Chapter 61 (Bonus Chapter with Nutrient Solution) Mingrui's Fragrant Heart...
By noon, Shanhe had become somewhat familiar with the maids at Yaochun Pavilion. Yunqin went to call for lunch, but Tishuntang sent a maid over to tell Mingrui, "Madam is inviting the Third Miss to lunch together."
Mingrui smiled and said, "Let's eat here, Miss Shanhe and I."
The maid said, "Master Ye has arrived, and the master and mistress are both here. It would be inappropriate for you not to go, Miss."
Mingrui had no choice but to agree. She went back to her room to change her clothes and comb her hair again before following the maid. Before leaving, Mingrui said to Shanhe, "Sister Shanhe, wait for me here. I'll come back to play with you after we finish our meal."
Shanhe nodded with a smile.
Meanwhile, Mingrui followed her maid to Tishun Hall, where Mama Sheng was leading people to serve the dishes. Maids carrying wine and food entered in single file, while Madam Zhou stood aside to supervise. Seeing Mingrui lift the curtain and enter, Madam Zhou quickly put on a smile, looked Mingrui up and down carefully, and frowned slightly: "I knew you would wear this old dress."
Mingrui looked her over from head to toe as Mrs. Zhou looked her up and down and laughed: "At home, don't you wear these everyday clothes?"
"Your cousin Liang is going to dine with us. Come to think of it, this is the first time you've met, shouldn't you dress up a bit?"
Mingrui stopped laughing, turned her face away, and said shyly, "We're all family, if I dress up specially, it would seem like I'm trying too hard."
Mrs. Zhou hesitated for a moment, then said, "Alright. Mama Sheng, bring the necklace with inlaid tassels from the plum blossom box on the dressing table and put it on the Third Miss."
“Mother…” Mingrui hesitated before speaking, “I’m only sixteen, I can still stay with Father and Mother for two more years. Besides… I always feel that Liang Ye isn’t as good as you all think.”
"How do you know if you've never even seen him?"
“I just spoke with Sister Shanhe, and she seemed sullen and unhappy,” Mingrui added. “It wasn’t just because of what happened this morning.”
Mrs. Zhou carefully adjusted the floral ornaments in Mingrui's hair, saying nonchalantly, "Her unhappiness has other reasons, and has nothing to do with Liang Ye. Nor does it have anything to do with you."
Seeing her mother's reaction, Mingrui quickly said, "Mother, are you secretly trying to trip her up? Mother, she didn't do anything wrong, and she's not even a member of our household. You can't do that."
Mrs. Zhou glanced at her: "Silly girl, how did your father and I end up with such a simple-minded girl like you? Why would I make things difficult for her? Even if I did, it would only be for your sake." She patted Mingrui's hand, "Alright, alright, go to Mama Sheng and put the necklace on. Whether you like it or not, you have to be polite and well-mannered later, understand?"
Mingrui pouted: "You all say he's good, but when I saw Sister Shanhe today, why was she like that? If he were really a good person, shouldn't Shanhe be living like a flower? You're not choosing a husband for me, you're clearly choosing good-looking sons-in-law for yourselves! You say you want me to be pleasing to the eye before you choose, but whether I'm pleasing to the eye or not, it has to be pleasing to your eye first before it counts!" After saying that, she turned around and went into the inner room in a huff.
Mrs. Zhou watched silently as Mingrui's figure disappeared through the flower-covered doorway, feeling somewhat disheartened. She had raised Rui'er very well; she was polite, sensible, and considerate. Even when Rui'er secretly read those inappropriate books, she never deliberately reprimanded her, and even helped cover for her in front of her husband. Those were Rui'er's beautiful secrets, and she wanted to help Rui'er cherish and protect them.
