Chapter 36. Chapter 36. He relentlessly mentioned Liang Shao in front of him. ...

The hustle and bustle outside gradually subsided, with only the occasional sound of footsteps on the deck, clattering and disturbing the ears.

Shanhe stared at the twin lotus blossoms atop the tent. The boat rocked gently, and she felt as if she were truly lying in the water. She had gradually calmed down, seemingly accepting this unbearable fate. Her face was serene, and her eyes were peaceful. Caixiang fed her medicine, which she ate; she was dressed and groomed, and she allowed herself to be helped. She simply refused to speak unless absolutely necessary—her small, final, and open form of resistance.

As the ship sailed away from the dock, Liang Shao stood on the shore, one hand holding the horse's reins, the other hanging by his side, his gaze heavy as he watched the ship, carrying his myriad sorrows, steadily and slowly sail into the distance. He should have waved goodbye to his brother as he always had, but this time he couldn't even raise his hand.

With Cai Xiang supporting and holding Shan He, they walked to the railing of the ship and saw Liang Shao's blurry face congeal into a small jade-colored dot.

Gone. Liang Shao is gone. Second Grandma Liang is gone. All that happened in Mizhou is gone.

But she left Michigan in this way.

Shanhe gripped the railing, her knuckles white, her heart pounding, almost unable to stand. Liang Ye stood beside her, his gaze sweeping over every subtle expression and movement she made at that moment.

She knew he was watching.

So, Shanhe turned her face, smiled, and said softly, "Thank you, elder brother, for allowing me to see him off..." Then, she suddenly raised her hand high and waved towards the shore. With her last bit of strength, she shouted in a hoarse voice, "Ah Shao!"

Countless hands reached out from behind her in fear, grabbing her thin shoulders, arms, and waist, forcing her to fall backward.

"Take care..." She collapsed onto Cai Xiang, Cai Ping, and a group of maids whose faces she couldn't quite make out, uttering these last words with a smile. Before her, the sky was clear and blue, and the sun shone brightly in the east.

Under the vast, open sky, clouds drifted by. She closed her eyes, enjoying the gentle river breeze on her face. A few breaths later, when she opened her eyes again, Liang Ye had already taken over half the azure sky, his face grim as he looked at her: "Lock her up!"

On the shore, Liang Shao silently watched the boat sail further and further away, his heart churning with mixed emotions. He couldn't speak, only feeling as if a part of him was being peeled away and detached with each passing moment. He led his horse with one hand and, together with Cheng Bao, turned and silently walked towards the Liang residence.

Suddenly, he heard a loud shout, hoarse and weak, calling his name, as if it were her. He turned around abruptly, but there were still those same few dark-clad figures on the boat, gazing at him from afar on the shore, presumably saying goodbye.

Cheng Bao asked, puzzled, "What's wrong, Second Master?"

He finally gave up, thinking it was a hallucination, and stood there quietly, his nose stinging with pain. He silently watched the boat, and the people on it, then his gaze rose to the sky. The sky was clear and blue, the sun high in the sky—what a beautiful, sunny day! It was a pity she wasn't by his side. A warm breeze swept in from the river, with unstoppable force, and rushed into his arms. His robes billowed, like a swallow with its chest puffed out. After the strong wind passed, the river breeze gently caressed his face. He even remembered their kisses from before, which seemed just as soft and tender.

The boat was almost out of sight. The wide river channel, shimmering with blinding sunlight, made one dizzy after gazing at it for a while. He exhaled a breath of stale air and gave a dejected smile: "Let's go back." Back to the cave. In just a few months, he had lost everything. He laughed at himself, looking as if he were crying.

Caiping and Caixiang treated Shanhe with great politeness, each supporting one of her arms and pushing her into a brand-new cabin.

The pale yellow curtains, the cool, damp mats, and the wafting fragrance stirred her heart. As they ushered her into the room, He Niang had just laid out the pair of mandarin duck pillows.

Upon seeing that it was He Niang, Shan He suddenly raised her lips.

This girl, who bore a striking resemblance to her, she had almost forgotten—there was another girl in Liang Ye's room. How could she have never thought of that before? She had thought he pitied He Niang, but it turned out there was a reason for it all along.

She was helped to sit on the bed by Caiping and Caixiang. He Niang lowered her eyes and carefully stepped back. Before she could leave, Liang Ye walked in and blocked her way. He Niang quickly squatted down and bowed, her voice still timid and shy: "Greetings, sir."

Liang Ye paused for a moment, then gave a faint "hmm" to signal her to leave, his gaze already sweeping over Shan He's face. She smiled at him and He Niang, pointed at He Niang, tilted her head and smiled, her voice hoarse like a man's: "Does A Shao know her?"

Liang Ye's face immediately darkened. He walked forward step by step, saying, "All of you, step back." Cai Xiang and the other two then withdrew as instructed.

Caiping was the last to leave. She glanced deeply at the two people inside before quietly closing the door. As soon as she turned around, she saw Caixiang and Heniang standing at the corner, whispering to each other with their heads down. Caiping went over and saw Heniang gently wiping away tears with a handkerchief, while Caixiang comforted her, "Hey, don't cry. If you stay here and serve the master and mistress well, it will be the same. Don't think so much."

