Chapter 117: Tea
Song Hemei could clearly feel that after she finished speaking these words, Yu Yeqing's back tensed even more.
He took a deep breath, turned his head to hold her hand, nodded, and lowered his eyes without meeting hers. "Is this even worth a reward?"
He was clearly coveting her.
Song Hemei stepped forward to close the distance between them, raised her other hand to cup his face, and met those deep, beautiful eyes. She leaned in and kissed the corner of his lips. "A reward depends entirely on my mood. If I care about you too, then the things you do will make me very happy, because they're proof that you care. But if I didn't care about you, then what you've done would be terrible. Count yourself lucky, Young Master Yu, that you've ended up as the former."
Because of her words, Yu Yeqing's breathing became cautious, afraid that these sweet words would be shattered by his own heavy, uncontrollable breaths.
Song Hemei was not a stingy person either. She raised her hand and patted his shoulder. "Then let it be tonight. You can go a little overboard."
Yu Yeqing tightly gripped her fingertips, a feeling of indulgent satisfaction swelling in his heart. He pulled her hand to his lips and kissed it, then softly replied, "Alright."
Song Hemei then pulled him to sit down. After thinking for a moment, she asked him, "Why have you been stopping Lord Lu from seeing Minglian? Is Lord Lu also trying to force Minglian into some so-called proper match?"
"No, Minglian isn't his blood, and she's been frail since childhood. If you truly talk about matching like with like, her position is quite awkward. With his current power and influence, he doesn't need to bother with such matters. When he spoke about my marriage earlier, it was only because I now hold an official position and marrying a good wife would be more beneficial to me."
Yu Yeqing's Adam's apple bobbed. When he spoke again, his voice carried a hint of difficulty. "The reason I won't let him see her is because Minglian looks very much like Mother. The first time he saw her after returning to the capital, he stared at her for a long time, unable to look away. He played the part of deep affection to perfection. I'm worried he might develop some beastly thoughts toward Minglian, after all… Minglian is not his biological daughter."
Song Hemei's heart pounded violently. The mere suspicion disgusted her. She furrowed her brows. "Could Lord Lu actually harbor such an absurd notion?"
"It's just my speculation. Actually, I hadn't thought about this direction at first. But when I saw his two concubines, each one bearing some resemblance to my birth mother, and one of them only sixteen years old…"
Song Hemei felt a sudden churning in her stomach. She took two deep breaths to swallow the nauseating chill.
No wonder he suspected this. After all, back then, wasn't his mother also taken by force?
As a woman herself, even the mere suspicion of such a thing made her uneasy. "In matters like this, it's better to be overly cautious than to let it slip. You should hire more people to keep a close watch, so no one has an opportunity to take advantage."
Yu Yeqing had already thought of that long ago. "Rest assured. The two maids in her room are martial maids. I've verified their backgrounds, so they can be trusted."
Only then did she nod in satisfaction.
After sitting down to rest for a while, she began to organize the luggage, calling for people to tidy everything up properly.
Under Yu Yeqing's insistence, all her belongings were stored in the main room. He did not want to distinguish between the master's courtyard and the mistress's courtyard. He only wanted to mix everything of hers with his, unable to bear even a moment of separation, and had no intention of sleeping apart.
Song Hemei felt he was being stubborn over something trivial. "Even if I stayed in a different room, I'd still be inside your residence. It would just mean walking a few extra steps to see each other."
Without a second thought, Yu Yeqing replied, "Back at the Shao residence, Shao Wen'ang never knew what I did with you. I don't want to be separated from you and give others a chance to take advantage."
Song Hemei choked on his words and instantly grew angry. "What do you mean by that? Am I some kind of idle woman who will summon someone else into my room the moment you're gone? Or do you truly think I can casually take a liking to just anyone?"
Yu Yeqing turned his gaze back to her. Sensing her anger, he quickly explained, "That's not what I meant. I don't think you'll seek out others. I'm just worried that others might come seeking you."
His eyes were deep, and speaking of the past now carried a different flavor.
