Chapter 51 She nestled in her arms like a porcelain doll…
Liang Ye leaned comfortably against the soft cushion, with a person sleeping in his arms whose skin was slightly warm. Her skin was fair and smooth as jade, with black hair and red lips. The newly branded marks on her shoulders and chest made her look like a white porcelain doll curled up in his arms, making his heart soften again and again.
Shanhe looked up at him, a light sheen of sweat clinging to her forehead. She smiled at him. He couldn't help but reach out and brush the stray hairs away, then lingered his hand on her cheek, watching her close her eyes, her head resting on his hand.
Shanhe rested her head in his palm and sighed softly, "Grandpa, I have nothing left. I have no home, and no one to rely on." She once thought she could be her own support, but now she realized that in the face of power, everything is meaningless.
Liang Ye chuckled and pinched the tip of her nose: "You're being silly. You have nothing to rely on, so what am I?"
Can I trust you?
Hearing the seriousness of her question, Liang Ye couldn't help but answer seriously: "Shanshan, as long as you're truly with me, you'll get everything you're entitled to. Just tell me what you want." Except for the position of the principal wife. He didn't say that he didn't want to say anything sentimental or calculating to Shanhe at this time.
Shanhe slowly opened her eyes, her dark pupils fixed on him: "Liang Ye, I don't want much. I don't want any empty fame or glory. Just give me a place to settle down, a place to settle Qingyue, that's enough. I know I'm gentle. But I also know I'm a bit stubborn. So, when you take me to the capital, could you please not tell anyone about my... my past relationship with the Second Master? Could you just let me be a simple maid, and say I was picked up, a domesticated child, someone you came from anywhere, but don't say I'm that Jinling Xue family woman whose family was raided by His Majesty, okay?"
Liang Ye remained silent for a moment, then replied, "...Okay."
“And,” Shanhe hurriedly grasped his hand, “Qingyue is the only one left in my family, could you…” she couldn’t help but sob, “treat her a little better? Don’t hit her, don’t let anyone mistreat her. In a few days, I still want to help her find a good husband… Master, I have you now, but she still only has me. She traveled all the way from Jinling to Mizhou with me, and now she’s coming to the capital with me. She hasn’t had a single good day, yet she’s suffered so much for no reason. I… I just can’t bear it. Last time she was beaten like that, I wished I could take her place…”
She buried her face in Liang Ye's chest and wept, the tears slowly streaming down his muscles and creases.
Liang Ye stroked her handful of cool, black hair and suddenly wanted to exclaim: So this is the honey trap.
She lay there on top of him, completely naked, pleading with him. He couldn't refuse her; she still carried his scent, his marks, the imprint he had left on her.
So, "Okay, goodness."
For the next two days, Liang Ye completely forgot his promise to come in the afternoon, have dinner, and then leave. After having dinner at Shan He's place, he went back to handle official business and correspondence, while Shan He went to visit Qing Yue. By the time Shan He returned from his bath, he had also finished bathing and was reading on his couch.
Granny Wei was rarely seen anymore; even when Shanhe encountered her, they went their separate ways. Shanhe heard from Caiping that Granny Wei had secretly gone to see Liang Ye. Liang Ye readily gave her the money, but also told Granny Wei, "Madam Xue is much more docile now, though still a bit stubborn, but that's alright. Granny, you don't need to bother with her. As for Qingyue, you don't need to worry about her either. Just dismiss all the maids who help take care of Qingyue. Anyway, now that Madam Xue has Miao'er in her room, she can help take care of the sick. Granny, just manage the household affairs for me." With these words, Liang Ye had placed Shanhe on a similar level to Granny Wei, clearly dividing Granny Wei's power. Granny Wei could no longer manage or order around Qingyue and Miao'er.
Especially Miao'er, after gradually getting to know the people on the boat, everyone discovered that she was actually quite clever. Occasionally, she would subtly tease Granny Wei, but she always managed to dodge it. If she couldn't, she would politely bow and apologize to Granny Wei, saying, "Oh, Granny Wei, I'm young and really don't understand these things. Please don't take offense at my petty nature. I'll go back and immediately ask Madam Xue to teach me properly. If I do it again, I'll have Madam Xue slap me!" These words implied that Granny Wei should be magnanimous and forgiving, and shouldn't be so petty as to argue with a young maid. They also implied that since she was under Xue Shanhe's jurisdiction, any punishment should be handed to Xue Shanhe. Later, when the matter actually reached Shanhe, Shanhe followed the precedent set by Cheng Min and fined Miao'er a month's wages. Granny Wei had no choice but to accept it. After all, the maids' food, clothing, and daily necessities were all provided by the master, and a month's wages shortage wouldn't have been a big deal.
