Chapter 206
Chapter 206
The third day soon arrived, when a new bride returned to visit her family. Since Ji Hanyi had married from the Cheng’an Marquis’s Residence, that was where they went first.
Everyone there had long been waiting in lively anticipation.
Ji Hanyi had barely paid her respects to Grand Princess Rongqing before the others pulled her away to talk.
Shen Si watched the Cheng’an Marquis’s Residence women surround her. A smile lit her obedient, fair face. Reassured, he left for the front courtyard to join the men.
Grand Princess Rongqing smiled. “The pear trees in the courtyard are blooming, and the sun is pleasant. Let us not sit cooped up in here. There is no need for such formality.”
The women accordingly moved to the Pear Blossom Garden in the rear courtyard.
Fragrant tea and fruit had been laid out on the table. Everyone studied Ji Hanyi. Her complexion glowed and her brows were soft, as though she truly were a woman cherished in a splendid marriage. Another round of envy followed, with everyone praising her good fortune in marrying a man as fine as Marquis Shen.
The words left Ji Hanyi faintly dazed. She was indeed fortunate to have met Shen Si. Yet suddenly she remembered the courtyard full of flowers Second Uncle had planted for her in Wei County, the homeland her father had longed to return to.
The fleeting thought disappeared beneath her pleasant smile.
The Cheng’an Marquis’s Residence might have its own reasons for seeking ties with the Shen Family, but their affection for Ji Hanyi was sincere. Everyone spoke to her warmly, discussing family matters and then all the things she would need to mind if she became pregnant.
Ji Hanyi was embarrassed, but she listened with such earnest attention that they found her even more endearing and poured out their experiences without reserve.
When Shen Si came to collect her, Madam Su, Qin Che’s principal wife, was still holding Ji Hanyi’s hand and advising her in a low voice. “You have never borne a child. There are some things you ought to hear.”
“Some women conceive easily, within a month or two of marrying, but fail to realize it. If they are frail and the newlyweds are too intemperate, they may lose the child without meaning to.”
“Once you are with child, you must not share a bed with your husband. Remember that, and do not harm your health.”
Ji Hanyi’s face burned as she nodded repeatedly.
Then Shen Si’s deep voice called her from behind. Ji Hanyi and Madam Su turned together and found him standing there. Both women looked awkward. Madam Su hastily invented an excuse and left.
Shen Si regarded the delicate blush covering Ji Hanyi’s face and the bashful charm in her expression. He could not resist lifting a hand to her cheek. It was faintly warm and wonderfully soft beneath his palm, a sensation that invited lingering.
Together, Shen Si and Ji Hanyi went to take their leave. Only after another exchange of courtesies did they depart.
Once inside the carriage, Shen Si glanced at Ji Hanyi from the corner of his eye while thinking over Madam Su’s warning.
If Ji Hanyi conceived too soon, he would no longer be able to bed her.
In truth, he cared less about children than he did about the pleasure he and Ji Hanyi shared in intimacy.
As the thought ran through him, he reached out and enclosed her hand in his.
The gesture had already become a habit. He had once disliked being touched, yet now he delighted in the sensation of touching her.
Ji Hanyi lowered her eyes and saw her hand held in Shen Si’s. His long fingers stroked her palm lightly, making her tremble. She stole a glance up at him, but his face remained cool, proper, and composed, as though she alone were entertaining improper thoughts.
When they reached the Gu Family residence, Shen Si stepped down first and helped Ji Hanyi from the carriage. The servants at the front gate stared, dumbfounded, as two noble figures emerged from the magnificent carriage.
The Gu Family had been waiting outside. Every member of the household stood at the entrance, and even the married daughter of the Second Branch had returned especially for the occasion.
This was the first visit from the Emperor’s powerful brother-in-law. None of them truly dared put on airs and wait indoors.
They greeted Shen Si effusively at the gate.
Madam Zhang stood among them, uncertain what expression she ought to wear.
