Chapter 51

Jia Yi was a very rigid and proper man.

At least, that’s how most people saw him.

But Pei Du knew his old comrade better than that.

Jia Yi was a bit stubborn, not great with words, and he carried out Pei Du’s orders with absolute precision until they were flawless.

There had been one time when their surveillance target was silenced. Jia Yi had crouched in the corner of the room all night, muttering about the incident dozens of times.

Even two or three months later, Pei Du would occasionally hear Jia Yi reviewing that mistake.

There was nothing Pei Du could do about it. That was just how Jia Yi was. And because of that near-fatal poisoning in their youth, Jia Yi was always on high alert about security around Pei Du.

Unlike Sui Ziming, whose thoughts were easy to follow, Jia Yi occasionally had flashes of inspiration.

Sometimes Pei Du couldn’t quite figure out what was going through his head.

But… a big goose?

By the time Pei Du stepped out of the study, he had already steeled himself mentally.

Still, he couldn’t shake a lingering worry.

Geese were huge and naturally aggressive by nature. Jiujiu was so small—what if he really got hurt?

At the thought, Pei Du frowned, and his steps toward the rear garden quickened.

As he drew nearer, he heard a furious barrage of chirps—high-pitched little bird sounds that he instantly knew came from Shen Jiujiu.

Pei Du slowed his pace.

The chirps were full of vigor, even carrying a scolding tone. Clearly, no one was hurt.

With that, Lord Pei straightened his robes and strolled out from under the corridor at a leisurely pace.

He wanted to see what was going on.

The plump, long-tailed bird ball stood with its claws spread wide on the stone table, brimming with menace.

Shen Jiujiu had one wing cocked at his barely noticeable waist while the other pointed accusingly at the sparrow balls, the big goose, and Jia Yi, lined up from low to high in front of him. His little beak never stopped issuing chirps.

Nearby, Sui Ziming was practically rolling into the bushes with laughter. He curled up, clutching the grass and letting out endless “ow-ow-ow”s, punctuated by the occasional snort.

In the surrounding corners, dark guards crouched in hiding. The ones on duty as pages and maids openly “passed by” several times, their shoes seemingly glued to the ground.

Seeing the situation, Pei Du weighed his options. Under Jia Yi’s sudden pleading gaze, he opted to tuck his hands behind his back and stand off to the side, avoiding the little bird’s sharp edge for now.

Shen Jiujiu was in the heat of his tirade when he noticed Jia Yi shifting his feet. His chirps cut off, and the tip of his wing jabbed straight at Jia Yi. “Chirp!!! Chirp chirp chirp!”

What are you doing!!! Stand still!!

Jia Yi’s face stiffened as he pulled back his stepping foot.

Shen Jiujiu cleared his throat, feeling as though even his own cute chirps sounded a bit hoarse and world-weary.

You’re the head of the house now, so act like it. Don’t just stand there silent.

Pei Du couldn’t hold it in. He turned his head as if admiring the flowers, struggling to press down the corners of his mouth.

Truth be told, Shen Jiujiu didn’t really want to keep scolding.

The sparrow balls were obedient and open to reason, but they were adamant that they could never work with the big goose.

That goose twisted its neck defiantly, looking ready to pick a fight with any bird in sight. It was ferocious—who knew where Jia Yi had gotten this goose king from?

And as for Jia Yi…

Even though he’d taken Sui Ziming’s words—”Cousin wants Jiujiu to manage the household accounts”—at face value and stood there listening to the lecture, Shen Jiujiu knew Jia Yi couldn’t understand a word of chirp language.

Exhausted, Shen Jiujiu flapped his wings and waddled around in a bow-legged turn, pondering how to resolve this conflict.

Mainly because his little throat was actually getting hoarse from all the shouting.

As he turned, he spotted Pei Du there, apparently appreciating the flowers.

The little bird’s brow ridge furrowed, his round eyes narrowing into inverted triangles.

Benefactor, the pear blossoms in the rear garden have all fallen clean off. What exactly are you admiring?

Pei Du raised his hand to his lips in a loose fist and gave a light cough.

He knew why Shen Jiujiu looked so utterly furious.

The little bird’s formerly fluffy, plump chest—someone had clearly gotten to it, leaving an unmistakably bald patch.

