TTTQF Chapter 103

Little Liar

Jiang Miao feels like he's going to have a stomach cramp after eating this meal.

It’s not that the food is bad. The Grand Duke’s mansion kitchen has four head chefs and a team of sous-chefs. The head chefs take turns working, and today it’s the turn of a chef who specializes in local Liangjing cuisine. Every dish is very authentic, a feast for the eyes and palate.

But the key to enjoying a meal is the atmosphere at the table and the joy of eating. Otherwise, even if they serve the finest delicacies like abalone and sea cucumber, it’s pointless.

Today’s lunch, in Jiang Miao’s eyes, is more depressing than a last meal before an execution. From the moment they sat down, no one spoke. Every movement from the others displays impeccable etiquette. Sitting among such people, Jiang Miao only felt stifled—these people were like robots, programmed and emotionless. The children’s table was better in comparison. Even if they didn't get along, at least there’s some liveliness.

After the meal, they walk back. Pei Che sees Jiang Miao looking uninterested and knows he hasn’t enjoyed the meal. During lunch, he notices that Jiang Miao seems uncomfortable..

“Don’t worry, Grandmother rarely calls for group meals. It usually only happens during festivals or special occasions,” Pei Che says.

Jiang Miao kicks a small stone by the roadside, glances at him, and sighs, “I hope so, or I’ll end up with stomach problems. Do you always eat like that? I thought meals were meant to bring people together. How does that help build any connection?”

Everyone sits there like wooden posts, mechanically eating—what’s the point of gathering like that?

Pei Che thinks back and shakes his head. “It didn’t use to be like this. Grandmother isn’t very expressive, but she’s always kind to everyone. During meals, she would show concern, and those uncles and aunts would make her laugh.”

“Did something happen? The way you describe it sounds completely different from what I see,” Jiang Miao says, absentmindedly pulling out a piece of wild grass to play with.

“I’m not sure either. It probably starts after she has that bout of heart palpitations. She changes after that. I even ask her about it, but she refuses to tell me.” Pei Che finds it strange back then too, but no matter how he asks, his grandmother won’t say a word. He even probes others, but they are just as confused by her change.

“Isn't your grandmother the stepmother of your aunts and uncles? Where’s their biological mother?” Jiang Miao suddenly asks. These people are indeed born of concubines, but where have their mothers gone? Could they all be gone?

Pei Che shakes his head. “I don’t know. Ever since I can remember, those people are never around, and no one ever mentions them.” He has been curious when he is younger, but after asking many times and getting no answers, he eventually gives up.

Alright, it seems like this is a private family matter. Jiang Miao figures he shouldn’t ask any more questions. Sometimes, knowing too much isn’t a good thing.

“When your grandmother doesn’t host meals, do we still eat food sent from the main kitchen?” This is what Jiang Miao is most concerned about.

“Yes, everyone receives a monthly allowance, and the daily meals come from that. If you want anything extra, just have someone inform the main kitchen, and it’ll be deducted from the monthly portion,” Pei Che explains. “There’s also a small kitchen in our courtyard. If you ever feel like making something, you can send someone to the main kitchen to fetch ingredients.”

“That’s not bad,” Jiang Miao says, quite satisfied. If he gets tired of the chef’s food, he can cook for himself.

While they are talking, Xiao Shitou and Pei Mu are huddled together chatting. Ever since Pei Mu manages to say a few words, he develops a keen interest in conversations. Jiang Miao looks back at the two little heads leaning together and can’t help but smile.

After returning to the courtyard, Jiang Miao calls for someone to bring him some mung beans. He makes mung bean soup and chills it on ice to create a refreshing summer drink.

He carries the chilled mung bean soup to the study and hands a bowl to each person who is reading or writing inside.

Pei Che puts down his book, takes a sip of the mung bean soup, and can’t help but sigh in satisfaction. Jiang Miao’s cooking is excellent; even his mung bean soup tastes better than others'.

