Chapter 18: Companions of the Road

“What should I do now?” Leshan stood helplessly under the shade of a large tree outside the study, his brow furrowed. From a distance, he saw Gu Qiulan approaching with two maids, and immediately broke into a cold sweat, glancing around anxiously, wishing he could find a hole to hide in.

“Leshan, where is the young master?” Linglong asked.

“Well…” Leshan bowed his head, staring hard at the tips of his shoes. “The young master is diligently studying in the study.”

“My husband is still reading?” Gu Qiulan smiled gently.

A chill ran down Leshan’s spine. “Yes… that’s right.” His heart was in turmoil, and before he could finish, Qiaoyun had already headed toward the study door. Leshan grew even more nervous and quickly added, “These past days, the young master said he’s much improved in health and needs to make up for his missed lessons. He wishes to study hard for a while and asks not to be disturbed. I hope you’ll understand, Young Madam.”

Standing at the door, Qiaoyun suddenly called out, “Young master, the young madam has made some pastries for you to try.”

The room remained silent.

Qiaoyun raised her eyebrows and turned to look at Gu Qiulan—as if to say, “Well, this famously beautiful lady of the capital seems restless again. What now?”

Gu Qiulan crossed her arms, her gaze cool and probing as it swept over Leshan, who, unable to steady himself, fell to his knees with a thud.

“Enough, I won’t make things difficult for you. This isn’t the place for conversation. Let’s talk inside the study.”

Leshan looked up in disbelief. Gu Qiulan had already walked past him, heading into the study. He scrambled to his feet, brushed off the dust, and hurried after her.

At that very moment, Qin Muchuan was swaggering through the bustling streets. Thanks to Doctor Ning’s miraculous medicine, the young master of the Qin family was nearly recovered and almost completely fine.

“To say my only good quality is… is… Hmph! That wretched woman, she’s certainly not as harmless as she looks! Honey on her lips and a dagger in her heart—how did I ever think she was gentle and virtuous? Go on, keep up the act!” Qin Muchuan muttered, lost in his thoughts. Unconsciously, he had wandered into the marketplace, where the lively calls of the vendors felt oddly comforting.

He’d been cooped up in the manor for days, unable to focus on reading, unable to pay attention to Gu Qiulan, and even the little maids looked at him strangely. Even Yue’er and Linglong were ignoring him.

Truly, he was all alone!

“If you all ignore me, does that mean I have nowhere to go?” Qin Muchuan sulked, pondering where to have some fun. As he walked, something hard struck his head, and he shouted in outrage, “Who’s the blind fool who doesn’t know their place?”

Up at the second-floor window, a man in white leaned on the railing. It was none other than Sun Ruosi, the son of Scholar Sun, with whom Qin Muchuan had once caroused in the pleasure districts.

Sun Ruosi held a plate of peanuts, smiling down from above. Seeing Qin Muchuan still blankly standing there, he threw another peanut at him.

“Damn it! You little brat, how dare you mess with your Grandpa Qin!” In a flash, Qin Muchuan stormed into the tavern, kicking open the private room’s door on the second floor. He was about to unleash a tirade when he saw the room was full of courtesans. Sun Ruosi had clearly brought the girls from the music bureau here to make merry.

“Hehehe, so this is Young Master Qin?” one of the girls giggled behind her fan. “He really is a fool.”

Sun Ruosi lifted her chin with his folding fan. “This fool just got married—of course his wife has tamed him!”

“Indeed. Those women are all so prim and proper. None as thoughtful as us sisters.” The courtesan laughed, and Sun Ruosi planted a kiss on her cheek.

Qin Muchuan felt like the butt of a joke, his face turning cold. “What do you want?”

“Look at him! He really has been tamed!” Sun Ruosi burst out laughing, the courtesans tittering along.

“I saw you wandering the streets, looking lost. As your brother, I invited you up for some wine, music, and the company of these beauties! Tsk, such good intentions, wasted. My dear Qin, on a fine day like this, won’t you join us for a drink? Yan’er, go entertain Young Master Qin.”

“At your command.” The girl named Yan’er threw him a flirtatious glance, rose gracefully, walked over, and gently tugged at Qin Muchuan’s sleeve. “Young Master Qin, won’t you join us for a drink?”

Haunted by the memory of Qianqian’s incident, and the scolding from Yinyin at the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion, Qin Muchuan was left with a permanent aversion to such saccharine tones.

“What’s that scent on you? It’s suffocating!” Qin Muchuan pulled his sleeve away, moving aside with a look of disgust.

Yan’er pouted, aggrieved. “It’s dew perfume—don’t you like it?” She moved to press closer.

Qin Muchuan darted away, quick as a flash, to the window, breathing in the fresh air.

Yan’er was left speechless.

“Seems you’re not taken with Miss Yan’er.” Sun Ruosi beckoned her back, and she returned, cheeks puffed with indignation. After a moment’s thought, Sun Ruosi laughed. “Could it be you really married a peerless beauty, so now all other women seem dull and common to you?”

Qin Muchuan hesitated—Gu Qiulan, a peerless beauty???

“Husband, your best quality is… hmm, your looks.”

Boom! The words echoed in his mind—“Looks, looks, looks, you’re a man with nothing but looks…”

“What’s wrong?” Sun Ruosi, seeing his expression, grew concerned.

