Chapter 65 (Chapter 65) Being Controlled
Seeing that Liang Ye implied she was being asked to leave, Mingrui had no choice but to get up and say to Shanhe with a smile, "It's too late. Sister Shanhe, I'll come to talk to you again tomorrow." Then she bowed to Liang Ye and said, "Cousin, I'll take my leave now."
Liang Ye suddenly said, "There's no need to come tomorrow."
Mingrui was taken aback.
Liang Ye smiled and said, "A friend invited me to a small gathering in the capital region, and everyone is bringing their families. Shan Shan is too busy to accompany you."
When Mingrui heard the word "family members," she paused for a moment before nodding in agreement, lowering her eyes, and hurriedly leaving.
After Mingrui left, Liang Ye ignored Shanhe completely, keeping his eyes straight ahead, and strode back to his room. Seeing his demeanor, Shanhe knew that the matter of delivering the inkstone had angered him, so she dared not act rashly and quickly followed him with her head down. Upon entering the bedroom, she saw Liang Ye standing by the octagonal table, pouring a cup of warm tea to moisten his throat.
On the table lay the luggage that Shanhe had packed for him that morning. He had specifically asked her to pack his bags because he said he would be going to Gyeonggi County for several days.
Shanhe stood to the side, watching him without saying a word.
After Liang Ye finished his tea, he placed the teacup heavily on the table, looked back at her, and remained silent.
For a moment, the air seemed to freeze, and the candle flames crackled and popped.
Shanhe felt a chill run down her spine, but quickly forced a smile and gently stepped forward to help him remove his cloak. She smiled and said, "There's a bowl of hangover soup warming up on the stove. Shall I have Miao'er bring it over now?"
Liang Ye let her take off her cloak, lowered his eyes and coldly glanced at her, but still had a smile on his face: "The things I gave you have come in good use today, haven't they?"
Shanhe was startled, and her voice grew softer and softer: "No, Third Miss loves poetry, and her calligraphy is excellent, this servant..."
He interrupted her: "The things I gave you, who gave you permission to use them to do favors? And you're using my name, when did I ever say that inkstone was a match for her?"
Seeing Liang Ye's sharp words and expression, Shan He lowered her head and said softly, "This servant knows her mistake."
Upon hearing this, Liang Ye's anger surged even higher: "You're wrong? What did you do wrong? It's me who's wrong. I used these things to try and make you happy, but I had no idea how many you'd secretly given away!"
"No. Sir, this is the only one."
"Then why did you say that I was the one who said that the Biyong inkstone complemented her scholarly air?"
Shanhe raised her eyes, draped the cloak over her arm, and said softly, "I just hope that the future mistress will be kind-hearted and tolerant of me..."
There's a second half to the sentence: Ideally, she should be energetic and devoted to you, so I don't have to deal with her every day.
Liang Ye laughed angrily: "Well, you're getting bolder and bolder now. You even dare to make my decisions, is that it? Cangfeng Courtyard is too big. You can't wait to find a mistress to suppress you, can you? You, Xue Shanhe, are quite something now. You're eager to arrange women for me, and they're even my own cousin, are they?" He walked to the incense burner and saw that Shanhe had already put the clean clothes she was going to change into on it. He then unbuckled his belt and was about to change.
As he unbuckled his belt, he sneered, "Do I need to remind you what your duty is? Xue Shanhe, whether the mistress is good-natured or not, whether she can tolerate you, whether you stay or leave, whether you live or die, is not for anyone else to decide, understand?"
Shanhe had already walked up to him, lowering her eyes and quietly helping him undress. Hearing this, she nodded slightly: "I understand."
"Ha, I don't think you understand." He spread his arms, and Ren Shanhe took off her brocade robe. "You're just going to treat the things I gave you like this? Hmm?"
“No, no, I remember the old man saying there were several in the storeroom. I don’t paint often, and even if I did, I wouldn’t dare use such a fine inkstone.” Shanhe paused. “Besides, the Third Miss has always treated me extremely well…”
Liang Ye only caught the last sentence: "She treats you well! What about me? Doesn't I treat you well? Aren't the things I give you unique? You just let yourself give them away so easily?"
