but the stakes Xiao Zhufeng offered were always tempting. This time, 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 Yunmeng could but apply himself to the game whenever he was not on duty.
Morning light streamed through the window, casting a hazy glow upon his face. Pei Yunmeng 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 game 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 Yunmeng 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, time never seems enough, yet during rest days, I don’t know what to do with myself, pretty boring."
Pei Yunmeng glanced at him,
"Bored? Head to the training ground and practice archery."
Duan Xiaoyan gasped,
"Bro, making someone practice archery on their day off, is that human? It’s so hot and you send me to the training ground; you might as well prepare some medicine for me in advance." When he got to the word ’medicine,’ Duan Xiaoyan suddenly paused and looked up at Pei Yunmeng, "Right, bro, didn’t you forget something?"
"What’s that?"
"Have you forgotten?" Duan Xiaoyan clumsily gestured as he spoke, "Remember at Lu Yuan Pawnshop on Qinghe Street, you paid the silver for Miss Lu, and she said she would repay you with medicinal tea. You haven’t forgotten, have you? That was fifty silver taels, almost two months of my salary!"
Pei Yunmeng was momentarily stunned, then after a moment 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 medicinal tea, I can take it to honor my father, saving me the trouble of finding a birthday gift."
He babbled on, watching Pei Yunmeng’s expression. Seeing that Pei Yunmeng remained indifferent, he leaned in closer, drawing out his words reluctantly,
"Brother—Yunmeng, bro—"
Pei Yunmeng 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 Yunmeng let out a sigh,
"Fine."
Surprised by the easy acquiescence, Duan Xiaoyan was somewhat incredulous,
"Really? Why are you so easygoing today?"
"As it happens, I have to head to the east side of town," Pei Yunmeng stood up, casually picking up the long knife on the table,
"It’s on the way."