Chapter 213
Chapter 213
Bright daylight streamed through the window onto the Luohan couch, glinting on the silver threads of Ji Hanyi’s teal, pink-flowered robe. As the light touched her face, she relaxed further.
Half asleep, she thought of Shen Si. She wondered whether he knew she was here, and whether he would come to see her.
In the front hall, the Empress sat upright in the seat of honor, watching Shen Si enter in his court robes.
Ordinarily, he rarely came even when summoned. Today he had appeared of his own accord, no doubt because he had learned that Ji Hanyi was here to study etiquette.
The Empress had expected him and never imagined she could hide it from him.
Shen Si entered with an exceptionally cold face. Once before the Empress, he raised both hands and bowed deeply. “May Her Majesty permit me to take my wife home.”
The Empress regarded him. “I am keeping her beside me to study etiquette for her own good. The Shen Residence has endless social obligations. Proper instruction will keep her from making mistakes.”
“Ah Si, I am doing this for her sake.”
Shen Si straightened, his features still icy. “Even if she makes a mistake, it does not matter. She is my wife. Why should she concern herself with the displeasure of vulgar women?”
Anger chilled the Empress’s face. “She is not merely your wife. She represents the Shen Family!”
“If she errs, people will criticize her, you, and the entire family. They will say you married a…”
She stopped and drew a deep breath.
She had nearly said that it was bad enough he had married a divorced woman; if that woman also lacked manners, the gossip would be worse. But speaking those words would truly estrange her brother.
Besides, the marriage was done. Such words served no purpose.
She composed herself. “I know you worry about her. She will not suffer here. She will merely observe how I govern the inner palace.”
“Her manner is too gentle and her eyes too mild. That is pleasant enough in ordinary life, but useless when she must command others.”
“Sooner or later she must manage the inner household of the Shen Residence. I mean to teach her everything I know. What is there to object to?”
“By bringing her to my side, I am acknowledging her.”
“Once she finishes, I will return her to you in perfect condition and never interfere between you again.”
The Empress’s conciliatory tone, and her promise to accept Ji Hanyi, eased Shen Si’s expression.
Seeing it, she continued. “Mother and I discussed this. You will eventually take charge of the Shen Family, so she must begin learning. It is all for her good. She will often attend palace banquets with you. You may not care if people find fault, but does Hanyi?”
Shen Si pressed his lips together. After a long pause, he asked, “How many days will she stay?”
If his elder sister truly stopped meddling afterward, he could accept the arrangement.
The Empress relaxed against her cushions. “I ask for only one month.”
Shen Si’s eyes darkened. “Too long.”
They were newly married. Ji Hanyi had only just lowered some of her guard toward him. After a month’s interruption, he might have to begin again.
Nor did he want her enduring such hardship. She was resilient, but had been gently raised and was unaccustomed to suffering. She might be miserable.
The Empress was taken aback. A month was hardly long. She had not realized he guarded his wife so closely.
Since he had yielded at all, she did not force him. “Then how many days?”
“Five.”
The Empress stared, then frowned. How could he even say five?
Palace affairs were innumerable. Ji Hanyi needed to observe and study all of them. Five days would teach her nothing.
“What etiquette can she learn in five days? At least twenty.”
Brother and sister faced each other, equally stubborn and unwilling to compromise. At last, each yielded, settling on fifteen days.
Shen Si then demanded to see Ji Hanyi. Faced with his refusal to leave without her, the Empress conceded and sent a female official to guide him.
Ji Hanyi was nearly asleep on the silver pillow of the Luohan couch. She had eaten several delicious pastries, drunk fine tea, and held a sour preserved plum between her lips to revive herself while Rongchun massaged her ankle. She felt boneless with comfort.
This was the scene Shen Si found beyond the screen.
Her eyes were half closed in languor. The kingfisher-feather hairpin in her hair made her delicate face look tender as white jade in the light. With fine brows, red lips, and skin like mutton-fat jade, she seemed carved from precious stone.
Her languid expression lent her an alluring grace. Shen Si swallowed and silently signaled Rongchun to leave without waking her.
Rongchun stopped at once and slipped out.
Shen Si sat on the small stool she had vacated, rested one of Ji Hanyi’s feet on his knee, and began gently rubbing it.
Her lotus-embroidered shoe was worked in gold thread, set with a large eastern pearl, and finished with a moon-white tassel. The tassel swayed beneath his hand. Shen Si’s gaze deepened, his mouth suddenly dry.
He noticed the half-finished tea on the low table. Knowing Ji Hanyi had drunk from it, he felt a flare of warmth and took a sip. It tasted faintly of sour plum. He smiled.
Still drowsy, Ji Hanyi shifted and brushed his purple court robe. Her soft voice murmured, “Gently…”
He had used too much pressure and hurt her.
No wonder. Her ankle was slender and her tiny shoe delicate. A fragile hibiscus like her was difficult to serve.
He lightened his touch, but his palm slowly traveled upward, kneading her calf through her skirt, then moving toward her waist.
At her soft sigh of pleasure, his gaze darkened. He moved closer, fingertips settling on her slender waist.