The Fish Seller and the Prodigal Lord - Chapter 8

My eyes met those of the man standing there, paper fan in hand, as easy and graceful as a breeze. His pale robe was embroidered with bamboo, his face clear and fine, like a moon above the mountains or wind through a forest.

I stood holding two dead fish, looking like a fierce village woman. Or a country butcher.

Beside Rong Ruo was another man, slightly shorter but handsome enough. An apologetic look entered his eyes as he saw what I held. He bowed to us both.

“Brother Xuanqing, my sister is spoiled and ill-mannered. She has offended this lady, and I apologize on her behalf. Once I’ve told my father, I’ll certainly bring her to your door to make amends.”

Rong Ruo gave a small smile. “It has nothing to do with you. When I next meet Miss Zhuang, I’ll have a proper word with her.”

Then he crooked two fingers at me. “Home.”

Chang Bai took the fish. Chunjing brought clean water for my hands. Seeing that Rong Ruo had already gone some way, I followed slowly.

Only when we’d covered most of the distance did he turn and ask, “Couldn’t you see they were bullying you?”

“And why were they bullying me? Because of you, Second Master Rong. If you think I disgraced you, you’re welcome to stay out of it. I can handle it myself.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m illiterate and have no elegant tastes, after all. Killing and selling fish is all I know. You knew that when you paid for me. Was there any need to mock me all over again in front of others?”

“Who said I…”

He straightened. The faint scent of pine and cypress slowly reached me.

“I mean that everyone knows you’re mine. Just because they taunt you, you don’t have to do something like that.”

“Something like what? Killing fish? Did I disgrace you?”

He hissed through his teeth. “Yu Yu, you really won’t listen to reason.”

When our carriage reached the Rong residence, he flung his sleeve and went ahead of me.

I returned to my room without lighting a lamp. By moonlight, I took off my hair ornaments, then stepped behind the screen to remove the outer robe that had confined me for so long.

I came out in my inner clothes just as a shaft of moonlight fell through the window. Only then did I see Rong Ruo sitting upright at the table.

His lovely face looked livid in the moonlight. I nearly screamed. He sprang up, caught my waist with one arm, and covered my mouth with his other hand.

Unfortunately, the wooden jewelry box was already within reach, and I couldn’t stop the blow I’d aimed at his head.

“Trying to murder your own husband?”

“Is there something seriously wrong with you?”

I pressed harder as I applied medicine to his injury. He recoiled in pain.

“What were you sneaking about for?” I muttered scornfully.

“We haven’t settled what happened at the Zhuangs.”

“What would you like to say? That you didn’t invite me, and I was flattering myself? Or that gutting fish in public was beneath you and I embarrassed you?”

“Such a sharp tongue.” He suddenly caught my hand and drew me closer. “When did I say you were flattering yourself? When did I say you embarrassed me? You’ve been making up both sides of this argument all the way home. I never called you illiterate, and I’ve never belittled you to anyone.”

“Really?”

“And there’s nothing shameful about gutting fish. Tea and poetry won’t fill an empty stomach. You can kill fish, boil them, fry them, and stew them. Those are far more useful skills.”

“Really?”

Amusement warmed his face, as though he’d discovered how easily I could be won over. A gentle shimmer of moonlight seemed to lie deep in his eyes.

“So you care that much what I think.”

He tugged my hand. I lost my balance and landed in his lap.

“A-Yu, do you like me?”

“Don’t… don’t talk nonsense.”

I’d barely finished when he plundered my mouth. He kissed me until I was breathless and hot all over, boneless against his chest.

His wicked plan had worked. “Still saying you don’t?”

Seeing how tender he was today, I found a little courage. “I like scholars as pure as moonlight and clear breezes. Not dissolute rakes who spend their days drinking and chasing women.”

Sure enough, his eyes narrowed. He scooped me up, tossed me onto the bed, and came down over me. His fingertip brushed lightly along my ear.

“You’ll regret those words soon enough. When you’re crying and begging me, I won’t take pity on you.”

“What scholar knows how to please his wife as well as a rake like me?”

Just as his hand reached the knotted fastening at my collar, Chunjing rushed in without knocking.

“Second Master! Something’s happened! The eldest miss…”