Chapter 45: Devouring Her
Song Hemei's gaze swept between the two men, instantly grasping the meaning behind their words.
Just moments ago, he had refused her permission to return to Changzhou. Yet now that Yu Yeqing was going, he relented so quickly. So this was where they had been leading her all along.
What, after weighing the options, did he deem it more advantageous to have her accompany Yu Yeqing as a pair of watchful eyes?
She cast a cold look at Shao Wen'ang and curled her lips, unwilling to let him have his way. "This would hardly be appropriate, according to propriety."
Yu Yeqing looked at her, remaining silent, but it was Shao Wen'ang who clicked his tongue and spoke first. "What's inappropriate about it? It's merely traveling together. There are countless travelers on this earth, and there's no rule that only one person can walk a road at a time. Moreover, since Lord Yu and I are both fellow townsmen from Changzhou, why be bound by such empty formalities?"
Song Hemei's hands clenched tightly within her sleeves. While she did wish to return home, that didn't mean she was willing to be manipulated by Shao Wen'ang.
Hadn't he just been telling her those words of refusal? Hadn't he said she still needed to write a letter?
After all, the root of the disaster still lay with the Shao family. The one who should truly be anxious was never her.
She spoke slowly, her tone dark. "Husband, even near a melon patch or beneath a plum tree, one must observe caution. We cannot be without discretion."
Her refusal was clear. Yu Yeqing watched her stubborn profile; even though her gaze was fixed on Shao Wen'ang, he could still sense the resistance radiating from her.
She was unwilling to travel with him.
His eyes turned cold. His fingertips tapped against the table, and a faint, sardonic smile tugged at his lips. "Very well, then. Let it be."
After all, this was hardly the first time she had tried to sever ties with him. He had already witnessed her methods before.
He would not let his heart be troubled by her refusal this time.
At these words, Song Hemei did look over at him, but Shao Wen'ang spoke first. "Please do not take offense, Lord Yu. My wife is merely too strict in following the rules and worries too much. Pray, do not let it trouble your mind."
Having said this, he turned to Song Hemei and put on the airs of a husband. "Mei'er, I have truly spoiled you far too much. Guiding Lord Yu is a matter of importance. Set aside all these tedious formalities. Lord Yu is conducting official business for the Imperial Court; how can he be constrained by such pedantic conventions?"
Song Hemei gritted her teeth. The very sight of Shao Wen'ang's face revolted her.
They had grown up together and had played the part of husband and wife for three years. How could she not see through his schemes?
His words sounded lofty and righteous. If it were truly about guiding the way, couldn't he simply send any servant who had traveled with her to Changzhou in the past? Why was it necessary for her to go? Wasn't it so she could keep an eye on Yu Yeqing and report back what she uncovered?
He treated this as if it were the most natural thing, as if her doing his bidding was an obligation. Even servants received a reward for their services. But for her, there would be neither praise nor payment for success, and only resentment for failure.
Yet, another matter was also weighing on Song Hemei's mind.
What right did Yu Yeqing have to say "let it be"? Was he unwilling to travel with her?
He had been the one to leave without a word back then. And now, upon his return, he acted like this. Was she the one who owed him something?
A rebellious spirit rose within her. She was determined not to let him have his way. She turned and spoke directly. "Fine, then this humble wife will guide Lord Yu, so as not to delay his official business."
Yu Yeqing looked at her coldly. "If you are unwilling, madam, there is no need to force yourself."
Song Hemei felt that he was still refusing, and this pleased her somewhat. She curled the corners of her mouth. "Where is there any unwillingness? To be of service to Lord Yu is this humble wife's pleasure."
Yu Yeqing's brows furrowed. He seemed about to refuse again, but Shao Wen'ang interjected, steering the conversation back. "Good, then it's settled. Please do not refuse any further, Lord Yu. Mei'er, you should go back and rest early. We must set out early tomorrow. The sun is getting fierce these days; traveling during the day, you must be careful not to suffer heatstroke."
Song Hemei nodded, glancing at Yu Yeqing, who appeared to have something else to say. She felt a small satisfaction in having caused him some irritation. Returning home would be worth it.
