After Marrying the Disabled Prince (BG) - Chapter 11: Temperament

“It’s named Sweetie,” Bao Ning said with a bright smile, introducing it to Pei Yuan. “You saw it yesterday.”

“Did I?” Pei Yuan grabbed the puppy by the scruff of its neck and tossed it aside, rubbing his temples.

As for yesterday, Pei Yuan didn’t have much of a memory. He only recalled drinking a lot of alcohol, his stomach aching unbearably, and lying on the heated brick bed to warm himself. He fell asleep without realizing it.

At some point during the night, he seemed to wake up briefly, muttered some nonsense, ate something, and then drifted off again until now.

He’d drunk so much he blacked out, and even his pre-drinking memories were blurry. He truly couldn’t recall seeing this dog.

Sweetie looked at him with round eyes and stuck out its pink tongue to lick his hand. Pei Yuan flinched and pushed it farther away.

Turning to Bao Ning, his tone was less than pleasant: “Why did you bring it into my room?”

Bao Ning pursed her lips, thinking to herself that this man really had a terrible temper.

Last night, he’d been clutching her sleeve, begging her not to leave, and now, after waking up, it was as if nothing had happened. He was back to his usual sullen self, acting as though she owed him a fortune.

Bao Ning said, “I’ve been raising some chicks and ducklings in my house. They’re still very young. Sweetie is mischievous, and I was worried it might cause trouble, so I thought I’d ask you to look after it for a bit.”

Only then did Pei Yuan notice the scarf wrapped around Bao Ning’s neck. A fleeting look of surprise crossed his eyes. “Aren’t you hot?”

Bao Ning was momentarily speechless. After a long pause, she regained her composure and asked him in disbelief, “Do you really not remember anything?”

“Wait a moment, let me think.” Pei Yuan pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to piece together his fragmented memories of yesterday.

He remembered a few things. Someone had indeed come into his room at night. It couldn’t have been anyone else; it must have been Bao Ning. Right, during the day, Bao Ning’s younger brother had visited. That boy clearly didn’t like him and had said he wanted to take his sister away and he was like fine, let them go. Pei Yuan didn’t care, but the thought still made him inexplicably irritable. Whenever he felt uneasy, he turned to drinking.

He ended up drinking too much, his stomach condition flared up, and the pain nearly caused him to pass out. Then someone came in, talked with him for a while, wiped his face, and even cooked porridge for him.

Pei Yuan knew his own habits well. Having spent years in the military, he was always alert at night. If someone got close to him, they’d usually suffer for it.

Looking at Bao Ning again, Pei Yuan felt a pang of guilt. “…Was it me?”

Bao Ning was both angry and aggrieved. “You really don’t remember, you ungrateful wolf!”

“Let me take a look at how bad it is.” Pei Yuan beckoned her over, leaning forward to try and undo the scarf around her neck. The movement was intimate, causing Bao Ning’s heart to skip a beat. She stepped back, raising her hand to stop him from looking.

The bruises on her wrist were also exposed, glaring and shocking.

Pei Yuan felt a pang in his chest, his head spinning with guilt.

His throat felt dry as he frowned and asked, “Does it hurt?”

Bao Ning looked at him without speaking. Her emotions were written all over her face, and Pei Yuan could tell—she was upset, disappointed, and a little hurt.

But he didn’t know how to comfort her.

Apologizing had never come easily to him. He wasn’t the type to admit fault, especially in front of a woman. He had no experience with this.

After a long pause, he finally squeezed out, “It’s my fault. Go back and apply some ointment. Don’t be mad.”

Bao Ning’s heart felt stifled. It would’ve been better if he hadn’t spoken. His casual, offhand remark only made her feel worse.

Bao Ning asked, “What’s your fault?”

Pei Yuan stared at her blankly. After a moment, he grew frustrated and snapped, “Enough already. Don’t push it.”

