Chapter 185
Chapter 185
Ji Jing was extraordinarily handsome-a rich, striking sort of beauty – and possessed an unabashedly flamboyant air. As Ji Jing was His Majesty the Emperor’s father-in-law’s prized pupil, His Majesty the Emperor had once placed great trust in him.
But during that incident years ago, Liaoxi had suffered defeat after defeat, so Ji Jing naturally had to be held accountable. That night, Ji Jing knelt outside the imperial hall, holding a long scroll of impeachments in both hands. Its contents were appalling.
The army had indeed been stuffed with scions of powerful families, including descendants of meritorious officials who had once supported His Majesty the Emperor. Relying on their ancestors’ achievements, they recklessly chased glory, disobeyed orders, and ultimately caused a catastrophe.
Some had even fraudulently claimed military provisions and fabricated military achievements.
At the time, however, His Majesty the Emperor had only been on the throne for five years and still needed to win over the court. Ji Jing had impeached far too many people, and with Liaoxi already in such dire straits, punishing them all would have left Liaoxi with no one to command its forces and inevitably thrown the court into turmoil.
Furthermore, public outrage was at its peak, the war was urgent, and many of those men in the army had supported him at court. They could not be dealt with lightly.
Even if they had to be punished, that was not the time.
Ji Jing had not been at fault, but he still had to die. The charges against him had to be made indisputable so that the frightened and unsettled populace could be appeased, allowing His Majesty the Emperor to win over another group of supporters before finding a pretext to replace the men stationed in Liaoxi.
But now Shen Si wished to marry Ji Jing’s daughter.
The Grand Princess had also lavished praise on Ji Hanyi.
His Majesty the Emperor calmly withdrew his gaze and looked at Shen Si again. “A divorcée. You truly think she is better than Baoqiong?”
Shen Si pursed his lips. “When I care for a woman, I do not care whether she has been married before. I care for her because of who she is.”
His Majesty the Emperor tilted his head slightly. Looking at Shen Si’s reserved yet respectful manner, he frowned. “Your elder sister dislikes her immensely.”
Shen Si lowered his gaze and performed a deep formal bow. “It has been far too difficult for me to find someone who has captured my heart. I humbly ask His Majesty the Emperor to grant my request.”
His Majesty the Emperor looked down at Shen Si’s bowed back. He had watched Shen Si grow up. Even as a child, Shen Si had always carried himself ramrod straight. Although respectful in his presence, there was an austere pride about him. He handled every matter fairly and rigorously. It was precisely because of that uncompromising integrity that he had sent Shen Si to the Censorate.
Shen Si was also someone he had personally mentored. Having a man of Shen Si’s character at his side had always reassured him.
From childhood to adulthood, this was the only matter over which Shen Si had ever caused him any worry.
He also understood Shen Si perfectly. Finding a woman one truly liked was indeed no easy thing. Besides, deep in his heart, he harbored a measure of guilt toward Ji Jing. Approving this match could count as making amends through Ji Jing’s only daughter.
He sighed and reached out to lift Shen Si by the arm. “I have no objection to your marriage. You have my consent.”
“How about I have the Ministry of Rites handle your wedding?”
Shen Si bowed again. “I thank Your Majesty for your great favor, but I have already made all the arrangements for the wedding.”
Shen Si knew that although Ji Hanyi appeared soft and yielding, she was exceptionally perceptive. If she learned that the Ministry of Rites was handling the wedding, she would know His Majesty the Emperor had approved it and might begin reading too much into the matter.
He did not want her worrying over it.
His Majesty the Emperor was surprised for a moment, but then nodded. “If you have already arranged everything, so much the better.”
His Majesty the Emperor then summoned Shen Si inside to discuss the previous corruption case involving the military households.
After all, the men involved had once been meritorious followers of his. Now that the realm was enjoying peace and prosperity, His Majesty the Emperor wanted to deal with those parasites, but precisely how to proceed required careful deliberation.
Shen Si glanced toward the building opposite them. His gaze swept over Wen’an nearby, signaling for him to keep a close watch and report back promptly.
When Wen’an caught the Marquis’s look, he did not dare even blink. He watched with utmost concentration.
Meanwhile, after Ji Hanyi composed the flower verse, the others regarded her with far less contempt. Even Li Shuyu did not speak up again.
