Love Like the Galaxy

Chapter Thirty-Eight:
Could You Please Let Her Leave the Capital Quietly?

I just want to give a bit of a content warning here. There is the punishment scene which may be unsettling to people, but I really wanted to warn about the mention of dubious consent abortion in the last third of the chapter. It’s only briefly mentioned but I know it can be triggering to some so I wanted to be safe. It’s a single paragraph that begins with: The cool A’Guo said, ‘You are my woman,’. Enjoy the chapter!

…

Until being carried onto a wide carriage, Shaoshang was confused about what all had happened these past two days.

When she returned home from the Yin Mansion that day, it was already evening. Two solemn looking martial maids summoned her to the Nine Zhui Hall. Two huge candles were held high in the hall, and Madam Xiao was alone with a face as cold as frost. She immediately knew that something had occurred. When she first set up the pavilion, she had thought about the possibility of being seen through, but she didn’t expect it to happen so quickly. Therefore, in the face of Madam Xiao’s questioning, she bluntly acknowledged it.

“There’s no reason,” Shaoshang said with a cold and unmistakable expression. “I was just venting my anger.”

Madam Xiao began to scold her fiercely, tugging at ancient Chinese prose sentence by sentence, and Shaoshang was too lazy to distinguish them. After the verbal reprimand, it was the legendary ‘family law’s’ turn. Madam Xiao had clearly come prepared, and her rescuers seemed to be completely absent from the household. Shaoshang knew this wasn’t good, but she had been accustomed to this from a young age. Without saying a word, she was punished calmly.

When the four maidservants pressed her onto the rectangular table, Shaoshang was a bit flustered. Looking at the gloomy and terrifying old man holding a staff, her forehead began to sweat faintly – although she had suffered from her father’s lack of kindness and mother’s lack of love, her cold eyes and prejudices were constant, her skin and flesh never suffered much!

Seeing Director Xiao was clearly planning to make a big deal, Shaoshang wanted to cry for mercy, but couldn’t speak up.

When the first heavy blow hit her, Shaoshang’s breath stopped, and her butt and legs seemed to ignite like dry grass after a long drought. The pain quickly spread throughout her body like a flame exploding. She wanted to shout, but only heard the hoarseness in her throat, like a fish that had been alive and scraped off its scales and could only inhale the cool air.

In order to avoid making embarrassing remarks about begging for mercy, Shaoshang bit her lips tightly and never opened her mouth to inhale, even if it was painful enough to suffocate – as for why not to beg for mercy? Today, Director Xiao was not as angry as before. She felt that if she begged for mercy, she would be able to avoid this punishment. But she just couldn’t plead for mercy! Even if she died, she wouldn’t accept it!

In elementary school, there was a kind and elderly homeroom teacher who treated her well. She once said to her grandmother, ‘Lingnan is so stubborn. Which is bad but also good. When she realizes that she needs to study hard, she will definitely be able to exert herself.’

Unfortunately, the teacher retired soon after. Shaoshang never encountered such a teacher again. Later, when the teachers treated her well, that was when her grades leaped ahead.

A total of seven strokes were given, but Shaoshang couldn’t remember clearly. She tasted the astringent and fishy taste in her mouth, and her body was numb with pain. On the contrary, the pain from biting her lips was more pronounced. Feeling sick and dizzy, she was carried back to her place of residence before hearing A’Zhu’s shouts and cries. Her heart inexplicably lightened, and then she knew nothing.

Half-awake and half-unconscious, she felt a refreshing sensation on her wound, indicating that she had been drugged. There was also a warm and soft hand gently caressing her, from hair to face, and then to the wound. The skin of that palm was delicate, completely different from the hands with calluses on them. Shaoshang thought in a daze that it was probably Madam Sang.

When she woke up again, it was already pitch black, but she didn’t know whether it was midnight or four o’clock. Shaoshang was startled by a huge black furry figure by the bed, which let out a whimpering cry, like a broken gong being blown by the night wind. It was very frightening. But due to the pain in her body, Shaoshang’s reaction to the shock was much slower, and she had no strength to scream, only to stare blankly.

Cheng Shi sat at the bedside, sobbing. His tall and burly figure taking a whiff. With the faint glow of the carbon ash buried in the stove, Shaoshang saw her father’s beard was covered in tears and snot. She felt a bit nauseous.

Then, she cried.

She didn’t cry when ridiculed by others, nor did she cry when bullied. Despite being severely punished with a cane, she still gritted her teeth and didn’t cry. However, at this moment, she cried like little Cheng Ou, who had a stomachache the other day.

