One day, when your kitchen knife becomes dull, you can still use it to cut fruits and vegetables.
Ji Hong became flustered upon hearing that the person who had come was Duan Ming. In his rush to get up, he strained his chest and lungs, causing him to lose his breath and cough a few times. Yu Jinnian quickly supported him, helping him ease his chest, and said with a smile, “Why are you so anxious? The person won’t run away. He’s currently being teased by our sister Qing Huan!”
“I thought I saw him here once yesterday and assumed you knew.” After helping Ji Hong settle down, Yu Jinnian handed him a glass of honey water and fed it to him.
Ji Hong drank the honey water, which diluted the bitterness of the medicine in his mouth, and then said, “So it really was him yesterday. I thought he looked familiar but didn’t dare recognize him.” He paused for a moment, sighed, and continued, “It’s been too long. After so many years, not to mention Duan Ming standing before me, even if my second brother suddenly came back to life, I might not recognize him…”
Yu Jinnian didn’t know why Ji Hong suddenly brought up his second brother, but he figured there was probably some connection between Duan Ming and his second brother.
Since it wasn’t his place to comment on matters related to Ji Hong’s second brother, Yu Jinnian rose and fetched a thicker outer garment, draping it over Ji Hong’s shoulders. He also adjusted the cushion behind Ji Hong’s waist to make him more comfortable. “You rest, I’ll go bring him in.”
At that moment, Duan Ming was being completely flustered by Qing Huan in the front hall. Having grown up in a martial arts troupe, he was always surrounded by fellow brothers. The only sister he had was his master’s precious daughter, but her temperament was rougher than most men, capable of knocking out three people on her own. Later, when he was chosen to serve as a guard for the Duke’s estate, he often spent his days lurking in the shadows, clad in black. As a result, despite his age, he had never entertained thoughts of romance.
Moreover, Qing Huan was not your typical bashful woman. A casual remark from her could leave Duan Ming embarrassed beyond words.
When he heard Yu Jinnian calling him, it was as if he had seen a savior. He stumbled his way to the backyard, almost tripping over his own feet. “Young… Young master…”
Yu Jinnian couldn’t help but laugh and pointed to the room. “Ah Hong is calling you.”
Duan Ming’s eyes lit up. He hurriedly straightened his clothes before going to knock on the door.
Meanwhile, Yu Jinnian had gone to the kitchen to check on the stewing meat soup. The small clay pot on the stove was bubbling, the lid clattering with the pressure. He took a clean cloth to protect his hands, lifted the lid, and stirred the broth.
The lean meat had become tender, so soft that a poke with chopsticks could break it apart. However, knowing that Ji Hong had a poor appetite after drinking, Yu Jinnian decided to stew it even further. With a small ladle, he patiently skimmed the thin layer of oil from the surface, leaving only the clear broth beneath. Since Ji Hong disliked greasy food and had no particular preference for strong flavors, he didn’t add many heavy seasonings, just a bit of salt and vinegar for taste. Then, he covered the pot again to let it simmer a while longer.
During the wait for the soup, Yu Jinnian wasn’t idle. He mixed some eggs and made a slightly softer dough. The flour was finely sifted, and he used only the egg whites, leaving out the yolks. He kneaded the dough until it was smooth and free of lumps, then rolled it out into thin, smooth sheets. After that, he picked up a knife, and with a series of rapid, precise cuts, a pile of fine noodles appeared on the board.
Such fine noodles weren’t typically favored by most men, who preferred something more substantial. Delicate noodles seemed frivolous, offering little substance compared to a hearty bowl of thick noodles or chunks of pork. But Ji Hong was not like other men. He had a poor appetite, needing to be coaxed into eating more, and now, in his illness, it was even worse.
Though Yu Jinnian was worried about Ji Hong’s health, he still cooked with a cheerful heart. Since this time the dough was softer than usual, he was extra careful while cooking the noodles. As the water neared a boil, he added a spoonful of salt—an old trick to make the noodles more firm and less likely to stick.
Once the noodles were in, a quick stir with chopsticks was all it took for them to cook through.