"Back when I came to you, I had an unobstructed path. I worry there might be some frivolous butterflies and wandering bees."
Song Hemei found his words infuriating. "What frivolous butterflies and wandering bees? The reason you had an unobstructed path was because Chunhui let you through. Otherwise, do you think my courtyard was that easy to enter?"
"I know. But I'm also afraid that one day she might let someone else through."
Song Hemei thought he was being ridiculous, but she was too tired to argue with him. In the end, she did not insist on having her own room.
His room had very few things—so few that one might think he was just lodging there temporarily. He always seemed to keep himself light, as if he could disappear at any moment. He never left too many traces of himself anywhere, as if leaving something might offend someone's eyes or get in someone's way.
There was no help for it. She would have to use her things to fill his space. From now on, the marks she left behind would belong to both of them.
They had dinner together with Minglian. The residence's chef was from Changzhou and was quite skilled at Changzhou cuisine. After the meal, they accompanied the young girl in conversation for a while, and then Yu Yeqing led her back to their room.
Song Hemei remembered the reward she had promised him.
Since her elder brother's passing, her mood had been somber for these two months, so naturally, she hadn't had much desire for intimacy, and she had somewhat neglected him. In turn, she had relied on him to comfort her. Indeed, it was because of him that she hadn't been too devastated by grief.
But when she returned to the room and saw Yu Yeqing bringing out his jar of wine again, her expression did stiffen.
She couldn't help but speak. "Are you not able to manage on your own? Do you still need external help now?"
Yu Yeqing's hand paused as he poured the wine. He gave her a faint, meaningful glance and said nothing, yet Song Hemei felt that her question was not an inquiry but a challenge.
She coughed twice, intending to make amends, but Yu Yeqing had already started speaking on his own. "Minglian is right. Father brewed the wine very well. It would be a pity to waste it. We ought to drink it all, so as not to let it go to waste."
Song Hemei's temple throbbed.
Drink it all? One cup was already enough to get him drunk beyond control—holding her and crying uncontrollably, and losing all restraint. If he drank it all, what then?
But after some thought, she felt his reason was entirely justifiable. So she could only try to negotiate. "But life is so long. We have to drink it little by little. Drinking it all at once like cattle watering would just be a waste of good things."
She watched as two cups were filled and quickly urged him to seal the wine jar and put it away.
Then she raised her cup, smelled the aroma of the wine, looked at the handsome and gentle face of the man before her—so unrelated to what was about to happen—and resolutely swallowed it down.
Yu Yeqing's reaction was as fast as ever. This time, facing him directly, she could clearly see that after he swallowed the cup, his face gradually reddened. Then his breathing grew heavy and rough, and his eyes became increasingly hazy.
Song Hemei took a deep breath. As he lifted her horizontally into his arms, she still managed to instruct, "But don't go too far without bounds. Otherwise, I will settle accounts with you tomorrow morning."
Yu Yeqing obeyed obediently, but once he had placed her on the bed, that obedience vanished.
His lips roamed over her body, every kiss heavy, leaving marks everywhere.
Song Hemei thought dizzily that she had felt sorry for him during the day for no reason—wasn't he quite good at leaving marks?
As she gradually grew aroused, she thought he would move on to the main event after enough kissing. But today, his kisses were exceptionally prolonged—so long that she was arching her neck and rubbing against the bed, yet still waiting in vain for him to continue.
Until finally, his lips landed where they shouldn't have.
Song Hemei's whole body tensed instantly. As she closed her legs, the jade hairpin in his topknot pricked her, making her gasp.
"I never said you could do this!"
She reached out to pull him away, but Yu Yeqing caught her hand, interlaced their fingers, and pressed it firmly onto the bed.
He drank as if from a sweet spring, as if savoring something delicate. The sensation blurred Song Hemei's vision, rocking and surging like waves, unable to find rest.
When he finally released her and slowly propped himself up to draw near, she gradually focused her hazy eyes on him. Seeing his deep eyes and the glistening dampness at the corners of his lips, she wished she could shrink into the very bed.
