Chapter 26 (Escape Announcement) "Today we can..."
As Shanhe stepped out of the study, she paused slightly, as if remembering something. She called to her maid and asked softly, "What time did Second Master wake up this morning?"
The maidservant answered respectfully, "Not long after Second Mistress left."
"You woke up and immediately had breakfast and took your medicine?"
The maidservant replied truthfully, "No, I went to the study first."
"No wonder," Shanhe said. "I just went to Yunxiu Workshop yesterday, and today the kingfisher feather headdress is in her bag, along with a note." Shanhe nodded and dismissed her.
Before she could even ponder this further, Qingyue had already rushed back from outside. She had been hurrying and careful all the way, and by the time she returned to Shuyu Pavilion, her forehead was already damp with a light sweat. Shanhe stood beside her, pouring her some tea: "Did anyone notice?"
"No." Qingyue downed her drink in one gulp. "The garden was busy today, no one paid any attention to me."
Shanhe nodded: "Master Wu agreed?"
Qingyue put down her cup and nodded solemnly: "Yes. She said she doesn't want money, just as a favor, as long as the young lady sells all her paintings to her in the future. There are a few more things she wants to say, the shopkeeper said he will talk to the young lady in detail when they meet."
Shanhe lowered her eyes and furrowed her brows, her tone firm: "Okay."
Since returning from Lantai Pavilion, Shanhe has been preoccupied with something. She instinctively felt that seeking Liang Ye's help was a mistake, but she couldn't pinpoint exactly why. Perhaps it was a difference in intentions. Shanhe felt that even someone like herself, who wanted a divorce from Liang Shao, hesitated repeatedly when lying to him, while Liang Ye, who had grown up with her younger brother, could so easily disguise his deception as "for his own good." If she were Liang Shao, she would be heartbroken: he had no conflict with his brother, so why this?
Therefore, she sent Qingyue to Danxia Painting Studio to ask Wu Tianqi for assistance. This so-called assistance was extremely important to Shanhe, but for Wu Tianqi, it was merely sending two people to take Shanhe to his vacant little villa for a few days; all her needs wouldn't be a concern, and he'd gain a favor from Shanhe that was no less significant than saving his life. Shanhe thought to herself that since she was leaving, she should leave decisively and cleanly. Besides, her departure already contained the intention of helping the two Liang brothers advance their careers; there was no need to leave Liang Shao and then immediately go to live in the house Liang Ye had given her. What would that be?
After the matters at Shuyu Pavilion were concluded, the mistress and servant walked side by side to the ancestral hall. Each of them held three incense sticks, gathered them in front of their fingers, raised them above their foreheads, and bowed earnestly three times before carefully placing them into the incense burner before the ancestral tablet of the old master. With this parting, she could no longer be considered a member of the Liang family. If the old master still cared for her, he would bless her so that she could leave the Liang family smoothly and cleanly, and return to Jinling to settle down.
"I will definitely come back to see you next year," Shanhe thought to herself.
Before long, as they were lost in thought before the spirit tablet, the sun set in the west, its rays spreading across the blue brick floor of the ancestral hall, warming even their backs. Shanhe and Qingyue straightened up from their prayer cushions, turned around, and saw the two Liang brothers walking steadily toward them.
Similar eyebrows and eyes, similar figures, both with smiles on their faces, one gentle and refined, his smile restrained and proper, the other cheerful and unrestrained. Upon seeing Shanhe, he first took a few quick steps, leaving Liang Ye behind, and then generously showed off his white teeth before loudly proclaiming, "So Shanshan is here!" He went straight forward and took Shanhe's hand.
Shanhe composed herself, greeted him, and took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead: "What have you been doing? You're all sweaty."
The sweet fragrance reached his nose, and Liang Shao curved his lips into a smile, about to say, "I'm leaving—"
Liang Ye spoke in a deep voice, "Ah Shao, let's pay our respects to our grandfather together." He stopped him from saying anything further, meaning he didn't want Shan He to know.
Shanhe understood, and immediately turned around to take a few sticks of plain incense from the incense table, and distributed them to the Liang brothers. He then stood aside and watched as the two of them kowtowed and bowed their heads to offer incense.
As he stood up, all four eyes fell on her out of the corner of their eyes.
Shanhe, however, paid no attention, preoccupied with thinking about tomorrow night.
Cheng Min stood under the eaves, bowed and clasped her hands, saying, "Everything is ready, we can set off now."
So everyone composed themselves and silently withdrew from the ancestral hall.
