Chapter 100 (Bonus Chapter with Nutrient Solution) "Next..."
Shanhe raised her face again, facing him solemnly, "Big brother, thank you. If it weren't for you forcing me to drink those herbal soups for the past six months, A-Shao and I wouldn't have had a child so quickly." She wiped away her tears, "It's all fate. You were meant to be the eldest brother."
It's all fate...
It's all fate!
The color drained from Liang Ye's face. He stared intently at Shan He's lower abdomen, wishing he could see the life inside through her clothes. So, in the end, everything he did was just a stepping stone for Liang Shao?
The gentle persuasion and coercion he had just used collapsed in an instant. Liang Ye fell to the ground, his incredulous gaze shifting back and forth between Shan He's lower abdomen and face.
After a long pause, he said in a hoarse voice, "Shanshan... don't lie to me, you've only been together for two months..."
Shanhe interrupted him, saying, "With your abilities, why would I lie? If you don't believe me, invite two doctors to come and see if what I'm saying is true or false."
"So..." his voice broke, "Really? You and him... really have a child?"
"Yes." Shanhe bit her lip, meeting his trembling gaze. "Before divorcing Ashao, he specially invited a famous gynecologist from Mizhou to diagnose me, who said I would have difficulty conceiving. Unfortunately, before I could even start treatment, we divorced. After that, you forced me to drink those medicines!"
"Fine... fine, I forced you to drink... fine, you got pregnant on the first night..." He chuckled softly, his voice hoarse and dry. "I planned for you, I endured for you, I felt sorry for Ah Shao because of you. I even thought that if you really didn't want to, I could wait, one year, two years, ten years! I could wait until you were willing! But now you tell me that you are pregnant with his child!"
His eyes glistened: "Why, why? When Grandfather let you choose, you clearly hadn't even met Ah Shao, so why did you choose him? Why didn't you choose me? Just because Grandfather said I would take the exam and have a bright future? You should have chosen me! Why did you make this decision for my future? Shan Shan, if you had chosen me back then, wouldn't you love me now? Would your child be my child too?"
Shanhe pursed her lips and said, "There has never been a 'what if'."
Liang Ye looked at her almost pleadingly: "Then...the next one can be our child, okay?"
Shanhe was startled, but quickly realized what he meant. She raised her hand and slapped Liang Ye across the face: "You madman! Disgusting!" She quickly got up and ran outside.
Liang Ye's face turned to the side from her slap, and he sat stiffly on the ground. He slowly raised his eyes, a faint blush appearing on half of his face. The door was wide open, and Shan He had already run outside. Cheng An rushed over, stood at the door, looked at him, and waited for his instructions. Liang Ye watched the slender figure running further and further away, a self-deprecating smile on his lips, and gestured for Cheng An to let him pass. Then, Liang Ye rose, smoothed the wrinkles in his robes, wiped away the tear that was about to fall from the corner of his eye, took a deep breath, and walked back towards the Zhuiyue Hall where the banquet was being held.
Shanhe, lifting her skirt, ran out in one breath. A voice called her from behind; it was Cheng'an. Startled, Shanhe quickened her pace.
"Madam! Madam Xue! I'll take you back!" Cheng An called out anxiously.
Shanhe stopped and turned to look at him. She asked cautiously, "Aren't you going to take me back?"
Cheng An smiled憨厚ly: "The master didn't intend to keep you here tonight." He pointed to the carriage parked on the shore, "Look, the carriage you came in is still there."
Shanhe still had some doubts.
As Cheng An headed towards the disembarkation point, he said with a smile, "Hey, the boat is full of my men. If I wanted to catch you, you wouldn't be able to escape."
Upon hearing this, Shanhe slowly strolled over and followed.
After Shanhe boarded the carriage, Cheng'an personally sat on the carriage floor and drove the horse. He drove steadily, just like his calm and collected nature. Hearing the quietness inside, Cheng'an lifted the curtain and saw Shanhe leaning against the carriage wall, lost in thought. Cheng'an frowned: "Wife, actually, the master…" He didn't know how to continue. Cheng'an felt that Liang Ye had gone too far, but at the same time, he also felt that Shanhe was somewhat ungrateful.
Shanhe's stiff eyes finally moved: "Cheng'an... Wu Tianqi and Mi Xiaoxiao, can you let them go?"
Cheng An smiled and said, "That depends on how your talk with the magistrate goes." He paused, "The magistrate didn't originally intend to arrest them. He knows they are very important to you."
