The Unmoving Bride

The next morning, just as dawn broke, Shang Bieye went to Yan Xinmeng’s room but found it empty. “Aunt Qian, have you seen our young master Meng?” Shang Bieye asked the innkeeper. “Yes! He went towards the paddy field ahead,” Aunt Qian pointed towards a place piled with straw. After thanking Aunt Qian, Shang Bieye headed towards the paddy field. As he approached, he saw Yan Xinmeng lying on a pile of straw, humming a tune he had never heard before. “A young lady lying in broad daylight on a straw pile, what kind of propriety is that!” Shang Bieye said with a stern face. Hearing this, Yan Xinmeng looked up at Shang Bieye and laughed, “Brother Shang, don’t be angry, and don’t speak so loudly. I’m dressed as a manservant now, and your loud shouting has just made this improper.” This girl, daring to run out on her own, what else wouldn’t she dare do? Now she was even coming up with such excuses. Shang Bieye could only shake his head, sitting down beside her on the straw pile, close by her side. Seeing the large medicinal plaster on her face, Shang Bieye gently touched the edge of her skin where the plaster was applied, “Is the Yufeng Jade Dew Ointment still effective? Does your face still itch?” Yan Xinmeng’s eyes widened in surprise at Shang Bieye’s intimate gesture, for it was inappropriate, even in her past life, only close people would do such a thing. Her face flushed with embarrassment, unsure of what to say. She had noticed Shang Bieye treated her differently, but she didn’t expect him to be so bold. “You won’t need to apply this plaster anymore; Yufeng has prepared a new formula, a disguise ointment for you to use from now on.” “Hmm,” she nodded obediently. “What were you thinking about just now, so absorbed?” Shang Bieye gently brushed a stray hair from her forehead.
“Nothing, just thinking about some trivial matters,” Yan Xinmeng mumbled. “Really just trivial matters? You don’t want to tell me? Are you afraid I’ll tease you like last time?” Shang Bieye knew she wouldn’t say, so he deliberately teased her. “Ha! You’re doing it on purpose, knowing well I was scared by you last time.” Thinking about the last prank, Yan Xinmeng also burst into laughter. “Hehe! I didn’t scare you, you know you have to be careful when you’re out.” Shang Bieye mocked. “I won’t do it next time!” Yan Xinmeng said with a playful pout. “Oh, there’s a next time? You’ve got quite the guts!” Shang Bieye teased further. “No way, oh, you’re teasing me again!” Yan Xinmeng protested. “Alright! I won’t tease you anymore, but there’s something I really need to ask you.” Shang Bieye gazed at her intently. “What is it?” “When you go out alone, doesn’t anyone from your household worry?” “Oh, no one at home knows I’m out.” “How could no one know?” Did this girl really think the Shang family was that easy to fool? “Because someone is covering for me!” Yan Xinmeng said with a smile. “Covering for you? How can someone cover for another? Unless hardly anyone has seen you.” That was indeed the case, this girl was really bold. Shang Bieye stared at her. “You guessed right! Hardly anyone has seen me, so I could sneak out smoothly.” Yan Xinmeng said with a strange look in her eyes. “What a coincidence, I’m out this time to look for someone,” Shang Bieye said, hinting at something, but Yan Xinmeng didn’t catch on. “Looking for someone? Who?” she asked curiously. “My wife,” Shang Bieye said deeply as he looked at her. Upon hearing he was looking for his wife, Yan Xinmeng’s heart sank, and her expression turned gloomy. Why did her chest feel stuffy, even a bit painful? It was so upsetting! Yan Xinmeng thought to herself. “Brother Shang, are you married?” Yan Xinmeng asked with a forced smile. “Married?” What did that mean? This girl always said such odd things. “It means getting married,” Yan Xinmeng quickly clarified. “Brother Shang did get married, but the bride ran away on the wedding night.” Shang Bieye watched her expression closely. “Huh? Why? Doesn’t she like you?” Yan Xinmeng was incredulous, she couldn’t believe anyone wouldn’t like Shang Bieye given his character. But… Yes! It’s good she ran away, that way I have a chance… Huh? Why am I thinking this way? Yan Xinmeng was startled by her own sudden thoughts. Shang Bieye almost laughed at her expressive face but didn’t want to give himself away before he understood the situation fully. “I don’t know if she likes me, but I like her very much, and I’ve found her.” What? He likes her? Then what about me? She thought she had a chance when the bride ran away, but now her hopes were dashed. Yan Xinmeng was on the verge of tears! “What’s wrong? Why do you look like you’re about to cry?” Shang Bieye found her reaction amusing but didn’t expose her. “Nothing.” “Then let me tell you something else, okay?” “What?” she asked listlessly. “Brother Shang’s wife has the same name as you, also called Yan Xinmeng.” Indeed, such a poetic name could attract people. “And she has a very special nickname, called the Immovable Bride.” Yes, it was quite special, a bride who doesn’t move would certainly stand out. Besides her, someone else had the same nickname. “How about that? Isn’t that a coincidence? Do you want to meet her?” It was a coincidence, how could it not be? Sharing a name and even a nickname, she definitely wanted to meet this character. “Of course, I want to meet her, why wouldn’t I want to meet Brother Shang’s wife!” Yan Xinmeng said with a hint of jealousy. “Then let me introduce her to you now, she’s here.” “Here?” Yan Xinmeng quickly stood up, looking around; aside from herself and Shang Bieye, there was no one else. “Where is she?” Shang Bieye raised his hand, pointing at Yan Xinmeng’s nose, and said softly, “Isn’t it you?” “Brother Shang, stop teasing me! It’s not funny.” Yan Xinmeng pushed his finger away, not very happy. “I’m not teasing you, you girl. It seems I need to give you a good beating to make you understand.” Shang Bieye stared at her, “Don’t tell me you haven’t heard of my name?” Indeed, she hadn’t heard of it, but… Ah! No wonder, no wonder when she first heard Shang Bieye’s name, she felt it was familiar. It was… Yan Xinmeng was now in a state where she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, just staring blankly at Shang Bieye.