Chapter 110
Chapter 110
Ji Hanyi looked at Gu Yan in mild surprise.
She could not understand why Gu Yan had said such a thing to her maternal grandmother.
Was it because he wanted to take care of her, or was there some other reason? Ji Hanyi could not ask Cousin Yan outright. It would only create further entanglements, and in any case, she had already made up her mind to leave.
Nor was she leaving because of what her aunt had said.
She had planned to leave long ago.
She hurriedly shook her head at Gu Yan. “Cousin Yan, don’t read too much into it. I’ve never taken Aunt’s words to heart.”
Ji Hanyi looked up at him. “Actually, while I was still with the Xie Family, I’d already decided to take Mother away from the capital.”
Gu Yan stared intently down at Ji Hanyi, the hand he held behind his back clenching tightly. In a low voice, he said, “I can take care of you, Cousin Yi.”
“I’ve made many connections at the Imperial Academy, and Deputy Chancellor Wang thinks highly of me. I’ve already planned out my future. I don’t intend to remain at the Imperial Academy forever. Next year, I can sit for the provincial examination in Shuntian Prefecture as an academy student. If I fail to pass, Deputy Chancellor Wang will recommend me for a post in the Six Ministries. As long as I perform well in the assessment, I’ll be able to stay in the Six Ministries.”
Gu Yan looked at Ji Hanyi with a trace of urgency. “Cousin Yi, I may not be able to compare with Xie Yuheng’s family background or his current official prospects, but I will plan carefully for my future. I’ll do everything I can to make sure you never suffer any grievance from marrying me.”
“I am capable of protecting you too.”
As Gu Yan spoke, he stepped forward. His dark eyes appeared especially deep and unfathomable in the night. Seeing that unfamiliar look in his eyes, Ji Hanyi could not help taking a step back.
She did not know why, but at that moment, the look in her cousin’s eyes frightened her.
All around them was silent. Night enveloped the two of them as the cold wind rustled past. Ji Hanyi watched Gu Yan lean slightly toward her, his body looming closer. At that moment, he seemed almost like a stranger to her.
Suppressing the turmoil in her heart, she said softly, “Cousin, you can marry a better woman. Eldest Maternal Aunt also hopes you’ll find someone better.”
“Second Uncle has already arranged everything. I won’t change my decision to leave in two days.”
Gu Yan froze.
He stared blankly at Ji Hanyi’s evasive posture. She was leaning away from him, shrinking back from his approach.
Her beautiful eyes, usually as soft as water, now flickered with fear of him.
Cousin Yi, whom he had protected and cherished since childhood, was actually afraid of him.
Gu Yan’s shoulders trembled. He took a step back and drew a deep breath. The urgency faded from his face, and he looked down at Ji Hanyi with a bitter smile. “I was too forward, Cousin.”
“It’s cold at night. I remember you’ve been afraid of the cold ever since you were little. I shouldn’t have kept you out here talking.”
With that, Gu Yan moved aside to clear the path. “Cousin Yi, you should hurry back.”
Ji Hanyi stared at Gu Yan in a daze. His expression had returned to its usual gentleness, but the hurt and bitter smile on his face made her heart ache.
She should not have been afraid of Gu Yan.
Although Gu Yan had liked to tease her when they were children, he had always saved every novel and amusing trinket for her. He would run a long way to catch a butterfly that had flown off, and whenever she fell, he would carry her on his back to find her mother.
Guilt and sorrow welled up inside her. She walked back over to Gu Yan and said softly, “Cousin Yan, you’re a good man. You always have been.”
“I understand that you want to take care of me, but right now, I only want to live freely.”
Ji Hanyi lowered her head. “Cousin Yan, I’m sorry.”
There was one more thing she did not say: she was afraid to marry again.
In the night, Ji Hanyi’s lowered face resembled moonlight, her fair skin seeming to glow from within. Beneath the hazy light of the gauze lantern, her cherry-red lips and snowy complexion appeared as ethereal as mist. So petite and delicate, she made one want to pull her tightly into an embrace at that very moment.
The fingers Gu Yan held behind his back trembled faintly, the veins standing out on the back of his hand. Yet his face bore the same tolerant, gentle smile as always. “Cousin Yi, I don’t blame you.”
“Go and get some rest.”
Ji Hanyi raised her head and found Gu Yan’s eyes as gentle as before. Finally relieved, she nodded lightly before turning to leave.
Gu Yan remained where he was, silently watching Ji Hanyi’s retreating figure. Only after she had completely disappeared from sight did he press his lips together and turn away.
Back in her room, when Rongchun returned after refreshing Ji Hanyi’s hand warmer, she could not help saying, “This servant thinks Second Master is a fine man. He’s refined and courteous, with such a good temper. At the very least, he’s certainly much better than Eldest Master Xie. Why won’t you stay, Miss?”
“Then you wouldn’t have to endure the long journey to Wei County. Besides, no one knows what things will be like once you get there.”
Ji Hanyi sat on the daybed and accepted the hand warmer, tucking it into her arms. Then she picked up a brush and dipped it in ink. Candlelight illuminated one side of her face, and as she lowered her head, several strands of her unadorned hair fell beside her cheek. Carefully setting brush to paper, she said softly, “Cousin Yan is indeed a good man, but if I really married him, what would Eldest Maternal Aunt do? Would I truly be able to live in peace?”
Rongchun paused in surprise before replying, “But didn’t the Old Madam say Second Master could persuade the First Madam?”