Mrs. Zhou, just forty-one years old, still remembered the girlish thoughts she harbored more than twenty years ago, hidden away in her boudoir. Therefore, she hoped her two daughters would live better lives than she had, able to do things she herself hadn't dared to do or couldn't do back then. But now, Mrs. Zhou found that Rui'er had read too many books, her heart had become wild, and her standards had risen. She had already given Rui'er so much freedom, even wanting Rui'er to see potential suitors before they were even engaged. Why was Rui'er so dissatisfied? Could it be that Rui'er wanted to emulate those rotten, forbidden books, to become like the heartbroken and tormented Du Liniang and Cui Yingying? Thinking of this, Mrs. Zhou felt a chill run down her spine. She couldn't let Rui'er go astray. Hua'er and Rui'er were like the palms of her left and right hands; if either one was ruined, her hand would be crippled! She couldn't bear to watch such good girls grow up to be ruined!
Mrs. Zhou looked at Shi Mingrui, who was wearing a necklace and had her head down behind the flower-covered door, and her smooth eyebrows gradually furrowed.
Just as the dishes were laid out, word came from the front yard that the master and Master Ye had returned and would come over immediately after changing their clothes.
Mrs. Zhou sat in a pearwood armchair with a bamboo cushion, listening to Mama Sheng and others report on the trivial matters of the household. Mingrui sat to the side, engrossed in reading a collection of poems. Seeing this, Mrs. Zhou frowned and ordered someone to fetch an embroidery hoop, forcing Mingrui to act like a gentle and virtuous lady.
Mingrui gripped the needle, growing angrier with each passing thought. She plunged the needle into the taut silk, unwilling to pull it out, and simply slammed it down on her lap, declaring, "I don't want to embroider anymore. I want to read!"
Mrs. Zhou was also annoyed: "Rui'er, don't you listen to your mother anymore?" She shoved the embroidery hoop into Mingrui's hands, "Hold it tight! If you're going to pretend, at least make it look real!"
Mingrui looked down at the embroidery frame in her hands, feeling a surge of anger rising to her throat. Her mother had always been kind and good to her, so why did she change so drastically when marriage was mentioned? Why did she have to get married? Why couldn't she stay by her parents' side forever? Why couldn't she find a good husband for herself? Mingrui felt as if her heart could be split in two, one half filled with resentment, the other with grievance. Her hands trembled, and the image of the crabapple blossom on the embroidery frame became increasingly glaring, as if it weren't a flower, but her marriage, something anyone could embroider. Even after someone else finished, whether it was good or bad, they would still tell Mingrui, "You embroidered this yourself; it suits your own taste." Mingrui looked around the room. The maids stood against the walls, and the matrons lowered their eyes, holding their breath. Everywhere were people serving her, all eagerly crowding around her, trying to curry favor with Liang Ye, a complete stranger!
Mingrui's gaze fixed on the large red felt curtain, but there was no one standing there. She raised her embroidery hoop and hurled it forcefully at that spot, saying, "I'm not going to pretend!"
The embroidery hoop flew through the air, soaring over the crowd and heading straight for the felt curtain.
Just then, the curtain was lifted from the outside. A hand with well-defined knuckles and neatly trimmed nails lifted the curtain and took the blow squarely.
A hiss came from behind the curtain, followed by a sharp gasp of pain.
The slender hand trembled slightly before quickly disappearing behind the felt curtain. Immediately afterward, Shi Maotong's voice rang out: "What's going on?"
Then came another forced laugh: "It's alright, Uncle."
Everyone panicked, knowing that Liang Ye had been hit. Mrs. Zhou quickly stood up, pointed at Mingrui with a hint of disappointment in her voice, and said, "You! Why are you following in Meng Chiying's footsteps? You've always been the most obedient one!" After saying that, she hurriedly went out to greet her.
Mingrui was filled with remorse and fear. She didn't know what had gotten into her; there was a surge of anger in her chest, as if it would burst if she didn't release it. She also didn't know why she had vented her anger in this way; she never hit anyone or smashed things. Thinking this, Mingrui suddenly felt extremely disappointed in herself and couldn't help but shed tears. Just as she picked up her handkerchief to wipe her tears, the felt curtain swayed, and Shi Maotong, Liang Ye, and Mrs. Zhou entered one after another.