She had always disliked her grandmother for being old and incompetent. She could neither protect her from the wind and rain outside, but also was old fashioned and ignorant, unable to guide her in life. She let her face the malicious world alone at a young age.

She went to a key high school boarding school with a black badge on her armband. She didn’t feel anything at that time, until the principal personally handed out the certificate to her at the celebration party. They all praised her for being brave and sensible to be admitted to such a good university, she was like the light of the entire town – she suddenly wanted her grandmother to see all of that.

However, the old woman had been dead for three years by then, and the grass already overgrown on the mound.

Only then did Shaoshang realize that she was really the only one in the world. The child wanted to be filial but the relative was not there. Those words were so bloody, there was no room for repentance, no one could complain about your guilt and gratitude. Only you could walk forward with your neck stuck out.

Shaoshang lay on Cheng Shi’s knee and wailed loudly, heart-wrenchingly, wishing she could vomit her heart and liver.

Why was she always cautious when following in her elder sister’s footsteps? Because no one outside would take care of her mistakes. Why did she dare to argue or even fight with the others of the Yin family? Because she knew that Cheng Shi would definitely forgive her and take care of the aftermath.

She was such a despicable and domineering person!

But now she wanted to be good to Cheng Shi, her brothers, uncles, and aunts, so they could be happy and proud of themselves, instead of worrying about when they will have to clean up the next mess of hers.

Father and daughter wept bitterly until the fire was almost extinguished, and A’Zhu had no choice but to come in and add charcoal.

Cheng Shi didn’t say anything to Shaoshang from beginning to end. Would a smart person like his daughter not know the rotten truth of ‘don’t take risks easily, don’t make too many enemies?’

After a day’s rest, Shaoshang set off with Cheng Zhi and Madam Sang. On the day when the people of Cheng Mansion saw them off, the sky was gloomy, there was no wind or snow, and Madam Xiao was absent.

Old Madam Cheng still held her youngest son in tears and couldn’t bear to part with him. At the same time, she glared at Madam Sang like a hungry wolf protecting food, threatening her to take care of ‘her dear son.’ With the same expression and nagging, Cheng Shi repeatedly told his daughter how to recuperate, how to be strong, how to eat more vegetables, and how to move. He also instructed A’Zhu to do it again without distinction.

Cheng Yang led the kitchen women to cook in person before dawn and prepared several baskets of dim sum for Shaoshang to eat on the way. Cheng Song and Cheng Shaogong kept moving things to Shaoshang’s luggage, and they didn’t know what went where.

Cheng Yong stood by for a while before walking straight to the carriage. Through the curtains, he stuffed a piece of new ink wrapped in oilcloth into Shaoshang’s hand and whispered, “Continue to read and write, don’t waste it.”

Shaoshang propped her body up and poked her head out. She saw that her older brother’s eyes were slightly red. “Elder Brother,” she said, “don’t stay up late to study in the future. Be careful not to become bald and blind before thirty!”

Cheng Yong touched the twin buns tied in his younger sister’s hair and sighed.

It was easy to shake off the enthusiasm of Old Madam Cheng and Cheng Shi, and the team was finally able to set off. Unfortunately, Shaoshang’s injury was still painful, and she could only lie in the carriage, missing the magnificent scene of looking up at the dome when passing through the city gate.

In another carriage, Cheng Zhi was chatting with his wife. “Why hasn’t Sister Yuan Yi come out today? She would never do such a rude thing!”

“Why are you asking about that when it’s clear to see?” Madam Sang said with a glare.

“Didn’t we agree that it would be ten strokes that day?” Cheng Zhi asked. “There were still three or four hits left. And why didn’t Sister throw a cup?”

Madam Sang didn’t even change her tone of voice. “Why are you asking about it? It’s obvious.”

Cheng Zhi was amused by his wife. “Do you think we should tell Niao Niao to prevent the mother daughter relationship from getting even more rigid?”

“How would you say that? ‘Niao Niao, your father was supposed to beat you ten times, but your mother’s heart softened, and she had you beaten three times less. Are you happy?’”

She imitated her husband’s tone and rolled her eyes after speaking. “If you really tell me, I don’t know if they’re doing well, but father and daughter will definitely not be well. By then, I’ll see if my brother won’t roast you alive!”

“Okay,” Cheng Zhi smacked his lips. “We won’t talk about it then. I’ll go back and advise Niao Niao to stop getting angry with her mother.”