Ji Hanyi smiled faintly at Rongchun. “Perhaps Cousin Yan can persuade Eldest Maternal Aunt to agree on the surface for now, but is that truly how she feels? Is she truly willing?”
As she spoke, Ji Hanyi lowered her gaze to the drawing paper again, her voice softening. “Cousin Yan is a good man, and he has a promising future ahead of him. The Xie Family probably bears some resentment toward me. If I marry Cousin Yan, Xie Yuheng might take revenge on him instead.”
“I don’t want that.”
Rongchun paused. Recalling the expressions on Eldest Master Xie and First Madam Xie’s faces that day at the Censorate, she realized they really might seek revenge.
Perhaps her young mistress was right. Leaving the capital might be for the best.
When Ji Hanyi arose the next day, her eyes were narrowed with drowsiness, and she listlessly allowed Rongchun to arrange her hair behind her.
A young maid came in carrying several boxes. Smiling at Ji Hanyi, who was seated on an embroidered stool, she said, “Second Master had these delivered to Madam first thing this morning. He’s certainly thoughtful. Every so often, he sends over another box, and none of them are cheap.”
Ji Hanyi paused. Only then did she open her sleepy eyes and glance over. The maid was holding a case, and when she opened it, Ji Hanyi saw that it contained top-quality matsutake mushrooms.
The maid continued, “Second Master said Madam needs nourishment right now. He remembered that Madam used to enjoy matsutake, so he told us to stew them for her and not to be sparing.”
At that, Ji Hanyi’s gaze dimmed. She had always known Cousin Yan was kind, but only now did she realize he had been looking after her mother this way all along.
She also recalled what Cousin Yan had said to her last night. Every word had been deeply sincere.
But she had never imagined that she and Cousin Yan might become husband and wife. Now, the matsutake he had sent weighed heavily on her heart.
That morning, Ji Hanyi first visited her mother before heading to her grandmother’s rooms.
On the way, she thought about how much Gu Yan had spent on her mother. She could not simply accept his kindness without giving anything in return, so she decided to prepare a gift for Cousin Yan as well.
Besides, she would be leaving the day after tomorrow. Once she left her grandmother’s rooms, she would have the maids start packing while she went into town. She would first settle matters at the shop, then find something suitable for Cousin Yan’s writing desk.
With so little time left, her schedule would be rather tight.
Still, she had spent the past two days packing already. There was not much she needed to take with her. It was best to travel light, and she had no intention of bringing anything she could do without.
Unlike the bleak, overcast mornings of the recent cold spell, the sky was brighter today. Though it was still cold, Ji Hanyi had a silver squirrel-fur cloak and a hand warmer, so she remained comfortably warm.
It was already midmorning by the time she arrived. Ji Hanyi had deliberately come at this hour to avoid Eldest Maternal Aunt. She knew Eldest Maternal Aunt did not particularly wish to see her, so she had chosen a different time to visit. To her surprise, however, Eldest Maternal Aunt, Second Maternal Aunt, Eldest Cousin-in-law, Third Young Lady, and Fourth Young Lady were all there. Nearly every woman in the residence had gathered in her grandmother’s rooms.
The instant Old Madam Gu saw Ji Hanyi, her face brightened into a smile. Beckoning to her, she said, “I was just about to send someone to fetch you. You’ve come at the perfect time.”
Ji Hanyi stepped over the threshold and curtsied to her elders before standing in the center of the room and asking Old Madam Gu, “What is it?”
By then, Ji Hanyi had noticed the inscrutable looks everyone was giving her. Eldest Maternal Aunt in particular was studying her with an oddly probing expression.
Old Madam Gu first told Ji Hanyi to take a seat. Once she had done so, the old lady smiled and said, “Someone came from the palace this morning with a message from Her Majesty the Empress. Tomorrow, you are to enter the palace with Wanyun and Eldest Maternal Aunt to keep Her Majesty the Empress company.”
Ji Hanyi’s hand paused just as she reached for her tea, her thoughts churning. It made sense for Her Majesty the Empress to summon Third Younger Sister, since Old Madam Shen appeared to think highly of her.
But Ji Hanyi could not understand why she had been summoned as well.
She raised her eyes to her grandmother. “Why would Her Majesty the Empress invite me too?”
Old Madam Gu asked Ji Hanyi, “That is precisely what I wanted to ask you. When you visited the Shen Family in the past, did you ever meet Her Majesty the Empress?”
One curious, searching gaze after another fell upon Ji Hanyi. She answered honestly, “I rarely saw Her Majesty the Empress.”
Ji Hanyi was telling the truth. At the time, Her Majesty the Empress was already the Crown Princess, so Ji Hanyi could not possibly have seen her often. Even when she did, it was only at banquets she attended with her mother.
Old Madam Gu nodded upon hearing this. “It doesn’t matter. Since Her Majesty the Empress has asked you to come as well, she must have her reasons. You should go with them tomorrow.”
As soon as Old Madam Gu finished speaking, Gu Wanyun, who was seated beside Ji Hanyi, suddenly linked arms with her and said with a soft smile, “I’ve never entered the palace before. If you’re with me, I won’t feel so nervous or afraid.”
Ji Hanyi reassured her, “Don’t worry. Her Majesty the Empress has a very gentle temperament.”
Gu Wanyun asked, “Have you entered the Imperial Palace before? What rules do they have there?”