Mingrui, her eyes blurry with tears, looked over and saw a tall, handsome young man walking between her parents. He wore a dark blue silk robe, a sandalwood sash around his waist, and a white jade dragon pendant hanging from it. As he drew closer, she could see his face clearly: a face like jade, sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, his gaze exuding a refined elegance. His nose was straight and his lips thin and pale, and his demeanor always carried an air of gentle refinement.
Liang Ye entered, supporting himself with his injured hand. Blood had seeped from the back of his hand, caused by the embroidery needle that had just stuck in the embroidery frame. Beneath the injured hand lay the broken branch of crabapple blossoms that Mingrui had just embroidered. His expression was calm, and he merely smiled faintly at Madam Zhou's guilt and Shi Maotong's anger, as if the injury and pain were not his own.
Mingrui felt he looked familiar, racking her brains to confirm she had never seen him before. Seeing that he had injured his hand because of her mistake, Mingrui felt both ashamed and remorseful, lowering her face. But then she noticed the collection of poems lying quietly beside her knees, and suddenly felt a jolt in her mind. She had never seen it in person, but she had read about it in books and imagined it while composing poems. The elegant and refined gentlemen in those books must have looked just like him.
Mingrui blushed even more at the thought and dared not look up.
Seeing Mingrui sitting to the side with her head down, neither greeting nor speaking, Shi Maotong grew increasingly annoyed: "Rui'er! You've made a mistake, and you've even forgotten your manners!"
Mingrui hurriedly stood up and walked over, her heart pounding. She bowed and greeted, "Greetings, Cousin Liang Ye."
Liang Ye smiled and nodded in return, then called Huai Song to bring out a collection of poems in a blue cloth case with a yellow silk label. He looked at the collection on the chair, his smile undiminished: "I heard from my uncle the other day that my third sister loves poetry and often composes her own lyrics for enjoyment. Seeing it today, I can confirm it's true. I happen to have a few collections by famous poets from previous dynasties, and now they've finally found their rightful owner."
Upon hearing this, Mingrui felt even more ashamed. Stealing a glance, she saw that the blood on Liang Ye's hand had already congealed, but he seemed completely unconcerned, remaining calm and composed. She whispered, "I was careless just now and accidentally injured you, cousin. It was truly my fault. Please forgive me, cousin." Her face burned even more.
Liang Ye slightly stepped aside to avoid the full bow, handed the embroidery hoop back to Mingrui, and replied with a smile, "It's alright."
Seeing Liang Ye's magnanimity, Shi Maotong's expression softened slightly, but he still said in a deep voice, "Rui'er has really been rude today. Why don't you quickly invite your cousin to take a seat?"
Mrs. Zhou hurriedly invited everyone to take their seats. The table was full of cold dishes. After everyone was seated, the maids filed forward one by one to serve the dishes and pour the wine. For a moment, all that could be heard was the sound of clinking glasses and chopsticks.
During the meal, Liang Ye and Shi Maotong discussed the political situation and economics, both offering insightful observations. Madam Zhou grew increasingly pleased, glancing frequently at Mingrui, but seeing her daughter remain silent with her head bowed, she felt a growing anxiety. Just then, Liang Ye and Shi Maotong began discussing Du Wen, the reclusive poet who had served during the late emperor's reign and then voluntarily resigned. Madam Zhou spoke up at the opportune moment, smiling, "I may not know others, but I do know Du Wen. Doesn't Rui'er have several volumes of Du Wen's works? Two years ago, when the Consort visited her family, Rui'er composed a poem by Du Wen, and the Consort selected it as the best. Was it a poem by Du Wen?" Madam Zhou turned to Mingrui and asked with a smile.
Caught off guard by being called out by name, Mingrui was startled. She looked up and saw that her father and mother were both looking at her. Liang Ye also looked over, his warm, watery eyes shining like stars. His voice was soft, with an unyielding smile: "Is that so?"
