Chapter 124
Chapter 124
Ji Hanyi had only just finished feeding her mother medicine when a maid came in from beyond the curtains and quietly reported that members of the Second Branch and the Old Madam had arrived.
Ji Hanyi rested her forehead against her hand. By now, everyone in the residence must have heard what happened last night.
Her mother remained asleep on the bed, showing no sign of waking. Ji Hanyi braced herself against a bedpost and stood, only to sway as her vision went dark. It took her a long moment to recover.
When she entered the outer room, she found the members of the Second Branch, a Cousin-in-law from the First Branch, and her maternal grandmother all seated there. Perhaps they were afraid of disturbing her mother’s rest, for everyone remained silent.
Her Second Maternal Aunt, Madam Liu, looked genuinely worried. When she saw Ji Hanyi emerge with wrinkled clothes, several loose strands of hair, and a drained, exhausted air about her, then noticed her red-rimmed eyes, her own heart ached.
“I heard your mother vomited blood last night. After the doctor came to see her, did he say anything?”
Everyone in the room turned toward Ji Hanyi, waiting for her answer.
Ji Hanyi was exhausted to the bone. She sat down and took a sip of the tea Rongchun handed her before speaking.
When she finished, the room fell silent. For a time, no one knew what to say.
Old Madam Gu looked at Ji Hanyi and said softly, “Your mother will get better. Try not to worry too much, or you’ll ruin your own health.”
Ji Hanyi nodded faintly.
Old Madam Gu then told the others to return. Even if they remained, there was nothing they could do to help.
Most of them had only come to make a show of concern. Something had happened, so naturally they had to come and look in on her. Now that the Old Madam had spoken, they all rose to leave.
The concern on Second Madam’s face, however, seemed sincere. She walked over to Ji Hanyi and said in a low voice, “You should get some rest too. No matter how grave the situation is, everyone in the residence will work together to find a solution.”
Ji Hanyi nodded gently, her expression sincere. “Thank you, Aunt.”
Madam Liu gazed at Ji Hanyi’s pale, bloodless face. In the past, Ji Hanyi had been a delicate young lady raised in the seclusion of the inner chambers, yet now one misfortune after another had befallen her. The thought filled Madam Liu with sorrow.
She offered a few more words of comfort before leaving.
Old Madam Gu stayed behind. She entered the inner room to see Madam Gu.
At the sight of Madam Gu lying motionless on the bed, tears welled in Old Madam Gu’s eyes. She silently sat down at the bedside.
Old Madam Gu understood the situation all too clearly. In this entire residence, the only people who truly cared about her daughter were herself and Hanyi. Everyone else was merely putting on a show.
Overcome with grief, Old Madam Gu took Madam Gu’s slightly cool hand and choked out, “Why couldn’t you let it go?”
No one answered her. Old Madam Gu was heartbroken and spent a long while wiping away her tears.
Afraid that her maternal grandmother would be overwhelmed by grief, Ji Hanyi remained beside her and tried to console her.
Old Madam Gu’s aged eyes shone with tears as she looked at Ji Hanyi. “Your mother has always had the gentlest, kindest nature. She never fought or competed for anything. In all the years since she returned, I knew she was unhappy. She wanted to follow your father and join him in death.
“But she’s my daughter. How could I stand by and watch her do something so foolish?
“Now her health is worsening by the day. Girl Yi, don’t blame yourself. Whatever fate awaits your mother, we must accept it.
“This is her fate, and ours as well.
“You cannot blame your mother for being unable to move past her grief, and no one else has the right to blame you.
“We’ve all done everything we could.”
Ji Hanyi’s throat tightened as tears sprang to her eyes. Her maternal grandmother’s words always gave her the gentlest support whenever she felt most lost and helpless. They showed her the path ahead and gave her the strength to continue walking it.
With tears in her eyes, Ji Hanyi lowered her head onto her maternal grandmother’s shoulder and nodded, choking back her sobs.
Just then, another maid came to report that Gu Yan was standing outside.
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Gu had Ji Hanyi lift her head from her embrace and said softly, “Young Master Yan is worried about you. You know your Eldest Maternal Aunt’s temperament, and you must also know by now how often she has treated your mother unfairly.
“The truth is, I’ve seen it all these years. But your Eldest Maternal Aunt manages the household accounts, and this residence has few income-producing properties. We’ve relied on her to keep everything running, so it was difficult for me to criticize her too harshly. That was why I often asked Young Master Yan to look after your mother.
“Your Eldest Maternal Aunt has always cared deeply about Young Master Yan, so he was the best person to serve as an intermediary. Although Huilan Courtyard has suffered some petty mistreatment over the years, your mother has never once been neglected in any important matter, especially when she fell ill.
“Hanyi, you should understand. Young Master Yan holds you in his heart. He values you and respects your mother. That is why he has taken such good care of her. Even Cousin Xun could never have done as much as he has.
“After what happened to your mother today, he was afraid you would be overwhelmed. He specially requested a day’s leave to remain in the residence, worried that his mother might fail to see reason and wanting to stay behind to help you.
“He must have come because he’s worried about you. Go out and see him. I’ll stay here and keep watch.”
Ji Hanyi listened in a daze.
This was the first time her maternal grandmother had told her any of this. She had always believed Cousin Yan merely sent her mother medicinal supplements from time to time. She had never known he had done so much for her.
She truly owed Cousin Yan a great deal.
Ji Hanyi pressed a handkerchief to her eyes, murmured her assent, and rose.