"Then why did he use them to pressure me?" She lowered her head, her palm still red and burning from the slap she had just given Liang Ye.
Cheng An sighed, "The master has no other choice. He knows you hate him."
Shanhe turned her face away and quietly wiped away her tears.
She didn't let Cheng'an escort her to the alleyway leading to her home, but instead got off the carriage early. Cheng'an glanced at Shanhe with a hint of worry, and finally spoke up: "I know you and the magistrate didn't get along tonight. But Wu Tianqi and Mi Xiaoxiao are waiting to be released to reunite with their children. Especially Wu Tianqi, she's pregnant and has difficulty moving around. I think it's better for her to come out and rest. Although the magistrate hasn't tortured her and hasn't neglected her food or clothing, being alone in prison is a different experience for a pregnant woman than being with her family at home. The magistrate doesn't care about the safety of Wu Tianqi's family, let alone the political achievement of arresting Wu Tianqi. Therefore, Wu Tianqi's life or death rests entirely on your shoulders, Madam. If you don't take care of them, their family of four or five will truly have no way to survive. Before the magistrate returns to the capital, you should talk to him as soon as possible."
Shanhe stood by the roadside, her thin body swaying like a leaf in the wind.
How long until he goes back?
"At most a month. The Lan Gu Bookstore matter is progressing quite smoothly."
She nodded and forced a smile at Cheng An: "Okay, I understand. Thank you, Cheng An."
When they got home, Qingyue and Miao'er were already anxiously waiting. When they saw Shanhe return safely, the two of them rushed over to her, and the little dog Liuliu also ran and jumped to Shanhe's legs, sniffing her incessantly.
"My wife, how is she?"
Shanhe didn't want to cause them worry, and besides, she herself was tormented, so she only said that the imperial envoy had accepted the gifts but hadn't indicated that he would release the people immediately. Upon hearing this, Miao'er launched into another tirade against the imperial envoy. Seeing that Shanhe looked displeased, Qingyue helped her upstairs to rest.
That night, Shanhe leaned against the bed railing alone, hugging her knees and weeping. Liu Liu quietly entered, curled up at Shanhe's feet, and stayed with her. Shanhe held Liu Liu in her arms, gently stroking its fur. Liu Liu was brought back by Liang Shao; it was a part of Liang Shao. Holding Liu Liu, it was as if Liang Shao was also beside her. If he were here, he would surely have a way to break this deadlock. Even if he wasn't, at least someone would be with her, instead of her suffering alone like this. Shanhe felt a pang of sorrow, and tears fell in a steady stream onto Liu Liu's snow-white fur. She heard Liu Liu whimper and bark, as if it too was weeping for her.
Ten days had passed since Shanhe last received Liang Shao's letter. Shanhe didn't tell Qingyue and the others about Liang Ye's arrival in Jinling, but instead secretly wrote a letter to Liang Shao, asking if he could return soon. She didn't dare face Liang Ye alone, so she hoped Liang Shao would return early so he could help her.
Cheng Bao mailed the letter for her, but when he returned, he was in a great hurry, panting heavily, with thick eyebrows furrowed, saying that a yamen runner from the Jinling government office had come to report: Wu Tianqi is in trouble.
Wen Jie'er and Xiang Ge'er, who were playing chess in the courtyard, were stunned for a moment when they heard this, and then burst into a loud cry.
It turned out that since her arrest, Wu Tianqi had been imprisoned in Jinling Prison, where she lacked nothing in terms of food and clothing and had no worries about anything. Every three days, a female doctor would come to check her pulse and help with her pregnancy. In addition, she had never been interrogated, so she was living in peace. There was only one thing: she had not seen her husband and two children for a long time and had no news of them, which inevitably made her anxious.
That day, after finishing breakfast, Wu Tianqi lay sprawled on his bed, counting down the days until his imprisonment. Suddenly, he overheard the guards outside chatting, saying that the new prisoner's name was "Jian," and that a grown man's name was something like "Xiao Xiao." Wu Tianqi was startled and quickly leaned over the bars to ask, "Sirs, is the new prisoner named Mi Xiao Xiao?"
"I think that's its name."
"Does the official remember what he looks like?"
"Of medium height, he seems to be the owner of some painting studio."
Wu Tianqi was stunned, then asked, "Is he alone? Does he have any children?"
The constable sneered, "Are you crazy? Why are we adults grabbing children with our white eyebrows and red eyes?"
