Chapter 66 "I will not be a concubine. No one's concubine..."
By the time they reached Jingji County, it was already midnight. Two blue-curtained carriages were already waiting by the roadside. Seeing Liang Ye and his entourage approaching on horseback, Ouyang Tongyang greeted them with a smile, cupping his hands and calling out, "Brother Jichen!" Seeing that Liang Ye was carrying a woman wearing a veil, he guessed she was one of his concubines, but remembering that his father had said Liang Ye was quite indifferent to matters of children and had never heard of him having any concubines, he hesitated and asked, "And this is...?"
Liang Ye returned the greeting and said with a smile, "This is my wife, Lady Xue."
Tong Yang understood immediately, realizing that it was his beloved daughter whom he had hidden in the golden house. He quickly led the two into the carriage, saying with a smile, "It's just in time that my Green Pearl has also arrived. She can keep Lady Xue company."
So the group abandoned their horses and switched to carriages, continuing their journey along the winding night road. By the time they reached their lodgings, it was already midnight. Tong Yang led Liang Ye and Shan He into a secluded courtyard nestled against the mountainside. Above the gate, in large, gilded characters, were the words "Wu You Yuan" (Garden of Nothingness), with two lines of smaller characters on the left reading "Imperial Construction." Shan He, seeing the secluded mountain valley surrounded by peaks, and hearing the night wind howling through the forest, felt a growing unease. His steps faltered, and he glanced around.
Seeing the person beside him gradually fall half a step, Liang Ye turned to look at her, taking in Shanhe's slightly nervous expression. He then squeezed her hand tightly. Liang Ye whispered in her ear, "Don't be afraid. This is a property under Ouyang Shizhong's name, a hot spring estate bestowed by the late emperor. It's guarded all around, and ordinary people can't get in."
Shanhe looked up and saw Liang Ye looking at her with a smile in his eyes. The dim candlelight illuminated half of his profile, softening his strong features in the candlelight and darkness. In the hazy light, he even resembled Liang Shao. Shanhe stared blankly, a sudden pang of sadness rising in her heart. She whispered, "Okay."
Perhaps it was the surrounding environment that made Shanhe feel lonely. This Wuyou Garden was far from the hustle and bustle of the world, surrounded by peaks, a place that was extremely isolated from the world. Just like Liang Ye treated her, he had removed all people and things from her life, leaving her with no choice but to rely on him and follow him.
Upon entering the garden, the scenery was quite different from the desolate landscape outside. Winding corridors stretched out, strange rocks were scattered about, and exotic plants grew everywhere, with rare flowers blooming in vibrant colors. Although these details were obscured by the darkness, exquisite palace lanterns illuminated the path every few steps, truly befitting the grandeur of a royal garden. However, apart from Ouyang Tongyang, who was leading the way, and two servants carrying lanterns and satchels, there was no one else in the vast garden; only the sound of the wind could be heard.
Ouyang Tongyang, however, chatted and laughed the whole way, praising the exquisite hot springs of Wuyou Garden, saying they were rare to find in the capital. He also mentioned that the Grand Secretary was now old and rarely visited, while he himself often sneaked in to relax for a few days. When they arrived at a secluded courtyard, he stopped and turned to Liang Ye and the other two, saying, "Brother Jichen, Lady Xue, please rest here tonight. Hot spring water has been prepared in the side rooms to relieve fatigue and warm you. There are also four maids in the courtyard; if you need anything, just let them know." Tongyang pointed to two maids standing by the courtyard gate and continued, "Tomorrow morning, I will come again to trouble you and take you to experience the true wonders of the hot springs."
Liang Ye nodded: "Thank you for your trouble, brother."
After Tong Yang's clothes disappeared around the corner, the courtyard gate closed gently, leaving only Liang Ye, Shan He, Cheng Min, and the four maids. The one in the lead stepped forward and briefly introduced the place before leading the three of them into the house.
The courtyard is small but charming, with a few green bamboos planted in the corner and a small rockery with a stream nearby, where you can hear the gurgling sound of water as you get close.
