Chapter 98 "You've forced me to become someone who isn't a brother anymore..."
Shanhe wrote his letter all night long.
Qingyue didn't want her to worry, so she forced Shanhe to go to sleep. But lying in bed, she tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. So she got up, put on her clothes, lit a lamp, and sat under the lamp to read the letter Liang Shao had sent her word by word.
He had only been gone for forty days, yet he had already sent seven or eight letters, equaling the total number of letters they exchanged during their two years as husband and wife. Although Liang Shao had tempered his temperament in Beichuan, he still maintained his former carefree manner when writing letters, his writing still revealing that same carefree spirit. He eloquently recounted his observations along the way, trivial matters in the army, and, most importantly, his straightforward and intense longing. He had never been a reserved person; he had to express his love and hate openly, otherwise he would feel uncomfortable.
Shanhe still remembered the second night after their remarriage. She nestled in Liang Shao's arms, listening to him slowly pour out his heart. Shanhe twirled a strand of his cool, dark hair around her fingertip: "I know. If you didn't love me, why did you travel so far to find me? If you didn't love me, why did you rekindle our relationship? I know everything." Liang Shao lowered his head and kissed her brow, smiling: "You know, and I have to say it too. It's your business that you know, but it's my business that I say I love you, that I love you the most in the world."
After reading his letter, Shanhe found it difficult to write her own letter, given her pregnancy. His letters were a thick stack, but all she wanted to say was to him:
"I am pregnant."
Shanhe bit her pen, leaning over the cloud-patterned paper, gazing through the wooden window at the bright moon on the horizon. Would these four words seem too meager?
So, mimicking Liang Shao's tone, she recounted in detail everything that had happened recently: how Wu Tianqi came to Jinling, how he was arrested, how she was detained, and how she was diagnosed with pregnancy due to feeling unwell. She wrote it in great detail.
Three pages, densely packed with words, filled with tender emotions.
It belongs to her, and it belongs to him.
However, the letter, which Cheng Bao delivered early the next morning, traveled north for four or five days before finally returning to Jinling and landing on Imperial Envoy Liang's desk.
Liang Ye braced his hands on the table, his face tense as he stared intently at the unopened letter.
What was written in the letter?
It's nothing but longing, longing, and more longing...
Screw love!
He suddenly straightened his back and refused to look at the letter again. Liang Ye walked to the window, silently fidgeting with his fingertips. Four days had passed since that night when she brushed past him without recognizing him. During these four days, he had forced himself not to look for her, and she hadn't gone out either, spending her days painting at home. Her only connection to the outside world was this letter sent to Liang Shao.
Liang Ye couldn't understand why Ah Shao could do it, but he couldn't. In terms of appearance, talent, status, and position, in what way was he inferior to Liang Shao?
Cheng An slipped in with small steps, bowed, and said, "My lord, the news about Wu Tianqi was spread the day before yesterday. Madam Xue must be extremely anxious these past two days, but she has remained indoors and has not interacted with anyone."
Liang Ye paused, his voice devoid of emotion: "Since she won't go out, then force her to. Go, have Zhang the clerk send someone to 'remind' her that if she's interested in handling Wu Tianqi's case, she might be able to find some connections. Remember, do it naturally, so she doesn't become suspicious."
"Yes." Cheng An immediately agreed, but hesitated and didn't leave right away. "That Mi Xiaoxiao comes to the yamen every day to request an audience, sir, what do you think..."
Liang Ye sneered, "Then arrest him as well. It'll be good for him to be with his wife, and the couple can take care of each other." Liang Ye pondered, "Mi Xiaoxiao's number of banned books is no less than Wu Tianqi's, and the content is vulgar and shallow. It wouldn't be unfair to arrest him."
Cheng An cautiously began, "This Mr. and Mrs. Mi Wu also have a son and a daughter, who are also in Jinling..."
"It's perfect to send it to Xue Shanhe and put some pressure on her."
Cheng An sighed inwardly, accepted the order, and left.
That afternoon, sure enough, a man dressed as a yamen runner "passed by" the alley where Shanhe lived. While chatting with the neighbors, his voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for Shanhe and the others in the courtyard to hear: "...This case of Wu Fangzhu is both big and small; the key is whether someone is willing to exert influence... I heard that the Imperial Envoy came this time intending to arrest the people from Lan Gu Bookshop, but Wu Fangzhu herself walked right into it. If not her, who else should be arrested... Although the Imperial Envoy is stern, he's not unreasonable. If we can find someone with influence, maybe..."
