Chapter 176: Sweetness
Distant Mountain Studio, located in the East of the Capital City, is a secluded and tranquil place nestled by mountains and water.
This was originally the private villa of a high official from the previous dynasty, later sold to a major tea merchant from Fuliang, and then changed hands several times before finally being converted into a tea house.
It just opened at the wrong time; in the dead of winter, very few people would venture to the outskirts for tea.
Liu Cuiyi hadn’t gone out for many days. Today, her mother-in-law and husband were both out attending a banquet, so she asked Granny Zhao to prepare a carriage for her to relax.
The horse carriage left the city and arrived at Distant Mountain Studio.
Liu Cuiyi ordered a tea room called “Pine Wind Bamboo Dew.” The tea master, with a face full of smiles, said, “This tea room is in the southeast corner of the garden, a bit out of the way. Shall I lead you there?”
“No need to trouble you. I wanted to stroll around anyway,” Liu Cuiyi replied. “I’ll just take my time walking there.”
Granny Zhao accompanied her, and the mistress and servant strolled leisurely towards the southeast corner.
From a distance, they saw an elegant house with a plaque hanging above it.
“Miss, you go in. I’ll wait outside,” Granny Zhao said in a low voice.
Liu Cuiyi nodded without speaking. The door was ajar, so she gently pushed it open and walked in.
The furnishings in the room were extremely refined, with everything for playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and a good incense burner was lit.
A large screen stood on the floor, depicting the painting “Begonia Spring Sleep” embroidered in Suzhou style.
Liu Cuiyi gracefully moved past the screen and saw a blackwood eight-immortal table laden with fruits and dishes, each one her favorite.
As soon as she smiled, someone gently embraced her from behind.
Liu Cuiyi wasn’t alarmed at all; instead, she leaned further into the person’s embrace.
“You’re finally here,” the person murmured against her ear, “Have you been well these past few days?”
“Well and not well,” Liu Cuiyi closed her eyes slightly. “Not being with you, no matter how good things are, isn’t good.”
“Has the child been bothering you?” Sang Sanyang helped her sit down and thoughtfully brought a soft pillow to lean against her waist. “I heard that pregnant women have a very hard time, often experiencing nausea and vomiting, and unable to eat.”
“This pregnancy is going well. Perhaps the child is filial and doesn’t want to trouble me,” Liu Cuiyi said with a face full of sweetness. “I’ve just been craving food and sleep. Haven’t you noticed I’ve gained weight?”
“Gaining weight is good,” Sang Sanyang squatted there, looking up at Liu Cuiyi, his eyes full of her. “Do the foods on the table suit your appetite? Is there anything else you’d like to eat? I’ll have someone prepare it immediately.”
“This is enough. How much can I even eat?” Liu Cuiyi was amused by him; she couldn’t help but laugh whenever she was with him.
Sang Sanyang gently placed his hand on her lower abdomen, and Liu Cuiyi couldn’t help but place her hand over his. “He’s still small now, you can’t feel him.”
“But he’s already here, isn’t he?” Sang Sanyang said. “This is the first time I’m going to be a father; it feels like a dream.”
Liu Cuiyi looked at his handsome face and suddenly felt a pang of heartache. She reached out and touched his face, saying, “It’s my fault. I am a damaged person, and I cannot have a proper title with you. In the future, this child will not be able to acknowledge you…”
“From the first day we were together, I told you not to be bound by these old societal norms,” Sang Sanyang said. “You have feelings for me, and I have feelings for you; that’s enough. As long as you and the child are well, does it matter if they acknowledge you or not?”
Liu Cuiyi smiled with relief. Her life only began to have flavor when she met Sang Sanyang.
Before, she felt like she was drowning in bitterness, with no choice but to struggle.
But now it was different. Every day felt like living under the sun, so warm and bright. Her heart was always filled with joy, so much joy that it often couldn’t help but show on her face.
“I only had the dishes brought out after you entered this courtyard. Eat while it’s hot,” Sang Sanyang handed the chopsticks to Liu Cuiyi.
“This taste…” Liu Cuiyi exclaimed in surprise after taking a bite. “Did you invite the head chef from Drunken Immortal Tower?”
“Yes, don’t you love his cooking the most?” Sang Sanyang affectionately pinched her cheek. “It cost a pretty penny!”
“You’re really something…” Liu Cuiyi didn’t know what to say for a moment. “Why go to such expense?”
“It’s not entirely for you. This tea house will have many customers in January, and being in such a remote location, we need something to keep them here,” Sang Sanyang said. “But ultimately, half of it is for you.”
“Sweet talker,” Liu Cuiyi couldn’t help but give him a playful glare.
In the past few months with Sang Sanyang, she had heard more compliments and sweet words than in the six or seven years with Zhou Jing San.
“We probably won’t be able to see each other again before the New Year,” Sang Sanyang said, taking out a brocade box. “This is my New Year’s gift for you.”
“What is this?” Liu Cuiyi curiously opened it.
“This is a secret deposit receipt for silver I’ve kept for you at Maoyuan Bank,” Sang Sanyang said, pointing to a red paper folder. “There are ten thousand taels of silver inside.”
“No, no, no, this is too much,” Liu Cuiyi said, flustered, placing the box on the table.
“I still think it’s too little. Money has been a bit tight lately. After some time, I’ll deposit more for you,” Sang Sanyang picked up the receipt and put it back into Liu Cuiyi’s hands. “This is for you and the child. I can’t give you a title, but I can give you security.”
Liu Cuiyi lowered her head, not speaking, tears already on the verge of falling.
“These banknotes are for one thousand taels. Use them for your daily expenses,” Sang Sanyang handed her another stack of banknotes. “They are all in denominations of fifty or one hundred taels for your convenience.”
“Are you emptying your coffers by giving me so much money?” Liu Cuiyi asked, wiping away tears.
“Only emptying more than half of it,” Sang Sanyang smiled. “I’ll keep a small portion and earn more money slowly.”
He then asked Liu Cuiyi, “Have the Zhou family members troubled you? Have they noticed anything suspicious?”
“No,” Liu Cuiyi shook her head. “After all, I gave him wine when he entered my room, and then lit the incense Sister Wen gave me. He was groggy and thought he had done something; how could he have noticed anything?
Now that I’m confirmed to be pregnant, I won’t let him into my room anymore. Let him go fool around with his other wives!
Today, my aunt-in-law’s family is hosting a banquet. I pleaded illness and didn’t go with them. I’m too lazy to go there and observe their rules, just to show how prominent their family is!”
Liu Cuiyi truly felt she had been too foolish before, only knowing how to accept her fate like a sheep. But when pushed too far, even a sheep grows horns.
“That’s exactly how it should be. You don’t need to indulge them,” Sang Sanyang said. “Now it’s your turn to set the rules for them.”
“Oh, right. I saw Sang Er a few days ago. She seemed to have noticed something,” Liu Cuiyi said, covering her mouth with a smile.
“She already knows, doesn’t she? She even confronted me directly and called me shameless,” Sang Sanyang said with a wry smile.
“She didn’t scold me?” Liu Cuiyi asked, laughing.
“No, she was convinced that I seduced you,” Sang Sanyang said glumly.
Liu Cuiyi laughed even more heartily.