After straining the noodles and placing them in a bowl, Yu Jinnian finely sliced some tender cucumber slivers, briefly blanching them in hot water before placing them atop the noodles. Estimating that the lilyturf and ophiopogon soup had also finished stewing, he lifted the lid and ladled out a spoonful for a taste. Beyond the savory flavor of the meat, there was also a refreshing hint of lotus seeds and ophiopogon, giving the soup a delicate and rich texture without the greasiness of typical meat broths.
Lily bulbs nourish yin, clear heat, calm the heart, and soothe the nerves, while ophiopogon promotes fluids and benefits the stomach. Lotus seeds strengthen the spleen and kidneys, and the lean meat was a neutral ingredient that nourishes qi and blood. None of these were overly potent, making the dish highly beneficial for Ji Hong without the risk of over-nourishment.
Yu Jinnian poured the lean meat soup over the noodles and served up a separate portion of the soup, complete with meat chunks and lotus seeds. He also sliced two thin pieces of ham, placing them in a small dish of oil, and prepared to bring the meal to Ji Hong.
Upon reaching the door and seeing it closed, Yu Jinnian hesitated, unsure whether he should enter. As he stood there pondering, his shadow stretched across the paper screen, catching the attention of someone inside.
That person, of course, was Ji Hong. Watching the slender silhouette sway like a young bamboo in the wind, Ji Hong smiled to himself and motioned for Duan Ming to open the door.
Outside, Yu Jinnian was leaning against the door, trying to peek in. The sudden opening of the door startled him, and he nearly stumbled inside, only to be caught by Duan Ming’s quick reflexes.
As Duan Ming steadied Yu Jinnian, his eyes inadvertently fell on the young man’s pale neck, where he noticed two faint red marks behind his ear. Remembering what he overheard last night, he instantly realized what they were and hurriedly averted his eyes, withdrawing his hand as if it were on fire, feeling as though even a moment’s contact might burn him.
Unaware of the kiss marks in a spot the mirror couldn’t show, Yu Jinnian was puzzled by Duan Ming’s overreaction. But before he could ask, he heard Ji Hong’s gentle voice calling, “Jinnian, come here.”
Setting aside his confusion, Yu Jinnian immediately walked over with small, quick steps to the bed. He carried a tray with a bowl of fine noodles, a bowl of lilyturf and ophiopogon soup, and two slices of ham. He placed everything neatly on the small table by the bed.
“Ah Hong, how are you feeling? Do you feel like eating?” he asked, glancing at Duan Ming and observing Ji Hong’s expression with a smile.
Ji Hong appeared to be in good spirits. “Yes, I’m a bit hungry.”
Yu Jinnian was delighted. He quickly picked up the empty bowl, served Ji Hong a portion of the fine noodles, and patiently blew on it to cool it down before handing it to him. Meanwhile, he busied himself slicing apples into small boat shapes, watching Ji Hong eat. After he finished one bowl, Yu Jinnian promptly served him another bowl of soup, determined to make sure Ji Hong was well-fed.
Duan Ming stood awkwardly by the door, unsure where to look or what to do with his hands.
Though Duan Ming was a single man with no wife or family, he was not ignorant of worldly matters. During his years of traveling, he had often entered the back courtyards of certain high-ranking families in the capital to gather information. Inevitably, he had stumbled upon a few intimate scenes and, on occasion, even hid in the alleys of brothels to avoid detection. While he had seen his fair share of such encounters, he had never experienced them himself.
Duan Ming had grown accustomed to moving about at night, and earlier, he had checked on his young master during the day to confirm that he was indeed staying at this small shop. As someone close to his master, he was attuned to his master’s moods and could easily sense any displeasure. After just a single glance of disapproval, Duan Ming had immediately gone to deal with the ship merchant as instructed. However, after dealing with the merchant and returning to check on his master, he had overheard some rather intimate sounds coming from the room as he approached, just as the other households were extinguishing their lamps for the night.
