Chapter 65: Green Bamboo
Yu Yeqing sat with his head bowed, ink-black hair falling loose, wearing only his inner robe. Song Hemei felt a surprising pang of softness.
Never mind. Teasing him a little was enough.
Just as she was about to speak, she saw his gaze land on the corner of his sleeve. His brow twitched slightly, and he lifted a finger to turn it over. Embroidered there was a single green bamboo shoot.
That was Song Jilang's preference.
The gloom that had been in his eyes instantly dissipated. His voice was calm now, as if the man who had just lost control of his emotions was not him at all. "It was the Third Young Master's."
Song Hemei gave a light snort. "Who else would it be? You didn't seriously think I'd gone and found another man, did you? Hurry up and go."
She didn't want to see him sitting in that armchair anymore.
Yu Yeqing lingered no longer and turned to go into the inner room. Song Hemei stared at the armchair, trying to think of a reason to have someone throw it out.
Yu Yeqing bathed quickly. When he returned, he was fully dressed. At first glance, he was once again that distant, cold figure, with no trace of the earlier dishevelment or of the ambiguous, tempting scene he had created.
Song Hemei took a deep breath, pushing down all the chaotic thoughts racing through her mind. She walked over, took his wrist, and examined it. "It's a bit short. Bear with it for now; you can change when you get home."
Looking at the green bamboo embroidered on the cuff, she still felt caution was best. Yu Yeqing could tell it was Jilang's—what if someone else could too?
She didn't hesitate. She reached up and rolled the sleeves for him.
Yu Yeqing let her do as she pleased, his fingers instinctively curling inward, but he was silent and pliant under her touch.
She paused, trying to maintain a serious expression, but when she spoke again, she found it hard to look at him. "Will you come find me again?"
Yu Yeqing's gaze fell on her forehead. With her eyes cast down, he couldn't read her emotions.
"Do you not want me to?" he asked.
This was a difficult question to answer. To say yes seemed too forward; to say no felt like a lie she wasn't willing to tell.
She hesitated for a long time before finally hedging her answer. "It's fine either way… Won't you stay and eat breakfast?"
Yu Yeqing's voice was a little heavy as he refused again. "There's no need."
But the impulse in his chest was unbearable. He didn't hold back any longer. He pulled her into his embrace.
The movement was so sudden that Song Hemei nearly bumped her lip as she was pulled against him.
He heard her sharp intake of breath from within his arms, but his mind flashed back to that day at the Shao residence. He had been standing by the moon-gate leading to the inner courtyard, watching her and Shao Wen'ang embrace in farewell.
Now, this warmth in his arms finally soothed the aching tightness that had been gripping his heart.
In this moment, he felt a faint, illicit joy at having taken a place that wasn't his. He gently pressed his face against her temple. "I'm leaving. You don't need to see me out."
Song Hemei's lips parted, her voice softening—a rare thing. She lifted a hand and gently stroked his back, a feeling of reluctance blooming within her. "I know."
She was almost overcome by the impulse to tell him to come back soon, but saying that right now seemed so inappropriate.
Still, she thought, he must have some feelings for her. Why else would he act so clingy?
Perhaps the past from three years ago still lay between them, but that was alright. She would find every way she could to make it up to him. Eventually, he would be able to let go of this old grievance.
In the end, it was Yu Yeqing who let go first. No matter how slow their movements, there was always a moment for parting. She watched as he walked out of the room, then bit her lip. "Hey… try not to be seen by anyone."
Yu Yeqing nodded to her, accepting the request.
With him gone, the room suddenly felt so empty. She didn't know why. She had lived her life this way for so many years, but now she found the emptiness suffocating. Even a few deep breaths couldn't relieve it.
She didn't have the time to analyze this overly sentimental feeling, though. She rushed to the bed and quickly stripped the soiled sheets, soaking them completely in the bathwater before submerging herself in the tub.
When everything was done, she lay back down in the clean bedding. After all the movement, her lower back was aching again. She couldn't help but wonder if Yu Yeqing was telling the truth when he said he wasn't tired. After every time, even dealing with the aftermath, he never seemed to show any sign of strain.
The moment her back touched the mattress, before she could even savor the exquisite sensations from before, a wave of exhaustion washed over her, sending her straight to sleep.
When she woke, it was to Chunhui knocking and calling her name, one call after another. She opened her eyes groggily. Her throat was tight, her head was cloudy. Looking up through the still-open window, she saw a light rain had begun to fall outside, and the windowsill was wet with spray.
Song Hemei shook herself awake and called out, "Come in."
Chunhui pushed the door open, stepping past the screen in a few quick strides to stand before her, worry clear on her face. "Madam, you've slept the whole day away. Would you like to eat something?"
Song Hemei's throat was so dry it hurt to talk. She only asked for a cup of water.
"Someone came from the main courtyard and said the Old Master is awake. They asked if you would like to go and see him," Chunhui said, seeing her mistress's state. "Maybe… we should forget it for now. Let me call a doctor to see you first."
Song Hemei's mind was set on securing an amicable divorce. She didn't want to waste any more time. She insisted on getting up. "It's nothing serious. I must have caught a chill from the wind while I was tired. I'll be fine when I get back."
Chunhui nodded and helped her up. "You've had a long journey, Madam. You truly are tired."
Song Hemei almost stumbled at her words.
She really was getting sick. Her mind was so foggy she'd almost let something slip. Luckily, Chunhui hadn't thought much of it.
She didn't say another word. She just dressed and went to see her father.
She had seen him on her last visit. Father's condition had been poor even then, but because of it, his words to her had been much softer. He didn't have the energy to lecture her on things he knew she didn't want to hear.
When she saw him again this time, he was awake even less often. His face was a waxy yellow, and sickness wrapped around him layer upon layer. Just getting close to him made her feel the bitter taste of medicinal herbs on her tongue.
Because she suspected a fever might be coming on, Song Hemei didn't go too close. She stopped a few paces away and called out to her father.
Old Master Song's eyes moved slowly as he turned his head toward her. His gaze finally settled on her toes.
He raised a hand and unconsciously rubbed his chin. "Xiao He doesn't like being close to her father, just like when she was little."
Before everything happened with the Shao family, she had always loved being close to him. She had grown up in her parents' arms, with a love that her older brother and younger brother never received.
But as for her father… before he had grown his beard, sometimes when he carried her and kissed her cheek, she would complain that his stubble pricked her, and she would deliberately pull away from him.
Song Hemei's throat tightened even more. A wave of sour grief spread from the depths of her heart again.
"I just feel a little dizzy. I'm afraid of passing the sickness on to you, Father."
Song Hemei steadied herself. She had to look away from her father's face to speak the words plainly.
"Father, I want to ask you for a writ."
"I want an amicable divorce from Shao Wen'ang."
Get instant access to all chapters now.
Post a Comment