Chapter 80: Late at Night
Song Hemei's ears rang with a dull hum. The weight pressing down on her and the force around her wrists were both impossible to ignore.
Her back was pressed tight against the carriage wall. Outside, Shao Wen'ang's voice could still be heard within the carriage. Through a layer of wall that was neither thick nor thin, her heart was about to leap out of her chest. She tried her best to lower her voice and said, "When did I deceive you? There are people everywhere outside, and it's not convenient to explain right now. Let's return to the residence first."
Yu Yeqing's breath was rough and heavy, with no sign of getting up at all.
Song Hemei was truly anxious, afraid that in the next moment Shao Wen'ang would return to the carriage, or directly lift the window curtain to look inside and see all of this.
Her free hand grabbed the arm of the man before her. Beneath her palm, she could feel his distinctly taut strength. She swallowed and tried to soothe him, "Get up quickly. It wouldn't be good if someone saw."
But Yu Yeqing seemed even more stirred by her words. His voice carried an irrepressible urgency: "Are you so afraid that he will find out?"
Song Hemei gently pushed him, also a little annoyed by his words: "What do I have to fear? Even if I left him and went to find eight hundred young masters, he wouldn't have the authority to control me. The one who needs to be cautious is you. Do you truly not care about your official reputation anymore?"
Yu Yeqing had absorbed her words somewhat. Even though it was indeed the case from a rational standpoint, the panic deep in his heart lingered for a long time.
His thin lips moved slightly: "Do you really think that way?"
"Would I lie about that? I really can't tell whether you actually don't believe me, or if you're deliberately trying to pick a fight with me."
Song Hemei straightened her face to look directly at him, but when she met his stubborn eyes, her heart softened a little.
Honestly, he made it seem like he was so insecure and anxious over her.
She pursed her lips, rose slightly, and pecked him on the lips to soothe him. Her hand on his forearm patted him gently: "Alright, sit back down."
But Yu Yeqing's eyes rippled faintly from her action. Just when she thought she would finally be released, he suddenly leaned down and directly captured her lips.
This was completely different from her voluntary peck. It carried his unease and possessiveness, deeply imprinted on her lips.
Song Hemei suppressed even the whimper of surprise deep in her throat, afraid of being detected by the people outside. The grinding and entwining on her lips made her heart race uncontrollably. Especially since Shao Wen'ang was standing on her side outside, his voice clearly entering her ears, making her feel as though the sound of their lips and teeth pressing together and swallowing could also be heard by those outside.
Beating Yu Yeqing's arm was useless. The numbing pressure on her lips did not diminish one bit. She raised her hand to push and hit his chest, but the only result was a blush-inducing muffled grunt from him—nothing else.
Her lips parted uncontrollably, the tips of their tongues touching, allowing her to feel the clear, moist tea scent from the man before her. Her breathing grew heavier and heavier, until she felt as though her entire neck was burning from that heat. Only then did Yu Yeqing finally release her.
Separated like this, he too was panting softly, but he was noticeably calmer than before. He even had the presence of mind to ask her in a low voice: "You've been drinking?"
Song Hemei felt a little awkward, her gaze uncertain where to rest: "At a wedding feast, of course one drinks."
But that tea scent still seemed to linger between her lips and teeth, making her unconsciously purse her lips: "You're quite at ease. With so many people surrounding you, you didn't touch a drop of wine."
Yu Yeqing was silent for a moment, then his hand reached toward her bosom.
Song Hemei's mind buzzed loudly. Certain guesses emerged, and she felt her face flush. She hurriedly grabbed his hand: "Are you crazy? Don't you see where we are?"
But he ignored her resistance, his fingertips entwining with the sash at her waist.
She was both anxious and mortified, and couldn't help it—she directly raised her hand and slapped him hard.
Song Hemei was somewhat restrained; it wasn't worth hitting his face. But the force was great. Although it struck his chest, her fingertips also grazed his neck.
