Chapter 49 Xue Shanhe's Beauty Trap.

Shanhe furrowed her brows.

Liang Ye smiled, his voice hoarse: "Go ahead."

Shanhe hesitated and said, "I made Granny Wei angry."

Liang Ye remained noncommittal and continued to kiss her patiently.

Why aren't you responding?

Liang Ye lifted his head from her shoulder, his voice serious: "I know she doesn't like you, and I know you resent her. If you really offend her, she will come to me herself, asking me to stand up for her. Shanhe, what do you want me to do by telling you all this now? To punish you? Are you not stupid? Who would falsely accuse themselves?"

But Liang Ye knew that Xue Shanhe was truly capable of such a thing. This girl was too kind-hearted; she might even find it difficult to kill her enemies.

Shanhe bit her lip, then pecked him on the lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck and said, "No, I want you to pretend you don't know. Even if she tells you, please don't punish me, don't punish Qingyue... okay?" Her voice trembled slightly when she mentioned Qingyue.

"Ah." He exhaled a breath of stale air. "No wonder Shanshan is being so well-behaved right now."

Shanhe nudged him and asked, "Then do you give me permission?" Then she gently kissed his cheek.

The voice was soft and gentle, still damp with the afterglow of the moment. Liang Ye's Adam's apple bobbed, the word "no" stuck in his throat, unable to be uttered. She had been too obedient today, complying with and satisfying him in everything. Even if she was a little stubborn, it didn't seem to be a big deal, so he was willing to tolerate her making some minor mistakes.

She deliberately provoked Granny Wei, so be it. But the two had never gotten along since their first meeting, so how could they possibly reconcile so easily?

Liang Ye gently stroked her bare back, his mind preoccupied with the intricacies of the inner quarters. He had hired Granny Wei to temper Shanhe's temper and manage the household affairs of the main branch. This was his mandate, and Granny Wei had not neglected her duties. He was truly grateful that the old woman still helped him wholeheartedly. When she grew old, he would certainly do his utmost to see her off in her final days. However, if Granny Wei held absolute power in the main branch, it wouldn't be a good thing. Granny Wei's ruthless methods not only aroused resentment among the people, but he himself was easily deceived. Now that Shanhe had submitted, conflicts with Granny Wei would likely arise again in the future. It was better to leave it at that for now and grant Shanhe's request. Firstly, this might truly win Shanhe's heart; secondly, it would allow him to subtly control Granny Wei, ensuring she remained diligent and conscientious.

By supporting Shanhe, and with both sides keeping each other in check, his inner circle would be balanced. This is the way of checks and balances, and also the art of managing subordinates.

Thinking it over carefully, Liang Ye smiled and gently pinched Shanhe's nose: "It's only once, so it's fine. However, she is an elder. If you don't like her, then you should avoid her in the future. I can't always be biased towards you."

Shanhe stared blankly at Liang Ye's doting manner, momentarily lost in thought.

So this is what they call a honey trap.

She had thought she would have to spend a lot of time and effort explaining things, but he had brushed it off so easily. Shanhe couldn't help but feel sad.

At first, she disagreed, which resulted in her and Qingyue being injured and humiliated in front of everyone, yet she still couldn't escape him in the end. Now she's compliant, occasionally putting on a smile and going to bed with him. It turns out he can be so kind and magnanimous, just like before.

Shanhe suddenly felt as if she were being torn apart, pulled in two directions. On one side was her former self, saying, "Even the most lowly person has dignity and respect; one should not live like an animal." On the other side was Caixiang, who had advised her that day, saying, "Living is the most important thing."

How should a person live? What is the foundation of a person's character? Is dignity gained by going against one's conscience truly dignity?

Shanhe was confused.

This "I don't know" sent a shiver down Shanhe's spine. Only now did she realize that Liang Ye had softened her bones, and her bottom line had been lowered again and again under his combined force and persuasion. When he first brought her back, even the slightest touch from him made her feel nauseous. Now, sitting naked on his lap, pressed against him, as his woman, she no longer seemed to have the same resolute determination she once had, as if she wanted to jump into the river.