She felt a bit of revulsion toward him, but her legs wouldn't stop trembling. Seeing that he was about to lean down and kiss her again, Song Hemei quickly pushed against his chest. "No more. Stay away from me."
Yu Yeqing refused to submit, bargaining with a slightly aggrieved tone. "Not even just one kiss?"
Song Hemei could no longer hold back. "The fact that I didn't tell you to get out of bed and go sleep on the floor is already me being lenient. Don't push your luck!"
"But you clearly liked it. How can you dislike it after liking it?"
He was truly drunk—when he said this, it was as if he had transferred the feeling to himself.
As if the one who had been liked at first but later discarded was him. The loneliness in his eyes was evident, and he tried to embrace her, seeking comfort in that loneliness. But Song Hemei was not drunk.
"Stop thinking such nonsense. What you and I are talking about are clearly two different things. Can you continue or not? If not, then get down and sleep properly."
Upon hearing this, Yu Yeqing finally calmed down. He did indeed listen to her, no longer pressing his lips against her body. Instead, he knelt upright in front of her. But in the candlelight of the room, this posture allowed them to see each other clearly, making her shame even harder to suppress.
She could see Yu Yeqing's heavy breathing with every movement, and the subtle shifts in his brows from different sensations. But she only watched. Meanwhile, Yu Yeqing pinned both her hands with one of his, while his other hand traced inch by inch over her lower abdomen, as if searching for something.
Song Hemei couldn't bear to look anymore and quickly turned her gaze away. But suddenly, he pressed firmly on a spot on her lower abdomen.
The pressure was light, but it made her entire body tense. Yu Yeqing's eyes brightened, and he gently rubbed her with his fingertip, rubbing until she felt a sore, swollen ache. She could only grit her teeth and urge, "I suggest you show some restraint. Haven't you heard that food is meant to be eaten in portions? Don't satisfy yourself today and starve for the days to come."
That was effective. Yu Yeqing indeed restrained himself somewhat.
As Song Hemei was about to fall asleep, she couldn't help but think: this man really is calm—even drunk as he is, he still has the presence of mind to weigh the pros and cons.
The next morning, as expected, Song Hemei couldn't get up. Yu Yeqing, however, had to get up for the morning court session and also report on his mission to the Emperor.
When Song Hemei woke up, the person beside her was already gone. But Minglian was still in the residence, so she spent the day chatting with her.
By evening, Yu Yeqing finally returned home. Seeing her gloomy expression, he didn't suspect a thing about himself. Instead, he asked nervously, "He came to see you? Didn't I tell the gatekeeper not to let him into the residence?"
As he spoke, he moved to take her hand. Song Hemei grabbed his hand and viciously bent back one of his long fingers. But seeing his brow furrow from the pain, she loosened her grip.
She felt she was too soft-hearted with him, and that she had indulged him too much. She decided to settle accounts with him carefully. "What did we say last night? Have you forgotten everything you promised?"
Yu Yeqing was slow to realize he was being questioned, but once he understood what she meant, he became uneasy. His gaze unconsciously drifted downward.
"I'm talking to you. What are you looking at?"
Yu Yeqing closed his eyes briefly and said sincerely, "I'm sorry. Last night was my fault."
Song Hemei wanted to scold him thoroughly and make sure he wouldn't do it again, but seeing him like this, she couldn't bring herself to say it.
She even began to reconsider: after all, between husband and wife, going a little overboard in the bedroom was hardly a matter of life and death. Was it really right to be too harsh with him?
Song Hemei felt frustrated. She couldn't bear to scold him, and if they remained in a standoff, he would just keep looking at her with that lonely, self-blaming, pitiful expression. With no other choice, she could only sigh heavily. "Fine. Just this once. Don't do it again."
Yu Yeqing raised his eyes. His dark pupils were bright and beautiful. He leaned forward to embrace her again and responded with a solemn "Yes." He said it as solemnly as he had before what he did last night.
Meaning it was just as useless as not saying it at all.
Song Hemei let out a light sigh. Never mind. Let it be.
