Chapter 261

Chapter 261

Shen Si watched Ji Hanyi’s back, then reached out to lower the bed curtains.

The moment he lay down, he drew her into his arms. Without saying a word, his hand slipped naturally beneath the hem of her clothes.

He had set aside even his official work and waited in bed early, all for this moment.

As far as he was concerned, their newlywed days had only truly begun today, and he meant to enjoy at least three of them.

Blue bruises marked Ji Hanyi’s waist where Shen Si had gripped her, and they hurt faintly when touched. She had discovered that he sometimes lost control of his strength. His hands were powerful, and at times he used far too much force.

Besides, she had barely slept from the previous night through that morning. She was exhausted, and the marks on her body had not faded. She truly did not want more and raised a hand to push him away.

Shen Si paused, but almost at once he leaned over her again and kissed the most sensitive part of her neck.

Ji Hanyi was utterly unable to withstand him. She could not understand how a man who seemed so aloof and disinclined to acknowledge anyone by day could become so relentless at night.

In the end, her mind spun. Shen Si’s hands stripped away her clothing, lifted her body, turned her over, then drew her astride him. Ji Hanyi had no control at all. Everything rested in Shen Si’s hands.

Hot water was called for twice more that night. Ji Hanyi truly could bear no more and tried to sink into sleep to escape, but Shen Si’s kisses were forceful. He drew a sound from her despite herself and got what he wanted.

While they bathed, Shen Si looked down at Ji Hanyi reclining against his chest. Red marks covered her fair skin, and bluish bruises had appeared at her waist and along her thighs. He paused, unusually taken aback. He had not realized he had used such force. No wonder Ji Hanyi kept asking him to be gentler. Seeing how delicate her skin was, he carefully applied medicine after the bath before carrying her to bed.

The next morning, Ji Hanyi woke in a haze beneath his kiss. The sight of Shen Si’s handsome face enlarged before her startled her into pushing him away, afraid he intended to take her yet again.

Her rejection displeased Shen Si. Ji Hanyi was clearly the one tempting him; everything about her tempted him.

He caught her hand and pinned it beside her pillow. He did want her again. He felt as though he had returned to the hot-blooded vigor of youth, energy coursing through every limb.

His gaze lingered over the soft curves barely concealed beneath her clothes. Never in his austere past had he known such hunger, but since the night before, he had wanted nothing more than to take his fill of Ji Hanyi in bed.

Clearly, however, he could not do so now. Shen Si merely wanted to kiss her and linger a while, so he bent to kiss beneath her neck.

Ji Hanyi studied his face. It remained expressionless, still noble and austere. He said not a word as he did these things, leaving her unable to fathom what he felt. His teeth caught her skin with a faint sting, and she could not suppress a soft cry.

Ji Hanyi had also discovered that Shen Si’s nature tolerated no defiance. He was like this in every matter, as if he cared little what anyone else thought. The realization left a heaviness in her heart.

Shen Si did not linger long. He rose and told Ji Hanyi she need not dress him that day, then walked out.

Ji Hanyi looked down at her open clothes, which barely covered the marks on her body, then at Shen Si’s briskly retreating back. She could not understand how he could leave without hesitation after reducing her to this state, without remaining even a moment longer to offer tenderness.

Her gaze dropped to the red marks across her chest, and resentment rose in her heart. She gathered her lapels and sat up. The aching soreness made her want to lose her temper, but she still had to pay her respects to her mother-in-law. Forcing her anger down, she told Rongchun to summon the maids.

Ji Hanyi had just finished washing and dressing at the bedside and was preparing to have her hair arranged when Shen Si returned, fully dressed in his usual dignified, meticulous fashion.

Ji Hanyi glanced at him, then turned her head away.

Shen Si arched a brow at her reaction. He walked over and studied her pale-blue spring robe with its lilac-patterned round collar. Her face was fresh and lovely, her eyes rippling with emotion beneath brows slender as crescent moons. She appeared faintly displeased.

But Shen Si had returned only to see her once more. He could not delay that morning. Bending over, he lifted her chin. “I asked Nanny Fang to prepare ointment for you. Apply it later, and the marks on your body will fade quickly.”

Ji Hanyi said nothing. She wanted to ask who had left those marks in the first place.
Shen Si had no intention of listening to her. Once he finished speaking, he straightened and left.

