Chapter 273
Chapter 273
Ji Hanyi listened, studied Shen Si’s expression, and met his gaze. In the end, she obediently agreed rather than lower herself to argue with him.
Thinking over the time they had spent together lately, she realized how overbearing he could be. Whatever he said was final. Even if she thought him wrong, he would not change his mind for her.
There was no point making herself miserable over this one flaw. In every other respect, Shen Si treated her very well and cared for her in every way. No one could be perfect.
Once she thought of it that way, she felt much better. Still sitting on his lap, she relaxed visibly, her body softening against him, though she did not answer what he had said.
Shen Si sensed the change in her mood, and only then did he feel somewhat appeased. At least she had taken his words to heart. After all, it was only right for a wife to remember her husband and let her gaze linger on him more often.
When Ji Hanyi softened, so did his expression. He stroked her back with one palm and asked, “Where would you like to eat?”
Ji Hanyi gave it little thought. “Anywhere is fine.”
Shen Si pressed her back until she nestled against his chest. They rarely had time alone, especially with him so busy these days. He savored this moment in the gently rocking carriage, with Ji Hanyi in his arms and no one else beside them.
He held the hand she had resting on her knee, kneading her palm with varying pressure. Gazing down at the face so close to his, he asked, “What did you talk about all afternoon?”
Ji Hanyi replied softly, “Second Young Lady Cui asked me to advise her on her painting. She paints very well, but most of her work is copied from masters and lacks a little spirit.”
As she carefully explained, she became sweet and docile again. Shen Si’s gaze settled entirely on her red lips. He had never kissed her in a carriage before, and his eyes slowly darkened.
He scarcely heard what Ji Hanyi said afterward. His hand slid from her back to squeeze her waist, and he said hoarsely, “You enjoy the cherry pork served at the palace. Treasure Jade Tower makes it well too. We will go taste theirs.”
Ji Hanyi remembered how the dish melted in her mouth and immediately wanted some, so she nodded.
One look told Shen Si what she was thinking. His lips curved. “The jade hairpins I commissioned for you may arrive tomorrow. Take a look when they come and see which designs you like. Tell the shopkeeper which ones you dislike as well, so he will know not to make them again.”
To Shen Si, buying anything for Ji Hanyi was both a way to delight her and compensation for the past two days. In truth, he enjoyed it himself.
Once a man possessed enough gold and silver, wealth lost its appeal. But now that he had Ji Hanyi, he wanted to heap all of it upon her, if only to see her happy.
Ji Hanyi had already decided there was no reason to refuse a gift, especially when anything Shen Si gave her was bound to be exquisite. She nodded again.
Shen Si looked down at her. She had done nothing but nod, showing no other reaction and no particular delight. He tipped up her chin and asked in a low voice, “You do not like them?”
Ji Hanyi shook her head. “I do. There are simply too many.”
Shen Si smiled.
When the carriage stopped, Shen Si took Ji Hanyi’s hand and helped her down. His tall frame nearly enveloped her slender figure as he guided her upstairs by the staircase reserved for honored guests, where no one saw them along the way.
When they reached the private room, the table was covered with dishes Ji Hanyi loved. Shen Si sat across from her and quietly watched her eat.
The light was soft and hazy. Incense burned in a corner, its smoke curling into the air behind her.
Ji Hanyi had dressed with particular care today. She rarely wore powder, but it made her face look even fairer, and the jade hairpin in her hair suited her beautifully. Her pink spring dress traced her graceful curves, its elaborate pattern of myriad flowers making her look more precious than an imperial princess.
Shen Si watched her for a long while before slowly picking up his chopsticks.
Elsewhere, Xie Jin had waited outside the Marquis of Pingnan’s Residence, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Marchioness. After all, what principal wife could tolerate an outside concubine being treated with all the dignity of a wife?
She waited for ages, but even after the people from the Shen Residence boarded their carriage, she never saw the Marchioness. Disappointed, she hurried back to the Xie Family and told her mother what had happened.
Madam Lin had been plagued with headaches lately. Li Mingrou still refused to behave. She came to pay her respects and insisted that, after all that had happened, Madam Lin should help persuade Xie Yuheng to remain with her.
Now Madam Lin felt only disgust whenever she saw Li Mingrou. The thought that Li Mingrou had drugged her son for selfish reasons and deprived her of a grandchild for three years made her hatred burn even hotter.
Her son had been demoted. Old Madam no longer favored her, her husband wanted nothing to do with her, and Old Madam had taken away her authority over the household. Everyone in the residence spoke to her with barbed insinuations and said she had welcomed an ungrateful wretch into the family.
They also said she had driven away a perfectly good daughter-in-law, pushing the woman so far that she had gone to the authorities to seek a divorce. Those around her now looked upon her with knowing eyes and malicious delight. They said she had forced away a good daughter-in-law, thrown the household into turmoil, and exhausted the family’s good fortune.
Madam Lin had spent these days in a state of unease. For some inexplicable reason, people once close to her had stopped associating with her almost overnight. The Xie Family seemed shut out of elite and aristocratic society. Invitations they once would certainly have received had completely disappeared.
Madam Lin could not understand it. Old Madam had now handed full control of the household to the Second Branch and shut herself away to practice Buddhist devotions, refusing to see anyone.
When she heard Xie Jin speak of Ji Hanyi and learned how the woman had been surrounded by admirers and treated as an honored guest at the Marquis of Pingnan’s Residence, she could no longer remain seated.
Staring wide-eyed at Xie Jin, she murmured, “How could that be? How could it possibly be?”
“Why would they treat her that way? Are you certain you did not mistake someone else for her?”
Xie Jin hastily replied, “I deliberately went closer and heard Ji Hanyi’s voice. I know her voice very well. I could not possibly have been mistaken.”
Madam Lin seemed to go limp. She remembered seeing Marquis Shen lead Ji Hanyi by the hand outside the Gu Residence. She had never imagined Ji Hanyi would be fortunate enough to attach herself to a man like Marquis Shen. No wonder others fawned over her.
Watching her mother’s dazed expression, Xie Jin added, “I also saw people from the Shen Family with her today. I fear she has already become Marquis Shen’s concubine.”
“He must grant her considerable favor and dignity. Why else would anyone seek to ingratiate themselves with her?”
Madam Lin’s face went white. She would rather have seen Ji Hanyi return to beg at her feet than hear such news.
No wonder her recent inquiries to the Gu Family had gone unanswered. The Gu Family had found itself a powerful patron.
She had jerked upright in shock, but now slowly sank back again. As if reassuring Xie Jin-and herself-she said, “She is only a concubine. What could be so remarkable about that?”