Chapter 221

Chapter 221

Ji Hanyi still could not determine what Sun Baoqiong hoped to gain by approaching her. Yet Sun Baoqiong always arrived smiling, entertained her with amusing stories, and never stayed too long. She judged the proper distance perfectly and would even embroider with Ji Hanyi while exchanging advice.

Ji Hanyi had to admit that Sun Baoqiong understood people remarkably well and knew exactly how to draw close to them. With private talk between young women, embroidery, and little girlish confidences, she quickly narrowed the distance between them.

Sun Baoqiong did, in truth, feel some desire to befriend Ji Hanyi. Whatever else might be said, Ji Hanyi was now Marquis Shen’s wife, and that could not be changed. By becoming close to her, Sun Baoqiong could earn a reputation for generosity while also winning favor from the Empress and the Shen Family.

In fact, she had already chosen the man she hoped to marry.

No clan at court was more ascendant than the Shen Family. The family of Shen Si’s eldest uncle was also a thriving great house, bound to the main family by blood.

There was indeed a suitable man among them: Shen Yuanhan, presently a secretary in the Ministry of Rites. He was twenty-one and had become a Palace Graduate three years earlier. Brilliant and talented, he was the second legitimate grandson upon whom the First Branch placed great hopes. He conducted himself honorably, had taken no concubines, and was not yet betrothed. Of all the men Sun Baoqiong had considered in the capital, he was one of the few who satisfied her.

She had also sent several letters to Cheng Cong these past few days, warning him not to touch Ji Hanyi under any circumstances.

After spending several days with Ji Hanyi, Sun Baoqiong felt that she understood her. Having seen the meticulous painting, she respected Ji Hanyi’s talent and temperament. Ji Hanyi was not as scheming as most noblewomen, and Sun Baoqiong had heard that Marquis Shen visited her every day and cherished her above all else. Anyone who acted against Ji Hanyi would only be courting death.

Sun Baoqiong now conceded defeat wholeheartedly. The resentment she had once felt toward Ji Hanyi was gone, and she wanted only to form a genuine friendship with her.

She had come to the capital with a clear purpose. Building connections among its noblewomen was something she had to do.

Sun Baoqiong soon learned Ji Hanyi’s tastes. Discovering her fondness for antique paintings, she brought out pieces she had carried from Xuanzhou to admire with her and generously offered them as gifts.

Ji Hanyi did love antique paintings, and Sun Baoqiong’s pieces were truly rare. Still, such sudden warmth put her on guard. No matter how Sun Baoqiong urged her, she refused to accept them.

Besides, Ji Hanyi knew that His Majesty the Emperor had once intended Sun Baoqiong to marry Shen Si. An imperial marriage decree had nearly been issued. Whether or not Sun Baoqiong sincerely wished to befriend her, Ji Hanyi had not forgotten the flower banquet and could not put it from her mind so quickly.

Sun Baoqiong had not expected that, for all Ji Hanyi’s apparent easygoing nature, becoming truly close to her would prove difficult.

But that was all right. Forming friendships had always been Sun Baoqiong’s greatest skill.

Shen Si also knew that Sun Baoqiong had been visiting rather frequently these past two days, and his brows drew together faintly. When he finished his work that afternoon, he came over, held Ji Hanyi in his arms, and told her it would be best not to see Sun Baoqiong again.

For one thing, Shen Si had no particular impression of Sun Baoqiong and did not want Ji Hanyi becoming close to her. For another, he feared Ji Hanyi might hear something from Sun Baoqiong and discover that the proposed imperial marriage had been a deception. She would inevitably make a fuss with him then.

Ji Hanyi might resist him somewhat now, but she was still obedient. If she truly lost her temper, all his efforts these past days might be wasted. Who knew how long it would take to coax her again before he could have her?

Shen Si held her hand. After being visited and embraced by him every day, Ji Hanyi had grown accustomed to it. Hearing his warning, she lowered her head and gave an absent-minded murmur of agreement.

Her voice was soft and languid. Shen Si had not tired her the way he had before over the past two days, wanting to let her recover, yet the way she kept her head down and averted her eyes made it seem as though she were avoiding him.