Covering his ears and facing the wall, he had stood there for an hour, assuming the ordeal would soon be over. But when he returned to eavesdrop again, he found the two inside were still exchanging whispered sweet nothings.
The conversation seemed to revolve around tender affection and intimate questions like “Does it feel good?”
At first, Duan Ming thought his young master had taken a liking to one of the shop’s coquettish young women. However, upon closer listening, he realized that the other person had a clear and bright voice—none other than the shop owner who had been teased earlier in the day! Despite his initial shock, Duan Ming quickly accepted it. After all, his master’s private affairs were not for a mere guard like him to comment on.
What Duan Ming hadn’t expected was that the once soft and sweet young third son of the family, who used to follow the guards around, pouting and demanding to see his “Brother Yan,” had grown into such a cold and distant person—and had taken up with a young man, no less.
Though Duan Ming had primarily served the second young master, he was familiar with the third young master due to the close relationship between the two brothers. He and the other guards had always assumed that the third young master, despite his current cuteness—resembling a delicate porcelain doll that made people want to pinch and cuddle him—would grow into a spoiled and carefree young noble with no sense of responsibility.
As Duan Ming furrowed his brow, pondering this unbelievable transformation, he suddenly heard someone call him.
“Brother Duan?”
Startled, he looked up and saw that it was the very young man in question.
Ji Hong spoke up next. “Duan Ming, continue. Where were you just now?” Duan Ming glanced at Yu Jinnian, hesitating. Yu Jinnian, understanding the situation, was about to get up and leave when Ji Hong reached out to pull him back, gesturing playfully that he wanted more soup. At the same time, he told Duan Ming, “Jinnian isn’t an outsider. In the future, you don’t need to hide things from him. Just say what needs to be said.”
Duan Ming was briefly surprised but quickly composed himself. In a low voice, he said, “The second young master often said that the third young master was innocent and not suited for competition. He should live as a carefree wanderer, indulging in whatever pleasures he likes. There was no need to worry about anything else since the second young master would always have your back.”
Ji Hong’s hand, which was holding the soup bowl, paused momentarily, and after a moment, he let out a faint, bitter smile.
Duan Ming, still with his head lowered, didn’t notice Ji Hong’s reaction and continued speaking. “The second young master used to joke with us. He said that the power struggles between the noble families in the capital were intense, and he couldn’t guarantee that he wouldn’t meet an untimely end. If things truly went bad, we should sell everything he had built over the years and give it all to the third young master.”
“Although he said this in jest while drinking, we knew it wasn’t just a joke. After the second young master’s accident, even though we were dispersed, none of us handed over what we had. We took everything with us, and it’s been running smoothly all these years. The third young master was too young at the time and was also under the suspicion of the first madam, so we didn’t dare hand over these things until you grew up.”
Ji Hong’s hands trembled slightly as he held the bowl. Yu Jinnian quickly took it from him. Ji Hong then asked, with a hint of disappointment, “What exactly are these things? From what you’re saying, it doesn’t seem like they’re physical objects.”
Duan Ming nodded, then suddenly shook his head. “There are the industries the second young master managed in secret over the years, some promissory notes and land deeds, as well as letters we’ve never opened, and a few of the second young master’s personal belongings. We took everything we could without raising suspicion. In the years since, without the second young master’s clever oversight, some of the businesses have had to close, but what remains could still be sold for a substantial amount. And besides that, there’s also…”
“And what else?” Ji Hong pressed.
Duan Ming lowered his head even further, hesitating for a long time before finally saying, “There’s also Madam Yun’s belongings.”
“My mother’s belongings? How did my second brother get them? Weren’t they all… all burned by the first madam?” Ji Hong was shocked, nearly throwing off the covers to get out of bed. Though his fever had mostly subsided, he was still weak, and the moment his feet touched the ground, he swayed unsteadily, causing Duan Ming to hurriedly kneel and beg him to take care of his health.
Yu Jinnian also coaxed and reassured him, finally getting Ji Hong to lie back down. Then, with concern, he urged Duan Ming, “Brother Duan, Ah Hong isn’t well. Please get to the point. The rest can wait until he’s feeling better.”
