Chapter 122
Chapter 122
Madam Zhang’s words rang in Ji Hanyi’s ears, one after another. Ji Hanyi closed her eyes.
She knew that if she continued wallowing in self-pity and guilt, everyone would only grow harsher in condemning her – condemning the choice she had made and saying she had brought all of this upon herself.
Her choice had not been wrong. The divorce was not her fault, either. She would not crumble so easily and let others look down on her.
She had no one to depend on. She could only depend on herself.
Her fingers crumpled the embroidered handkerchief in her grasp. Ji Hanyi held back the tears shimmering in her eyes, closing them until she had forced every last one back. Then she turned to Chunju and quietly instructed her to have someone fill the doctor’s prescription and brew the medicine. After that, she was to heat water to wash her mother and light two more charcoal braziers in the room.
Seeing that Ji Hanyi had ignored her, Madam Zhang gave another cold laugh. “You had better take good care of her. When the Xie Family came to speak nicely with you before, you refused to listen. Now you’ve angered your mother into this state. Don’t you know what kind of person she is?”
“When something happened to your father, she was ready to follow him in death. After what you’ve done, do you honestly think she’ll simply get over it?”
Rongchun’s heart clenched with every word. First Madam was supposed to be her young mistress’s aunt. Now that something like this had happened, not only did she make no effort to help find a solution, but she had chosen this moment to stab Ji Hanyi where it hurt most. What was she trying to accomplish?
In all the days since they returned, no matter what happened in this courtyard, they had never once asked First Branch or Second Branch to come help. Nor had they ever drawn so much as a coin from the household’s common account. Other than coming over to make cutting remarks every time, what had First Madam ever done?
This courtyard had once belonged to Madam Gu, and even Old Madam wanted her to stay here for the long term. What right did First Madam have to speak like this?
Sensing Rongchun’s agitation, Ji Hanyi gently patted her hand. She then looked at Madam Zhang, a faint chill entering her voice. “The Xie Residence broke faith with me. I could not swallow that insult. I did insist on a divorce, but I have never regretted it.”
“There is no need for you to say such things, Aunt. No matter the consequences, I will bear them alone. I will also care for my mother myself.”
“Since returning, I have never troubled anyone else with my mother’s affairs. I have paid the kitchen and covered the cost of her medicine with my own money.”
“I am grateful for the care you showed me in the past, Aunt. I still have some money on hand and can manage from now on, so you need not concern yourself.”
Madam Zhang froze for a moment at Ji Hanyi’s words. She studied the calm look on Ji Hanyi’s face. Her eyes were plainly red, yet she still insisted on putting on a brave front.
Madam Gu had always been frail, and ever since ingesting that arsenic, her health had deteriorated drastically. Maintaining such a delicate constitution was terribly expensive. She required the finest tonics and medicines, suffered headaches or fevers at the slightest provocation, and could catch a chill from a single trip outside. Caring for a body like that was a bottomless pit. How much money could Ji Hanyi possibly have to pour into it?
Still, Madam Zhang had never wanted to shoulder the expenses caused by Madam Gu vomiting blood. It was just as well that Ji Hanyi had offered to cover them herself. Now even Old Madam would have no grounds to criticize her.
At least Ji Hanyi had enough sense not to ask her for money to buy the medicine.
Somewhat satisfied, Madam Zhang glanced at Madam Gu on the bed. With a body like that, she thought it might be better if the woman simply died, rather than dragging the whole family down with her.
Despite the thought, her expression did not soften in the least. She kept her face stern as she said to Ji Hanyi, “It isn’t that I’m stingy with money or unwilling to help. I came here precisely because I wanted to lend a hand.”
“But since you’ve already said all that yourself, there is nothing more for me to say. We’ll do as you wish.”
“As for looking after your mother, there’s no need to say such things. We’re family – how could we simply stand by and do nothing? When she needs care, we’ll naturally come and help.”
After saying that, Madam Zhang glanced at Ji Hanyi again. Apparently realizing that it would be indefensible to send nothing at all, she added, “I’ll have some charcoal sent over now. In her current condition, she mustn’t catch a chill.”
This time, Rongchun was the first to speak. There were certain things her young mistress could not say without damaging the dignity between relatives, so it fell to her to say them instead.
She stepped forward, curtsied to Madam Zhang, and said, “First Madam needn’t trouble yourself with the charcoal for this room. My young mistress bought quite a lot a few days ago, and we still have some left. It should last us several more days.”
Rongchun had yet to voice the full sarcasm behind those words. Even if the household sent over charcoal, her young mistress would not use it. It would have been one thing if they merely sent too little, but all they ever sent was smoky black charcoal. The candles could be tolerated for a while, but once that black charcoal was lit, the entire room filled with smoke. Prolonged exposure left everyone dizzy and light-headed. How could anyone endure that?
Her young mistress cared about preserving appearances and had never mentioned it. Since the charcoal was provided for free and paid for from the household accounts, she had felt it improper to be overly particular. She had even instructed the maids in the courtyard not to bring it up. They had simply stopped using it.
Madam had lived here for years, and every winter, her young mistress paid out of her own pocket to supply Huilan Courtyard with charcoal. If no one spoke up, did First Madam Gu truly believe Madam had spent all these years burning the charcoal she sent over?
Madam Zhang’s expression shifted slightly at Rongchun’s words. For a mere maid to suddenly step forward and say such things to her face – how could she fail to understand the implication?
They were complaining that she sent too little charcoal, and that what she did send was poor quality.
What right did a freeloader have to complain? If they did not want it, so much the better. The household accounts could save a little more silver, and she could have two pretty spring outfits made for Wanyun to wear when she attended a banquet at the Shen Residence.
Her daughter already had one foot in a world of wealth and privilege. Why should she care what some maid said?
With that thought, Madam Zhang deftly brushed the matter aside with a smile that did not reach her eyes. “I hadn’t realized your courtyard had purchased its own charcoal. Well, that’s good too.”
She looked at Ji Hanyi again. “You seem to have everything arranged perfectly. It appears there’s nothing I can help you with after all.”
“In that case, I don’t think I’ll need to send any more charcoal in the future either.”
Her words were naturally not intended as praise, and Ji Hanyi understood that perfectly. The emotions she once would have shown were absent from her face. She merely nodded. “It’s true that we haven’t had to trouble you with anything lately, Aunt. You came all this way so early in the morning to say these things, so you must be tired. My mother probably won’t wake for a while. You should go and rest.”
Madam Zhang’s expression froze. Ji Hanyi was mocking her for offering nothing but words – and dismissing her at the same time.
Her face darkened slightly. Still maintaining her lofty bearing, she gave Ji Hanyi another look. The girl was thin and frail, barely managing to keep herself upright through sheer force of will, yet there was still a stubborn streak in her.
Madam Zhang smoothed her lapels and gave a cool laugh. “Since you put it that way, it seems there truly is nothing I can help with. I’ll be going, then. If you need anything, send someone to let me know. If it’s within my power, I’ll naturally help.”
Ji Hanyi had no desire to continue trading empty courtesies with Madam Zhang. She had a maid see her out, and only after Madam Zhang had left did the strength drain from her body. She sank onto the worn low-backed chair beside the bed.
The charcoal fire at her feet flickered dimly, offering little warmth. Chunju brought over the prescription the doctor had written earlier and said softly, “This medicine is terribly expensive. Each packet costs more than one tael of silver.”
“If Madam takes three doses a day, that will come to more than four taels of silver. What an enormous expense!”