Chapter 125
Chapter 125
A common swindler would never dare wear an official uniform. Impersonating an official was a grave crime punishable by beheading or exile. Even if someone bold enough made a counterfeit uniform, it would inevitably be crudely made.
Ji Hanyi relaxed slightly and told Rongchun to hurry and invite him in.
Imperial Physician Chen was soon shown inside. From his attire and bearing alone, it was obvious that he could not be an impostor.
Imperial Physician Chen was also exceedingly courteous. He exchanged bows with both Ji Hanyi and Old Madam Gu, then introduced himself by name and official post, all to put them at ease.
Only then did Ji Hanyi fully relax. She quickly asked Imperial Physician Chen to examine her mother.
Imperial Physician Chen gave Ji Hanyi a deliberate glance. She possessed the softness and refinement of a sheltered noblewoman, yet beneath it lay a quiet resilience. He did not look for long before turning his attention to the matter at hand.
After all, this was the entire reason he had put on this performance.
The woman on the bed was beautiful, like a delicate hibiscus blossom, but she looked terribly frail. Her features bore a faint resemblance to the young woman beside her.
Focusing his attention, he stepped forward and carefully took her pulse.
Though Imperial Physician Chen was not yet forty, he had been studying at the Imperial Medical Academy since the age of fourteen. There were almost no illnesses capable of stumping him.
Yet this pulse seemed unusual. It was extremely weak, suggesting deficiencies in both the spleen and lungs, resulting in coughing up blood, labored breathing, and shortness of breath.
Such symptoms were often caused by a heart ailment. With the vessels of the heart obstructed, her body was already frail, leaving her even less able to withstand emotional distress. In cases like this, a sudden acute illness could easily claim the patient’s life.
However, her pale complexion held a faint bluish tinge. It did not look like an ordinary heart condition; rather, there seemed to be a trace of poisoning.
Still, he could not be certain. There were many possible causes for a bluish complexion, so to be safe, he kept his suspicions to himself rather than cause unnecessary panic.
He truthfully explained Madam Gu’s condition to Ji Hanyi, then said, “For now, the lady truly cannot withstand any further shock. Her pulse is weak, but her condition is not immediately critical. With careful nursing and proper recuperation, her health can improve.”
Ji Hanyi breathed a sigh of relief and quickly thanked him again.
Imperial Physician Chen glanced at Ji Hanyi once more, then smiled. “Think nothing of it. It was hardly any trouble.”
He asked for a brush and paper and began writing a prescription.
Although he had not voiced his suspicions, he added a detoxifying medicinal ingredient to the prescription as a precaution.
After Imperial Physician Chen left, Rongchun saw Ji Hanyi studying the prescription he had written and asked, “We have two prescriptions now. Which one should we use?”
By now, Ji Hanyi was convinced of Imperial Physician Chen’s identity. After a moment’s consideration, she handed his prescription to Rongchun and told her to have the medicine prepared according to it.
After all, an Imperial Physician from the Imperial Medical Academy was widely experienced and ought to be the safer choice.
Rongchun left with the prescription.
Meanwhile, Imperial Physician Chen boarded his carriage. As soon as it emerged from the alley, he hurried straight to the Censorate Office.
—
Madam Gu awoke shortly after noon. When she opened her eyes, she saw Ji Hanyi sitting in a chair, leaning against the edge of the bed as she dozed.
Her hastily pinned hair had half fallen loose, and a crimson blanket patterned with flowers and birds was draped around her shoulders. Her face was turned to the side, her closed eyes shadowed with deep exhaustion. Faint sleep marks could still be seen on her fair, tender cheek.
Madam Gu’s heart ached at the sight of her.
She had no idea what was wrong with her body. In the middle of the night, her chest had suddenly begun to hurt, and then she had vomited blood.
She reached out, intending to tuck the loose strands of hair away from Ji Hanyi’s cheek, but the movement woke her.
Ji Hanyi opened her eyes in a daze. The moment she saw that her mother was awake, her eyes stung with tears. She lowered her head and buried herself in her mother’s arms, calling hoarsely, “Mother…”
It had been a long time since Ji Hanyi had addressed Madam Gu so tenderly. The last time had been before she married.
