Chapter 195
Chapter 195
Qin Fuyu spoke with great enthusiasm. Linking arms with Ji Hanyi, she chatted and laughed, soon bringing up Ji Hanyi’s method of reconciling accounts and asking Ji Hanyi to teach her.
Ji Hanyi found Qin Fuyu immediately likable and agreed with a smile. As long as Qin Fuyu truly wished to learn, Ji Hanyi would sincerely teach her everything she knew.
Shen Si walked behind them, watching Ji Hanyi’s retreating figure. His expression was as cold and aloof as ever, but his gaze remained fixed on her from beginning to end, never straying once.
Qin Che glanced sideways at Shen Si’s expression and found the sight exceedingly novel.
They made their way into the flower hall. Grand Princess Rongqing sat within alongside the Marchioness, Madam Wei; the Madam of the Marquis’s Second Branch, Madam Tan; Qin Che’s principal wife, Madam Su; and the Second Branch’s two daughters-in-law, Madam Wang and Madam Zhang.
Altogether, quite a number of people had gathered.
Upon seeing Ji Hanyi, Madam Su rose with a smile and drew her over to sit beside her. In a gentle voice, she introduced everyone to Ji Hanyi one by one. At the end, she smiled and said, “We’ll all be family from now on, so there’s no need to stand on ceremony. We’ll be seeing plenty of one another in the future.”
Ji Hanyi did her best to smile naturally as she spoke with Madam Su, then greeted everyone else in the room in turn.
They were all studying her as well. Everyone knew that Ji Hanyi was soon to marry Shen Si, and they wanted to see what made her different from other women.
And she truly was striking.
She wore goose-yellow figured satin patterned with blue flowers, fastened at the collar by a pair of gilded ruyi-shaped clasps. A fine strand of emerald beads circled her neck, matched by a pair of green earrings. The ornaments in her hair were neither numerous nor elaborate, but every one of them was exquisitely elegant, making her a delight to behold.
With only the lightest touch of powder, her gracefully arched brows and limpid eyes seemed to belong in a painting. The profusion of flowers behind her complemented her perfectly.
Her waist was slender enough to tremble in the breeze, and she had the delicate grace of a flower brushing the water. Her figure was soft, alluring, and elegant, like drifting clouds of pear blossoms in the spring air. Yet her face remained clear and innocent, with red lips and pearly teeth. No one could have guessed that she had ever been married before.
Every woman present came from a better background than Ji Hanyi. Some of them had privately harbored doubts, believing that the Grand Princess had only taken Ji Hanyi as her adopted daughter because of her connection to Marquis Shen.
The Cheng’an Marquis’s Residence might be prestigious, but it held little real power. Others respected it on the surface, yet did not truly fear it, nor did anyone see a reason to curry favor with the family. What benefit would that bring?
Once the Grand Princess passed away, the family would be left with nothing more than the empty prestige and title of the Cheng’an Marquis’s Residence. A few more years after that, even those might amount to nothing.
Truthfully, the people of the Cheng’an Marquis’s Residence had been quite pleased to welcome Ji Hanyi into the family. It would give their descendants another avenue to rely upon in the future, especially while the Shen Family was at the height of its power.
Now that they had seen Ji Hanyi in person, they found her possessed of an almost celestial grace and a rare beauty. They had also heard what she had done during her previous visit and knew she was talented as well as beautiful. The only thing they remained uncertain of was her temperament.
But with Marquis Shen still present, every one of them warmly drew Ji Hanyi into conversation.
Grand Princess Rongqing watched the scene from her seat, then turned to Shen Si and slowly said in her aged voice, “Rest assured. Hanyi will suffer no grievances while she is with me.
“Your mother has already visited me. My daughter-in-law will coordinate every part of the Three Letters and Six Rites properly with her.”
Shen Si bowed to Grand Princess Rongqing. “Thank you for going to the trouble.”
Grand Princess Rongqing smiled and beckoned Shen Si closer to speak. She wished to discuss having Qin Che sent to the Court of the Imperial Stud to oversee the branding of official horses.
Although Qin Che was now the Heir to the Marquisate of the Cheng’an Marquis’s Residence, he held no official post. Grand Princess Rongqing was thinking mainly of the family’s future and hoped to secure at least some proper appointment for her grandson.