Mingrui's heart pounded like a drum, and her words, burning her tongue, blurted out: "Yes, it's about magnolias. 'Fragrance wafts like golden threads in the wind, souls wander like stars under the moon. Would one willingly let life turn into drifting duckweed...'" Mingrui suddenly realized that perhaps she shouldn't have recited all her poems in front of a man. The last sentence stuck in her throat, and Mingrui frowned slightly, unsure whether to speak or remain silent.
Liang Ye lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment before saying, "Is it the poem 'Ode to the Plum Blossom' that you've transformed into? Du Wen's last line is 'The mist and clouds have boiled away a thousand years of sorrow,' which is truly transcendent and otherworldly. If I were you... would I be willing to turn my fleeting life into a drifting duckweed..." He thought for a moment, then suddenly smiled gently, "Perhaps I would write 'I would not entrust my life to the muddy boat of the human world.'"
Upon hearing this, Mingrui's eyes lit up immediately, and she hurriedly said, "I wrote 'Not to get muddy in the human world'."
The four people at the table burst into laughter. Shi Maotong and Mrs. Zhou exchanged a glance and both smiled.
Shi Maotong spoke up at the right moment: "As expected of someone who has achieved the third-highest rank in the imperial examinations, this 'not letting oneself be placed in the muddy boat' is indeed more refined and elegant than 'not wanting to get one's hands dirty in the mud.' It is also more resolute. Rui'er, you should learn from your cousin Liang Ye how to write poetry."
"The third-place scholar?" Mrs. Zhou quickly followed up, "Isn't the results only released tomorrow?"
Shi Maotong stroked his beard and said, "His Majesty arranged the order last night, and the list of successful candidates has now been handed over to the Ministry of Rites and the Education Commissioner, who have instructed them to have it copied."
Mrs. Zhou congratulated Liang Ye, who nodded and smiled, "Thank you for your concern, Aunt."
The meal proceeded in a harmonious atmosphere. Both Shi Maotong and Mrs. Zhou could tell that Mingrui likely had feelings for Liang Ye, but being a shy young woman, she was too embarrassed to express them openly; the shyness in her eyes couldn't hide it from her parents. After Liang Ye and Shi Mingrui returned to their rooms, Shi Maotong said to Mrs. Zhou, "Hurry up. Attendant Ouyang is quite fond of that Su Xizhao from the Su family."
Mrs. Zhou clung to her husband's arm: "What does Liang Ye really think?"
Shi Maotong pondered for a moment and said, "Him? He may not say it to his face, but I think he would prefer to follow the path of Ouyang Shizhong. By the way," Shi Maotong looked at Madam Zhou's face, "he told me today that Liang Shao went to Beichuan to join the army."
"Beichuan?" Mrs. Zhou almost exclaimed in shock. "He went alone? Why didn't he say anything beforehand? That foolish child! Doesn't he have a wife at home? He has absolutely no manners!"
"Who can understand him? This second son is much more troublesome than Liang Ye. At least Liang Ye is polite and follows the rules; he can understand reason. That Liang Shao, ah! A rebellious and muddle-headed brat!" Shi Maotong pursed his lips and said, "I heard from Liang Ye that he has divorced that Xue family. Now he can enter officialdom. According to Liang Ye, he seems to want me to step in and transfer Liang Shao back. There are indeed vacancies in the Ministry of War, but where is there a place for Liang Shao?"
Mrs. Zhou asked doubtfully, "What do you mean? Just give him a minor official position, even a bodyguard would do. Wouldn't it be better to send him to the military examination next year?"
Shi Maotong narrowed his eyes: "I wish I could! Have you forgotten who the Minister of War is now?"
"Qiu Hongyuan, what's wrong?"
Shi Maotong sneered: "Then have you forgotten who punched his son's face?"
Mrs. Zhou's heart turned cold.
