Chapter 82 The Death of Xue Shanhe
A blood-stained cloth drifted down from the flames, quickly burning to ashes. The fire, reflected in the dark pupils, resembled a cluster of alluring flowers.
As the last piece of evidence vanished in the fire, Huai Song let out a long sigh. He reached out and touched the ashes, smearing black marks on his and He Niang's faces.
Then, he glanced back at the main house, his calm eyes gradually trembling, followed by fear and terror replacing his composure. Huai Song shouted, "Fire! Fire!" As he ran outside, he bumped right into the servants of the Shi family who had rushed over upon hearing the news.
Huai Song shouted, trembling, "Fire! Fire!"
The servants quickly reassured him, "It's alright! It's alright! The siege ladders will be here soon!"
Huai Song's eyes widened in horror: "Madam Xue is inside!"
The servants froze, stunned for a moment, then hurriedly ran to the water room, one after another carrying water.
He Niang rushed out, crying out, "Help! Lady Xue is inside! Someone, please save her!"
Huaisong grabbed a servant and ordered in a trembling voice, "He Niang has been frightened. Quickly take her to calm down. I'll go to the Wenyang Marquis's residence right now to fetch Lord Shaoqing back!"
At this moment, the servants were in a state of chaos, and naturally obeyed Huaisong's orders.
In the main hall of the Meng family mansion, the Virtuous Consort hosted a banquet. The lanterns shone brightly, and the music was melodious and clear. The three brothers, Meng Ke, Shi Yuanji, and Liang Ye, had prepared a special fireworks display for their homecoming visit. The black satin-like night sky was now ablaze with fireworks. The Virtuous Consort Meng sat at the head of the table, five-colored lights flickering on her powdered, peach-blossom-like face. A slight smile played on her lips as she rose, clutching her stomach, and walked to the side of the table. Adorned in a crimson robe, jade belt, and pearl-embroidered crown, she was truly beautiful and graceful. The Virtuous Consort picked up a ten-piece enamel cup, rose from her seat, raised the cup, and spoke with composure and authority:
"The dragon soars through the nine palaces to open the heavenly gate, and the phoenix flies over a thousand mountains to embrace the sun."
She paused, and the historian beside her hurriedly began to write. Just as Consort Xian was about to continue, she suddenly remembered something, her gaze falling upon the group of people standing below her, scanning them one by one: her father Meng Shao, her elder brother Meng Ke, her cousin Shi Yuanji, her cousin Liang Ye… Consort Xian's gaze slowly lingered on this group of people, and then, she smiled and said steadily, “My talent is insufficient; Minister Liang is the newly appointed third-ranked scholar, so why don’t you continue for me?”
Consort Xian wore a gentle smile, but a faint sadness lingered in her heart. This was the last poem she would compose during her visit home today, a final chapter in the day's events. The sole purpose of presenting the poem to the Emperor was to boast of the Great Yan's lands and praise His Majesty's virtue. It was the easiest poem to write, yet also the most difficult. By giving this poem to Liang Ye, she was also handing over the power of the Meng, Shi, and Liang families to him. Ah, this long-declining Liang family, this obscure Liang family—how could it be that Liang Ye had emerged from them? Consort Xian felt a pang of disappointment. When Meng Chiying's affair occurred, her father, whom she had respected since childhood, and her elder brother, whom she had relied on since childhood, were powerless to do anything but relinquish the power to decide Chiying's life or death to her, a woman deep within the palace, a burning weight that felt like a branding iron. It was Liang Ye who stepped forward, offering a solution that protected both the Meng family and Chiying; it was Liang Ye who reminded her to write a letter of apology, using His Majesty's authority to suppress the matter. But at this moment, Consort Xian slowly discerned another meaning: The matter of Chi Ying might very well have been orchestrated by Liang Ye. This thought both surprised and delighted her; she desperately needed such an ally. The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, favored by the Emperor, a Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review who frequently visited the Hall of Mental Cultivation, a Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review with unparalleled wisdom and strategy. Consort Xian felt that the long-dimmed phoenix seal, from this day forward, would once again shine with a seven-colored luster.
Consort Xian stroked her swollen pregnant belly, overwhelmed by the joy of motherhood once again.
Startled by being called out by Consort Xian, Liang Ye looked up. His seat wasn't near the front; he was almost at the main hall's entrance. Yet, Consort Xian's voice pierced through the crowd, reaching him directly, and his hand holding the wine cup trembled slightly.
Liang Ye tried his best to suppress his joy, lifted his foot, but before he could take a step, a maidservant rushed over with her head down. She didn't know what had happened, but she hurriedly whispered in his ear, "Cangfeng Courtyard is on fire."
