Chapter 30: This Sachet… Looks Very Familiar

Two men’s gazes landed on the sachet almost at the same time.

Shen Luchu’s eyes froze.

This sachet…

Shen Luchu looked at the pattern on the sachet. Unlike the usual flowers and birds, this one was embroidered with a branch full of red berries. The craftsmanship wasn’t particularly refined; the stitches were visibly messy to the naked eye.

He couldn’t tell exactly what kind of branch it was, but the sachet itself looked very familiar.

Just as Shen Luchu was still pondering, Pei Che’s voice sounded.

“Excuse me, my wife dropped her sachet,” Pei Che said, cradling someone in his arms, clearly with no intention of putting her down.

My wife?

Heh. Pei Che really was hopeless.

Shen Luchu curled his lips, pulled his thoughts back, bent down to pick up the sachet, and handed it to Pei Che.

Pei Che took it and shifted his gaze from the sachet to Shen Luchu. “Thank you.”

It was just picking something up—Shen Luchu felt Pei Che’s tone was far too formal, and the way he looked at him seemed to hold a deeper meaning. Just as Shen Luchu was about to look into it further, Pei Che had already turned and descended the stairs with the person in his arms.

Shen Luchu suddenly felt a little irritated and scoffed inwardly.

All wrapped up like that—what, is she too unsightly to be seen, or is he afraid someone might try to steal her?

He grumbled a few more complaints in his mind, then stopped lingering.

He had more important things to do—he was going to find Jiang Shiyuan.

Thinking of this, Shen Luchu’s thoughts became lively again. He quickly strode downstairs and exited Tianxiang Residence.

…

Pei Che carried Jiang Shiyuan into the carriage and placed her on his lap before opening the outer robe wrapped around her.

But just as he pulled down a corner and half of her face was revealed, whoosh—it was pulled back up again.

Jiang Shiyuan had been memorizing family rules all night and now was drunk. She was in deep sleep. Suddenly exposed to the bright light, she reflexively pulled her “blanket” back over herself.

Pei Che chuckled and gently tugged it down again; afraid she might smother herself.

This time, Jiang Shiyuan didn’t grab the robe again. Instead, she turned and snuggled into his chest.

“Hong Dou, what scent did you use today? It smells so nice.”

She rubbed her little face against Pei Che’s chest with her eyes still closed.

“It smells like oranges… mm, like…”

Jiang Shiyuan paused, then giggled stupidly.

“Like the scent on Little Master Pei.”

After a long while, Pei Che turned his head and let out a quiet snort, the corners of his lips curving into a soft smile.

He didn’t use fragrance, but his study and bedroom always had some bergamot placed around.

Perhaps because of the alcohol, Jiang Shiyuan was sound asleep, her breathing slow and steady.

Pei Che turned his gaze back to the person in his arms.

Her black hair was like ink, her brows as delicate as spring willows, her lips tender and red—she exuded gentleness and charm in every way. The only flaw was the bruise beneath her eye, glaringly out of place against her pale skin.

Pei Che raised his hand, drew her closer, and turned his head outward. “Tell Pei Ziye to come see me.”

“Achoo—!”

At Wansong Bookstore, Pei Ziye was lounging with one leg crossed over the other, eating a giant pear while flipping through the account book. Suddenly, he sneezed violently.

What the heck? Why was he sneezing so much today?

Was someone cursing him?

He rubbed his nose and refocused on the account book.

“No way? That’s all the money we made this month? And the best-selling item is still my Pei Family Household Rules?”

Pei Ziye stared at the revenue and laughed angrily.

“What a cold, harsh world. These young noblemen in the capital don’t even study anymore? They’re worse than the girls! Look at those girls—so hardworking, memorizing a thousand household rules just to marry into a good family, not even blinking! These good-for-nothing men should be grateful the court doesn’t let women hold office. If they did, there’d be no place left for men!”

Shopkeeper Qian, his face sprayed with pear bits, could only smile bitterly and say, “It’s not that people aren’t reading anymore, Master Pei. It’s just that you priced it too high. A few copper coins to print, and you’re selling it for one hundred taels. Of course, the profit’s outrageous.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? You calling me a profiteer? What do you know? Why don’t I set the price at one tael, or ten? Why must it be a hundred taels? Do you know why?”

Shopkeeper Qian craned his neck. “Why?”

“Because I’m virtuous!”

Pei Ziye took a loud bite of his pear, speaking with righteous indignation—completely lacking the self-awareness of a profiteer.

Shopkeeper Qian was speechless. In a way, the master was virtuous—he didn’t scam the poor!

Besides, the ones trying to study the Pei Family Rules to marry into the family were mostly noble young ladies from powerful families in the capital. If the price were too low, they’d probably think it was fake.

The master wasn’t just virtuous—he was clever too.

Pei Ziye finished skimming the ledger and casually tossed it aside. “Right, have you found the storybook author I asked about?”

Shopkeeper Qian stepped forward with a bitter face. “Found them. They’re with the Qian Shan Bookstore across the street. Don’t know where Qian Shan dug that talent up, but every book they write is a hit. They’ve totally cornered the market with those noodle-eating gentleman romances. That alone has stolen a ton of our business.”

“What’d they say?”

Shopkeeper Qian shook his head. “Qian Shan didn’t agree.”

Pei Ziye got anxious. “You didn’t tell them I just want to meet the person? I’m not trying to poach or steal business.”

“I did. I told Manager Liu over there a dozen times. He didn’t say a single word—kept it sealed tighter than a vault.”

“No counteroffer?”

Pei Ziye even stopped eating his fruit, his expression growing serious.

This was the first task his little aunt had given him—he had to handle it beautifully.

If she hadn’t arranged a date with his uncle today, he wouldn’t have had any breathing room.

Make her happy, and that meant making his uncle happy.

Obviously, his little aunt was the easier one to please.

Shopkeeper Qian shook his head. “No offer.”

“That money-grubbing Liu didn’t even name a price? Something’s fishy. I’m going in person!”

Now Pei Ziye was interested. He tossed the pear, got up, and strode out with big, confident steps.

Just as he reached the door, he suddenly remembered something, turned around, and said to Shopkeeper Qian:

“Oh right, Old Qian—put away the Pei Family Household Rules. We’re not selling it anymore.”

Shopkeeper Qian, holding half a pear, looked confused. “Why stop now? It’s making tons of money.”

“What else? It’s not selling anymore.”

There were only two unmarried adult males left in the Pei family—him and his uncle.

The noble girls in the capital all wanted to marry into the Pei family for one reason—his uncle, the Grand Tutor.

Now that his uncle was about to get married, what was the point of keeping that book around?

What, did someone have their eye on him? Were they blind?

Pei Ziye was still mentally grumbling when, just as he was about to leave, a graceful figure burst in from outside and threw her arms around his waist.

“Pei Ziye, I like you.”

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