Chapter 141
Chapter 141
Gu Yan’s emotions were still surging like turbulent waves, and he could barely keep them from showing on his face.
But he had known Ji Hanyi’s temperament since childhood. She might appear delicate, but she was resilient to the core. Pressuring her would only have the opposite effect.
All he had ever wanted was for her to choose him of her own free will.
He only needed to make his way into her heart little by little.
Gu Yan drew a deep breath and composed himself before saying gently, “It’s all right. Fortunately, I made it back in time.”
He glanced at the carriage. “Have all your things been loaded?”
When Ji Hanyi nodded, he asked no further questions. He told her to board first while he rode alongside the carriage, planning to help her settle in once they arrived.
Ji Hanyi instinctively wanted to refuse, but when she saw how earnest and genuinely concerned Gu Yan looked, she gave a small nod instead.
Madam Gu had already boarded the carriage. Hearing Gu Yan’s voice, she lifted the curtain at the side and looked at him, her eyes softening with affection. She knew Gu Yan was the most devoted of the family’s younger generation. He never complained about anything she asked of him and always took meticulous care of her.
Hearing that he intended to accompany them, she said softly, “Thank you for going to the trouble, Young Master Yan.”
Gu Yan smiled. “It’s no trouble. I got off duty early and have nothing else to do.”
Madam Gu looked at Gu Yan standing tall and elegant beside her daughter and could not help thinking that if Ji Hanyi had married Gu Yan back then, she might have had a better life than she did now.
A trace of regret entered her eyes. She nodded and let the curtain fall.
Gu Yan kept his gaze on Ji Hanyi. Only after that graceful figure in smoky blue had boarded the carriage did he mount his horse.
Meanwhile, as Madam Liu was returning from the front gate, she ran into Madam Zhang, who was hurrying in that direction.
The moment Madam Zhang saw her, she asked, “Has Hanyi left?”
Madam Liu found her reaction rather strange. Had she not spent every day hoping they would leave? Why did she look so anxious now?
She smiled. “She just left. She didn’t say goodbye to anyone, either – only informed Old Madam. I merely happened to run into them myself.”
Then she looked at Madam Zhang and continued, “She didn’t even tell Eldest Sister-in-law in advance that she was leaving. You can breathe easy now, can’t you? At least you won’t have to go through the motions of asking her to stay.”
Madam Zhang’s expression immediately darkened at the mockery in her voice. She frowned. “And what exactly do you mean by that?”
Madam Liu smiled. “Listen to you, Eldest Sister-in-law. Whatever could I possibly mean?”
“Don’t go reading too much into what I said. I even saw Young Master Yan going to see Hanyi off just now.”
Madam Zhang’s face stiffened.
Thoroughly satisfied after getting that jab in, Madam Liu sauntered away.
Madam Zhang stood frozen for a moment before rushing out through the front gate, but there was no longer a soul in sight.
She had not expected Ji Hanyi to take Madam Gu away in such a hurry. It seemed she truly had no intention of staying.
Then she remembered that Gu Yan had gone to see them off. Afraid he would confront her when he returned, she nervously clenched her hands.
Ji Hanyi’s carriage traveled toward the eastern district, but just as they were about to arrive, it suddenly came to an abrupt stop. Ji Hanyi quickly steadied her mother, then lifted the curtain at the side and looked ahead.
Gu Yan came over and bent down beside Ji Hanyi, saying quietly, “Don’t be afraid, Cousin Yi. Another carriage is coming from ahead. The road isn’t narrow, but that carriage is too large, so it may be difficult for us to pass each other. I’ll go and take a look.”
Ji Hanyi looked ahead and caught sight of one corner of the other carriage.
The gates of the residence she had rented were only a few paces away. One glance was enough to tell that the occupants of the approaching carriage were either rich or noble. The eastern district was filled with dignitaries and members of the imperial clan, so there was no need to risk offending anyone. She said softly to Gu Yan, “We’re practically there. Cousin Yan, please ask them to wait a moment. Mother and I will get out, then our carriage can turn around and make way.”
Gu Yan followed the direction of her finger and saw that the residence truly was only a few paces away. He nodded and headed toward the other carriage.
Shen Si watched impassively as Gu Yan bent down to speak to Ji Hanyi. His gaze fell upon the slender, fair fingertips resting on the carriage window and the sliver of smoky-blue sleeve.
The white magnolia blossoms on her cuff shifted in and out of sight, and he could faintly hear her soft, lovely voice, as pleasant as ever.
Then his gaze lifted slightly to Gu Yan, whose eyes remained fixed intently on Ji Hanyi. He watched Gu Yan approach before lowering the curtain.
Gu Yan soon came over to discuss the situation. One of the guards beside the carriage went to ask Shen Si how he wished to proceed. Shen Si quietly gave an order, and the carriage backed up a short distance, leaving them more room to pass.