That night, lying side by side, Song Hemei rubbed against his arm and asked, "Did His Majesty say anything today?"
She was worried that returning to the capital three days late might cause trouble, or that there might be some flaw in the task he had handled.
But Yu Yeqing said no. "His Majesty is very magnanimous. Besides, this time we captured the Northern Wei agent. In His Majesty's eyes, that counts as a meritorious deed. He will soon send someone to negotiate with Northern Wei."
Song Hemei didn't understand much about court affairs and wasn't particularly interested. In Changzhou, she was just a commoner, hoping only that war wouldn't break out and that the royal family wouldn't come up with some new policy to disrupt their peaceful life.
But now that she was in the capital, and her husband was a court official, all she thought about was that he shouldn't displease His Majesty, and that in handling his duties, he should aim not for merit but to avoid mistakes.
With this reassuring news, she slept soundly that night.
Thus they lived for half a month. Yu Yeqing left early and returned late, so he didn't spend much time with her. As autumn approached, she thought about going out to do some shopping. She informed him in advance and, taking the two martial maids he had hired for her, left the residence.
The capital was bustling. The martial maids had grown up in the capital, so with them leading the way, Song Hemei found a ready-made clothing store and planned to buy some ready-to-wear clothes.
Her embroidery skills were poor, and she didn't feel like buying fabric and making her own clothes. Since the residence didn't have a seamstress, she simply decided to buy autumn clothes that fit her measurements.
But while browsing and picking, she was suddenly stopped by a maidservant.
"Madam, are you from Lord Yu's residence?"
Calling her out by name, Song Hemei couldn't help but size up the maidservant.
Although she was unfamiliar with the great households of the capital, the maidservant's clothing was neat, with common patterns on the fabric, suggesting she belonged to some young lady.
Song Hemei grew curious. Could Yu Yeqing be connected with some young lady?
She admitted it straightforwardly. "I am. And who might you be?"
The maidservant curtseyed. "Please, madam, go upstairs for a brief talk. Our young lady has prepared some fine tea for you. If you are tired from shopping, it would be the perfect place to rest your feet."
Song Hemei's curiosity had by now been satisfied. A smile curled at the corner of her mouth. "No need. One who comes without stating their name yet calls me out by name—I think we are not on the same path."
She turned to leave but was blocked by another person.
This time it was a man. He was tall and lean, dressed in luxurious clothes. When she looked up, the man was smiling at her with a half-smile, his peach-blossom eyes full of inquiry. "If madam is unwilling to drink tea with that young lady's family, would you do me the honor?"
Song Hemei had been willing to politely refuse the maidservant, but faced with such a frivolous man, her brows immediately knitted together tightly. "Step aside."
Her voice was cold and deep. The smile on the man's face faded slightly, but he did not obey.
However, the martial maids behind her stepped forward to drive him away, which prompted the attendants behind the man to also step forward. Just as they were about to fall into chaos, the man raised a hand to stop his people and said to her with a smile, "Madam doesn't remember me? Three years ago, on the streets of Changzhou, your husband raced his horse through town and took a nasty fall. I wonder how his health is now?"
Song Hemei suddenly looked up at him, and saw the smile in his eyes grow even thicker, as if he were enjoying her surprise.
She tried her best to recall, and finally found some traces in the depths of her memory. Back then, before Shao Wen'ang fell from his horse, it seemed he had been called out by a young man. When he came back, he was already being carried through the streets by a mad horse. Later, he crashed, lying on the ground unconscious. She had gone forward and ordered the people in the street to stop, and thus traced the root cause: the horse belonged to a young master of the Lu family.
She looked at the man before her. Thinking back to Lord Lu she had seen when she first arrived in the capital half a month ago, she studied him carefully. This man did bear some resemblance to Lord Lu, but none at all to Yu Yeqing.
Since this man had called her out by name and knew about Shao Wen'ang's incident, she couldn't afford not to respond.
She glanced again at the young man before her, then at the bewildered maidservant beside him. An idea formed in her mind.
"Since both you, young master, and that young lady enjoy drinking tea, why don't we all do it together?"
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