Chapter 76: The Wedding Banquet
As the surge of irritation swelled within her, that feeling of a sudden void in her heart from three years ago also came flooding back.
Song Hemei's reason remained intact. She thought about it coolly and felt that he probably hadn't intentionally escaped. But at this moment, she couldn't tell which made her angrier—whether it was him deliberately trying to shake her off, or him, despite sharing the same feelings as her, still leaving without a word just like three years ago.
Meeting the jailer's probing gaze, she forced a smile and bowed slightly. "Thank you for telling me."
After the man left, she stood alone in the courtyard, taking a few deep breaths, trying to suppress the fire in her heart. But no matter how she pressed it down, it was useless.
She really wished she could just grab Yu Yeqing and ask him what on earth he was planning. How could he do things like this!
Song Hemei's hands, hidden in her sleeves, clenched tighter and tighter. A wisps of unease were deliberately smothered by her anger. Being angry was always better than feeling anxious and insecure.
When Song Jilang came out of the house, he was still chatting and laughing with the county magistrate.
"Good nephew, no need to worry. The bond between you brothers is deep, and I believe Heaven would not bear to let your elder brother suffer on the road."
Song Hemei turned around and saw Jilang cupping his hands in thanks.
For the magistrate to say such words, it seemed he was quite satisfied with the silver.
Jilang took his leave of the magistrate and walked toward her. Seeing her, he was startled. "Sister, why is your complexion so poor? Don't worry. Everything has been arranged for Elder Brother. Although we cannot see him off on the day of his exile, you can visit him anytime within these three days."
Song Hemei didn't explain anything. She just nodded and said, "Alright."
Before coming, she had already instructed the servants to prepare her brother's meals and undergarments. Now that they had the magistrate's permission, Song Jilang took the things out of the carriage and prepared to go to the prison to see him.
Song Hemei originally didn't want to go. But seeing Jilang's uneasy expression, she ended up accompanying him anyway.
Walking in for the second time, she was quite calm. In contrast, Jilang, though he wore a composed face, kept pressing closer to her as they walked. She had to speak up to comfort him. "Don't be afraid. Real murderers and arsonists aren't locked up here either."
The prison guards led them to the spot, barked a few orders for them to be quick, then retreated outside. They were nowhere near as dutiful as when Yu Yeqing was around. But that was also a good thing.
Seeing her elder brother curled up on the wooden plank bed, Song Hemei didn't step forward. She just stood a few paces away with her arms crossed. Song Jilang, worried, went up with the things. "Elder Brother, you've suffered."
Song Yunyao heard the voice, took a moment to react, then slowly turned his head.
Song Hemei glanced at him casually and drew in a sharp breath.
He had been fine yesterday. How did his cheekbones and the corners of his lips become so red and swollen today?
Jilang was also startled. "Elder Brother, this… did someone use torture on you?"
Song Yunyao's gaze swept over his younger siblings, then he lowered his head in defeat. Lifting a hand, he gently touched his badly swollen cheekbone. "Let's not talk about it."
Just thinking about it made him tremble with fear. That man surnamed Yu had gone berserk, grabbing him by the front of his clothes and nearly lifting his feet off the ground. When his fist came crashing down, his eyes were as cold as a demon's.
It gave him the illusion that Yu had died three years ago, and what had returned now was a vengeful spirit seeking retribution.
Song Jilang didn't ask further. He quickly placed the food on the ground. "Don't worry, Elder Brother. I've already taken care of everything. I won't let you suffer on the road."
Saying he wouldn't suffer—in reality, it only meant fewer beatings and scoldings during the escort.
Song Yunyao gave a bitter laugh. He stood up, walked over to his younger brother, and began giving him many instructions about the family.
Song Hemei remained silent the whole time, only staring at the wounds on his face, lost in thought. It was only after the two brothers had finished talking and were on the verge of crying into each other's arms that she suddenly spoke up. "Yesterday you were still stubborn and refusing to confess. Why did you suddenly change your mind?"
Song Yunyao looked at his sister, truly at a loss for words.
How could he dare not change his mind?
Yesterday, Yu Yeqing had punched him to the ground and looked down at him. "I have all the time in the world to waste with you. This place is eight thousand li from the capital. If you die here, who would bother to investigate? I haven't yet settled the old grudges between us. I wouldn't mind settling them all right now. Even if the day comes when this comes to light and I am punished, you will have already gone ahead to scout the Yellow Springs. I have nothing to fear."