On the way, he instructed Wen’an to ask the steward of Yucui Hall to send several pieces of jewelry for Ji Hanyi to choose from. He had understood her feelings, after all, and considered this a form of consolation.

Ji Hanyi finished preparing and went to pay her respects that morning. As she left, Madam Bai invited her to sit and talk in her quarters.

Ji Hanyi naturally could not refuse. Madam Bai was exceedingly warm, linking arms with her and chatting cheerfully as they walked to her courtyard. She said Ji Hanyi’s last introduction to the family had been hurried, so she wanted her to meet everyone again. Once they were familiar, they could talk together more often.

Madam Bai appeared warm, but inwardly she was miserable. Shen Si had detained her younger brother at the Censorate, and even the Master’s plea had failed to move him.

She knew what Shen Si meant, but he possessed the power to do as he pleased.

She and the Master had talked until late the night before. Whatever she thought in private, she had to treat Ji Hanyi with greater warmth in public. She also understood more clearly now that Shen Si was not easily deceived.

This was Ji Hanyi’s first visit to Madam Bai’s courtyard. Its furnishings were precisely as she had imagined: exquisite and lavish everywhere she looked. Every object was visibly costly, each one a rare treasure.

Madam Cui and Shen Suyi accompanied Ji Hanyi as well. Madam Bai spoke of how difficult it was to manage the residence, then offered a string of gracious remarks about how relieved she was to have Ji Hanyi’s help. Listening, Ji Hanyi studied Madam Bai’s face. Not the slightest contrary emotion showed there, as though every word came from the heart.

She had to admit that Madam Bai truly understood how to preserve decorum and appearances. It was exceedingly difficult to see her true face.

Ji Hanyi modestly demurred once or twice. Madam Bai then mentioned her paintings and asked her to teach Shen Suyi how to paint as well.

Shen Suyi had once looked down on Ji Hanyi a little. Whatever the reason for a divorce, an unmarried young lady would always regard a divorced woman with some contempt.

But Ji Hanyi had suddenly become her aunt by marriage. Shen Suyi had witnessed her talent and temperament at the flower-viewing banquet. Now she could not name what she felt. Although they were family, she still found it difficult to draw close.

Even so, she greeted Ji Hanyi with perfect propriety and obediently said she would seek her instruction in the future.

Ji Hanyi regarded Shen Suyi as a young woman blessed with beauty, family, and talent, though a trace of pride clung to her. They would constantly encounter one another from now on. Whatever misunderstandings had existed before, Shen Suyi was taking the initiative to show goodwill. Ji Hanyi smiled and told her she was welcome to visit whenever she wished.

Shen Suyi looked at her smile. Ji Hanyi was especially enchanting when she smiled, most of all because of her eyes. Moist and expressive, they seemed to regard everyone with intimate warmth, inspiring affection without effort.

Shen Suyi stared for a moment. Ji Hanyi was soft and lovely, good-natured, and highly talented. Perhaps it was understandable that Fifth Uncle liked her.

Several daughters born to concubines entered then and greeted Ji Hanyi one by one.

After meeting everyone again, Ji Hanyi reflected that First Master truly had many children. The residence now contained five Masters and five Young Ladies. Third Young Lady, Fourth Young Lady, and Fifth Young Lady were not yet married, while only Eldest Master and Second Master had taken wives.

Yet now that Ji Hanyi had met them, she found that every young lady before her was attractive, well behaved, and strict in her conduct. In her view, all had been raised quite well.

Their clothing was no poorer than that of Shen Suyi, the Third Young Lady, despite their birth to concubines. In fact, their clothes were almost identical in quality. Only their jewelry was perhaps less precious than Shen Suyi’s.

That was only natural. Madam Bai came from a better family than the concubines and possessed a generous dowry, so she had more private wealth to give Shen Suyi. The other women could rely only on their household allowances and naturally could not provide jewelry of equal quality.

Seen in this light, Madam Bai appeared more complicated to Ji Hanyi. She might be forceful, calculating, and skilled in manipulation, but First Master had many children and Madam Bai did not seem to have suppressed them. Nor did the young ladies appear to have suffered any deprivation in their clothing and ornaments.