Chapter 79: You're Lying to Me
As he spoke these words, Shao Wen'ang was still smiling at her, his brows and eyes full of tenderness, even the curve of his lips raised with that familiar ease—if one didn't know better, they might truly think it was an intimate whisper between husband and wife.
Song Hemei unhurriedly evaded his approach. "Whether I run into him or not, what's it to you? Do you have business with me?"
She was only a step away from leaving the Shao family; she didn't want to make things too ugly. Beating a dog into a dead end would only harm herself in the end.
He laughed, and she laughed along with him. "Husband, drink less wine, won't you? Look, you're already speaking nonsense."
She turned to leave, but Shao Wen'ang grabbed her wrist. Frowning, she looked back, and saw him sigh as if helpless. "I know you resent him, but don't show him disrespect. He's not someone we can afford to offend."
Song Hemei gave him a strange look but didn't answer. She simply twisted her wrist, trying to shake him off.
She could roughly understand what Shao Wen'ang meant. He probably thought she held a grudge against Yu Yeqing for sentencing her elder brother to exile, and feared she might bring trouble to the Shao family out of personal spite.
Yet she still felt a pang of sorrow. He and she had been childhood friends for many years, and they had three years of husband-and-wife relationship, always within sight of each other. Yet he didn't understand her as well as Fang Yiyun did, to the point of coming up with such a guess.
Song Hemei truly didn't want to linger with him. She only said casually, "I understand. Let go of me."
As soon as she spoke, she inexplicably felt a scorching gaze land on her—familiar and distinct, making her instinctively seek its source. She followed the sensation and looked over.
Yu Yeqing was walking back unhurriedly from not far away, his hands clenched tightly in front of him. His tall frame filled out his wide-sleeved round-collar robe, except… there seemed to be an unusual crease on his chest.
His eyes carried a cold, biting chill. Looking at him made one's spine feel icy, yet at the same time, it felt as if a fire was punishingly consuming and melting them down.
Clearly, Shao Wen'ang felt the same, for the moment he saw the approaching figure, he immediately let go of his grip.
Song Hemei withdrew her hand, an inexplicable guilt rising in her heart. As she watched the man draw near, the sensation of having her waist locked tight seemed to coil around her again, making her feel as if everyone could see through the encounter behind the rockery.
It was Shao Wen'ang who first cupped his hands and smiled. "Lord Yu, long time no see. I trust your trip to Changzhou went smoothly? I hope my wife didn't cause you any trouble."
Yu Yeqing stopped at a measured distance, his gaze sweeping over the two of them. He said blandly, "With the lady guiding the way, the journey indeed saved time."
Shao Wen'ang smiled. "That's good to hear. My lord, please take your seat; the banquet is about to begin."
He gestured for the man to enter. Song Hemei instinctively shifted to the side, and Yu Yeqing did not linger but walked between them—whether intentional or not, he had separated their distance.
Song Hemei swallowed, for as Yu Yeqing passed by her, his figure paused noticeably. His tall form loomed before her, his eyes lowering to look at her, his deep, heavy gaze fixed on her, leaving her nowhere to hide, nowhere to escape.
Though she hadn't intended to flee, at this moment she truly felt as if she had deceived Yu Yeqing.
She had clearly told him she was seeking an amicable divorce, yet here she was attending the banquet with Shao Wen'ang and standing together with him. No matter how she thought about it, it seemed as if she had said those words just to escape from behind the rockery—mere bluffing.
Her long lashes fluttered. She had no other choice, so she simply lifted her lips in a smile at him, trying to appear sincere.
Yu Yeqing lowered his gaze. He was clearly somewhat angry, as if accusing her, he uttered, "Lady."
Song Hemei's scalp went numb. That inexplicable guilt grew even stronger, but there were too many people here; one misstep could easily give them ammunition for gossip. Yu Yeqing could not linger long and was soon guided back to the banquet tables. She had no choice but to return to Fang Yiyun's side and sit down.
