Chapter 35: Sleeping Easy
This kick landed heavily on his chest. Yu Yeqing let out a muffled grunt, his body lurching backward. Bracing against the force, his brows knitted tightly together.
He steadied himself with effort, and when he looked up again, what met his eyes was Song Yunyao's face, twisted with rage. A ringing filled his ears, and that sentence echoed in his mind.
His reason repeatedly reminded him—the matter with Second Miss Song had likely already been discovered by her elder brother.
Yu Yeqing closed his eyes. Perhaps he had long anticipated this day would come; for now, he remained relatively calm. In front of this whole room of people, he could not admit to it explicitly, or rumors detrimental to Song Hemei would inevitably spread.
Moreover, he did not know how long he had been unconscious. Minglian was still waiting for him, and he absolutely could not delay here any longer.
"I do not quite understand what the First Young Master means," he said, his tone heavy. "I imagine the reason Young Master is so enraged must be due to some impropriety on my part. I am willing to accept whatever punishment Young Master deems fit."
Each word he spoke tugged at the hidden pain in his chest. "However, my younger sister is burning with fever. I beg the First Young Master to let me leave first. Once I have settled my sister, I will surely submit to whatever punishment the Young Master decides."
His gaze was earnest, with no hint of evasion, but it was also a tacit acknowledgment of the matter.
Song Yunyao was burning with fury, so angry he laughed instead. "Fine! Fine! You've got some nerve!"
He barked at the servants in the room, "All of you, get out!"
The servants did not dare linger; they bowed their heads, keeping their eyes downcast, and hurried out of the room.
As the last person stepped out and the door was shut, Song Yunyao could no longer hold back. He strode forward, two steps closing the distance to Yu Yeqing, and fiercely grabbed him by the front of his robe. "You're a brother too—you know how to care about your own sister, so why do you come to ruin mine?"
His heart trembled with rage, his molars clenched so hard it seemed he might draw blood. "My sister has been obedient and sensible since she was little. Our whole family has guarded her carefully—fearing she'd break if we held her, fearing she'd melt if we put her in our mouths—and yet you seduced her!"
He raised his fist high and slammed it heavily into Yu Yeqing's face.
His own knuckles ached from the impact, and a bruise immediately bloomed on Yu Yeqing's cheek. But Song Yunyao still felt unsatisfied, wishing he could utterly destroy that face, to see what else it could use to seduce his sister!
Song Yunyao raised his fist again. "Was it you who instigated Mei'er to do wrong? Was it you who put her up to arguing with our parents and quarreling with Shao Wen'ang? Our Song family has treated you well—is this how you repay us by harming Mei'er?"
Another fist landed. Yu Yeqing's cheekbone was already red and purple, and blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.
The dull, heavy pain did not cloud his mind. Lifting his gaze to meet the other's eyes, he said in a low voice, "I am not as despicable as the First Young Master imagines. As for the matter between Second Miss and the Shao family, it was Young Master Shao who was in the wrong first. Your words, sir, are far too biased."
His mouth was full of the taste of blood—one of those punches must have drawn blood inside. Bound and unable to move, his collar and robe tightly clenched, he tried to struggle but was pinned down again, to no avail.
On an ordinary day, he might have endured it, but now Minglian was still waiting for him—how could he not be anxious?
Yu Yeqing forced himself to remain calm and tried to reason with him. "The fault in what happened between Second Miss and me lies solely with me. I beg the Young Master not to take it out on Second Miss. But my younger sister is innocent; she lies ill in bed right now. I implore the Young Master to show leniency—give me one hour to settle my sister, and then, whether I live or die, I will submit entirely to the Young Master's judgment."
But Song Yunyao had no intention of letting him go. "You talk a good game. Of course, the fault lies with you—could it possibly be with Mei'er? What do I care whether your sister lives or dies? If you knew this day would come, why did you act in the first place? You brought this on yourself!"
He snarled at Yu Yeqing, looking at the man before him, yet feeling that these few punches were far from enough to vent his anger.
Song Yunyao gave a cold laugh, his eyes dripping with mockery. "Let those filthy thoughts of yours end today. Mei'er has already reconciled with my brother-in-law. Don't think that just because you had an affair with my sister, you can blackmail us or gain anything. You don't actually believe that Mei'er has any feelings for you, do you?"
He slowed his speech, enunciating each word: "Do you want to know how I found out about you two?"
A change flickered across Yu Yeqing's face—something between stunned disbelief and shock, an expression Song Yunyao had never seen on him in all the years they'd known each other. At last, he felt a measure of satisfaction.
His pent-up resentment slightly eased, Song Yunyao released him. As if touching something filthy, he stood up and brushed off his hands leisurely.
He said slowly, "Mei'er told me herself. She also asked me to deal with you—to make you go far away and stop pestering her. She is now pregnant with the Shao family's child. She is going to live peacefully as Madam Shao. With you around, how can she rest easy on her high pillow?"
Yu Yeqing's pupils trembled. Those words hit him like a thunderclap, his mind buzzing.
If she truly wanted nothing more to do with him, then why had she said by the stream that day that she would come find him again in the future?