Tears filled Madam Gu’s eyes. Stroking Ji Hanyi’s hair, she choked out, “Don’t worry. Mother is all right.”
With her eyes still closed, Ji Hanyi gave a soft, hoarse murmur of acknowledgment.
Madam Gu gently patted her back. “Go back and get some sleep. I know you’re tired.”
Ji Hanyi shook her head without opening her eyes. “I’m not tired.”
Madam Gu’s brows lowered sorrowfully. After a moment, she said, “Hanyi, Mother has become a burden to you again.”
Ji Hanyi’s grip tightened on her mother’s sleeve. She raised her head, her eyes red and her voice trembling. “Mother has never been a burden to me. Without you, where could I possibly go all alone?”
“As long as Mother is by my side, anywhere can be home.”
Grief welled up in Madam Gu at those words. She remembered how, overcome with sorrow in the past, she had once wanted to abandon her daughter and leave this world. Only now, after hearing her daughter’s words, did she gradually realize just how selfish she had been.
She bent down and gathered Ji Hanyi tightly into her arms, saying hoarsely, “From now on, Mother will take good care of herself, properly treat her illness, and go to Jinling with you.”
“We’ll live a good life in Wei County.”
“Hanyi, with you by my side, Mother could not ask for anything more.”
After Madam Gu awoke, the members of the First Branch and Second Branch came to visit her once more. Only after everyone had left did Ji Hanyi ask, “Mother, have you been distressed all this time over my divorce?”
“You’ve kept it bottled up and never said anything. You don’t want to go to Wei County, do you?”
Madam Gu’s hair hung loose around her shoulders as she leaned against the large bolster behind her. Though her face was pale, it did nothing to diminish her beauty. In the faint light filtering through the window, she looked at Ji Hanyi sitting beside her and shook her head.
“No, that’s not it.”
“I came to terms with it long ago. It’s true that I didn’t want you to divorce, but that was only because you had so little backing. At least the Xie Family could protect you and ensure that you lived in comfort and prosperity for the rest of your life.”
“But you weren’t happy in the Xie Family. Xie Yuheng even took a concubine, and when you left the Xie Family, they did not let you take a single thing with you. They only treated you that way because you had no one to stand up for you. Even if you had remained in the Xie Family, your life would still have been difficult.”
“How could Mother bear to watch you remain in that sea of suffering?”
Ji Hanyi stared blankly for a moment. All day, she had believed her mother was like this because she had too many worries bottled up inside – and because of her.
Then she heard her mother continue in a gentle voice, “There is indeed something weighing on my heart. It is your father. I keep wondering what torment he suffered in prison. Those people wanted him dead. He was perfectly well when I visited him one day, yet the very next day, he was gone.”
“How did he die? Was it painful? Did he suffer? Is he cold, all alone beneath the earth? Did he think of me then?”
“My heart aches for your father. I would rather he had been a nobody. All I wish is that he were still alive and well.”
“But then you came back. You came back from the Xie Family, and I finally understood that I still have you. No matter how much I long to join him sooner, I must stay with you first.”
“You said we should go to Wei County and seek refuge with your Second Uncle. I am willing. You have never met your Second Uncle, but I have.”
“He came to our wedding back then. He was every bit as handsome as your father. Your Second Uncle is mature and reserved, and he seldom smiles, but he cannot be a bad man. Your father was close to him. If your Second Uncle were a bad person, your father would never have remained so fond of him.”
Ji Hanyi gazed absently at her mother’s face. “Then… Mother, you didn’t cough up blood because of me?”
Madam Gu smiled and reached out to stroke Ji Hanyi’s cheek. “Of course not. You have your own mind now and can make your own decisions. I am proud of you, and very happy.”
“Hanyi, you are different from how you used to be. I also know that you have endured many grievances.”
Tears welled in Ji Hanyi’s eyes. The heavy burden that had been pressing on her heart finally dissolved into a spring breeze beneath her mother’s gentle words.
She lowered her head and buried her face in her mother’s lap. Closing her eyes as the charcoal crackled warmly nearby, she finally let her entire body go limp with relief.
It was not until the maid outside finished brewing the medicine and brought it in that Ji Hanyi rose from her mother’s embrace.