Part of her wanted to flatter Marquis Shen like everyone else and ask him to help bring her husband home. But she also resented that such an excellent marriage had not gone to her daughter. Instead, Ji Hanyi-a woman driven from the Xie Family-had seized the opportunity first.
It would have been easier if she had never entertained the hope. Once the desire existed but remained unattainable, it became far more tormenting.
Gu Wanyun was so humiliated that she did not want to look at Ji Hanyi at all.
Only Old Madam Gu and the members of the Second Branch showed genuine warmth. Even they were somewhat constrained before Shen Si, not daring to appear overly familiar. They merely urged the guests inside again and again.
Madam Liu came forward of her own accord and linked arms with Ji Hanyi. After studying her carefully, she began asking solicitously after her well-being.
She had always thought Ji Hanyi might one day meet with great fortune. Even so, she had never imagined that fortune would be as extraordinary as marriage into the Shen Residence. When first invited to the wedding banquet, the news had seemed unreal. Seeing Ji Hanyi today stirred emotions she could not name. She was genuinely happy for her and truly believed the young woman had been blessed by fate.
With so little support from her maternal family, for a woman to marry into a house like the Shen Family on her second marriage was a marvel that might not occur once in a century.
Madam Liu naturally meant to draw closer and curry favor, but they were relatives. Ji Hanyi’s good fortune reflected well on her as the young woman’s maternal aunt and would benefit her son too. How could she not be delighted?
Ji Hanyi saw that Second Maternal Aunt was noticeably more enthusiastic than before, but the warmth was sincere.
Strictly speaking, there had been no need to visit the Gu Family today; it would have been enough to see her mother. But her mother had written to say that on such a momentous occasion, Ji Hanyi should return and make her maternal grandmother happy. She herself also intended to go back to the Gu Family.
Ji Hanyi understood her mother’s thinking. Madam Gu had always believed that a large family shared every joy and sorrow. In truth, that was not so, but Ji Hanyi could never persuade her otherwise.
Gu Yan walked at the rear. His gaze rested on the backs of Ji Hanyi and Shen Si as they walked together, his eyes slowly darkening.
In the main hall, Old Madam Gu called Ji Hanyi to sit beside her and examined her from head to toe.
Ji Hanyi wore a moon-white round-collared jacket patterned with bats and ruyi motifs, paired with a pale pink skirt embroidered with begonias.
In her hair gleamed a gold-and-jade lotus pond headpiece and a fine white-jade peony hairpin. Turquoise-and-gold earrings hung beside her cheeks, while a strand of small emerald beads, every one a vivid green, circled her neck.
She sat with poised elegance, carrying the fragrance of orchids. In one hand she held a gauze fan with an ivory handle and a tapestry-woven design of flowers and birds. Graceful, refined, and adorned in exquisite finery, she looked at a glance like a noblewoman from one of the great clans.
Even Old Madam Gu, seated beside her, felt an unfamiliar sense of distance as she took in Ji Hanyi’s precious ornaments and smiling beauty, as though the young woman now stood beyond reach.
The gulf between the Shen and Gu families was simply too great-so great that contemplating it still felt unreal.
Old Madam Gu tightened her grip on Ji Hanyi’s hand, her eyes reddening. Such immense fortune had truly risen from misfortune.
Shen Si was naturally the most honored guest and was seated in the place of honor. Gu Xun stood beside him, unable to conceal his eagerness to ingratiate himself, and stepped forward to offer a greeting.
Shen Si merely inclined his head. His cool bearing, born of long authority, made Gu Xun forget entirely how to conduct himself.
Young and inexperienced, Gu Xun had never met a man like him. He wanted to be warm and flattering, but lacked both the experience and composure to manage it, leaving him visibly at a loss.
Gu Yan appeared far steadier. His greeting was neither servile nor overbearing, and his expression remained natural.
Shen Si glanced at Gu Yan, his eyes cool and indifferent.
Madam Liu spoke eagerly from the side. “Our Young Master Xun owes you a great debt for what happened last time, Lord Shen. We have never had the chance to thank you in person.”
She nudged Gu Xun. “Lord Shen saved your life. Hurry and kneel to thank him.”