Chapter 2 When the younger brother makes a mistake, the older brother should naturally stand up for him…
Last year, thanks to the recommendation of an old friend of his grandfather, Liang Shao secured a position as a judicial officer in the Mizhou Prefecture's Criminal Justice Division. Now, at only eighteen years old, he is the youngest and most capable official in the Mizhou Prefecture. Therefore, he got up early the next morning and went to the yamen.
When Shanhe woke up, her body ached and felt sticky. Last night was quite absurd. Liang Shao was not satisfied after just one time, so he grabbed her shoulders and forced her to kneel on the bed. He did it twice more before she finally stopped.
The bed was in disarray, the mattress beneath her crumpled and disheveled. As Shanhe got up to tidy the bed, she pondered her future plans.
The doctor said that at best, the old man had three more years to live; however, if his illness didn't improve this year, he might not make it past the end of the year. Shanhe started to consider her savings again. She had only twenty taels, enough for her to live on for more than half a year. However, if Liang Shao didn't want the child and she left with the child, life would be quite difficult.
We need to think of a way to make money.
Shanhe was holding the dirty blanket, lost in thought, when the beaded curtain outside the door was lifted, making a rustling sound.
Liang Ye, holding a box of gold and silver jewelry, stopped in his tracks.
He remembered that Shanhe used to get up very early every day to take care of her grandfather. But today, Shanhe's black hair was draped over her shoulders, her loose undergarments were wrinkled, and the bed was a mess. Liang Ye quickly understood.
He looked away, focusing his gaze on the ground: "I'll come back later."
Startled by Liang Ye's sudden intrusion, Shanhe lost her composure. After Liang Ye left, she hastily rolled up the bedding, piled it on the trunk, quickly changed into a decent set of clothes, and styled her hair in a half-up bun.
When Shanhe opened the drawer where the hairpins were kept, she looked at the seven or eight hairpins that Old Master Liang had given her, lying there quietly, as if she remembered something. She picked out two plain ones, and wrapped the rest in a handkerchief and hid them in her sleeve.
"Big brother." Shanhe stepped out from behind the curtain.
Liang Ye sat on a stone bench under a tree, his silver-threaded cloud-patterned robes accentuating his handsome and refined appearance.
Although Liang Ye and Liang Shao were brothers, their appearances, temperaments, manners, and speech were quite different. Liang Ye was quiet and courteous, gentle and refined, and always treated people with respect. But for some reason, perhaps because he was too quiet to the point of being aloof, Liang Ye was like a deep pool; no matter how many ripples appeared on the surface, the bottom remained calm. Liang Shao, on the other hand, was flamboyant and unrestrained, the kind of person who disliked formalities and being lectured. He seemed difficult to get along with, but in reality, he was simple-minded and wore his heart on his sleeve. As a result, he had many friends and was more popular than Liang Ye.
Shanhe stopped a few steps away: "Isn't Big Brother preparing for the exam in Kyoto?"
Liang Ye stood up and said with a smile, "Having learned that my grandfather is unwell, I have come home to visit him."
"Did you go?"
"Not yet," Liang Ye added. "The old man hasn't woken up yet."
Shanhe nodded, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to Liang Ye. She hesitated, then took out the wrapped jewelry from her sleeve: "Brother—"
Liang Ye also presented the wooden box, saying, "Shanhe—"
The two looked at each other and couldn't help but smile.
"You go first."
Shanhe shook his head: "Big brother, you go first."
Liang Ye smiled and opened the wooden box, which was filled with all kinds of gold and silver jewelry.
Shanhe's eyes widened in shock, and he was speechless.
Liang Ye continued with a smile, "I happened to visit Mingzhu Fang in the capital, which is said to be the number one jewelry shop in the Great Yan. I suddenly remembered that when you married A Shao, no one did your wedding attire. In the past two years, you seem to always have the same few plain hairpins in your hair."
My visit to Mingzhufang was not accidental.
Thinking back to what happened to Shanhe, it wasn't sudden.
Liang Ye slowly gripped the edge of the wooden box with his fingertips. Ever since the night before his departure, he had inadvertently discovered the divorce agreement that Ah Shao had tucked inside the land deed. From that moment on, everything related to Shan He constantly played out before his eyes.