But Commandery Princess Fengning proposed that since everyone had completed their couplets, they ought to choose the two best responses and make the rest drink a penalty cup.
The Empress gave Ji Hanyi a long, searching look before nodding.
She then asked everyone present to name the response they thought was best.
When all the votes were counted, Sun Baoqiong and Commandery Princess Fengning received the most praise.
Ji Hanyi’s gaze cooled slightly, but she felt not the least bit wronged by the result. She had expected it from the start.
Talent had never been what they were judging.
When the penalty wine was brought to her, she calmly drank it.
Sun Baoqiong watched her, but there was little joy in her expression.
Next, an array of delicate palace pastries made from flowers was served. Her Majesty the Empress invited everyone to eat and converse as they pleased, then took Princess Fu’an and the Marchioness of Yongqing into a private chamber for tea, leaving the young ladies outside to speak more freely among themselves.
Once Her Majesty the Empress departed, the gathering did indeed become much livelier.
But that liveliness had nothing to do with Ji Hanyi.
For one, all the other young ladies present were unmarried. For another, they had all known one another before this. As they chatted, joked, and bantered, they shut Ji Hanyi out, whether intentionally or otherwise.
Li Shuyu, secretly egged on by Commandery Princess Fengning, even took the lead in ostracizing her to prove her loyalty. Whenever anyone tried to go over and exchange a few words with Ji Hanyi, Li Shuyu would inevitably pull them away.
They were waiting for Ji Hanyi to grow uncomfortable, eager to see her make a fool of herself.
Ji Hanyi knew exactly what they were doing.
But she had no desire to befriend people who excluded and mocked her. Sitting beside the railing and admiring the flowers, she found being alone far more relaxing.
When Commandery Princess Fengning saw that Ji Hanyi did not look the least bit embarrassed and was instead leisurely admiring the flowers while enjoying the pastries, her expression shifted with anger.
But she could no longer act openly, so she pulled Sun Baoqiong aside and spoke to her in a whisper.
Sun Baoqiong quietly studied Commandery Princess Fengning for a moment, then said softly, “She hasn’t wronged you. Let it go.”
Fengning looked at Sun Baoqiong. “But what right does she have to steal Sister Bao’s marriage? Other than being pretty and knowing how to please men, what else can she do? She’s nothing but a thing meant to serve others.”
Sun Baoqiong’s expression changed slightly. She immediately clapped a hand over Commandery Princess Fengning’s mouth and pulled her aside, lowering her voice. “Don’t speak recklessly. Don’t forget who she is. No matter how you look at it, saying such things is a slap in the Shen Family’s face.”
Commandery Princess Fengning stiffened, then pouted and muttered, “My grandmother is the Empress Dowager.”
Sun Baoqiong frowned and warned her, “The Empress Dowager is still only the Empress Dowager. How much longer can she protect you? Once the Crown Prince ascends the throne, the Empress will still be there. If you offend the Shen Family, you may not even be able to protect yourself.”
That was also why her mother had insisted that she marry into the Shen Family. Given the current balance of power at court, only the Shen Family could secure her clan’s future. As for the Empress Dowager’s faction, it would begin to crumble as soon as the New Emperor ascended the throne.
Those few words sent a chill down Commandery Princess Fengning’s back and immediately silenced her.
After a moment, she whispered, “But everyone outside thinks you’re the one Her Majesty the Empress favors to become Marchioness Shen, and so many people have been trying to get close to you. What does it mean now that Marquis Shen suddenly intends to marry Ji Hanyi? Passing over someone as wonderful as you to marry that divorced woman – isn’t that a slap in your face?”
“Once word spreads, won’t everyone in the capital laugh at you?”
Sun Baoqiong’s expression shifted. Her usual composure vanished as her hands clenched tightly.
That was right. A woman’s reputation and dignity mattered above all else. Yet she had lost to a divorced woman. Everyone would only assume she was somehow lacking.
From within the private chamber, the Empress had been watching everything outside. When she saw Ji Hanyi sitting alone, she knew the time was ripe and sent an attendant to invite Ji Hanyi to another private chamber.
By the time a palace attendant escorted Ji Hanyi inside, the Empress was already waiting for her.