Chapter 139
Chapter 139
Early the next morning, Ji Hanyi told Rongchun to hurry and take the items to a medical clinic to have them inspected. As Rongchun was leaving, however, she happened to run into Gu Yan.
Gu Yan glanced at the paper packets tucked in her arms. They gave off a faint medicinal scent, and the corner of a matsutake mushroom was poking out of one of them.
Rongchun had not expected the Second Master to arrive so early. She hurriedly greeted him.
Gu Yan nodded, then smiled and asked, “I’m going to visit my aunt. Where are you headed?”
Remembering Ji Hanyi’s instructions, Rongchun replied, “I’m going out to collect some medicine.”
Gu Yan merely nodded and stepped aside, allowing Rongchun to pass.
After she left, Gu Yan turned to watch her retreating figure. His gaze darkened slightly before he turned back and continued on his way.
Later that morning, Ji Hanyi was still feeding her mother medicine when Eldest Maternal Aunt unexpectedly came to visit.
Her manner was completely different from before, as though she had become another person. She sat beside Madam Gu’s bed, solicitously asking after her health. Holding Madam Gu’s hand, she repeatedly asked if there was anything else she needed.
Ji Hanyi did not know what Eldest Maternal Aunt was trying to accomplish, but she understood that such unusual behavior invariably concealed something suspicious.
Rongchun returned close to noon. As soon as she arrived, she reported that the doctor had found nothing wrong with the items she had brought for inspection. He had even said the matsutake was of excellent quality.
Ji Hanyi did not feel relieved upon hearing this.
If there was nothing wrong with the items, the problem might lie with the people handling them.
The two maids who had previously served in the room had already been driven out. Ji Hanyi had heard that they had been sold off early that morning. As for their meals, those were all delivered from the kitchen. The kitchen was crowded and chaotic, with people from every courtyard going in and out. If she truly launched an investigation, it would throw the entire household into a panic, and she still might not uncover anything. It would also put her in a difficult position.
Besides, this was only a suspicion. She had no proof that anyone had used poison.
Ji Hanyi considered the matter and realized that she was unlikely to get to the bottom of it. The best thing she could do now was move away from here.
Shortly afterward, she received a letter from Shen Changling.
The previous night, Ji Hanyi had spoken with Shen Changling for a little longer than usual. In passing, she had asked where Imperial Physician Chen lived. She had done nothing to earn a reward and did not feel comfortable accepting such generosity from Imperial Physician Chen.
Shen Changling had promised to make inquiries for her. She had not expected him to find the address so quickly.
After lunch, Ji Hanyi sat on the daybed and spread out a sheet of paper to write a letter. As she did, she asked Rongchun, “Has the silver been delivered?”
It was the silver she intended to return to Imperial Physician Chen.
The thought of parting with so much money made Rongchun feel as if her heart were bleeding, but she still nodded. “Don’t worry, Miss. I already asked someone at the front gate to deliver it.”
Reassured, Ji Hanyi put brush to paper and wrote to Shopkeeper Ming, asking him to keep an eye out for a quiet residence where she could live.
Meanwhile, in the Western Warm Chamber of the Palace of Heavenly Purity within the Imperial Palace, Shen Si sat across from His Majesty the Emperor, discussing the case in Shilin County.
After hearing him out, His Majesty the Emperor looked at Shen Si with a frown. “Too many people are implicated in this matter.”
Shen Si understood what His Majesty the Emperor meant. Though it was merely a case from little Shilin County, it implicated not only the County Magistrate and the Prefect but even a third-rank official such as the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner. If the case were formally tried, those involved would inevitably have to be escorted to the capital. Once the investigation went deeper, there was no telling how many more people might be implicated.
Shen Si’s eyes darkened slightly as he said in a low voice, “Last year, the Zhejiang Provincial Administration Commissioner melted the silk commutation silver into enough silver ingots to fill an entire room. The year before that, the Governor-General of River Conservancy took three separate cuts from even the labor and material funds used to bind willow branches.
“The people are the ones who suffer, but it is the foundation of the realm that is shaken.
“If we fear damaging the sinews when cutting away rotten flesh, the entire body will fester. Unless the guilty are flayed and their skins stuffed with straw, we cannot deter others from following their example.”
His Majesty the Emperor paused and turned to meet Shen Si’s eyes. After considering the matter for a long moment, he finally nodded. “I will have the Jinyiwei take an Imperial Warrant to Chenzhou and assist the men you send there.”
Shen Si immediately rose and bowed deeply to His Majesty the Emperor.
His Majesty the Emperor waved for Shen Si to sit again, then continued, “The memorial you submitted also mentioned the Court of Judicial Review’s dereliction of duty. Xie Yuheng was responsible for reviewing this case.
“I remember him. During his first year at the Court of Judicial Review, he noticed that the horses at a courier station were exceptionally well-fed and strong. He followed the trail through the fodder accounts all the way to the Bureau of Operations, Ministry of War. I even commended him for it.
“He was indeed negligent in this case. Fortunately, you discovered the problem in time. Otherwise, who knows how many more miscarriages of justice the County Magistrate of Shilin County might have caused?”
His Majesty the Emperor looked at Shen Si. “Still, I believe he has some ability. This was merely a momentary lapse, so I do not intend to hold him accountable for it. A warning should suffice.”