Madam Sang’s eyes were about to fly out of her sockets. “You think you hold so much weight in Niao Niao’s heart? You think she will listen? She only listens to 30 or 40 percent of your brother’s words.”

She deeply felt that her husband felt too good about himself. “She has a straight mind and a stubborn temper, and some things need to be figured out on her own. You should save your energy and find something delicious, fun, novel or interesting for her when you’re in charge. Give it to her and I’ll do it after.”

Cheng Zhi lowered his shoulders and sighed. “Niao Niao is really tough, not saying a word. It’s unfortunate that she’s a daughter. If she were a man, she definitely would make some great achievements!”

After a moment of silence, Madam Sang spoke up. “That Qian Qian is really skilled. I have seen the wound curling up, but the bloodstains and bruises are not very deep, so….” She couldn’t help but reach out and press her husband’s back. “Is it really painful?”

Cheng Zhi immediately screamed like a live shrimp, crying out in pain.

While protecting his back, he pointed at his wife. “You, you… you are so heartless. You told me to go to Qian Qian to try some kind of pain therapy, and you still treat me like this?!” At the time of being hit with the cane, half of his body was numb with pain.

Madam Sang couldn’t help but laugh. “If I didn’t do that and just looked at the injury, how can I know how much it hurts?” After laughing, she sighed. “It’s not hard for Niao Niao to feel that way because she’s depressed. Don’t bother me these days, I’ll take care of her.”

Cheng Zhi was very dissatisfied with this and was about to open his mouth when he heard horse hooves coming from outside. The family commander came across the carriage to report. “There’s a group of people chasing after us, saying it’s the nephew of the Grand Servant Lou Jing and the son of the Yanzhou County Prime Minister Lou Ji. His name is Lou Yao, and he’s asking to see you.”

“Lord Lou’s nephew?” Cheng Zhi looked puzzled. “What’s the connection between the Lou family and us? Did your brother befriend them?”

Upon a moment of reflection, Madam Sang’s lips turned up into a smile.

Cheng Zhi put on his coat and got off of the carriage, only to see a team of neatly dressed guards, each riding a plump and tall horse, holding a spirited young man waiting not far away.

As soon as the young man saw Cheng Zhi, he immediately got off his horse and bowed. “Lou Yao greets Uncle Cheng.”

Cheng Zhi bowed back and said a few polite words before getting to the point. “Why did Young Master Lou come?”

Due to the gallop of his horse, Lou Yao was still breathing heavily, sweat on his forehead, and he nervously said, “Uncle Cheng, today I… no, I met your niece Shaoshang before, and I feel… I feel that she… I came here to see her today; I don’t know if you will allow me to see her…”

After making a lot of detours but actually saying nothing clearly, the boy’s face turned red.

“You know my Shaoshang?” Cheng Zhi looked up at the sun and felt that he wasn’t dizzy.

Lou Yao’s face turned even redder, and he began to stammer, “Yes, I have met before, but I don’t count it as acquaintances… But it’s like old friends at first sight…”

Cheng Zhi was even more amazed. “Shaoshang and you hit it off right away?” It seems that the brother and sister-in-law were still negligent, the niece would not only cause trouble, but attract peach blossoms. So, she went to a few banquets and then attracted the son of Hedong Lou to follow her. Excellent, excellent…

“When and where did you meet my niece?”

Cheng Zhi was inexplicably arrogant. Although his daughter Cheng Wei was not yet ten years old, he had consciously entered the picky mode of his father-in-law ahead of time.

“My lord, you really are asking these questions.” Madam Sang was helped out of the carriage by a servant and rushed to demolish her husband’s platform. “Young Master Lou said he knew Shaoshang, would he deceive us?”

She smiled at the young man Lou Yao again. “Shaoshang has suffered some illness,” she said. “She’s in the carriage ahead, so Young Master Lou can speak up. But we need to hurry to the post station before sunset. Hurry up.”

Lou Yao was sweating profusely when asked by Cheng Zhi. Upon hearing Madam Sang’s words, his face was filled with gratitude. He nearly nodded his head to the ground while bowing and Cheng Zhi couldn’t help but refrain from laughing.

Not only that, Madam Sang also kindly asked A’Zhu and A’Mei to come out of Shaoshang’s carriage, so that the young couple could speak alone. Cheng Zhi couldn’t help but angrily say, “Why don’t’ you give them a blind date banquet?!”

Madam Sang laughed. “We don’t need a blind date banquet anymore. Just don’t make trouble.”