She had raised the matter with His Majesty the Emperor before. Although he respected her, he always brushed her off with vague responses and never gave it serious consideration. Her own son’s abilities were admittedly limited as well. He held the empty honorary title of Vice Commissioner-in-Chief and spent his days in idleness. As a result, even at Qin Che’s age, he still had no proper post and received only occasional assignments, such as presiding over rites at the imperial mausoleums or supervising work on them.
Shen Si understood what Grand Princess Rongqing meant. The Court of the Imperial Stud happened to have just such a vacancy. It controlled hundreds of thousands of government horses and vast stretches of pastureland, and the post would allow its holder to keep an eye on the Court itself. It was also a lucrative position that carried no involvement in court politics, so such duties were usually entrusted to members of the imperial clan or their relatives.
He nodded in agreement. “Rest assured, Grand Princess. It won’t be difficult.”
Grand Princess Rongqing was relieved. She told Shen Si to go and make his preparations without worry. Ji Hanyi would be well cared for at the Cheng’an Marquis’s Residence over the next two days.
Shen Si did believe Ji Hanyi would be safe here.
He had been somewhat on edge lately, afraid that something might disrupt the marriage. He had stationed men all around Ji Hanyi’s courtyard, unwilling to let anyone see her or allow her to leave the residence, all because he feared the slightest mishap.
Fortunately, everything had proceeded smoothly. Only two days remained until the wedding.
He needed to return to the Shen Residence and make the proper arrangements.
His father had returned as well, and Shen Si would have to explain everything to him properly.
Shen Si’s gaze returned to Ji Hanyi, who was surrounded by the women and young ladies of the Cheng’an Marquis’s Residence. She sat at one side of the flower hall, speaking softly amid the occasional burst of laughter. The smile on her face made her seem far more relaxed than before.
She was still somewhat reserved around him, though.
But that did not matter. At long last, he was about to marry her and bring her home.
Shen Si knew full well that Ji Hanyi was not averse to him. Perhaps she had yet to work out whether she truly liked him, but that was enough.
He was so absorbed in watching her that he did not notice Qin Che approach until the man chuckled beside him. “You’ve been staring this entire time. Haven’t you seen enough yet, Marquis Shen?”
Shen Si turned his head and raised a brow. “You certainly spend a great deal of time watching me.”
Qin Che laughed twice, then glanced at Ji Hanyi. She truly was beautiful, the sort of person one could hardly overlook even in a crowd. No wonder Shen Si cared so much about her.
Lowering his voice, he teased, “I hear you don’t even have a bedmaid in your chambers. There have also been whispers for years that you prefer men. Don’t embarrass yourself on your wedding night.”
Shen Si lowered his eyes. Some of the stern aloofness in his expression faded as he gave Qin Che a cool smile. “That’s hardly your concern.”
That smile made Qin Che’s hair stand on end. After all, Shen Si was the Presiding Official of the Censorate, and few could meet him without fear. Even though they had grown up together and had been friends since childhood, Qin Che did not dare joke with him too freely.
Shen Si glanced at Ji Hanyi again. Seeing her engaged in lively conversation with the others, he found himself reluctant to leave so soon. He sent someone to call her over, then walked ahead, leaving Ji Hanyi to follow behind him.
Those who remained in the flower hall watched their retreating figures, one tall and lean, the other petite and graceful. One seemed as cold as ice, while the other was as warm as spring. The longer everyone looked, the more perfectly matched the pair seemed.
Madam Su said to her sisters-in-law, “It’s no wonder Marquis Shen likes Miss Ji. Did you hear her speak just now? Her voice is so soft and gentle. Have you ever heard anything so lovely? Even as a woman, I nearly went weak listening to her.”
Madam Zhang looked at Ji Hanyi’s slender waist and said quietly, “She is courteous and knows exactly how to conduct herself. There isn’t a trace of spoiled arrogance in her expression, and she has an excellent sense of propriety. She was clearly raised very well.”
Madam Su smiled. “She is Lord Ji’s only daughter. He was peerlessly brilliant and remarkably gifted in his day. Naturally, his sole daughter would be exceptional too.”
Madam Wang smiled as well. “That’s true.”
“Just look at Marquis Shen. He stood there watching her for ages, and now he’s sent for her so they can talk in private. It’s as though he can’t bear to be apart from her for even a moment.”