Shen Si met the gaze of His Majesty the Emperor. “Your Majesty believes Xie Yuheng should not be punished because his negligence caused no actual harm. But what if he had managed to muddle through this case, leaving those who took bribes and perverted the law free to continue as they pleased, until their actions caused a great disaster several years from now? Would His Majesty the Emperor still think the same?”
“Only when the law is stripped of sentiment can justice prevail. Merit must be recognized as merit, and fault as fault. Only then will every official be reminded to fulfill the duties of his post.”
His Majesty the Emperor paused at Shen Si’s words, then looked at him and asked, “How do you intend to deal with him, then?”
Shen Si replied, “Under the law, he committed an official offense. Though it did not result in disaster, he still neglected his duty. He should receive a court caning and be demoted.”
His Majesty the Emperor tapped his fingers against the table, then nodded. “Very well. We’ll do as you suggest.”
Seeing that he had persuaded His Majesty the Emperor, Shen Si made to rise and take his leave. “I still need to return to the Censorate. I shall take my leave.”
His Majesty the Emperor hurriedly stopped him and asked with a smile, “You must have met Baoqiong by now. What do you think of her?”
“Your sister is very fond of her.”
Shen Si pressed his lips together, then bowed deeply to His Majesty the Emperor, his eyes lowered. “The truth is, there is already someone I care for.”
His Majesty the Emperor’s gaze shifted at Shen Si’s formal gesture. Looking at him, he asked in a seemingly casual tone, “Oh? Which noble family’s daughter is she?”
Shen Si replied quietly, “May His Majesty the Emperor forgive me, but I cannot say.”
His Majesty the Emperor raised an eyebrow. “Why not?”
Shen Si lifted his head. Bright light from beyond the window spilled into his pale, cool eyes, and his voice was as clear and measured as jade. “Because she does not return my feelings.”
The moment Shen Si finished speaking, His Majesty the Emperor burst into hearty laughter. “Ah Si, are you saying there is actually a woman who does not return your feelings?”
“Do not concoct such an excuse simply to deceive me.”
Shen Si remained perfectly candid. “His Majesty the Emperor knows that I have never lied to him.”
His Majesty the Emperor’s interest only grew. Unable to resist, he asked, “How do you know she does not care for you? Young women are often reserved.”
Shen Si pressed his lips together before finally forcing out the embarrassing truth. “Because she rejected me.”
His Majesty the Emperor was even more astonished. Before he could ask another question, Shen Si’s low, helpless voice sounded again. “Please, Your Majesty, allow me to preserve some dignity.”
The emperor marveled repeatedly, but had no intention of letting Shen Si off so easily. “If this woman rejected you, do you truly intend to hang yourself from this one tree?”
“I will avenge this slight for you. I will grant you a marriage and give you eight or ten beautiful concubines besides. By the time she regrets her decision, it will be too late.”
Shen Si sounded deeply resigned. “She is the only woman I will ever love. If she is unwilling, then I will wait for her.”
Those words left the emperor with nothing to say. He gazed intently at Shen Si. For a man who seemed so cold and detached, his devotion was remarkably profound.
When Shen Si emerged from the palace, Wen’an hurried over at once.
Lowering his voice, he reported, “Miss Ji returned all the money for the medicinal ingredients to Imperial Physician Chen. Imperial Physician Chen sent word asking what he should do with it.”
Shen Si’s steps faltered slightly, and he arched a brow. She had gone so far as to pawn her jewelry for cash, yet now she was determined to stand on her dignity.
His expression remained faint and unreadable. Unable to tell what his master was thinking, Wen’an continued, “There is one more thing. Miss Ji sent someone to look for a residence today.”
“It appears she intends to move out of the Gu Residence.”
Shen Si lifted the curtain and boarded the carriage alone. At least Ji Hanyi had heeded his warning.
He leaned back and closed his eyes for a moment. Then he hooked a finger under the small curtain beside him and addressed Wen’an, who was waiting outside, in his cool, detached voice. “The courtyard residence on Wanbao Lane in the eastern quarter is not very large. Arrange for someone to clean it thoroughly today.”
Wen’an understood his master’s intention at once and hastily agreed.
He then glanced hesitantly at Shen Si’s expression. After a brief pause, he finally said in a low voice, “The Third Master sent Miss Ji a letter today, and Miss Ji wrote back to the Third Master…”
Wen’an knew he should not have brought this up. But when he had seen the Third Master chatting and laughing with Miss Ji the other day, her expression and manner had been far more relaxed than when she was with the Marquis. Even Wen’an had worried for the Marquis.
They had only met a handful of times, yet they were already exchanging letters in private. Would hiding this not lead to even greater trouble?
Shen Si’s fingers paused just as he was about to lower the curtain. He glanced at Wen’an’s sweat-covered face, pressed his lips together, and let the curtain fall as his eyes turned cold.
The carriage slowly began moving along the palace road. Inside, Shen Si looked nowhere near as composed as he had moments before.
He wondered what place he held in Ji Hanyi’s heart.
What mark had he ever left there?
If he stubbornly tried to force the matter, how would it end?
One thing was clear to him: making himself let go of her completely was all but impossible.