Probably seeing that her complexion looked rather drained, Fang Yiyun took the initiative to ask, "What's wrong? I saw you three standing at the entrance just now. I was really sweating for you. Lord Shao didn't notice anything, did he?"
The woman beside her had an eager look in her eyes. Some of it was genuine concern, but more than that, there was curiosity—she wanted to watch the excitement but was afraid things might get too big.
"Probably not," Song Hemei said, taking another sip of wine to calm her tumultuous heart. "Even if he did, he wouldn't dare say anything. He's terrified of Yu Yeqing now."
Fang Yiyun nodded thoughtfully, casting a glance toward the men's side. Looking at the lively scene, she figured there were few who didn't tread carefully around Lord Yu.
"Even so, you need to keep your wits about you. Don't go spilling everything. When he goes back to the Capital, you'll be stuck here in an awkward spot—that wouldn't be proper."
But after saying that, she thought again: they had already embraced. Saying this now might be a bit late. She could only sigh. "Anyway, you handle it yourself. Just don't get so caught up in your own pleasure that you lose your head. We've been toting abacuses since we were kids—don't let your brain go fuzzy and throw the abacus away along with your feelings."
Since she was speaking out of concern, Song Hemei replied solemnly, "Rest assured."
The wedding feast didn't last very long. It should have been lively until evening, but since everyone present was colleagues in officialdom, staying too long would seem overly fawning. Seeing that it was past the hour of Wei, they took their leave.
Fang Yiyun's husband's family was in a different direction from Linzhou. They stood at the entrance exchanging a few more words before Song Hemei saw her off to the carriage. She tucked a red envelope into Fang Yiyun's hand. "Your little daughter's birthday is soon, isn't it? When the Shao family had that incident during her hundred-day banquet, I couldn't go. Consider this my belated gift."
Fang Yiyun didn't refuse. A red envelope from an elder to a child was meant to bless them with safety, and it was proper to accept it.
After seeing her off, Song Hemei turned to head for the Shao family carriage. She saw Shao Wen'ang standing by the carriage, his gaze fixed on the residence.
She ignored him and climbed straight into the carriage, closing her eyes to rest. But moments later, she heard voices from outside.
"…It's no trouble at all. For Lord Yu to stay at my humble home, I only fear that my hospitality might fall short."
Song Hemei's heart skipped a beat. She hurriedly lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and peeked out.
Shao Wen'ang was cupping his hands in a bow, his face beaming with delight. Yu Yeqing stood beside him, holding his horse's reins, his long fingers stroking the horse's flank, wide sleeves hanging down. As if sensing her gaze, his eyes met hers.
Song Hemei's heart trembled, and she quickly let the curtain fall.
It would be best if he could stay at the Shao residence—then there would be no shortage of chances to meet. But this time was different from his last visit. That strange tension made her involuntarily swallow.
The conversation outside continued to drift into the carriage—
"This weather is unbearable. Riding in the heat, my lord, might lead to heatstroke. Perhaps it would be better to share the carriage?"
"It would be improper, given the distinctions between men and women."
"No matter. My wife can share the other carriage with the maidservants."
Song Hemei couldn't help feeling annoyed. Shao Wen'ang really was presumptuous—with just a few words, he was ready to kick her out?
She tucked the handkerchief in her bosom, preparing to get off the carriage and make room.
But Yu Yeqing's voice came through just in time. "If I must inconvenience the lady, then the fault would be mine."
Shao Wen'ang seemed to hesitate for a moment.
He was now caught in a difficult spot. Having extended the invitation, he couldn't very well make the man ride his horse again. He had no choice but to find a way to salvage the situation.
"In truth, those cumbersome formalities needn't be observed. How about my lord shares the carriage with my wife and me? It's spacious inside, and I assure you won't be uncomfortable."
Yu Yeqing replied without hesitation, "Very well."