Upon hearing this, Wu Tianqi slumped to the ground in despair. Mi Xiaoxiao had also been arrested, so what would happen to the children? Heavens, Wen Jie'er and Xiang Ge'er were not even ten years old! The two children were unfamiliar with Jinling, and their parents were in prison. What would become of them? The more Wu Tianqi thought about it, the more anxious and panicked he became. First, he burst into tears, and then he frantically pounded on the bars, shouting that he wanted to see the Imperial Envoy.
Not long after, a clerk from the government office strolled over and told her that the imperial envoy was busy with affairs and was out today, so he could not see her and that they could meet tomorrow.
Wu Tianqi cried and asked, "How long has my husband been arrested?"
The clerk thought for a moment and realized it wasn't much, only eight or nine days.
Eight or nine days!
The children have been living alone outside for eight or nine days!
She couldn't help but think of the homeless children begging on the roadside, disheveled, filthy, and diseased, possibly even kidnapped by human traffickers and never to be seen again! Wu Tianqi trembled all over, and his stomach began to hurt. Suddenly, his vision went black, his abdomen tightened, and something warm flowed out. Wu Tianqi looked down and saw bright red blood slowly and continuously flowing from between his legs.
child!
It’s over!
She leaned straight back.
When Shanhe rushed over, Wu Tianqi had already been moved to a slightly cleaner and tidier house. According to the law, so many people were not allowed to go in to visit, so in the end, Shanhe led the two children in.
Wu Tianqi lay weakly on the bed, staring blankly at the plain-colored bed curtains above her. Her breathing was light and shallow, her chest barely rising and falling, a quietness that was unsettling.
She didn't even notice when Sister Wen and Brother Xiang came in. Her once swollen belly had deflated, and now only a layer of skin and flesh hung loosely. Shanhe then noticed that Wu Tianqi was so thin he was almost unrecognizable. His once radiant cheeks were now slightly sunken, his skin was deathly pale, and he looked lifeless. There was an unyielding bluish-gray tinge under his eyes, and his lips were dry, with fine flakes of skin, so pale they blended into the surrounding skin.
The two children threw themselves onto the edge of the bed and cried bitterly, and Wu Tianqi slowly came to her senses. She tried her best to raise her hand and stroke the children's heads. As soon as her hand touched the children, tears welled up and soaked the pillow.
The female healer carried the copper basin, which was covered in blood, out of the room. As she passed Shanhe, she whispered, "They were twins. They've already been buried. It's bad luck."
Cheng An ran over, covered in sweat, and said that Liang Ye had gone to arrest criminals today and wouldn't be back for the time being. He told him to just tell him what he needed.
Shanhe ignored him and walked step by step closer to Wu Tianqi. She heard Wu Tianqi's weak voice: "Retribution, it's all retribution..."
Among the four classes of people—scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants—merchants are the lowest. To rise above others, one must not be soft-hearted. Those who earn money must first be ruthless. Years ago, she and Mi Xiaoxiao ran a painting studio, creating a karmic debt, and today she is finally reaping the consequences. Cause and effect are cyclical, all predestined. Even if she tries her best to make amends now, even if she tries her best to help Shanhe, the dead cannot be brought back to life; what is destined will always come. Her two children will inevitably be taken away by the karmic debt of the past. Wu Tianqi felt a chill run down his spine.
Visits were only allowed for one hour, and Wu Tianqi needed to rest, so Shanhe and the others were quickly brought out.
On the carriage ride back, the two children were still crying, their faces chapped, a sight that broke Shanhe's heart. Wu Tianqi was like this because of her!
Qingyue quietly told her that Mi Xiaoxiao was planning to divorce.
Divorce? Shanhe was astonished. Mi and Wu had a deep affection for each other. Was it really because of these things that they were going to get a divorce?
Qingyue shook her head and agreed to the divorce, shifting all the blame onto one person and securing the other's release so she could better care for the child.
Shanhe was stunned. It was she who caused the destruction of Wu Tianqi's entire family.
She got off the carriage and went to the post station alone. She wanted to see if Liang Shao had sent any letters. He was her last hope.
The letter finally arrived; it just came this morning.
It's not as thick as before, just a thin sheet of paper.
Shanhe opened it with trembling hands:
Feng Shanshan, please wait for me for another year. If there is still no reply by the end of the year, it means I have broken my promise. I hope you will not dwell on the past, but choose another good match and live out your life in peace. Take care.
Please wait for me for another year...
Wait another year...
A year...
There are still thirteen months left, I'll wait another thirteen months...
Is it too late?