With little time remaining, Lantaixuan and Shuyuge hurriedly moved their belongings onto the carriages that had been prepared. Because Liang Ye was going to the capital and wouldn't be back for a while, and they also needed to maintain good relationships with people in the capital, their belongings were enormous, filling three carriages.
Shanhe sat inside the carriage, peeking out from behind the curtain. Liang Shao was standing beside the carriage, helping to direct the unloading of luggage. Behind him, two maids gracefully stepped out from the doorway, each carrying a bulging bundle on their shoulder. Though their heads were bowed, their figures were slender and their movements gentle and charming. Shanhe paused for a moment, then remembered that they were the two maids she had seen at Lantai Pavilion that day.
Fan Niang and He Niang both lowered their heads and looked away, not daring to take another step. They remembered Cheng Min's instructions earlier: "Keep your heads down, don't let the Second Master see you. The Second Master doesn't like unfamiliar faces among the servants." Of course, it was just a made-up story, and Cheng Min knew that she shouldn't let Liang Shao see Fan and He Niang's faces.
The two carefully walked around the obstacle, supporting each other as they were about to get into the small, lacquered carriage behind them, when He Niang seemed to sense something and suddenly looked up at Shan He. Their eyes met, and their two similar faces were easily mistaken for each other at first glance. Even they themselves were slightly taken aback, as if they were looking in a mirror.
Shanhe's heart sank; she seemed to realize something. But the carriage had already slowly moved forward.
He Niang remained standing in place, her hand on the carriage shaft, and silently watched as Shan He's carriage passed her and moved forward, and Shan He's face also passed her and moved forward.
"Have two new maids arrived in your room, elder brother?" Shanhe lowered the carriage curtain.
Qingyue looked somewhat lost.
Suiwen smiled and said, "Yes, it is said that she was a courtesan from Pingkangfang before. She was sent by the governor, and the master kept her in the house."
"Oh, a courtesan, a gift from the governor." Shanhe pondered, "What are they called?"
“The older one is called Fan Niang, and the younger one is called He Niang.” Suiwen laughed somewhat carefree. “Speaking of which, He Niang does look a bit like you, Second Madam.”
Shanhe became interested: "Does it look very similar?"
"At first glance, they look alike. But upon closer inspection, they are quite different. Moreover, this little girl is timid and looks at people with fear, unlike her sister."
Shanhe recalled how timid she had been when she first arrived at the Liang family.
Seeing that Shanhe remained silent, Suiwen slowly realized what was happening and said awkwardly, "Oh dear! Isn't this against the Second Madam's name?" Qingyue echoed her sentiment.
No one suspected Liang Ye of doing it intentionally; everyone assumed that He Niang's name was originally He Niang. After all, everyone knew of Liang Ye's good reputation, and perhaps he was too busy to change He Niang's name. But if Liang Shao had such a person in the house, it would be somewhat suspicious, since he was a regular at Pingkangfang.
Shanhe smiled calmly, "It's alright. Anyway, she's someone from the main house; we won't see her again." Though she said this, she wasn't entirely at ease. Having someone like this in her husband's brother's room—everyone could see the resemblance to her, and coincidentally, her name contained a homophone—would make anyone ponder it. But then, thinking about it too much, she realized it wasn't a big deal. Liang Ye was very principled; perhaps he hadn't considered such details, or maybe he simply forgot to change his name to avoid the taboo. Thinking this way, it seemed she was just being overly suspicious.
The cabin was definitely different from the shore. Although there was an incense burner inside, burning aloeswood, it still couldn't suppress the fishy smell unique to the water. In addition, the ship rocked gently, which felt leisurely and pleasant during the day, but became particularly clear when it was time to fall asleep. Lying on the bed, one felt as if one's internal organs had lost their support, hanging loosely, and one couldn't help but feel nauseous.
Liang Ye, being considerate and thoughtful, personally delivered benzoin incense, saying that this item was better than agarwood for calming the mind and aiding sleep.
As the incense burned, it slowly swirled around the bed curtains, like auspicious clouds protecting the bed. A few strands of white smoke, faintly circling, seemed like ghosts in the night. Thinking that tonight was the last night, Shanhe's heart pounded like a drum, her thoughts growing increasingly chaotic. She stared wide-eyed until the incense was about to go out, but still couldn't fall asleep. Beside her, Liang Shao, however, was breathing evenly and deeply, one arm around Shanhe's waist, his eyes already closed and fast asleep.
This night was ultimately unbearable.
The next day, after getting up and dressing, a number of people had already gathered on the deck. Liang Ye stood calmly among the crowd, receiving blessings and praise from all sides, his expression unchanged. He simply gazed at the horizon with a faint smile on his lips, occasionally speaking, always with composure.