Looking down, she didn't even notice that her round breasts were being squeezed out of shape by his chest.

In an instant, terror gripped my entire body. It turns out that when a person falls into depravity, they are unaware of their actions.

Liang Ye followed her gaze, his lips curving into a deeper smile. He separated himself from Shan He, their bodies pressed together, and slowly moved his hand upwards.

"Ah, does Shanshan like watching this?" He deliberately hooked his arm around her, his hand already covering hers, soft white flesh peeking out between his fingers. He continued, "Is there a second thing?"

"I bought a maid."

Liang Ye's rubbing hands suddenly stopped.

"Who is she? Do you know her background? Why did you buy her?" His tone was no longer as calm and composed as before.

Shanhe was caught off guard by these three questions. She hurriedly recounted her encounter with Wenzhu and Miao'er that day, making their backgrounds sound more tragic to show that she had to buy Miao'er.

Upon hearing this, Liang Ye frowned and pondered. After a long while, he picked up the clothes that had been discarded to the side and draped them over Shan He's shoulders: "Put your clothes on. Call that Miao'er over here, let me take a look at her."

Shanhe's heart was pounding. She had only bought a little maid, so why was Liang Ye reacting so strongly? But Shanhe still dressed as instructed and then helped Liang Ye change his clothes.

“Your hair is loose,” he reminded her.

Shanhe then instructed the teahouse waiter through the door to fetch a vanity case, combed her hair, and re-inserted the hairpin. Throughout the entire process, Liang Ye simply leaned silently against the bamboo couch, propping his forehead with one hand, his cold eyes watching her every move. Her image was reflected in his eyes, but his emotions were unreadable, as if he were pondering something else.

Shanhe dared not ask, nor did she know where to begin. Since he had taken her away, she had rarely seen him so deep in thought. She opened the door, summoned the tea server, and ordered him to brew another pot of tea. Then she went upstairs to call Miao'er over, adding, "Just call Miao'er; no one else needs to come."

The person behind him suddenly spoke up: "Call Cheng Min over too."

Shanhe's heart skipped a beat, but she didn't say anything.

Before long, freshly brewed tea arrived along with Miao'er and Cheng Min. Cheng Min walked ahead, first bowing to Liang Ye and saying, "Master." Then she lowered her head and called out to Shan He, "Madam." Liang Ye then had her stand by his side.

When it was Miao'er's turn, Shanhe stood up and said to her gently, "Miao'er, this is Master Liang, he is my... my master, and he will be your master from now on. Quickly kowtow to him."

Upon hearing this, Miao'er immediately knelt down and respectfully kowtowed three times to Liang Ye.

Liang Ye used his fingers as a pillow, carefully observing Miao'er's entire demeanor. After Miao'er finished her greeting, he didn't immediately tell her to get up. Instead, he extended his hand to Shanhe, saying, "Come and sit down." Shanhe obeyed, and the moment her hand touched his palm, he pulled her into his arms. Shanhe quickly got up, straightened her clothes, and sat down. Liang Ye looked at her indifferently, then put his free hand on her shoulder before turning his face and coldly asking, "What's your surname?"

“Wen. My name is…” Miao’er remembered what Granny Wei had said, “My name is Wen Miao’er.”

“Oh, Wen.” Liang Ye asked casually, “Which ‘Wen’? The Wen of ‘literary and artistic’ or the Wen of ‘speaking’?”

Miao'er looked blankly at Shanhe, who was sitting in Liang Ye's arms, as if seeking help.

Shanhe was about to speak when she suddenly realized she shouldn't show familiarity with Miao'er, and her half-open mouth froze. Liang Ye sensed her unusual expression and glanced at her sideways: "You know?"

