Chapter 176
Chapter 176
Ji Hanyi had never expected Grand Princess Rongqing to say such a thing.
She knew how exalted Grand Princess Rongqing’s status was. This was something she had never dared imagine.
She instinctively looked at Shen Si, who stood beside her.
He was already looking down at her. When he gave her a slight nod, Ji Hanyi suddenly understood why he had brought her here today. She hurriedly accepted Grand Princess Rongqing’s offer with heartfelt gratitude, then performed a full kowtow.
Grand Princess Rongqing reached out to help Ji Hanyi to her feet, her aged hand clasping Ji Hanyi’s tightly. In a low voice, she said, “You are very intelligent, and I like you very much.
“I am advanced in years and rarely attend banquets these days. From now on, you and Ah Si should visit me often and keep me company.”
Ji Hanyi paused before nodding solemnly. “Whenever Hanyi has the time, I will certainly come visit often.”
Princess Rongqing smiled at the sincerity in Ji Hanyi’s eyes.
By now, she was thoroughly satisfied with Ji Hanyi.
Today, she had tested the young woman’s learning, temperament, and capability, and every one of them had surpassed her expectations. She had met countless noble ladies in the capital, but the last person to earn such admiration from her had been Sun Baoqiong. That child, too, had excelled in every regard.
She patted Ji Hanyi’s hand again, then ordered someone to bring over a box and placed it in her hands, telling her to open it after she returned home.
She then looked at Shen Si beside Ji Hanyi and said quietly, “I have agreed to what you asked of me.
“But this is the only thing I have agreed to. I know nothing about anything else.
“If your mother or your eldest sister comes to question me, I will say it was your idea.”
Solemn gratitude crossed Shen Si’s face. He stepped back and bowed deeply to Grand Princess Rongqing.
When Ji Hanyi and Shen Si took their leave, Qin Che accompanied them out. Just as they were about to board the carriage, Qin Che joked, “Once the date is set, don’t forget to tell me. I’ve been waiting a long time to drink at your wedding feast.”
Shen Si glanced at him and replied evenly, “All right.”
With that, he took Ji Hanyi by the hand and helped her into the carriage, paying Qin Che no further attention.
Qin Che chuckled at the sight. It seemed he had overstayed his welcome and was now nothing but an eyesore.
Only after Ji Hanyi was seated inside the carriage did the heart that had been hanging in suspense finally settle. She had been anxious the entire time, worried that she might perform poorly and put Shen Si in a difficult position.
When Shen Si sat down beside her, he took her hand again. She turned her head and met his gaze in the dimness as his deep voice sounded. “Hanyi, you did very well.”
Ji Hanyi finally relaxed and nodded softly.
Still, she felt awkwardly self-conscious with her hand in his. In her heart, Shen Si had always been a respected elder, much as Shen Changling regarded him. Although there was not a great difference in their ages, Shen Si possessed the imposing presence of a man accustomed to authority. Coupled with his seniority in the family, it had made her unconsciously think of him as an elder.
Just as she looked away, she felt a wash of burning breath against her face. She raised her eyes blankly, only to find Shen Si’s handsome face magnified before her. His hoarse voice reached her ears. “Hanyi, in two days, news of our engagement will be known throughout the capital. A few minor complications may follow one after another. Are you ready?”
Ji Hanyi had known this day would inevitably come, but she had not expected it to arrive so soon.
Yet since she had already given Shen Si her word, she no longer cared about any of that. Meeting his gaze, she answered softly but earnestly, “Lord Shen, I am ready.”
Shen Si stared into her earnest almond-shaped eyes, faintly luminous in the darkness. Her soft fragrance drifted toward him, while the strand of lustrous pearls around her neck gleamed gently, making her seem all the more tender and warm, like polished jade. His throat went dry.
She was sweet, gentle, and admirable in every way – someone who could not help but inspire tenderness.
The rumble of wheels sounded outside. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to taste the sweetness of her lips.
