Chapter 2

The next day, my Lord sent me to keep watch on Pei Su.

I knew he found me annoying and wanted to send me away, just to keep me at a distance.

My Lord didn’t trust me much.

He said, “With your brains, I don’t expect you to accomplish anything big. Just observe what he likes and dislikes in his daily life, and report back. Be careful not to get discovered.”

I replied, “Oh, alright.”

It was too difficult to sneak directly into the Pei Mansion, so I bought a barrel stove from the owner of a sesame flatbread shop in the East Market.

Then I dragged it from the eastern side of the Royal City all the way to the west.

Pei Su’s home was on the west side.

With everything ready, I set up the barrel stove and a wooden table at the entrance of Pei Su’s house and started selling flatbreads.

However, Pei Su didn’t show up for three days in a row.

I was very discouraged. If I failed this mission again, my Lord might really kick me out of the house.

Just as I was losing hope, Pei Su appeared.

He wore a silk robe the color of bamboo leaves, with a moon-white inner garment that set off his fair and cool features-handsome brows, thin lips, and an air as clear as wind and moonlight.

Just standing there, he was impossible to look away from.

I hadn’t expected him to be so good-looking.

According to my Lord’s description, Pei Su was not only cunning and sly, but also hideously ugly.

I glanced at the portrait my Lord had given me before I left-his face covered in pockmarks, a red bulbous nose, and cross-eyed.

I suspected I had mistaken the person.

The charcoal in the flatbread stove was burning fiercely. I stood by the stove, a bit at a loss.

At that moment, Pei Su, surrounded by his attendants, noticed my stall.

He paused for a moment, then walked toward me.

I hurriedly put away the portrait in my hand, wiped my hands, and started kneading the dough with extra effort.

Pei Su stopped in front of the stall, silently watching my movements. His eyes were as beautiful as mountain mist, easily able to ensnare someone.

To be fair, his features weren’t particularly outstanding on their own, but together they were just pleasing to look at.

A skilled hunter must disguise themselves as prey.

I ignored him, deftly mixing pork filling-three parts fat to seven parts lean-with sun-dried preserved vegetables, wrapping it into the pale dough.

One of his attendants stepped forward impatiently: “Who allowed you to sell flatbreads here? Do you know what place this is?”

Pei Su frowned and raised his hand to stop the attendant from saying more.

He looked at me, his gaze gentle: “My name is Pei Su, City Governor of the Royal Capital. Where are you from, miss? Why are you setting up a stall here?”

I was a bit nervous.

“Is it not allowed to set up a stall here?”

“No, that’s not it,” Pei Su smiled and patiently explained, “Huayang Law stipulates that vendors are permitted here.”

The attendant beside him tried to interject with disapproval: “Lord Pei…”

Pei Su was unmoved: “It is the duty of an official to ensure the people live and work in peace. Don’t worry, miss. From now on, no one will stop you from setting up your stall here.”

My eyes lit up instantly.

“Really?” I grabbed his hand excitedly. “I can really stay here from now on?”

As long as I could stay here, I wouldn’t have to worry about failing my surveillance mission.

Pei Su was startled by my grip, a flush spreading from his neck to behind his ears.

“Mm… yes,” he inexplicably turned his face away, not looking at me, his eyelashes trembling like a leaf, “Of course it’s true…”

“Thank you!”

I let go of his hand and pulled out a fresh, hot flatbread from under the cotton cloth, stuffing it into his hand.

“Take it and eat! No charge!”

He stared blankly at the flatbread, unable to react for a long while, finally murmuring, “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it!” I was in a great mood, waving my hand grandly. “Come by often!”

Pei Su walked away absent-mindedly, still holding the flatbread.

That attendant turned back to glare at me, then began to complain to his master about how suspicious I was and how dangerous it was to let me set up a stall here.

But from what I could see, Pei Su didn’t listen to a word of it.

Because after a few steps, he hurriedly ran back.

His eyelashes fluttered as he looked at me and asked, “May I have your name, miss?”

“I’m Yu Sui,” I answered cheerfully, “Yu Sui, as in ‘Better to be shattered jade than intact tile.'”