Chapter 7: Dragging a Respectable Woman Down
Song Hemei deliberately ignored Yu Yeqing, putting on a stern face as she beckoned her younger brother closer. "Let's go. Don't embarrass us at someone else's residence."
Song Jilang shook his fist, indignant. "They're the ones who should be embarrassed. I came to protect you, sister. I heard everything you said earlier. I'm just waiting for your command to charge right in and back you up!"
Song Hemei felt her temples throb even more. She grabbed her younger brother and began walking directly toward the exit of the residence.
But after only a few steps, she paused and turned back to look at Yu Yeqing. "Is Young Master Yu coming with us, or is he staying?"
Yu Yeqing slowly followed, but before he could speak, Song Jilang cut in first. "Of course he's coming with us. I was worried I wouldn't be able to handle things if a fight broke out, so I specially called Young Master Yu. He's tall and strong — definitely worth the two of us combined!"
Song Hemei couldn't bear to listen any longer. She directly covered her younger brother's mouth with one hand, took a deep breath, and only then managed to raise her eyes with a composed expression.
"The child is ignorant. Please don't mind him, Young Master Yu."
Her words were polite, more distant and aloof than before.
Yu Yeqing lowered his gaze to her and said calmly, "I am merely an outsider. It is not fitting for me to linger in the Shao residence."
Song Hemei raised an eyebrow. "Very well. Then Young Master Yu shall accompany Jilang and me on the way."
She pulled Song Jilang and turned to leave. Yu Yeqing followed, maintaining a measured distance — not too close, not too far behind her.
They made their way out of the residence to the Shao family's main gate. None of the servants they encountered tried to stop them. The carriage was still waiting outside. Song Hemei first stuffed her younger brother inside, then stepped onto the footstool herself. Once she was inside, she turned sideways and lifted the curtain covering the carriage window.
She glanced at Yu Yeqing, who was about to go fetch his horse, and directly called out to stop him. "Young Master Yu, there's no need for the trouble. The carriage is spacious — it's fine to share the ride."
Yu Yeqing's clear, gentle eyes looked toward her, and he couldn't help but frown slightly. "I am an unrelated male, it would be improper—"
"Young Master Yu, why say such standoffish things?"
Song Hemei interrupted him with a half-smile. When their eyes met, the memories that belonged only to the two of them surged irrepressibly, making her words take on a deeper meaning.
Still, she covered it with a complete remark: "Jilang is here. No one will gossip."
Song Jilang was just a half-grown child who understood nothing. Hearing her words, he naturally called out for Yu Yeqing to get into the carriage.
Seeing no way to refuse, Yu Yeqing had no choice but to comply.
The carriage was indeed not small, but with his tall, slender build, his presence inevitably made the space feel cramped.
As the carriage moved forward, the hem of Yu Yeqing's plain robe lightly brushed against Song Hemei's luxurious gown. He lowered his eyes to see it, his fingertips twitching as he gathered his sleeves closer, drawing some distance between them.
In a place where only the three of them were present, Song Jilang's speech became even more unrestrained. He cursed Shao Wen'ang thoroughly several times.
When he had tired himself out from cursing, he suddenly remembered to ask, "Sister, how did Mother suddenly let you out? I was worried she would keep you in the Shao residence directly."
Song Hemei's gaze drifted into the distance. "At least for the next two days, that won't happen."
Because Father and Senior Lord Shao had not reached an agreement.
Originally, they hadn't let her leave to show their sincerity properly, so that the Song family wouldn't appear to be putting on airs.
Now that she could leave, it was to show the Shao family the Song family's stance — that they could not be brushed off with a few paltry benefits like a cat or a dog.
So she could go home and continue to wait for a better offer.
She didn't say any of this, and Song Jilang didn't understand. He was actually happy for her. "That's good. Going home is good. When Father and Mother return, the whole family can discuss things properly."
Song Hemei looked at her younger brother's innocent eyes and felt both gratified and pleased, but still could not escape the confusion and melancholy spreading through her heart.
Everyone in the family was saying they were seeking justice for her, but only her younger brother truly took her grievance to heart. At least her years of doting on him were not in vain.
The carriage arrived at the Song residence. Only after they entered the gate did she speak. "You followed me today without permission. When Father and Mother return, they'll give you a thorough beating. Hurry back and study your books. Maybe if they see you working hard, they'll go a little easier on you."
Song Jilang's little face immediately fell. He felt his parents were being unfair, and he worried that he might actually get punished. But he still couldn't bear to leave his sister, tugging at her sleeve and refusing to go.
Song Hemei curled her lips into a smile and bent down slightly. The blood-red jade earrings swayed with her movement. "We're in our own residence now, and Young Master Yu is still here. Are you afraid the Shao family will burst in and snatch me away?"
Song Jilang looked at his sister, then at the always composed Young Master Yu, and finally nodded. He went back to pretend to study.
After a busy morning, at last they had a chance to speak a few words alone.
Song Hemei walked forward, turned through the covered corridor, and arrived at a pavilion in the inner courtyard. She pointed to the stone stool beside it. "Young Master Yu, please sit."
The Song family was immensely wealthy, and their manner of doing things was ostentatious. The flowers and plants in this courtyard were tended at great expense. Every stone table in sight was constantly guarded and replenished with fresh tea — convenient and proper.