Shi Maotong continued, "That's enough. Yuanji is still doing alright, and Liang Ye has a bright future. With the two of them, that's more than enough. I'll agree for now. If Liang Shao can't be transferred back, it'll all be because of Qiu Hongyuan's obstruction."
Mrs. Zhou lowered her eyes and thought for a moment, then nodded: "That's right. Liang Shao's grandfather couldn't control him before. If we bring him here, who can control him? Not to mention that there are nobles everywhere in the capital. If he beats someone up in the capital, it won't be our responsibility to save him! It's already a good thing that our family isn't implicated. If he can learn a good lesson in Beichuan, that will be his good fortune. If he doesn't, it can be considered a sacrifice for our Great Yan. At least he'll have a good reputation, so it won't be a loss."
“That’s exactly right.” With that, Shi Maotong returned to his study in the front courtyard.
When Mingrui returned to Yaochun Pavilion, Shanhe was playing chess with Yunqin. Mingrui sat to the side watching them play, a mix of emotions welling up inside her. The chess pieces were clearly black and white, but after they were placed on the board, they became intertwined and complex, black within white and white within black, much like the human heart. Mingrui clutched her sleeve and suddenly asked, "Sister Shanhe, are you happy being with your cousin?"
She invited Shanhe here today to see if Shanhe was happy or unhappy being with Liang Ye. Shanhe had looked sullen this morning, and she assumed Shanhe was unhappy. Therefore, at that time, she didn't want to entrust her life to Liang Ye.
But after meeting Liang Ye at noon, Mingrui suddenly felt that she might be prejudiced against him. In terms of appearance, he was handsome and refined, like a rosy cloud; in terms of demeanor, his speech was elegant, and he was kind and generous; in terms of talent, his writing was brilliant, and he was a newly appointed third-ranked scholar. Her mother said he was one in a thousand, and Mingrui couldn't find a way to refute him. As the saying goes, seeing is believing. Mingrui felt that she might have been misled by rumors. But she still felt that Shanhe's reaction was genuine, and she still wanted to ask Shanhe.
Shanhe paused, her hand holding the chess piece stopped, and she swallowed the black piece between her two fingers into her palm.
Shanhe looked up at Mingrui, whose face was only a year younger than hers. Her features were gentle and bright, her eyes smiling, her lips soft, untouched by hardship. She was a pampered young lady from a wealthy family, cherished by her parents, brothers, and sisters. Today, Mingrui had subtly inquired about Liang Ye; how could Shanhe not understand? A sixteen-year-old girl, who hadn't seen a man before, how could she hide her delicate, flower-like thoughts? But Shanhe didn't know how to tell her.
“The master treats us all equally and doesn’t arbitrarily mistreat the maids and servants,” Shanhe said hesitantly.
Mingrui, however, failed to grasp the underlying meaning in Shanhe's words. Even the most intelligent girl can become confused when moved by emotions. She gazed out the window at the lush peony garden, as if she could see the vibrant scene of peonies in full bloom a month ago: "So, in that case, my cousin is consistent in his words and deeds, and very kind to his subordinates."
Shanhe hesitated, "Third Miss, I..." but her words caught in her throat. She saw the gleam in Mingrui's eyes, as beautiful as spring flowers. She couldn't bear to shatter that beauty.
Shanhe told herself she didn't need to worry about Mingrui; this was Mingrui's karma. Shanhe thought that Mingrui came from a good family and had powerful parents; she wouldn't suffer. Perhaps, someone like Mingrui was a good match for Liang Ye. Thinking this way, Shanhe unconsciously considered her own future. If Mingrui and Liang Ye were engaged, they would have to spend a lot of time together, wouldn't Liang Ye have less energy to torment her? Wouldn't she have more time and opportunity to plan her escape?
So Shanhe spoke softly, "Yes, Master Liang is very good. He was always like this back in Mizhou. Everyone says that Master Liang is self-disciplined, polite, and gentle as jade. All the servants in the house praise him." This was the truth; no one failed to praise Liang Ye, except Shanhe. Sometimes Shanhe felt that Liang Ye seemed to have poured all the evil in his family onto her alone, while others only saw his good qualities.
