Chapter 50: The Wife

Chapter 50: The Wife

Liang Yun left early, slipping away quietly.

It was still the fourth watch, with the sky a dull gray. He had already dressed properly, not even bringing a servant along.

Ying Shi sat at the head of the bed, drowsy and half-asleep, and did not get up to see him off.

As she listened to the man's steady footsteps in the corridor, hearing them gradually fade away, Ying Shi buried herself back under the covers.

Her relationship with Liang Yun did have its perks. For example, Madame Wei and the old lady, along with various trivial matters, no longer easily bothered Ying Shi.

No one bothered Ying Shi anymore.

Alone under the dark covers, even her breath felt stifling. Within the narrow bed curtains, they had slept apart last night, with two layers of quilts piled together. Ying Shi slipped from her own sweltering quilt into Liang Yun's cooler one beside her.

He had left early, leaving the quilt cold.

Taking a deep breath, Ying Shi could still catch his scent. A faint, clean fragrance, just like Liang Yun himself.

She sniffed; it wasn't unpleasant.

Exhausted, with sore legs and back, Ying Shi felt too lazy to move. Choosing not to dwell on anything, she yawned and drifted back to sleep.

She slept for a long time.

So long that the sun was high, bathing everything in a golden light.

Ying Shi rose slowly, washed up, and headed for breakfast.

That morning, the maid returned with a basket of crab roe soup dumplings, a plate of soy milk, a plate of lotus seed soup, and a bowl of chicken and shrimp porridge from the main kitchen.

The crab roe soup dumplings were petite, with delicate skins and rich fillings, bursting with crab roe juice in one bite.

It's said that intimacy saps a man's strength, but Ying Shi was so hungry her vision blurred. She muttered to herself, wondering if Liang Yun had sapped her energy. She devoured a whole basket of dumplings, yet still felt unsatisfied.

After the dumplings, Ying Shi had soy milk soup to her left and chicken and shrimp porridge to her right, enjoying her meal.

Just then, Gui Niang, tidying the bed in the inner room, hurried out and fixed her gaze on Ying Shi.

Cheeks bulging, Ying Shi asked, "Why are you staring, Gui Niang?"

Recalling the neatly made quilt, Gui Niang couldn't resist asking, "How was it last night between you and the Duke?"

Flushing with embarrassment, Ying Shi feigned focus on her breakfast, avoiding a response.

Gui Niang pressed, "Last night with the Duke... it was so dark and quiet, I didn't dare ask. How was it? Was he considerate?"

Prompted by Gui Niang, Ying Shi belatedly realized. Although it was only once last night, it lasted for a very long time—he had been behind her, half-holding, half-supporting her.

He had only been breathing a bit heavily.

It seemed to have been completely quiet throughout.

As for herself, many times when she couldn't bear it, she had suppressed her sobs. The person behind her was too quiet, and she felt too embarrassed to cry out loud. When she couldn't hold back, she cried very softly.

The thick curtains stifled her soft moans, ensuring nothing escaped outside.

Ying Shi pursed her lips, too shy to know how to respond to such a matter. After a long while, her face flushed, she only vaguely said, "He was considerate."

Gui Niang usually avoided this topic, but today she was relentless, determined to get a clear answer. "I didn't hear any noise last night, and the bed was spotless. Did you really sleep together? Are you trying to fool me?"

Ying Shi's face turned crimson. "Yes, we did. Just... just once. And it was all cleaned up afterward..."

"Cleaned up? You cleaned up?" Gui Niang looked skeptical.

Ying Shi stumbled over her words. "It was the Duke... he cleaned up."

As she spoke, she even began to resent Liang Yun a little.

What kind of man is so obsessed with cleanliness? Who would bother to straighten the bed afterward? It was all his pretense that got her interrogated like this!

"Don’t blame me for being blunt, Madam. If there's really something wrong, you mustn't cover for him. The Duke is in his late twenties and still hasn’t married, with no concubines or maids to relieve his needs. Who knows if..."

Clearly, Gui Niang thought once was too little. She didn't finish her sentence, but the implication was clear.