They were all unfamiliar young men. Shanhe knew they were Liang Ye's classmates or brothers from the same clan, so she said to Liang Shao, "There are too many people, you go ahead. I'm not comfortable on the boat, I'll stay here a while longer. Call me when the banquet starts tonight."
Liang Shao knew it was an attempt to avoid suspicion, so he squeezed her hand and whispered, "I'll come see you later." With that, he walked towards the crowd.
Shanhe did not leave immediately, but leaned against the railing and gazed at the clear blue water for a while, a misty feeling floating in her heart.
A moment later, laughter erupted from the crowd, and Shanhe couldn't help but look back. Liang Shao was already standing in the center of the crowd, smiling and saying something, surrounded by laughter. No one was unmoved, except—
Only Liang Ye.
Liang Ye had a smile on his lips, but Shan He was certain that he was indifferent inside.
Liang Ye also looked over, his gaze intense, passing over the crowd and his brother, landing on his sister-in-law in the corner. He nodded slightly in greeting.
Shanhe bowed to him.
Back in the house, Qingyue had already packed all the bundles neatly. They didn't have much luggage; Shanhe had two bundles, while Qingyue only had one, making it convenient for their journey.
Seeing Shanhe come in, Qingyue brought out a shirt and said, "I stayed up late last night and sewed a small bag. What do you think?"
Shanhe picked up the shirt and saw that it was a small bag sewn inside. It was big enough to hide important items close to the body, and it made her feel at ease when traveling.
The last few hours are up.
Shanhe's mind was filled with thoughts of what was about to happen tonight, but Liang Ye hadn't sent anyone yet, and she didn't know how she would leave.
Not only was Shanhe nervous, but Qingyue also became nervous.
Liang Ye wouldn't forget, would he?
Perhaps it was the rocking of the boat that made the tension even more vivid and distinct. The slightest movement made Shanhe suspicious, wondering if she had given herself away, or if something had delayed Liang Ye.
At noon, the young men gathered together for lunch and wine. Shanhe and the other ladies should have been seated at a separate table, but they all felt tired after boarding the ship and were too lazy to socialize. So the ladies ate their lunch hastily in their respective cabins, planning to gather again in the evening. Qingyue and Suiwen brought over a food box with dishes. Just as they took a bite, Chengmin suddenly appeared, bowed, and stood outside the door, saying, "Master sent me to ask if the Second Madam is satisfied with the food on the ship?"
They've arrived.
Shanhe breathed a sigh of relief: "It's alright." Then she said to Qingyue and Suiwen, "You two go and eat too, you don't need to stay here and serve me."
After Qingyue and Suiwen left, Chengmin lifted her eyelids, slowly approached, and presented a brand-new envelope with both hands.
"What is this?" Shanhe opened it and found two divorce papers.
The document was complete, with clear witness signatures and seals, even the official seals and registration were meticulously prepared. Upon seeing the signature, Shanhe couldn't help but gasp; it was clearly her and Liang Shao's handwriting!
"Thank you for your trouble, sir." Shanhe tried her best to suppress the trembling in her voice, but in her heart she was trying to recall exactly when Liang Ye had made this divorce agreement.
Moreover, even if the handwriting is forged, what about the signature?
Shanhe felt a chill run down his spine.
Cheng Min was pouring sleeping potion into the teapot with her head down, her tone flat: "Wait until after the banquet before you leave."
"What?"
“After the banquet, when Second Master returns, coax him to drink a cup of tea. After he falls asleep, change into Suiwen’s clothes, and I will see you off.” He took out another small paper packet and placed it on the corner of the table. “This is for Suiwen. Just to make her seasick tonight, she’ll be fine tomorrow, nothing else.”
Shanhe gave a soft "hmm".
Cheng Min's footsteps were very light. When Shan He looked up again, she was the only one left in the room.
Perhaps due to nervousness, she ate very little for lunch, and didn't touch the fragrant herbal drink in the covered bowl. Shanhe narrowed her eyes, called Qingyue over, and gave the uneaten dishes and fragrant herbal drink to her and Suiwen.
During their midday rest, Liang Shao and Shan He lay reclining on the mother-of-pearl inlaid bed, leaning against soft pillows, listening to Liang Shao recount the events of the midday feast. Shan He responded only half-heartedly, but Liang Shao patiently explained every detail, leaving no stone unturned.
Shanhe propped her head up with her hand: "You have a good memory."
Liang Shao laughed: "I've always had a good memory since I was a child."
"Why not continue reading like your older brother?"
“Those books are wrong,” he continued, about to recount the amusing incident at the dinner table.
Shanhe suddenly covered his mouth: "Ah Shao..."