Shanhe realized that his anger today was inexplicable. After careful consideration, Shanhe concluded that he was angry because she didn't take his gifts to heart, and consequently, didn't care about him. With this in mind, Shanhe slowly devised a plan.
She had been standing behind Liang Ye, and had just removed his outer robe. Then, Shanhe wrapped her arms around his narrow waist from behind, clasped her hands together in front of his abdomen, and said softly, "Master, I know I was wrong, and I will never do it again."
Sure enough, the man in front of him swallowed hard, his words hanging in the air, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't. After a good moment of silence, he finally spoke in a muffled, hoarse voice, "Who gave you permission to do favors for my things?" His anger seemed to have subsided, and there was even a hint of helplessness in his voice.
Shanhe rested her head against his back: "No one gave permission. It was this servant who took advantage of Master's favor and put herself in a position she shouldn't have."
Liang Ye nodded, but then felt a thorn in her words. Just as he was about to speak, Shan He released his arms and left him. Liang Ye felt a sudden emptiness in his back, as if a piece of his heart was missing.
He turned around and saw Shanhe looking up at him: "This servant will keep it safe and put it on a pedestal, burning incense and making offerings to it every day. No one is allowed to touch it." After saying that, she walked to the table and picked up the Biyong inkstone.
Liang Ye frowned slightly: "Why did it come to this?"
“I’m a very careless person. If I don’t pay close attention, I’m afraid I’ll bump into something one day and my father will scold me again.”
"When have I ever cursed you?"
"Didn't Grandpa get angry? Didn't scold me? Didn't yell at me?"
Liang Ye suddenly felt that this girl was becoming increasingly audacious and reckless, unlike her former honest and obedient self, let alone weak and sensitive. He bit his lip and said, "You took the things I gave you and gave them away, and even said you wanted to choose a mistress for me. Shouldn't you scold me?"
Shanhe was only a few steps away from him. She was standing by the table, holding an inkstone in her hands. When she heard this, she raised her almond-shaped eyes and stared at his face.
Her clear, bright eyes were stubbornly defiant, with a hint of sadness at the corners, giving her a pitiful appearance. Liang Ye felt that Shanhe had never changed; she had always been this resilient, like a small flower growing in the wind and rain, swaying in the bitter storm. But the wind and rain could only bend her back; once the wind and rain stopped, she would straighten her back, head held high, just like the resounding, unyielding Xue Shanhe, the Xue Shanhe who could not be scolded, kneaded, beaten, or exploded.
After a brief moment of silence, Shanhe slowly lowered the corners of her lips, looking aggrieved.
Liang Ye felt a sudden pang of unease and said in a harsh voice, "Pretending to be mute again?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Shanhe blurted out, "Then how could you really bear to scold me?"
Liang Ye was stunned. He savored the words over and over, slowly feeling pleased with himself. Seeing that Shanhe's expression was getting worse, he had no choice but to step forward, take the Biyong inkstone from her hand and put it down. He then embraced Shanhe and held her in his arms.
He remained defiant: "Why wouldn't I be reluctant? You made a mistake, why would I be reluctant?"
Upon hearing this, Shanhe pressed her hands against his chest, trying to break free from his embrace.
Liang Ye quickly tightened his arms around her, his voice softening: "Alright, alright, I can't bear to, is that enough? Are you satisfied now? I love you so much, how could I bear to scold you?"
Shanhe calmed down, lowered her hands, and let him hug her and stroke her head.
Liang Ye was initially annoyed by the matter of the inkstone, but now, with his beloved in his arms, his feelings were entirely different. Since that night when Shan He confided in him and poured out her heart, their relationship had greatly improved. Although she could be stubborn at times, she was finally willing to accept him wholeheartedly, and would often laugh with him. Every day when he left, she would even follow him to the doorstep to see him off. Liang Ye's heart had long been warmed and calmed by her.