Upon hearing this, Mingrui's lips curled up slightly, and she gazed tenderly at the green leaves with a smile.
As dusk fell, Shanhe was still at Yaochun Pavilion. Mingrui insisted that Shanhe stay, inviting her three or four times before Shanhe finally agreed. However, Cangfeng Courtyard sent Caixiang to ask Shanhe to return, saying that something had gone missing from the main house and that Master Liang urgently needed it. They couldn't even find Granny Wei, so they insisted that Shanhe return.
Shanhe asked, "What are you looking for?"
Cai Xiang smiled and said, "I don't know either. You should go back and check."
Shanhe had no choice but to get up and go back with her. When the two returned to Cangfeng Courtyard, dinner was being served in the main room, with Caiping standing to the side serving the dishes. Shanhe didn't want to go in, so she stood on the veranda and asked He Niang, "What's missing?"
He Niang shook her head and ran back to her room.
Liang Ye sat upright in the main seat, head down reading a letter. Hearing the commotion outside, he said coldly, "If I don't send someone to invite you, are you going to stay at Yaochun Pavilion tonight?"
Shanhe had no choice but to enter the house and bow: "The Third Miss specifically asked me to stay and keep her company. I was going to refuse, but she wouldn't let me."
Liang Ye instructed Cai Xiang, Cai Ping, and the others to leave and close the door. Once only he and Shan He remained in the room, he put down his letter and pointed to the chair opposite him: "Sit down."
His gaze remained fixed on Shanhe until she sat down, at which point he smiled, but it was a cold smile: "What happened to your forehead?"
Shanhe didn't want to hide it from him: "I fell."
"Did someone fall by themselves?"
"He fell while arguing with Granny Wei."
Liang Ye was surprised by her calm frankness and was about to speak when Shan He interrupted him: "I remember what you said last night, offending her is offending both wives. But she insulted me, so I had to fight back."
Liang Ye glanced at her face calmly and asked slowly, "What did she say to you?"
"nothing."
"Speak."
"She said I was a prostitute pretending to be rich, that I didn't even have a proper title, and that I was still throwing tantrums in front of her."
Liang Ye's expression darkened: "Then how did you reply to her?"
"I……"
"Speak." He pursed his lips.
"I said, I'm just a broken body—"
Shanhe stopped talking because she saw the veins bulging on Liang Ye's forehead and his fist clenched tightly as he tried his best to control himself.
"continue."
Shanhe gave in: "That's all."
"Continue!" Liang Ye's lips tightened into a straight line.
Shanhe lowered her eyes, not daring to look at him: "I said, the old man just loves my broken body."
Liang Ye chuckled, his gaze lingering on her face. After a long while, he suddenly stood up, the commotion startling Shanhe. She recalled his ruthlessness last night, and as he approached, Shanhe's eyes darted away, her shoulders hunching over.
"Why are you trembling?" Liang Ye exhaled a breath of stale air, stood beside her, raised his hand to touch the wound that was oozing yellow fluid and about to scab over, and said in a muffled voice, "When they came back at noon, they said you went to Yaochun Pavilion. Ha. I thought you had come to your senses and were willing to be with people. But you didn't come back in the evening either, so I found out you didn't go out to play, but had another quarrel with Granny Wei. This time, even your face is covered in bruises."
"Shanhe, what on earth are you doing? Huh?"
Shanhe lowered his head.
"Have you forgotten what I said to you last night?"
"Or were all those things you said to me before, like that you were willing to stay obediently by my side, just an act?"
Shanhe whispered, "No..."
His face suddenly darkened: "Then what the hell is going on! Do you really want me to punish you? Should I throw you on the estate to reflect on your actions?"
Shanhe bit her lip, raising her eyes with tears in her eyes. Her pitiful eyes, brimming with tears, were clear and bright like the gentle murmur of spring water. Shanhe's nose stung and turned red, her lips pressed tightly together, almost frosty. Liang Ye was stunned; his heart, which had just hardened, softened as if blown by the wind, and the remaining words of heartache stuck in his throat. Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind: Enough, spare her.