Liang Shao propped his chin up and looked at her, his eyes crinkling with laughter: "What's wrong?"
"...It's nothing." She had intended to warn Liang Shao to be wary of Liang Ye, but didn't know how to begin. Then she thought, although Liang Ye was cunning, he had always been devoted to his younger brother; this shouldn't change. Shanhe sighed deeply and ultimately decided to remain silent.
Liang Shao pulled her hand away: "There must be something, why don't you tell me?"
"I feel very tired." This was the truth; I wasn't lying to him.
Liang Shao laughed, "You've rested all morning, are you still so tired?"
"I'm exhausted." Shanhe buried her face in the pillow and sighed.
Liang Shao leaned closer, his lips brushing against her earlobe: "Then I'll serve Second Madam." He placed his hand on Shanhe's waist: "Is it here?"
Shanhe shook her head, her voice muffled: "No."
He placed his hand on the back of her neck again: "Here?"
No, not exactly.
"Where is that?"
Shanhe peeked out with one eye, lifting her eyelid: "I feel tired all over." Actually, it was her heart that was tired. When a person is tired, the most tired part is the heart. This is the truth.
Liang Shao immediately put his hand under Shanhe's armpit, tickling her while laughing and scolding, "Little girl, you're playing tricks on your second master!"
Shanhe couldn't hold back her laughter and tried desperately to suppress it, almost bursting into tears. Finally, this rascal stopped, and Shanhe gradually stopped laughing, only to find that he was now sitting on her waist and abdomen, tightly holding her two fair wrists, his gaze burning.
Their eyes met, and both were taken aback. Liang Shao's Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice was somewhat hoarse: "Shanshan..."
"Um?"
He smiled and asked, "May I kiss you today?"
He placed his hand on Shanhe's shoulder.
There was a knock on the cabin door. Shanhe's heart skipped a beat. She quickly pushed Liang Shao away, sat up, straightened her thin shirt, and called out, "What's wrong?"
Qingyue stood outside the door and said, "Second Master, Second Madam, Sui's tattoo is not good, she must be seasick, I'm afraid she can't come close to serve you today."
Liang Shao leaned against the wall, looking dejected, listening to Shanhe earnestly instructing him on how to administer medicine to Suiwen, and then to tell Qingyue to keep a close eye on Suiwen and not to come over to serve her as often as before. Shanhe seemed to be deliberately procrastinating, speaking slowly and at length. After finishing about Suiwen, she asked Qingyue how she was feeling and whether she was adapting well; the two seemed to want to chat through the door. Liang Shao grew impatient, pouted, and wrapped his arms around Shanhe's waist from behind, nibbling at the back of her neck.
"Hiss." Shanhe gasped, "You—"
Liang Shao poked his head out: "You didn't refuse just now."
“But I didn’t agree either.” Shanhe lowered his voice.
“But that doesn’t count as a kiss.” Liang Shao tilted his head.
Shanhe pushed him away, raising her voice slightly: "I don't want to."
Standing outside the door, unable to see inside, Qingyue asked in confusion, "Huh? What do you mean you don't want?"
Liang Shao released his grip and chuckled softly, "Quickly, tell me what you don't want? What don't you want? Tell Qingyue."
Shanhe rolled her eyes at him and raised her voice again: "Don't come to serve me this afternoon. If there's anything, I'll ring the bell to call you. You should go back and rest for a while."
The cabin where Qingyue and Suiwen lived was not far from the one where Shanhe and Liangshao lived. The two cabins were connected by a thin line, so if one person rang a bell in one cabin, the other person could hear it.
After Qingyue left, Liang Shao leaned against her with an air of superiority, smiling at her. Shanhe ignored him and tried to get up, but Liang Shao pulled her back and held her in his arms. His hot chest pressed against her back.
"I promised to serve you, so you can enjoy the good life that comes with it."
He pressed Shanhe down onto the silver-threaded cushion, slipped on his shoes, and got out of bed, feigning a respectful greeting: "This humble servant, Liang Er, will obey Second Mistress's orders. What does Second Mistress need?"
Shanhe finally smiled, her lips pursed.
Liang Shao looked at her and smiled.
Just as Shanhe was about to speak, a series of loud footsteps suddenly sounded outside, followed by a deafening commotion that sounded like a murder.
Liang Shao and Shan He were both taken aback.
Cheng Bao, breathless, pounded on the door and cried, "Fire! The small storeroom downstairs is flooded!"
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Author's Note: Next chapter: Shanhe runs away! [Stand-up rabbit head emoji] [Stand-up rabbit head emoji] [Stand-up rabbit head emoji]
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