Cheng Zhi snorted a few times. “…Aren’t you dissatisfied with the way Sister Yuan Yi treated her?”

Madam Sang remained silent for a while. “I am blessed,” she said. “My parents are knowledgeable and only call me honest and kind, and everything else is easy to say. I don’t love needlework, so my father says it isn’t necessary. I don’t like to spend all day gossiping with my sisters, and my older brother drives me to see the world. Even later, when I was dealing with Huangfu’s family, they relied on me. However, Xiang Jun didn’t have such a good life.”

“Isn’t that your best friend?” Cheng Zhi asked. “I remember she had already…” The grave probably grew into a tree by now.

Madam Sang felt a pain in her heart. “In terms of talent and ability, Xiang Jun was not inferior to Sister-in-law at all. Unfortunately, she did not meet my kind parents and was forced to marry a husband who was not open-minded. That’s why she ended up with resentment early on.”

“So, when her family came to ask for help a few years ago, you just put it off?”

“Obviously there is a thousand-mile horse in the family, which can gallop the world,” Madam Sang said bitterly. “If you want to lock it up, you deserve the family’s decline! Didn’t they say that the rules are more important than the prosperity of the family, so just guard them well. Follow the rules!”

Speaking of this, she was sad for a while. “Xiang Jun was still too kind and caring to betray her parents and family. If she was like Niao Niao, depending on who you are, you dare step on her head and immediately turn your face to deny it, then… then she might be alive now…”

Cheng Zhi sighed. Although his wife’s words could be seen as inciting the child to disrespect their elders, he understood his wife’s sadness and hugged her shoulder, no longer speaking.

…

On the other side, Lou Yao walked nervously to Shaoshang’s carriage.

Shaoshang looked through the hanging curtain and was very surprised; although she had met this person before, they never spoke a word.

“Is there something you need, Young Master Lou?” She was sure she had never offended this man.

Lou Yao began to stammer as he peeked at the girl in the carriage. The light from within was dim and she was pale and weak, frowning slightly, like a small flower that had been lowered by the rain; white and beautiful, as clear as autumn water.

He thought of the Cheng family’s motorcade and mustered up his voice. “You… I… I want to say, you’re very good. I… you’re very good…”

Shaoshang felt embarrassed. ‘Would you like to organize that statement again? Pay attention to the subject-verb-object component.’

“I don’t think you are at fault for that matter! Not at all!” Lou Yao worked hard for a long time, and finally made the big move. “I admire you very much in my heart.”

He thought that the focus of this sentence was on the second half, but the girl in the carriage focused on the first half.

Shaoshang’s expression darkened suddenly. “What do you mean I’m not at fault? Where did you hear that?”

Lou Yao was taken aback. “No, it’s nothing…” he said. “You got them off the bridge, it’s right, it isn’t wrong…”

Shaoshang was startled and forcefully propped up half of her body. Her small face tightened. “What nonsense are you talking about? Where did you hear that?” Apart from Old Madam Wan, no one else should have seen through it, especially this person who didn’t look very smart.

“After I saw off A’Li, I came back to you and wanted to thank you…” Lou Yao stuttered when he saw the girl in front of him with a red flame in her eyes.

Shaoshang fell in despair.

Sure enough, heaven’s calculations are not as good as human calculations. She boasted that she had a hundred wise plans, but wasn’t careful about this oversight. This young man should have practiced martial arts, with such light legs and feet. She didn’t pay attention to anyone following behind her.

Lou Yao saw her face turned pale and quickly said, “Don’t worry, I didn’t say anything! Even if my parents are close relatives, I won’t say anything. If I do, tell me to die immediately, as evidenced by heaven!”

Shaoshang was finally relieved. She knew that people here placed great importance on an oath curse, which was no less effective than going to a notary office to do property notarization. So, at least this scandal wouldn’t spread and cause trouble for the Wan and Cheng families.

“I’m young and ignorant, and I’m ashamed to have caused such a terrible disaster.” Shaoshang’s voice was low and pitiful.

Looking at her appearance, Lou Yao’s heart softened, even his voice softened. “Don’t be afraid, don’t be sad. In my opinion, there’s nothing wrong with this matter. Wang Ling deserved to suffer! But you’ve been punished by your elders! How many times were you punished with the cane? Does it still hurt? I have good medicine at home, I’ll bring it to you!”

Shaoshang complained to herself, you take a piece of wool and let the Cheng family wait for you to go back and get the medicine?! But she said in a weak voice, “Then, thank you Young Master Lou. Please take your time getting it.”