Duan Ming nodded in understanding. “Indeed, it’s Madam Yun’s belongings. She passed away not long after giving birth to you, and the second young master knew that the first madam wouldn’t leave anything for you. So he secretly took a few items, hoping that you’d have something to remember her by in the future. After the second young master’s passing, we divided these things among us and went our separate ways. I have one of the boxes containing Madam Yun’s belongings, but it’s currently locked in the inn. If you’d like, I can fetch it for you right away.”
“You—” Ji Hong’s eyes gleamed with a rare light. It was clear that he really wanted the items, but he didn’t want to seem too eager, so he simply said, “It’s fine. There’s no rush.”
Yu Jinnian, meanwhile, had been cutting apple slices into the shape of little rabbits, their white flesh and red ears looking very cute. He placed one of the apple rabbits into Ji Hong’s hand, then offered another to Duan Ming, softly saying, “Go get it quickly, and run fast.”
Duan Ming glanced at the two of them, uncertain of what he was thinking, but he immediately dashed out of the room. Once outside the noodle shop, he looked down at the oddly shaped apple slice in his hand, realizing only then what had happened. It dawned on him that he had just followed the young man’s orders—something he shouldn’t have done. If his master were to take this seriously, it could result in fifty lashes as punishment.
But little did he know, the two inside were currently so lost in each other that no one would bother punishing him.
Yu Jinnian had already kicked off his shoes and climbed onto the bed. Stretching out his arms, he let out a long, contented sigh before scooting closer to Ji Hong. He held up the rabbit-shaped apple, teasingly bringing it close to Ji Hong’s mouth, only to pull it away with a mischievous laugh. “What were you like as a child?”
Ji Hong, with one arm around him, replied, “Just like this.”
“I don’t believe you,” Yu Jinnian said, pinching his nose. “I’ll have to ask Brother Duan about it later.”
The two fed each other pieces of the rabbit-shaped apple, and Ji Hong, already addicted to the taste, began getting handsy even though he was still recovering. His fingers slid down the boy’s waistline, and just as they were about to kiss, Duan Ming returned with lightning speed. Yu Jinnian, startled by how fast he had come back, didn’t even have time to put his shoes back on. As Duan Ming entered the room, Yu Jinnian straightened up quickly, sitting barefoot on the bed, pretending to peel an apple while his face remained flushed, clearly giving away the tension.
Duan Ming, still somewhat dazed by the awkwardness of the scene, finally came to his senses and quickly handed the small box to Yu Jinnian, bowing his head in apology before retreating from the room.
Ji Hong, suppressing his emotions, said, “Open it and take a look.”
Since Ji Hong had asked, Yu Jinnian didn’t hesitate. With a light touch, he unlocked the copper latch on the box. With a click, the lid opened, and Yu Jinnian turned the box toward Ji Hong. Inside were a dozen or so small items, including a gold-inlaid jade comb, hairpins adorned with gold and silver filigree, and a meticulously embroidered handkerchief with a jade rabbit design—all delicate accessories befitting a woman of high status.
Ji Hong casually sifted through the jewels, revealing less extravagant items hidden beneath.
One by one, he pulled them out, with Yu Jinnian observing closely.
There was a simple silver bracelet wrapped in red string, a gold-leafed calligraphy brush, a slightly tarnished longevity lock, and a small, intricately designed knife with a sheath. The knife was particularly curious. Unlike those commonly seen in the Xia dynasty, it had curved ends, resembling a crescent moon, with a silver cap at its tip. The sheath was made of a dark, unknown material, and a small silver bell dangled from the handle, ringing softly when the knife moved. The bell’s chime was clear yet unobtrusive, likely made from a jade core.
Intrigued, Yu Jinnian picked it up and impulsively drew the knife with a sharp “clang,” its blade flashing in the light.
“Be careful!” Ji Hong exclaimed in alarm.
Yu Jinnian, startled, quickly sheathed the blade and obediently returned it to the box.
