Chapter 123: Marriage
Song Hemei did not know how to respond to this question either.
She was partly anxious, and partly driven by his relentless questioning into a state of embarrassed anger.
"Asking, asking – why do you have so many questions? Can't you see I just don't want you to get caught in the rain?"
After saying this, Song Hemei met Yu Yeqing's deep eyes, and her heart beat even faster.
She swallowed, put on a stern face to feign calm, and even, out of nervousness, frowned to show displeasure as a cover: "Either you send me back to my courtyard, take the umbrella with you when you're done, and return it when you no longer need it; or you leave right now, forget about the umbrella, and don't bother seeing me when you return it. Lord Yu, choose for yourself."
Even as she spoke those words, she kept her grip on his wrist tight, not letting go.
Yu Yeqing looked down at her fingers, white from the strain, then smiled: "Miss Song, not so hard."
Song Hemei still held her ground, pretending she had no idea what he meant: "Lord Yu hasn't said which option you choose."
"If it means I can see you one more time, how could I bear to choose anything else?"
Song Hemei's head was still spinning when she returned to her room.
That night, she tossed and turned in a mess of dreams, and when she woke the next morning, she could no longer sit still.
Yu Yeqing had made his feelings so clear – he surely had intentions toward her, yet he just dawdled and never took the initiative.
Who knew when his investigation assignment would end? If he suddenly returned to the capital, would their affair be cut off just like that? Wouldn't that be no different from being toyed with by him?
She made up her mind – she had to force the matter into the open.
But she waited most of the day without seeing Yu Yeqing come to return the umbrella. She sent someone to check, and once she learned he had returned to the guest quarters, she went there alone, without bringing any maidservant.
The guest room door was left ajar. Yu Yeqing did not have the habit of keeping a pageboy by his side, so when Song Hemei stood before the door, there was no one to announce her presence.
She peeked through the crack and saw him leaning on his hand as if resting. Look closer, and one could see a trace of fatigue on his face, and even his usually ruddy lips had lost some color.
This made her pause, the hand that was about to knock hesitating – she couldn't bear to disturb him. Yet since she had come this far, she wasn't willing to just go back without settling things.
As she hesitated, it seemed a breeze blew past behind her, pushing the half-open door fully ajar, as if fate itself were inviting her inside.
This guest room is part of my home – what's wrong with entering a room in my own house? Song Hemei thought to herself. Even if it's rude, so be it. If anyone's to blame, it's him for saying things that make me overthink – he deserves a little impertinence.
She took a deep breath and stepped inside. But the closer she got to him, the more fiercely her heart pounded, until she was standing right before him.
His dark hair was tied up with a jade hairpin, the indigo sleeve of his robe hung loosely, revealing his wrist bone. With his eyes closed, the gentleness and warmth she usually saw in him had mostly faded, exposing the inherent distance in his bearing – it gave her a moment's hesitation.
But only a moment.
Song Hemei took another deep breath. Letting boldness rise from her ill temper, she took another step closer to him.
But perhaps because she wasn't watching her step, the tip of her shoe seemed to bump into something, and she pitched forward entirely.
Song Hemei gasped, instinctively raising her hands, which landed squarely on Yu Yeqing's chest. The next instant, he lifted his eyes to look at her, and their gazes collided, his eyes clear and alert.
But only for a brief moment. Then surprise and resignation filled Yu Yeqing's eyes. He leaned back slightly, revealing his Adam's apple, but did not push her away: "Miss Song, what are you doing?"
Song Hemei's face instantly burned red, but she forced herself to straighten up calmly and pre-emptively accused him: "You tripped me first."
A flicker of panic crossed Yu Yeqing's eyes. His hand, resting on the armrest, clenched tightly as he steadied himself, then asked in feigned innocence: "What?"
Song Hemei was still tangled in embarrassment and shame, not sensing anything unusual about his reaction – she simply assumed she had offended him.
But now that things had already gone so far, she decided to see it through. She pressed him directly: "What exactly do you mean? You say such ambiguous things to me, and now you let me fall against you – what do you want?"
Yu Yeqing's Adam's apple bobbed. A surge of panic rose in his heart – he regretted that he had been too hasty and had offended her.
But Song Hemei's next words were solemn: "I am a young lady from a respectable family. Treating me like this – aren't you ruining my reputation? How am I supposed to marry anyone in the future? What do you intend to do about it?"
Shock appeared in Yu Yeqing's eyes – he had never expected her to say such a thing.
Joy welled up in his heart, but he was afraid of misunderstanding her intentions.
His Adam's apple bobbed again as he tested the waters: "If I wish to take responsibility for you, to come to your door and formally ask for your hand – would you be willing?"
Song Hemei narrowed her eyes, studying him: "Is it because you truly have feelings for me, or just out of a sense of duty? If you don't care for me, why should I marry you?"
