The Wife of a Loyal Servant - Chapter 27

“You dare say you had no selfish motives in doing this? You only took a liking to Brother Dachun because he’s shrewd, capable, and knows how to repay kindness. If he were worth nothing, why would you come up with such a way to sever the bond between father and son, all so he would stay wholeheartedly by his adopted parents’ side?”

“Yes, I had ulterior motives—so what? If he were heartless, disloyal, lazy, and unwilling to improve himself, would I bring him back to be a burden on my parents? Am I so full with nothing to do, or is life just too comfortable for me?!”

Ling Yu’s face flushed with anger. Before he could continue, she retorted even more loudly.

“I already gave Sixth Uncle the chance to choose. If he still cared even a little about their father–son bond, I wouldn’t have mentioned the adoption again. But what about him? Did he care?! Since he doesn’t value the father–son relationship, what’s wrong with Brother Dachun wholeheartedly becoming my parents’ son?!”

“You’re simply being unreasonable!” Cheng Shaotang’s face turned ashen. Unwilling to argue with her any further, he flicked his sleeve and turned to leave.

Ling Yu shouted after him, “You’re the one making a fuss for no reason! I think your brain’s gone mushy!”

Not far away, Cheng Shaoan, holding XIao Shitou, stared in shock. When he saw his elder brother’s face filled with anger, he shuddered.

Good heavens, sister-in-law truly lived up to her title—being able to anger his big brother to such a degree was nothing short of impressive!

Xiao Shitou, innocent to all the adult tensions swirling around him, saw his father approaching. He wriggled in Cheng Shaoan’s arms, stretched out his soft little arms, and called sweetly to Cheng Shaotang, “Daddy, hug!”

But Cheng Shaotang, still caught in his anger, didn’t notice them at all and strode right past.

Seeing his father ignore him, Xiao Shitou pouted pitifully.

“Alright then, if your dad won’t hold you, your little uncle will!” Cheng Shaoan, terrified the little troublemaker would burst into tears again, hurriedly lifted him up and bounced him slightly, pulling funny faces at him. The little one burst into happy giggles.

Regardless of how things unfolded, the outcome was the same: Ling Dachun was officially adopted by Scholar Ling. But because his leg was “injured” and he couldn’t walk for the time being, the shop matters had to be handled by Ling Yu and Yang Suwen.

Having quarreled with Cheng Shaotang, Ling Yu was in a foul mood and didn’t want to see the person who angered her at home. Whenever she found a spare moment, she met up with Yang Suwen in the county town to work on setting up the shop themselves.

“When is Brother Dachun planning to ‘recover’?” she asked casually while sorting through the fabrics they had acquired together.

“In a few more days, I’ll let him get out of bed and walk a few steps. For him to ‘fully recover,’ though, it’ll probably take two or three months. Anyway, he can just practice walking with a limp for now.” Yang Suwen patted the thick layer of dust off the fabrics and complained, “Sister Yu, these bolts of cloth have been sitting here forever—can they really be sold?”

If they don’t sell, won’t we lose a fortune?

“Although they’ve been stored for a while, they’re very well preserved, and the quality is quite good. I don’t need to worry about them not selling.” Ling Yu carefully examined the fabrics, secretly pondering how to handle them.

The shop’s business wasn’t doing well under the previous owner; it’s impossible for them to make a fortune immediately. Before the reputation of the Jade Complexion Cream is established, if they continue with the previous owner’s practices, these fabrics will likely just gather dust. That would be a real loss!

“Sister Yu, do you think this color looks good on me? I saw a girl on the street last time wearing a dress of a similar color, and she looked absolutely gorgeous!” Yang Suwen held up a piece of light red fabric against herself, beaming.

“It looks good. If you like it, you can have one made too,” Ling Yu replied with a smile.

As soon as she finished speaking, a sudden inspiration struck her, and she immediately had an idea.

