Chapter 13: Riding Double
This time, the person knocking at the door was a sturdy maidservant from the courtyard. Though her forceful manner showed little regard for Song Hemei's dignity, the fact remained that they had injured a young master from another residence—the appearance of discipline had to be maintained.
Mother Song looked at her son-in-law's pale complexion and the thin sheen of sweat on his brow, and immediately put on a face of guilt: "It's my fault for spoiling her. Good son-in-law, are you alright?"
Shao Wen'ang waved his hand, hurriedly saying it was nothing. As he did so, the movement revealed the purple-red bruising on the knuckles of his long fingers.
Mother Song let out an exaggerated cry of dismay, waving her handkerchief as she ordered someone to call for a doctor.
Shao Wen'ang knew in his heart that under no circumstances could a doctor be called for this. Otherwise, the fact that he, newly married, had been shut out of his wife's family home would not stay hidden. He waved his injured hand again, forcing a faint smile: "No need to call a doctor. Please, Mother-in-law, just have someone bring a medical kit."
Mother Song clutched her chest, as if pained beyond words: "Good son-in-law, you go wait in the side room first. I'll properly discipline Hemei and make her come apologize to you."
Shao Wen'ang's face showed a bitter smile, but he still couldn't bear to see his Mei'er punished: "No need, no need. Mother-in-law, don't blame her. It's all my fault."
After a few more rounds of pleasantries to see him properly settled in the side room, Mother Song finally rapped on the door of the room herself: "Alright, they're all gone. Won't you let your mother in? Honestly, is there anything you can't say properly? Just look at his fingers… Shao Wen'ang is the apple of your mother-in-law's eye. If you keep striking him like this, what will you do when she makes life difficult for you later?"
Inside the room, Song Hemei glanced at Yu Yeqing standing to one side. She had no idea what he was thinking, but she very loyally lowered her voice and said, "Don't worry, I won't let Mother in."
Though her mother had a gentle disposition, if she learned there was a strange man in her daughter's room, even the mildest person would fly into a rage.
She approached the door and raised her voice in reply: "Mother-in-law? Mother, do you even know why Shao Wen'ang came today? It was all Madam Shao's idea, hoping I'd soften and agree, so they could gloss over what Father mentioned. What a clever scheme they've cooked up!"
Mother Song fell silent, twisting her handkerchief in her hands. The conciliatory words she had been about to speak now failed to come out.
This time when she knocked again, her movements were much gentler: "This Shao family is truly too unreasonable. And here your father told me he asked them to come see you today—if you were willing to go back with him, he'd let the other matters slide. Who knew he would… ah, our whole heart was laid out for them, and we nearly walked right into their trap."
Song Hemei lowered her gaze, an indescribable bitterness rising in her heart.
She was her father's only daughter. He had always doted on her the most.
This love had been woven into every day of her upbringing, fine and dense, shattered after she married, only to be pieced back together in this moment.
Sometimes she truly couldn't tell what was good and what was bad.
If it was good, why use her as an excuse instead of simply ending this marriage?
But if it was bad, why relent today, saying that if she only nodded and agreed to go back, he would give up all the benefits he'd proposed?
It was like finding an unremovable grain of sand in a dish of exquisite delicacies—one couldn't bear to spit it out yet swallowing it scratched the throat and stabbed the heart.
Song Hemei slowly exhaled: "Mother, stop talking. Just send him away quickly."
She turned and sat back down on the small couch in the room: "I'm not going out today. I'm not seeing anyone."
Mother Song made a few more protests: "You stubborn girl!"
But no matter what she said, Song Hemei didn't answer, simply waiting for her mother to give up first and hurl a parting threat: "Fine! If you have the nerve, just stay in this room for the rest of your life!"
Listening to the sound of her mother leading the servants away, Song Hemei took a deep breath. But before she could let it out, she heard her younger brother's voice calling from a distance.
"…Young Master Yu… where did he go?"
Every alarm bell in Song Hemei's mind went off. She took a few quick steps to the door to listen closely.
The next instant, her mother's voice carried over: "What nonsense! You come searching for someone right outside your sister's courtyard? Go on, she's in a bad mood—don't go provoking her."
Song Hemei's face flushed with embarrassment. She gave a light, awkward cough. When she turned back, however, she saw Yu Yeqing standing there with a perfectly composed expression, his gaze fixed on some spot in the room, showing not a trace of fear at what the people outside had said.
This only made her own discomfort seem superfluous.
Song Hemei stiffened her face: "What are you looking at?"
Yu Yeqing calmly withdrew his gaze and turned to fix his eyes on her: "Do you regret it?"
His words, coming out of nowhere, left Song Hemei confused: "Huh? Regret what?"
Yu Yeqing's Adam's apple bobbed, but he didn't answer.
Did she regret getting entangled with him? Regret not listening to her father… After all, though the Shao family's feelings weren't genuine, the bond from their childhood friendship still remained. After all, Father Song's love for his daughter was earnest, every word sincere.
He was now teetering on the edge of being rejected by her. His very existence, everything that had happened between them—once she regretted it, it would become an indelible stain on her, branded onto her for the rest of her life.
In his baseness, he should have been glad of that. Yet instead, he found himself despising the person who had put her in such a difficult position—himself.
Song Hemei scrutinized him for a long moment, then finally caught on with a knowing look.