He had said he was afraid of being silenced by the person behind this. But if he didn't speak, he wouldn't even survive the night. Having no other choice, he had to sign the confession.
Song Yunyao lifted his sleeve to wipe the tears from the corners of his eyes. "At a time like this, you're still making sarcastic remarks. Mei'er, you're really not as close to me as when you were young. All that doting on you was for nothing."
Song Hemei turned her head to the other side, unwilling to discuss these old matters with him.
Seeing this, he didn't continue. Instead, he spoke to Jilang. "My exile is set in stone. But your sister-in-law is in poor health. Find a way. Don't let her suffer with me."
Hearing this, Song Hemei glanced at him. She felt that this was the first humane thing she had heard from his mouth in three years.
Since childhood, her parents had taught him to inherit the family business and stand tall as a man. Fortunately—or unfortunately—his pedantic nature had taken root thoroughly. He believed that a woman's amicable divorce would damage her reputation, and that she should commit to one husband to rely on. At the same time, he also believed that as a husband, he should be a pillar for his wife.
She couldn't be bothered to judge which of his thoughts were right or wrong, nor did she want to figure out when it was good to be his sister and when it was good to be his wife.
In any case, everyone was stubborn. Her own mind would not change because of anyone else's words. So there was no point hoping that her elder brother, who was nearly thirty, would have some sudden epiphany.
On the way back to the Song residence, Jilang remained mournful. But she was calmer, more indifferent.
Still, with her brother's words, it made it easier to persuade Qiu Wan. Over the next three days, Song Jilang began learning to take over the family business, while Qiu Wan accompanied Mother Song to the government office every day, hoping to see her brother a few more times before his exile.
Song Hemei stayed in her own courtyard. During the day, she would bask in the sun and occasionally play with Shao Lianzhu. She didn't go anywhere else.
She never received any news from Yu Yeqing. Even after her brother had been escorted away, no one came to pass along a message to her. Her mood grew worse day by day. Then, two days later, Song Jilang finally found some free time and came specifically to see her.
Song Hemei waved a round fan lazily as she talked with him, listening to him talk about the shops. Now and then, she would comfort and advise him. After all, she had been trained in household management since childhood, so she understood these things better than Jilang.
At the end of their conversation, Jilang rubbed his palms on his thighs and hesitated. "Sister, are you unhappy at home?"
Song Hemei looked up at him. "What? Did Mother and Father tell you to send me back to the Shao residence?"
Song Jilang twitched his lips, but his smile wasn't pleasant. "It's not exactly sending you away. They just asked me to persuade you. After all, you've been back for so long, and such a big thing has happened to our family. We should at least inform Brother-in-law."
Song Hemei's expression cooled. Not wanting Jilang to be caught in the middle, she said lightly, "Fine then. I'll leave tomorrow."
Her so-called husband's home was a quagmire, and her maiden home could hardly tolerate her. How laughable this life was.
After saying his piece, Song Jilang lingered, not getting up to leave. Song Hemei raised an eyebrow at him. "What? You have something else to say?"
Jilang bit his lip and then ventured, "Sister, have you truly reached the end of the road with Brother-in-law? Have you really thought through the amicable divorce?"
"Of course. I dream of it every day. How could it be false?"
Song Jilang took a deep breath, steeling himself, and pulled a letter from his sleeve.
"Elder Brother is exiled. Father is gravely ill. Now that I am managing the Song family, I am practically the head of the household. Since our father and elder brother are unable, I think I, as your younger brother, might carry some weight."
Song Hemei was stunned. For a moment, she didn't understand what he meant. Then she saw him thrust the letter into her hands.
"Sister, if you've decided, give this letter to Brother-in-law. I will step forward and help you with the amicable divorce. In the past, my words might not have carried weight, but now I think they do. Besides, with the Song family in decline, an amicable divorce at this point—Brother-in-law will likely not refuse."
Song Hemei's eyes trembled slightly. She looked up at Jilang, deeply moved by his words.
So Heaven had still favored her, leaving her one last thread of kinship to hold onto.
