Chapter 118
Chapter 118
Ji Hanyi’s voice was calm and even. From beginning to end, her face never once showed the expression Xie Yuheng wanted to see.
Xie Yuheng stared at her, suddenly at a loss.
He had assumed that after leaving him and the Xie Family, Ji Hanyi would surely regret it.
With her meek temperament and a gravely ill mother to care for, she was living under someone else’s roof at the Gu Residence. Her life could not possibly have been easy.
Yet even though she looked so plain and subdued now, there was still not the slightest trace of regret in her eyes.
It was as though she truly did not care about anything concerning him.
But she had framed Mingrou. That much was true. Mingrou had grown up with him – how could she possibly hurt him?
Mingrou had tried every possible means to remain by his side. He was the only one in her heart and in her eyes, so how could she have given him an infertility drug?
He would not believe the Western Regions merchant’s claims.
But Ji Hanyi had told him to find another doctor to examine him, and his grandmother had said the same thing.
The doctor who had examined him was the same gentleman who had always treated Li Mingrou. Xie Yuheng knew the man well, and he also treated her mother and grandmother. There should not have been any mistake.
He gave Ji Hanyi another long look, the chill in his eyes undiminished. “I’ll find an Imperial Physician to examine me. But if there truly is nothing wrong with my health, I will hold you accountable for this false accusation.”
Ji Hanyi looked at him coldly. “Did the Western Regions merchant say I instructed him to do it, or did you decide on your own that I framed her? If you keep pestering me without evidence, I won’t hesitate to report you to the Censorate again for slandering me.”
“I longed day and night to be rid of you. After endless hardship, I finally severed all ties with you and escaped the Xie Family. I wish you would never appear before me again for the rest of my life. Why would I frame Li Mingrou because of you?”
“Xie Yuheng, your addled thinking only makes me despise you more.”
“Let me make this perfectly clear. From now on, there is nothing between us. I will never turn back. If I do, may heaven strike me dead!”
Ji Hanyi’s words made Xie Yuheng’s face turn livid. He stared at her with wide, incredulous eyes and nodded repeatedly before disappointment filled his gaze.
“Hanyi, I never imagined you would become this kind of person.”
“Don’t worry. I will investigate this matter thoroughly.”
Xie Yuheng had to get to the bottom of this. The entire household had been thrown into chaos over it. His father and grandmother wanted Mingrou beaten to death, but someone as delicate as Mingrou – someone who had eyes only for him – would never hurt him.
He would uncover the truth.
Ji Hanyi merely glanced at him and replied indifferently, “Whatever.”
She had no desire to say another word to him. The aloof and upright gentleman she had once seen in him had long since become unrecognizable.
He was no longer the man he had seemed when she first laid eyes on him.
Ji Hanyi had no time to continue tangling with Xie Yuheng. Everything she had to do now was more important than anything involving him.
Still, what she had just heard from him gave her a measure of grim satisfaction. If it was true, then Xie Yuheng had brought it upon himself.
It was only fitting to let him investigate the matter himself. After all, he worked at the Court of Judicial Review and knew how to investigate cases and follow clues.
The only thing Ji Hanyi was curious about was what expression Xie Yuheng would wear once he uncovered the truth with his own hands.
She expected she would have left the capital long before then. She probably would not get to see it, but she looked forward to it all the same.
–
After buying the medicine and returning from the shop, Ji Hanyi first inspected everything that had been packed. They were leaving early the next morning, and she could not afford any oversights.
The sky was already beginning to darken. Ji Hanyi had Rongchun put the packets of medicine away, then went to sit with her maternal grandmother for a while and bid her a proper farewell. After that, she visited Eldest Maternal Aunt and Second Maternal Aunt, delivering rosewater and osmanthus-scented oil to the young ladies and Cousin-in-law as thanks for hosting her these past few days.
When Madam Liu realized that Ji Hanyi truly intended to leave, then saw that all the gifts she had brought were useful everyday items rather than mere formalities, she felt genuinely reluctant to see her go.
She said to Ji Hanyi, “Why are you leaving in such a hurry? Your mother is still in poor health. You should stay a while longer.”
Ji Hanyi smiled. “Everything has already been arranged over there, and Mother also wants to leave within the next few days.”
“The sooner Mother and I arrive, the sooner we can get everything settled.”
Madam Liu sighed. She looked at Ji Hanyi’s delicate, refined features and fair complexion. The young woman seemed to have grown slightly thinner over the past few days. Her lips were pale pink, and she wore no cosmetics. Her pink dress patterned with blue flowers lent her an air of fragility that made one’s heart ache.
Madam Liu knew that Ji Hanyi was in such a hurry to leave because she did not want to cause them any more trouble. Her thoughtfulness filled Madam Liu with guilt.
She clasped Ji Hanyi’s hand tightly. Though she knew they might rarely see each other again after this parting, she still said, “Remember to write after you arrive, and come back to visit often.”
“No matter what, I truly wish you could stay longer. I have never once thought you were causing us any trouble.”
Ji Hanyi nodded with a smile. “I understand. Once I arrive, I’ll be sure to write back.”
Only then did Madam Liu nod again, her expression pained.