Shanhe pondered for a moment: "No, I don't know. I just remembered when I met her and her brother, judging from their clothes and appearance, their family probably didn't have the money to send them to school and teach them to read. I guess she herself doesn't know which character '闻' it is."

Liang Ye turned to look at Miao'er: "Is that so?"

Miao'er nodded timidly.

Liang Ye slowly narrowed his eyes: "Then why didn't you say anything just now? Why did you want to see Madam Xue?"

Shanhe secretly twisted his hands, his heart pounding like a drum.

Miao'er's lips drooped, and tears were already welling up in her eyes: "I... I'm afraid the master will think I don't even recognize my own name and will kick me out."

She hurriedly kowtowed to Liang Ye: "Master, I am capable of working. I have been helping with household chores since I was a child! Please, Master, take me in!"

Shanhe secretly observed Liang Ye's expression, carefully choosing her words: "The old man was just asking you a question casually. Nobody wants to kick you out."

Liang Ye continued, "Where is your home?"

"Laotaizi Village in the south of the city".

“I remember there was a huge sycamore tree on the road south of the city. It was planted in the previous dynasty, and it must have been there for several hundred years, right?” Liang Ye seemed to have become interested.

Miao'er's eyes darted around, and she said cautiously, "This servant...this servant doesn't remember if there was such a paulownia tree. I think, I think there was, but I don't know."

Shanhe felt a thin layer of sweat on his palms.

Liang Ye gave a soft "heh," his voice languid: "Cheng Min—"

“However,” Miao’er quickly raised her eyes, “when my brother and I came into the city, we did encounter an old ginkgo tree, which was also planted in the previous dynasty. My brother and I couldn’t even hug it completely.”

Liang Ye scrutinized Miao'er's face for a long time before saying, "That's it, I remembered wrong. It should be an old ginkgo tree." He then asked, "How many people are in your family?"

“Brother and Mother.”

Where is Father?

"He died long ago."

"Why did you sell yourself into servitude?"

"My mother is seriously ill, and we have no money to buy medicine."

Liang Ye nodded, then casually asked a few more questions, all in kind and gentle language, unlike his earlier coldness. Miao'er answered them all, as if she had truly lived there for over ten years and had a sickly mother and a desperate older brother. Liang Ye then took a few gold and silver ingots from his purse and tossed them to Cheng Min: "Go to her house as she said, and give these to her brother to get medicine for her mother. Heaven have mercy, if they weren't desperate, they wouldn't have resorted to selling their children." Cheng Min agreed and went to do as she asked.

Upon seeing this, Miao'er hurriedly kowtowed to Liang Ye again, repeatedly expressing her gratitude: "Thank you, Master! This servant will serve you and your wife wholeheartedly and repay your great kindness with all my might!" When she looked up, her forehead was already flushed, and there were two tear tracks on her cheeks.

Seeing her like this, Shanhe felt a lump in her throat and said to Liang Ye, "Master, let her come with me. Caixiang and Caiping are here with me every day, which is delaying your proper duties. If she comes with me, firstly, she can share Caixiang and Caiping's responsibilities and help me take care of Qingyue; secondly, I can teach her to read and write and teach her manners in my spare time, so she will have a companion in the future." She deliberately emphasized the words "in the future."

Liang Ye chuckled, "This girl doesn't understand anything. She's just tiring you out by your side."

Shanhe clung to his arm, leaned closer, and whispered in his ear, "If she doesn't stay with me, she'll stay with Granny Wei. I bought her; I'm afraid she'll suffer more if she goes with Granny Wei." She nudged Liang Ye's arm, "Is that alright?"

Liang Ye's gaze lingered on her face for a long time before his taut lips curved into a smile: "Fine. You should have your own people by your side too."

Liang Ye turned his head and saw Miao'er kneeling on the ground, her head bowed low, not daring to look at them. He said gently, "From now on, you will follow Madam Xue. If you don't understand any rules, go and ask Cai Xiang and Cai Ping first. Madam Xue is kind and benevolent, so just serve her wholeheartedly. If you do well, I will naturally reward you; if you don't do well, punishment is a given."

