Chapter 31
Chapter 31
Xie Yuheng stood just outside the door.
Seeing that he had lingered there without moving, the old woman on duty asked softly, “Is the Eldest Master going to the study?”
“This old servant will have someone light the brazier there.”
Xie Yuheng said nothing. After a long pause, he asked, “Where is the Young Madam?”
It was rare for the Eldest Master to ask about the Young Madam of his own accord, so the old woman hurriedly replied, “The Young Madam is in one of the rooms along the rear corridor. She said she had some work to do.”
Xie Yuheng fell silent for a moment before asking, “Has her cold improved? Were the tonics I sent delivered?”
The old woman froze, then answered quietly, “The Young Madam was quite ill a few days ago, but she has improved lately.”
“The Young Madam only took the tonic once before saying there was no need to send any more.”
Xie Yuheng paused and frowned. “Didn’t you tell her it was from me?”
The old woman was momentarily at a loss for words. “I did tell the Young Madam, but the Young Madam said she had no need for it and told the kitchen not to prepare any more.”
A deep sense of helplessness washed over Xie Yuheng.
He waved the old woman away and, without allowing anyone to follow, headed toward the rear wing alone.
He had never once come to this part of the residence. Nor had he ever visited Ji Hanyi’s study.
The rear wing was dim, cold, and deserted, making the single lit room stand out all the more.
He could even make out her silhouette on the window paper. She sat by the window, brush in hand, apparently writing at the desk.
Xie Yuheng had never seen Ji Hanyi write before. Perhaps because of her rather alluring face, he had instinctively assumed that her learning must be mediocre.
He had even thought there was something faintly gaudy and coquettish about her, that she had no appreciation for elegance or refinement.
But now that he thought about it, Ji Hanyi’s father had been the Third-Ranked Palace Graduate who once took the capital by storm, a man of graceful bearing and peerless beauty. As the only daughter of the Ji Family, how could she possibly be a woman who possessed nothing but good looks?
As his thoughts reached this point, Xie Yuheng suddenly realized that he had never once tried to understand her. He had seen her excessively striking beauty and allowed his first impression to prejudice him against her.
And because she had made things difficult for Mingrou all those years ago, he had decided she was petty and narrow-minded.
Now he wondered whether the Ji Hanyi he thought he knew was merely a figure distorted by his own bias.
Xie Yuheng’s steps faltered, but he continued forward.
Yet when he stopped outside her door, he could not bring himself to raise his hand and knock.
He was avoiding facing Ji Hanyi.
Xie Yuheng knew full well that he did not want to divorce her by mutual consent.
If his father learned that he intended to divorce Ji Hanyi, he would surely reprimand him severely.
Xie Yuheng quickly found an excuse for himself. It was not that he could not bear to part with her, much less that he needed her so badly he would humble himself to keep her.
This marriage had been a promise the Xie Family made to the Ji Family all those years ago: he would take only one wife for his entire life. Though the betrothal had been arranged by their elders, he was not a man who broke faith.
Perhaps after a few days, she would stop bringing it up.
Having convinced himself, Xie Yuheng turned away, his retreating steps almost unsteady.
Several days passed, yet Xie Yuheng did not return even once. He either stayed overnight in the duty quarters at the government office or rested in the front courtyard. No one saw a trace of him morning or night.
With the end of the year fast approaching, Ji Hanyi had wanted to settle the divorce as soon as possible. She had not expected Xie Yuheng to make himself impossible to find.
For the past two days, she had begun paying her respects to Madam Lin. Today, after leaving Madam Lin’s quarters, she was summoned by Old Madam Xie.
If there was anyone in this household who had truly treated Ji Hanyi well, it was Old Madam Xie.
Old Madam Xie was gentle by nature, and her gaze always held tenderness and compassion whenever she looked at Ji Hanyi. She often lamented that a man like Ji Hanyi’s father had come to such an abrupt end.
Old Madam Xie had Ji Hanyi stay behind and brought her into the heated sitting room. Clasping Hanyi’s hand tightly, she looked her over, then ordered a matron at her side to fetch the blood-red bird’s nest tonic she had prepared. With a sigh, she said, “I was occupied with Buddhist devotions these past few days. I had no idea Heng’er had done such a thing.”
“He left you out in the snow. You must have suffered.”
Ji Hanyi hurriedly shook her head. “I didn’t suffer. The situation was urgent, and Eldest Master did nothing wrong.”
Old Madam Xie’s eyes filled with pity. “Even now, you’re still speaking up for him.”
“Don’t worry. When he returns tonight, I’ll summon him here and give him a proper scolding. I’ll make sure he apologizes to you.”
Ji Hanyi raised her head and met Old Madam Xie’s gaze. “There is no need for Eldest Master to apologize. I wasn’t upset.”
Old Madam Xie paused. After searching Ji Hanyi’s eyes for a long moment, she dismissed everyone else from the room and tightened her grip on Hanyi’s hand. “Hanyi, are you disappointed in Heng’er?”
Ji Hanyi pressed her lips together, but still shook her head. “I’m not disappointed.”
“He had his reasons for leaving me behind that night. I never thought it was his fault.”
Old Madam Xie’s face clouded with sorrow. “Heng’er has always been reserved, even as a child. He knows his own mind in most things, but he isn’t a man whose affections shift easily. He will treat you well.”
“When he comes back tonight, I’ll have a proper talk with him and tell him to change his ways.”
“Hanyi, the two of you still have a long life ahead of you. Whatever else may be said, Heng’er may have his faults, but he has never treated you harshly, has he?”
Ji Hanyi lowered her eyes in silence. After thinking for a long time, she looked back at Old Madam Xie and told her the truth. “Actually, I intend to divorce Eldest Master.”
“I know Eldest Master has no affection for me. I don’t blame him. I only want Eldest Master to live the life that makes him happy, while I live the life that makes me happy.”
“Old Madam, please allow us to part.”
Ji Hanyi did not mention Li Mingrou by name. For one thing, everyone in the Xie Family already knew about their relationship, so it could hardly be called a secret. For another, if she spoke of it openly, she would tear away the thin veil everyone had maintained. The entire household would be humiliated, and that was not what Ji Hanyi wanted.
From beginning to end, all she wanted was for them to part on good terms. Whatever had happened between them, they could at least preserve appearances.
Besides, Ji Hanyi had never believed that Li Mingrou was entirely to blame for her marriage with Xie Yuheng reaching this point. Even without Li Mingrou sowing discord between them, Ji Hanyi would still have come last in Xie Yuheng’s heart.
Old Madam Xie looked at Ji Hanyi with sorrow.
In truth, she had learned that the two intended to divorce that very morning.
The news had come from no one else. Her most beloved eldest grandson had told her himself.
She had summoned her eldest grandson that morning intending to reprimand him for leaving his wife alone that day and taking Li Mingrou away. It had been unfair to Ji Hanyi. To her surprise, however, Xie Yuheng told her that he did not want to go back because Ji Hanyi had asked him for a divorce.
Although Xie Yuheng’s expression had remained detached, he had always been proper and composed. Yet before her that morning, he had shown a trace of vulnerable dejection.
He was the grandson she had watched grow up. How could she not understand? Heng’er had no idea how to handle this, so he had chosen to run from it.
He still could not bear to let Ji Hanyi go.
Old Madam Xie could only sigh. In the past, she had often urged him to treat Hanyi well. Mingrou had grown up with him, and she was a good girl, but now that he was married, he could not keep two women in his heart.
Back then, convinced he had everything under control, he had denied it outright. Now matters had come to this and he had broken Hanyi’s heart. What else could she say?