Chapter 274
Chapter 274
Xie Jin’s lingering tension vanished when she heard her mother’s words.
That was true. No matter how much Marquis Shen favored Ji Hanyi, she was only a concubine, with a wife above her. If she behaved so brazenly now, could life in the residence possibly remain easy for her?
The thought made Xie Jin feel better. Clenching her handkerchief, she said resentfully, “When Marquis Shen tires of her one day, I will not let her off.”
Madam Lin studied Xie Jin’s expression. “How are matters with Lu Yuan?”
Xie Jin gritted her teeth. “My husband has not come home for days. The Censorate sends people to the Pacification Office every few days to inspect its files, and they seize upon the smallest mistake. My husband is already overwhelmed. He has tried several times to see Marquis Shen but cannot get an audience. Now he can only seek some other connection to make an introduction. Otherwise, when will this ever end?”
“He has been on tenterhooks these past few days. We do not know what the Censorate has uncovered, and he fears they will settle every account with him in the end.”
The hatred in her eyes deepened as she spoke. “Nothing like this ever happened before. Ji Hanyi, that vile woman, must be behind it.”
“Was Marquis Shen not also the one who judged the case that led to my brother’s demotion?”
Madam Lin closed her eyes and tightened her hand on the armrest. A long while passed before she said, “So she has gotten her way.”
Opening her eyes, she looked at Xie Jin. “When you have time, go personally to the Shen Residence and call upon Madam Shen. I refuse to believe Marchioness Shen would be indifferent to her husband doting upon another woman so openly.”
Xie Jin looked troubled. “I sent several invitations to the Shen Residence and received no reply. They said the Marchioness had entered the palace and only recently returned, but surely that is no reason not to answer. If I go in person, I fear they will turn me away at the gate.”
Madam Lin frowned. “If you are afraid of being turned away, will you simply sit here paralyzed by fear?”
“Ji Hanyi has gone too far. Are we supposed to wait helplessly for ruin?”
“If Marchioness Shen learns that Marquis Shen has taken revenge on the Xie Family for Ji Hanyi’s sake, what will she think? No woman can tolerate her husband favoring another woman this way.”
“Tell her exactly what happened. Once she reads your letter, she will see you.”
“In truth, Ji Hanyi is merely a concubine without family or powerful support. How difficult could it be to dispose of her?”
“I hear Marchioness Shen has won the favor of the Grand Princess and was even praised in the Empress’s palace. What could Ji Hanyi possibly amount to beside her?”
Her mother’s words finally reassured Xie Jin. She nodded. “Mother is right. We cannot simply sit and await disaster. Ji Hanyi has already harmed my brother. Must we now let her harm my husband too?”
The two women were deep in discussion when an urgent voice suddenly came from behind them. “Mother, what are you talking about?”
“Hanyi… Hanyi, she…”
At the sound of Xie Yuheng’s voice, Madam Lin slowly raised her tired eyes toward the doorway. “You heard correctly. Ji Hanyi has become Marquis Shen’s concubine, and now she intends to move against your brother-in-law.”
Xie Yuheng’s gaze went blank. He murmured, “I never imagined she would sink so low…”
“She was raised to be a respectable woman. Even without her family’s protection, even after our divorce, she should not have treated herself so cheaply…”
Madam Lin could not help scoffing. “Now you feel sorry for her?”
“Do you have any idea what she whispered into Marquis Shen’s ear? She has harmed you and the entire Xie Family, and now she means to target your brother-in-law as well.”
Xie Yuheng remained dazed in the doorway. In his heart, he knew perfectly well that his demotion had not been unjust. He had indeed failed in his oversight.
Though he had interacted with Shen Si only a few times, the Court of Judicial Review often dealt with the Censorate, and he had heard many things about the man. Shen Si was meticulous and impartial in all matters, and countless people had tried to curry favor with him by offering women. If a few words from a woman could truly persuade him to abuse his authority for personal revenge, the many people he had offended over the years would have impeached him long ago.
Looking at his mother and elder sister, Xie Yuheng suddenly understood why Ji Hanyi had preferred to become a concubine rather than remain with him. Everyone in this residence still believed every fault lay with her, just as he once had.
He suddenly had no desire to say another word to them. Turning, he walked away.
The night wind swept over him, chilling him to the bone.
His mother’s voice behind him faded from his awareness.
He stared into the bewildering darkness and remembered how peaceful and harmonious the residence had always been when Ji Hanyi was there. There had never been so much trouble.
Panic even stirred within him-the fear that those days would never return, that he had thrown them away with his own hands.
—
It was not particularly late when Ji Hanyi and Shen Si returned to the Shen Residence. Shen Si went first to his study in the front courtyard, while Ji Hanyi returned to their rooms.
Once there, she admired the painting again, then rolled it up and asked Rongchun to store it in her private storeroom.
She also placed her first finished meticulous-style painting into a long box on the desk, so Shen Si could take it into the palace for His Majesty the Emperor the next day.
After arranging everything and bathing, she went to bed first.
Shen Si always told her not to wait for him at night, and Ji Hanyi readily obeyed. She merely asked a maid to keep a nourishing pot of astragalus and squab soup warm for him.
She normally fell asleep quickly, but tonight she tossed and turned without knowing exactly what occupied her thoughts.
In truth, she felt a little heartsore.
Ji Hanyi covered her face and drew a deep breath, refusing to let herself dwell on it.
Shen Si returned early tonight. Ji Hanyi had only been lying down for a short while when he arrived. He changed his clothes and walked behind the screen, where he saw the bed curtains lowered and Ji Hanyi apparently asleep.
After looking at her, Shen Si turned and went to bathe first.
He did not remain in the bath chamber long. When he returned, the room was still silent. He gently lifted a corner of the curtain, and light slipped inside to fall upon Ji Hanyi’s back as she lay facing away from him.
Shen Si soon lay down beside her and pulled her into his arms. His hand immediately slipped beneath her clothes.
Ji Hanyi had truly grown afraid of his appetite. Since that first night, he had taken her three days in succession, and her waist was still sore. She genuinely could not bear more and caught his hand to stop him from touching her.
Shen Si paused. He had thought she was asleep, but decided it was better that she was awake so he would not disturb her. He began to turn her, intending to take her from behind.
Sensing his movement, Ji Hanyi hurriedly turned to face him and opened her eyes. “I do not want to tonight.”
Shen Si lowered his dark eyes. Hearing her languid voice in the dimness, he raised a brow. He had believed he had already coaxed her out of her displeasure.
Apparently, he had not.
After a moment’s thought, Shen Si asked, “Are you still unhappy?”
Ji Hanyi froze, not expecting the question. She was not unhappy. Even after learning today that Shen Si had once intended to marry Cui Chaoyun, she did not think herself upset. She merely felt a little heartsore.
She simply thought that after four nights in a row, even if Shen Si’s body could endure it, hers certainly could not.