Shanhe quickly shook her head: "It's too precious, I can't accept it."
Liang Ye knew that A Shao had wronged Shan He, causing her much suffering. Therefore, as the elder brother, he should take the initiative to make amends for his younger brother's mistakes. Shan He, a woman and the descendant of a disgraced official, could only survive under the protection of the Liang family. After the divorce, where could she go? How could she live? Since A Shao had ruined his grandfather's wish to care for Shan He for a lifetime, then let him take over.
Liang Ye's brows relaxed, his smile undiminished: "Consider it my way of thanking you, thank you Shanhe for taking care of grandfather and keeping him company." He pushed the wooden box against Shanhe's chest: "I can't take care of grandfather all the time, and A-Shao is so mischievous. This family is so fortunate to have you."
He invoked his grandfather's name and insisted that she accept the gifts, so Shanhe had no choice but to accept them, as it would be impolite. But how could she explain the hairpins hidden in the handkerchief to Liang Ye?
"What were you about to say?" Liang Ye asked, glancing at the handkerchief in Shan He's palm.
Shanhe hesitated, unsure how to begin. But then she thought that she would eventually leave the Liang family, become independent, and support herself. She would no longer associate with the Liang brothers, so there was no need to jeopardize her future livelihood for such a small favor or to save face.
Therefore, Shanhe lifted her handkerchief, revealing several hairpins, and bit her lip, saying, "I would like to ask my elder brother for help in pawning these hairpins. I... I'm always a little worried about the maids and servants at home."
This was the truth. Because Shanhe was disrespected by Liang Shao, even though the old master valued her highly, the Liang family's servants always looked down on her. After the old master died, who would protect this daughter of a disgraced official? That was what the Liang family's servants thought.
"Are you short of money?" Liang Ye asked urgently. "Is your monthly allowance not enough? Or have they been skimping on your allowance?"
"No, no," Shanhe hurriedly covered up. "I never wear these hairpins, and they'll just gather dust in my makeup box. I might as well exchange them for silver and buy some more if I find something I like later."
As if remembering something, she added, "It was a gift from my older brother, and I like it very much."
Liang Ye stared at her face, remaining silent for a long time. Shanhe felt uneasy under his gaze, thinking her clumsy excuse had been seen through, and lowered her head. In Liang Ye's eyes, Shanhe's lowered head revealed her thick, black hair, with a few stray strands falling beside her cheek, swaying in the wind. He sighed deeply, and as he took the hairpin from Shanhe's hand, his fingertips lightly touched her palm. His voice trembled slightly: "Alright."
Those hairpins ultimately did not end up in the pawnshop. That evening, Liang Ye personally sealed twenty taels of silver and instructed a maid to deliver them to Shuyu Pavilion.
Upon hearing of his brother's return after finishing his shift, Liang Shao immediately rode home. He found Liang Ye in the accounting office, where the accountant stood bowing and scraping before him, a forced smile on his face. Liang Ye frowned as he reviewed the Liang family's account books. Seeing Liang Shao swagger in, he slammed the books shut and said to the accountant, "Do as I say. Raise it to five taels a month. The rest—oil, cosmetics, and pastries—will be deducted from the official funds. You may leave now."
Liang Shao was not interested in managing the household finances, so he didn't pay much attention to Liang Ye's words. He sat down in the armchair with an air of nonchalance, poured himself a cup of tea, gulped it down, and then asked with a smile, "Brother, why are you back?"
Liang Ye was already dissatisfied with Shan He because of the incident earlier that day when Shan He pawned his jewelry for money. Later, after visiting Old Master Liang, he learned that only Shan He kept the old man company all day, and that Liang Shao only visited to pay his respects morning and evening. This only made him more displeased. Liang Ye rose to his feet, hands on the table, and sneered, "It's quite remarkable that you still remember your brother."
Feeling subtly mocked, Liang Shao was filled with confusion: "What do you mean by that, brother? If I don't remember you, then who do I remember?"
Liang Ye walked to the window, stood with his hands behind his back, and said, "I thought you spent all your time hanging out with those drinking buddies and had long forgotten about this family!"
“Whose gossips are these again!” Liang Shao also stood up. “Ever since my brother went to the capital for the imperial examination, I’ve been coming back every night.”
"Why is Grandfather's illness getting worse?"
