Chapter 48
The scrolls of painting and ink were scattered on the floor. On the desk, a smooth, snowy back glowed with a warm, lustrous color. A scarlet camellia that Yuli had picked in the courtyard was teetering on the edge of the table.
Yuli tried to get up several times but was held down by Xie Yao’s palm on her back. She couldn’t prop herself up no matter what. She said several times to go to the bedchamber, but he acted as if he hadn’t heard.
She was dissatisfied, but it was soon covered by the feelings in her body.
It was unclear if she was too nervous, or if Xie Yao was more eager and less skilled than usual. Yuli felt uncomfortable from the very beginning, and towards the end, it even turned into pain.
It wasn’t enough to go to the very bottom; it was as if he wanted to break something.
Her chest and lungs were heavily pressed. Yuli’s breath stopped for a moment, and when she exhaled again, tears also dripped down from the corners of her eyes.
And the person behind her, who had always paid attention to her subtle reactions, seemed not to see it at this moment.
Seeing the camellia fall to the ground, the pain overshadowed the pleasure. Yuli couldn’t help but whimper.
“It’s uncomfortable, let me go… Xie Yao!” Yuli reached back to grab him, grabbing his skin.
He finally stopped.
He, who had been silent to the point of being almost quiet, was breathing heavily. He bent down and picked her up.
Yuli’s face was wet and red. The side that had been pressed against the table was a dark red. Her brow was furrowed, uneasy and resentful.
She looked up, wanting to look at him, but he pressed her forehead down. “If you don’t like it, we can change positions.”
Yuli’s face was pressed against his chest. His chest heaved violently, and his breathing was rough and deep. Yuli was still shaken and didn’t want to continue.
But she held back from saying it.
Xie Yao picked up his robe from the chair, wrapped her in it, and carried her back to the bedchamber.
Yuli saw that his face was normal. It seemed that he had just lost his composure for a moment.
He turned to leave. Yuli held his hand. “Did Husband encounter some trouble outside?”
Yuli looked at him, her eyes full of concern.
Xie Yao straightened her slightly messy bangs. “There are some.”
If he encountered a problem, it must be a very difficult one. Yuli felt that she couldn’t possibly be of any help.
“You will surely be able to solve it,” was all Yuli could say. She guessed it was about the border. According to the original novel, although he had gone on a personal expedition, the battle had gone very smoothly.
It was just that it might have to develop to the point of him leading a personal expedition, which should be a bit tricky.
Xie Yao finally smiled. “I will. Everything will be.”
Xie Yao held her and patted her back. Yuli gradually calmed down.
Yuli looked at him and said, “Don’t tear my clothes anymore. They are not easy to mend.”
Xie Yao chuckled. “Alright.”
Seeing that it was still early, Yuli still wanted to finish her plan.
Xie Yao did not stop her. She stood up, took a new set of clothes, and after dressing, kissed him before leaving.
The study was in a mess. Neither the maids nor Xiyun had come. Yuli picked up the things one by one, feeling an inexplicable unease in her heart.
He was always calm and composed. Besides the time he had had a tantrum with her and had gone completely crazy, everything was under his control. Besides matters related to her, she had almost never seen him worry. She had taken him as her way out and was already very used to everything he had given her. She had never thought that he would encounter a problem and bring his bad mood to her.
But it had indeed happened now, and she was helpless.
Yuli’s heart was complicated. She couldn’t solve it, couldn’t help. She could only not think about it and believe that he could solve it smoothly.
Yuli tidied up the study and concentrated on sorting out the plan before returning to the bedchamber.
Xie Yao had already bathed and gone to bed. He had left a lamp on for her, his eyes closed.
Yuli also quickly washed up, blew out the lamp, and quietly climbed into the inner side of the bed. She lay for a while, then turned on her side, her face pressed against his shoulder, and reached for his hand, her five fingers slipping into the gaps between his, rubbing them, her palm pressed against the back of his hand.
It was unclear if he was asleep or not. He had not moved at all.
Yuli was already sleepy and soon fell asleep.
After her breathing was even and she was in a deep sleep, Xie Yao slowly pulled his hand out, moving it out inch by inch, far away from Yuli, until there was a distance of half a person between them.
They were all dead. He had also burned that room. Besides, her affair with them had nothing to do with him in the first place.
He had Yuli, the best wife in the world. His future would surely be full of light, and it had to be light.
Xie Yao turned on his side to face Yuli, wanting to reach out and touch her fingers. He slowly approached, and just as he was about to touch her, he stopped again.
It was as if an invisible wall had been erected. A sudden tearing pain shot through his heart. His fingers suddenly clutched the quilt, so forcefully that his fingertips turned white.
In the end, he pulled his hand back and just looked at her slightly curled figure.