Selling fabric alone might not earn much, but if she made it into ready-made garments, the profit would multiply several times over. Besides, she knew the styles that would be popular in the future; with slight modifications, she shouldn’t have trouble selling them.

Furthermore, she had a skilled seamstress by her side, her future sister-in-law, Cheng Shaoan’s fiancée, Jin Qiaorong!

Of course, she couldn’t make all the fabric into ready-made garments at once. She’d try making about ten pieces first to see the effect. Once the reputation of the Jade Complexion Cream was established, she could then promote these garments and make a good profit.

She was always an impatient person, and now that she had a plan, she naturally wanted to get started. She told Yang Suwen about this, and Yang Suwen readily agreed, asking enthusiastically, “If there are any nice ones, can I take one home to wear? That way I’ll have some new clothes.”

Ling Yu smiled and said, “So you haven’t had any new clothes in a long time?”

“That’s true. Since Father passed away, I haven’t even been able to guarantee three meals a day, let alone have any spare money for new clothes,” Yang Suwen said with an embarrassed smile.

“Alright, once they’re done, I’ll let you pick out the prettiest one!” Ling Yu felt a pang of sympathy; this girl had such a hard life.

After saying goodbye to Yang Suwen and returning home, she encountered the person who had so angered her earlier at the door, but she ignored him and walked past him.

Cheng Shaotang had actually arrived in the county town today. Since he had already decided to accept Guo Qi’s invitation, he naturally didn’t delay.

Guo Qi was overjoyed when he heard the reason for his visit. At a time when he urgently needed capable people, having someone with such formidable martial skills to assist him would greatly ensure his future success.

“You’ve come at the right time. Constable Zhang was injured a few days ago while pursuing Liang Fang and is now recuperating at home. With your arrival, you can fill his position perfectly.”

“May I ask, sir? Liang Fang is merely a merchant with no martial skills, as skittish as a frightened bird. Constable Zhang is highly skilled. Could he really have been injured by him?” Cheng Shaotang asked in surprise.

Guo Qi sneered. “How could a mere Liang Fang injure Constable Zhang? But if he has Du Batian’s protection, that changes everything.”

Cheng Shaotang frowned. “So those accomplices from that day were actually Du Batian’s men?”

Hearing this, he felt it made sense. Who else but the city’s tyrant, who didn’t even fear the authorities, would dare kidnap someone in broad daylight? With Liang Fang protected by him, the matter would indeed be difficult.

“Exactly!” Guo Qi said, forcing down his anger. “That Du scoundrel is truly hateful! Lawless and reckless, never placing the authorities in his eyes. If I don’t remove this tumor, I might as well throw away my official hat!”

Cheng Shaotang was silent for a moment before slowly saying, “Does Your Honor know that the one backing Du Batian is Xu Fu, the current prefect of Tongzhou?”

For someone like him, who had long dealt with officials during his escort work, this was no great secret.

Guo Qi sneered again. “So it’s him! I wondered who it was! Officials are colluding with bandits to harm the people. No wonder Du Batian is so fearless!”

Serving as a seventh-rank magistrate was truly stifling. Last time, he’d been forced by Prince Lu to handle a muddled case; that was tolerable—after all, the empire belonged to the Zhao family, so he couldn’t say much.

But now, a mere local bully dared to use the prefect to pressure him? Did they really think he was a sick cat?!

Cheng Shaotang had been quietly watching his expression. Seeing no trace of fear or hesitation in him, he felt somewhat relieved.

Liang Fang had injured his wife that day, and he fully intended to settle that score. If Guo Qi chose to indulge Du Batian and let Liang Fang remain at large, then he might as well not be a constable at all!

Guo Qi then summoned another constable, Cui, to take him around the county yamen. He received his constable’s badge and uniform and met the other constables. Last time, to persuade Guo Qi to rescue someone, he had sparred with the officers, and later joined them in rescuing Ling Yu and Yang Suwen. As a result, everyone remembered him clearly.