Shanhe, jostled on horseback throughout the journey, was now reclining on the couch, resting with her head in her hands and eyes closed. Liang Ye, returning from his bath, saw Shanhe still slumped there, so he sat on the edge of the couch, gently pinching the back of her hand, urging her to hurry up. Shanhe responded lazily, but was too lazy to move; her eyelashes fluttered slightly, barely making a sound. Seeing this, Liang Ye felt a surge of tenderness and asked with a smile, "Are you going or not?"
"Going there, huh?" Shanhe turned her face away, her voice becoming increasingly lazy and soft, with the last syllable drawn out, but she still showed no sign of moving.
Liang Ye smiled gently and picked up Shanhe in his arms, saying, "Madam Xue is feeling tired, so I will take care of you."
Shanhe was suddenly lifted into his arms, and she turned pale with fright. She opened her eyes and clenched her fingers tightly around his shirt, pleading, "Okay, okay, I'll go now. Please put me down, sir."
Upon hearing this, Liang Ye frowned but ignored her, carrying Shanhe directly to the bathing room, where the maids had already prepared fragrant bathwater in a tub. Liang Ye placed her on a rosewood chair and reached out to untie the sash around her waist. Shanhe instantly felt her back stiffen and her limbs go numb, quickly pushing his hand away: "I can do it myself."
Liang Ye smiled at her: "What if you try to fool me with lies again?"
"That won't happen again. I'll take a bath right now, it'll only take the time it takes for an incense stick to burn—"
Before Shanhe could finish speaking, Liang Ye's lips were already on hers. As he kissed her, he lifted her buttocks, spread her legs, and made her straddle his lap.
After a short while, the pressure was released, and Shanhe's two lips had become pink and moist.
Liang Ye smiled, his eyes gradually becoming hazy: "Isn't it good for me to serve you while you bathe? Are you not comfortable?"
Shanhe placed her hands against his chest, separating herself slightly from him: "I... sir, I'm not used to this..."
Liang Ye frowned: "I hate it when you call me 'Grandpa,' it's so formal."
"Why be so formal? Besides, you are Uncle Liang."
There's an elder brother and an heir brother. Liang Ye frowned and said, "Didn't I teach you to call me by my name last time?"
“Oh… Ah Ye…” she murmured softly.
His expression softened slightly: "Since you've addressed me that way, you don't need to stand on ceremony. Anyway, here we are, husband and wife."
Shanhe was startled; the words "husband and wife" felt like a needle piercing her heart.
"This servant dares not..."
Liang Ye pinched Shanhe's buttocks: "You've done it again. Servant, servant, do you really think of yourself as a maid? People strive for higher positions, but you insist on being a maid. Don't you want to change your status?"
Shanhe suddenly looked up, her voice urgent: "What?"
Liang Ye assumed she was just excited and smiled, "Shanshan, didn't you say tonight that you were afraid the mistress wouldn't tolerate you? If you were just a maid, even with my support, it's hard to guarantee you wouldn't be secretly sabotaged. Perhaps—"
"I will not be a concubine," Shanhe interrupted him.
Liang Ye was stunned, for Shan He in front of him had clear eyes and a calm expression. She stared straight at him and then repeated, "A-Ye, I will not be a concubine." Her voice was even more resolute than before.
"Shanshan..." The smile on his face faded, and his fingers unconsciously tightened. "Not wanting to be a concubine? Shanshan, do you know what you're saying?"
“I know.” Shanhe met his increasingly cold and sharp gaze, her voice clear, “I said, I will not be a concubine. Not your concubine. Not anyone’s concubine.”
Not only was being a concubine a shackle for a woman, but for Shanhe, becoming Liang Ye's concubine meant completely surrendering her freedom. She didn't want Liang Ye's name to be branded onto her completely.
Liang Ye also looked at her face and sneered, "Shanshan, if you don't want this status, there are plenty of people who will come after you."