It will be alright.
He would wait a little longer, and then he could welcome her into the Imperial Palace.
At that time, everyone in the world would know that she was his. She could only look at him, be with him day and night, and he would never do anything to frighten her again.
*
The next day, Yuli woke up very early, but not as early as Xie Yao. He was already gone when she woke up.
When she went out, she still didn’t see Jingyu. Yuli had breakfast and went straight to Huayan Fang with Xiyun.
Just as she reached the north room of the backyard, Zhile came with a tray covered with a red cloth. She turned around mysteriously, closed the door, and then brought it to Yuli, lifting the red cloth to reveal five bright red velvet flowers.
Both Yuli and Xiyun let out a “wow.”
There were graceful peonies, elegant peonies, and beautiful camellias. From the base of the petals to the tips, the color changed from dark red to bright red, with distinct layers, eye-catching and gorgeous.
The other two were entirely bright red peonies and peonies, which looked so bright they were almost glowing, extremely gorgeous.
“They are all so beautiful,” Yuli said, her heart amazed.
Zhile pursed her lips and smiled. “Miss Yingniang can only wear one. The Mistress should choose the most beautiful one.”
Yuli touched the petals, pointing here and there, but couldn’t choose. She suddenly thought of the gold that Xie Yao had given her last night. Why did she have to choose one out of five? She could have them all.
“We can find five beauties like Yingniang to wear them,” Yuli said in a low voice.
Zhile and Xiyun both laughed.
Yuli went to the dyeing workshop to check on Ye Weiqing’s progress in dyeing the silk threads. His efficiency was not high. With the help of the two old dyers, the amount of silk threads produced was indeed limited. Yuli felt that it was better to keep it a secret before the Welcoming Summer Festival and not to recruit other dyers.
Before Huayan Fang opened, Lizhen came to the shop. Yuli immediately called a meeting of the key members, took out the plan she had prepared in advance, discussed it with them in detail, and had everyone give their suggestions and note down the key points.
At noon, Xiyun went to a restaurant to order some good dishes. Worried that the waiters would see the situation in the backyard, she ran back and forth twice to bring them in.
Ye Weiqing and the old dyer ate in the dyeing workshop, while the few girls ate in the north room. Halfway through the meal, Zhile said, “We’re just missing Sister Jingyu. She hasn’t seen such beautiful silk threads yet. I wonder if she’s better.”
Xiyun said, “I’ve asked. They said she’s almost better and will be here in a day or two. We haven’t told her about this. When she comes, we’ll give her a surprise.”
Everyone was glowing with health and full of energy. After the meal, Zhile, who had been up all night, went to take a nap. Lizhen went to attend to the customers, and Xiyun went to learn how to dye silk threads from Ye Weiqing.
Yuli rested for a while. Someone came to apply for a job as a clerk. She and Lizhen asked a few questions, then went back to her room to perfect the plan.
Halfway through her writing, Lizhen suddenly came into the room, her face a little heavy. “The young master of Wanse Fang is here.”
Yuli’s brow also twitched, but she quickly recovered her composure.
“I haven’t said anything, but the guards have stopped him outside. He won’t leave and says he wants to see the Mistress,” Lizhen said, and asked, “Should we see him?”
“Yes,” Yuli said firmly.
From the moment he had cut off the supply, from running around the various weaving and dyeing workshops, to being caught buying from a third party by him, to facing the customers who came to make a scene, and worrying day and night about developing new colors, all the difficulties and grievances along the way were caused by him.
When she was at her lowest, he had seen her and had dropped a last straw, almost making her give up. Now that she was about to make a comeback, it was best for him to be there to witness it.
Yuli stood up, straightened her robes, and went out, calling Xiyun back.
Flanked by Xiyun and Lizhen, Yuli went to the shop with a faint smile. Just as she entered from the back door, she saw him standing outside the shop door, staring at the four-panel screen in the center of the shop.
Yuli forced a smile and walked out, followed by Lizhen and Xiyun. When she reached the door, the two guards stepped aside, one on the left and one on the right.
Yuli approached and bowed to Chu Hong. “Young Master Chu has graced us with his presence. I, Song, have failed to welcome you.”
Yuli was tall and slender, and she walked with a free and easy air. Although it was clear that she was a woman, she had a unique and elegant air. Besides, she was now deliberately pretending to be as gentle as a spring breeze, making it impossible for people to take their eyes off her.
Chu Hong stared at her, not like before, when he would casually size her up and then laugh, turn to other places, and say some condescending and provocative words.
“Shopkeeper Song, it’s been a while,” Chu Hong said.
Hearing his low voice, with only a hint of a smile, Yuli finally looked at him seriously.