And what was this about a pregnancy? For the past month, she had often been with him—how could she possibly have conceived Shao Wen'ang's child?
Something he had always overlooked now surfaced in his mind.
The affairs of the bedchamber—they could make a woman pregnant.
He felt his fingertips go cold. Shock and panic intertwined at this moment. He suddenly realized that the trouble those few intimacies had brought to Song Hemei was far greater than he had imagined. His negligence and stupidity had pushed this matter in an uncontrollable direction.
Song Yunyao's words crystallized into a possibility in his heart.
For the sake of that child, she was going to abandon him.
But if she had only told him, he would never have pestered her. Why did she have to use such a method to drive him away?
Why did it have to be today?
Song Yunyao watched the barely concealed panic in his eyes, as if finally releasing all his pent-up anger. He walked to the door, pulled it open, and said to the waiting servants outside, "Break his legs and throw him into the river. If he survives—"
He turned slightly, glaring fiercely at Yu Yeqing. "Then let him get as far away as possible. I never want to see you again!"
A clap of thunder split the sky, illuminating the pitch-black outdoors for a moment. The servants were well accustomed to such tasks, each holding a long staff.
For those in commerce, who wouldn't have enemies? And who wouldn't hold grudges?
Having attendants who could protect their master and also handle dirty work was nothing unusual. A beating was just a private grudge, and falling into a river on a rainy night was an accident—who could be blamed for that?
As the door closed behind him, the carriage returned to the Song residence.
Song Hemei lay on her bed, inexplicably feeling that the weather today was truly unpleasant. The sound of rain irritated her, and even after turning over, she could not fall into a peaceful sleep.
It was only because Yin'er, who was on night duty, stayed by her side fanning her that she finally drifted off in the latter part of the night.
The next day, the Shao family sent someone over with the shop's tally, deed, and account books. The maidservant who delivered the message said that Shao Wen'ang had been awake a little longer today, but he had not asked her to come see him.
Song Hemei made a guess. Under these circumstances, she should logically move into the Shao residence, but the Shao family had not brought it up. She suspected the problem lay with Shao Wen'ang—perhaps his injuries had driven him to such madness that he was afraid she would come and witness his disgrace.
Song Hemei said nothing more. She simply stayed quietly in her room reading the account books.
Those two shops were indeed good, but unfortunately, they were not in Changzhou, so she could not go and inspect them immediately.
Now, everything seemed to be returning to its proper place. Although the silver she had been forced to donate earlier was still stuck under the pressure of that Lord Lu from the Court of State Ceremonies, and could not be retrieved, she was no longer being pressed to continue donating. Moreover, the relationship between her father and Lord Shao had eased somewhat. The two had returned to calling each other brothers and had shared several meals together.
There was no word of the Shao family demanding compensation from the Lu family. The matter of Shao Wen'ang's ruined health was quietly suppressed. She could not tell whether Lord Shao had sold his son as a favor or made some other secret arrangement.
It was not until the fifth day that the Shao family sent over a physician carrying a medical box. As soon as he entered, he said bluntly in front of the servants, "I have come on the orders of Madam Shao. I heard that the lady has no appetite for food or drink, so I must examine her condition."
The physician was invited into the hall. Song Hemei was summoned. As originally planned, the physician pressed his fingers to her wrist, pondered for a long moment, then stepped back and bowed, saying, "Madam may be with child—over a month along. However, it is still early, and I cannot be entirely certain."
Song Hemei forced a smile, a thin, false expression, playing the part of a bashful new bride.
Mother Song, however, performed the full act. Her face beamed with genuine delight. "This is truly wonderful news! The physician's skill is exceptional; I am sure it is so. Please prescribe a tonic to stabilize the pregnancy. She must drink it quickly to secure the child!"
The physician agreed. After writing out the prescription, he was sent off from the Song residence with great fanfare.
To ensure the news spread far and wide, Mother Song immediately summoned the household accountant. "Count the silver in the estate. Today is a great day of joy—give everyone an extra month's wages."
Song Hemei sat still, silently watching her mother use this method to disseminate the news.
Money was spent; joy spread. When people were happy, they talked more—chattering here and there. Naturally, the news traveled fast. Her father had spent silver and effort, gaining face with Lord Shao in return.
Song Hemei stared blankly at the floor when a thought suddenly struck her.
Since everyone's wages were being increased, would Yu Yeqing's be as well?
If he heard that she was pregnant with Shao Wen'ang's child, what would he think?
The moment this thought arose, Song Hemei felt a tightness in her chest. She glanced at the time—the tutor probably had not released his students yet.
She immediately stood and walked outside. She did not know what had come over her, but at that moment, she had only one impulse—she had to tell him the truth.
She could not be bothered to analyze why she felt such an urge. She quickened her pace to the door of her younger brother's study. Standing at the entrance, she peered inside—but saw only her younger brother and the tutor, two people alone.
Song Hemei froze. Where was Yu Yeqing?
Could it be such a coincidence that just as she arrived, he had stepped out on some urgent matter?
While she was still puzzled, she suddenly felt a cold, sinister gaze fall on her back. The next moment, a voice sounded in her ear: "Mei'er, what are you looking for?"
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