Madam, you and the young master last night…
Before the words had even finished, Pei Yu's grip grew heavier.
Men were always like this—domineering and overbearing, refusing to tolerate a single word of objection from her even in this matter.
"Cooperate a little… cooperate with what?" Shen Qingyin suddenly asked.
She had been forcibly roused from a sweet dream, her voice still carrying a trace of resentment.
Unfortunately, Pei Yu didn't catch it. The man didn't pause his movements, his tone cold and hard as he tossed back only one sentence: "The matter of bearing an heir, naturally."
Shen Qingyin's back ached from rubbing against the silk bedding. A trace of bitterness rose in her throat, and she said softly:
"This matter… this matter isn't something that results in a child just from cooperating, is it?"
Two years ago, when she gave birth to Tang-jie'er, the household physician had said she had damaged her vitality, that her body was no longer suited for bearing children.
Even though Pei Yu had been kept away by official duties at the time and hadn't been at her side through her brush with death, he had never once mentioned the matter of heirs in the two years since. Shen Qingyin had assumed he'd abandoned the idea of her bearing more children, and had even been quietly planning when to take in a few concubines for him to spread the family line.
But Pei Yu seemed not to have heard the woman's bitter words. He simply reached out and flipped her over. The sudden motion made Shen Qingyin gasp, her knees touching the ground, and every word she might have said was choked back down her throat.
Silver moonlight streamed through the lattice window onto the swaying tassels at the corner of the bed. Though it had only been two or three hours, to Shen Qingyin it felt as long as days and nights.
The woman bit down hard on her lower lip, and only when she tasted the metallic sweetness of broken skin did she hear the man behind her speak in a low voice.
"…Why aren't you making a sound this time?"
In the past, every time they shared a bed, she had begged him to be gentler, to hurry and finish. Only this once had she fallen so unusually silent.
Shen Qingyin drew a difficult breath and forced out a faint smile with her back to the man.
"Making a sound… what good would making a sound do?"
Had he ever once heeded her pleas?
Pei Yu's movements paused. After a few seconds of silence, he spoke slowly, "If you make a sound, I can finish faster."
So he had taken her pleading as encouragement.
Shen Qingyin turned her head aside and buried her face in the pillows, pressing her lips shut even tighter.
Only then did Pei Yu realize how stubborn his wife could be.
Very well.
Then let her be stubborn. Let her grit her teeth. Let her refuse to release a single sound.
Unable to hear her voice, he was only too happy to be free of it.
Who knew how much time passed before the faint pale light of dawn appeared outside the window, and Pei Yu finally released her.
The draft stirred up as the man rose carried a trace of anger. Without a word, he swept out, seemingly in a temper.
Shen Qingyin didn't want to ask. Weakly pushing herself up, she braced against the wall and shuffled step by step into the bath.
As the warm water washed over her limbs, the muscles and bones that had been taut all night finally relaxed.
The woman lowered her gaze to the handprints at her waist—somehow deeper on the left, shallower on the right.
But she was too weary to think about it. She slowly closed her eyes and sank a little deeper.
Three years ago, on a moonlit night just like this one, she had cruelly burned all the letters between herself and "him."
As the water rose past her neck, Shen Qingyin felt the ache in her heart surge ever stronger.
Tan Lang, do you still blame me?
Otherwise, why would you enter my dreams for the first time in three years, yet refuse to let me see your face clearly…
Shen Qingyin had slept unusually deeply, and it was only when Nanny Qing hurriedly lifted the bed curtains and, finding her mistress still fast asleep, couldn't help leaning close to her ear and calling softly a few times, that she blearily opened her eyes.
Her whole body ached again; the slightest movement pulled at a dull pain.
Shen Qingyin silently cursed Pei Yu a few times, then scrambled up and hastily washed and dressed. She only managed a hasty little bun for her hair before leading Nanny Qing off toward Xueqing Court.
By the time she stepped into the main hall, the other ladies had already paid their respects and left, leaving only Liang Wanyou seated there.
The woman in the seat of honor held a string of prayer beads between her fingers, impatience clouding her features.
"Mother." Shen Qingyin stepped forward in small strides and bowed her head in greeting.
Before she finished speaking, Liang Wanyou lifted her chin toward her.
"Kneel."
"Yes."
Having married into the Pei family three years ago, Shen Qingyin had long since forgotten the pre-marriage family teaching of kneeling to heaven, earth, and parents. Without a moment's hesitation, she skillfully lifted her skirts and lowered both knees firmly onto the cold stone floor.