Shanhe paused in her needlework in the courtyard, her fingertips turning slightly white.
Qingyue, who was standing nearby, also heard this and frowned, saying in a low voice, "My lady, what do they mean by that? Could it be... that there's still room for maneuver in this case?"
Miao'er said bluntly, "It definitely requires money to bribe officials! I knew it! There are no upright and just officials! They're nothing but parasites!"
Shanhe put down her embroidery needle, her mind in turmoil. She knew, of course, that things were far more complicated than just money, but since such rumors had been circulating, perhaps… there really was a glimmer of hope? Wu Tianqi had helped her so much in the past, speaking his heart to her so sincerely. Now that Wu Tianqi was in trouble, how could she stand idly by?
As Shanhe was deep in thought, Chengbao walked in from outside, leading a boy and a girl behind him. They were Wu Tianqi and Mi Xiaoxiao's children.
Shanhe quickly stepped forward and put her arm around the child's shoulder, gently smiling as she said, "Wen'er, Xiang'er, come in and sit down. What brings you here? Where is your father?"
Seeing Shanhe's kind and loving face, Wu Wenzhi couldn't help but think of her mother whom she hadn't seen for many days. Her nose tingled, and she immediately burst into tears: "Waaah! Madam Xue, Father went to the government office today to see the officials, but they detained him!"
Shanhe was stunned, and Miao'er and Qingyue were also frozen in place. Chengbao sighed, "I just went to the inn where Manager Mi was staying, and then I heard that Manager Mi hadn't returned. I sent someone to ask, and found out that Manager Mi had also been arrested. I thought it wouldn't be good for the two children to wait alone at the inn, so I took it upon myself to bring them back."
Shanhe had already taken out a handkerchief to wipe away Wu Wenzhi and Mi Xiang's tears. Hearing Cheng Bao's words, she looked up and asked, "Arrest Manager Mi? Why is that?"
Cheng Baofang said, "According to the waiter at the inn, it's probably about those things."
Printing banned books without permission is an offense against public morals. Such cases can be serious or minor; with protection, it might be settled with a fine; but without intervention, and having caught the emperor's attention, even extraordinary power would be insufficient to resolve the matter peacefully. How to punish? How to determine the crime? It depends not only on the laws of the Great Yan Dynasty but also on the emperor's attitude. The fact that even Mi Xiaoxiao has been arrested demonstrates the court's extreme concern regarding this case of banned books and public morals.
Shanhe lowered her eyes, lost in thought, while the two children in her arms were already crying.
This is Jinling, not Mizhou where they grew up. To be precise, if it weren't for her, Wu Tianqi and Mi Xiaoxiao might not have opened a new painting studio in Jinling, much less brought their children to Jinling.
Shanhe looked at the two children, tears streaming down their faces, and her heart ached. Wu Tianqi was her savior, and she couldn't let him down, nor could she bear to watch these two children be stranded in a foreign land, without anyone to rely on. Shanhe bit her lip and said to Qingyue, "Qingyue, go and count all the money we have and exchange it for banknotes."
Qingyue agreed and went, and Miao'er also went to help.
The carriage jolted, and the nausea surged up again, which Shanhe tried her best to suppress. The two children cried for half an hour, until finally their tears ran dry, and they could only gasp for breath. Shanhe and Miao'er tried their best to coax them to sleep. After another incense stick's time of this ordeal, Shanhe finally brought Qingyue to the Jinling government office. She was exhausted, both physically and mentally, for Wu Tianqi, for the two innocent children, for her own health, and for the life growing in her womb.
Going alone to the Jinling government office to submit a petition is tantamount to throwing herself into the lion's den. Logically, she should try to find old connections in Jinling's official circles to see if she could glean any information or find an intermediary to help her. But ever since the Xue family incident, none of those who were once on good terms with Xue Yin have treated her differently because of past favors, and no one has remembered past kindnesses to offer a helping hand, except for Old Master Liang. Liang Shao isn't here, and Shanhe doesn't know who else she can turn to.
Liang Ye...
Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review...
The name suddenly popped into her mind.
Shanhe quickly suppressed the thought. If he were still her brother, and treated her the same way he treated Liang Shao, Shanhe feared she would immediately beg him for help. Leaning against the carriage wall, she felt as if her heart had turned to ashes. She could only rely on herself, only on herself. Shanhe clenched the silver notes in her hand, feeling an endless sense of bewilderment.
