Chapter 259
Chapter 259
Concubine Luo came to apologize that morning. When Ji Hanyi went out to receive her, the concubine’s face was pale and exhaustion clung to her entire body.
She had once been somewhat flamboyant, but she was clever enough to know when she could afford to be so. Thus, even after years beneath the forceful Madam Bai, no one had ever caught her in a mistake. Instead, she had won the Master’s favor and cultivated the goodwill of many others.
But after this incident, she understood that the Master’s heart did not belong entirely to her.
Perhaps it had always been so. However much he doted on her, whenever the choice lay between her and Madam Bai, he had never defended her.
She had meant to pour out her grievances to him and accuse Madam Bai of setting her up. Now she understood everything. The Master always appeared gentle, yet he could be utterly heartless. She could not speak a single word against the First Madam in his presence.
She sat humbly before Ji Hanyi. When Ji Hanyi entered, graceful and delicately lovely, her picturesque features and pampered softness made her resemble a precious flower raised amid wealth. Concubine Luo immediately rose to welcome her.
Ji Hanyi treated Concubine Luo courteously and asked her to sit. She too wished to discuss the incident.
But no sooner had Ji Hanyi settled into the cushioned chair and summoned Qiuyun and Qiuyu to serve tea than Concubine Luo dropped to her knees and began to weep. “What happened last time was entirely my fault for speaking carelessly. I truly never imagined that Baihe would repeat it to others.”
“Please forgive me this once, Second Madam.”
Ji Hanyi asked Rongchun to help Concubine Luo to a seat. Then she studied the woman’s tear-streaked face. “Why did you bring up mountain bandits for no reason?”
Concubine Luo dabbed at her tears with a handkerchief and choked out, “I was foolish. I spoke recklessly and made a wild guess.”
Ji Hanyi watched her in silence, her voice cooling slightly. “You dare spread stories with no basis whatsoever. Never mind what you said about me-do you speak this way about other people and other matters as well?”
Concubine Luo froze at the chill in Ji Hanyi’s voice. Her tearful eyes lifted to Ji Hanyi’s face. It was so young that it ought to have appeared innocent of worldly affairs, yet now Concubine Luo felt as though the young woman had seen through everything.
She hurried to offer a dry, stammering explanation, but Ji Hanyi no longer wished to listen.
Ji Hanyi understood the truth of the matter and had no desire to say more. Once Concubine Luo finished apologizing, she dismissed her.
Leaning weakly on her maid as she left, Concubine Luo remained somewhat dazed. She had expected Ji Hanyi to make things difficult for her. Instead, Ji Hanyi had proved far more even-tempered than she imagined.
After leaving Ji Hanyi’s quarters, Concubine Luo thought herself far too timid. If she had shown the slightest hint that Madam Bai was involved, Ji Hanyi might have become suspicious and turned against Madam Bai. But the Master’s words the night before had pricked like needles. Concubine Luo belonged to the First Branch; when it prospered, she prospered with it. As a concubine, her honor and disgrace rose and fell with her master’s household. In the end, she swallowed her resentment again.
Near nightfall, Shen Si returned. He had only just stepped into the front courtyard when one of Shen Su’s servants arrived to invite him to the older man’s study.
Shen Si already had some idea of what Fourth Brother wished to discuss. After a brief pause, he went.
Upon entering the study, Shen Su invited him to sit and personally poured his tea. His voice carried quiet regret. “Ah Si, you have seldom visited my study since you were ten.”
Shen Su had taught Shen Si nearly half of what he knew in childhood. After the age of ten, Shen Si had grown increasingly aloof and preferred to be alone. He had visited Shen Su less and less often.
Shen Si nodded. “I have missed being here with Fourth Brother as well.”
Shen Su smiled and offered him the tea he had once favored. “About your Fourth Sister-in-law’s younger brother…”
Shen Si’s hand paused halfway to the cup. He set it back on the table and looked at Shen Su. “Fourth Brother, the court now expressly forbids the buying and selling of official posts. His Majesty the Emperor ordered this investigation into purchased offices.”
Madam Bai’s fourth younger brother had previously followed an elder brother to guard the frontier. He was genuinely useless, however, and eventually returned to the capital, where he purchased a sinecure in the Ministry of War and idled away his days. Nothing had gone wrong until the Ministry of Personnel suddenly issued an order yesterday afternoon removing him from his post. That morning, he had been arrested for purchasing office, flogged, and detained at the Censorate.
Shen Su had learned of the matter only that afternoon. Madam Bai had created such an uproar that she insisted he seek out Shen Si.
Shen Su froze at Shen Si’s words. He understood his younger brother’s meaning, but he could not withstand his wife’s distress.
He could only swallow his pride and sigh. “He has always been reasonably well behaved. Spare him this once. He is unlikely to cause any real trouble. He has already been flogged, and I fear his health will not endure much more.”
His voice lowered in entreaty. “Ah Si, whatever else may be said, we are still family. Your Fourth Sister-in-law is deeply worried.”
“She has always cared for you sincerely.”
Shen Si regarded Shen Su in silence for several moments, then said, “Fourth Brother, you know that in all my years at the Censorate, I have never judged a case unjustly.”
Shen Su nodded in silence before saying slowly, “I am not asking you to bend the law for private favor. I merely hoped you might show some consideration for family ties.”
Shen Si’s expression lay hidden in the shadows beyond the lamplight. “Had I not considered Fourth Sister-in-law, Bai Rongqing’s purchase of office could have implicated several others. Even her father would not have escaped. I merely summoned him to the main hall for questioning and a warning.”
“And when trouble arose in the residence, who showed any consideration for family ties? Why would Concubine Luo, a mere concubine, dare spread such outrageous rumors? Whether someone else was directing her from behind the scenes, I have my own conclusions.”
“My wife suffered most from this affair. She merely went to offer incense and pray for blessings, yet an entirely groundless calamity fell upon her. Nothing matters more to a woman than her reputation. Fourth Brother understands perfectly well who would do such a thing.”
“The affection between Fourth Brother and me runs deep. I cannot bear to investigate further, much less damage our bond. Since Madam Luo has confessed and received punishment, I will pursue the matter no further. I only ask Fourth Brother to remember our fraternal affection and keep a closer watch over the inner household in the future.”
“As for Bai Rongqing, he broke the law and is guilty. I will not indulge him. Fourth Brother has always remembered Father’s teachings better than I have.”
With that, Shen Si rose and bowed deeply to Shen Su.
Shen Si had indeed moved against Bai Rongqing deliberately. Purchased offices had always existed, most of them powerless sinecures that caused little harm.
But he needed to warn Madam Bai. The Bai family was hardly spotless; they too had vulnerabilities. He wanted Madam Bai to remember that and refrain from striking at anyone under his protection again.
He could let her off this time. There might not be another.
Shen Su stared blankly at Shen Si bowing before him, his hands trembling.
He understood what Shen Si meant. Shen Si had discovered something. Perhaps he already knew that Madam Bai was responsible, but out of regard for their brotherhood, he had not said so openly. That was why he had suddenly moved against Bai Rongqing.
Shen Su had also discerned some of the meaning hidden in Shen Si’s words.
At that moment, shame swept over him.
He hurriedly helped Shen Si upright with both hands and murmured, “I have always been sincere toward you, Fifth Younger Brother. I never wanted matters to come to this.”
“As for Rongqing, handle the matter as you see fit…”