"Then go and take someone else. He Niang, or whoever? Go ahead and take your concubines." Shan He straightened up from him. "I'm not doing it anyway."
Seeing her struggle to move, Liang Ye tightened his grip on her, remaining silent and fixing his gaze on Shan He's face. Shan He, unfazed, met his gaze head-on. The night wind rustled the bamboo leaves outside, and Liang Ye remained expressionless, silent for a long while. Shan He felt a chill run down her spine; her heart pounded like a drum. She had so blatantly defied Liang Ye, and now they were locked in a stalemate. She wondered how much anger he would provoke, how he would scold her, or what. But she didn't want to give up everything.
Liang Ye suddenly deflated, his grip loosening as he loosened his hold on Shanhe's wrists, his fingertips slowly stroking the two gold bracelets on her wrists. His tone was no longer as cold and hard as before: "Fine, you can't force a cow to drink water. If you're content to be a maid, content to be a servant, content to be lowly for the rest of your life, then I'll save myself the trouble." He patted Shanhe's arm: "Go on, take a bath and go to bed early. Don't be late when Ouyang Erlang comes to invite you tomorrow."
Shanhe was momentarily stunned. This man had always used a forceful attitude and ruthless methods to coerce her, yet today he had yielded first. Shanhe hesitated as she got off him, her eyes still filled with confusion as she looked at him. Unexpectedly, as soon as Shanhe stood up, Liang Ye suddenly stood up, patted Shanhe's shoulder, and said, "Go to sleep early." After saying that, he immediately turned around and strode out, returning to his room to rest.
The following morning, sunlight pierced through the thin mist in the woods, illuminating the painted beams and flying eaves of Wuyou Garden more clearly. As it was an imperial garden built by imperial decree, its regulations were strict, and standing among the buildings, one could feel an even stronger sense of imperial grandeur. Meanwhile, Shanhe and Liangye had finished washing and changing, and Ouyang Tongyang had already sent someone to invite them.
Breakfast was served in an open pavilion overlooking the water. Ouyang Tongyang was already waiting there, accompanied by a young woman dressed in green, presumably the Green Pearl he had mentioned the night before. Green Pearl was bright-eyed and cheerful, with a lively and spirited personality. Upon seeing Shanhe, she immediately came forward, affectionately taking Shanhe's arm and calling her "sister" repeatedly. She praised Shanhe's extraordinary figure and demeanor while playfully scolding Ouyang Tongyang for not mentioning that he would be accompanied by a female companion, leaving her bored and restless in the room.
Shanhe and Lüzhu stood side by side, and Shanhe could already smell a faint, delicate fragrance emanating from Lüzhu, which wafted into their noses.
Ouyang Tongyang had already stood up from his seat of honor and was smiling as he introduced everyone. After they were seated, he chatted with Liang Ye about interesting anecdotes and local scenery in the capital, and then highly praised the hot springs here, saying that he must go for a soak in the afternoon to fully enjoy himself.
After the meal, while having tea, Lüzhu and Shanhe had become quite acquainted, and Lüzhu immediately took Shanhe's arm and offered to lead her on a stroll through the garden. Tongyang, upon hearing this, laughed and said, "It should have been me leading Brother Jichen and Lady Xue on their stroll, but you little vixen beat me to it!"
Green Pearl wasn't annoyed. She raised an eyebrow at him and said, "You? You're just a guest. I live here every day. Today, I'm the host!" With that, she took Shanhe's hand and left the table.
Tong Yang threw his head back and laughed loudly, then chased after him, saying, "You little green-hoof, tomorrow I'll take you back to the capital and teach your mistress a proper lesson in manners! Let's see if you still dare to act arrogantly in front of me!"
Seeing him like this, Green Pearl smiled and let go of Shanhe, running and playing with Tong Yang. When they arrived, she still called out to Shanhe, "Sister Shanhe, follow us! This garden is spacious and there are few servants. If you get lost, it will take a long time to find you!"