Just like last time, she and Qingyue were taken to the interrogation room separately.
It was the same room, with empty walls on all four sides and two wooden tables in the middle. Shanhe finished writing the complaint and sat alone, her hands nervously twisted together on her knees.
After a while, Zhang, the clerk, came over and said to her, "Today, the governor hosted a banquet on a painted boat on the Qinhuai River to invite the imperial envoy to enjoy the moon. The governor has already left. If you want to see the governor, come with me."
Shanhe had no choice but to follow Zhang the clerk and go outside with him. Seeing that she was alone, Shanhe hurriedly asked, "Where is the girl who came with me?"
Zhang, the clerk, laughed and said, "I sent two young servants to escort her back. Tonight's moon-viewing banquet is attended by important figures from Jinling, including officials from the imperial court, so naturally, the fewer people who attend, the better."
Shanhe had no choice but to give up after hearing this.
As they exited the ceremonial gate, a blue-curtained carriage was waiting in the corridor. The horseman, wearing a black hat and official robes, had a wooden plaque from the yamen hanging from his waist. Shanhe discreetly observed him and, seeing that he was indeed from the yamen, felt relieved and sat down inside.
The carriage rumbled along, and by the time they reached the banks of the Qinhuai River, it was already dusk. As soon as the carriage with its green curtains entered the riverside area, a cacophony of sounds mixed with the damp air rushed towards them. The sounds of string and wind instruments, the soft tones of the Wu dialect, mingled with drinking games and laughter, all floated in the air. Shanhe lifted the carriage curtain and saw the ten-mile stretch of the Qinhuai River, brightly lit as day. Painted boats of varying sizes glided on the water; some were delicate and small, accommodating only three or five people; others were multi-tiered and magnificent, like palaces.
The carriage traveled along the riverbank for a while before arriving at a relatively secluded dock. There weren't many pleasure boats moored there, but one stood out particularly, more than twice the size of those usually seen, with three decks, its carved beams and painted rafters displaying exquisite craftsmanship. The hull was painted vermilion, adorned with gold and colorful designs, and carved with dragons and phoenixes, gleaming brilliantly under the lights. A string of painted palace lanterns hung from the bow, their shades adorned with auspicious patterns.
Shanhe stepped down from the sedan chair and looked up. She could vaguely see figures moving inside the boat, their clothes fragrant and their hair elegant. There was no excessive noise, only the clear and melodious sound of a zither drifting out. It was completely different from the decadent music of other painted boats on the river. It was truly elegant and restrained.
Two maids were already waiting on the shore. When Shanhe got out of the carriage, they rushed up to her with smiles and said, "Is this Madam Xue? The Imperial Envoy specially sent the two of us to wait for you here."
Shanhe was escorted onto the boat by the two women and led into an elegantly decorated small room.
One of the maids said, "Lord Liang is currently feasting with the Prefect. Please wait here for a moment, Madam."
Shanhe's fingers tightened, and she asked urgently, "Lord Liang?"
The maidservant then laughed and said, "Yes, isn't the Imperial Envoy surnamed Liang?"
Shanhe immediately pressed, "Granny, do you know his name?"
The maidservant laughed and said, "I work on this pleasure boat, how would I know the name of the Imperial Envoy?"
Shanhe felt her heart pounding wildly. He wasn't the only official in the capital with the surname Liang, and besides, he had only been in office for a year. How could he be qualified to be an imperial envoy? Shanhe comforted herself with this thought. She reached into her sleeve and pulled out the two hundred-tael silver note, which calmed her down a little.
She had come to plead for mercy; at least one of Mi Xiaoxiao and Wu Tianqi had to be rescued. Shanhe carefully considered her words, deciding to appeal to their emotions. To be an imperial envoy, one must be quite old and likely a parent. As parents, they surely couldn't bear to see two children under ten years old unable to find their parents, living in a foreign land with no one to rely on.
Shanhe waited for about an hour before a maid came to call her, "The master summons you, madam." The maid led her to a private room on the second floor of the painted boat. She gently pushed open the door, but the room was empty. The maid turned to Shanhe and smiled, "The master will be here soon. Please wait here, madam." With that, the maid bowed her head and left, closing the door behind her, leaving Shanhe alone in the room to wait.
