Chapter 164
Chapter 164
When Ji Hanyi heard Shen Si’s voice, it sounded low and heavy, as though he were displeased.
Under the weight of his presence, she lifted her head and found his dark eyes bearing down on her, his gaze somewhat stern. Her voice instinctively softened. “We’re finished…”
Shen Si raised an eyebrow at her reaction, then glanced at Shen Changling beside her.
The look on Fifth Uncle’s face made Shen Changling’s skin crawl. He hurriedly said, “We really are finished.”
Shen Si nodded and asked, “What were you discussing just now?”
Ji Hanyi answered him honestly.
Shen Si turned to study her. It had been the same last time. When something happened to her shop, she had gone to Shen Changling instead of him. The two of them had even shared a couch once. Even if she was afraid of him, did she truly find Shen Changling more approachable than him?
She was going to be his wife in the future, yet she went to Shen Changling for everything instead of coming to him. What possible use could Shen Changling be?
Shen Si suppressed the irritation in his heart, betraying none of it on his face. He merely nodded and told Ji Hanyi to return first.
Ji Hanyi looked up and met his eyes. His gaze was as fathomless as a deep pool, making her heart tighten. She gave a small nod, then turned and returned to the carriage.
Only after watching Ji Hanyi leave did Shen Si turn his gaze to Shen Changling. “You’ve gotten quite good at pretending to obey while doing as you please.”
Shen Changling scratched his head awkwardly. “I just wanted to see Miss Ji more often.”
Shen Si regarded him coolly. “In what capacity are you seeing her? Are you even in a position to make your own decisions?”
His gaze turned cold as he continued, “If I catch you bothering her again, then since you have no intention of making anything of yourself in the Capital Garrison, I’ll persuade your father to send you to one of the subordinate guard camps for training.”
Shen Changling’s heart plummeted. He quickly looked up at Fifth Uncle, and when he saw that Shen Si was about to leave, he blurted out, “I know I can’t make the decision myself, so could you help me, Fifth Uncle? Help me persuade Father. I want to marry Miss Ji.”
Shen Si’s departing step stopped short. He turned to look at Shen Changling.
The usual carelessness and indolence in Shen Changling’s eyes had been replaced by rare seriousness. “Miss Ji can ride, play pitch-pot, paint, and carve seals.
“I also heard just now that Miss Ji is even more learned than Third Younger Sister, and the verse she composed in response was beautiful too.
“Father is always saying that I’m mediocre and can’t compare to Eldest Brother. He says I’m utterly unlearned, that all I know is cockfighting and horse racing, and that he’s disappointed in me.
“But if I married Miss Ji and had a wife as wonderful as her, I could apply myself to my studies. I could train hard in the army and earn distinction.
“I have to marry sooner or later anyway. I want the woman I marry to be Miss Ji.”
Shen Si narrowed his eyes and silently studied Shen Changling. Only after a long moment did he say, “Are well-born and talented women who can ride and play pitch-pot so rare in the capital?”
Shen Changling faltered, then murmured, “The talented ones aren’t as beautiful as Miss Ji, and the beautiful ones aren’t as good-natured as she is.
“I just want to marry her. I can’t put the feeling into words. When I heard she’d divorced, I felt that things must be hard for her. I want to help her. I want to make her life better.
“And the truth is, I like Miss Ji too.”
Shen Si’s expression gradually darkened. He stared coldly at Shen Changling, his voice carrying a distinct chill. “Even if you want to marry her, and even if I can persuade your father, would your mother truly accept her willingly? You spend all your time in the barracks and rarely return home. Do you know what sort of life she would have in your residence? Could you protect her?
“You want to make her life better? You don’t even have the rank or accomplishments to give you a voice within your own clan. What do you have that could make her life better?”
Shen Changling listened in stunned silence, his face stiff. For a long moment, he could not utter a word.
Shen Si studied his expression and took a step closer. After pressing his lips together, he said quietly, “One more thing. She’s about to be betrothed. If you truly like her, then don’t seek her out and cause trouble for her.”
“Otherwise, I really will have you sent out of the capital.”
Shen Changling stared at Shen Si in shock. “Who is Miss Ji going to be betrothed to?”
Shen Si glanced at him. “You’ll find out soon enough. I’ll also speak to your superior and make sure you can’t take leave so easily again. If you don’t return to camp now, I’ll send for your father.”
With that, Shen Si walked straight past him without another glance, leaving Shen Changling rooted to the spot in shock.
As soon as Ji Hanyi climbed into the carriage, Madam Zhang hurriedly asked, “Is it settled?”
Ji Hanyi nodded. “There shouldn’t be any problems.”
Only then did Madam Zhang feel slightly reassured. At least Gu Wanyun’s reputation had been saved.
When she had heard what Gu Wanyun said from inside the carriage, she had felt as though the sky were falling.
Still unable to restrain herself, Madam Zhang looked at Gu Wanyun and said in exasperation, “Even if you didn’t know the answer, how could you simply run off like that?”
“You could have pretended to have a headache and muddled your way through. Anything would have been better than running away outright, wouldn’t it?”
Gu Wanyun’s face was deathly pale. She abruptly lowered her head onto her knees and burst into tears.
Then she suddenly raised her head and cried out to Madam Zhang, “Even if I’d answered correctly at the poetry gathering, the Shen Family still wouldn’t have thought me good enough.”
“They never thought I was good enough in the first place!”
Gu Wanyun had always been shy and quiet. She had never shouted like this before, and her sudden outburst left Madam Zhang momentarily stunned.
Then Madam Zhang recalled what Old Madam Shen had said to her that day and found herself unable to criticize Gu Wanyun any further.
Seeing Gu Wanyun like this, Ji Hanyi knew she might be taking the matter too hard, so she comforted her softly. “You don’t need to worry too much about this. Third Young Master of the Shen Family gave his word, so he should help.”
At Ji Hanyi’s words, Gu Wanyun suddenly raised her tear-reddened eyes and looked at her.
Tears shimmered in her eyes, blurring her vision, but the person before her had been just as calm and composed for as long as she could remember.
When disaster befell the Ji Family and Ji Hanyi came to the Gu Family, her aunt had wept herself unconscious several times. Yet Ji Hanyi had silently continued caring for her all the while.
Gu Wanyun had wanted to comfort Ji Hanyi back then, but even under such dire circumstances, she had still felt as though she could not measure up to her.
Ji Hanyi had seemed not to need anyone’s comfort. She had accepted reality with silent composure and never once cried in front of Gu Wanyun.
And now, despite all the upheavals Ji Hanyi had endured, Gu Wanyun was still the one crying in front of her.
She had envied Ji Hanyi since childhood – envied her for having such a wonderful father, envied her beauty, and envied how everyone’s eyes always turned to her whenever she visited. It was as though people would naturally come to like her simply because she stood there.
Gu Wanyun had thought that after Ji Hanyi’s divorce, she would finally have a little confidence in front of her. She had thought she could finally stop fading into the background and hold her head high. Yet she still could not compare. She would never compare, not in this lifetime.
Ji Hanyi spoke of asking Third Young Master Shen for help as though it were the simplest thing in the world, yet he was someone Gu Wanyun could scarcely hope to approach in her entire lifetime.
Gu Wanyun said nothing, but her fingernails dug into her palm.