Ji Hanyi then went to see her Eldest Maternal Aunt. Madam Zhang accepted what Ji Hanyi had brought, and when she heard that Ji Hanyi would be leaving the next day, her expression visibly eased. For once, she refrained from her usual remarks and treated Ji Hanyi with a measure of warmth.
“Is there anything else you need to prepare? I can arrange it for you.”
Ji Hanyi shook her head. “Everything is ready. Please don’t trouble yourself, Aunt.”
Madam Zhang had no real intention of going to the trouble and had only offered out of courtesy. Hearing Ji Hanyi’s answer, she smiled. “I know you’ve always been thorough. As long as you’re prepared, that’s enough. If you find you still need anything, send someone to let me know. There’s no need to stand on ceremony with me.”
Ji Hanyi naturally understood what her aunt really meant, but she still smiled and nodded.
As she turned to leave, she saw her cousin Gu Yan standing silently in the doorway, watching her.
He was still dressed in teal official robes, clearly having only recently returned from the Imperial Academy. His tall, slender figure stood beneath the doorframe as he looked down at Ji Hanyi. His gaze was no longer as gentle as it had once been, and something unreadable lurked in the depths of his dark eyes.
Ji Hanyi paused beneath his gaze, then greeted him. “Cousin Yan.”
Madam Zhang followed them out. Seeing Gu Yan home at this hour, she could not help asking, “Why are you back so early today? Have you finished your work?”
Gu Yan glanced at his mother and gave a perfunctory hum before turning back to Ji Hanyi. “Cousin Yi, are you leaving tomorrow?”
Ji Hanyi stepped out into the covered walkway and nodded. “The earlier I leave, the sooner I can get settled there.”
Gu Yan’s gaze followed her. She stood before camellias budding in the early spring, beneath a dim sky heavy with moisture. He silently pressed his lips together, then nodded.
“Then I’ll see Cousin Yi off tomorrow.”
The moment the words left his mouth, Madam Zhang hurriedly objected. “When would you have the time? It’s not as if there aren’t others in the residence. Why should you concern yourself with this? Are you planning to skip duty?”
“Gu Xun has recovered now, and he doesn’t hold an official post. Wouldn’t it be more convenient for him? What does this have to do with you?”
Ji Hanyi looked up at Gu Yan, her expression showing not the slightest offense as she said softly, “Your affairs are indeed more important, Cousin. I’ve already asked the gatehouse to prepare a carriage for tomorrow, so there’s no need to worry about my journey.”
Gu Yan clenched his fist and walked over to her. He stood in silence for a moment before saying quietly, “I’ll escort Cousin Yi back to her courtyard.”
Ji Hanyi quickly declined. “There’s no need. It’s only a few steps away.”
Yet Gu Yan remained insistently at her side. “I need to go out as well. We can walk together.”
Since he had already put it that way, there was no real reason left to refuse. Ji Hanyi could only agree and bid Second Maternal Aunt farewell.
Madam Zhang was not looking at Ji Hanyi. Her shocked gaze was fixed firmly on her own son.
She had raised him for nearly twenty years. Ever since he was young, he had been her greatest source of pride-a sensible and obedient son. Yet just now, she had suddenly found herself unable to understand him.
He had never once mentioned Ji Hanyi to her, but the way he had looked at Ji Hanyi just now… As his mother, she knew him well enough to recognize that it was no ordinary gaze.
It was the way a man looked at a woman.
The realization struck her like a bolt of lightning. She abruptly recalled how Gu Yan had always found some excuse to remain at the residence whenever Ji Hanyi came back. She had never thought much of it before, but now that she considered each incident in turn, the signs had been there all along.
As one memory after another surfaced, alarm seized Madam Zhang’s heart. Seeing Ji Hanyi and Gu Yan about to leave together, she suddenly raised her voice.
“Second Young Master, stay. I have something to say to you.”
Gu Yan merely glanced back at her with cool detachment. “Mother, you can tell me later.”
With that, he turned away. His brief glance had been utterly indifferent, and he had no intention of staying.
As though worried his mother might try to stop him again, he even stepped out of the courtyard ahead of Ji Hanyi without the slightest hesitation.
Madam Zhang stood rooted to the spot. Recalling Gu Yan’s gaze and actions just now, panic suddenly welled up inside her. She staggered back a step, her heart pounding with unease.
The maid beside her hurriedly supported her and asked with concern, “Madam, what’s wrong?”
Madam Zhang’s face had gone slightly pale. She turned to the maid and asked, “She’ll definitely leave tomorrow, won’t she?”
The maid froze, then realized whom Madam Zhang meant and quickly nodded. “The young cousin said she was leaving tomorrow, so I suppose she will.”
Madam Zhang nodded in relief and walked back inside, murmuring, “That’s good. As long as she leaves. As long as she doesn’t cause any more trouble.”
Meanwhile, Ji Hanyi and Gu Yan left together. Along the way, Gu Yan brought up the inkstone she had given him. He then held out a brocade box to her and said softly, “The inkstone Cousin Yi gave me was so valuable, and I like it very much. This is only a small token of my regard. I hope Cousin Yi won’t refuse it.”