This elegant room was completely different from the small room where they had been waiting. The floor was covered with a thick, orchid-patterned carpet that was so soft and silent that it swallowed up all noise. A row of carved wooden windows faced the river, now wide open, with two smoky purple gauze curtains hanging in front, each secured with a gold hook. The room was not only luxurious and spacious, but also exuded an air of wealth and opulence. Shanhe glanced around and saw a lotus-root-colored satin skirt, embroidered with flowers and butterflies in gold thread, hanging on a huge clothes rack beside twelve embroidered screens.
Shanhe adored wearing light-colored clothes like lotus root pink and autumn fragrance, and seeing this dress, she couldn't help but approach to examine it closely. But before she could get a good look, she heard the door open behind her. Shanhe turned sharply and saw two brightly dressed maids carrying food boxes. Smiling, they set up a table behind the embroidered screen, placing several exquisite dishes and a set of elegant white jade wine utensils on it, before pulling Shanhe over: "Master is drunk and will be here soon. Madam, please have some dinner first, and we can talk behind the screen later; that's proper etiquette."
Shanhe knelt behind the square table, watching the two maids leave like a gust of wind. She then looked down at the delicious food and wine on the table, a strange feeling creeping into her heart. Before she could even touch her chopsticks, she heard the soft sound of the door hinges turning. A tall, imposing figure slowly entered through the swaying beaded curtain. Shanhe could vaguely make out the man's silhouette through the embroidered screen, recognizing him as the Imperial Envoy Liang. She quickly rose, knelt beside the table, and bowed respectfully: "This humble woman greets Your Excellency the Imperial Envoy."
Liang Ye stood there silently, staring at the slender figure kneeling on the ground behind the embroidered screen, his heart churning with turbulent emotions. Today, he was not wearing his official robes, but rather a dark-colored brocade casual suit with subtle patterns, a jade belt around his waist, which made his broad shoulders and narrow waist appear even more striking, giving him an elegant and refined air. He casually closed the door behind him, without telling her to get up, and went straight to the main seat to sit down, poured himself a cup of wine, and slowly sipped it.
Seeing that he did not respond for a long time, Shanhe dared not make a move and carefully spoke with her head down: "This humble woman has come today for Mr. and Mrs. Wu Tianqi of Danxia Painting Studio."
After a while, a muffled "hmm" came from above, as if to tell her to continue.
Enveloped in tension and fear, Shanhe didn't notice the voice and lowered her head, her voice trembling as she said, "I know that Mi and Wu have violated the law and their crimes are unforgivable. However, they have two young children at home who came from afar from Mizhou. Now that their parents are suddenly imprisoned, the two children are all alone and cry all day long. They are truly pitiful... If Your Excellency could see their distressed state, you would surely feel compassion. When I came here, I heard that Your Excellency is a good official who loves the people like his own children and always has a heart that worries about the people." Shanhe took out a silver note from her bosom and held it high above her head. "Therefore, I humbly beg Your Excellency to have mercy, show leniency, and release one of them."
As soon as he finished speaking, the elegant room fell into a deathly silence, with only the gentle lapping of the Qinhuai River against the boats outside the window and the faint sound of distant music drifting in the air.
Liang Ye remained silent and made no move. This silence was more agonizing for Shanhe than any reprimand. From the moment he entered the elegant room until now, he had not uttered a single word. Shanhe's heart sank deeper and deeper, her fingertips inside her sleeve growing cold.
Finally, the imperial envoy made his move.
He didn't take the silver note, not even glancing at it. Instead, he slowly walked around the embroidered screen, circling Shanhe's kneeling figure. His steps were steady, almost silent on the blue velvet carpet. Then, he reached out a hand and grasped Shanhe's lowered, bare, white neck. He said in a deep voice, "The child is pitiful..."
The sound startled Shanhe, causing her eyes to widen suddenly. She looked up, but he gripped the back of her neck tightly.
It's Liang Ye!
Shanhe gasped for breath, overwhelmed by even greater fear and timidity.
Liang Ye squatted down, moving his hand from her neck to her shoulder. He embraced her, smiling coldly, "Shanshan, now you're willing to lower yourself and kneel before me for the sake of two outsiders."
“Tell me,” he lowered his voice even further, “if it were Ah Shao trapped in prison today, would you be willing to risk your life?”
He knows!
Shanhe's pupils contracted sharply. She instinctively tried to avoid his touch, but he held her firmly with his fingertips.