Song Hemei personally poured two cups of tea. When she pushed one toward Yu Yeqing, she could still feel the warmth of the hot tea through the cup.
Yu Yeqing looked down at it, not moving, not speaking.
Song Hemei paid him no mind and moistened her own throat.
From the time she had woken up until now, she could finally drink her tea in peace, even if that peace was only temporary.
"Young Master Yu, what exactly are you after by following me here today?"
Song Hemei suddenly spoke. Her fingertip traced the rim of the cup as she said unhurriedly, "My parents definitely wouldn't have told Jilang about my affairs. They even gave our tutor three days off because of my marriage. I remember that Jilang was supposed to go to a feast with some young friends today, to celebrate my wedding. How did you happen to run into him, and bring him along to the Shao residence?"
She set her cup down heavily on the stone table, putting on a stern face as she looked at the man before her.
But unfortunately, she was indeed too soft in appearance, lacking any fierce momentum, and she had not yet reached the level of loathing Shao Wen'ang. So when she put on a scolding demeanor, the authority she projected was halved.
"Young Master Yu, surely you don't think that after what happened last night, you've latched onto me? Did you come to see me make a fool of myself, or to extort more money?"
Yu Yeqing's expression did not change, but in a place she could not see, his hands inside his sleeves slowly clenched into fists.
Song Hemei lifted her chin slightly, showing no sign of weakness. "Money is easy. My Song family is never short of money."
Yu Yeqing raised his eyes to look at her. Even though they had known each other for years, those distant eyes of his had never fallen on her without wavering, as they did at this moment.
"Second Miss does not seem worried that others will learn of what happened last night."
Suddenly mentioning last night brought the unspoken understanding between them out into the open.
The deliberately ignored memories and feelings uncontrollably replayed in her mind.
Song Hemei was, after all, a newlywed young woman. Bringing up such matters inevitably stirred shyness. But facing Yu Yeqing, she took another sip of tea to steady herself, not letting her composure slip.
However, at the thought of it, the way she looked at Yu Yeqing took on an extra layer of meaning.
She suddenly realized that she was not like Yiyun at all. From the moment last night's events occurred, she had no way back.
Even if, in the future, she was forced by her parents' pressure, or if her mind went muddled and she regretted it, she absolutely could not go back.
She could never live peacefully with Shao Wen'ang again. Even if the Song and Shao families forced them together, they would only end up stabbing each other, making sure neither had an easy time.
Song Hemei's lips curled up, her mood improving. She rested her elbow on the stone table, propping her chin on her hand. "Young Master Yu's words make no sense. If others found out, no matter how angry my parents might be, they wouldn't punish me too harshly. But Young Master Yu—"
Her gaze swept over the man before her from head to toe, finally landing on his long, shapely legs. "I'm afraid they'd break your legs, Young Master Yu."
Yu Yeqing turned his gaze away, his thin lips pressed tightly together. He said nothing.
She couldn't tell if he was angry.
Song Hemei thought she knew him fairly well. Though his background was humble, perhaps because of his studies, he always carried a self-respecting aloofness that kept others at a distance.
He was not like others who had received favors from the Song family, fawning and flattering. Nor did he boast about his own learning. Though he was somewhat taciturn, he treated her younger brother very well. Although he bore the title of study companion, he was also half a tutor and half a friend.
A man like him, she thought, must consider what happened last night an unbearable, utter disgrace, right?
Perhaps it was because dragging a respectable person into the mire gave one a strangely satisfying thrill.
Song Hemei now had the good grace to console him in an amiable tone. "Actually, last night wasn't such a big deal. I gave you silver. What I gave yesterday wasn't enough. I'll have more added and find a chance to send it to you."
Perhaps her words were an insult to the man before her. Yu Yeqing's brow furrowed, and his usually stern face seemed to take on a hint of anger. "For Shao Wen'ang's sake, Second Miss would humiliate herself like this?"
Song Hemei was composed. "How can matters between men and women be considered humiliation?"
A smile lingered on her lips. "Men visit pleasure houses and take concubines without being considered lacking in self-discipline. If I have gotten myself a handsome gentleman, how is that considered humiliation?"
She didn't know which word in her words provoked him, but Yu Yeqing's thin lips moved slightly, his expression becoming more animated. He seemed to want to say something, but then turned his gaze away again, as if angered.
Song Hemei felt a hidden joy quietly sprouting in her heart.
No one knew about what happened last night. Her parents still planned to use her to exchange for more benefits. Shao Wen'ang was still speaking those disgusting, honeyed words.
Why? Simply because they had placed her in the pitiable position of being at everyone's mercy.
To Shao Wen'ang, he had women on both sides, a wife and a concubine both. She was just a poor inner wife who needed his affection. His regret or guilt — all of it came from the height from which he looked down on her.
He thought she couldn't live without him, that only he could do things betrayal of trust, and she could only wait where she was to accept the outcome of whether he was faithful to his vows.
Suddenly, a rebellious thought surfaced in Song Hemei's mind. She pulled her lips into a wicked smile. "Young Master Yu, do you still want to keep your legs?"
Their eyes met, and Song Hemei's gaze seemed to sparkle.
"Do as I say, and I won't tell anyone about last night. I'll even give you more silver."
She tapped her own lips. "Kiss me. You should know how, shouldn't you?"
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