On June 30th, the painted boat gradually approached the shore. Servants and maids bustled about, packing trunks and luggage. Liang Ye was also in the room where the paintings and calligraphy were stored, supervising Huai Song and Huai Feng as they moved the items. Cheng An led the two men ashore first to hand over the items, and soon returned, panting. Liang Ye was examining several of Old Master Liang's calligraphic works when he saw Cheng An's state and couldn't help but laugh, "I've rarely seen you in such a fluster. Tell me, what happened?"
Cheng An, panting heavily, replied, "There are two groups of people on the shore. Besides the people sent by Elder Ouyang to pick us up as previously agreed, the Shi family has also sent people to pick us up!"
Liang Ye's eyes narrowed: "Never mind, just have the Ouyang family's servants board the ship to help carry the luggage."
"This is probably not good," Cheng An said breathlessly. "The Ouyang family sent Steward Lin, a total of eight or nine servants, and two carriages. As for the Shi family, Aunt and Young Master Shi came in person, a huge crowd. Right now, Young Master Shi is talking to the dockworkers, saying that he came specially to pick you up!"
The maternal aunt was Mrs. Zhou, Liang Ye's maternal aunt; the cousin was Shi Yuanji, Liang Ye's cousin, who was currently a sixth-rank official.
In the past two years, their relationship with the Shi family had become distant. Even at the funeral of the old master, the Shi family only sent Shi Yuanji to kowtow and pay their respects, saying that the old master's old illness had relapsed and it was not advisable for him to travel far. The Liang brothers were naturally unhappy about this.
Therefore, when Liang Ye returned to the capital, he only wrote a letter to Ouyang Shizhong. Since Liang Ye's current status was not high enough, it was only proper and in accordance with the rules that the Ouyang family sent Steward Lin to pick him up.
Now, Mrs. Zhou and Shi Yuanji have both come to greet us so abruptly, and they've specifically told outsiders that they've come to take Liang Ye's family away, clearly indicating that they intend to challenge the Ouyang family. But Mrs. Zhou is a fourth-rank noblewoman, and Shi Yuanji is a sixth-rank official; how can Steward Lin possibly handle this? Liang Ye is caught in the middle between the Shi and Ouyang families, a truly difficult situation. Considering blood ties and the social status of those who have come, Liang Ye should go with the Shi family. But in his heart, he naturally wants to stay at the Ouyang family's house.
Liang Ye's face darkened, and he handed several scrolls of calligraphy to Huai Song: "Have the old master's things carefully put away. Call Madam Xue over and have her keep an eye on things." After saying that, he led Cheng An straight off the boat.
Meanwhile, Shanhe was tidying up with the others in the room when Huaisong suddenly called her over, saying that the master had asked her to help oversee the moving of the calligraphy and paintings. On the way, Shanhe appeared calm as she followed Huaisong, but in reality, she was quickly calculating her next move. Since she came to Liang Ye's side, she had been nothing more than a maid, only able to deal with Liang Ye's constant pestering and occasionally dealing with Granny Wei. The rest of her time was spent alone or with Qingyue; there was nothing else.
Asking her to help arrange calligraphy and paintings at this moment undoubtedly shows that Liang Ye trusts her more. This is a good thing. Once Liang Ye fully trusts her, she can then find a way to steal her slave registration documents.
Despite her thoughts, Shanhe still tried to sound obedient: "Huaisong, what's so important? Why did you suddenly call me?"
Huai Song then recounted in detail what Cheng An had just reported. Upon hearing this, Shan He knew that Liang Ye was unlikely to get his way this time. The person sent by the Shi family, in terms of both kinship and rank, was superior to Steward Lin of the Ouyang family. At this crucial moment of the imperial examination, if she refused her maternal family's generous offer, her reputation would likely be damaged.
Sure enough, just as Shanhe finished watching the servants pack up the paintings and calligraphy, a commotion broke out outside. Listening closely, she heard someone shouting, "Watch your hands and feet! If you bump into anything belonging to Master Liang, his wife will skin you alive when we get back!"
