Nie Siran X Su Ruhe (1)
After the Wanchao Hui, Su Ruhe discovered that an extra trouble had appeared at his side.
His peaceful life had been upended, and this unexpected change was not something Su Ruhe had any desire for.
“Gongzi, that person has come again.” The bookboy entered carrying brush and ink. Looking rather displeased, he tilted his head toward the rear with a pout, then darted into the small study on the eastern side.
Su Ruhe was in the courtyard drying vegetables. Hearing the little bookboy’s complaint, he turned his head and looked toward the courtyard gate.
In the morning light, one man stood tall beneath his plain and humble gate. He stood at ease yet possessed a bearing all his own.
Their gazes met in the faint light of dawn, one warm and one indifferent, like the spring wind and winter rain meeting by chance, cold and warmth refusing to cease.
“Good morning, Vice Minister Su.” Nie Siran waved a hand toward him.
Su Ruhe set the bamboo tray onto the rack, turned, and walked to the gate. Giving him a bow, he spoke in his usual slow tone. “Does Young Master Nie have some matters with this one?”
Today was a rest day, and he had the rare fortune of not needing to attend court. He had planned to stay home and write, yet before he had even eaten his morning meal, Nie Siran had appeared.
Nie Siran gave a soft laugh, and his refined, gentle features deliberately showed a trace of regret. “From the sound of Vice Minister Su’s words, it seems you do not welcome this one’s arrival.”
Su Ruhe’s expression remained unchanged. “This humble dwelling is crude and poor. Young Master Nie’s status is noble. You ought not to come to such a place.”
“Status is noble?” Nie Siran seemed to have heard some fresh new phrase. The gentle smile on his face changed at once into something slightly different. “In Vice Minister Su’s eyes, what is high and low, noble and base? Is living in a noble estate or marquis residence what makes one honored, while living in an alley of the marketplace makes one lowly?”
There was no meaning of reproach in his tone. He was merely asking in a calm voice, yet Su Ruhe still felt a trace of embarrassment.
Su Ruhe had meant nothing else by it. He had only wanted to use those words to dissuade Nie Siran and remind him not to come to this place again in the future.
Just when the atmosphere had grown subtle, the old woman from next door happened to return from buying vegetables. Seeing the two of them standing at the gate, she, being old and slow of leg, smiled and greeted Su Ruhe.
“Xiao Su, you have a guest at home? Oh my, what a handsome young man. Have you any vegetables in the house? This old woman bought too much today. Come now, take this piece of hind-leg meat and treat your friend properly.”
“Grandmother, there is no need. He... will be leaving in a moment.” Su Ruhe put the meat back into her basket, lowered his head so as not to look at Nie Siran, then supported the old woman by the arm and escorted her to her door.
“Really no need? Do not stand on ceremony with this old woman. It is rare to see you bring a friend home. This old woman is pleased.” Even after reaching her doorway, she was still turning back to look at Nie Siran.
In all her years, this was the first time she had seen such a handsome young man. He was tall as well, and standing beside Xiao Su, the two were a delight to the eye.
With a smile on his face, Nie Siran waved to the old woman and thanked her in Su Ruhe’s stead for her kindness. “Many thanks, Grandmother. This junior has heard that there is a wonton stall at the mouth of the alley here with a fine taste. Today I came especially to ask Xiao Su to take me there to try it.”
“Oh, oh, you mean Old Shi’s wonton stall? His business is thriving. Xiao Su, quickly take him to eat. If you go any later, there will be too many people.”
Su Ruhe had no choice but to take him to that wonton stall.
By the time the two of them arrived, many people were already seated at the front of the stall. Bowl after bowl of steaming hot wontons was being set upon the tables, and from far away one could smell the fragrance.
Just then, one table of customers finished eating. Su Ruhe led him over to sit there, then turned and went into the stall to fetch a wiping cloth. Rolling up his sleeves, he began cleaning the table.
Resting his cheek on one hand, Nie Siran watched as Su Ruhe deftly stacked the empty bowls, then carefully wiped the table twice over.
The shopkeeper brought over two bowls of fresh pork wontons and said with practiced familiarity and a smile, “Sit down and eat. Stop busying yourself. Every time you come, you help me tidy the tables. Today this meal is on me. Sit, sit.”
“Shopkeeper, one bowl of wontons!” someone called to him.
The shopkeeper hurriedly raised his head and answered, “Aye, coming at once.”
Then he turned back again to the two of them. “Eat slowly. If it is not enough, tell me and I will cook more for you.”
With that, and without waiting for either of them to answer, he returned to the stall and continued with his work.
Su Ruhe set the bowl before Nie Siran and calmly wiped the spoon clean. “Eat.”