Chunju came over to help Madam Gu take her medicine. Ji Hanyi followed Rongchun into the outer room, where Rongchun handed her a letter and whispered, “This arrived at noon, but you were busy all day, Miss, so I didn’t have a chance to show it to you.”
Ji Hanyi sat wearily in a chair in the outer room. She warmed her fingers over the charcoal brazier at her feet, leaned back, and unfolded the letter.
It was from Shopkeeper Ming. As Ji Hanyi read it carefully, her expression gradually stiffened.
Rongchun asked quietly beside her, “Did they catch the culprits?”
Ji Hanyi leaned to one side, propping her head against the armrest.
The Military Patrol Office had indeed caught the two men who had splashed night soil into her shop. They were local thugs from that street and claimed they had only been passing by. According to them, they had tripped over the stones in front of the shop and, unable to contain their anger, had retaliated in that manner.
The Military Patrol Office had punished them as well. Each man had received fifty strokes, and the matter had then been considered settled. Since the two were penniless scoundrels with no money to pay compensation, after the flogging they had merely been ordered to help clean the shop as the remainder of their punishment.
But there was no possible way the matter was that simple. The officers from the Military Patrol Office only wanted to close the case quickly and had no desire to investigate further. Had they interrogated the two men even a little, they would have discovered that someone else had instructed them to do it.
Or perhaps the officers already knew but had accepted a bribe.
Ji Hanyi closed her eyes and supported her forehead with one hand. Was she truly supposed to swallow her anger and let the person who had deliberately targeted her get away with it?
If she let it pass once, there might well be a second time. They could keep causing trouble until her shop could no longer do business.
Ji Hanyi drew another deep breath, rose, and returned to her room. Sitting down at her desk, she spread out a sheet of paper and began writing a letter.
Whatever the final outcome, Ji Hanyi was determined to try.
She had the letter sent out, and that evening, Shopkeeper Ming sent another reply.
By then, Ji Hanyi had just returned from her mother’s room after watching Madam Gu take her medicine. She was seated on the daybed with her painting supplies laid out before her, though she had yet to put brush to paper.
After reading Shopkeeper Ming’s letter, she became even more certain that her suspicions were correct.
Ji Hanyi had instructed one of the craftsmen from the shop to follow the two thugs. Ordinarily, the pair were so poor that they even had to buy wine on credit. Yet now, not only had they repaid every debt they owed, they even had enough money to treat their disreputable friends to drinks.
As soon as she finished reading the letter, Ji Hanyi picked up her brush and rewrote the complaint, instructing Shopkeeper Ming to take it to the Southern Military Patrol Office the next day and file the accusation again.
Rongchun stood beside her and knew what she was writing. Unable to hold back, she whispered, “But what if the other side pays them even more silver and the Military Patrol Office brushes us off again?”
Ji Hanyi quietly watched the candle flame flickering on the low table and said softly, “Then I will take the case to the Commander of the Military Patrol Office. If the Commander will not help, I will appeal to the Censor.”
Rongchun was startled by her words and hurriedly said, “Those are all powerful officials. We have no patrons or connections at all. Can we truly obtain justice by appealing to them?”
Ji Hanyi turned to look at Rongchun. Her unadorned face shifted between light and shadow in the warm glow as she said quietly, “If we do not appeal, are we supposed to pretend nothing happened? What if the person behind this becomes even more brazen?”
“Even if it does not work, would you feel any better if we never tried?”
Rongchun froze. She recalled the sight that had greeted her at the shop that day. The shop had only reached its present state because Miss had poured so much effort into it.
When the shop first opened, Miss had gone there every day. She had personally selected the Xuan paper and silk used for mounting paintings. She had even mixed the paste herself.
Business had been slow in the beginning, so they had hired only one craftsman. Whenever Miss had any free time, she would go to the shop and personally demonstrate every step of the process. Now that the business had finally begun to thrive, two buckets of filth had ruined everything.
The mess could be cleaned, of course, but the very thought of it was still deeply revolting. No one knew when the stench would disappear completely, either. The damage to the shop’s business would certainly not be minor.
The more Rongchun thought about it, the worse she felt.
She looked at Ji Hanyi and declared, “Miss, I also think we should appeal!”