What a terrible man. Bao Ning had always been good-natured and adept at self-consolation, but in front of Pei Yuan, she realized her patience didn’t count for much.

He had this way about him—whether he spoke or stayed silent, whether it was his tone or his expression—everything he did could drive her mad.

Bao Ning said softly, “I won’t argue with you.” She bent down to pick up Sweetie, intending to leave.

Feeling guilty, Pei Yuan hesitated and then mumbled, “Leave the dog here. I’ll watch it for you.”

Bao Ning said, “That’s not necessary.”

Pei Yuan insisted, “I said leave it, so leave it. Stop arguing.”

“…” Bao Ning stared at him, so furious her chest hurt. She rubbed her chest, trying to calm herself down.

Even though he didn’t remember anything, Pei Yuan had clearly changed since last night.

In the past, he would never have said so much. He would’ve barely lifted an eyelid to look at her, waved her off with a curt “Get out,” or maybe not even said a word—just tipped his chin to signal her to leave.

Bao Ning found herself missing the old days. It would’ve been better if he just stayed silent, keeping that mouth of his shut forever.

She couldn’t figure out which side of him was his true nature.

Sweetie wriggled around in her arms, insisting on getting down. As it kicked her wrist, the pain made Bao Ning loosen her grip, and Sweetie leapt free, landing in Pei Yuan’s lap.

Pei Yuan, thoroughly disgusted, pushed it away.

“What’s this dog called?” he asked.

Bao Ning replied, “Sweetie.”

“What a lousy name,” Pei Yuan said, raising one of Sweetie’s hind legs with a peculiar expression. “Isn’t this a boy dog?”

Sweetie shyly pulled its leg back and lay down.

Bao Ning didn’t want to argue with him, so she went along with it. “Then what do you think it should be called?”

Pei Yuan fiddled with its ears and said, “It’s just a scruffy little mutt with yellow fur. Let’s call it Ah Huang.”

As if the names you come up with are so much better, Bao Ning thought to herself. But she didn’t want to contradict him, so she nodded. “Okay.”

Pei Yuan stopped talking. Bao Ning dusted off her skirt and said softly, “I’ll go make dinner now.”

She still looked low-spirited. Pei Yuan glanced at her and gave a nonchalant “Hmm,” feeling an odd mix of emotions.

Just as Bao Ning was about to step out of the door, Pei Yuan hesitated and then said, “By the way, put some ointment on yourself first. Later, bring some medicinal wine over here, and I’ll rub it for you. It’ll heal faster.”

Bao Ning turned to look at him, nodded, and didn’t take it too seriously.

Her figure disappeared through the doorway. Pei Yuan stared after her, feeling a vague sense of loss that he couldn’t quite put into words.

It was the first time he’d swallowed his pride to try and make amends. Though, to be fair, it had been his fault.

Ah Huang wagged its tail and waddled back over, trying to nibble on his hand. Pei Yuan pushed its head away impatiently. “Can’t you act more like a real man? Always clinging and being so sticky—what kind of behavior is this?”

Ah Huang tilted its head, not understanding a word he said.

Pei Yuan pointed to the end of the bed and barked, “Sit over there and stop bothering me!”

….

He was truly fed up with this dog. It wouldn’t listen no matter what he said, and he couldn’t bring himself to hit it. It was so round and fluffy, barely the size of his palm. Pei Yuan figured he could probably squeeze it to death with two fingers if he wanted to.

But he didn’t dare lay a hand on it. Otherwise, Bao Ning would definitely be furious.

Right now, Pei Yuan just wanted to get along with her. He didn’t want to make her angry.

Not that she was particularly intimidating when she was upset—at most, she’d go quiet, hang her head, and look like a little rabbit nibbling on grass.

Two moments later, Bao Ning came back with dinner: a bowl of meatball soup and some scallion oil rolls, steaming hot and fragrant.

As Pei Yuan ate, Bao Ning reached out to play with the little dog, her eyes sparkling as if she had completely forgotten the earlier unpleasantness.

