Chapter 235
Chapter 235
Shen Si stared at Shen Changling with tightly pressed lips. Even after dismounting, the frustration within him had not eased.
Heaven knew how thoroughly he had searched Shui County for Shen Changling, only to discover that the boy had brought her to a temple.
Shen Changling stiffened at the sight of him, certain he had done something wrong. He had not expected Fifth Uncle to find this place so quickly.
Then again, Fifth Uncle handled everything far more reliably than he did.
He stood awkwardly to one side, waiting to be reprimanded for acting on his own.
Shen Si looked at him with a taut expression, then at the medicine in his hand. Drawing a deep breath, he approached. “Where is she?”
Afraid Fifth Uncle would misunderstand, Shen Changling hurried to explain. “When I found Fifth Aunt, she had just fallen from a horse. The bandits hadn’t gotten their hands on her and hadn’t done anything to her. Don’t worry, Fifth Uncle. Nothing happened to her.”
He lowered his head guiltily. “Bringing her here was my own decision. I was so worried about her injuries that I forgot your instructions…”
Shen Si watched Shen Changling’s wandering eyes. The boy truly was incapable of lying. Like Ji Hanyi, his eyes revealed too much of his heart.
Shen Changling was clearly trying to protect Ji Hanyi. Shen Si could not name what he felt, but the stone suspended over his heart finally fell, and his rigid body nearly weakened with relief.
The boy’s intentions had been good. With such intentions, he would never reveal what had happened. That reassured Shen Si.
He raised a hand and brought it down slowly and solemnly upon Shen Changling’s shoulder. “Changling, thank you.”
“You have rendered great service.”
Shen Changling stared at his uncle’s bloodshot, exhausted eyes and found himself speechless.
Only belatedly did he shake his head. “It was what I should have done.”
“I will keep the matter secret. Very few people saw Fifth Aunt when I found her. Nearly all the bandits were killed. No one knows.”
“As for Wei Wu, my men are still pursuing him.”
Shen Si pressed his lips together and patted Shen Changling’s shoulder twice more.
His tall body was full of fatigue. He had no thought left for reproaching the boy. “Where is she?”
Shen Changling stepped aside. “Inside.”
He handed over the medicine. “The doctor prescribed this.”
Shen Si took it, gave Shen Changling’s reddened eyes one long look, and entered without a word.
A familiar scent met him. He immediately saw Ji Hanyi lying upon the bed.
His steps quickened. The sight of her misty eyes, disordered black hair, and bloodstained collar cut through his heart like a knife.
He crossed the room, sat before her, and bent to gather her tightly into his arms.
Shen Si sighed. His habitually straight back bowed, and his palm pressed hard against Ji Hanyi’s slender back, drawing her against his chest.
His chest carried the dust and disarray of relentless travel. His once-immaculate robes were creased beyond recognition.
He let Ji Hanyi rest against his shoulder. His low voice offered security. “Hanyi, it’s over.”
The scent was familiar, and Shen Si’s chest was as broad as ever. Ji Hanyi closed her eyes and buried her face against his shoulder.
She had thought she would cry, that she would throw herself into his arms and sob.
Instead, she was extraordinarily calm.
It felt as though she had crossed life and death in a single instant.
Her own hand had killed someone.
All she knew was that she remained alive.
Truly alive, held within a strong, dependable embrace.
Shen Si cupped her face in his broad hands, his fingertips gently tracing her cheeks. Through the haze, she looked at him.
His hot breath accompanied his deep voice. “Are you still afraid?”
A thin mist filled Ji Hanyi’s reddened eyes. She looked like a frightened fawn, terrified yet obediently holding back her tears. “I’m not afraid anymore.”
“Changling saved me. Marquis, please thank him properly for me.”
She truly was no longer afraid. After passing through an instant of life and death, she felt only gratitude to be here.
Shen Si looked into her eyes. Their vulnerable remnants of terror stirred pity even without tears or appeals.
He knew she was still afraid.