Miao'er readily agreed.

Liang Ye added, "There's one more thing: loyalty is the most important thing to me. If I discover you have any disloyal intentions, not only you, but also your family—"

Miao'er hurriedly kowtowed to the ground: "This servant only knows how to repay the kindness of Master and Madam, and knows nothing else."

Liang Ye nodded and told her to go find Granny Wei and Caiping herself.

As dusk settled, the setting sun shone like blood. A meal was laid out in the private room. Shanhe and Liang Ye sat facing each other, having just taken a few bites, when Cheng Min returned, looking travel-worn. Liang Ye, without changing his expression, placed a piece of braised pork in Shanhe's bowl: "You're too thin, and you don't eat much. You need to eat more in the future, and you can't stop taking your medication." Shanhe nodded in agreement.

Cheng Min lowered his head and reported, "Reporting to you, sir, I just went to Miss Miao'er's house, and what she said was exactly the same."

Shanhe lowered her eyes and carefully bit into the piece of braised meat, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts, afraid that she might have made a mistake.

“However—” Cheng Min hesitated.

Liang Ye raised an eyebrow and asked, "But what?"

Shanhe paused slightly as he picked up his chopsticks, but then resumed his previous actions.

Cheng Min continued, "However, Miao'er's brother was educated. When their father was alive, he sent her brother to a private school for half a year."

“That’s nothing,” Liang Ye said, his expression relaxing. “Does she have any other relatives?”

"No, I just went to the government office again and happened to run into Lord Ouyang who was off duty, so I asked him to help me check. The 'Wen' in Miao'er's surname is the 'Wen' in 'Wen Shuo'. Her only remaining relative is her father's younger brother, who is her second uncle. However, this second uncle Wen went to Lingnan to trade seafood in his early years and has not returned since. His fate is unknown."

Liang Ye nodded: "You've worked hard. You should go and relax too."

Shanhe's hands, which were holding the ivory chopsticks, were covered in cold sweat.

After Cheng Min left, Shan He forced a smile and said, "Didn't you say this afternoon that Lord Ouyang has been promoted to Attendant-in-Ordinary? Why is he in Kangzhou now? Is he on official business?"

Liang Ye was pouring wine with his eyes down when he heard this, and then he raised his eyes slightly: "Ouyang Tongfu, the Prefect of Kangzhou, is the eldest son of the old Grand Councilor."

Shanhe gave a soft "Oh," and continued eating. Liang Ye said nothing more, keeping his eyes down as he ate in silence. Just as he was finishing his meal, the sound of clattering hooves suddenly rang out below the window, and the rider shouted, "Official investigation! All bystanders, please clear the way!" The commotion was so loud that Shanhe couldn't help but notice. She turned her head to look and saw a cloud of yellow dust and the rider and horse quickly disappearing into it. Turning her gaze back, she saw Liang Ye, unmoved, had already finished all the food in his bowl.

After dinner, everyone tidied up and returned to the boat. Liang Ye personally helped Shanhe put on the veil and carefully arranged her hair before the two went downstairs one after the other. As they passed the lobby on the first floor, several tea tables were still open, and people were talking about the horse-riding incident on the long street earlier. One of them said, "It seems something happened to Lord Zhao's family! His third son beat someone to death!"

Another person asked in surprise, "Why did they suddenly start hitting someone?"

"I don't know. It's said that the family of the deceased is quite influential and they're going to sue Zhao Sanlang. I'm afraid Zhao Sanlang's engagement next month will have to be canceled!"

"Oh! That's really serious."

Shanhe felt a sense of familiarity, and her steps faltered. Suddenly, her hand, hanging by her side, was gripped tightly. The man pried her fingers apart little by little, forcibly interlocking them with his own. He smiled and said, "Shanshan, do you enjoy listening to this kind of gossip now?"