Chapter 38
Chapter 38
Ji Hanyi said softly, her expression unchanged, “Rest assured, Mother. If we divorce, I will never stand in the way.”
Even after Ji Hanyi withdrew, Madam Lin had yet to recover from her shock.
She turned to the elderly maid beside her. “Do you think she’s gone mad?”
The maid froze for a moment before bending closer and whispering, “This old servant also thought the Young Madam’s words sounded rather strange.”
Madam Lin continued, “Just what is she making such a fuss about? Yuheng is already busy enough with his official duties, yet she still refuses to behave herself in the inner courtyard. I find her more disagreeable by the day.”
“Never mind. Since she was the one who suggested it, I’ll discuss it with Yuheng tonight. If she cannot bear children, we might as well let another woman do it.”
“I don’t care how much of a scene she makes afterward.”
The maid asked worriedly, “But what if the Master finds out?”
“Lunar New Year’s Eve is just over two weeks away, and the Old Madam’s birthday will follow soon after. The Master is certain to return.”
Madam Lin understood what the maid meant. The Master had always taken the promise made back then very seriously. If he learned about this, it would be difficult to explain.
Madam Lin considered it briefly before saying coolly, “She was the one who brought it up in the first place. What does it have to do with me? Even if the Master demands an explanation, she can explain it to him herself.”
She then gave a cold laugh. “If she truly agrees to a divorce, I might even think a little more highly of her.”
Ji Hanyi did not see Xie Yuheng over the next two days, but she received a letter from her maternal grandmother asking her to visit.
She returned to the Gu Family that afternoon.
A gatekeeper stood waiting at the entrance. When he saw Ji Hanyi, he greeted her with a smile. “Miss, the Old Madam said you should go straight to Ning’an Hall as soon as you arrive.”
Upon reaching Ning’an Hall, Ji Hanyi lifted the heavy curtain and headed toward the heated chamber. The matron leading the way looked at her and smiled. “You look much healthier this time, Miss.”
Ji Hanyi smiled and entered the chamber with small, measured steps.
First Madam and Third Young Lady were seated inside.
Old Madam Gu occupied the seat of honor on a broad daybed. The moment she saw Ji Hanyi enter, she hurriedly beckoned her over to sit beside her.
Ji Hanyi walked over to her maternal grandmother and sat down. Old Madam Gu immediately took her hand and asked in a low, concerned voice, “Have you been well lately?”
Ji Hanyi knew her maternal grandmother was worried about how she had been faring in the Xie Family. She nodded gently. “Everything has been fine.”
Old Madam Gu knew this was not the time to discuss that. She merely tightened her grip on Ji Hanyi’s hand and continued, “The day after tomorrow, Her Majesty the Empress will hold a Snow-Viewing Banquet at the Shen Residence. The Gu Family received an invitation this time, and it was sent at Her Majesty the Empress’s personal order.”
Old Madam Gu sighed. “The Gu Family has fallen into decline over the past few years. Those who once associated with us no longer do, and we rarely receive invitations to banquets anymore.”
“There is nothing much to say about that, but this time, the invitation was personally delivered by someone close to Her Majesty the Empress. That person even dropped a hint, saying the Third Young Lady of the Gu Family might be destined for great fortune.”
Old Madam Gu looked at Ji Hanyi. “I’ve thought it over carefully. Her Majesty the Empress has rarely held any gatherings in recent years. This is the first Snow-Viewing Banquet she has hosted in a long time, and it is even being held at the Shen Residence. There must be some particular purpose behind it.”
“I also made some inquiries and heard that Her Majesty the Empress has spent the past two years searching for a suitable young woman for her younger brother, the Marquis of Rong’en. Could Her Majesty the Empress have taken a liking to Wanyun?”
Wanyun was the Third Young Lady of the Gu Family. She had just turned fourteen this year and was approaching the age when marriage arrangements could be discussed. In fact, the family already had a prospective match in mind, though they had planned to wait until next year before discussing it further.
Gu Wanyun was exceptionally beautiful, with bright eyes, pearly teeth, and a captivating gaze.
As a child, Gu Wanyun had borne a slight resemblance to Ji Hanyi. Now that she was older, the resemblance had grown even stronger.