Outside, Gu Yan was waiting by the courtyard gate. Since these were a woman’s quarters, he had stayed outside to avoid any impropriety, even though the courtyard belonged to his own aunt.
When he saw Ji Hanyi emerge, her eyes were still glistening. The corners of her eyes and the tip of her nose were flushed, and sorrow rippled through her curved brows and eyes like spring stirred upon the water. When she raised her gaze, she possessed the serene grace of an orchid.
Gu Yan’s heart clenched painfully at the sight, and his breath caught. Behind his back, his hands curled into fists, relaxed, then curled again. Amid the pounding of his heart, he understood with perfect clarity what he had always wanted.
Before Ji Hanyi could reach him, he stepped forward. She wore only a thin, pale autumn-moon gown, and her collar was slightly rumpled against skin as smooth and luminous as white jade. The sight made his heart ache.
Looking into her tear-dampened eyes, he lowered his head and said hoarsely, “Don’t be afraid, Cousin Yi. Aunt will get better.”
Ji Hanyi’s heart was already heavy. Hearing Gu Yan’s words, she recalled everything her grandmother had said. She looked up at him and replied softly, “Thank you for worrying about Mother and me, Cousin.”
Gu Yan paused, then shook his head repeatedly. “How could I not worry?”
“I’ve already sent someone to invite a doctor from the north of the city. I heard he’s skilled in acupuncture and may be able to treat someone who is coughing up blood. Unfortunately, he isn’t available today, so he may not be able to come until tomorrow.”
Moved, Ji Hanyi dipped into a curtsy. “Thank you, Cousin.”
Gu Yan instinctively reached out to steady her, only to stop abruptly just before his hand touched her. “There’s no need to be so formal with me, Cousin Yi. We grew up together. It’s only right that I look after Aunt.”
He then held out the paper-wrapped parcel he had been carrying all this time, his gaze fixed on her face. “These are your favorite bergamot pastries. Have one.”
“I know you must not have eaten anything yet.”
Ji Hanyi stared blankly at the pastries in his hand. Their sweet fragrance reminded her of when they were children. Whenever Gu Yan frightened her or made her angry, he would run out to buy bergamot pastries to coax her into forgiving him.
Memories from so many years ago felt especially poignant now. Ji Hanyi blinked, took one, and bit into it. It tasted just as it had back then. She raised her head to look at Gu Yan. “Thank you, Cousin.”
Gu Yan smiled. “As long as you like them.”
Ji Hanyi did not know what to say. Her guilt toward Gu Yan only deepened.
Then she heard him add, “If the courtyard is short of anything, Cousin Yi, just have someone come to my courtyard and tell me. I’ll arrange everything for you.”
Ji Hanyi had a vague sense of what Gu Yan meant. Her heart tightened, and she lowered her eyes before giving a slight nod. “All right.”
Gu Yan watched her bow her head. Her fair, delicately pointed chin looked especially graceful. A breeze stirred the fine strands of hair around her face, carrying with it a faint, subtle fragrance. It made him feel her sorrow as though it were his own.
Gu Yan drew another deep breath. He had no intention of keeping her standing outside for long. Taking a step back, he said quietly, “You’re dressed too lightly, Cousin Yi, and it’s cold outside. You should hurry back in.”
Ji Hanyi looked at the paper parcel in her hands, then at the step Gu Yan had taken backward. He had never stood so close as to make her uncomfortable. Around her, he always seemed to tread carefully, forever mindful of her feelings.
Her fingertips tightened around the parcel. She nodded gently, then returned to the room with the remaining bergamot pastries while Gu Yan watched her leave.
Inside, Old Madam Gu saw the pastries in Ji Hanyi’s hands and smiled. “Young Master Yan gave those to you, didn’t he?”
“He has always remembered what you like.”
“He even remembers all your favorite dishes.”
Ji Hanyi lowered her eyes and sat beside her grandmother. Looking down at the paper parcel in her hands, she found herself at a loss for words.
As the sky outside gradually brightened, Rongchun suddenly hurried in with a delighted expression and announced that an Imperial Physician had arrived at the residence and could examine Ji Hanyi’s mother.
Old Madam Gu asked in surprise, “Which Imperial Physician?”
The Gu Family was virtually unknown in the capital. How could they possibly persuade an Imperial Physician from the palace to make a house call? They did not even have the connections to know one.
Rongchun hurriedly recounted what she had heard from the front gate.
Apparently, it was Imperial Physician Chen from the palace. He had come to this lane today to visit a friend, but as he passed the entrance to the Gu Residence, he had stumbled and fallen. The servants at the gate saw what happened and invited him into the gatehouse to rest for a while. During their conversation, he mentioned his identity. Since the gatekeepers knew what had happened the night before, they brought it up in passing. To their surprise, Imperial Physician Chen was more than willing to examine the patient.
Old Madam Gu’s face lit up when she heard this. “What a stroke of good fortune. We were truly lucky to encounter him.”
She quickly instructed Rongchun, “Go pass along my orders. Have them respectfully escort Imperial Physician Chen here at once.”
Ji Hanyi was more cautious. The whole thing seemed far too coincidental. She stopped Rongchun and asked, “How do they know he’s truly an Imperial Physician? What if he’s a traveling charlatan?”
Rongchun replied, “I heard he’s still wearing his official robes and has an identity token hanging from his waist. There are servants accompanying him as well, so he probably isn’t an impostor.”