Chapter 222
Chapter 222
The Empress watched Ji Hanyi’s every movement and expression with the scrutiny of an elder observing a junior.
She had never found Ji Hanyi particularly pleasing before. Now that Ji Hanyi had helped the Crown Prince, however, the sight of her had become a little easier to bear.
Her status as a divorced woman still left the Empress with a knot of frustration in her chest. All she could do was force herself not to dwell on it.
Whatever else might be said, if one set aside Ji Hanyi’s divorce, she was exceptional in both talent and beauty. That single blemish was the only pity.
Two more days passed, leaving only two or three before Ji Hanyi could leave the palace.
The Empress had relaxed her demands considerably. Ji Hanyi was remarkably perceptive. Once taught a palace rule, she remembered it firmly. She remained quietly at the Empress’s side without drawing attention, yet whenever asked a question, she answered fluently and correctly.
For once, the Empress found herself regarding Ji Hanyi with new respect.
There were traces of Ji Jing in her. Ji Jing, too, had once worn an absent-minded gaze and appeared rather like an unreliable young rake. Yet nothing he accomplished was something a mere rake could ever have done.
Ji Hanyi also seemed innocent of worldly affairs. At times, she appeared almost indifferent, agreeing good-naturedly to whatever she was told. One might easily mistake her for a beautiful but empty-headed doll. In truth, she had read widely, possessed an extraordinary memory, and grasped the heart of a matter with the slightest guidance. She required hardly any supervision.
The Empress had also discovered that Ji Hanyi seemed genuinely slow to recognize her younger brother’s feelings. Perhaps Ji Hanyi truly held no affection for him.
Whenever Shen Si came, no matter how he feigned aloofness, his gaze would still drift toward Ji Hanyi, deliberately or otherwise. The possessiveness of a man toward a woman was unmistakable.
There was the protective possessiveness of an older man toward a younger woman, but also the attentiveness of one who had long since claimed her as his own and cared about her every emotion.
Yet whenever Ji Hanyi looked at Shen Si-at least in the Empress’s presence-her gaze was always perfectly proper.
If one loved someone and carried that person constantly in one’s heart, one’s eyes could never remain so calm and measured.
That displeased the Empress.
Her younger brother was favored by heaven itself. He had married Ji Hanyi, and Ji Hanyi did not love him?
The Empress had sounded her out indirectly many times afterward, and Ji Hanyi truly did not seem particularly concerned about him.
Now, looking into Ji Hanyi’s eyes, the Empress enunciated slowly, “Ah Si has lived alone all these years, with no one to care whether he was warm or cold. Now that he is married, I intend to let him choose two palace maids from my attendants and take them home. They can share some of your burdens.”
“What do you think?”
Ji Hanyi understood exactly what sort of burden they would share.
She felt no particular objection. She had prepared herself for this long ago. Besides, if Her Majesty the Empress truly intended it, Ji Hanyi had no power to refuse.
Could the Empress’s earlier warnings have been leading to this?
Ji Hanyi nodded obediently. “I will abide by whatever Her Majesty the Empress decides.”
The Empress studied her face. Ji Hanyi had been married for barely ten days, and the Empress was proposing to place other women in her husband’s bed. Yet Ji Hanyi seemed entirely unconcerned. Not even a trace of displeasure crossed her face.
There was certainly no sorrow or reluctance.
The Empress frowned. “If you are unwilling, the matter may be dropped. I will not force you.”
Ji Hanyi hesitated, then looked at her. “Perhaps we should ask the Marquis what he thinks?”
She mainly believed Shen Si’s wishes mattered more than her own. Moreover, she had not yet determined what the Empress truly intended-whether this was a test or something else. This seemed the safest possible answer.
The Empress looked into her eyes and said coolly, “I am asking what you think.”
Ji Hanyi lowered her gaze, her voice respectful and composed. “Whatever the Marquis wishes is what I wish.”
The Empress studied her for a long moment. For an instant, the flowerlike face before her seemed that of a dangerous enchantress. Ji Hanyi looked too clear and innocent. She was plainly heartless, yet must be impossible for anyone to relinquish.
The Empress drew a slow, deep breath. So her younger brother had been forcing the matter all along.
A confusion of emotions rose within her, impossible to name.
That afternoon, Shen Si came dutifully to pay his respects, then immediately prepared to visit Ji Hanyi. The Empress stopped him.
All Shen Si wanted was to see Ji Hanyi. He had arrived somewhat late today and would have no more than half an hour with her before he had to leave. He turned back with unmistakable impatience.
The Empress noted that he had missed only a handful of days since Ji Hanyi entered the palace, and she saw the impatience in his eyes. Her face remained impassive as she related her conversation with Ji Hanyi that afternoon.
If Ji Hanyi did not hold her younger brother in her heart, the Empress did not want Shen Si rushing eagerly to Ji Hanyi’s side while his affection went unanswered.
There were countless women beneath heaven. Her brother had no need to suffer such an indignity.
At the Empress’s words, Shen Si’s gaze stilled briefly. Then he said in a low voice, “I ask that Her Majesty the Empress never speak of such things before my wife again, lest she overthink them.”
“I never intended to do this.”
“Not now, and not in the future.”
The Empress gave a cold laugh. “Overthink? I would be relieved if she thought about it at all.”
“Had I said nothing, how would I know how little she cares for you?”
“If she cares so little, why did she marry you? What does she want?”
Shen Si glanced coolly at the Empress and fell silent for a moment. “It is enough that I can give her what she wants.”
The Empress paused. Watching Shen Si’s retreating figure, she rubbed her brow with a headache.
When Shen Si reached Ji Hanyi’s room, she was seated on a chaise embroidering.
She had to admit that she admired Sun Baoqiong’s needlework. The stitches were lovely enough to stir Ji Hanyi’s interest in trying the technique herself.
She had enjoyed a fair amount of leisure in the palace these past two days. In the mornings, she studied etiquette with Her Majesty the Empress. In the afternoons, she kept the Empress company for a short while before returning to her room.
She knew no one else in the palace, so needlework was a convenient way to pass the time.
Ji Hanyi sensed Shen Si’s arrival early and set down her work. Just as she started to rise and greet him, a hand pressed against her shoulder and forced her back down.
A shadow fell over her. Ji Hanyi looked up at Shen Si. He leaned slightly over her with the light behind him, his face concealed in darkness. His cool eyes seemed distant, with a hint of indifference.
She knew that gaze well. The young Shen Si had always looked like this, aloof as a solitary pine upon an icy cliff, warning all strangers away.
At that moment, Ji Hanyi suddenly felt the same awe of him she had known in her youth. Beneath his stare, she felt as though she were being judged.
Shen Si saw the familiar expression in her eyes, the same one she had worn when she looked at him as a girl. He took her chin between his fingers and asked hoarsely, “What did you do today?”
Ji Hanyi’s face tilted up in his grasp. Meeting his gaze, she answered softly, “The same as yesterday. I sat with Her Majesty the Empress for a while, then came back.”
Shen Si’s fingertips stroked her cheek. He gave an absent murmur, then asked coolly, “You didn’t go out for a walk?”
Ji Hanyi shook her head and answered honestly, “I didn’t feel like moving.”
She truly had not. Moreover, she was unfamiliar with the palace and feared causing trouble if she wandered. Staying in her room was safer.
Shen Si raised a brow and curved his lips, though no smile reached his face.
Ji Hanyi watched him. He seemed different from before.
His fingers were rubbing her cheek hard enough to hurt.
Shen Si bent closer, bringing his cool presence over her. Still holding her chin, he asked, “Do you know how to call me husband?”