Chapter 16: Little Thief, You're Here Again?

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After leaving Tianshui Bridge, Ye Jingtang rode his black horse back to Dye Street, checking his left arm along the way. The forced exertion had strained his left arm, but after Shao Ningjun applied some medicinal ointment and gave it a massage, by noon there was no visible sign of injury. He wasn’t sure whether the wound had been too light or the medicine too potent, but the effect was surprisingly good. Because of this, he had asked for two bottles of the ointment to carry with him.

Returning to Shuanggui Alley, the old lane was silent as a grave. Judging by the marks on the ground, the constables hadn’t come back for another patrol. Leading his horse to the doorstep, he pushed the door open and stepped inside. The courtyard was tidy, and the main house’s door stood open, but there was no sign of the two women.

Ye Jingtang assumed they had left without a word, feeling a tinge of disappointment. However, when he reached the kitchen under the eaves, he spotted a figure standing in the small kitchen, which had not even been opened before. The figure wore a teal long dress that reached her ankles, revealing long legs beneath. She wore shoes embroidered with bamboo leaf patterns.

She stood with her back to the window and clearly knew he had entered but paid him no mind, busily wiping the edge of a rice jar with a coarse cloth. The slight bend in her posture caused her long, ink-black hair to cascade over her shoulder. The dress hugged her slender frame, and from behind, her waist was cinched tightly, the hem tracing a lush curve within the old kitchen. Her hips resembled a full teal moon on a mid-autumn night.

Ye Jingtang’s gaze swept past her unconsciously, not lingering. But Luo Ning was sharp; sensing something amiss, she immediately straightened, turned to the window, and cast a somewhat cold glance.

Outside, Ye Jingtang was tying his horse, smiling: “Lady Luo, so virtuous, even helping me tidy the kitchen?”

Seeing nothing unusual, Luo Ning relaxed her vigilance, but her irritation remained. “You’re a man with a decent appearance, yet the house is a mess. You don’t even have firewood, rice, or a single pot…”

“I only just moved in yesterday; you can’t blame me. Besides, the place is too shabby. I was planning to move again yesterday, so no need to clean up.”

Luo Ning paused. “Why didn’t you say so earlier? Yunli and I spent half the day cleaning…”

“Since it’s clean, I’ll stay here for now. After all, I’ve paid the rent.”

Ye Jingtang carried Birdie into the old kitchen and glanced behind the stove. “Where is that girl?”

Luo Ning stepped aside, keeping some distance. “She went to buy pots and pans for you…”

As they spoke, Ye Jingtang pulled out a small porcelain bottle and handed it to her.

“What’s this?”

“Healing ointment. I got it from the escort agency owner. It’s incredibly effective; try it.”

Luo Ning took the bottle, opened it, and sniffed. “Jade Dragon Balm…” She frowned and looked at Ye Jingtang suspiciously. “This ointment comes from the legendary herbalist Li, the King of Medicine. It’s a miraculous remedy for internal injuries and isn’t sold on the market. On the black market, it sells for over a hundred taels of silver. Even the escort agencies in the capital keep it for life-saving purposes. Why would they give one to you for free?”

Ye Jingtang staggered inwardly. When Third Madam treated his arm yesterday, she applied it as if it were nothing. He had thought it was ordinary medicine. Over a hundred taels of silver? No wonder the effect was so miraculous…

Having already taken it, he wasn’t about to return it. With a carefree smile, he said, “Consider it an advance on my salary. Lady Luo, recover soon and leave. That way, I’ll be free sooner too. Use it.”

Hearing this, Luo Ning’s expression changed slightly. “Are you stupid? Even if I’m injured, I have my own medicine. Why should you work a whole year for nothing?”

“If Lady Luo feels embarrassed, how about teaching me a few skills?”

Luo Ning knew exactly what Ye Jingtang was implying. She handed the ointment back.

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“Return it to your employer. You dream too big. Second-rate martial artists in the Jianghu require a hundred taels of silver to take on disciples. You want me to teach you secret techniques for just one bottle of ointment? Hmph…”

Ye Jingtang naturally declined, folding his arms and looking out into the courtyard with a teasing tone.

“Well, good thing I’m not petty.”

“You’re not petty? Yesterday you…”

A blush spread over Luo Ning’s delicate cheek, causing her to apply extra force while wiping the jar.

Wipe, wipe—

Ye Jingtang sighed helplessly. “If I were petty, convincing you to teach me martial arts would be too easy. Just one sentence: ‘Lady Luo, you wouldn’t want our affair to be spread around by you…’”

Before he finished, a cold gleam flashed inside the old kitchen. A three-foot-long sword suddenly appeared, its blade pressing against Ye Jingtang’s neck.

Luo Ning bit her lip, staring fiercely at Ye Jingtang. Her face flushed red and pale in turns, her eyes shimmering with bitter disappointment, on the verge of tears.

“Cheep…”

Birdie timidly shrank its neck and moved a little farther away.

Ye Jingtang reacted calmly, gazing at the sword just half an inch from his neck.