The second thing that pleased him was that Shanhe no longer casually mentioned "Liang Shao" or "sister-in-law," and he was much more perceptive. Back in their room that evening, although he had kept his promise that "you have to be willing first," Shanhe was no longer as resistant as before during their intimate moments. On one occasion, he even lifted her up and let her straddle him, and she didn't get angry or hold back. Not to mention the vegetarian evenings, with her in his arms, their conversations by candlelight were usually mundane, like how Qingyue was doing, how far Wei Mama had gotten with her punishment, or how Miao'er and Caiping had argued again. But when Xue Shanhe spoke these things, her voice seemed to carry a fragrance.
It was also in this bedchamber that he granted her many requests. These were not big things, such as buying some tonics for Qingyue today, getting hair oil for Ercai and Miaoer tomorrow, and tailoring new clothes for the four servants the day after. Although they were all small things, they were all indispensable for daily life, just like the way they lived a life of quiet, steady progress.
It was during this time that Liang Ye gradually realized that even without actually having sex with Xue Shanhe, there were still many things he could do with her. This feeling reminded Liang Ye of the time in Mizhou when Xue Shanhe was still of that status. She used to fawn over and take care of Old Master Liang every day, giving him a sense of lasting peace and security, as if his whole life would be filled with happiness and harmony.
May the flowers bloom, the moon be full, and people live long. Liang Ye liked the word "long-lasting." He not only wanted to hold everything in his hands, but also to hold it in his hands for a long time.
There were only two things that displeased Liang Ye. First, Shanhe was too indifferent in bed, only willing to sleep once every three or four days, and each time it was just the same few positions. Second, Shanhe still refused to sleep on the carved canopy bed in her bedroom. Even when he forced her to go back, Shanhe said she only slept on the soft couch used by the night watch maids, saying that lying on that canopy bed reminded her of the night he hurt her. Liang Ye had no choice but to agree, and she stayed in the study every night.
At that moment, Liang Ye's resentment gradually subsided, and he said gently, "Shanshan, pack your things too, let's go together."
Shanhe raised her head: "Jingji County? Didn't you say that it was the second master of the Ouyang family who invited you to go? You didn't say that you could bring your female relatives." Actually, Shanhe didn't want to go. Liang Ye's trip this time would last at least three or four days, and Granny Wei was imprisoned. It would be good to leave her in Cangfeng Courtyard to find documents, and also let Miao'er go out to meet with Master Wu's people.
"I just boasted to Shi Mingrui, if you don't go, where will I put my face?"
"I'll just avoid her no matter what."
"Shanhe." Liang Ye frowned, gripping her shoulders. "Since you came to the capital, I haven't taken you out at all, have I?"
Seeing his stubbornness, Shanhe had no choice but to nod and agree: "Then I'll go and say a few words to Caixiang and Miao'er."
After everything was arranged, Shanhe changed into some casual clothes, and Liang Ye took her hand as they left through the gate of Cangfeng Courtyard and went straight to the back gate of the Shi residence. Cheng Min, who had been waiting there for some time, had brought two horses. Seeing that Shanhe was also with Liang Ye, Cheng Min was taken aback and quickly lowered her head, saying, "I'll go and get another carriage."
Liang Ye said, "No need. It's fine if she rides with me." With that, he turned around and helped Shanhe cover Mu Li.
Seeing Chengmin's reaction, Shanhe knew that he had no intention of taking her along, so he said cautiously, "Why don't you go with Chengmin, and I'll wait for you at Cangfeng Courtyard?"
Liang Ye pursed his lips and remained silent, carefully fastening the curtain for her, then grabbed Shanhe's waist with his large hand and lifted her onto the horse's back.
Shanhe's feet suddenly left the ground, and she couldn't help but cry out in surprise. After calming herself down by clutching her chest, the man also mounted her, his chest pressed against her back, one hand holding Shanhe's waist, the other holding the reins. After Chengmin fastened the bundle, she mounted the first horse, and Liang Ye squeezed his legs together, and the white horse beneath him immediately galloped away.
As it was night, the city was sparsely populated. When they arrived at the city gate, it was closing. Cheng Min dismounted and handed something to the guard, who then let them pass. Once outside the capital, the two whipped their horses and galloped away at breakneck speed.
Shanhe was jostled so hard she was about to fall, but Liangye held her tightly around the waist, keeping her firmly in his arms.
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