Liang Ye's pupils dilated suddenly. He turned his head and saw Cheng Min and Huai Song standing under the eaves—Huai Song's face was covered with a dark mark, and his eyes were full of anxiety. His heart sank, and his hands trembled even more violently, not with joy, but with fear and terror.
It's alright, it's just a fire. He tried his best to calm it down.
But then the maid said, "Huai Song said that Madam Xue is in the fire and hasn't been rescued yet. Please go back quickly, sir."
Liang Ye's body trembled violently, and he felt a buzzing in his ears.
"Lord Shaoqing."
"Young Master Liang," the dignified and composed voice of the Consort Xian came again, "please continue the poem for me, my lord."
Liang Ye was abruptly pulled back by the voice. He looked up blankly, his lips twitching as if he wanted to speak, but no sound came out.
Seeing his loss of composure, Zhang Fengliang, sitting below him, quickly whispered a reminder: "Lord Liang, the Empress has summoned you to compose a poem."
His consciousness slowly faded. Liang Ye hurriedly gripped the wine cup tightly, firmly placing the unfinished step down. He walked steadily to the center of the main hall, cupped his hands in a respectful bow, and said, "Your humble servant obeys the decree." His voice trembled at the end.
He forced a smile and said:
"The dragon soars through the nine palaces, opening the gates of heaven; the phoenix dances among a thousand mountains, embracing the sun."
A dazzling display of lights, like stars falling from the sky, illuminates the streets, making the night feel like springtime.
A hundred directions pay homage amidst rolling golden waves, and ten thousand nations bow in eternal reverence amidst condensing purple aura.
Fish and dragons dance wildly across three thousand realms, the swallow's wind laughs at the fragrant days year after year.
“Your Majesty, my poem,” he said, his voice trembling, “is finished.”
Consort Xian smiled with satisfaction: "Good! Someone, bestow upon me a colorful kang screen."
Liang Ye hurriedly bowed and thanked the Empress Dowager, retreating as he reached his seat. He gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, this humble subject...this humble subject has encountered an urgent matter in my courtyard, I deserve death...please allow me to take my leave!" His voice was hoarse and broken, a far cry from his previous composure. Without waiting for the Empress Dowager's nod, Liang Ye hastily turned, his steps unsteady, and staggered towards the palace gates.
Stepping out of the main hall, a blast of cold wind hit Liang Ye, jolting him slightly back to his senses. A lump formed in his throat, turning into a violent cough. Huai Song rushed over, sobbing, "Master! The courtyard is on fire! My wife is inside, she hasn't come out! When I got there, the fire was too big to get in!"
Liang Ye felt his breathing become increasingly rapid, and the wine he had drunk that night suddenly surged back up from his stomach to his throat, making him feel extremely nauseous.
"Horses! Prepare the horses!" he roared. With that, he clutched his chest and strode towards the hanging flower gate.
The noise in the main hall came to an abrupt halt, and everyone's eyes turned to him. Consort Xian also stopped smiling and looked out with surprise, only to see Liang Ye's staggering figure running away.
The servants from the Meng family had already brought the horse. Liang Ye took the reins, mounted the horse, squeezed his legs tightly around the horse's belly, and shot off like an arrow for several dozen feet.
At this moment, Liang Shao was being led along at a slow pace. Suddenly, he heard the sound of galloping hooves breaking the silence of the alleyway. Liang Shao looked up and saw a man lying on the horse's back, his robes billowing in the night wind. It was Liang Ye.
"Brother!" Liang Shao raised his right hand, laughing as he lashed out at him with a whip.
Liang Ye didn't even spare him a glance, spurring his horse straight past.
"Brother!" Liang Shao turned his horse around, its hooves clattering.
Cheng Min jogged over, panting, and said, "Second Master, Second Master, why are you back? Didn't you say you wouldn't be back for four days?"
Liang Shao frowned as he watched Liang Ye's retreating figure grow smaller and smaller. "Isn't today Consort Xian's visit home? Why is it so lively... Cheng Min, where is my brother?"
Cheng Min rolled her eyes and hurriedly explained, "Master has urgent business in the courtyard and can't wait a moment longer. Second Master, the banquet hasn't ended yet. You've come all this way back, why don't you go to the banquet first? It won't be too late for you to go after Master finishes his business." After saying that, she immediately took over from the stable boy, took the reins of Liang Shao's white horse, and led him inside.
Liang Shao said, "But..." Although he wanted to go and take a look, Cheng Min had already forcefully led his horse inside, and the clear and melodious music of the sheng drifted from the main hall.
Liang Ye hurried along. The night wind brushed past his ears, but it couldn't dispel the burning anxiety and fear within him.
Hurry! Faster! Shanshan, if anything happens to you...
He dared not think about it, nor did he want to; he could only whip his horse like rain.