“The magistrate hopes you can report for duty as soon as possible—tomorrow would be ideal. We’re short-handed at the moment. What do you think?” Constable Cui asked before they parted.

Cheng Shaotang agreed after only a brief moment of thought.

His injuries had already healed for the most part, and since he had nothing else to attend to, it was better to start serving sooner.

Upon returning home, he saw Ling Yu, who had also just come back. He had originally wanted to tell her about what happened that day, but when he saw her cold face and that unmistakable “I don’t want to talk to you” expression, he swallowed his words.

Ever since their last argument, the couple had fallen into a cold war.

Ling Yu chatted and laughed with everyone else, but the moment she saw him, her expression turned cold. For someone who genuinely wanted to make peace, it left him feeling thoroughly stifled.

That night, they still slept in the same bed, but a little stone lay between them. It was the child’s first time sleeping between his parents. He would turn his head to look at his father, then at his mother, his eyes crinkling with pure joy.

Ling Yu gently patted his back, telling him stories to lull him to sleep just as she always did.

Her soft, gentle voice sounded beside him, and Cheng Shaotang’s expression gradually eased. Thinking about how he, supposedly a dignified man, had actually gotten into a fight with a delicate woman, and stayed angry for days, he couldn’t help but find it all a little funny.

The gentle voice had fallen silent at some unknown moment. When he turned his head, he found his son already fast asleep beside him, while the boy’s mother, just as she had every night these past days, slept with her back to him.

Wishing to reconcile, he reached out and lightly tugged her sleeve, only for her to pull it away sharply.

So her anger hadn’t eased at all… He could only feel helpless.

“Xiao Yu, I have something to say to you,” he murmured.

Ling Yu didn’t react in the slightest.

He called her name a few more times, yet she still ignored him.

After a moment’s thought, he turned over, slipped on his slippers and stand up. He looked quietly at the unmoving Ling Yu for a beat, then suddenly smiled. Reaching over their son, he lifted the woman straight into the air.

With her body abruptly swept up, Ling Yu let out a startled cry. When she finally landed in a warm, solid embrace, still shaken, she thumped his chest hard.

“You nearly scared me to death!”

“Oh? Finally willing to talk to me?” Cheng Shaotang arched a brow.

“Put me down!” Ling Yu glared at him angrily, keeping her voice low for fear of waking their son.

Xiao Shitou was growing by the day and no longer slept straight through the night like before; those peaceful nights were long gone.

“I’m not putting you down! The moment I do, you’ll ignore me again.” Cheng Shaotang only hugged her tighter, sounding even a little aggrieved.

Ling Yu struggled a few times, but afraid he might actually drop her, she didn’t dare move too wildly and could only continue glaring. “What do you want to say?”

Cheng Shaotang grew bolder. “Promise you won’t be angry anymore, and I’ll tell you.”

“Fine then, don’t say it! I don’t want to hear it anyway!” Ling Yu huffed.

Waking her in the middle of the night, then refusing to talk. Who spoiled him like this!?!

Cheng Shaotang was momentarily choked by her retort, but he didn’t get angry. Instead, he smiled helplessly, lowered his head, and looked again at the lively, indignant expression on his wife’s face. The more he looked, the more it pleased him.

Since their marriage, they had spent little time together, and he had nearly forgotten that scene of her standing in the fields with her hands on her hips, scolding a hooligan without the slightest hesitation. She was clearly a delicate, pretty girl, yet when she cursed someone, her face flushed, her brows arched sharply, and her dark eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

He had always thought that women scolding people in public was the height of unattractiveness, but somehow, this girl cursing someone was nothing but charming to him.

A sudden wave of tenderness rose in his chest. He couldn’t help lowering his head to kiss her beautiful eyes. Seeing that Ling Yu seemed dazed by his kiss, he was greatly pleased, and before she could recover, he leaned in again, capturing her flower-soft lips, lingering, unwilling to part.