Nie Siran lowered his eyes. The wontons in the bowl had thin wrappers and generous filling. The broth was crystal clear, with chopped scallions and tiny dried shrimp scattered on top. Most importantly of all, the portion was very large, larger than the bowls before the other customers.
“Does Vice Minister Su know the owner of this shop?” He stirred the wontons, the smile at his lips unchanged.
Su Ruhe blew on a wonton, then put it whole into his mouth. The freshness of the meat juices spread at once through his mouth. He narrowed his eyes and softly gave a sound of assent, which counted as his answer.
Nie Siran stared at the crown of his black hair and, recalling this person’s cold and sparing nature, could not help but laugh and lower his head to eat as well.
At that moment, the voices from the table behind them gradually grew louder and reached their ears.
“At first I thought that Prince Li’s Consort was only fair of face, but who would have thought that at the Wanchao Hui he would so fiercely win face for our Kingdom of Lu.”
“I heard that the ruler of Chu was so angry his face twisted crooked. Heh, it truly served him right.”
“Prince Li’s consort and Prince Li are a pair fashioned by heaven and set in place by earth. If you ask me, it is all thanks to the Prince Consort marrying over that Prince Li’s fearsome temper has mellowed considerably.”
“That is truly so. I bought two storybooks at the shop yesterday, and they were written so well. Have all of you read them?”
“You managed to buy them? Quickly lend them to me to read. I went too late, and not one copy was left.”
“It is a pity that Prince Li and the Prince Consort are now in Ping Cheng, and there is no news of them at all. There have been far fewer new storybooks as well.”
Nie Siran listened with obvious interest, a teasing smile flashing through his dark eyes.
He looked across at Su Ruhe who had very plainly heard those words as well. Calmly, he raised his eyes and met Nie Siran’s gaze. Had it not been that the tips of his ears had reddened quite a bit, Nie Siran would almost truly have believed that he had no reaction at all.
“Finished eating? Then let us go.” Pretending not to know what he had just heard, Su Ruhe set a few copper coins on the table, rose, and began walking back.
Nie Siran rose as well. In two steps he came up beside Su Ruhe and turned his head to study him.
Su Ruhe’s brows and eyes were delicate, his temperament detached. It was difficult to imagine that such a person would secretly write those lingering and tender love storybooks.
The interest in his heart rose several degrees higher. Shaking his folding fan, he asked, “This one has a question and wishes to ask Vice Minister Su for instruction.”
Not knowing what medicine he had hidden in his gourd, Su Ruhe looked at him with a calm gaze.
Nie Siran said, “Lord Su is a youthful talent. At such a young age you have already become a Vice Minister, and your future is boundless. Why then do you still write storybooks and only add to your own weariness?”
Su Ruhe answered just as lightly, “A personal pastime.”
Nie Siran said, “Vice Minister Su’s pastime is quite unusual.”
Su Ruhe had no wish to discuss this matter with him. Bowing with clasped hands, he said, “This one still has matters to attend to. Young Master Nie, please do as you will.”
With that, he turned and left without the slightest hesitation, as though he were unwilling to remain with him for even one moment more.
Nie Siran laughed again.
In all these years, this was the first time he had met someone who dodged him at the very sight of him.
Interesting.
With unhurried steps, Nie Siran returned home.
The moment he stepped through the gate, a servant ran over and bowed to him. “Young Master, there are guests at the residence. Master asks that you come over.”
Nie Siran smiled slightly. “Who has come to visit?”
The servant shook his head. He was only a menial responsible for sweeping the courtyard and had temporarily received orders to make this trip, so he truly did not know who it was that had come visiting the Nie residence today.
Nie Siran did not make things difficult for him and instead walked toward the front hall with a smile.
Just as he reached the door, he heard peals of laughter coming from within. It seemed that quite a number of people had come.
“Master, the Young Master has arrived.” The steward standing at the doorway called inward with a smile.
In an instant, the eyes of the entire room turned in unison toward the doorway.
Nie Siran stepped inside. Without letting his gaze wander, he went directly forward and paid his respects to Nie Xuxing and Jiang Ni.
After that, he bowed as well to the people seated below.
Jiang Ni beckoned him over, signaling him to sit beside him. “You went out so early today. Was there some matter outside?”
Nie Siran smiled. Already a young man of singular refinement and beauty, once he smiled, those present only found it dazzling to the eye.
“There was nothing of importance. I merely walked about for a while.” His gaze passed across the group seated opposite, the smile on his face courteous. “Have you all come to seek something of this one?”
One woman among them, about forty years old, stood and smilingly praised him at length. “We have long heard of Young Master Nie’s elegant name. Today, by good fortune, we have seen you in person, and indeed you are even more graceful and handsome than rumor says.”
The others all agreed in turn.