His voice grew increasingly cold: "Wu Tianqi helped you fake your death and destroyed the Shi family's property, which was for personal reasons; privately printing banned books and having them widely circulated was for public reasons. Mi Xiaoxiao colluded with him and cannot escape her guilt. For public reasons, according to the law, exile and caning would not be excessive; for personal reasons, even beheading would be acceptable."
Shanhe shuddered in fright. She turned her face to Liang Ye's. Her voice choked with sobs, "My lord, everything that happened was my fault, it had nothing to do with Wu Fangzhu. I forced her to help me. I beg you..."
These words were so unfamiliar that they felt like needles pricking Liang Ye's ears.
"Shanhe, you know what I mean. If you continue to be so ungrateful, I will have no choice but to handle this matter impartially." He released Shanhe's hands.
Shanhe quickly turned around, grabbed his sleeve, and said urgently, "Liang Ye, it's my fault, it's all my fault. Please have mercy and let them go. Or, just let one go, don't let their child suffer, okay?"
Liang Ye flicked his sleeves, rose, and walked to the window. Facing the clouds and sky outside, he said in a deep voice, "Just one sentence saying 'it was your fault' is enough to erase all the past grievances?" He paused, "Don't you understand what I want?"
Shanhe froze, stunned. She slowly lowered her head and stammered, "But, I..."
"What?"
"I can't let Ah Shao down." Her relationship with Liang Shao was her last bargaining chip. "Big brother, Ah Shao and I are back together. You are still our big brother, always will be."
Liang Ye sneered: "I know."
Shanhe raised her head in disbelief: "You knew? Then why did you humiliate me like this..."
Liang Ye turned around and stared at her intently: "Ah Shao is fighting in Beichuan and can't be by your side often. Shan Shan, I can stay with you when Ah Shao is not around."
These words, spoken lightly, pierced Shanhe's heart like a dagger. She stared at Liang Ye in disbelief, as if she were truly meeting him for the first time. He knew she had rekindled her relationship with A Shao, knew she only saw him as an older brother, yet he still uttered such words.
"Stay with me?" Shanhe's voice trembled. "In what capacity? As my elder brother, or... Elder brother, you can't do this..." She couldn't finish her sentence, feeling a wave of nausea.
"Think what you want." Liang Ye bit his lower lip, his throat tightening, his fingertips turning white as he held his hand by his side. "You just need to know that from now on, your smiles, resentments, anger, and infatuation should not only be reserved for A-Shao, but also a portion of them should be given to me."
Since he couldn't separate them, he had no choice but to stand between them, slowly push Ah Shao away, and then completely take Ah Shao's place.
Shanhe could no longer hold back. She choked out, "Big Brother..." Two lines of tears fell instantly. She had come so far with such difficulty, had finally cleared up the misunderstanding with A Shao, and had finally found a slightly brighter future. Why! Why was Liang Ye still involved! Why couldn't he ever consider her feelings!
Shanhe suddenly stood up from the ground, pointing a single finger at Liang Ye: "You're dreaming! I only want A-Shao, and I only want him as my husband!"
Liang Ye was also enraged. He suppressed his anger and tightened his lips, saying, "As for Wu Tianqi and Mi Xiaoxiao, I have no choice but to deal with them impartially." He paused, then added, "And your status as a government slave..."
"You're threatening me?" Shanhe said angrily. "Why! Why! Why! Why are you treating me like this! Big brother, why do you always push me so hard! Why can't you just leave me alone!"
"It's all because of you!" Liang Ye blurted out in anger, "It's all because of you! Who taught you to come to my Liang family? Who taught you to become husband and wife with Ah Shao? Who taught you to take such good care of Grandfather? Who taught you to smile so beautifully? Who taught you to cry so heartbreakingly? Who taught you to bear the identity of a government slave and the name of a disgraced official's daughter, yet you never bow your head and never bend to this world? Who taught you to receive kindness and always remember to repay it!"
"It's you who forced me to become neither a brother nor a lover!!!"
Liang Ye's chest heaved violently, and his eyes reddened: "Shanshan, do you think I wanted this? That night in Jingji County, you saved me from that old man. You don't hate me, do you?"
"Since there's no hatred, there's always the possibility of love arising, the possibility of loving me the way you love Ah Shao, right?"
"Shanshan, you love Ashao, you love your grandfather, you love Qingyue, Miao'er, Wu Tianqi, and you even care about Wu Tianqi's child. What about me? I've helped you a lot too. I'm not deaf or blind, I'm not ugly or evil. Why can't you spare a piece of your heart for me?"
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