The corners of her lips lifted into a wide smile. She reached out and patted his shoulder. "Good Jilang. All these years of doting on you weren't wasted. Alright, you should head back now. I'm in a hurry to get an amicable divorce, so I won't keep you for tea."
Song Hemei stood up and called for the servants to start packing.
The clean break with Shao Wen'ang was right before her eyes. She truly couldn't wait a moment longer.
For her, an amicable divorce had always been simple. An elder or a man from the Song family would give the word, Shao Wen'ang would nod, and it would be done. The problem had always been that her parents and elder brother had dragged their feet, Shao Wen'ang hadn't found a good replacement, and she had been muddling through, growing numb.
But now, things were different.
"Sister."
Song Jilang stood up and called out to her again, but he hesitated to continue.
Song Hemei turned back and saw him with yet another look of hesitation on his face. He held it in for a long time until his face turned red. Finally, he lowered his voice. "Although the saying goes, 'In a first marriage, one obeys one's parents; in a second, one follows one's own heart,' Sister, on the surface, you still have not finalized your amicable divorce from the Shao family. You must act cautiously. If you really meet a family of importance, you must tell me. I will back you up. But—"
His tongue seemed to tie itself in knots. "But you absolutely cannot give yourself away before anything is settled. There are plenty of swindlers out there these days. Sister, I know that when you asked me for clothes the other day, it wasn't for Young Master Yu. He is taller than me and has been busy with official duties. Sister, you probably still treat me like a child and tried to fool me. But I am not a child anymore."
Song Hemei was momentarily speechless. She didn't know whether to consider him clever or not.
He had guessed the first half correctly, especially the word "swindlers." Even though she told herself not to overthink, she couldn't help but suspect what Yu Yeqing's departure really meant.
But as for the second half, she couldn't quite laugh. Still, she pretended to be relaxed. "You're not even married yet, and you're already lecturing me on this kind of matter. Put your heart at ease."
Song Hemei had never felt such an eagerness to return home when going back to the Shao residence.
Her happiness was noticed by Shao Lianzhu, who became happy along with her, smiling the whole way.
His smile, however, stirred an indescribable unease in Song Hemei's heart. For three years, he had called her "Mother." Now, with their parting imminent, it was inevitably unsettling.
She reached out and patted Shao Lianzhu's head. "From now on, listen less to your father and spend more of his silver, understand?"
She wasn't sure how much Shao Lianzhu understood, but he nodded quickly.
The journey back took three days. When they arrived at the Shao residence, Shao Wen'ang had not yet returned from his post.
Song Hemei didn't idle away the time. The hurried travel had made her sweat, so she bathed and changed clothes. Then she began inventorying the Shao family's shops and properties. Tangible assets were difficult to take away, but intangible ones were not.
Over the past three years while managing the accounts, she had quietly embezzled quite a bit. There were capable people in the shops whom she could poach, and she tried to win them over. Her goal was to leave him with nothing the moment she walked out of the Shao residence.
By evening, Shao Wen'ang finally returned, but he was dead drunk.
Song Hemei stood at the end of the long corridor. A servant beside her held up a lantern, illuminating her surroundings and allowing Shao Wen'ang to see her clearly.
They had known each other since childhood. Three years of marriage. The moment Shao Wen'ang saw her, a gentle smile appeared on his face. "Mei'er, you're back. You were gone so long. I thought you weren't coming back."
He did have a bit of the look of a husband longing for his wife's return. But as he approached, Song Hemei clearly smelled a whiff of powder and rouge on him.
She couldn't help but frown. That thing of his was already useless. Where did this makeup smell come from?
Shao Wen'ang didn't notice her thoughts. Instead, he opened his arms to embrace her. "Mei'er, your husband has been longing for your return every day."
Song Hemei's heart tightened. She quickly stepped back. Her maidservant reacted swiftly and caught him. "The master is drunk, Madam. Should I help him back to rest?"
Seeing him in this state, it was clear he couldn't discuss anything serious. Song Hemei felt nothing but disgust. She pulled out a handkerchief and pressed it to her nose, concealing her expression. "Send him back. And tell the servants to make him some hangover soup."
No rush. One night wouldn't make a difference.
Back in her room, Chunhui reported what she had learned. Tomorrow, the Prefect was marrying off his daughter, so a small banquet had been held today.
