Chapter 158
Chapter 158
Only when Gu Wanyun spoke did Shen Si glance at the meekly lowered face of the woman standing before him.
He pressed his lips together but did not respond.
Elsewhere, First Madam Shen, Madam Bai, was approaching from another path. When she spotted the Gu Family party standing with Ji Hanyi and Shen Si from afar, she hurried over and said with a smile, “I was wondering why you hadn’t come over yet. So you were all standing here chatting.”
As she spoke, Madam Bai could not help glancing at Shen Si.
Gu Wanyun was standing directly in front of him, and it looked as though she had just been saying something to him.
Madam Bai knew this younger brother-in-law of hers well. Just like her Master, he placed official business above all else and was rarely seen in the residence during the day. Yet here he was today.
Then she remembered that the same thing had happened last time, and suddenly felt she had made the right decision.
She had invited the Gu Family without consulting the Old Madam, thinking she could do something to please her. The Old Madam had liked Gu Wanyun last time, so she would surely be pleased to see Miss Gu again.
Admittedly, there had been a touch of self-interest behind her decision. Now that she saw her younger brother-in-law here as well, she felt even more relieved.
She had not yet told the Old Madam that the Gu Family would be visiting today. Her plan was to take Gu Wanyun to see the Old Madam later.
Once Madam Bai arrived, Madam Zhang quickly led Gu Wanyun forward to greet her.
Looking at the shy, downcast Gu Wanyun, Madam Bai smiled warmly and said, “There’s no need for all these formalities. The young ladies are waiting at Xiaoxiang Residence. In a moment, I’ll have someone escort Third Young Lady Gu and Hanyi there first, while Madam Gu comes with me to sit with the Old Madam for a while.”
Madam Zhang promptly nodded. “Madam Shen has arranged everything perfectly.”
Madam Bai then turned to Shen Si and asked with a smile, “Fifth Younger Brother, would you like to come with us to see the Old Madam?”
Shen Si cast Ji Hanyi a glance and replied only, “No need.”
His chilly gaze then shifted to Madam Bai. “As for today’s matter, Fourth Sister-in-law, please do not take it upon yourself to make such decisions again.”
With that, Shen Si turned and left.
Madam Bai froze at his cold words, her expression stiffening.
Today’s matter?
Did he mean her invitation to the Gu Family?
Madam Bai looked toward the members of the Gu Family. Could it be that Shen Si simply did not like the young lady of the Gu Family and was blaming her for interfering?
That did seem likely. There appeared to be nothing particularly remarkable about the Third Young Lady of the Gu Family. Shen Si had always had impossibly high standards, so it was only natural that Gu Wanyun had failed to catch his eye.
But if he had no interest in her, why had the Old Madam been so warm toward her last time?
Madam Bai could hardly be blamed for reading too much into it. The Old Madam had spent her entire life in comfort and privilege, with everyone else rushing to ingratiate themselves with her. Never before had she shown such favor to a young lady.
Madam Bai’s thoughts were in turmoil. She stood there, at a loss for what to do. The guests had already arrived – what else could she do now?
Since they were already here, she decided she might as well take them to see the Old Madam first and judge the Old Madam’s reaction.
After turning the matter over and over in her mind, Madam Bai’s manner toward Madam Zhang cooled slightly because of Shen Si’s remark. She instructed a senior maidservant at her side to lead Ji Hanyi away, then personally escorted Madam Zhang toward the Old Madam’s quarters.
She would first see what the Old Madam thought.
Madam Bai was dressed in lavish finery, yet appeared easygoing by nature. Every gesture carried the brisk decisiveness and stern authority of a First Madam. Madam Zhang could not help feeling that she was worlds behind Madam Bai in sheer force of presence. No wonder Madam Bai was the First Madam of the Shen Residence.
Madam Zhang happily followed Madam Bai to see Old Madam Shen, already thinking about how best to flatter her later.
But when they arrived, the matron who came out only invited Madam Bai inside, leaving Madam Zhang waiting outside.
Not long afterward, Madam Bai emerged with an ugly expression. She saw Madam Zhang standing there but said nothing, merely telling her to go in.
The look on Madam Bai’s face filled Madam Zhang with unease.
Inside the inner chamber, Old Madam Shen sat in the seat of honor. The warmth and amiability she had shown at their last meeting were nowhere to be seen. She simply told Madam Zhang to sit in an indifferent tone.
Madam Zhang hurriedly offered her greetings, then sat down stiffly.
Old Madam Shen stroked the tortoiseshell cat resting on her lap and cast Madam Zhang a casual glance before slowly saying, “It was my daughter-in-law who invited all of you this time. Since you’re already here, there’s no need to be so reserved.”
Madam Zhang nodded at once. “Old Madam is most gracious. We felt perfectly at home from the moment we arrived.”
Old Madam Shen gave a noncommittal hum, then asked, “Has your family’s Third Young Lady been betrothed yet?”
Madam Zhang’s face lit up. Excitement surged through her as she quickly shook her head. “Not yet.”
Old Madam Shen nodded. “Come to think of it, I do feel some affinity with that girl. When she is betrothed in the future, be sure to send me an invitation. I’ll prepare a wedding gift for her as a token of my regard.”
Madam Zhang stared blankly, wondering if she had heard wrong.
Seeing the expression on Madam Zhang’s face, Old Madam Shen had nothing more to say to her and called for someone to show her out.
Madam Zhang stumbled outside in a daze. As she looked at the bright haze of sunlight beyond the doorway, she nearly collapsed.
–
Meanwhile, Ji Hanyi and Gu Wanyun were following a senior matron toward a more secluded area, listening as she explained where Xiaoxiang Residence was located.
As they walked, however, a pigeon suddenly flew toward them and landed right on Gu Wanyun’s head, its claws tearing several strands loose from her painstakingly arranged hair.
Gu Wanyun let out a shrill scream of fright. The matron snapped back to her senses and hurriedly ordered the servants to chase the bird away. Once it was gone, she quickly led Gu Wanyun toward the nearest side room so she could have her hair redone.
Ji Hanyi had no idea where the pigeon had come from either. Seeing the matron busy ushering Gu Wanyun toward the side room, she hurried after them.
Yet she had taken only a few steps when someone suddenly caught hold of her. Her body slammed uncontrollably into a warm chest, and a broad palm closed around her hand before pulling her to the wall beneath a nearby pavilion.
Everything before her was dim and shadowed. Her back pressed against the cool wall, and when she looked up, she found Shen Si bracing one hand beside her face as he lowered his gaze to her.
A gentle breeze stirred through the early spring morning. Beside them stood a crooked magnolia tree, while farther away lay artificial hills, a fishpond, and willows budding with the season’s first green. A bluestone path ran nearby, and behind her came the faint voices of passing maids.
It had all happened too suddenly.
Ji Hanyi did not dare make a sound.
The place Shen Si had pulled her into was still outdoors. Someone could pass along the path just ahead at any moment. Under such nerve-racking circumstances, even with Shen Si’s body almost pressed against hers, she did not dare breathe too loudly.
Her palm braced against the cool wall as her heart raced wildly. Shen Si’s black-clad chest blocked her entire field of vision, and the scent of agarwood drifted from him, carrying an almost aggressive force that overwhelmed her defenses. Sweat slowly gathered in her palm, and the tips of her ears burned as she struggled to remain calm.