Previously, he had been too annoying, and Yuli didn’t want to look at him a second time, only remembering his appearance. Now that she looked, she was shocked to find that he had lost a lot of weight and was also haggard.
Seeing Yuli staring at him in a daze, Chu Hong shook out his folding fan and laughed, tilting his head up slightly.
Still so annoying.
Yuli kept her expression steady and had no intention of inviting him in. She smiled. “Although my Huayan Fang is not as popular as it was at its peak, it has already gotten on the right track and is unique among the jewelry shops in the capital. Life is alright. But Young Master Chu, why do you seem to be unwell?”
Yuli was being sarcastic, but her face was full of sincere concern, thinking that she could anger him to death but he wouldn’t be able to get angry.
Unexpectedly, he said, “I did run into some trouble a few days ago.”
He didn’t say what kind of trouble.
“I, Chu, have come today to ask Shopkeeper Song again if you want to form a strong alliance with me,” Chu Hong said.
Yuli put on a thoughtful look and did not respond.
Chu Hong: “I was a bit domineering before. Actually, it was not my intention to make things difficult for you. I was just afraid of being looked down upon by Shopkeeper Song, which was why I used the supply cut-off to put pressure on you. Shopkeeper Song has had a hard time, which I, Chu, have seen and greatly admire. If Shopkeeper Song is interested, you and I can establish a Wanhua Fang. I will provide the money, and all the other details will be up to you.”
Chu Hong looked very sincere, even with a hint of solemnity, but Yuli would be a fool to believe him.
Yuli also said solemnly, “Actually, my Huayan Fang is not worthy of Young Master Chu’s high regard. It is just barely surviving at the moment. And since Young Master Chu could do something like cutting off the supply, I, Song, really dare not entrust the future of my Huayan Fang to you completely.”
“If it’s just that, we can sign a contract now,” Chu Hong interrupted.
Yuli was sure that he was up to something and replied, “In a few days, it will be the Welcoming Summer Festival. Huayan Fang has hired a few beauties to wear the flowers and show their faces. Young Master Chu might as well come and have a look. If you still think my Huayan Fang has potential, we can talk again.”
“Alright, then we’ll see you at the Welcoming Summer Festival,” Chu Hong said.
“It’s a date,” Yuli replied with a smile.
The Welcoming Summer Festival celebrations were all during the day, and on Zhuque Street. She could go out.
Chu Hong left. Xiyun asked Yuli, “Is the Mistress really going to consider cooperating with him?”
Yuli put away her fake smile and said, “It’s not impossible, but only if he is truly convinced will he sincerely let me be in charge.”
Now was not the time to consider these things. Yuli quickly put Chu Hong out of her mind, finished the plan, and then returned to the Xie Residence early.
Last night, Xie Yao had been in a bad mood, and she had been busy with Huayan Fang’s affairs. She had decided last night that she would go back early today, make him some delicious food, and accompany him properly.
When she reached Mingyue Residence, Yuli quickly changed into women’s clothes. The weather had completely warmed up. She wore a beautiful ruqun and shirt, a goose-yellow upper garment, and a light green skirt, which was very fresh and beautiful.
She combed her hair back into a woman’s chignon, pinned a newly picked camellia from the courtyard, and looked in the mirror for a while before going to the second gate to wait for him.
After waiting for a while, he still hadn’t returned. Yuli had no intention of leaving and was playing with the pebbles by the roadside.
When Xie Yao returned, he saw her in a yellow shirt and green skirt by the roadside, her hands behind her back, her head bowed, listlessly rolling a pebble.
From the corner of his eye, he saw him coming. She turned around, her bright eyes and white teeth, and her smile immediately bloomed. She kicked the pebble away and ran towards him, holding up her skirt.
Yuli ran to his side, naturally linked her arm with his, and called him sweetly, “Husband.”
Xie Yao hummed in agreement, raised his hand to gently hold her wrist. “Why did you think of coming to meet me today?”
She hadn’t come to greet him for some days. Seeing that he was a little sour, Yuli smiled. “I was too busy before. Now it’s finally over. In a few days, as long as you want, I will come to greet you every day.”
Xie Yao just smiled, as if he didn’t take it seriously.
On the way back, Yuli casually mentioned, “In four days, it will be the Welcoming Summer Festival. I heard that it’s very famous in the capital. I want to join in the fun. Does Husband know of anything fun?”
Yuli actually wanted him to go with her. He had been with her through her low point, and she also hoped that he would be there to witness her success, and also to let him see what kind of achievements his letting go of her had brought.
But she also felt that this achievement might be insignificant in his eyes, and he might even think that she was asking for trouble. She didn’t dare to expect too much.
Xie Yao paused. That day was also the day the Shenwu Army would be sent on another northern expedition.