Keeping her eyes lowered, she explained, "Please forgive me, Mother. I did not delay my greetings intentionally. The main reason was—"
"Spare me the excuses."
Liang Wanyou interrupted her impatiently. "I didn't tell you to kneel because you were late. It's about what happened at Bishan Court yesterday."
This daughter-in-law of hers had truly grown wings—she had even put on the airs of the eldest branch, trying to lord it over the second.
If Madam Wei hadn't come to her this morning in tears to pour out her grievances, Liang Wanyou would never have known how capable this seemingly docile daughter-in-law really was.
"…However little you think of Madam Wei, you should not have humiliated her so publicly in front of the clan. If word gets out and people hear of it, they'll think the Pei family is divided."
Liang Wanyou's gaze fell on Shen Qingyin's eyes, then drifted slowly down from those fox-like eyes.
Quite by accident, she suddenly glimpsed, below her daughter-in-law's fair neck, several glaring patches of blue and purple.
The old woman's prayer beads paused between her fingers, and a surge of nameless anger welled up in her chest.
Shameless creature! To stir up trouble was one thing—but she had gone and enticed her son, who managed a thousand pressing affairs a day, into doing that!
Sensing her mother-in-law's gaze turning several degrees colder, Shen Qingyin's fingertips curled slightly inside her sleeve, yet she still kept her eyes lowered and said calmly:
"You misunderstand, Mother. I never humiliated her. It was she who first spoke insolently before everyone about my father and brother—"
"No matter how much in the wrong she is, she is the second branch's wife of the Pei family, Jun-ge'er's mother, entered in the family register! It is not your place to slap her face in public!"
Liang Wanyou gave a cold laugh and said with an air of authority, "You look like you neither fight nor compete, but your temper is as stubborn as your father's. If you refuse to bow your head, sooner or later you'll bring disaster upon yourself!"
She and Shen Qingyin's mother, Madam Shen, had been sworn friends, and back when they were still on good terms, she had often heard her vent complaints about General Shen.
So it seemed this Shen Qingyin was cut from exactly the same cloth as that mule-headed general!
Shen Qingyin lowered her head and bowed.
The hall was quiet for a moment; only the faint clicking of the prayer beads could be heard.
After a long while, Liang Wanyou looked down at her daughter-in-law prostrate at her feet, feeling weary.
If only Ziyan had married her niece three years ago, none of these vexations today would have occurred.
"Enough. There's no need to argue further. Later, find an opportunity to say something conciliatory to Madam Wei, and we'll let the matter rest."
She meant for her to apologize.
Shen Qingyin straightened up and said, "Mother, have you forgotten? You ordered me to go collect the accounts today."
Liang Wanyou suddenly remembered that today was the eighth day of the eighth month. She should have gone to check the shop's accounts two days ago, but Jun-ge'er's first birthday celebration and First Birthday Grab Ceremony had delayed her.
If she put it off any longer, the shopkeepers below would surely find excuses to fiddle with the ledgers.
She pinched the bridge of her nose and finally relented. "Very well, collecting the accounts comes first. Go collect them, and find another time to speak frankly with Madam Wei. You understand that a harmonious household brings prosperity in all things."
Shen Qingyin nodded obediently.
Liang Wanyou paused, then glanced at the marks on Shen Qingyin's neck, and her tone shifted.
"Yesterday your father-in-law mentioned that Tang-jie'er is nearly two years old now. You ought to tend to your health as well—while you're still young, you should bear the Pei family a few more legitimate grandchildren."
Shen Qingyin looked up at Liang Wanyou, and following the other woman's gaze, she suddenly realized something.
Liang Wanyou continued, "When you speak with Madam Wei, take the chance to ask her for advice. She's clearly fertile. Have her tell you how to conceive a son. Later I'll have a nanny deliver several courses of tonic medicine to your courtyard—take them on schedule."
Shen Qingyin answered in a low voice, "Yes, your daughter-in-law has noted it."
Only then did Liang Wanyou permit her to leave. Shen Qingyin rose hastily, and the dull ache in her knees made her stumble almost imperceptibly.
It was only after retreating to the corridor outside Snow Violet Pavilion that she grabbed hold of Nanny Qing beside her and pressed her lips together.
"Nanny, look at me… Is something wrong with me?"
The look Liang Wanyou had given her just now had been impossible to read, and it left her feeling deeply uneasy.