Seeing Pei Du’s gaze drop to his bird chest, Shen Jiujiu’s fierce expression softened into a pitiful pout from his beak.

Pei Du walked over and extended his hand.

Shen Jiujiu hopped onto it with a touch of pride.

Pei Du lowered his voice. “You’re in the middle of giving a lecture. Of course I had to steer clear. What if King Jiujiu, in a fit of temper, turns on me too?”

Shen Jiujiu raised a wing and lightly swatted Pei Du’s palm.

With his beak, he gestured toward the lineup of feathered and human foes before them.

Pei Du looked off to the side, uninvolved.

Shen Jiujiu chirped furiously. “Chirp chirp chirp!”

Mother was right—men are no damn use!

Lord Pei stood unmoved, remarkably composed.

Shen Jiujiu glared at the unruly goose between the sparrow balls and Jia Yi. Thinking of the missing tuft of feathers on his own chest, he huffed for a moment before chirping at Jia Yi. “Chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp?”

Lord Pei helpfully translated. “Jiujiu’s asking where you got that goose.”

Finally hearing something in human speech, Jia Yi let out a breath of relief and answered respectfully. “This subordinate checked several estates in the capital suburbs and ended up buying it from the kitchen behind a tavern.”

He paused, then added, “They said it was very fierce—perfect for guarding the house and yard.”

“Chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp!!!!!”

Have you ever thought why a goose truly suited for guarding would end up in a tavern kitchen!

Shen Jiujiu’s head throbbed with anger.

Before Pei Du could translate, the ferocious goose—whether it understood chirp language or not—flung its neck free from Jia Yi’s grasp and chomped viciously at Jia Yi’s rear.

Jia Yi’s face visibly flushed red. The iron-willed man clenched his jaw tight, not uttering a sound.

Sui Ziming let out a sharp, crystal-clear gasp.

Shen Jiujiu shut his beak instantly.

The sparrow balls huddled together, edging away from the scene of the crime, their chatter filled with pity for Jia Yi.

【So pitiful】

【Little Bird doesn’t hate him anymore】

【So pitiful】

Pei Du still said nothing, watching Shen Jiujiu as if waiting for the little bird to speak.

Shen Jiujiu took a deep breath. Mimicking Pei Du’s usual poise, he tried to stay calm and composed. With a wing, he pointed at the big goose, mimicking a decisive chop to slaughter it. Then he pointed at Jia Yi, paused, and waved his wingtip.

Zhong Bo appeared right on cue, chuckling as he grabbed the goose by the neck, gave it a twist, and carried it off toward the main kitchen.

The dark guards sprang out and bodily hauled away the struggling Jia Yi, who insisted on walking himself.

The sparrow balls erupted in urgent chatter.

Shen Jiujiu said solemnly, “Chirp chirp chirp chirp.”

He was one of the household now—no more targeting him.

The sparrow balls hopped around on the ground, turning into a fluffy pile.

Shen Jiujiu’s gaze finally settled on Sui Ziming, who was watching the spectacle with nothing short of a bag of melon seeds in hand.

“Chirp, chirp chirp chirp chirp.”

Sui Ziming opened his mouth to play dumb and claim he didn’t understand when his cousin, showing a rare spark of kindness, translated, “You, go write a self-reflection book.”

Sui Ziming immediately rolled to his feet from the ground, trying to defend himself.