Song Hemei pinched the bridge of her nose. She couldn't blame someone's happy event for delaying her amicable divorce.
The next morning, as soon as Shao Wen'ang had sobered up from his hangover, Song Hemei went to his room.
Shao Wen'ang looked at her with some surprise, his eyes half-closed. "Mei'er, you're here. Why are you up so early? Why didn't you rest more?"
Song Hemei didn't want to exchange pleasantries with him. She said directly, "I have something to discuss with you. It's—"
Shao Wen'ang raised his hand, cutting her off. "I've heard about your elder brother's situation. You also know how things are with the Shao family right now. I'm truly powerless to help. Mei'er, don't blame me."
Song Hemei gave a faint, sardonic smile. No wonder he had been putting on a false front since last night—he was afraid she would ask for his help.
Since he had known about this for so long and had completely ignored her, it showed his conscience had been eaten by a dog. He had completely forgotten how her father had interceded for him when Senior Lord Shao got into trouble.
Not only did he disregard their marital bond, but he didn't even care about the bond between their parents.
Song Hemei's voice carried a light, mocking tone. "You worry too much. My brother is already on the road now. No solution would work."
Shao Wen'ang was visibly relieved. His smile toward her became a bit more genuine. "I knew it. Mei'er is the most understanding. You would never put me in a tough spot."
He stood up and used the water nearby to wash his face. "Oh, Mei'er, did Lord Yu return with you? Is he staying at our residence?"
"No. He probably had other official duties. The day after he sentenced my brother, he left Changzhou without a trace."
Shao Wen'ang's movements clearly paused. As he straightened up and dried his face with a coarse cloth, a muffled sigh came through it.
He was blaming her for not keeping an eye on the man.
Song Hemei suppressed the rising nausea and spoke in a relatively calm tone. "I came back this time to talk to you about an amicable divorce."
"Our family is in such a state now. Who knows which day it might drag you down. Father is critically ill. After the amicable divorce, I will stay by my parents' side for a long time, fulfilling Elder Brother's filial duties."
No matter how ruthless she was behind the scenes, on the surface, she couldn't scare him off or make things too tense.
Three years ago, she had made that mistake—making a big fuss only to end up having to yield. The wheel of fortune turned. Parting on good terms would also prevent Senior Lord Shao from making trouble for her in the future if he regained his power.
And Shao Wen'ang fell for this act.
Perhaps he was also eager to end things, or perhaps a man who prided himself on being "deeply in love" most enjoyed using love as an excuse.
"Mei'er, the feelings between us—why speak so distantly? I have been in Linzhou all this time and haven't been able to serve at my father-in-law's bedside. That is my unfilial duty as a son-in-law."
He was waiting for her to offer him an out.
Song Hemei lowered her eyes and smiled wryly. She took out the letter Jilang had prepared. "Elder Brother is not here. Father is gravely ill. Jilang wrote this amicable divorce agreement on behalf of the family, to preserve the bond between our two houses."
Shao Wen'ang sighed. When he turned to look at her, his eyes were filled with pity and regret. "Mei'er, I didn't expect you to be so resolute. In that case, how could I bear to go against your wishes?"
His eyes reddened, and he wiped them with the coarse cloth.
Song Hemei didn't know where he got so much drama from. He himself was foul—his person, his mouth, his words—all stank, nauseating her. She only wanted to exchange a few false pleasantries and leave.
"Mei'er, let's discuss the details tomorrow. Today, the Prefect is marrying off his daughter. Come with me to the banquet. It's a happy occasion—it wouldn't be appropriate to talk about such unsuitable things."
This was probably because he was afraid the Prefect would find out he was a man about to get an amicable divorce attending a wedding feast—bad luck. After all, it was the Prefect; he still needed to curry favor.
But a detailed discussion was indeed necessary. She needed to secure some of the Shao family's tangible assets for herself.
She agreed, using the excuse of needing to dress up to quickly escape that foul man.
At the Linzhou wedding banquet, male and female guests were seated separately, with only a screen between them.
Although it was said to be the Prefect marrying off his daughter, it was practically the same as taking in a son-in-law.
The man she was marrying into was of humble origin, serving as the Prefect of Yazhou. He had a handsome face, which was how he had caught the Prefect's only daughter's eye.