Pei Yuan had been secretly observing her expression. Seeing her reaction, he felt much more at ease.

In his impression, Bao Ning had always been gentle and mild-mannered. Even when upset, her mood never lasted more than a day.

Pei Yuan tore a piece of the scallion pancake, dipped it into the meatball soup to soften it, and ate it.

“Fourth Prince, take your time eating. If it’s not enough, call for me.” Bao Ning stood up with Ah Huang in her arms and smiled at Pei Yuan. “I’ll take my leave now.”

Hearing her call him “Fourth Prince” left Pei Yuan feeling strange. Although she’d always addressed him that way, it now sounded uncomfortable and distant.

Wanting to ease their relationship, Pei Yuan gestured to the seat across from him. “Sit down and have something to eat.”

Bao Ning replied, “I’ve already eaten.”

Pei Yuan insisted, “Then eat a little more.”

Bao Ning frowned slightly, confused by his behavior. “Fourth Prince, have you not sobered up from your wine yet?”

“…” Forget it. He shouldn’t have said anything.

Pei Yuan pointed to the door. “Leave.”

Bao Ning really left with Ah Huang in her arms. On her way out, she spoke softly to the dog, laughing and chatting as she scratched its neck or stroked its tail.

Was it necessary to be so close to a dog? And yet, she was now being so polite and distant with him.

Pei Yuan jabbed his chopsticks into the table, trying to shake off the inexplicable emotion in his heart before resuming his meal.

….

Life passed by quietly and uneventfully, and before long, spring arrived.

Ah Huang had grown significantly, and Pei Yuan’s leg injury had nearly healed, almost fully recovered.

The way they interacted remained the same, which Bao Ning thought was fine. Pei Yuan spent most of his time indoors, only occasionally stepping outside to bask in the sun. He rarely left the house and usually sat by the window on a chair. Perhaps due to his lack of sunlight, his mood often seemed gloomy, and his temper alternated between good and bad, like a sour-faced monkey.

On good days, he would speak to you kindly and warmly, but after just a few words, he’d grow irritable, glaring at you or saying something curt.

Bao Ning had grown accustomed to it and let him be.

She had cautiously asked him about the injury on his leg before, but Pei Yuan was always extremely evasive and refused to talk about it.

Bao Ning had also offered to massage his leg, but Pei Yuan wouldn’t allow it. If pressed too hard, he would throw a tantrum.

On the day of the Spring Equinox, Bao Ning was busy in the kitchen making spring pancakes.

She thought to herself that she would serve Pei Yuan something delicious later, let him have a bit of wine, and try to cheer him up. Perhaps then, she could ask him again about his leg.

They couldn’t keep dragging this out—he was still so young; he had to stand on his own again someday.

Meanwhile, Pei Yuan was inside playing with some corn kernels. With a flick and a snap of his finger, the kernels shot out like arrows, embedding themselves deep into the door.

The chickens Bao Ning had been raising, now grown quite large, were roaming freely in the yard. Upon noticing the kernels, they gathered in groups of three or five, pecking at the door.

Finding them annoying, Pei Yuan flicked a few more kernels to scatter the chickens away.

My strength isn’t what it used to be. A fleeting shadow passed through Pei Yuan’s eyes.

The courtyard was unusually quiet in the afternoon, the occasional clucks of chickens and ducks blending with the sound of Bao Ning chopping vegetables in the western wing.

When the cart from the Ministry of Works arrived, Ah Huang heard it first. Startled from its nap, it barked and ran out to investigate. Pei Yuan also heard the noise and looked outside.

A eunuch, dressed in fine robes, stepped down from the cart. Disdainfully, he used his horsetail whisk to shoo Ah Huang away before glancing around the modest courtyard, surprise evident in his gaze.

From outside came a loud call:
“Eunuch Huang has arrived! Why are you not coming out quickly to greet your guest?”