Chapter 268
Chapter 268
Except for the faint tenderness in his voice when they were in bed, Shen Si was always stern and aloof in public. His words carried the hard authority of a man accustomed to deciding matters for everyone.
Ji Hanyi looked at the shadow falling across her, caught the sandalwood fragrance on Shen Si’s robes, and raised her eyes to him.
His expression had not changed. He looked as he always did. Ji Hanyi nodded obediently and murmured assent.
Shen Si studied her for several moments. Was she perhaps angry because he had ignored her refusals the night before? He had indeed failed to consider her feelings.
He smiled, glanced back at Cui Jinjun, then walked ahead.
Cui Jinjun watched Shen Si go and looked once more toward Cui Chaoyun before following him.
The women nearby had witnessed everything. Marquis Shen had actually approached Ji Hanyi of his own accord. He might still have worn his usual cold expression, but a husband of eminent birth and longstanding authority-a master of his household-had crossed to his wife before so many women. Such a sight was exceedingly rare.
Their envious gazes turned toward Ji Hanyi. None would openly mention that she had been married before, but all knew it. Ji Hanyi had married an exceptional husband the second time, and he cherished her. Who could fail to envy her?
Besides, everything about Ji Hanyi’s conduct that day had been impeccable. Her easy intimacy with the people of the Grand Princess’s residence made clear that she was not the grasping social climber they had imagined.
Madam Su held tightly to Qin Fuyu, who wished to follow Heir Cui. She came to Ji Hanyi and whispered, “I had better return to my mother-in-law early. Otherwise, this little ancestor of a sister-in-law may run away after someone.”
Qin Fuyu pouted, indignation still written across her face. She was clearly angry that Madam Su had restrained her from approaching Cui Jinjun.
Ji Hanyi looked at the thirteen-year-old girl, fresh and pretty, her bright eyes revealing every emotion. She never tried to conceal the affection shining there.
Smiling, Ji Hanyi gently pinched Qin Fuyu’s soft, plump cheek. “Heir Cui has matters to attend to. There will be many chances to see him in the future. Do not be angry.”
At Ji Hanyi’s consolation, Qin Fuyu immediately looked aggrieved. She nestled into Ji Hanyi’s arms and complained piteously, “But it was so difficult just to see him once…”
Who could hear that wounded voice without feeling tenderness?
Even Cui Chaoyun’s heart melted. She came over to soothe her. “Did you not wish to learn archery? Next time, I will ask Eldest Brother to teach you when he is free.”
Qin Fuyu’s face lit at once. She looked at Cui Chaoyun. “Truly?”
Cui Chaoyun smiled. “Truly.”
Qin Fuyu’s unhappiness vanished, and she nodded eagerly.
After they exchanged a few more words, Ji Hanyi left with Cui Chaoyun. They took another path toward Cui Chaoyun’s courtyard.
The courtyard was not remote. On the contrary, it was spacious and elegantly arranged, with bamboo groves and a small bridge. Like Cui Chaoyun herself, it resembled a lovely landscape painting.
As they walked, Cui Chaoyun linked arms with Ji Hanyi and smiled. “Marquis Shen has always been such an aloof man, cool toward everyone. But judging by how he treated Madam today, he must be exceptionally good to you.”
Cui Chaoyun’s words made it sound as though she and Shen Si had once been familiar. Ji Hanyi asked, “Were Second Young Lady Cui and my husband once close?”
Cui Chaoyun smiled. “I would not call us close. We merely knew each other.”
“Marquis Shen and my eldest brother are dear friends. My brother once studied at the Shen Residence’s family academy, and from time to time he brought his younger sisters along. That was how we became acquainted.”
“I first met Marquis Shen when I was seven and he was thirteen. He was an elegant yet aloof youth who paid little attention to anyone and always looked exceedingly stern. Apart from greeting him, we Cui sisters never exchanged a word with him.”
“Later, Marquis Shen often accompanied his father on visits to the Marquis of Pingnan’s Residence. Even so, I have spoken no more than a dozen sentences to him.”
Ji Hanyi listened and glanced at Cui Chaoyun’s smiling eyes. Her gentle voice was pleasant and easy to believe.
But if they had spoken only a dozen times, why had Shen Si agreed to marry Cui Chaoyun? Or had he already developed feelings for her during those earlier encounters?
Ji Hanyi let the thought pass. There was no point investigating now. She and Shen Si had not married for mutual love either, so there was nothing to quarrel over.
Shen Si was not truly made of cold stone. It would have been perfectly ordinary for him to like someone in his youth. Moreover, Cui Chaoyun’s beauty and temperament made her easy to admire.
Her calm, cool air did indeed resemble Shen Si’s.
Ji Hanyi asked no more and accompanied Cui Chaoyun into her chambers.
Cui Chaoyun truly was ill. A faint medicinal scent permeated the room, suggesting she had suffered a chill for two days.
Before Ji Hanyi could examine the furnishings, Cui Chaoyun drew her into the study.
One glance revealed that Cui Chaoyun read often.
The long ebony desk held the usual objects of a young lady’s room: a fine Duan inkstone, brushes and ink, and several fashionable poetry anthologies, all arranged neatly.
Most strikingly, there was no ornate display cabinet. One entire wall was covered in bookshelves filled with books and painting scrolls.
Before the long desk hung a landscape scroll by Yun Youzi titled *Treading to Song*.
Ji Hanyi stood before it. She knew how rare the painting was. Created a century earlier, it had been copied countless times. One glance told her this was the original.
Even copies sold for thousands of taels, yet the authentic scroll hung in Cui Chaoyun’s study.
Seeing Ji Hanyi’s attention fixed upon it, Cui Chaoyun joined her and looked up. “Does Madam Shen like this painting?”
“I do not collect paintings. I happened to see a version of this work in a shop and liked it enough to buy it. But Eldest Brother said that one was not worth collecting. He gave me this for my birthday instead and said it was the original.”
Cui Chaoyun smiled at Ji Hanyi. “If Madam Shen likes it, it is only a painting. I will give it to you.”