His own residence was not presentable, so the wedding feast was held at the Prefect's home. Though it hurt his pride, Song Hemei glanced at the groom a couple of times and didn't see any displeasure on his face.
She sat at the far end of the women's section, shoulder to shoulder with Fang Yiyun.
It had been quite a while since she had seen Fang Yiyun. Ever since she saw Yiyun marry that evil man and be unable to get an amicable divorce, the petty rivalries of their girlhood no longer seemed important. After moving to Linzhou, she had grown closer to Yiyun instead.
She had difficulty fitting in with the other officials' wives, but Yiyun was different. Both of them came from merchant families, looked down upon by others, so they had become companions.
Fang Yiyun was cracking melon seeds, looking boredly at the commotion nearby. "My son is starting school now, so it's not good to bring him to this feast and waste time. What about you? Why didn't you bring your Lianzhu?"
Song Hemei replied casually, "Too lazy to."
"Why do you keep your child hidden away? You didn't even invite me to his full-month banquet back then, and now you won't even bring him to this opportunity? Don't you know? The Prefect has wanted a son his whole life. If you bring your son and say a few words like 'may you have a noble son soon,' you might actually earn some favor for your husband."
Song Hemei shot her a look. Meeting her teasing expression, she didn't hide anything. "Then I definitely can't bring him."
Fang Yiyun didn't know what had happened between her and Shao Wen'ang, but she knew that Song Hemei no longer had any feelings for him.
No wonder people said that enemies understand each other best. Former enemies counted too.
But Fang Yiyun had been doing well these past few years. She had given birth to a daughter, achieving the ideal of "one son, one daughter." Then she had weathered the ordeal of her abusive, worthless husband ending up paralyzed in bed. All the family's affection was now focused on her children, and her own life had improved as a result.
Just as Fang Yiyun could see that she had no feelings left for Shao Wen'ang, Song Hemei could also infer from the few words Yiyun said about her paralyzed husband that his paralysis was no coincidence.
Every family had its own difficulties. She didn't pry into the details, but she asked herself: while she was happy for Yiyun, she was also… envious.
They had been rivals in their youth, and in the end, both of them had married worse than each other. Now, it was her former nemesis who had seen the light first. How could she not be envious? There had been a time when she, too, had hoped that Shao Wen'ang would one day be carried home.
But right now, Song Hemei could still manage a smile. "I'm about to have some good news too. When it's done, I'll be the first to tell you."
Fang Yiyun gave her a strange look. "What? Are you pregnant?"
She laughed and teased, "Well, that's rather interesting. During the day, you can't stand Lord Shao, but at night, you're not idle, are you?"
Song Hemei's smile froze. "Did I offend you recently? Why are you saying things to disgust me?"
As soon as she finished speaking, she heard a commotion, followed by the sounds of toasting and laughter, and one name repeated over and over—Lord Yu.
She abruptly looked toward the entrance. Sure enough, she saw an indigo-clad figure surrounded by a crowd, the tallest one among them.
Her heart seemed to clench. A flurry of questions surfaced in her mind.
And Yu Yeqing, as if sensing something, looked over in her direction.
Meeting those jet-black eyes of his, Song Hemei felt a strange mix of emotion and anger rise together. Without having deciphered what he meant, she first averted her gaze, focusing back on the empty dining table where no dishes had been served yet.
"That man of yours isn't like mine. Mine is lying in bed, unable to do anything. But yours is different. If he really got a green hat, he would definitely not let you off easily."
Song Hemei was pulled back to attention by the person beside her. "What?"
Fang Yiyun leaned closer, squinting and lowering her voice. "What do you mean? The way you looked at Lord Yu was very wrong. Lord Shao is still at the banquet. Be careful."
Suddenly caught off guard, Song Hemei forced herself to stay calm. "Don't talk nonsense. I just glanced casually."
Fang Yiyun nudged her. "Stop pretending with me. Last time I said I could tell you had no feelings for Lord Shao anymore, you didn't believe me. Now, put your hand on your heart and ask yourself if I'm right—"
"You've definitely taken a liking to that Lord Yu who just walked in."
The other woman's blunt words struck straight at her heart.
Song Hemei drew in a sharp breath. Was she really that obvious? Could a single glance give her away?
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