He agreed too quickly, giving Shao Wen'ang a moment of surprise. But he quickly regained his composure and swept the carriage curtain aside.
Song Hemei sat upright inside the carriage. The sudden light from outside burst in, making her instinctively clench the hands resting on her knees.
Shao Wen'ang extended his palm toward the carriage interior, the tips of his fingers pointing directly at her, but his words were directed at the man outside. "Please."
A strange, indescribable unease rose in her heart. The next moment, Yu Yeqing appeared in her line of sight.
As he approached step by step, mounting the carriage shaft and bending down to enter, his presence gradually encroached and invaded, causing the carriage to sway lightly. His tall frame blocked the light from outside, casting him half in light, half in shadow. The aura belonging to him enveloped and coiled around her, making her heart pound uncontrollably.
But his expression was composed. When he sat down beside her, his wide sleeve brushed against her calf, sending a shudder of strange sensation through her.
Yu Yeqing acted as if he hadn't noticed. His words were proper, but his gaze burned. "Lady."
Song Hemei lowered her head and murmured an acknowledgment. Certain romantic and suggestive images inconveniently flashed through her mind, making her want to take out her handkerchief to cover her face. But as Shao Wen'ang also climbed in, her raised hand brushed against the robes of the man beside her, and she retracted it as if burned.
Shao Wen'ang, oblivious, sat down and said, "I apologize for the discomfort, my lord."
Yu Yeqing's voice circled in his throat, low and deep. "It is no discomfort."
With the two men flanking her left and right, Song Hemei felt her temples throbbing. It was both awkward and uncomfortable.
As she had said, she was, after all, a proper girl from a respectable family.
A relationship that was still not meant to see the light of day was now exposed before someone else, as if it could be seen through and understood at any moment. She found it truly difficult to remain calm and composed. She could only sit stiffly, staring straight ahead, looking at neither of them.
Inside the carriage, only Shao Wen'ang kept talking. Even the most taciturn man, when flattering his superior, would not let a word fall to the ground—even if that superior only replied halfheartedly.
Song Hemei felt the road was unbearably long. To make matters worse, halfway through this torment, the carriage suddenly stopped.
Shao Wen'ang called out to the servant driving the carriage. "What's the matter?"
"My lord, it seems there are officials arresting someone."
The noise from outside drifted in. Shao Wen'ang lifted the curtain of the rear window and saw two government officers smashing up a noodle shop. An old woman knelt on the ground, pleading pitifully, "Officers, I won't take your money, I won't take your money."
The officer standing beside her let out a cold laugh and used the sheath of his sword to flip over the table. Bowls and chopsticks crashed to the ground, the sound of shattering unsettling the heart.
"Too late. Your old man thinks this noodle shop is hiding a thief. I'm going to have to give it a thorough search!"
Shao Wen'ang frowned deeply, clearly annoyed by these troublemakers. He simply told the servant, "Never mind. Take another road."
But before the servant could respond, Yu Yeqing suddenly spoke. "Subprefect Shao's jurisdiction certainly has its own unique order."
His gaze swept over, and Shao Wen'ang's expression immediately turned panicked. He hastily cupped his hands and bowed. "My lord misunderstands. I only wished to see you settled first before looking into this matter."
Yu Yeqing said nothing, so Shao Wen'ang lowered his head and said, "Then… my lord, if you would wait a moment, I will go and inquire."
He turned and climbed out of the carriage. Song Hemei's attention was also drawn by the scene outside. It looked like the officers were bullying people on the strength of their authority.
She frowned slightly and lifted a corner of the curtain to peek out. But the next moment, her wrist was abruptly seized and pressed firmly against the cushion beside her.
The carriage curtain fell back into place. She instinctively looked back, but Yu Yeqing had already pressed himself before her, pinning her against the carriage wall. The carriage itself rocked with an unnatural motion.
He carried an unyielding stubbornness, his hoarse voice revealing the jealousy he had long suppressed. "You're lying to me."
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