Chapter 101
Chapter 101
On the day of their visit to the Shen Residence, someone from her Eldest Maternal Aunt’s courtyard came to hurry Ji Hanyi along first thing in the morning, telling her to get ready early so they could all leave together as soon as the time came.
Ji Hanyi knew she was not the focus of today’s visit, so she did not put much effort into dressing.
Besides, she was now a divorced woman and ought to dress more plainly. She need not be as austere as a widow, but it would still be inappropriate to adorn herself too lavishly.
Once she was ready, she went to see her mother. Lifting the curtain and stepping inside, she discovered that her mother was not lying in bed. Instead, she was fully dressed and seated in a chair.
Ji Hanyi hurried over to her.
Madam Gu looked at Ji Hanyi. She was accustomed to seeing her daughter return dressed in opulent, formal attire. Now, however, Ji Hanyi was noticeably thinner and wore only a pale blue, round-collared robe patterned with auspicious ruyi motifs. Sorrow welled up in Madam Gu’s heart.
Ji Hanyi had worn this very outfit before she was married. Four or five years had passed since then. Although it had only been worn a handful of times, it had lain unused in a chest for so long that it looked somewhat old no matter how one viewed it.
Madam Gu reached out to her and finally spoke the first words she had said to Ji Hanyi in the past two days. “Tell me the truth. All those times you came home looking so happy – were you only putting on an act for me?”
Ji Hanyi froze. She sat down before her mother, looked into her eyes, and answered honestly, “I couldn’t bear to make you worry about me.”
Tears immediately spilled from Madam Gu’s eyes. “You couldn’t bear to make me worry, so you deceived me into believing you were living well with the Xie Family?”
As she spoke, she pulled Ji Hanyi into her arms and burst into sobs. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner that he treated you badly?”
“How much mistreatment did you endure because of that bastard…”
Ji Hanyi could no longer hold back her tears. Burying her face against Madam Gu’s shoulder, she whispered, “It wasn’t that bad. I don’t care about it anymore.”
That only made Madam Gu cry harder. “It’s all my fault for being so useless. Even when something happened to you, I couldn’t stand up for you. I could only let that bastard bully you…”
Ji Hanyi knew her mother’s temperament. She had always been overly sentimental, and one sorrowful matter could weigh on her for a very long time. Ji Hanyi therefore tried to comfort her. “I didn’t truly suffer much with the Xie Family. We parted on good terms.”
Madam Gu remained heartbroken. “Your father misjudged him back then. He even praised him as a promising young man. I misjudged him too.”
Then she continued, “And you said we would go to Wei County, but it is so far away. With no one for the two of us to rely on, how are we supposed to live there?”
“You may say your Second Uncle is there, but neither of us has ever met him. He has never come to the capital either. How much familial affection could he possibly have for us?”
Ji Hanyi knew these were reasonable concerns and was about to explain when someone came to hurry her along again, saying that First Madam Gu and Third Young Lady Gu were ready. Ji Hanyi was to go to the Old Madam’s quarters now, after which they would depart for the Shen Residence.
Ji Hanyi spoke softly to her mother, promising that they would discuss everything after she returned.
Madam Gu clung reluctantly to Ji Hanyi’s sleeve. Her face was streaked with tears, and she looked so frail and helpless that it was clear she now regarded Ji Hanyi as her sole support.
Ji Hanyi faltered slightly at the look in her mother’s eyes. Her mother had relied on her father in everything and never needed to worry about a thing. She had been this way for more than a decade. Now that Ji Hanyi had returned after her divorce, her mother would have to rely on her from now on.
Her shoulders suddenly felt heavy. Yet she also understood that once she had made that choice, she should have anticipated the situation she now faced.
In truth, she was still lost and anxious. She was still frightened and had no idea what to do, for she had never faced anything like this before. Yet in front of her mother, she put on a reassuring expression, as though she had the road ahead firmly under control and there was no need to worry about anything. She wanted her mother to feel safe and secure.
Only after seeing the look in Ji Hanyi’s eyes did Madam Gu slowly release her. Her beautiful face was pale as she gently reminded her, “Your Eldest Maternal Aunt has treated you extremely well. While we are living here, we must depend on her to arrange everything for us. Since you are going with them today, be careful not to cause any trouble.”
Ji Hanyi nodded silently. “Don’t worry, Mother.”
After stepping through the curtain, Ji Hanyi stood beneath the cold, deserted veranda. Rongchun came over and fastened a cloak around her shoulders. Ji Hanyi lowered her gaze to the ground, where withered yellow weeds poked through the cracks between the gray bricks. An inexplicable chill of uncertainty swept through her heart.
Her mother’s tears had dampened her collar, and her sleeves were slightly creased. She tidied them, suppressed all the thoughts weighing on her, then carefully instructed Chunju on how many hours to simmer her mother’s restorative soup. Once it was ready, Chunju was also to send a portion to the Old Madam.
Only after tightening her icy fingers around her embroidered handkerchief did Ji Hanyi finally set off for her grandmother’s quarters.
Old Madam Gu was inspecting Gu Wanyun’s attire. After examining her carefully and finding everything satisfactory, a smile returned to her face.
Gu Wanyun was dressed with exceptional care today. Her outfit had been made from the fabric Ji Hanyi had given her last time: a pale-purple, high-collared jacket with wide sleeves and a scrolling lotus pattern, paired with a moon-white pleated skirt patterned with peonies. Two pairs of silver-gilt pearl clasps adorned her collar, and the colors made her complexion look especially radiant.
The ornaments in Gu Wanyun’s hair were even more luxurious. She wore the long hairpin Old Madam Gu had given her yesterday, along with a gold-and-jade plum blossom hairpin and plum-blossom gauze ornaments. In her hand, she held a handkerchief embroidered with ink-painted plum blossoms, while a ring set with red and green jewels adorned one finger. Every detail of her appearance had been carefully considered.
When Gu Wanyun saw Ji Hanyi approaching, she walked over and asked shyly, “Do you think this is suitable, Sister?”
Ji Hanyi gave her a solemn nod. “It is.”
Ji Hanyi had told Gu Wanyun yesterday that Old Madam Shen had an easygoing temperament and did not pay much attention to how others dressed. There was no need to dress too formally; she only needed to take slightly more care than usual. Otherwise, it would appear too deliberate.
Now that Ji Hanyi had also given her approval, Gu Wanyun felt reassured. After all, Ji Hanyi had met Old Madam Shen several times before.
Madam Zhang glanced at Ji Hanyi’s current attire. She had initially worried that Ji Hanyi might steal the limelight, but seeing how subdued and plainly dressed she was, Madam Zhang was satisfied. She bade farewell to Old Madam Gu, and the group headed toward the front gate together.
After they boarded the carriage, Gu Wanyun gripped Ji Hanyi’s hand tightly. Her palm was slightly damp with sweat, making her nervousness obvious.
She asked Ji Hanyi, “Do you think we’ll see Marquis Shen today?”
Ji Hanyi truly did not know. Shen Si was likely very busy with official duties and rarely spent much time at home. At this hour, it was almost impossible for him to be at the residence.
Gu Wanyun knew that asking Ji Hanyi was only a way of seeking reassurance. How could Ji Hanyi possibly know? She leaned closer and whispered, “What does Marquis Shen look like?”