Nie Siran’s eyes stirred slightly. The smile on his face did not change, and he did not answer the woman’s words.
Nie Xuxing needed only a single glance to know that his son’s current mood was less than pleased, and so he said, “This is Madam Pang of the Marquis of Chang’an’s residence. She has come especially today to propose a marriage match for you.”
Nie Siran showed not a trace of surprise. He turned a warm gaze on the woman, his voice gentle, “Many thanks for Madam’s favor. It is only that this junior, for the present, has no intention of taking a wife.”
Madam Pang understood that he was rejecting her, yet thinking of her own daughter, she still wanted to try once more.
The young man before her not only possessed an exceptional appearance, but his talent was likewise outstanding. His family background was noble and refined. In her eyes, he was the most fitting son-in-law.
Madam Pang’s abacus rang loudly in her heart, and with a kindly expression she said, “My daughter Yunniang is sixteen this year and a gentle, lovely girl. If Young Master Nie does not disdain her, you may first meet once. Even if the match does not come to pass, you may still gain a friend.”
Nie Siran smiled and said nothing.
Madam Pang looked toward Nie Xuxing and Jiang Ni. “May I ask what the two of you think?”
Nie Xuxing almost wished to laugh, but years of cultivation held the laughter in check. In a clear voice, he said, “Madam Pang does not know, but this boy of my family has, since childhood, been one with ideas of his own. No one can make decisions on his behalf.”
Madam Pang was slightly taken aback and did not seem to believe it. “This... the commands of the parents and the words of the matchmaker, how can there be any principle by which one decides for oneself?”
Nie Siran brushed his sleeve. In those eyes, vast as an abyss, there flickered a trace of smile, yet deeper down there was a chill ordinary people could never see through.
Rising to his feet, he elegantly straightened his sleeves and said warmly, “This junior is six years older than Lady Yun, and by nature loose and indolent. For many years now I have long been accustomed to a solitary life. I fear I must disappoint Madam’s kind intentions.”
“A difference of only six years is no great matter. So long as hearts are in accord, age is no matter.”
Nie Siran’s expression was sincere. “I fear they cannot be brought into accord.”
Madam Pang continued to persuade him. “Young Master Nie loves to travel, and it so happens that my Yunniang also longs for such a life. In the future, perhaps you might even travel together.”
Nie Siran said, “That would not be fitting.”
Madam Pang still went on. “Young Master Nie is filled with literary talent. He and Yunniang would surely have much to speak of. From childhood, she has loved reading, and even her poetry has won praise from several great scholars. When the time comes, let the two of you meet once, and she may compose a poem for Young Master Nie to comment upon.”
Nie Siran said, “This junior would not dare. This junior is but a vulgar man, my learning is shallow. In daily life, I take no delight in the brush and ink, much less would I dare speak of offering instruction.”
Seeing that he still refused to agree to meet once, Madam Pang felt rather annoyed. Her Chang’an Marquis residence was of illustrious standing. How many sons of noble and meritorious families came to seek marriage? Yet today she herself had come in person to propose for her daughter, only to meet with rejection.
Had she not still been taking Nie Chouwen into account, Madam Pang might very nearly have lost her temper.
Forcing a smile, she asked unwillingly, “Young Master Nie is now twenty-two. Could it be that you intend never to marry at all?”
“That is not out of the question.” Nie Siran’s smile remained level, yet the words that left his mouth were enough to anger a person half to death.
Madam Pang stood as well. The group behind her all rose with her.
Madam Pang said, “Young Master Nie may as well simply say that you look down upon my daughter. Why go in such a great circle, thinking up all these ways to refuse?”
Behind her, the anger on the faces of the people from the Chang’an Marquis residence was plain to see.
Nie Xuxing and Jiang Ni exchanged a look, then calmly turned their eyes upon their own son.
Nie Siran’s face showed sudden understanding, as though he had just realized something. “So Madam took the words this junior just spoke as a refusal to you.”
Madam Pang said, “If not, then what?”
Nie Siran smiled and clapped his hands once. “Not so. Every word this junior spoke to Madam just now was sincere. If this junior truly meant to refuse, there would be another reason altogether.”
Madam Pang’s anger deepened. Her eyes swept up and down over him, as though wondering what other reason he could possibly have.
Nie Siran said, “This junior truly has no intention of discussing marriage with the young lady of your honored residence. It is not that I look down upon her. The problem lies in this junior himself.”
Madam Pang said, “What problem do you have?”
Nie Siran’s voice carried a smile. Between his brows and eyes there showed, rarely, a faint trace of frivolity, yet his tone remained perfectly upright and proper, impossible to fault.
“This junior is, in truth, fond of the cut sleeve.”
“???”
Madam Pang: “...”
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Thank you very much for everyone’s support. I will continue to work hard!
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