At the end, he gently stroked her now slightly swollen lips, his voice brushing against them in soft murmurs that seemed to be pleading, begging, and even coquettish with each tender “Xiao Yu.”

Ling Yu panted lightly, and hearing him call “Xiao Yu” again and again, she found herself unable to release her anger. Still feeling a bit resentful, she shot him a sideways glare. “What are you doing, summoning spirits?”

Cheng Shaotang let out a low chuckle, noticing that her tone was no longer as irritated as before.

“Aren’t you going to put me down? What do you look like, carrying me around like this? Aren’t you afraid you’ll get tired?” Ling Yu thumped his chest again.

“So my wife is worried I’ll get tired. Don’t worry—I’m a martial artist, after all. If I can’t even carry my own wife, that’d make me pretty useless,” he teased.

Even so, he obediently set her down.

Only when her feet touched the ground did Ling Yu finally breathe out in relief. She glared at him again. “Who’s worried about whether you’re tired? Keep dreaming!”

After speaking, she realized his arms were still wrapped firmly around her waist. She struggled a few times without success and said, embarrassed and annoyed, “Let go!”

“I can’t. If I let go and you run off, what would I do?”

Ling Yu was furious at his shamelessness. “The house is only so big, and it’s the middle of the night. Where could I possibly run?!”

“Alright, alright, it’s my fault. Don’t be angry. I really do have something to tell you.” Cheng Shaotang hurried to coax her, though he felt that his fawning manner was truly pathetic. If his brothers found out, they would tease him for sure.

But thinking again, this counted as the delight of the bedchamber. After all, he couldn’t touch the little lady in his arms right now.

“Say it quickly. If you don’t, I’m going to sleep.” Ling Yu didn’t want to keep bickering; if they kept dragging this out, dawn would come.

He said, “I’m going to work at the county office tomorrow.”

“So soon?” Ling Yu was genuinely surprised. It felt like she had only just heard Cheng Shaotang mention he planned to accept Guo Qi’s suggestion to become a constable, and now he was going tomorrow?

“The county office is short-staffed. Lord Guo hopes I can go as soon as possible. I’ll be leaving early tomorrow morning. If the work isn’t too busy, I might be back in the evening. If it is, I’ll probably have to stay at the office. Either way, you don’t need to wait for me.”

Ling Yu frowned slightly. “Is it about arresting Liang Fang?”

Cheng Shaotang was surprised by her perception, but he didn’t hide anything. He nodded. “It is. Don’t worry, Lord Guo won’t let him off easily. He’ll make sure he’s brought to justice.”

“Then be careful.” Beyond that, Ling Yu didn’t know what else to say.

Cheng Shaotang smiled faintly, touched his forehead to hers, and said softly, “Not angry anymore?”

“Annoyed! Of course I’m angry! Who told you to yell at me like that!” His question brought back the memory of how he had angrily confronted her that day. Feeling both wronged and furious, she tried to push him away, but he didn’t move at all.

Cheng Shaotang quickly tightened his hold on her, ignored her struggles, kissed her cheek, and coaxed, “My tone was too harsh that day. Don’t be angry.”

Ling Yu wanted nothing more than to roll her eyes. This man, how could he be this clumsy even when coaxing someone? He’d been perfectly fine a moment ago when calling her “Xiao Yu,” hadn’t he?

“In short, no matter what you think, I simply don’t believe I did anything wrong. Our parents are getting older and need someone to care for them. Dachun has been close to them since he was small. Ever since Sixth Uncle married the new Sixth Aunt, he’s ignored him completely—their father-son bond is thin. It’s better for Dachun to come to my house than for him to live a life where having a father is the same as not having one.” Ling Yu insisted.

Cheng Shaotang’s brows furrowed before he even realized it. He wanted to argue, but he feared upsetting her again and triggering another cold war. Being ignored by her was suffocating, and he had no desire to experience that again.

But he couldn’t bring himself to agree with her either, so he simply muttered a few vague words to get through it.