Jiang Miao peeks at the book on Pei Che’s desk, which has "Zhongyong" written on the cover. He knows it’s part of the Four Books and Five Classics but has no idea what it’s actually about.

Seeing Jiang Miao curiously staring at the book, Pei Che pushes it toward him. Jiang Miao picks it up and flips through it for a while, but his eyes gradually lose focus. He can’t help but stifle a yawn.

Pei Che chuckles and, fearing that Jiang Miao might get embarrassed, quickly lowers his head and pretends to drink his soup.

“I’m done with this. I didn’t sleep well last night, so I’m going to nap for a bit,” Jiang Miao makes an excuse, tossing the book aside like it’s a hot potato before quickly lying down on the small couch by the window. He even pulls a thin blanket over himself. Not long after, the sound of his steady breathing fills the study.

"Do you want to take a nap?" Pei Che softly asks Pei Mu and Xiao Shitou, who are practicing their calligraphy nearby. After seeing Jiang Miao fall asleep, the two children have been frequently rubbing their eyes.

Pei Che takes them outside and instructs the servant waiting at the door to take them back to rest, then returns to the study. First, he gently pulls the blanket back over Jiang Miao, who has kicked it off while turning in his sleep, then sits down at the desk again, spreads out a fresh sheet of paper, and begins working on his homework.

When Jiang Miao wakes up, he feels completely refreshed. He stretches and glances at Pei Che, who has been sitting in the same position for at least one or two hours. Sensing Jiang Miao’s gaze, Pei Che looks up and smiles at him.

The two chat for a while, and then they hear a knock on the door. When they open it, it turns out to be Xiao Shitou and Pei Mu, who have come to call them for dinner.

After dinner, they take a walk in the courtyard to help digest their food and then return to the room to play chess. While they play, Xiao Shitou and Pei Mu watch intently from the side. Pei Che has already started producing his own chess set, and soon they’ll be able to have their own.

An hour later, Pei Che closes the chessboard. After a hard-fought series of games, each of them wins and loses a few rounds. In the final game, Jiang Miao emerges victorious. He’s the kind of person whose emotions are always visible, and after winning, he hums a tune as he heads off for a bath.

"Alright, it's time for you two to go to bed," Pei Che says, looking at the two children and pointing toward the door.

Pei Mu doesn’t budge, and Xiao Shitou glances at the large bed in Pei Che’s room with confusion, as if to ask why such a big bed can’t fit all of them together.

"Xiao Shitou, you know, your brother and I are already married. Once people are married, they’re supposed to sleep in the same room, right?" Pei Che starts with Xiao Shitou, thinking that if he agrees, Pei Mu will likely follow.

Xiao Shitou looks a little troubled. "Yes, but I only take up a tiny bit of space when I sleep," he says, gesturing with his hands to show how small he can curl up.

"No matter how small, it’s still not possible. Once you're married, you have to sleep together. If people hear about it, they’ll laugh at us," Pei Che says, trying to coax him.

Xiao Shitou doesn’t mind if people laugh at him, but his brother can’t be laughed at! Plus, his brother has told him before that after a man gets married, he has to sleep with his wife. Even though Xiao Shitou isn’t sure which one of them is the wife between his brother and Pei Che, they should still sleep together, right?

"Alright, but can we sleep in the room next door?" Xiao Shitou pouts, trying to stay as close to his brother as possible.

After solving one problem, Pei Che feels relieved and generously offers that they can sleep in any room except this one.

"Mu'er, look, Xiao Shitou agreed, so you can’t back out now, okay?" Pei Che says.

Pei Mu stares at Pei Che with his clear black-and-white eyes for a long time. In the end, he can’t resist Xiao Shitou’s persistent pleading and is led to the room next door.

When Jiang Miao returns from washing up, he’s surprised to find that, aside from Pei Che, there isn’t a single person in the room.

"Where are they?"

"There are many people in the mansion, and it’s easy for rumors to spread. For the next few days, it’s better if they sleep in the room next door," Pei Che says confidently, clearly knowing how to convince Jiang Miao. After all, Jiang Miao is very dedicated to maintaining propriety.