But Lord Pei the black-hearted, with his little chirp sidekick equally black-hearted, had already turned and left, ignoring his protests entirely.

~~~

Shen Jiujiu stood on Pei Du’s finger, his eyes sparkling as he looked up at his benefactor.

“Chirp chirp chirp chirp?”

How had Little Bird done?

Pei Du was generous with his praise. “Very good. Straightforward, no beating around the bush, and full of presence.”

Shen Jiujiu puffed out his chest, and the faint worry he’d felt earlier vanished into thin air.

Seeing this, Pei Du’s gaze lingered repeatedly on the patch of missing feathers on Little Bird’s chest. “Just… next time something like this happens, no need for words. Kill them outright.”

Shen Jiujiu hesitated. “Chirp chirp?”

Shouldn’t they ask for an explanation first?

What if they could change?

“You’re the master. Hurting you is an act of treason. Why keep them around?” Pei Du rubbed one of Shen Jiujiu’s slightly uneasy talons. “There are plenty of capable people out there. They don’t need to be too clever or fierce—just obedient and loyal.”

Shen Jiujiu: “…”

Wasn’t this about the big goose?

Pei Du took one look at Little Bird’s expression and guessed most of it. His finger slid upward, poking at the bald spot on Shen Jiujiu’s chest.

“A goose today, a man tomorrow—what’s the difference?”

Without giving Shen Jiujiu time to mull it over, Pei Du swiftly changed the subject. “Is your body feeling off?”

Shen Jiujiu hurriedly flapped his wings to signal Pei Du to crook his finger, then rubbed his body against the fingertip over and over.

“Chirp chirp chirp!”

It had started feeling wrong that morning!

Itchy.

So itchy that Little Bird had been miserable all over—which was why, when he’d seen the sparrows fighting the big goose earlier, he’d been unable to resist flying in to join the fray.

Jia Yi had jumped in out of worry that his master’s bird would get pecked by the goose. A flock of birds plus one man had flown and dodged and pounced in a massive brawl in the rear garden that raged for three hundred rounds.

Pei Du carried Shen Jiujiu back to the study and carefully examined Little Bird’s feathers.

Even yesterday, Pei Du had felt some prickly stubs on Shen Jiujiu’s body. Now, looking closely, he saw they were the split shafts of feathers.

Shen Jiujiu was still itchy, rubbing against Pei Du’s palm. His talons curled and uncurled as he let out soft, low chirps.

Birds had molting seasons too. Normal birds would peck at the old feather shafts with their beaks, allowing the new feathers to unfurl comfortably.

But Shen Jiujiu—who could read, write policy essays, and work an abacus—was clearly a novice when it came to being a bird.

Pei Du fetched a pair of bamboo tweezers. He pinched the base of a feather shaft between his fingertips and gently tugged it free, bit by bit.

As the shaft came loose, Shen Jiujiu squinted in bliss. His tail feathers brushed against the pulse in Pei Du’s wrist, just like they did on lazy mornings when…

Pei Du’s movements paused.

Lord Pei’s eyelid twitched faintly. He said nothing, steadied himself, and continued plucking the feather shafts.

Little Bird’s molt came gradually; it wasn’t something that could be finished in a single day. Pei Du’s fingers stroked from head to tail, nearly setting Shen Jiujiu ablaze from the inside out.

Now that the itch was gone, Shen Jiujiu quickly lifted a talon onto Pei Du’s finger and pushed that sinfully tantalizing digit a little farther away.

Pei Du poured Shen Jiujiu a cup of water to soothe his throat and put the tweezers away.

After drinking, Shen Jiujiu noticed a single line of elegy written on the table.

Pei Du meant to tuck the elegy away and finish it later once Little Bird went out to play, but then the little bird dumpling nestled by the inkstone and chirped softly.

Shen Jiujiu scratched at the tabletop with his talons a couple of times, dipped them in water, and carefully wrote out his words one by one.

【Jiujiu will keep you company while you write.】

【Though it is an elegy…】

【Jiujiu’s still here, you know.】

Once finished, he scooted close and rubbed hard against the back of Pei Du’s hand.

Pei Du gazed at Shen Jiujiu, whose attitude had shifted overnight. He knew he no longer needed to ask if Little Bird had dreamed last night.

Shen Jiujiu sprawled across Pei Du’s wrist, watching as Pei Du wrote the elegy.

Ignoring the fact that it was meant for him, Shen Jiujiu simply admired his benefactor’s elegant handwriting.

As Pei Du wrote on, the brush tip hovered for a moment. A drop of ink fell at the elegy’s end and slowly bled outward.

Shen Jiujiu chirped loudly in reminder. “Chirp chirp chirp!”

Pei Du stared at the elegy for a while longer. Then his finger shifted slightly, setting the brush aside.

Shen Jiujiu tilted his head. “Chirp?”

What was wrong?

Pei Du let out a soft breath. “I won’t write it.”

Shen Jiujiu was still caught off guard.

But Pei Du’s lips curved into a slow smile. His fingers gently stroked Little Bird’s wings, his voice tender with relief.

“If it makes you unhappy, then never mind.”