He Niang could only shed tears and shake her head, biting her lip and turning her face away, refusing to utter a sound.

Caiping sized her up, a cold smile creeping across her face. Just because she resembled Xue Shanhe a little, she dared to harbor such presumptuous thoughts. The master had more than one maid in his household; even if he wanted to take her in, it wouldn't be this young male prostitute from Pingkang Lane—her chastity was questionable! Caiping snorted coldly, then walked past the two women to do her own work.

Inside the cabin, Shanhe occupied the bunk bed, while Liang Ye sat in a grand chair, casually picking up a book to read. However, his mind was elsewhere; the words fell before his eyes, but failed to resonate with him. He was somewhat annoyed.

"Do you dare teach Ah Shao to know?" she asked again, a smile playing on her lips.

Liang Ye rolled up the book and held it in his palm. The anger that had been building up since he saw Liang Shao off was boiling and churning, almost bursting out. He gripped the book tightly, suppressing his raging fury.

Shanhe laughed, her voice hoarse, making her laugh sound like a noisy duckling. Listening to her own unbearable laughter, she found it increasingly laughable, yet increasingly tragic. How had she become like this? Her eyes stung terribly; she tilted her head back to rest them, her gaze sweeping across the twin lotus blossoms on the bed curtains, their vibrant bloom shocking. Disgusting! Shanhe's breathing quickened. She turned angrily, the neatly folded brocade quilt embroidered with mandarin ducks, even the coral pillows at the head of the bed were a pair, head to head, shoulder to shoulder. She gritted her teeth, grabbed a mandarin duck pillow, and smashed it against his face.

The pillow was soft, but the force was great. Liang Ye was caught off guard and his head tilted to the side, half of his face shadowed.

"You despicable man! You hypocrite!" Shanhe said hoarsely, "I am your sister-in-law!"

The half of her face that had been slapped burned, and Liang Ye's icy hand pressed against it, providing some relief. He slowly turned his gaze, his eyes sweeping across Shan He's face like knives, a chilling sneer on his face: "Sister-in-law... who was that kneeling at my feet, begging me to help her divorce Ah Shao?"

He stood up and approached step by step.

Shanhe's chest heaved violently as she watched him lean closer, and she involuntarily retreated into the depths of the bed.

He's insane! This guy is a complete and utter madman!

She pressed her hand to her chest and spoke quickly, each word piercing his heart: "She is your brother's ex-wife, the woman who bowed to your brother's parents, drank the nuptial wine, and slept in the same bed with him, the sister-in-law of you, Liang Ye, the great scholar, whose name is written in black and white in the family genealogy and recognized by the entire Liang clan!"

Before she could finish speaking, Liang Ye had already gripped her chin tightly.

Shanhe forced a smile and said, "She doesn't even want your brother, so why would she... why would she want you?"

He suddenly increased the pressure between his fingers, almost crushing her jawbone.

Liang Shao, Liang Shao, Liang Shao! Her heart and eyes could only hold Liang Shao! Since she could only hold Liang Shao, why did she desperately try to divorce him? Since she could only hold Liang Shao, why did she go to him so eagerly, begging him to help her get a divorce?

His eyes were bloodshot; the jealousy and hatred that had been suppressed for so long finally burst forth, impossible to contain. Liang Ye raised his arm and shoved Shanhe violently, sending her sprawling onto the couch. In an instant, her hairpins were scattered, her black hair disheveled, and Shanhe lifted her face from the pile of embroidered mandarin ducks with their necks intertwined, only to be met with a huge shadow looming over her.

He pinned Shanhe's hands behind her back, grabbed her chin with his other hand, and forced a smile: "Do you even deserve to mention his name? Have you forgotten how much you've dragged him down? He's a fool with a cotton heart, still thinking about finding you even now. If it weren't for you, he would have already made a name for himself in Kyoto! You don't even deserve to mention him!"

"It seems I've spoiled you too much, so much so that you've forgotten your place!" He directly untied Shanhe's belt, quickly bound her hands, and then grabbed her wrists together to lift her up and neatly hoist her onto his shoulder.

Shanhe cried out in pain, leaning against Liang Ye's broad shoulders, kicking and thrashing about wildly. But then she heard a muffled groan from the person beneath her, and he paused for a moment. Shanhe thought he was going to put her down, but then he slapped her hard across the buttocks, making her flesh ripple like snow waves, and tears immediately welled up in her eyes.

Liang Ye strode out, kicked open the cabin door, and walked quickly to the railing. He pinned Shanhe against the crossbeam and scolded, "If you're so reluctant to let him go, swim back to him! Tell him you're not getting a divorce, tell him what you've been through these past few days, tell him how you escaped, how you came back, how you were blocked in the middle of the road by a few men, and how you almost went back to your old ways as a government slave!"

The boat had reached the middle of the river. Shanhe's body was half-suspended in mid-air, the turbulent waters of the Fei River right before her. The muddy yellow water churned and surged towards her, splashing a thin layer of mud and sand onto her face. Her eyes and mouth couldn't open; she could only clench them tightly into three narrow lines. Although her other half of her body was draped over the railing, it was actually entirely under Liang Ye's control. He loosened his grip, and she moved a little closer to the river; he tightened his grip, and she was pulled back a few steps. Anxiety washed over her; the fear of death instantly engulfed Shanhe.