Ji Hanyi found the matter rather sudden. She turned toward Gu Wanyun and saw her sitting with her head slightly lowered, her cheeks already flushed crimson.
Madam Zhang, seated nearby, said, “No matter what, Her Majesty the Empress sent an invitation to the Gu Family, and that personal attendant went out of his way to mention our Wanyun. Whatever the case, we must take this seriously.”
Old Madam Gu nodded, then turned to Ji Hanyi. “Your aunt has a point. If Wanyun truly catches Her Majesty the Empress’s eye, the Gu Family will finally have made it through these hard times. Perhaps your eldest uncle might even be able to return from his remote posting.”
Ji Hanyi parted her lips. The whole matter felt rather sudden to her. Why would Her Majesty the Empress take an interest in Miss Gu? Unmarried young women spent most of their time in the inner residence, so when could Her Majesty the Empress possibly have noticed her?
Ji Hanyi had no way of knowing. Then again, perhaps family standing no longer mattered when a house as eminent as the Shen Family was choosing a wife.
As her grandmother had said, it was better to believe there might be something to it. Either way, this would be good for the Gu Family.
She nodded. “If it’s true, then it is indeed a good thing.”
Old Madam Gu continued, “I asked you to come back this time because I wanted to ask you a few things. You met Marquis Shen several times when you were young. Do you know what he likes?”
“For instance, how he likes women to dress, what colors he prefers, his favorite dishes, or any habits he has in his daily life. The more detail, the better.”
“It would be good for Wanyun to prepare herself. After all, she should cater to his tastes.”
Everyone in the room turned to look at Ji Hanyi.
Madam Zhang gazed at her, a rare trace of warmth entering her usually indifferent eyes. “Hanyi, if this truly works out, you can rest assured that I will be grateful to you.”
Ji Hanyi opened her mouth, then paused. If she knew anything that could benefit the Gu Family, of course she would be willing to share it.
Although she and Shen Si had shared a slight bond when they were young, a man like Shen Si was not someone she could easily understand.
They had barely even exchanged more than a few words.
She thought hard for a long moment, but she still could not recall any particular preferences Shen Si might have.
He had always been cold and distant, and she had never seen him show interest in any woman. There was not so much as a portrait of a beauty in his study. It held only landscape paintings and the antiques he collected.
She had once discreetly asked Shen Si’s attendants about his preferences, but even they did not know what Shen Si liked. Naturally, she knew even less.
All she knew was that Shen Si preferred peace and quiet, liked being alone, and did not seem to like being touched.
When she told them this, her aunt’s expression shifted. Frowning at Ji Hanyi, she asked, “Is that really all you know?”
Ji Hanyi glanced at her. “I have only met Marquis Shen a few times. We are not close.”
Old Madam Gu sighed. Seeing the displeasure on Madam Zhang’s face, she said, “It’s perfectly normal that Girl Yi wouldn’t know. Just have Wanyun prepare as she normally would. As long as she makes no mistakes, that will be enough.”
Madam Zhang pressed her lips tightly together, clearly dissatisfied with the answer.
But she could hardly say anything more in front of the Old Madam, so she rose and left with Gu Wanyun.
Old Madam Gu watched Madam Zhang depart, then turned to Ji Hanyi with a helpless look. “Your eldest aunt is simply blunt by nature. Don’t let it upset you, and don’t overthink it.”
Ji Hanyi gently shook her head. “My eldest aunt has had to manage such a large household all these years. Everyone in the residence, from top to bottom, depends on her, and she even has to take care of my mother. I only feel guilty that I cannot be of more help.”
Hearing this, Old Madam Gu looked up at Ji Hanyi’s face, a flicker of pain crossing her eyes. She said softly, “You have always been such a sensible, understanding child.”
Then she asked, “Last time you came back, you said you wanted to divorce Yuheng. Have you spoken to the Xie Family about it?”
Ji Hanyi murmured her assent, then told her grandmother everything that had happened between her and Xie Yuheng over the past few days, as well as everything she had said to Old Madam Xie.
After listening, Old Madam Gu nodded. She studied Ji Hanyi’s face and asked quietly, “This is no small matter. Have you truly made up your mind?”