“I was only making a metaphor. Lady Luo, if you won’t teach me, I was merely trying to flatter you. Have I ever been disrespectful?”

“If you were truly hopeless, you’d have died yesterday. You wouldn’t be alive today.”

Luo Ning’s expression turned icy. “We are both responsible for what happened yesterday. I won’t dwell on it, but you must never mention it again. If you dare spread it to a third party, don’t blame me for being ruthless…”

As Luo Ning spoke with a cold gaze, suddenly a noise erupted outside the alley.

Clatter—clatter—

It sounded like a single person, footsteps heavy and swift, the scrape of metal armor audible—someone running fast.

Ye Jingtang frowned. Private possession of armor was tantamount to treason. Only government officials could wear armor openly.

Luo Ning also looked puzzled. Flying out of the courtyard rashly would risk being detected by a skilled adversary. She glanced at Ye Jingtang, wanting to discuss how to respond.

Unexpectedly, the quick-witted thief calmly grabbed her sword-wielding right hand and dashed out of the kitchen, heading for the main house.

“You?!” Luo Ning, still cold-faced, stumbled, surprised to see this boy seemed to be waiting for such an opportunity.

She tried to pull her hand free to stop, but couldn’t make a fuss and hesitated, then was dragged inside.

The door was carefully closed behind them. Luo Ning feared this little thief would immediately pounce on her, touching and groping, so she quickly raised her sword in a low voice.

“Don’t touch me. I’ll do it myself!”

Ye Jingtang nodded, carefully watching the window, signaling her to act well.

Luo Ning was relieved not to be tackled. She sat properly on the bed’s edge, looking very disdainful, muttering softly.

“Mm… mm…”

Her voice was flat, devoid of emotion or technique, like a dead fish pretending to comply with a man she disliked.

What?!

Ye Jingtang’s face suddenly changed. He quickly turned and covered Luo Ning’s mouth.

“Are you out of your mind? At a time like this, messing around?”

Luo Ning trembled violently when her mouth was covered, then furiously pried his hand away, glaring daggers at Ye Jingtang, clearly saying: I’m cooperating and making noises, and you still touch me?!

She seemed utterly unaware of her mistake.

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Ye Jingtang didn’t know how to respond to this woman. He motioned for Luo Ning to keep quiet and squatted beside the bed, shaking it vigorously.

Creak, creak…

The old furniture’s creaking was faintly audible in the courtyard.

Soon, the footsteps in the alley slowed, followed by a familiar, faint voice calling out:

“Madam?”

The voice was full of doubt.

Ye Jingtang stiffened slightly, glancing outside in confusion.

Luo Ning’s anger dissipated, turning into panic. She hurriedly pushed Ye Jingtang aside who was crouching before her and stood up quickly.

Creak—

The courtyard gate was pushed open.

Peeking through the door crack, Ye Jingtang saw a bundle of items carefully carried inside.

It was hard to describe exactly, but roughly a pot with an iron lid was at the top, beneath which were bedding piled on stools. Around it hung pots, bowls, and pans, scraping against each other with a clattering sound as the bundle moved.

Zhe Yunli turned slightly, peeking out from behind the pile with bright, sparkling cheeks and a very strange look, glancing furtively into the room—wondering what Madam was doing.

Luo Ning noticed Zhe Yunli had heard the bed shaking and didn’t know how to explain. Just as she was at a loss, her arm suddenly ached—someone pinched her.

Looking up, she saw the shameless little thief squatting by the bed, pretending to fix it, signaling her to speak.

Luo Ning quickly caught on and said, “Yunli, you’re back?”

Hearing Luo Ning’s voice, Zhe Yunli quietly relaxed. Her steps quickened as she carried the items into the kitchen, curiously asking:

“Madam, what are you doing? I just heard the bed shaking and you seemed to make some noises…”

“I…”

Luo Ning’s face flushed red. She wished she could cut down the little thief with her sword. She had no idea how to cover this up.

Ye Jingtang, sitting calmly by the bed, shook it a few more times.

“The bed was loose, so I was fixing it. I was just talking with your Madam.”

“Eh? Why are you back so early?”

Zhe Yunli halted, suspiciously glancing at the closed door.

Ye Jingtang rose and went to open the door.

“Nothing happening outside, just got home. Why did you buy so many things?”

Seeing Ye Jingtang neat and normal, Zhe Yunli secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

“If I don’t buy them, what else would I use?”

She placed the miscellaneous items on the workbench but noticed a large black bird inside the rice jar, pressing down on the cloth with its claws, looking utterly resigned while doing chores.

Zhe Yunli’s eyes lit up, immediately forgetting about the odd scene of the two alone behind closed doors fixing the bed, and leaned over the rice jar to observe.

“Hey? This bird even knows how to wipe the jar?”

“Cheep…”

Birdie hopped to the edge of the rice jar, tossed the cloth into the hand of the girl holding a fried egg, then flopped onto the workbench, looking utterly exhausted…