Shanhe had no choice but to follow behind. Seeing the two people in front laughing and joking, she blushed with embarrassment and awkwardly turned her head to admire the scenery along the way, but her gaze fell on Liang Ye.
Liang Ye had already walked to her side, looked down at her with a smile on his lips. He reached out and gently touched Shan He's flushed face: "Why is your face so hot?"
Shanhe slapped his hand away: "It's hot."
Liang Ye smiled, put down his hand, and walked side by side with Shan He, his hands behind his back: "The Chamberlain has two sons. This is the younger one. He is five or six years older than me and has never served in office."
"Never?" Shanhe was taken aback. Even if a son of an official family in the Great Yan Dynasty was lacking in talent and learning, his family would at least buy him a nominal title. Ouyang Shizhong, one of the three prime ministers and head of the Secretariat, had never had his son enter officialdom?
"Yes." Liang Ye exhaled a breath of stale air. "The upright reputation of Ouyang Shizhong was almost ruined by this youngest son."
"What do you mean by that?"
“Ouyang Tongyang started frequenting brothels and gambling when he was fourteen. He once spent a fortune on a prostitute and also incurred gambling debts, which he had to sell off all the savings left by his deceased mother to pay off. This Green Pearl is only sixteen years old this year. He brought her from the brothel and secretly raised her here.”
Shanhe couldn't help but look up at the two people in front of her: "I thought Green Pearl..."
“She’s not a concubine, but an outsider. Attendant Ouyang had long since cut off Tong Yang’s money and forbade him from bringing any women into the house. So he had no choice but to keep them scattered in the old man’s residences. Anyway, when the old man comes, he just says they are maids here. They don’t have any official status, so no one can tell anything from them.”
Shanhe pursed her lips: "Then why are you still on good terms with Ouyang Erlang?"
Liang Ye smiled and gently pinched Shanhe's nose: "Little Shanhe, think about it, the Chamberlain's own son is not only useless, but also often causes trouble outside. What will become of him?"
Shanhe was stunned. It turned out that Liang Ye had also made plans in this matter. She said, "I remember that Lord Ouyang's eldest son is the Prefect of Kangzhou."
Liang Ye said calmly, "That's right, Ouyang Tongfu has now been promoted to Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. However," he changed the subject, "although Brother Tongfu is an upright and honest man, it's a pity that he is not diligent in his studies, has not made any achievements in government affairs, and is not quick-witted enough. He has been stuck in the position of Prefect of Kangzhou for six or seven years. If I hadn't helped him deal with the Zhao family this time, I'm afraid he would have stayed in Kangzhou for a few more years."
Shanhe understood. Ouyang Shizhong's two sons were neither capable of upholding the Ouyang family's reputation: one was upright and honest but ill-suited for politics, the other a gambler and womanizer. The old master worried that his sons would squander the family fortune after his death, hence his efforts to support Liang Ye, presumably to have Liang Ye assist him. This was indeed true. Shanhe had heard rumors lately that Ouyang Shizhong intended to arrange a marriage between Liang Ye and the Su family, the Minister of Rites. Otherwise, why would he be supporting Liang Ye to such an extent?
The two walked in silence for a long time, each lost in their own thoughts. When they came to their senses, Tong Yang and Lü Zhu were no longer in sight. Shan He felt a pang of panic, but Liang Ye smiled, took her hand, and pointed to an octagonal pavilion floating on the water ahead: "Let's go to that pavilion and wait there. They'll come looking for us when they're done."
The... thing is done...
Shanhe opened her mouth, her face flushed, and she followed Liang Ye quickly toward the octagonal pavilion.
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Author's Note: This chapter is a transition, and the plot is slightly fragmented. The next chapter will feature a short poetry gathering and foreshadow the ending of Liang Ye.
There will be another grand poetry gathering later, where each person's poem foreshadows their own fate. Immediately after the poetry gathering, Shanshan will be on her way.
I might revise the poems at the poetry gathering later, because I haven't decided on the specific endings for some of the supporting characters yet.
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