Chapter 7

Xiaocui brought Pei Xiao in through the side gate.

At the sight of him, I almost laughed.

Hongxiu’s years in a pleasure house had certainly given her an eye.

Pei Xiao wore a short, stone-blue tunic. Broad shoulders and a narrow waist filled it out, his muscles clearly outlined beneath the cloth.

His sleeves were rolled up, baring strong forearms.

The sun had tanned his skin to honey, and something elusive and rakish lurked about his eyes.

Entirely different from Master Han’s refined good looks, but a lure of another kind.

Mother was drinking tea in the courtyard. She looked up at the footsteps.

Then her hand stopped moving.

Compared with her demure reserve on first meeting Master Han, her gaze was much bolder now.

Positively hungry.

Her eyes slid from his shoulders to his waist, then from his waist to the forearms bared by his rolled sleeves, inspecting him inch by inch.

I gave a small cough.

“Mother, this is Physician Pei, whom I mentioned. He devised these exercises himself. They’re excellent for one’s health.”

Pei Xiao stepped forward and bowed, his voice deep and resonant.

“Pei Xiao pays his respects, madam.”

As he bent, the collar of his tunic fell open a little, exposing firm flesh below his collarbones.

Mother abruptly came to her senses. She set down her cup, a blush creeping over her ears.

She coughed awkwardly, her voice softening despite herself.

“You’ve come a long way, Physician Pei. How kind of you. Bring tea.”

Then she instructed me,

“Standing there isn’t helping.”

Smoothing her hair at the temples, she said lightly,

“Go and see to your own affairs. Nanny Du will be enough.”

She’d learned quickly this time. I didn’t even have to arrange it.

I hastily agreed and withdrew obediently.

Xiaocui lowered her voice.

“Miss, is the old thing clearing everyone out?”

I smiled without answering and took her back to our courtyard.

About an hour later, Xiaocui could resist no longer and sneaked up the wall again.

Her expression was that of someone who’d seen a ghost.

“What is it?” I put down my book.

She swallowed.

“Miss, you didn’t see it. The old madam has practically grafted herself onto Physician Pei.”

“Tell me properly.”

Xiaocui jumped down from the wall and launched into a lively imitation.

It seemed today’s lesson was a palm exercise.

Pei Xiao had Mother stand facing him and press both palms forward against his.

“Use some strength, madam. Push against my hands.”

Mother pushed a few times, weakly.

Pei Xiao shook his head.

“Too light. Again. Follow my movements.”

He stepped behind her, took both her wrists, and guided her through the exercise.

His chest pressed against her back, leaving scarcely any space between them.

The back of her head came just to his chin. When he bent slightly to speak, his warm breath fell on the crown of her head.

“Yes, like that. Straighten your arms. Put your waist into it.”

Mother flushed, her voice changing.

“Like… like this?”

“You’re a quick learner, madam.” His low voice was oddly seductive.

“But there’s no strength behind it yet. That will take practice.”

He rested his big hands on her shoulders, lifted her arms with measured pressure, and kneaded her shoulders.

“Too stiff here, madam. You must relax, or you might strain something.”

After a few squeezes, her body began to soften. She leaned back a little, her back almost flush against his chest.

“Mm. They’ve ached for years.”

“Blocked meridians. All the more reason to practice…”

His fingers worked slowly down along her shoulder blades, pressing and kneading a little at a time, as though he were deliberately drawing it out.

Her breathing quickened. Her throat moved slightly.

Soon her legs were too weak to support her. She swayed, and Pei Xiao’s hand slipped neatly around her waist…

At this point Xiaocui covered her face.

“Miss, they’ve the nerve to do it, but I haven’t the nerve to watch.”

I laughed.

Only the first day. Mother had made excellent progress this time.