Shanhe stood there, as if all his spirit and strength had been drained away.
Didn't we agree on three months?! Why?! Why are you pressuring me too?!
Shanhe wept. She was at her wit's end; everything was pushing her to the brink. The world, all things, everyone, everything seemed to be pressing down on her, as if trying to crush her. Wu Tianqi, Mi Xiaoxiao, the children, Liang Shao, Liang Ye… and her own child. Oh God! Oh God!
She could hardly breathe!
Shanhe straightened up, glanced at the letter again, then crumpled it up and threw it into the murky river. She began to run eastward, desperately and helplessly.
*
Liang Ye had just returned from outside and was sitting in his official hat chair looking at the book "The Hundred Officials Enjoying Themselves".
"Military preparedness has been relaxed, and all that remains is romance and pleasure."
Armaments...
He had roughly guessed His Majesty's meaning. Jinling was the center of the Southeast Army's garrison, and the Xu family of Jinling had held military power in the Southeast for generations. Of the four great military families, only the Pei family of Beichuan and the Xu family of the Southeast still retained their former prominence. Did His Majesty intend to eliminate the Xu family as well? Why?
He was deep in thought with his eyes downcast.
Cheng An walked in and reported to him on the day's events.
Liang Ye was taken aback for a moment, then asked him, "What about Shanhe?"
"It doesn't look good," Cheng An sighed. "He just went to the post station to pick up the Second Master's letter and was squatting by the roadside crying."
Liang Ye remained silent, his mind gradually becoming unsettled.
Nearly ten days have passed since their conversation that night. He hasn't contacted her again, and she hasn't contacted him either. They remain at an impasse. She won't back down, and he won't let her go.
Liang Ye rubbed his temples and let out a long breath.
Cheng An stood to the side, seeing his expression, wanting to speak but not knowing what to say.
"Just tell me what you have to say."
Cheng An then said, "My lord, my wife is also suffering."
"How could I not know she was suffering? I could have offered her many advantages, but she refused them herself!"
Cheng An smiled ingratiatingly and said, "What you want might not be those things, my lady. I remember that in those two years, your relationship with you was clearly much closer than your relationship with the Second Master."
Liang Ye was stunned.
"But now it's the other way around, which shows that what my wife wants isn't those cheap deals..."
Liang Ye slowly turned his face: "Cheng Min would never say such things."
Cheng An respectfully replied, "I am no match for Cheng Min's decisiveness and quick wit."
Liang Ye sighed, "You may leave now."
Cheng An responded and withdrew.
Liang Ye sat silently in his chair, quietly pondering the recent events. He too had been suffering for the past ten days. He hadn't originally intended to arrest Wu Tianqi, let alone Mi Xiaoxiao. His Majesty's focus was on the Xu family in Jinling; he had no reason to nitpick about Danxia Painting Studio. But…
It's all because of Shanhe.
She dared to run away, she dared to fake her death, she dared to rekindle her relationship with Ah Shao. He was indeed furious; he wanted to punish her, he wanted her to know that she and he could never be separated in this life, that she would always be his woman. He had given her his whole heart, yet she treated it like trash!
He truly couldn't understand where he fell short of Ah Shao. What was it that made him inferior? Besides, he had already made concessions! He loved her alongside Ah Shao—wasn't that good enough? He was willing to be a secret lover, willing to be Xue Shanhe's gigolo, willing to give up money, status, and dignity, to help her keep it a secret from Ah Shao—wasn't that good enough? Even if she was pregnant with Ah Shao's child, if she said a few kind words, how could he not help her and Ah Shao raise that child? That was their bloodline! The bloodline of the two most important people to him!
Besides, he's the older brother; even if there are children, they should belong to him first...
But she didn't even tell Ah Shao about their affair...
Thinking this, Shanhe's crying face from that night flashed before me again. Tears streamed down her face as she questioned him, insisting he was always her older brother, and clutching her stomach, calling him disgusting…
But, Shanshan, how could sincerity be disgusting...?
His hands were already stained with blood; his heart was the purest and cleanest thing he possessed.
He closed his eyes in frustration, rubbing his fingertips together, but he couldn't calm the dense, throbbing pain in his heart.
Liang Ye looked up, still unable to hold back the two lines of clear tears.
Shanshan, have I been the only one suffering these past ten days?
Never mind, never mind... In the end, he can't compare to Ah Shao...
Liang Ye exhaled a breath of stale air, calling Cheng An's name in a hoarse voice: "Cheng An, Cheng An..."