He took her chin and prevented her from turning away.

He had consulted the Imperial Physician. The physician said that her soreness was a normal response after a woman’s pleasure, though intimacy must not be too frequent. Ji Hanyi was also slightly deficient in blood and vitality. Once those were replenished, she might experience extraordinary desire-perhaps so much that even Shen Si would be unable to keep up with her.
Shen Si hoped that day would come soon. He could not help studying the soft woman in his arms, unable to imagine what Ji Hanyi might look like when even he could not satisfy her.

If such a day truly arrived, it would be cause for universal celebration.

In any event, her blood and vitality certainly needed nourishing.

He picked up the tonic soup beside him, now at the perfect temperature, and brought a spoonful to Ji Hanyi’s lips. He coaxed patiently, “There are only a few mouthfuls. If you won’t drink it, shall I feed you another way?”

Whenever Shen Si held her, Ji Hanyi felt as though he became a different man. She could not help wondering whether he truly had never had another woman before her.

She had even sounded out Her Majesty the Empress indirectly. The answer was that Shen Si genuinely had not-or at least, the Empress knew of no one.

Ji Hanyi would have drunk an ordinary tonic without needing to be coaxed. She was not a picky eater. But the bowl in Shen Si’s hand tasted truly dreadful. She knew exactly what he meant by his threat. The first time she drank it, he had fed her a mouthful with his lips. She had behaved obediently ever since.

Looking at the spoon before her, Ji Hanyi opened her mouth and swallowed. Only after finishing did she ask, “My headache was never real, the soreness is gone, and nothing else is wrong with me. Must I still take this tonic?”

Shen Si’s lowered gaze rested on her face, and he arched a brow. “It is good for your health.”

That answer again. Ji Hanyi stopped asking.

When the bowl was empty, Ji Hanyi glanced outside. The sky had darkened, and she asked when Shen Si would leave.

Palace rules were strict. Shen Si was an outside man and could not remain too long.

This time, Shen Si did not linger. It was enough that he had watched her finish the tonic.

Several more days passed. One morning, Ji Hanyi took the completed painting to the Empress. The Empress unrolled it and studied it for a long while. In a rare show of approval, she praised Ji Hanyi and rewarded her with a lifelike white-jade Guanyin for Blessing Children and a pair of hairpins depicting magpies perched among plum blossoms.

Ji Hanyi truly liked the hairpins. Their craftsmanship was both delicate and vivid. As for the Guanyin for Blessing Children, the Empress instructed her to place it carefully upon an incense altar after returning home, and Ji Hanyi obediently agreed.

The Crown Prince also came that morning. After examining Ji Hanyi’s colors and fine brushwork, he praised her and presented her with a pair of carved celadon-jade paperweights.

Ji Hanyi meant to decline, but the Empress told her to accept them. She could only offer her thanks and take the gift.

Jiang Xuan asked her to open the box and see whether the gift pleased her. Ji Hanyi obeyed. Looking down, she saw lifelike peonies carved into the blue-green jade. They were exquisite.

The peonies came from a small sketch she had idly drawn at the painting table a few days earlier. She had never expected to see them carved upon the paperweights.

The quality of the jade was plainly extraordinary at a glance. Ji Hanyi suspected she would not even be willing to use such precious paperweights.

She looked up at the Crown Prince, overwhelmed by the honor. He was smiling at her, and she hurried to express her gratitude.

Jiang Xuan merely smiled. “As for the writing implements my mother prepared for Aunt in Ninghui Hall, if you find them comfortable to use, you may take those with you as well.”

Ji Hanyi truly did like them and found them exceptionally pleasant to use, especially the pigments.

But she had entered the palace to study etiquette. Why did it now seem as though she had come to plunder it? She had arrived empty-handed and would leave laden with valuables. Embarrassed, she declined several times.

The Empress’s manner toward her had softened considerably since the day she arrived. Seeing Ji Hanyi demur, she said with a faint smile, “Since you find them comfortable to use, you may as well keep them. I will have someone deliver them to you later.”

Ji Hanyi knew further refusal was futile and finally accepted.