From the guards accompanying the carriage alone, Gu Yan could tell that the person inside must possess an exalted status.
Seeing how accommodating the other party was and that they had even yielded the road, Gu Yan gave a courteous bow before returning to help Ji Hanyi down from the carriage.
Ji Hanyi lifted the curtain and stepped out. Seeing Gu Yan’s outstretched hand, she thought of the other carriage waiting. This was no time to demur and hold up her cousin, so she placed her hand in his.
But the moment she alighted from the carriage, she spotted Wen’an standing not far away, smiling at her.
Ji Hanyi froze at the sight of him. If Wen’an was here, then the person inside that carriage…
Her gaze strayed toward the carriage with its curtains tightly drawn.
Behind her, Gu Yan had already helped her mother down. He came over and said quietly, “Cousin Yi, help Aunt inside first. I’ll unload the luggage.”
After a brief pause, he lowered his voice further. “The person in the other carriage must be of noble status. They already yielded the way to us, so we shouldn’t keep them waiting any longer.”
Ji Hanyi nodded and helped her mother toward the side of the lane.
They had only reached the front gate when Wen’an came over and asked, “So Miss Ji lives here? You’re not staying with the Gu Family anymore?”
Ji Hanyi nodded. “Mother and I intend to stay here for a while.”
Wen’an’s smile deepened. Pointing to the much grander, more imposing gate up ahead, he said, “Wouldn’t you know it? The Marquis I serve lives right next door to you, Miss Ji.”
Ji Hanyi paused, then asked curiously, “Why would Lord Shen live here?”
This place was a considerable distance from Shen Residence.
Wen’an smiled. “The Marquis finds Shen Residence insufficiently quiet, so whenever he has time, he often comes here to stay for a few days.”
Something about that explanation did not ring true to Ji Hanyi. If even Shen Si’s quarters in Shen Residence could not be considered peaceful, there was likely no peaceful place in the world.
Still, it was not her place to pry. She could only marvel at the coincidence. How could it possibly be this perfect?
The wind sweeping through the alley carried the gloomy chill of early spring. Though it was only afternoon, the sky had already dimmed, as if a soft, drizzling spring rain might begin at any moment.
Ji Hanyi looked toward the carriage whose curtain had remained lowered. Not even a glimpse of Shen Si could be seen. She had meant to go over and greet him in person, but when she saw Gu Yan approaching with the luggage, she dismissed the thought.
She said quietly to Wen’an, “Please thank Lord Shen for yielding the way to us. We should not delay him any further.”
Wen’an smiled. “It’s no trouble. If Miss Ji wishes to thank my lord, he’s right over there. Waiting a little longer won’t hurt.”
The way Wen’an put it made it seem improper for her not to go over and thank him herself.
Ji Hanyi called Chunju over to help her mother inside, while she went to thank Shen Si.
Madam Gu glanced at the carriage, then asked Ji Hanyi, “You know that lord?”
Ji Hanyi answered softly, “That is Marquis Shen.”
The moment Madam Gu heard the title, she understood who was inside the carriage. She had not expected them to encounter him here. “You should go thank him. You two did share some history before.”
Ji Hanyi nodded. Only after watching Rongchun help her mother inside did she walk toward Shen Si’s carriage.
She looked at the dark curtain before her. A flicker of nervousness passed through her heart, but she still called softly, “Lord Shen.”
At the sound of her voice, a long, well-defined finger hooked beneath the curtain and raised it, revealing a refined face that was noble and coldly indifferent. His habitually aloof black eyes lifted slightly, their dark depths carrying a faint, oppressive undercurrent.
Ji Hanyi had never been able to withstand Shen Si looking at her this way. It felt as though he could see through everything, yet at the same time, his eyes seemed filled with far too many emotions she could not understand.
She knew there was no chance of Shen Si speaking first. Once he had shown himself, she hurriedly continued, “Thank you for yielding the way to us just now, Lord Shen.”
Then she asked, “Did we delay you, Lord Shen?”
Shen Si’s gaze traveled past Ji Hanyi’s shoulder to Gu Yan, who was looking in his direction. Gu Yan’s gaze seemed to lay claim to Ji Hanyi as his possession, as though he could not bear to see her speaking with another man.
Shen Si knew that look well, because he could not bear it either.
His gaze returned to Ji Hanyi’s face. “It’s no trouble,” he said casually.
Then he noticed the wisps of hair stirred by the wind. Fatigue lingered in her delicate features, and the rims of her eyes were still faintly red. Her almond-shaped eyes glimmered, as though they had recently held tears.
His heart tightened for her. “Are you all right?”
Ji Hanyi’s mind went blank at the abrupt question. She had no idea what exactly Shen Si was asking about, but she instinctively shook her head. “I’m all right.”
Shen Si pressed his lips together. Her clothes looked rather thin, and he did not want to keep her standing in the wind for too long. In a low voice, he said, “I’ll come see you tonight.”