“I’m not a magic pill. Do you think that if I stay by my grandfather’s side every day, his illness will get better?” Liang Shao said stubbornly. “The doctor also said that healing depends on fate. If you don’t have that fate, even if you eat ginseng and cordyceps every day, it won’t help.”
Liang Ye was so angry that his hand trembled, and he turned around and slapped Liang Shao across the face.
Liang Shao was already slightly taller than Liang Ye, and due to his years of martial arts training, he appeared even taller and stronger. Having just been slapped, Liang Shao turned his face to the right, pressing his tongue against the cheek where he had been struck, and snorted through his nose: "You were on your way to the capital for the imperial examinations, and all you remembered was your grandfather, this family? I may not be perfect, but at least I saw my grandfather every day. You've been gone for months; are you a dutiful descendant?"
Liang Ye regretted his impulsive actions earlier, but now that Liang Shao had said those words, he was so angry that he clenched his teeth. Liang Ye sneered, "I am unfilial. Not only have I left my elders at home, but I also lack the ability to control my unruly younger brother, leaving my mother, Shanhe, to run around managing the entire household!" He strode out, his robes billowing.
Hearing Shanhe's name, Liang Shao's spine stiffened. What happened to her? The tide of resentment gradually receded, and Liang Shao stood alone in the accounting room, his cheeks burning, but his mind gradually calmed down. Glancing over, he saw the accountant standing in the corridor.
“Mr. Chen!” Liang Shao called out, “What did my brother just say to you? What did he mean by five taels a month?”
Mr. Chen stepped across the threshold, cupped his hands, and said, "The master said he wants to increase the second mistress's monthly allowance from two taels to five taels per month."
Five taels of silver, one tael more than Liang Shao.
"So many? What happened to her?" Liang Shao asked anxiously.
Mr. Chen shook his head: "I don't know, maybe they're short of money."
When Liang Shao returned to Shuyu Pavilion, Shanhe was hunched over her desk, painting. Before the family's downfall, when she was still Miss Xue, Shanhe loved painting, especially flowers and birds. Later, after wandering around the Liang family, she took care of Old Master Liang every day and had no time to paint anymore. Now that she had to prepare for raising her child alone in the future, she had to think of a long-term and most respectable way to make money.
Liang Shao pushed open the door and came in. He saw her hunched over the octagonal table where she usually ate, spreading out a scroll. He frowned and said, "Why don't you go to the study?"
Shanhe put down her brush and smiled, saying, "My elder brother is serving at Shouxi Hall today, so I came back first." She looked at the scrolls and painting tools spread all over the table and said, "I was afraid I would mess things up at your place."
Liang Shao walked up behind her, looked down at Shanhe's painting, and said, "It's even better than the paintings by the other painters."
"Really?" Shanhe asked, her voice filled with surprise.
Liang Shao pouted: "Why did you suddenly want to draw?"
"I'm bored all day, I need to find something to do." Shanhe looked up with a smile, and just then she caught sight of the palm print on Liang Shao's left cheek. She immediately became nervous: "Shao, what happened to you?"
Liang Shao turned his face slightly away, not wanting Shan He to see, and only said, "It's nothing."
But Shanhe became anxious, turned his face to the side, and carefully examined the handprint on his cheek: "I'll go soak a cold towel and apply it quickly. I don't want people to laugh at me when I go to the yamen tomorrow."
Feeling both repulsed and reluctant to push her away, Liang Shao was being stared at so intently. He raised the tip of his nose and said, "It was taken by Song, the head of the catering business in Pingkang Ward."
Pingkangfang was a red-light district known for its brothels and pleasure quarters, a popular choice for banquets among the young men of Mizhou. Song, the head courtesan, was the most famous courtesan in Pingkangfang. It was said that Song performed but did not sell her body, and was very selective about her clients; those who were merely good-for-nothings or had only money would never be allowed into her room.
Shanhe's hand froze, and she slowly lowered her eyes: "Okay, I'll go get a cold towel."
Liang Shao grabbed Shanhe's hand, quite annoyed: "What kind of bride is like you? You don't care when your husband goes to Pingkang Lane; you don't care when your husband leaves early and returns late. Are you the second mistress of the Liang family or a maid of my Shuyu Pavilion?"
A note from the author:
----------------------
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