Ling Yu could easily see that he still didn’t approve of what she had done. Bitterness surged in her chest, and she punched him several times. When she saw he didn’t even flinch, she immediately felt a pang of regret.

Why had she chosen such a strong man? He was built like a mountain. If she ever angered him and he truly lost his temper, he could crush her with a single finger. How would she even protest then?

But after thinking it over again, although this man clearly still disagreed with her, he no longer argued back, didn’t show a dark face, and was even willing to back down. In that light, her judgment didn’t seem so bad after all.

In any relationship, friction is inevitable. Now that he was willing to compromise, why should she persist? After all, she had chosen him, and she had chosen her own path.

With this thought, her anger faded.

Cheng Shaotang naturally noticed the change in her and finally breathed a sigh of relief. He even felt that his young wife was truly sensible and reasonable, not someone who made trouble without cause. She was still young, and occasional lapses were only natural. Since he would be spending more time at home in the future, he could guide her properly.

With both husband and wife willing to let the matter pass, the atmosphere naturally improved.

As Cheng Shaotang held her warm, soft body, he unconsciously felt a spark of desire. Wanting to please her and fully put the unpleasantness behind them, he couldn’t help but pull her closer, sealing her lips before Ling Yu could speak. He kissed her again and again, unwilling to let go.

Ling Yu was furious; men really did know how to push their luck.

At some point, the man’s kisses grew increasingly fierce, gradually moving downward. Ling Yu’s clothes were torn open at the front, her curves faintly visible, which only made Cheng Shaotang’s movements rougher.

Ling Yu, however, was terrified. Her whole body went rigid, her face turning deathly pale. When she saw the intertwined shadows on the ground cast by the lamplight, she trembled uncontrollably.

Even if Cheng Shaotang was slow to notice, he sensed something was wrong. He immediately stopped and gently coaxed her, “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid…”

Still, a stifled unease lingered in his chest. Had his earlier lack of restraint frightened her? If so, that truly would be a loss outweighing the gain!

Leaning against him, Ling Yu slowly calmed herself. Thinking of what she had gone through in her past life, she shrank into his arms, the lingering fear still unshaken.

“Don’t be afraid, I won’t touch you again.” Cheng Shaotang sighed inwardly, frustration weighing heavily in his chest with nowhere to vent it.

Who could he blame? It was all because of that night before he left. He had been completely without restraint, turning her over again and again. She had begged for mercy time after time, yet he only coaxed her with “just one last time,” while never actually stopping.

And now he’d frightened her, leaving a shadow that lingered even until today.

Helplessly, he reached out and pulled her half-undone clothes back into place. Seeing her still-pale little face, he felt both regret and tenderness, and gently kissed her forehead. “Don’t be afraid…”

Ling Yu had no idea how to explain her abnormal reaction, but seeing his expression, clearly convinced he’d already figured out the reason, she felt momentarily confused, though it wasn’t something she could question further.

When she went to lie back down, she noticed that Cheng Shaotang had somehow moved Xiao Shitou to the innermost side of the bed and was gently saying, “Wife, it’s late. You should rest.”

She pressed her lips together and, after a long moment, lay down without a word, letting him hold her contentedly.

The room was pitch dark. Eyes open, she leaned against the man beside her and thought of that night in her past life.

It was also a pitch-black night. She had been sleeping deeply when someone pressed down on her, making her unable to breathe. When she jolted awake,  she was shocked to find a strange man had entered the room.

He was on top of her, roughly tearing at her clothes, his foul-smelling mouth gnawing at her face and neck.

Terrified out of her wits, she struggled desperately. She barely managed to escape, only to be dragged back by her hair.

In the chaos, she didn’t know what she grabbed, but she smashed it hard against the man’s head…

Did he die? She didn’t know, because that night she fled with her mother-in-law, Jin Qiaorong, and her son.

From that night onward, she kept a dagger beneath her pillow.