Yu Yeqing's movements stiffened for a moment, but he continued to reach inside. Then, he merely pulled out the handkerchief from her bosom and gently wiped her lips with it.
He seemed somewhat dejected, his eyelashes lowered, his voice suppressed: "Your lip rouge is smeared… What did you think I was going to do to you?"
Song Hemei couldn't tell if he was deliberately putting on such a pitiful act. Either way, it did make her feel a twinge of guilt. His long fingers, separated by the handkerchief, rubbed against her lips, pressing gently, as if she could bite him if she opened her mouth.
She swallowed: "I didn't—"
As soon as she started speaking, Yu Yeqing turned and sat back in his original seat. Song Hemei was stunned, but in the next instant, the carriage curtain was lifted from outside, and Shao Wen'ang climbed back into the carriage.
Her body immediately tensed up. The expression on Yu Yeqing's face, however, did not change in the slightest, as if nothing had happened. Even in front of Shao Wen'ang, he used the handkerchief that had wiped her lips to wipe away the lip rouge that belonged to her, now stained on his own lips.
Seeing this was utterly maddening. Song Hemei felt that even breathing was difficult.
Meanwhile, Shao Wen'ang, who had only stood outside for a short while, was drenched in sweat. He felt around his bosom but found nothing. He wanted a handkerchief, but the person beside him did not meet his gaze. He had to speak first: "Lord Yu, it was this subordinate's failure to govern strictly, allowing the government runners to bully others. This subordinate has already placated the old woman, ordered people to find her children and bring them back, and made the runner compensate with silver as reparation, along with a penalty of interest. What does my lord think?"
Yu Yeqing leisurely tucked the handkerchief into his bosom: "Lord Shao has considered everything thoroughly. There is nothing inappropriate about this handling."
Shao Wen'ang breathed a sigh of relief, cupped his hands, and spoke with platitudes: "Much thanks to Lord Yu for your guidance."
Having said that, he turned to look at the person beside him and asked in a low voice: "Mei'er, why is your face so red? Have you been overcome by the heat?"
Caught off guard by being addressed, Song Hemei felt a surge of guilt. She barely restrained the urge to glance subconsciously at Yu Yeqing, and replied lightly: "Perhaps I drank too much wine."
Shao Wen'ang nodded, didn't ask further, and accepted her words without suspicion.
The remaining half of the journey went smoothly. They arrived at the main gate of the Shao residence before getting off the carriage. Shao Wen'ang led Yu Yeqing into the mansion, while Song Hemei returned to the main courtyard with her maidservants.
It really was no different from fleeing back.
Upon entering the room, she immediately instructed Chunhui to go to the outer courtyard and listen for news. A short while later, word came back that the two men were discussing official business in the study, with Shao Wen'ang responding cautiously.
Song Hemei thought for a moment, then ordered some tea to be sent over to dispel the heat and soothe the throat. Looking at the bright daylight outside, she calculated that even if the conversation over there concluded, it would still have to wait until evening before she could go see him.
Not long after, a message came from the outer courtyard, saying that Yu Yeqing had left the residence, whereabouts unknown, and no one knew when he would return. But Shao Wen'ang was still in the study, and he hadn't come out even after the man had left for quite some time.
Song Hemei pondered quietly. She ignored that elusive figure and went directly to seek out Shao Wen'ang.
In the study, he was sitting at the desk reading something. When Song Hemei entered, she caught sight of two cups of tea on the side. One was already empty, while Shao Wen'ang's cup was still full, untouched.
At least Yu Yeqing had been polite enough not to waste the tea she had sent.
Song Hemei stood before the desk, looking down at the man before her: "Does my husband have a moment now?"
Shao Wen'ang slowly raised his head, stunned for a moment before seeming to react: "No matter. Mei'er, just say what you need to."