Yet beneath Ji Hanyi’s softness lay a quiet resilience that made one both cherish and love her.
His fingertips brushed her eyes. He wished she would hide against him and cry, blaming him for failing to protect her. Perhaps then his heart would hurt less.
Drawing a breath, he rested his forehead against hers. “Take your medicine. Then I’ll take you home.”
Weak and powerless, Ji Hanyi let him caress every part of her face and obediently agreed.
Shen Si sat behind her and let her lean against him while he fed her the medicine spoon by spoon.
Ji Hanyi’s exhaustion made even opening her eyes difficult. She rested against his shoulder with her eyes closed.
His gaze fell upon the conspicuous bloodstains at her white collar. From captured bandits, he had already learned everything that had occurred.
He would not force Ji Hanyi to recall it. His eyes merely turned cold in silence.
Looking up, he saw Shen Changling watching through the window.
Shen Si’s stern, indifferent gaze frightened the boy at once. Shen Changling gestured awkwardly and disappeared from the window.
Leaning against the outside wall, Shen Changling stared into space. He had only wanted to tell Fifth Uncle he was leaving, but this was clearly not the moment.
He remembered the way Fifth Uncle held Ji Hanyi, then walked silently to his horse and rode away.
Inside, Shen Si finished feeding Ji Hanyi and carefully wiped her lips. After patting her back, he lifted the quilt and prepared to carry her away.
They could not remain here, and another doctor needed to examine her thoroughly.
He covered her with the black cloak he had worn, then lifted her in his arms.
Ji Hanyi rested limply against him as he murmured, “We’re going home now.”
A spacious carriage waited outside the estate, while the guards remained at a distance.
Shen Si carried her aboard. The cushions were soft, but the moment Ji Hanyi lay down, she curled in upon herself.
Her disarray and frail posture made his heart ache.
He bent, drew her against him, and rested a hand gently upon her back. To help her sleep, he removed the hairpins from her hair. Black tresses spilled in waves behind her and covered half her small, disordered face.
The blood on her cheeks had dried. Shen Si brushed it with his fingers and watched her fall asleep, her closed eyes still trembling.
Ji Hanyi clutched his collar throughout the journey and kept her face buried against his chest.
Before they reached the Shen Residence, Shen Si sent Wen’an ahead to dismiss the servants. They entered through the eastern side gate.
As they passed a small garden, a figure vanished into hiding and peered out again after Shen Si had gone.
It was Concubine Liu of the First Branch. She had just returned from her father’s home and happened upon the scene while going back to her courtyard. From a distance, she saw Marquis Shen carrying someone. Though the person was wrapped completely in a black cloak, the secrecy seemed unusual.
Perhaps she had seen wrongly. She could not make anything out clearly. Yet Marquis Shen’s expression frightened her, and fearing she had witnessed something forbidden, she hid behind the artificial hill without making a sound.
Who was the person in his arms?
She was only an insignificant concubine and dared not pry into her masters’ affairs.
Knowing she should pretend she had seen nothing, she waited until the maids following behind had passed, then patted her chest and quietly turned away.
A stern-faced matron was standing directly behind her.
Concubine Liu jumped. She was young, timid, and already guilty after witnessing something she should not have. Recognizing a servant of First Madam, she gave a frightened cry.
Matron Zhang was Madam Bai’s capable attendant. Returning from the kitchens, she had noticed Concubine Liu lurking behind the rockwork and came to investigate.
Concubine Liu was a concubine Master had taken the previous year. She was a pretty, delicate sixteen-year-old. Her father, a shop manager, had gambled away money embezzled from the business and offered his daughter to Master when he could not repay it. Master accepted her immediately and had visited her several times during the year.
But she was timid and obedient. Master’s interest was lukewarm, and Madam Bai had never regarded her as a threat.
Matron Zhang held real authority in the household and did not take Concubine Liu seriously. Still, the girl’s terrified reaction suggested a secret. Folding her hands, the matron smiled without warmth. “Has Concubine been doing something shameful here?”