The commotion was so great that Caiping and the other maids rushed over. Chengmin and the other servants also heard the noise and, thinking something had happened, dropped what they were doing and ran over. They saw Shanhe being held by Liang Ye, with the front half of her body about to fall off.

Humiliation and resentment surged into her heart instantly, and tears welled up in her eyes. Shanhe immediately launched into a tirade against Liang Ye, calling him "shameless," "a despicable scoundrel," and "for harassing his sister-in-law," causing the veins on his forehead to throb.

Another large wave crashed over her, slapping her face hard. Muddy water seeped into her nostrils, choking her and causing her to cough and wheeze, her face contorted in pain. Once she felt a little better, she continued cursing through her choked throat, "A heartless...scoundrel..."

Upon seeing this, Caixiang rushed over and knelt beside Liang Ye's legs, crying, "Master, Master, my wife is frail and can't withstand such fright and torment!"

Seeing Shanhe's attitude, Liang Ye already felt remorse. But seeing her so stubborn, not only did she refuse to listen to reason, but she also cursed him even more fiercely. He never expected that such a gentle woman like Shanhe could be so unyielding. Liang Ye secretly tightened his grip on her waist, while still coldly sneering, "If you don't teach her a lesson today, you'll all suffer in the future. And you're still pleading for her?"

Upon hearing this, Shanhe spat out the muddy water in his mouth: "You might as well just let go and throw me down, so I won't make your people suffer later!"

Liang Ye gritted his teeth in hatred, but before he could answer, Shan He said, "It doesn't matter if one of my children dies! Anyway, you still have Fan Niang and He Niang in your house who can serve you! If all else fails, write a letter to your brother and ask him to help you find some! In the letter, just say: 'I hope my brother can find three or five women to come to the capital, and they must resemble your ex-wife!' If he can't find any, he can show them to the Liang family members. Surely they can find some!"

Everyone present gasped in shock. Cheng An ordered the servants to leave, and Cheng Min glanced at them a few more times before also bowing her head and leaving. Upon hearing Shan He's words, He Niang suddenly looked up, her eyes even redder, and she covered her face, staggering away. Fan Niang, who had only been watching the play and felt uncomfortable, didn't pay much attention to it. But seeing He Niang's state, she hurriedly went to comfort her sister.

Caiping, who had been quietly watching Shanhe with her delicate eyebrows raised, couldn't help but chuckle when she heard Shanhe's scolding. Then, Liang Ye glanced at her, and Caiping quickly suppressed her laughter, taking a few steps forward and kneeling beside Liang Ye's legs like Caixiang, tears welling in her eyes: "Master, if you're still angry, don't hurt yourself! My wife had a high fever last night, and it's understandable that she's not quite right in the head right now. Why get so angry!"

Cai Xiang's eyes were also brimming with tears: "Sir, my wife's face has turned pale. She won't be able to hold on any longer. Sir, please think of the old man. Don't let him be heartbroken if he sees this from heaven!"

This stepping stone was given to Liang Ye, which was better than food when hungry or water when thirsty. He snorted coldly, immediately picked up Shanhe and threw him onto the deck.

Shanhe's upper body was already soaked through. She lay prostrate at Liang Ye's feet, shivering and her teeth chattering. When Caixiang saw this, she went over to hug Shanhe and help her up, while turning to Caiping and saying, "Why don't you get her an outer garment! My lady is completely soaked!"

Cai Ping, being ordered around, gave a cold "Oh" and turned back to her room to find her clothes.

Shanhe trembled as she stood up from Caixiang's arms, glaring fiercely at Liang Ye. Her face was pale, and her only almond-shaped eyes were bloodshot, as if she had come from hell. Shanhe hugged her arms and slowly moved to the railing, then suddenly turned around, as if to jump.

Liang Ye had already seen through her thoughts, and besides, she was currently weak, which made her movements much slower. He stretched out his long arm, grabbed Shanhe's waist, and wrapped her up in his arms, gritting his teeth and saying, "You're just asking for trouble!" With that, he carried her horizontally in his arms. Despite Shanhe's trembling struggles, he only held her tighter and tighter, eventually pulling her back into his arms.

As Caiping was about to come out with the clothes in her hands, she bumped into Liang Ye and Shanhe.

Liang Ye's fierce expression remained: "Get out."

Caiping was stunned. She had served Liang Ye for so many years and had never heard him say a harsh word. She immediately pouted, threw her clothes on the couch, and slammed the door shut.

Cai Xiang was about to go in, but Cai Ping stopped her and sneered, "What are you going in for? There's a master there to serve you. If you go in, you'll only get a dirty look."

Cai Xiang frowned: "Nonsense, there's no reason for the cult leader to serve us. It should be our business."

Cai Ping grabbed her hand and started to walk away, saying, "Master thinks we're in the way and wants us to get lost!" With that, she forcibly dragged Cai Xiang away.