"The fate of our husband-and-wife bond has reached its end. If I remain in the residence, it will inevitably give rise to idle gossip. Consider this my farewell. In the next few days, I will pack my things. When I leave, I won't come to bid farewell to my husband again, so as not to add to the sorrow."
She couldn't sound too eager, as that would appear too happy. A man's pride was the most crucial thing.
He could be the first to want to cast her aside, but she had to be the one to raise it first, to preserve his face.
She could leave, but she had to appear reluctant, to ease his mind and avoid unnecessary complications.
She had endured for three years; a moment's difference didn't matter. When she was younger, she would never have been able to say such words. Now they came out fluently. Making verbal concessions could bring many benefits. The only thing was that she couldn't take it to heart, or she would be choked by the indignation.
But this tactic was indeed effective on Shao Wen'ang. Once she said everything, hitting exactly what he wanted to hear, it saved him the time of laying the groundwork himself. He only looked at her, his eyes filled with regret and pity: "I know you are doing this for my sake, making such sacrifices to accommodate."
He sighed, feigning dejection, as if he were genuinely lonely because of her departure.
But indeed, he ought to be lonely. Having one less person around, one less excuse for him to put on a show and satisfy himself, how could he not be lonely?
He sighed again: "No need to rush. I'll send a letter to Mother asking her to come. Lianzhu is still young and can't do without anyone. You know he's most attached to you. If he finds out you've left, he'll be heartbroken."
He stood up, walked to the bookshelf, and took out a small box: "East of the city, there's a piece of farmland that's mine. Father and Mother don't know about it. You and I were husband and wife; how could I bear to let you leave alone without any silver to rely on?"
He turned back and handed it to Song Hemei: "Take this. Even if we are no longer husband and wife, if you encounter any difficulties in the future, come to me."
He made a solemn promise, as if this land deed was the proof of his words.
Hearing this, she felt not a trace of emotion. She only had two thoughts in her mind.
First: he really did have private savings that she didn't know about. Thank goodness she had kept her composure and hadn't spoken harshly, otherwise how could she have squeezed this land deed out of him?
Second: she found it even more ironic. Wasn't she in a situation similar to what her sister-in-law had faced? She could take advantage of a man's selfishness and pride, using that innate possessiveness and arrogance to obtain benefits that served her own interests at a time like this.
A faint smile curled at the corners of her lips: "Thank you, husband."
Song Hemei did not linger long in the study. She took the item and turned to leave. But in Shao Wen'ang's eyes, it probably seemed that she was afraid that hesitating would make her unable to bear leaving.
Back in her room, she first told Chunhui to keep an eye on when Yu Yeqing would return, while she herself stayed to calculate the Shao family accounts.
A piece of farmland was definitely not enough to be rid of her. Whatever she wanted, she had to seek it herself. A passing goose leaves a feather, a passing tiger leaves a whisker. If she really returned all the Shao family assets as they were, she would have been throwing away her father's craft.
It wasn't until dusk fell, the daylight dimmed, and a crescent moon hung high in the sky that she had already put away the account books. Even Lianzhu had fallen asleep when Chunhui finally came to report that Yu Yeqing had entered the residence through a side gate.
Song Hemei thought about the events of the day. The feeling of being pressed upon her lips came back to her. She couldn't help but feel a little nervous. She sat in the room for a while before gathering her resolve and pushing the door open to head out.
But just as the door was pushed open a crack, she saw a tall figure standing in the courtyard. Startled, she instinctively hid behind the door, looking at him with fear in her eyes.
"What are you doing standing there?"
Song Hemei patted her chest, still shaken: "You really scared me!"
Yu Yeqing stared at her, his gaze falling on her lips, and then he approached her step by step.
"If you haven't done anything guilty, why are you afraid?"
He stood before her, his tall frame seeming to envelop her, as if nothing could stop him from doing whatever he wanted. Yet he still asked her: "Won't you let me in?"
Song Hemei swallowed. Somehow, she felt... wasn't this a bit like playing hard to get?
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