“Are you all right?” Ji Hong asked, relieved when the young man shook his head. He then picked up the knife and gently stroked it. “My mother… she wasn’t from the Xia dynasty. She was a mute woman from a small village near the Beiyan Pass. At that time, the area outside the pass was embroiled in war. After a major defeat in the capital, my father led an army into battle, only to be gravely injured and go missing. It was my mother who found him, hiding him in a grain vat and saving his life, allowing him to rally his forces and lead a counterattack.”
Ji Hong continued, his voice soft but steady. “But because of this, her parents were killed by the foreign soldiers who came searching for him. Out of pity, my father brought her back to the estate as a benefactor. Though they were married, my mother was merely a symbol of his righteousness and compassion. She couldn’t speak or write and could only draw crude pictures to express herself, which often led to misunderstandings. For a while, everything seemed peaceful, until one day my father, after returning drunk from a banquet, wandered into her courtyard…”
Since Ji Hong rarely spoke at such length, Yu Jinnian listened intently, his eyes blinking slowly in attention.
“I overheard this from one of the old maids in the courtyard,” Ji Hong said, smiling softly as he reached out to touch Yu Jinnian’s ear. “And after that night of drunkenness, I was conceived.”
Leaning against Ji Hong, Yu Jinnian playfully tugged at the man’s hair and grinned. “No wonder you’re so beautiful. Your eyes are different from others… Your mother must have been even more beautiful.”
“You’re good at sweet-talking,” Ji Hong laughed, looking like a ruler seduced by a bewitching concubine. He pulled out the small curved knife again, polished its gleaming surface, and handed it to Yu Jinnian. “Here, take it.”
Yu Jinnian, puzzled, asked, “Why give it to me?”
Ji Hong didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he pulled Yu Jinnian close and finally gave in to his desire for a kiss. It was brief, just a soft touch of their lips, but he lingered close afterward, rubbing the young man’s hand and whispering in his ear, “I once heard from the maid who served my mother that this knife was passed down through her family for generations. It’s—”
He paused, then smiled softly, his voice so smooth and tender it made Yu Jinnian’s heart flutter. “—nothing special, really. It’s just a sharp knife. Keep it for self-defense. And if your kitchen knife ever goes dull, you can use it to cut fruit and vegetables.”
For some reason, Yu Jinnian found Ji Hong’s voice particularly soft and dreamy as he said this, like silk brushing against fingertips. It felt like he was saying something incredibly romantic, but when Yu Jinnian replayed the words in his mind, there was nothing sentimental about them at all—just phrases like “nothing special,” “kitchen knife,” and “cut meat.” There wasn’t a trace of flirtation.
Despite his confusion, Yu Jinnian had no qualms about accepting the knife, especially since Ji Hong said it was a family heirloom. He beamed with joy, treasuring it as if it were a priceless relic, though he had no intention of using it for cooking. Instead, he planned to ask Qing Huan to make a tassel for it so he could wear it proudly on his waist whenever he went out.
“Do you like it?” Ji Hong asked.
Yu Jinnian nodded enthusiastically, playing with the small bell on the knife. The soft jingling filled the room. “I like everything you give me.”
“Be sure not to lose it,” Ji Hong warned. “And if, one day, you don’t like it anymore… return it to me.”
Yu Jinnian had a feeling that Ji Hong was hinting at something deeper, but with his simple mind, he couldn’t quite figure it out. Tilting his head in mock contemplation, he tried to study Ji Hong’s expression, only to be captivated by the man’s gentle smile. In a moment of impulse, he pounced on Ji Hong, rubbing his cheek affectionately against his face, letting go of any overthinking.
Ji Hong, overwhelmed by Yu Jinnian’s playful affection, could only smile fondly as he chided, “Sit properly. Don’t behave like a boneless kitten.”
But Yu Jinnian didn’t listen. He insisted on snuggling up against Ji Hong, his face lit with mischief as he leaned close to whisper something sweet in his ear—
Just then, Qing Huan’s voice suddenly called from outside the door, “Brother Nian, someone’s here to see you! They say they’re from the Yan family and need you to check on a patient!”