The girl before him stared at him with tears in her eyes, stubbornly defiant. Her voice was filled with grievance: "The village is remote, I'm afraid to be alone..."
The remaining half of the sentence is: "Let Qingyue and Miao'er go keep me company."
She dared not speak, for her desire to escape would be too obvious, and he, being so clever, would surely see through it at a glance. She could only use this indirect approach to subtly remind him.
Liang Ye smiled, the anger he had just felt extinguished by the two pools of tears welling up in Shan He's eyes, and his tense voice relaxed.
"Shanshan, how can there be such a stubborn and foolish person as you in the world?"
They won't even plead for mercy; they'll just use the excuse that "they're scared to be alone."
His mood finally improved somewhat; he'd probably been too harsh on her last night, so it was understandable that she was upset this morning. Yes, she seemed to have cried during their last time last night. But he was very dizzy then, his mind was foggy, and all he wanted was her, as if having her would make all his pain disappear.
Liang Ye cupped her face in his hands, gently wiping away the tears clinging to the corners of her eyes with his fingers, and sighed softly, "It's alright, Shanhe, it's alright..."
Shanhe was startled, remembering how she had comforted herself in the same way when she was squatting on the ground crying that morning. She never imagined that the last person to say those words to her would be him! She felt utterly hopeless.
Liang Ye picked her up and held her in his arms: "If you have any troubles, just tell me. Why bother getting angry with Granny Wei?"
Shanhe couldn't stop crying again.
She found herself like a drowning person, with only Liang Ye as her isolated island to cling to. But it was Liang Ye who had caused her drowning! He had cut off all her freedom and means of survival, forcing her to get close to him, to submit to him, and now he even had to play the good guy and tell her "it's alright."
Liang Ye's voice softened as he stroked her hair, as if coaxing a child: "Alright, it's alright now. How could I really send you to the estate? How could I not worry about you? Even Qingyue would be reluctant to part with you, wouldn't she?"
Dinner was eaten in silence. Shanhe was already full of grievances and couldn't eat much, finishing in just a few bites. Liang Ye let her be, but still made sure Shanhe drank all of her evening tonic.
After taking a bath, Liang Ye returned to his study to handle correspondence. As he had said, since the imperial examination, more people had been seeking him out, and he had more social engagements to attend to.
Shanhe bathed alone. Only now, after this morning, did she have a moment to quietly examine the mess on her body. Fortunately, there were no other injuries, just numerous red marks of varying sizes, which had faded considerably after a day. In a few more days, she would be completely recovered. Shanhe finally felt a sense of relief.
After bathing, she carefully dried herself. Her lower body was still a little sore. Shanhe recalled last night, and it was probably because it lasted too long, and Liang Ye seemed to be enjoying the rather forceful actions of choking her, that stupid thing was even more erect than before, which was why the skin on her lower body was chafed.
Shanhe took out Mingruiyu's ointment from her purse.
Mingrui said, "I have several more bottles here. You can use this one yourself; you don't need to return it to me."
There was no need to return it to her; only then did Shanhe dare to use it to apply to this private area.
It was a pity she couldn't see exactly where the injury was, and she was too embarrassed to look in the mirror, so she used her fingertip to scoop out a dollop, spread her legs, and, relying on the astringent feeling, applied it to the surrounding area. When the ointment touched the injury, it suddenly turned icy cold, and Shanhe couldn't help but gasp.
When I pulled my hand back, I noticed that there was still a little red on my fingertip—fresh blood.
Did you accidentally get a chafed again?
Before Shanhe could find an answer, a hoarse and slow voice called out from the other end: "Shanshan..."
Liang Ye's face flushed red, and his breathing became increasingly rapid: "Xue Shanhe! What are you doing!"
Shanhe was startled and quickly closed her legs.
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