At his age, other men's children are already running around, yet Liang Yun doesn't even have a woman. That alone is suspicious.

Ying Shi defended him, "The Duke is fine..."

Hearing this, Gui Niang breathed a sigh of relief but couldn't help urging Ying Shi, "The union of man and woman is about the balance of yin and yang. Since you've already formally shared the bed with the Duke, you can’t be as passive as last night. You need to put in more effort. If you don’t conceive soon, people won’t blame him; they’ll blame you for not being fertile! If you don’t conceive in a month or two, or even three to five months, and if the old madam and the madam start pressing you! And if the Duke decides to marry again... You can't afford to be shy anymore. Keeping the Duke’s affection is crucial."

Ying Shi felt a surge of resentment.

She wanted to say she’d already made the first move last night. As a young woman, she had even taken his hand, signaling him to undress her. What more could she do?

Did she really have to stoop to acting like some seductress, stripping naked to entice him, just to have a child sooner?

And what good would stripping do? He undressed her, only to put her clothes back on right after!

The events of last night replayed in Ying Shi's mind. She had already brushed off the embarrassment of last night, but now, with Gui Niang poking at it, she felt completely humiliated!

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Ying Shi decided to throw caution to the wind and stopped covering for Liang Yun. "Yes, he’s cold, indifferent, and acts like he’s above me. I guess I'm just not capable of holding onto him! Let his next wife handle him!"

"What kind of nonsense are you spouting now!" Gui Niang was both angry and heartbroken, sighing at her, "How could you not be enough? You’re stunning, glowing like a precious pearl, with a figure more delicate than a flower. I can’t believe there’s a man alive who’d reject you!"

Gui Niang had her own reasons for being proud. She leaned in and whispered into Ying Shi's ear, "Was it you who turned off the lights last night? You silly girl! Turning off the lights only wasted your beauty! You and the Duke are still unfamiliar with each other. How can you expect him to like you or cherish you? If the Duke comes again, listen to me. Dress up, be sweet and affectionate with him. Once you win his heart, everything will be easier."

What does it matter if he marries again? When the time comes, just cry in front of him. I don't believe the Duke, having you, would still have the heart to look elsewhere...

...

Liang Yun had been tied up with court affairs, staying in the administrative hall for two days straight. It wasn't until the third day that he finally had time to return to the Duke's residence.

It was nearly dark by the time he arrived.

Liang Yun first went to pay his respects to the old madam.

The old madam, getting on in years, ached all over as the weather turned cold. Two maids were massaging her legs on either side, and a brazier had already been lit in the corner of the room.

Nanny Chen was stoking the brazier with charcoal. Seeing Liang Yun arrive, she quickly ordered someone to prepare dinner.

"The Duke must have been extremely busy in the palace these past few days. You’ve lost weight!" Nanny Chen, who had watched Liang Yun grow up, felt a natural closeness to him.

The old madam, however, wasn't in the mood for small talk with her grandson. She merely glanced at Liang Yun and waved her hand dismissively, "You've been so busy during the day, don't bother with these formalities when you return at night. From now on, go straight to the west courtyard. That girl is waiting for you."

Nanny Chen clapped her hand to her forehead, "Look at me, getting old and forgetful. Does the west courtyard lack food for the Duke?"

Though they weren’t officially married, they’d eventually have to raise a family together. It was important to build some affection.

The old lady's direct prodding made Liang Yun's expression turn serious. He pressed his lips together and said, "There’s an urgent matter at court tomorrow morning. I should return to my own residence tonight..."

"Does it really matter where you stay? Your nanny has already sent your robes to the West Garden. It will be convenient from now on," the old lady interrupted him, frowning slightly in feigned displeasure.

At this point, Liang Yun could no longer refuse. He bowed stiffly to the old lady at the head of the room before rising to leave.

After Liang Yun left, the old lady rested her hand on her temple, closing her eyes to relax.

Nanny Chen, though, couldn’t help sighing, worrying, "It seems the Duke isn’t too keen. Did we push him too far this time?"

Hearing this, the old lady suddenly chuckled with her eyes closed.