“Hah, at a time like this, you’re still wallowing with women.” Qin Muchuan tried to banish the words from his mind. “Can’t you do anything but deal with women? What else do they have besides a pretty face?”

Sun Ruosi stared at him, dumbfounded.

“Not even a face to speak of! These vulgar flowers? If you want to host me, at least bring out a few courtesans of real renown. These wildflowers are barely fit for beggars.” Qin Muchuan looked around at the four or five beauties, each of whom now wore a sullen expression.

As if not yet satisfied, Qin Muchuan pointed at Yan’er. “And you! Don’t you know dew perfume is for pastries? Rubbing it on yourself is so foolish, even Linglong could outdo you! And that one—” he pointed at another—“too sharp-faced; that one, voice too grating; and you, yes, you, so fat you’d crush someone! You’re all supposed to be popular girls here. At least make an effort to look the part, or you’ll ruin the tavern’s reputation.” He sighed, unable to bear the sight any longer.

“You—” Yan’er was livid, grinding her teeth. She wasn’t the top girl, but she was certainly popular. All her other clients were sweet and flattering, and now this Qin Muchuan comes along criticizing her perfume! Who puts dew perfume in pastries anyway?

Sun Ruosi coughed awkwardly—had Qin Muchuan eaten gunpowder? Why was he so irritable? He waved for the women to withdraw, lest they get caught in the crossfire.

Qin Muchuan snorted coldly. “If you have no intention of hosting me, I’ll take my leave.” He was about to go when Sun Ruosi hurried after him. “Wait, don’t go! It was hard enough to get you out of the house. Since your marriage, you’ve abandoned all your friends. If I hadn’t run into you today, who knows when I’d see you next.”

“You could have sent an invitation to the Duke’s manor. No one would dare turn away Sun Ruosi’s card.”

Sun Ruosi rubbed his nose and motioned for Qin Muchuan to come closer. “Well… you know the Duke’s reputation…”

“What do you want? If you keep hemming and hawing, I’m really leaving.” Having finally escaped the manor, he’d done nothing but chat with Sun Ruosi, which was deeply frustrating.

Sun Ruosi wrung his hands, miming throwing dice. “There’s a master gambler in the east of the city, almost unbeatable. Want to try your luck? Weren’t you the best gambler in the capital? Someone’s come to challenge your title—care to meet him?”

Qin Muchuan smiled knowingly. “Out with it—how much did you lose?”

“Uh…” Sun Ruosi snapped open his folding fan and fanned himself nervously.

“In that case, I’ll be off. Better to go home and read.”

“Don’t!” Seeing Qin Muchuan truly about to leave, Sun Ruosi clung to him, looking miserable. “It’s not money I lost!”

“Not money?”

After a moment’s hesitation, seeing Qin Muchuan about to leave, Sun Ruosi gritted his teeth and confessed, “It was my mother’s dowry…”

“You—” Even the notorious rake Qin Muchuan was stunned speechless. After a long pause, he found his voice. “You rascal, you even dared to gamble away your mother’s dowry! Are you out of your mind?”

“Hush!” Sun Ruosi clapped a hand over his mouth. “Please, don’t shout! I want to keep my life.”

Qin Muchuan shook him off impatiently. “You should have thought about that before you sold it. You’ve got guts—how is your father not beating you to death?”

“My father isn’t a military man like your Duke Qin.” Sun Ruosi was suddenly grateful his father was a scholar and a civil official. But seeing Qin Muchuan’s darkening expression, he quickly apologized. “No offense intended! I meant it as a compliment—like father, like son.”

Qin Muchuan snorted and ignored him.

“I was possessed by a moment’s madness. The gambling den doesn’t use money, only barters. My mother had a set of jade from the previous dynasty, so I…” Qin Muchuan could hardly stand to listen to this profligate’s tale.

“My good brother, only you can save me now!” Sun Ruosi said with a pained expression. “My parents haven’t noticed yet, but if they do…”

“It’ll serve you right if they beat you.” Qin Muchuan retorted.

“Brother, you can’t just leave me to die! If you help me this time, I swear on my life, whatever you need in the future, just say the word—I’ll go through fire and water for you!” Sun Ruosi raised his hand to swear.

“Enough, enough.” Qin Muchuan cut him off. “It’s just a gambling den. I’ll go take a look. You coward, get up and lead the way.”

Meanwhile, in the study at Mingyue Pavilion of the Duke’s manor, Gu Qiulan sat at Qin Muchuan’s desk and asked, “Has my husband snuck out again?”

Leshan nodded quickly.

“Where did he go?” Gu Qiulan inquired.

Leshan hesitated, shaking his head. “The young master said he just wanted to take a walk and would be back soon.” Seeing her smile deepen, Leshan hurriedly added, “But the young master has always been close to Scholar Sun’s young master—they often go out together.”

“Young Master Sun? Is that Sun Ruosi?” Gu Qiulan asked.

“Yes, yes, that’s him!”

Gu Qiulan nodded with satisfaction and rose to leave.

Leshan watched her go, thoroughly perplexed.

Linglong shot Leshan a glare. “What are you staring at? Covering up for the young master—be careful from now on!”

Leshan was about to cry. It wasn’t his choice; the young master had forced him. Being a servant for the young master was really too hard—perhaps he’d be better off working for the young madam instead.