She lingered no longer, turned, and left the room. After returning to her quarters, she instructed Chunhui and Suhui to prepare her luggage.
In the past, when she went home, she would either bring one of these two maids who had served her since childhood, or leave them both behind to look after Lianzhu, to keep strangers away from him.
When a child is very young, it's easiest to tell exactly how old they are. A premature baby should have been more frail and thin. But Lianzhu had been exceptionally well-nourished, even larger than most full-term children. Comparing him to others, a sharp-eyed person might just be able to tell.
This time, traveling with a small child would require even more careful packing. As summer's heat and humidity set in, if he broke out in a rash, it would be quite troublesome.
Shao Wen'ang didn't stay at the meal for long. After about half an hour, he returned to the inner courtyard and came straight to her room.
This time, he didn't smell of alcohol. Perhaps he hadn't even touched the wine she had sent over as a decoy.
Upon entering, Shao Wen'ang went straight to coax Lianzhu to call him "Father," all the while stealing glances at her expression. "Mei'er, are you angry? I spoke a bit harshly just now. Don't take it to heart."
Song Hemei didn't even spare him a glance, busying herself with selecting the items she needed to bring.
Shao Wen'ang lifted Lianzhu into his arms and used the child's hand to poke at her. "Look, your mother is angry with your father. But your father has no choice. That Lord Yu went to the yamen today and then decided to go to Changzhou. He didn't even bring along his clerks or secretaries. If we didn't send someone trustworthy to follow, wouldn't we be caught completely off guard?"
Song Hemei was annoyed by what she heard. This tactic of a father using his child to coax the mother was something her own father had used on her mother when she was young. Only, she had been the one held in the arms.
Having experienced that herself, she now felt deeply uncomfortable being taken for granted by Shao Wen'ang as someone who would cherish this child and, for the child's sake, give him a kind face, just like a real mother.
Being locked into such a relationship filled her with disgust. His shamelessness made it all seem absurd. He had truly forgotten Cao Lingchun completely, treating her as if she were the child's real mother.
Song Hemei turned around and struck Shao Wen'ang's hand—the one holding Lianzhu—hard. She said coldly, "Between us, there's no need for these empty words. I know full well what you're plotting."
These words made Shao Wen'ang flinch. His eyes flickered with unease.
Song Hemei didn't look at him again. "Don't bother me with Lianzhu."
Shao Wen'ang pressed his lips together and set Lianzhu down, sending him off to play with the servants. He then walked back and sat down on the round stool, scrutinizing her expression.
He ventured cautiously, "What plot could I have? I only wanted you to guide the way."
Song Hemei let out a cold laugh. "Is that so? Well, then I'll just guide the way. Don't ask me to do anything else."
Shao Wen'ang was visibly agitated. He stood up and walked over to her, rubbing his hands behind her back. "Mei'er, I have no choice…"
Those same words again.
Song Hemei's brows furrowed at the sound. Too lazy to continue bickering with him, she said impatiently, "Alright, I understand. I'll handle the matter, but I can't guarantee whether it will be done well or poorly."
She lowered her voice slightly, and when she spoke again, a hint of her personal grievance seeped through. "That man… who can ever figure out what he's thinking?"
Shao Wen'ang seemed to have a great weight lifted from his mind. His expression was a mix of gratitude and inexpressible emotion. "My good Mei'er. Thank goodness I still have you by my side. Rest assured, once this present crisis has passed, even if you desired the jade sands of heaven, I would send men to fetch them down for you. You have suffered so much for my sake. In this life, I will never betray you."
Song Hemei gave him a strange look, wondering what had gotten into him.
But for some reason, after being glanced at by her, he seemed to feel guilty. He only smiled at her, said he would return to his own room first, and then practically fled, as if deliberately avoiding her.
Song Hemei paused. It suddenly dawned on her: could Shao Wen'ang have some other plan besides using her as an informant?
Annoyed, she tossed the things aside and simply told the maids to pack for her. Unable to figure it out for now, she decided to stop thinking about it. She would deal with it once they were on the road tomorrow.
To a young child, everything is novel. Knowing they were going on a trip, Lianzhu was restless all night. Song Hemei didn't bother with him; she simply had the maids keep an eye on him.
