Chapter 169
Chapter 169
Ji Hanyi had no interest in getting into a war of words with Xie Jin.
Xie Jin had always been arrogant and couldn’t tolerate the slightest offense. Over the years, she had relied on Lu Yuan’s power and influence while everyone around her fawned over her, making her increasingly haughty.
If Ji Hanyi truly started arguing with her, the entire afternoon would probably be wasted on it.
She couldn’t even be bothered to spare Xie Jin another glance.
Since the Xie Family had gone to the trouble of finding her here today, they must want something from her. She was in no hurry.
She couldn’t help recalling what Shen Changling had told her yesterday about the Xie Family. It was all retribution, as far as she was concerned.
Ji Hanyi was only human, after all. She couldn’t deny the flicker of satisfaction in her heart.
Xie Jin’s face stiffened with fury at her attitude. Sitting ramrod straight across from Ji Hanyi, she sneered. “You’ve certainly become full of yourself. If you’re ever thrown into prison one day, I’d like to see whether you can remain this calm.”
Only then did Ji Hanyi’s hand pause slightly. She looked up at the arrogance written across Xie Jin’s face and said evenly, “It seems Lord Lu must have done that quite often – dragging innocent people into the Pacification Office’s torture chambers.”
Xie Jin cast her a cold, mocking glance. “You’re welcome to find out for yourself.”
“Surely you still remember what happened to that cousin of yours.”
Standing behind Ji Hanyi, Rongchun nearly fainted from rage. Xie Jin truly was shameless beyond belief.
As Xie Jin spoke, her gaze remained fixed on Ji Hanyi’s face. Yet Ji Hanyi showed not the slightest reaction, as though she felt no fear at all.
She wore a pale moon-white robe embroidered with mountains and a moon, its collar trimmed in blue. Seated there with graceful composure, she was a picture of serene beauty. Rain streamed beyond the window, and the soft patter seemed to echo the gentle tranquility surrounding her. In the dim light, she looked like a figure carved from jade.
Against her, Xie Jin looked all the more like a vulgar shrew from the marketplace.
That sudden realization made Xie Jin’s expression change once more.
Ji Hanyi gently set down her teacup. Only then did she raise her eyes to Xie Jin. “I heard Xie Yuheng wasn’t merely subjected to court caning. He was also demoted for dereliction of duty.”
“If Lu Yuan ever throws me into prison despite my innocence, that will make him guilty of perverting the law for personal reasons. Walk the night road often enough, and sooner or later, you’ll meet a ghost.”
“What happened to Xie Yuheng will happen to him one day as well.”
In truth, Ji Hanyi felt somewhat fortunate at that moment. She had pieced together what had happened, and Gu Yan’s desire to go to Wei County was most likely why Eldest Maternal Aunt had done what she did.
Even if Ji Hanyi had left for Wei County without telling anyone, Eldest Maternal Aunt would surely have revealed her whereabouts to the Xie Family. Wei County was remote, and the Xie Family had connections in officialdom. If they tried anything against her there, she would not have had even the slightest chance to resist.
Now that she had agreed to Shen Si, she was at least useful to him. Under Shen Si’s protection, the Xie Family could no longer act recklessly or do anything to the Gu Family.
Xie Jin had been taught impeccable manners from childhood and had grown up surrounded by people who doted on her. Never before had anyone angered her like this. But now, Ji Hanyi’s words nearly made her lunge across the table.
Had her mother not intervened, she probably would have already thrown herself at Ji Hanyi and started fighting.
Madam Lin had spent quite some time listening to their exchange, her gaze fixed on Ji Hanyi’s face throughout. At last, she understood that the meek and obedient Ji Hanyi who had once lived with the Xie Family was no longer the same person.
Her expression was cool and distant, and she had not looked in Madam Lin’s direction even once.
It was as though she did not care in the least whether they had come.
When Madam Lin first arrived, she had assumed Ji Hanyi would be overwhelmed with gratitude. Now, however, she was no longer so certain.
She recalled how Xie Jin had asked Lu Yuan to send the Jinyiwei under his command to investigate Ji Hanyi’s residence, only for Lu Yuan to come up empty-handed. They had found this place only by going through the First Madam of the Gu Family.