Could it be that he was hoping she would regret it, so he could wash his hands of the whole affair?
What a pleasant dream he was having! She'd already given him that whole set of pure gold hair ornaments. After spending such a fortune, this couldn't be just a one-time transaction!
Her face turned cold: "Do you think I'm made of dough? That after being treated poorly and hearing a few nice words, I'd just turn around?"
She pointed at the tall young man before her: "You've taken my silver now. You're in the same boat as me. Don't let me hear you speak for anyone else again!"
For a rare moment, a look of bewilderment crossed Yu Yeqing's face, but his long lashes quickly shuttered his expression as he turned his head away.
Song Hemei thought he was upset and unwilling, so she stepped forward: "Did you hear me!"
Yu Yeqing's chest felt as if it had been fiercely gripped, then released—but the dull ache of that grip lingered, like a condemned man awaiting the blade, the guillotine halting only because of her words.
But the blade's fall was only a matter of time. For now, he could only linger by her side, waiting for the day she would inevitably discard him.
Yet he couldn't deny the joy in his heart. It was this joy that drove him to answer her in a low voice: "I heard you."
Seeing this, Song Hemei nodded with satisfaction, turned, and walked toward the inner room. As she pulled the folding screen across, she threatened over her shoulder: "We probably won't be able to leave today. You can rest on the small couch. And don't think about sneaking out when I'm not looking. If I find you gone, I'll tell my parents you violated me and have them break your legs."
Yu Yeqing didn't step forward. With the screen now blocking her view, he could finally stop hiding the burning intensity in his gaze.
But he said, "I'm afraid I cannot obey."
Song Hemei leaned out from behind the screen, her eyes full of threat as she stared at him.
He pressed his lips together: "My younger sister is coming home today. I must go back."
Song Hemei's expression softened slightly. She remembered now—his sister was staying with some relatives, it seemed.
This made it hard for her to refuse. After a moment's thought, she decided: "Fine. We'll wait until dark, and I'll see you out."
Without waiting for his answer, she pulled the screen shut and went to lie down on the bed.
The room fell silent. Her mind was in turmoil. She kicked her embroidered shoes with her toes in irritation, too distracted to pay any attention to the living, breathing man behind the screen.
Having scrupulously observed the propriety between men and women for eighteen years, she now possessed everything she should and shouldn't have. What was the point of guarding anymore?
But she couldn't sleep. People kept coming to knock on her door, timing their visits to bring her meals. She had to deal with each one. Only when the sky had finally darkened did she lead Yu Yeqing out of the room, slip down the garden paths inside the residence, and head straight for the stables.
Yu Yeqing took the reins and clasped his hands in thanks, but Song Hemei had already grabbed the saddle and mounted the horse first. Looking down at him, she said: "No need for courtesy."
"Second Miss, there's no need for you to trouble yourself with escorting me."
Song Hemei pulled the reins from his hand and eyed him suspiciously: "This is a horse from the Song residence. What if you just ride off on it? I need to keep an eye on you."
He started to speak again, but she cut him off: "Enough. While you're wasting your breath on these pointless words, we could have already traveled half the road."
Yu Yeqing hesitated for just a moment, then stopped insisting. When he swung himself onto the horse, his chest and back unavoidably pressed against hers.
Song Hemei felt as if she were wrapped in his embrace. As the horse jolted along, her back bumped against his chest with each step.
Her loose hair, blown by the wind, drifted to her neck, tickling her. She reached up to scratch, but her hand accidentally brushed against the lips of the man behind her.
The instant her fingers touched the soft warmth of his mouth, his breath dusted across her fingertips. She snatched her hand back as if burned.
The man behind her said nothing, but Song Hemei finally began to feel a little embarrassed.
They were too close. So close that it reminded her of her wedding night, equally as dark as ink poured out.
Her heart beat a little faster. A faint thought began to take shape in her mind.
Yu Yeqing's home was remote, but riding on horseback didn't take too long. When they drew near, he tightened the reins and brought the horse to a stop.
"Miss Song, are you reassured now?"
Because they were so close, his voice sounded right in her ear, unusually deep and pleasant in the stillness of the night.
Song Hemei subconsciously nodded, but stopped mid-motion. She tilted her head and asked in return: "What do you mean by that? You plan to get off now and send me back?"
"Yes. Once I see my younger sister to bed, I will escort you back to the Song residence."
Song Hemei turned her head in irritation, but could only see the bridge of his straight nose and his jaw: "You send me, I send you—aren't you afraid of trouble? It's been a long time since I've seen your younger sister. Now that I'm here, how can I leave without seeing her?"
She shook her sleeve pocket: "Young Master Yu, I even brought a gift for your sister. But you certainly don't hold back when it comes to driving away guests."
Yu Yeqing paused. When he spoke again, his voice was slightly softer: "My younger sister suffers from a chronic illness. I fear she might pass it on to you. Besides, it's already late. If I don't send you back soon, traveling in the dark could be dangerous."
Song Hemei thought about how speaking this close made her feel every word vibrate through his chest against her back. The breath of his words tickled her neck.
She straightened her back: "I'm in excellent health. I'm not afraid of any illness. And besides, who said I was going back?"
She tilted her head back, and the back of her skull knocked half-intentionally, half-accidentally against his chin.
"Tonight, I never planned to go back."
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