The next morning, she went out to the front gate and saw only one carriage. Yu Yeqing was beside it, holding his horse, feeding it grass with one hand while Shao Wen'ang stood next to him, chattering away with a sycophantic smile that went entirely unheeded.
Shao Wen'ang was the first to notice her emerge. He smiled and spoke to her, then told Lianzhu to behave on the journey, playing the part of the doting father perfectly.
This time, she couldn't be bothered to put on an act with him. She went straight up into the carriage and said to her maid, "Go. Bring the young master back here."
She didn't even grant Shao Wen'ang the face of a farewell. She merely sat upright in the carriage. This, however, made Yu Yeqing turn his head to glance at her.
There was no more delay. The carriage lurched forward, and Yu Yeqing naturally mounted his horse and followed alongside.
Summer days were hot and stuffy. The curtains on the carriage windows were tied up, allowing an easy view of the outside. Out of the corner of her eye, Song Hemei could see Yu Yeqing's figure on horseback, his plain robes swaying and swinging, forcing themselves into her line of sight.
She tilted her head to the other side, finally able to block him from view. But then it felt as if she had eyes in the back of her head, as if she could feel his shadow falling upon her, swaying with every step.
Song Hemei took a sip of tea and inhaled deeply, trying her best to ignore him, but with little effect.
Lianzhu's round eyes had been fixed on something for who knows how long. He suddenly piped up, "Demon. A demon."
Children's voices are often sharp and piercing, carrying perfectly to the ears of everyone traveling together.
Song Hemei choked on a breath. Her phantom eyes felt Yu Yeqing's gaze shift to her.
She immediately grabbed Lianzhu's hand and slapped it hard twice. "Who told you to talk nonsense!"
Lianzhu immediately drew in his neck. His eyes reddened, and he shrank back like a frightened quail in Chunhui's arms. Looking at his mother, his eyes darted over her shoulder towards Yu Yeqing outside the carriage, as if he were the one who had been wronged, the valiant spirit of punishing evil extinguished by his mother's two smacks.
Song Hemei slowly turned her head and found herself locking eyes with Yu Yeqing. He raised an eyebrow slightly. "Demon?"
After a pause, he added, "The second time."
Song Hemei maintained her calm expression and replied flatly, "Your humble wife has failed to discipline him properly. I implore the Lord to pay it no mind."
Yu Yeqing's gaze fell on Lianzhu, looking him over from head to toe. The scrutiny made Song Hemei's heart pound with anxiety.
Yu Yeqing had a younger sister of his own. Could he possibly see through to Lianzhu's real age?
She shifted her body slightly, shielding Lianzhu from his view, so that his gaze fell entirely upon her instead.
In the silent exchange of glances, the longer the silence stretched, the more uneasy she became. Back then, she had been entangled with Yu Yeqing. He knew she hadn't been intimate with Shao Wen'ang. If he calculated Lianzhu's age from that point back, what if he realized the child was not her own?
She tried to calm herself. Even if he found out, it didn't matter. In the end, it was still the Shao family's domestic affairs. It wasn't as if it broke any law! Even if one wanted to hold Cao Lingchun's life against someone, the fault lay with Madam Zhang.
It was just that having this exposed would be shameful. Thinking back over these past few years—having to put up with a contemptible husband and having to appear before everyone pretending to be pregnant—just the thought of it made it hard for her to breathe.
But this anxiety, as seen by Yu Yeqing, took on a different meaning. It seemed to seal the verdict on the suspicion in his heart.
His gaze shifted to Lianzhu, who was peeking out from behind Song Hemei to stare at him. His lips moved, as if he wanted to say something, but finally all he could manage was one question. "Why do you call me that?"
Lianzhu was not afraid of him. He feared nothing that bullied his mother. He answered immediately, "Pretty. Eats people. Is a demon."
His speech was still clumsy, his words slurred, but his tone was strangely certain, as if he had caught the man in the act. "He ate Mama!"
Yu Yeqing's eyes flickered. A flash of obvious bewilderment crossed his face. Song Hemei, on the other hand, felt her entire body tense up. She wished she could shove the handkerchief in her hand straight into her son's mouth.
This wretched child! What kind of nonsense was he spouting!
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