The language of this statement was extremely rude, but Lou Yao not only didn’t hear it, but also smiled and wanted to leave in response. Finally, he remembered the most important thing and walked forward. “Young Shaoshang, I, I…”

The young man was covered in the rising sun and spoke firmly, “I want to marry you!” Although he had been engaged for more than ten years, this confession was once in his lifetime.

Shaoshang was already impatient. Upon hearing this, her easily suppressed anger erupted again and her tone became sarcastic. “Marry me?” she said. “Where is your fiancé?”

“She’s getting married next month!” Lou Yao hurriedly said. “Ah, not to me! She’s getting married to that Prince Xiao!” He was so overjoyed and had a strong desire to survive even after being remarried.

“Young Master Lou’s engagement has been abandoned, so you came to tease me?” Shaoshang sneered. “You’re bullying is too much! What, now that you know my secret, you have nothing to fear?! Let me tell you, Young Master Lou, just say it if you want to say it. I will not be blackmailed by you!”

What else can young men and women in town do without studying and starting businesses but be idle and bored. Although she was still young at the time, the vows she had seen before could hardly be considered.

The gentle A’Qing said, ‘I love you,’ and A’Zhen lived with him, although he dumped her and married someone else X years later.

The cool A’Gou said, ‘You are my woman,’ and A’Hua had many abortions for him. Later, she got sick and became sad because she never got married. Shaoshang still didn’t know if she could be a mother or not.

A’Biao, who was proficient in speaking, said, ‘You will get married sooner or later. What’s the difference between yours and mine?’ A’Chun’s years of work savings were given to the republic.

What was it like to be bullied because she had never seen the world before! Shaoshang was furious. “Go as far as you want! Marry me? Will you marry me? Did your parents inform you? Have you found a matchmaker? Where’s the dowry? You come to entertain me with empty words and white teeth! Although the Cheng family is not as prestigious as your Lou family, we will not be humiliated! Nanny Zhu! A’Mei! Come quickly! Find someone! Drive this apprentice away!”

Lou Yao never dreamed that she would react this way. “No! I, I really want to marry you,” he stammered. “Really… I already…”

Shaoshang didn’t want to listen to any more of his nonsense and forcefully pulled the carriage curtain shut. There was a burst of chaotic footsteps and noisy voices outside, mixed with Lou Yao’s defense, then everything seemed to gradually retreat. It was obvious that Lou Yao had been driven away.

Shaoshang fell on the cushion and cried for a period of time. She couldn’t get through this day; everyone came to bully her!

After a while, Madam Sang got into the carriage with a smile, holding a freshly twisted hot towel in her hand to wipe Shaoshang’s face and personally helped her apply the cream. Madam Sang’s hands were cool and slippery, and Shaoshang felt very comfortable.

“I made you be ridiculed,” Shaoshang said with embarrassment.

“Don’t worry,” Madam Sang smiled. “Your uncle has already sent Young Master Lou away. However, why don’t you believe him?” She was very interested.

“Why should I?” Shaoshang was dumbfounded. “Isn’t it right to not believe things first? This way, I won’t be hurt.”

Madam Sang was stunned. “That’s right,” she said with a smile.

Then, she took out a small and exquisite bamboo flute from her sleeve and handed it to Shaoshang. “The journey is boring,” she said, “let me teach you how to play.”

Shaoshang hesitated. “Didn’t you just take a piece of sheet music from Grandfather’s house a while ago and realized that besides playing the flute and qin, you also need another flute sound to make peace?” In fact, it was Old Madam Cheng who deliberately asked her to clean the old house of the late Old Master Cheng to make trouble for Madam Sang.

Madam Sang stiffened. “What are you talking about? Can’t two kindred spirits share the same path? Father is a spirit in heaven, and he may be happy to know that we play his music! Besides, having too many skills doesn’t weigh on one’s body. There’s nothing wrong with learning more.”

Shaoshang quickly took the flute with a wry smile.

At this moment, a long eagle howl suddenly sounded outside, breaking through the sky, like a sharp sword cutting through. Madam Sang hurriedly opened the carriage curtain. Shaoshang stretched her neck out to look, and saw a sturdy and majestic goshawk soaring in the gray sky.

Shaoshang’s eyes filled with joy. “I’ve never seen such a big eagle before!”

Madam Sang looked at the girl and back at the eagle that was flying further and further away. “You’ll see more in the future.”

At this moment, the drivers’ shouts and powerful orders of the Cheng family guards rang out again outside, and the convoy slowly set off.

(End of Volume 1)