Chapter Six: The Trap of the Black Bamboo

Morning sunlight sprinkled golden flecks across Wang Jiu’s jade-like face. As Xiao Jiu opened his eyes to look at him, he found he could not look away. He thought to himself that he ought to find a chance to return to the Xiao family, withdraw from this mission, and bring Wang Jiu home for everyone to see. After all, the first person Xiao Jiu ever liked was such a remarkable one. He carefully studied every inch of Wang Jiu’s face, his gaze lingering on the faint scar there. Xiao Jiu always felt that Wang Jiu carried many stories within him, just like the scar on his face.

What kind of person could bear to leave such a mark on Wang Jiu’s face? No doubt, that person must have been thoroughly wicked. Xiao Jiu looked away and took Wang Jiu’s hand from around his waist. His fingers were long and elegant, and Xiao Jiu’s touch found thick calluses at the base of the thumb and just above the palm. Xiao Jiu was surprised—Wang Jiu must have trained with a sword. Yet, in all this time, he hadn’t seen him with a weapon; perhaps it was kept in his room?

Xiao Jiu kept examining Wang Jiu’s hand. As the sleeve slipped down, he noticed a ring of bite marks around Wang Jiu’s wrist. Xiao Jiu frowned—just how hard had someone bitten him? The marks were small. Was it a child who had bitten Wang Jiu?

Xiao Jiu curled his lip. What brat was this? He lifted Wang Jiu’s hand, aligned it, and, lowering his head, bit down on the same spot.

Wang Jiu opened his eyes with helpless amusement. The light told him it was morning; a stinging pain on his wrist made him ask with a teasing smile, “Hungry?” The corners of his mouth lifted unconsciously, and even the usually dim light in his eyes seemed to glow with affection for Xiao Jiu.

Wang Jiu wondered if he had ever imagined that, after Xiao Jiu grew up, there would come a day when they could lie together on the same bed and greet each new day side by side. The sense of unreality that lingered in Wang Jiu’s heart was dispelled by Xiao Jiu’s antics, making him feel more grounded than ever.

The unguarded look in Wang Jiu’s eyes made Xiao Jiu flush. It was a long while before he recovered enough to pull Wang Jiu’s hand into his embrace, coughing lightly, his voice unconsciously softened. “Well, you’re mine now. There should only be my mark on you…” Wait—what was he saying!

Blushing, Xiao Jiu hurried to correct himself. “What I meant is—you have me, that’s enough!” Oh dear, that wasn’t what he meant to say either! He pressed his lips together and buried his head in Wang Jiu’s arms, too mortified to make a sound.

Wang Jiu couldn’t help but chuckle, his chest shaking with silent laughter. Xiao Jiu scolded, “Stop laughing!”

Still laughing, Wang Jiu replied, “Alright, I won’t. Don’t worry, young master—Wang Jiu will only be yours.”

Outside the door, the old couple stood awkwardly, unsure whether to knock or not. Hearing the bold words from within, their cheeks flushed, but they still didn’t want to let the two go hungry. Qi Lu coughed symbolically, “Er… Wang Jiu? Lunch is ready—come down and eat!”

The room instantly fell silent. The old couple exchanged a smile and went downstairs.

Xiao Jiu covered his face and curled himself into a ball under the quilt. Seeing this, Wang Jiu got up first. Soon enough, Xiao Jiu’s muffled voice came from under the covers, “This is all your fault, you sly old fox! You must’ve known they were outside!” With Wang Jiu’s keen hearing, there was no way he hadn’t noticed; he must have done it on purpose.

In truth, Wang Jiu had not noticed. All his attention had been on Xiao Jiu, leaving him no time to care about anything else. At Xiao Jiu’s accusation, he only replied, “A bride must meet the in-laws sooner or later.”

With that, Wang Jiu returned to his own room to change clothes. Xiao Jiu pulled out his pillow, ready to throw it, only to find Wang Jiu had already left. He clicked his tongue, annoyed at the sly fox.

Collapsing back onto the bed, Xiao Jiu let his mind wander. He had never even held a girl’s hand before! That sly fox really had struck it lucky. Who was calling whom a bride, anyway! If Wang Jiu bullied him again, he would have to assert his authority as the husband.

By the time Xiao Jiu had composed himself and gone downstairs, the Qi Lu couple had already left, leaving only him and Wang Jiu in the tavern.

Before Xiao Jiu could speak, an old man arrived at the door with a food box. “Ah Wang! I’ve come to fetch some wine!”

Wang Jiu greeted him with a smile. “Uncle Tao.”

Hearing “Ah Wang,” Xiao Jiu thought of “Ah Wang,” a nickname for a puppy, and the corners of his mouth twitched.

Wang Jiu handed over the coarse-grain wine he’d prepared for Uncle Tao, who received it gleefully and praised, “Ah Wang, you’re so young, yet your wine is even better than Old Qi’s! This stuff really packs a punch!”

Wang Jiu smiled. In truth, he rarely brewed coarse wine, except for Uncle Tao’s order—he made it himself. Uncle Tao went on, “Don’t mind my daughter, Tao Hong, she’s been moody lately. You’ll have to bear with her, but don’t spoil her too much.”

Wang Jiu nodded. “I understand, Uncle Tao.” Though Uncle Tao seemed to drift through his days, he weighed things carefully in his heart, including his daughter Tao Hong’s affection for Wang Jiu.