"This child takes after his mother."

...

After three days, Liang Yun once again stepped into the West Garden's Zhuo Jin Garden.

A maid dozing by the corridor pillar was startled awake by a soft cough from the corridor. Xiang Yao immediately snapped out of her drowsiness.

She saw a tall male figure emerge from the dimly lit corridor.

Xiang Yao quickly called into the room, "Madam! The Duke is here to see you!"

However, the Duke’s icy gaze swept over her, and Xiang Yao didn't know what she had said wrong.

The night was late.

Candles lit up the inner chamber, casting a warm, cozy glow everywhere.

Through the open flower window, her silhouette was faintly visible behind the bead curtain, adding a touch of hazy beauty.

At Xiang Yao’s words, Ying Shi lifted her skirt and glided gracefully out of the inner chamber.

Her delicate hand slowly lifted the bead curtain, revealing a face of exquisite beauty.

Her hair flowed like clouds, her skin as pale as snow, and her figure was delicate and graceful. She wore a Danxia floral-patterned skirt, a light pink-blue smoke-patterned Bi Xia robe, and a coral double-bead hairpin swaying with her every move. Her ears were adorned with a pair of crimson jade beads that swayed with her steps.

The warm candlelight lit up her peach-blossom face, making her beauty flawless and radiant.

Ying Shi’s soft gaze met his.

She stood by the flower window, her shyness and embarrassment laid bare.

Liang Yun stepped in slowly. He looked as he always did, cold and stern, his emotions unreadable, and he didn’t even make eye contact with her.

However, the fact that Liang Yun had come was enough for Ying Shi.

Under Gui Niang’s watchful eye, she gathered her courage and stepped forward to ask him, "Brother, you haven’t eaten yet, have you?"

As she spoke, she personally brought over the dishes and led him to sit at the round table.

Liang Yun was very compliant; his temperament wouldn’t allow him to make things difficult for himself.

This naturally brought Ying Shi a sigh of relief.

She had been a little afraid, thinking that after the intimacy they shared two days ago, she would feel shy, and he would feel awkward around her.

But who would have thought that Liang Yun seemed to have completely forgotten about it?

This is good; this way, the two of them won't feel awkward when they're together.

From the corner of his eye, Liang Yun could see her fragile eyelashes, trembling like butterfly wings under the flickering lights, each tremor stirring his heart.

Her face was strikingly beautiful, and tonight, she had even applied rouge.

Her willow-leaf eyebrows and cherry-like lips stood out against her snow-white, flawless face, like red plum blossoms blooming in the snow, exquisitely beautiful and utterly enchanting.

It wasn't until Ying Shi served food into his bowl that he snapped out of his trance.

At that moment, Gui Niang brought over some wine, handed it to Ying Shi, and whispered, "Encourage the Duke to drink a few more cups to liven things up."

Ying Shi hesitated, but recalling Gui Niang's words, she knew this wasn't the time to waver. Since she had decided to take this step, she couldn't retreat after just one day.

Securing him sooner would only be to her advantage.

As long as she had a child, she wouldn't have to endure these injustices anymore.

Ying Shi's face flushed with shyness as she bit her lip, walking over to Liang Yun with a wine cup and filling it for him.

Liang Yun had indeed overheard the maid's words.

In the dim candlelight, he noticed a faint bruise on her wrist, hidden beneath her sleeve.

It was just from that night's grip, yet three days later, it still lingered...

Was she made of glass...

Ying Shi had already brought the wine cup to his hand, reminiscent of that night when she placed her palm in his.

Her voice was soft and gentle, like the scent of lychee wafting from the incense burner.

Her eyes were misty, yet they clearly reflected his image—his well-dressed and composed figure.

"Brother, would you care for a cup of wine?"

Tonight, she was exceptionally well-behaved and sensible, a stark contrast to her previous tendencies to cry, seek death, and play petty tricks.

She was as dutiful as a wife...

*Wife... wife...*

Liang Yun silently repeated the word in his heart, his hand tightening under his sleeve.

A cup of wine slid down his throat, yet it only seemed to deepen his thirst.