And after hearing Ji Hanyi mention what had happened to her son, Madam Lin was even more surprised that she knew about it at all.
Madam Lin had initially been putting on airs, but suddenly found it rather difficult to maintain them.
Then again, even though her son had been demoted, he was still young and had a promising future ahead of him. What grounds did Ji Hanyi have to look down on him?
The fact that the Xie Family was willing to take her back was a blessing she ought to be grateful for.
If her son had not developed that physical problem and become incapable of performing in bed – and if he had not spent every day shut in his room, pining for Ji Hanyi and wasting away – she would never have come to see Ji Hanyi.
Even after what had happened to Heng’er, the Xie Family still had its wealth and connections. They might no longer be able to find him a bride from an equally prestigious family, but there would be no shortage of ordinary women willing to marry him.
At that thought, Madam Lin lightly smoothed her cuffs, then said to Xie Jin, “Enough. There’s no need to say any more of that.”
Madam Lin then turned to Ji Hanyi. “We came here today because we wanted to have a proper conversation with you. There’s no need for you to act like this.”
Ji Hanyi remained impassive, her gaze lowered to the teacup in her hands.
Madam Lin was irritated by her attitude, but she maintained the composure expected of a noblewoman. Her expression merely cooled a little as she said, “Heng’er may have encountered a setback, but that hardly matters. He is talented and capable, and he still has a bright future ahead of him.”
“I assume you’ve heard about the outrageous thing Li Mingrou did. She interfered in the matter between you and Heng’er and kept you from conceiving for three years.”
Madam Lin put on a benevolent, magnanimous expression. “Now that the truth has come to light and the misunderstanding has been cleared up, the Old Madam and I agree that since you are still capable of bearing children, you may return to the Xie Family.”
“As for the Divorce Agreement submitted to the authorities, you can go with Heng’er later and retrieve it.”
With that, Madam Lin glanced at the maidservant beside her. The woman carried the box in her hands over and presented it to Ji Hanyi.
Madam Lin continued, “These are the pieces of jewelry you used to wear. From now on, they will all belong to you. Rest assured, we will not take them from you again. Even if you use them to support the Gu Family or your mother, we will not interfere.”
As she spoke, Madam Lin made a point of looking Ji Hanyi up and down.
In Madam Lin’s eyes, Ji Hanyi’s current appearance was no different from that of a commoner’s wife.
Her glossy black hair was adorned with only a plain silver hairpin, a simple one with a square head. She wore no earrings or necklace, and there was not even a bracelet on her wrist.
Only the fabric of her clothes seemed of decent quality. The pattern embroidered on the moon-white material complemented her fair complexion, and with her natural poise and bearing, she merely appeared somewhat plainly dressed. That air of refined nobility still lingered around her.
But in Madam Lin’s eyes, that was all Ji Hanyi had left. Without a life of luxury, waited on by servants and indulged in every comfort, such elegance was worthless.
Ji Hanyi shifted her gaze slightly to the side and saw a maidservant holding an exquisite box out to her.
The box was fairly large, and it was filled entirely with jewelry Ji Hanyi had worn in the past.
Madam Lin had made her leave all of it behind, yet now she had brought it back and was presenting it as though bestowing Ji Hanyi some great favor.
Ji Hanyi raised her eyes and caught the condescension and absolute confidence in Madam Lin’s gaze.
Madam Lin was certain she would accept these things.
It was just like when Ji Hanyi had first married into the Xie Family. They must have been convinced she coveted their wealth and status, completely forgetting how they had pleaded for the marriage in the first place.
Ji Hanyi’s voice was soft but cold. “I am not worthy of such things. Please take them away, First Madam Xie.”
“And please, First Madam Xie, do not come here with Eldest Young Lady Xie to harass me again. Now that the divorce is settled, let us all preserve our dignity and have nothing more to do with one another.”
“Perhaps you’ve forgotten, but when I was trying to leave the Xie Family, I reported the matter to the authorities once before. If you come here again, I won’t mind doing it a second time.”