Cheng An jogged over and stood under the eaves.
"Let them go," he said sadly.
"What?" Cheng An was taken aback, then realized it was Wu Tianqi and his wife. He was pleasantly surprised. "I'll go and give the order right away!"
Liang Ye slumped over the table, his forehead resting on his arm, utterly dejected.
Just as Cheng An turned around, he saw a little boy running up to him, panting: "She's here! She's here!"
Cheng An asked in confusion, "Who is it?"
No sooner had she finished speaking than Shanhe rushed in. Sweat beaded on her forehead; her legs ached from walking all the way from the post station to the government office. The closer she got to the office, the faster her heart pounded, and the discomfort in her body seemed to vanish. Now, she ran in, and Liang Ye was right in front of her, separated only by a wall. Shanhe felt a pang of fear and a surge of emotion, almost to the point of tears.
Her tears were almost all gone, and the burden weighed her down, making it hard for her to breathe. Having come this far, she had no way out.
The constables dared not stop her, and Cheng An stared blankly at her. She ignored them all. When she thought of Wu Tianqi's family, the two children who died in Wu Tianqi's womb, Liang Shao who had not returned for no reason, and the suffering she and Qingyue had endured in the past, Shanhe felt a surge of resentment and anger.
To forgive without holding a grudge is the way of forgiveness; an eye for an eye is the way of justice.
There is no such thing as getting away with something so easily after doing evil or hurting others!
Shanhe's steps became firm. She walked through Cheng'an and went straight into the house.
Liang Ye was stunned.
Shanhe raised her hand and hastily wiped away her sweat and tears. She opened her mouth, her lips moving. But she was still weak; she couldn't bring herself to say such self-degrading words. So she forced a very ugly smile and gritted her teeth: "Liang Ye, I ran here. I... I have an upset stomach. Please call a doctor for me."
Liang Ye froze for a moment, then abruptly stood up. He strode forward, stopping in front of Shan He, staring at her in disbelief. He opened his mouth, his lips moving, then hurriedly called out, "Cheng An! Cheng An! Cheng An! Quickly, fetch a doctor! The best gynecologist in Jinling! Hurry!" He reached out, wanting to touch Shan He, but froze in mid-air.
Shanhe understood his meaning; she had come for this very reason. She would no longer run away, nor would she hide. Before, it was because she was too weak that she, Qingyue, and Wu Tianqi had all been left battered and bruised. She couldn't remain weak, nor could she be a woman waiting for Liang Shao to return and smooth over all her troubles!
Mountains may crumble, people may run away; only by relying on yourself can you make the wicked pay the price and bring this filth to an end.
So Shanhe grasped Liang Ye's hand, feeling the tremor beneath his skin. This time, Shanhe lifted his hand, cupped her face, and, panting, slowly asked, "Do your words from that night still stand?"
In an instant, Liang Ye saw a sky full of dazzling fireworks, and his internal organs felt soothed and clear.
Has Shanhe changed her mind?
Shanhe continued, "I'm not waiting for him anymore. As long as you release Wu Tianqi and the others, I'll agree to anything you ask."
Liang Ye was taken aback: "Then, what about Ah Shao?"
Shanhe sniffed, "He's not coming back. He wrote to me saying he doesn't want to come back!" Shanhe couldn't hold back any longer; she still hoped Ashao would return soon. A year was too long; she couldn't wait, and neither could Wu Tianqi. So she choked back tears and repeated, "He's not coming back!"
Liang Ye pulled her into his arms, his arms tightening around her. His chest heaved violently, his hot breath brushing against Shanhe's neck.
His eyes were glistening with tears as he spoke urgently, "It counts, it all counts! As long as you're willing to turn around and look at me, it all counts..."
Shanhe was forced to bury her face in his chest. She didn't struggle or respond, simply stiffly letting him hold her. Her eyes stung terribly, but no more tears would fall. In her empty heart, only that one sentence echoed repeatedly:
An eye for an eye... that is the straight path.
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Author's Note: Sorry I'm late. I got yelled at by my supervisor this afternoon [crying][crying] I only started writing tonight.
The bonus chapter with nutrient solution is finished!!! Another 3000-word chapter tomorrow!
Niohuru Shanhe is here!
*To forgive without holding a grudge is the way of forgiveness; an eye for an eye is the way of justice: This is a quote from Lu Xun, but I couldn't find a similar or more powerful one, so I used this one instead. In ancient times, only the phrase "to forgive without holding a grudge" existed.
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