Then another woman's voice rang out, perfectly composed: "You're always ruining my reputation outside. I'll skin you alive when I get back!"
The shouting subsided, replaced by a pleading tone: "Mother, spare my life!"
Shanhe guessed that this must be his maternal aunt, Madam Zhou, and his cousin, Shi Yuanji. He hurriedly told the servants in the calligraphy and painting room, "Once the things are put away, go out and pay your respects to your maternal aunt and cousin."
Having said that, Shanhe first gathered her skirts and bowed to the mother and son in front of her. Liang Ye followed behind them, his face cold.
Mrs. Zhou glanced at the maidservant casually and said, "Hmm, get up. Ye-ge'er, is this also a place to put your luggage?"
Liang Ye said calmly, "Yes, they're all books and paintings."
Shi Yuanji nodded: "How many items are there in each category?"
"Seventy-six volumes of calligraphy, and forty-two paintings in the collection."
Mrs. Zhou nodded: "Yes, your grandfather was particularly skilled in calligraphy, and even the palace collected two of his scrolls." As she walked towards the calligraphy and painting room, she turned around and asked with a smile: "Ye-ge'er, how many of his works did the old man leave behind?"
Shanhe quickly bowed her head and made way for Mrs. Zhou and her entourage to enter. A flurry of footsteps appeared before her, and suddenly a pair of black boots came into Shanhe's view, abruptly stopping. The man raised his hand, pinched Shanhe's chin, and whispered, "Go back to your room."
Shanhe lowered her head even further and said, "Okay." She tried to leave, but the man wouldn't let go. He grabbed her chin, then took the opportunity to twist her neck and rub her earlobe, which was adorned with a gold earring. Only then did he release her and stride inside.
Those inside were already bewildered. Turning their heads, they saw a figure in flowing robes disappear into the doorway. Mrs. Zhou frowned slightly: "Ye-ge'er, what's wrong?"
Liang Ye walked in and answered perfunctorily, "About twenty paintings, half for me and half for Ah Shao." He paused, then smiled, "However, most of them are still in Mizhou."
When Shanhe returned to her room, her belongings had been almost completely moved. Caixiang and Caiping were sitting in her room. Seeing her arrive, Caixiang quickly stood up and smiled, "Madam, are you done with your work?"
Shanhe nodded with a smile: "Why did you all come over? Aren't you busy outside?"
Cai Ping pouted and said, "I've come to take refuge!"
Cai Xiang glared at her before saying, "Didn't the Shi family members come aboard to help? There are many of them, and we're all familiar with each other's work, so Granny Wei told us to rest. Once we help Qingyue down, there's nothing more for us to do."
Cai Ping couldn't help but say, "That's strange! The one who rents the boat is the boss, and the luggage is also the boss's. But now that the Shi family has arrived, it seems like everything belongs to them. Even we have to listen to their orders and commands, and they even say we're getting in the way. What kind of people are they! We're all subordinates, who's more noble than whom!"
Shanhe couldn't help but laugh: "Isn't it good to have some peace and quiet? Oh, where's Granny Wei?"
Cai Ping rolled her eyes: "That old hag, she's such a fickle old woman. Now she's back to being a respectable old nanny from the Shi family! She's not on our side at all."
“That’s not far from the truth,” Shanhe said with a smile. She walked straight over, put her arm around Caiping’s shoulder and sat down. Caixiang took the opportunity to pour a cup of tea and placed it in front of Shanhe.
Shanhe smiled at her and said, "Thank you." Then she said to Caiping, "I'm afraid Granny Wei will be punished in a few days."
"Punish her?" Cai Ping perked up. "Who can punish her? The old man respects her so much, who will punish her?"
Shanhe said, "Of course I am your master."
"I don't understand either."
Cai Xiang's eyes darted around as she followed those words, and she discerned Shan He's meaning. She hesitated and asked, "Does Madam mean that the Shi family was able to know so accurately which day we would dock because of what Granny Wei said?"
Shanhe nodded: "Neither the eldest nor the second eldest master likes the Shi family. Today, the Ouyang family also sent people, which shows that the eldest master originally planned to stay at the Ouyang family's place. But the Shi family sent people over, including the maternal aunt and the young master. Tell me, among our group, who is most likely to associate with the Shi family?"
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