"Okay," Jiang Miao says, feeling helpless. In big families, there’s always so much nonsense—people even meddle in others’ bedrooms.

Once his initial emotions settle, a new wave of awkwardness begins to rise. Jiang Miao feels a bit embarrassed. Although the two of them slept together the previous night, they had been too tired after going through the long list of wedding gifts to think about anything else.

To avoid an awkward situation where they just stare at each other, Jiang Miao decides to act first. If he falls asleep quickly, he won’t feel awkward—the awkwardness will fall on Pei Che instead.

"I’m going to sleep first!" Jiang Miao says, hurriedly climbing into bed after taking off his shoes. His tone is rushed.

However, things rarely go as planned. The more he wants to fall asleep, the more awake he becomes, and his mind grows sharper. This is bad—he slept too much in the afternoon, and now he’s lost any desire to sleep at night.

He closes his eyes, forcing himself to count sheep, hoping it will help him fall asleep. By the time he reaches 921 sheep, he feels the bed slightly dip beside him—Pei Che has laid down.

Technically, the bed is large enough that two people sleeping on it wouldn’t disturb each other. But for some reason, Jiang Miao feels that Pei Che’s presence is overwhelming, as if Pei Che’s very aura surrounds him. Every time he breathes, Jiang Miao feels the air around him grow a little thinner.

Jiang Miao stays perfectly still, pretending to be asleep. But lying on his side for too long causes half of his body to ache.

Jiang Miao tries to listen to the shallow and even breathing coming from his side and concludes that Pei Che has fallen asleep. He carefully turns over and lies flat on his back. His stiff body relaxes, and Jiang Miao can’t help but let out a comfortable sigh.

"Ah Miao, what are you so nervous about?" A voice suddenly echoes in the darkness, startling Jiang Miao.

"Why are you pretending to sleep?" Jiang Miao complains, almost jumping out of bed in fright.

"Didn’t you pretend to be asleep first?" Pei Che counters.

"I was... I was resting my eyes! I never said I was asleep," Jiang Miao argues.

"I didn’t say I was asleep either."

"Hey?" Jiang Miao turns to face Pei Che, his eyes wide and bright. Even in the darkness, he can clearly see Pei Che’s large eyes. "Why do you keep copying what I say?"

Pei Che holds back his smile and says, "I’m just stating the facts. How is that copying you?"

"...," Jiang Miao is at a loss for words and can only angrily mutter, "Copycat," like a school kid who has just lost an argument.

In the quiet night, Pei Che’s deep laughter rings out clearly. Jiang Miao’s face flushes with embarrassment, feeling like he is being mocked. He secretly reaches out his hand, ready to get revenge by sneakily tickling Pei Che’s waist.

But just as his hand gets close to Pei Che’s waist, it is caught by a larger hand. Jiang Miao tries to pull his hand back, but Pei Che holds on tightly, not letting him go. Jiang Miao uses his other hand to try to pry his hand free, only to have that one caught as well.

After struggling again and again to break free, Jiang Miao decides to give up. "Alright, I was wrong."

"Wrong about what?" Pei Che asks, amusement evident in his voice.

"I shouldn’t have tried to sneak attack you. I won’t dare do it again," Jiang Miao says, quickly giving in.

"Your promise doesn’t seem very convincing," Pei Che remarks, knowing full well that if he lets go, Jiang Miao will definitely try to get back at him.

"...," Jiang Miao stays quiet for a moment before suddenly gasping in pain. "Ouch, my arm is cramping!"

Even though Pei Che suspects Jiang Miao might be faking it, he can’t help but release Jiang Miao’s hands, preparing to massage his arm.

As soon as Jiang Miao is free, the first thing he does is roll to the far side of the bed, wrapping himself tightly in the blanket and turning his back to Pei Che. He even tucks both of his hands securely under the covers.

Little liar, Pei Che thinks to himself, but despite that, the corners of his mouth lift in a smile.

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