Wang Jiu was a good child, but his origins were unclear. When he first arrived, it was obvious his background was complicated. Even putting that aside, Uncle Tao could see that Wang Jiu’s heart already belonged to someone else. His daughter was destined to have no luck with him.

He knew his daughter’s temperament; persuasion would not work. Only by running into a brick wall and feeling the pain herself would she learn. When the time came, he’d share the story of himself and her mother with her.

Uncle Tao hoisted his wine jar. “I’ll be going, then—no need to see me out!”

Despite his words, Wang Jiu still walked him out. When Wang Jiu returned to the table, Xiao Jiu snorted, “Why didn’t you keep going and comfort that brat Tao Hong at her house?”

By the riverside beneath a willow in Qinghe Town, Tao Hong sat on a stone by the stream, staring blankly toward the Qi Lu Tavern.

Mo Zhu, with the same elegant look as on the day of the “Willow Moon” festival, approached with a light laugh. “What a coincidence, miss—it's you again!”

Tao Hong didn’t even glance at him. “Spare me the nonsense. Go away. I’m not in the mood.”

Mo Zhu smiled, unfazed, eyes twinkling. Gazing in the direction Tao Hong was looking, he continued, “That way lies the famous Qi Lu Tavern. Is your beloved inside?”

Tao Hong’s eyes darkened. She stood up abruptly. “If you won’t leave, I will!”

Mo Zhu unfolded his fan, blocking her path. “No need to rush, miss. I have something important to discuss with you.”

Tao Hong stopped, wary. “If you have something to say, say it quickly and spare me the small talk.”

Mo Zhu tapped his fan against his other hand, then folded it away. “Straightforward as ever! I won’t beat around the bush. As I understand, you have feelings for Wang Jiu of the Qi Lu Tavern?”

A rare glint of coldness flashed in Tao Hong’s eyes; she looked utterly different from how she behaved in the tavern. “So what if I do?” she replied coolly.

Mo Zhu half-covered his face with his fan. “Good—it makes things easier. You should know you’ve been completely played by Wang Jiu.”

Tao Hong’s patience wore thin. “Just get to the point!”

Mo Zhu continued, “You know Xiao Jiu, right? Wang Jiu’s been with Xiao Jiu for a long time now. No wonder he turned you down…”

At this, Tao Hong scoffed. “As if Wang Jiu could ever fancy that spoiled brat! If he ever did, it would have to be for a lovely young lady. Liking Xiao Jiu? That’s a joke.”

Mo Zhu laughed as well. “Don’t believe me? How about I show you?”

With that, he turned and walked away. Tao Hong, though sullen, pressed her lips together and followed. She wanted to see for herself just what was really going on.

Inside Qi Lu Tavern, Wang Jiu calmly picked up some dishes, occasionally placing food in Xiao Jiu’s bowl. Xiao Jiu, however, was not so easily appeased. He shoveled rice into his mouth, grumbling as he chewed, “What? Still can’t let go of that brat?”

Wang Jiu remained silent, quietly eating. Xiao Jiu snorted, then sped up, forcefully finishing his bowl before slamming it down and heading upstairs.

Wang Jiu set down his chopsticks, caught Xiao Jiu, and pulled him to sit beside him. He leaned in, pressing a kiss to Xiao Jiu’s lips—different from Xiao Jiu’s fleeting pecks, Wang Jiu’s tongue teased his lips open, drawing Xiao Jiu into a playful, lingering kiss.

Xiao Jiu surrendered almost instantly, breathless by the end. Wang Jiu reluctantly let him go, leaving a silver thread between them, glistening on Xiao Jiu’s collar.

Softly, Wang Jiu said, “Remember to wipe your mouth when you’re done eating.”

Xiao Jiu covered his mouth and edged away. “Mind your own business!” That sly fox! What if someone saw? He looked around, only relaxing slightly when he saw they were alone.

But then Wang Jiu took Xiao Jiu’s hand, pressing a reverent kiss to his fingertip, his expression grave and sincere.

Xiao Jiu shuddered at the touch. That shameless old fox! He edged closer, turning his head away, refusing to look at Wang Jiu.

Wang Jiu smiled again, his hand beneath the table tightly holding Xiao Jiu’s, his face quietly turned toward him.

Not far from the tavern, Tao Hong covered her mouth in disbelief, stepping back until she bumped into Mo Zhu. Clenching her fists, she turned on him. “What exactly do you want?”

Mo Zhu shook his head. “Miss, you misunderstand. I only wish to spare you further heartbreak, to help you. And besides, like you, I don’t wish to see those two together.”

Tao Hong frowned, then realization dawned. “Is Xiao Jiu the one you like?”

Mo Zhu laughed softly. “Let’s say so. Well, would you care to hear my plan?”

After a moment’s silence, the sorrow vanished from Tao Hong’s eyes. She smiled faintly. “Since you’re here, let’s hear it.”

In a shadowy corner, a Xiao family shadow guard witnessed the exchange and was alarmed. Should he report this to the old patriarch? Hesitating, he glanced at Mo Zhu, only to meet a chilling, stormy gaze. Not good!

The shadow guard tried to slip away, but Mo Zhu dispatched him with a single move. Did Xiao Xian really think these meager underlings could rescue Ye Min? Perhaps Xiao Xian was still dreaming…

He was quite interested to see how Ye Min would choose this time.