Nanny Qing supported her mistress into the shadow of the corridor pillar, her gaze sweeping over the skin below her collar, her brow creasing almost imperceptibly.
Below her collarbone, purplish-blue love bites lay layered upon layer, so dense across the woman's fair skin that they nearly merged into one patch. The darkest spots were almost black-violet. Even the edge of her collar could not hide the glaring marks—anyone could tell how intense last night had been—
"Madam, you and the Young Master last night…"
Nanny Qing pondered how to phrase it without embarrassing Shen Qingyin.
"…Madam, these marks here… the purple has spread past your collar. Her Ladyship must have seen them just now…"
Shen Qingyin's cheeks instantly burned, the tips of her ears flushing red. She hurriedly gathered her collar closed.
Pei Yu…
Every time they did that, Pei Yu loved kissing her there, and she had no way to stop him…
Shen Qingyin's expression said everything. Nanny Qing sighed and offered advice in the tone of one who had been through it all:
"Madam, that spot below your collarbone is far too conspicuous. Seeing it, Her Ladyship will inevitably overthink, and it wouldn't be proper for the servants to see either."
"Next time the Young Master does this, just press his head a little lower."
A little lower…?
Shen Qingyin's pupils contracted sharply. Following Nanny Qing's gaze, she looked down at her own collarbone, her heart leaping.
Below the collarbone…
Wouldn't that be—
But Pei Yu had hardly neglected that place either…
Shen Qingyin returned to Joywhite Courtyard with a burning face, hurriedly changed out of her clothes, and put on a moon-white beizi embroidered with a few sprays of orchids, paired with a pleated skirt of the same color. At her waist hung the jade rabbit pendant she never let leave her side. The falling hem of the skirt made her figure look all the more lush.
She studied herself in the mirror for a long while, confirming that this neat, tidy attire would conceal the marks left from the night before and would also make it easier to go about her business. Only then did she have Zhuling and Nanny Qing fetch the abacus and seals, and set out with the two of them and three servants for Qingfeng Restaurant.
Several properties in the west of the city belonged to the Pei family: Qingfeng Restaurant, the Yingluo pleasure boat, a rouge shop, and a silk store. The managers of these establishments had all arranged to meet today, waiting in a private room on the third floor of Qingfeng Restaurant to hand over their accounts.
When Shen Qingyin pushed open the door, the managers were already seated around the table, waiting for this month's audit.
Seeing that the one who had come this month was still the young madam, a hint of disdain crept into their eyes.
Only when Shen Qingyin walked to the center did they leisurely rise from their chairs. As they bowed in greeting, they merely dipped their heads slightly—anyone could see the perfunctoriness of it.
"Our respects, Young Madam."
Shen Qingyin gave a faint "mm," walked to the head seat and sat down, spread the account book open before her, tapped the paper lightly with her fingertip, and looked up at the several men lounging lazily in their seats.
Nanny Qing, taking the hint, swept her gaze over the group and said, "Gentlemen, please present your account books!"
Manager Wang of Qingfeng Restaurant, speaking for the group, cupped his hands and said with a smile, "Young Madam, you may not know, but business at the restaurant has been poor these past months, and there are quite a few bad debts on the books—regulars buying on credit, losses on ingredients—all piling up. We're afraid we can't gather the cash in silver right away. Might the Young Madam grant us a few days' grace?"
Qingfeng Restaurant was the largest restaurant under the Pei family's name, and the most profitable of all the shops. If even Qingfeng Restaurant couldn't gather the cash, let alone the others.
Manager Zhang of the rouge shop chimed in as well, "Our rouge shop's new products have been selling slowly lately, and the old stock is sitting unsold. Our accounts are in a bind at the moment. We ask the Young Madam to be understanding."
Manager Zhao of the silk store went so far as to push his account book straight to the corner of the table. "Never mind them—our fabric store is in even more trouble. The newly purchased materials were expensive and won't sell, the old stock is taking up the warehouse, several shipments have been delayed on the road, and the embroiderers' wages haven't been settled yet. I'm afraid we'll also have to hand over our accounts a bit late."
The men spoke over one another, their words full of excuses—it was clear they had made up their minds to delay the accounts.
They always acted this way whenever the First Madam came to collect. Zhuling was furious and truly wanted to ask whether they would have dared behave like this when the Old Madam came to collect in the past.
Wasn't it obvious they looked down on the madam for being young and were doing everything they could to make things difficult for her?!