His breathing grew heavier. His shoulders lowered, and his grip on her hand tightened. He watched as Ji Hanyi lowered her lashes, her red lips and white teeth forming a picture of quiet serenity. Amid a riotous profusion of blossoms, she was the only begonia that could kindle such scorching desire in his heart.
Still, his lips only brushed lightly over the crown of her head. He remained restrained and rational. She would be his eventually, after all. She wasn’t going anywhere.
The look in his eyes was inscrutable. He concealed his possessiveness and merely tightened his grip on her soft hand.
Once they returned, Ji Hanyi moved to get out of the carriage. But the moment she rose, Shen Si caught her hand.
Ji Hanyi turned back in confusion.
Shen Si gazed silently at her in the dim light. The moment she started to leave his side, reluctance welled up inside him.
He couldn’t bear to let her go so soon. He wanted to spend more time with her.
He wanted her sitting intimately on his lap and leaning against his chest. He wanted her soft fingers to trail inch by inch over his chest. More than anything, he wanted her to wrap her arms around his neck and shower him with sweet, affectionate kisses.
He had fallen helplessly into the intimacy their relationship afforded him, though the road ahead still seemed rather long.
His grip tightened slightly. With one tug, he could make her tumble into his arms. At this moment, he didn’t want to let her leave for even a second.
Ji Hanyi’s soft, pleasant voice sounded. “Lord Shen, is something wrong?”
That distant form of address – “Lord Shen” – made Shen Si’s gaze darken.
In a hoarse voice, he said, “Come dine with me tonight.”
Shen Si left the rest unspoken: just the two of them, alone together in one room.
Ji Hanyi plainly failed to grasp his meaning. After a moment’s hesitation, she asked softly, “Is there something Lord Shen wishes to discuss with me in private? Could we talk about it now?”
Shen Si pursed his lips slightly, then said in a low voice, “Forget it. You should rest well these next two nights. I’ll have dinner sent to your place.”
Ji Hanyi hurriedly shook her head. “There’s no need to go to so much trouble, Lord Shen.”
Shen Si silently looked into her eyes. “Hanyi, you will soon be my wife. You don’t need to be so formal with me.”
Ji Hanyi thought that even so, what lay between them seemed somewhat different from that of a true husband and wife.
She wanted to cause Shen Si as little worry as possible and show him that she really could help him. Her desire to help him was sincere, not because of anything else he possessed.
But as she looked into Shen Si’s eyes now, his heavy gaze held a faint pressure that brooked no refusal. In truth, Ji Hanyi had never been able to read his eyes. Beneath their cool detachment, a fierce heat seemed to churn. The contradiction made her afraid to meet his gaze.
After a brief pause, she agreed. “Lord Shen, thank you.”
Shen Si released her hand and added, “I’ll send a few maids and guards over shortly. Your courtyard is too short-staffed, which makes everything inconvenient.”
Ji Hanyi hesitated before nodding and stepping out of the carriage.
But when she did, she saw Gu Yan standing at the courtyard gate.
Gu Yan’s gaze remained fixed on Ji Hanyi as she alighted from the carriage. Then he looked toward the slightly raised curtain. Shen Si’s face appeared behind it, his long, narrow eyes sweeping over Gu Yan before settling unblinkingly on Ji Hanyi.
Gu Yan’s chest tightened, and his entire body went taut. It was only when Ji Hanyi walked up to him and called out curiously, “Cousin Yan?” that he abruptly returned to his senses and looked at her.
His eyes moved over Ji Hanyi’s obviously expensive clothes, then the jewelry adorning her hair and body. When he saw her face, no longer as plain and unadorned as before, his gaze grew increasingly turbulent.
From inside the carriage, Shen Si quietly observed Gu Yan’s expression. The displeasure in his eyes showed without the slightest attempt to conceal it. If Gu Yan were not Ji Hanyi’s cousin and had not looked after her before, Shen Si would have dealt with him long ago. He simply did not want to upset Ji Hanyi. Otherwise, he would never have allowed this man to appear before her again.
Pressing his lips together once more, Shen Si lowered the curtain, his eyes darkening.