Yu Yeqing knew that now was not the time to be evasive. He abandoned all caution, directly took hold of the hand that was still pressed against his chest, and looked straight into her eyes: "You are like the bright moon – I yearned for you from afar, but dared not presume, afraid that you would look down on my humble origins."
Hearing this, Song Hemei felt reassured. Delight rising in her heart, the corners of her lips curved into a smile: "I wouldn't care about such things. After all, I'm a generous person – not one to judge by family status."
Yu Yeqing stared at her, afraid that even a single delay might cause this opportunity to slip away. He said solemnly: "I will come to propose tomorrow."
When he said "tomorrow," Song Hemei had actually tried to persuade him not to rush.
But she never expected him to move out of the Song residence that very night. By early the next morning, he had the betrothal gifts all prepared – anyone would have thought he had them ready long ago.
With such a good match to be made, her parents were also afraid that the bird in hand would fly away. Hastily, they settled the wedding for the end of the month. The things originally prepared for her and Shao Wen'ang were now used for Yu Yeqing instead.
Strictly speaking, the wedding should have taken place in the capital. But Yu Yeqing said his mother was buried in Changzhou, so it was fitting to marry in Changzhou – he would simply send a letter to his birth father in the capital to inform him.
Within two days, he sent over his betrothal card and went to the government office early to register and obtain the official marriage certificate.
Song Hemei was still in a daze. She wanted to see him, but since custom forbade them from meeting before the wedding, she could only write him a letter, complaining that he was rushing things too much.
His reply was sincere in its apologies, but he still went ahead with everything exactly as planned.
The wedding was conducted quickly, but not carelessly. Song Hemei was bundled into the bridal sedan chair, paraded around the city, and taken to the courtyard house that Yu Yeqing had rented. Everything inside was fully prepared. Apart from the fact that there were few of his relatives attending the banquet, everything else was proper and complete – not a single problem.
Song Hemei felt as if she were still dreaming, until the bridal veil was lifted and she saw Yu Yeqing standing before her in a magnificent red wedding robe. Only then did she feel that all this was real.
Yu Yeqing was a little nervous. The red robe accentuated his clear brows and handsome features. His long eyelashes trembled as he called out softly: "Wife."
Song Hemei was also a bit shy, but she opened her mouth and accepted the address.
He had prepared food in advance, and had her eat a little to settle her stomach. After they drank the wine of union, he led her back to the bed.
When it came time for the real thing, both of them were nervous.
Yu Yeqing drew close to her. His hand, restrained yet bold, settled on her waist. The tip of his nose gently brushed against hers, coaxing her to lift her head little by little, until he finally kissed her lips, tentatively nibbling on them.
Song Hemei's heart raced. In her mind were the lessons her sister-in-law had taught her on that first night.
But when their clothes were shed and her back touched the soft bedding, feeling his burning heat press against her, she grew so nervous that she pushed against his chest with her hands.
Before she could speak, however, Yu Yeqing asked first: "Does it hurt?"
His tone was a little aggrieved: "Forgive me – I studied a little in advance, but I've never done this before, and I'm not skilled in such matters."
He looked at her, his expression pitiful: "You know, I lost my parents when I was young. Do you despise me?"
Those words softened Song Hemei's heart. So she opened her knees a little wider, raised her arms to embrace him, and said: "It's all right, it's all right – I don't despise you."
She took the initiative to kiss his lips: "Go ahead – it's fine."
Everything proceeded naturally. At first, Song Hemei felt she still had things under control. But later, the world before her eyes shook endlessly, and she began to sense something wrong.
Her neck was kissed, her whole being swept along by his movements. She wanted to say something, but the pleasure overwhelming her body scrambled her thoughts, and she couldn't help sinking into it, holding him tighter and tighter.
Just when they were climbing to the crucial moment, he suddenly slowed down, his low, hoarse voice reaching her ears: "Do you like this?"
Song Hemei felt she was going mad, gasping: "I like it."
She hurriedly pulled at him, but she heard him ask again: "Do you like me, or do you like this?"
Song Hemei had no mind to hide anything – she followed her heart: "Both."
A smile curved on Yu Yeqing's lips. He granted her wish, letting her hold him tightly, before asking: "Then why did you avoid me before?"
Song Hemei let the lingering sensations wash over her, her head resting against his neck: "It's precisely because I liked you that I avoided you. If you hadn't felt the same, and I ran after you – wouldn't that have been humiliating?"
Yu Yeqing laughed softly beside her, all the unease in his heart melting away.
He pulled her even closer, hooking her leg and not wanting to part from her.
"How could I not care for you?"
His voice was husky: "I only wished to marry you as soon as possible, to see you every day, so that you would never have another chance to avoid me."
Song Hemei heard his words, and in the haze of her mind, she gave him a smile.
"Alright – husband and wife should see each other every day, dear husband."
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