Flames soared into the sky, thick smoke billowed. The towering flames grew increasingly blinding, almost illuminating half the sky. A large group of people carried buckets of water back and forth, while a ladder team towed six or seven water cannons, which were continuously pressing water against Cangfeng Courtyard.
Liang Ye's heart sank. At that moment, he quickly reined in his horse, staring in disbelief at the sea of fire.
Shanshan… He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. All he could hear were the frantic sounds of firefighting and the crashing of collapsing beams, but he could only hear the heavy pounding of his own heart.
Huaifeng spotted him first, and ran over crying, kneeling down: "Master, Master! My wife is missing!"
A tear rolled down her lips.
Liang Ye practically tumbled off his horse. He stumbled to his feet and ran to the gate of Cangfeng Courtyard, where Granny Wei, Caixiang, and the others were weeping uncontrollably. Upon seeing Liang Ye, the maids and nannies rushed forward, clutching his sleeves and hurling their chaotic cries into his ears: "Master! Madam is gone!" "They said Madam is inside!" "Master! Wasn't Madam at the Earl's residence?!" "Madam is dead!"
"He's not dead!" he roared.
Liang Ye's eyes were bloodshot. He snatched a bucket of water, poured it over his head, and tried to rush into it.
Cheng An and Huai Feng were terrified and clung tightly to his legs, crying, "Grandpa, Grandpa, you mustn't! The fire is too big, the roof beams have collapsed, and if we go in, we'll be trapped!"
Liang Ye kicked Cheng An and the other man away and shouted sternly, "Get out! Get out of the way! If anything happens to her, you will all be buried with her!" Before he finished speaking, there was another loud bang, and the roof of the main building of Cangfeng Courtyard crashed down, making Liang Ye stiffen.
The last glimmer of hope for survival was extinguished in that deafening roar.
Liang Ye opened his mouth as if to cry out in pain. He tried several times to force his way in, but was stopped by the crowd at the cost of their lives. The fire was fierce, and the heat forced people to retreat. Only Liang Ye endured the scorching heat and collapsed to the ground, watching helplessly as the carved beams and painted rafters were devoured by the flames and turned to ashes.
As dawn broke, the fire gradually died down. The servants who had fought the fire rubbed their shoulders and retreated, and the fire ladder team slowly left. Liang Ye remained seated on the ground, his gaze fixed on the ruins and scorched earth. Wisps of smoke rose, resembling the duck-egg blue shawl she often wore. Granny Wei knelt beside him, put her arm around Liang Ye's shoulder, and wept bitterly, "My darling, my darling Ye, wake up! Your wife is dead, you mustn't be harmed!"
“She’s not dead,” he said coldly, stubbornly pushing away Granny Wei, supporting himself on his knees as he stood up and staggered into the still-warm ruins.
A few faint sparks went out at my feet.
Liang Ye wiped his face, his bloodshot eyes searching for Shanhe's shadow in the ruins. He knelt on the scorched earth, frantically digging through the burnt wood, bricks, and rubble with his hands, his ten fingers dripping with blood, yet he seemed oblivious to the pain.
"Where are they...where are they..." He finally couldn't hold back his tears. Liang Ye slumped to his knees, head down, "Where are they..."
"Dig!" he shouted hoarsely. "We'll dig him out, even if it means digging three feet into the ground!"
The servants, trembling with fear, hurriedly approached and searched the charred remains. After several incense sticks' worth of time, they finally found three curled-up corpses among the ashes, their faces burned beyond recognition. Liang Ye wiped away his tears and examined each body one by one.
"It's not her, it's not her." He laughed through his tears. It clearly wasn't Shanhe, so Shanhe must still be alive!
On the third corpse, however, one could clearly see two red gold bracelets on the wrists, now blackened by soot.
In an instant, everything related to that gold bracelet flooded into his mind.
On the ship, she resisted him every day.
She gradually became compliant with Cang Fengyuan, but she still occasionally sulked with him.
In Wuyou Garden, she knelt before the old man, removing the gold earrings and bracelets he had given her, begging him to save her.
Finally, there were Shanhe's eyes. Those gentle, yet incredibly resilient and stubborn eyes. They held a smile, yet harbored sorrow. The eyes he had dreamt of for two years—now, the beauty was ashes, her fragrant soul vanished. Liang Ye's body swayed violently, as if struck by lightning. A sweet taste rose in his throat, a metallic tang rising within him. He clutched his chest, forcing himself to swallow it down.
"Fine, fine..." He suddenly burst into laughter, blood dripping from his white teeth. "Running away again, is that it? I promised to marry you, and you still ran away, is that it?" Liang Ye squatted on the ground, covering his face with his hands, and sobbed, "Shanhe... how could you leave..."
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