Chapter 64
Chapter 64
Xie Yuheng’s voice trembled with grief.
This was the first time Old Madam Xie had ever seen him so devastated. His entire body was hunched over, as if all the strength had gone out of him.
Sorrow filled Old Madam Xie’s eyes as she lowered her head and looked at the tears glistening in his. She sighed. “Three years. It took you three years to realize how good Hanyi was to you. Is it too late now?”
“Li Mingrou is far too calculating, yet you insisted on protecting her at every turn. Now that things have come to this, how do you expect Grandmother to help you?”
“I gave Hanyi my word. If she still wishes to leave after my birthday, how can I stop her?”
Still kneeling, Xie Yuheng swayed slightly. The hairpin in his hand pierced his palm and drew blood, but he seemed unable to feel the pain. He simply let the blood drip onto his robe, drop by drop.
His eyes red, he remained on his knees and pleaded in a choked voice, “I beg you…”
Old Madam Xie stared at the blood in his palm, momentarily stunned, before letting out a long sigh.
Why did people only think to turn back once they had reached the very end? The road back was so long. Even if it could be traveled, it was bound to be difficult.
Ji Hanyi walked all the way outside and onto a secluded path. Everything around her was shrouded in darkness, with only Rongchun hurrying alongside her with a lantern.
She stopped beside a stone bridge and raised her face, letting the drifting snow fall upon it.
The icy flakes landed on her cheeks one by one. Only then did the nauseating tightness in her chest finally ease a little.
Old Madam’s words had reminded Ji Hanyi that no matter how well Old Madam treated her, she would always be an outsider. Even the sincerest affection would always hold a little something back.
Deep down, Old Madam still favored Xie Yuheng.
But Ji Hanyi was already grateful. She knew this was more than enough and that she had no right to complain. Even so, her heart truly ached.
Rongchun stood worriedly beside her and asked, “Young Madam, what’s wrong?”
Ji Hanyi gazed up at the pitch-black night sky and blinked in silence.
That night, she shut the study door tightly, bolted it, and even had Rongchun sleep beside her.
When Xie Yuheng returned to find the main room dark, he went around to the room off the rear corridor. Unable to push open the door, he called Ji Hanyi’s name.
But no matter how long he stood outside or how many words of remorse he spoke, the door never opened.
It was already midnight when Xie Yuheng finally left. He walked away in a daze, repeatedly looking back, his body on the verge of collapsing. He had never known she could be so heartless.
The next day, First Master Xie summoned Ji Hanyi again.
First Master Xie was very satisfied with his daughter-in-law. Seeing how restrained Ji Hanyi was in his presence, he said gently, “We’re family. There’s no need to be so formal. There’s no hurry when it comes to children. At worst, you can adopt a child from the clan in the future.”
He continued, “I’ve also heard what happened with Li Mingrou. Old Madam handled it well. The Xie Family has no place for anyone with wicked intentions. Once Old Madam’s birthday has passed, she will be sent away.”
Finally, First Master Xie cast a cold glance at Madam Lin beside him before turning back to Ji Hanyi and saying quietly, “I know about the rumors that were circulating in the residence. Since you married Yuheng, you have every right to use the Xie Family’s resources. Don’t be afraid. It is only right that you show filial devotion to your mother. If anyone dares speak against you again, come straight to me. I will uphold justice for you.”
Ji Hanyi hadn’t expected Eldest Master to know about the matter. Unlike before, she did not swallow her grievances for the sake of keeping the peace. She merely said, “I’ve already explained everything to Mother and Second Aunt. I will continue recording every expense in the future. It is better to keep the accounts clear.”
First Master Xie paused and looked at her anew before saying in a low voice, “If you suffer any grievances in the future, come to me or Old Madam. This will not happen again.”
Madam Lin, who was sitting nearby, stiffened slightly at his words.
Master had clearly said that to humiliate her on purpose.
But the First Master had spoken, and his expression was stern. Madam Lin did not dare say anything, though the look on her face froze.
After the First Master left, Ji Hanyi took her leave of Madam Lin. Once she returned, she wrote a letter to her maternal grandmother. Old Madam Xie’s birthday was on the fifth, and it would be inappropriate to mention leaving on the day itself, but she was determined to leave the next day. She asked her cousin to come pick her up then and take away everything she wished to bring with her.
The household had been celebrating the holiday over the past few days. The Xie Family was a prominent clan in the capital, and since First Master Xie had returned, he had many social engagements to attend. Xie Yuheng had to accompany his father, which made things easier for Ji Hanyi. At least she hardly had to see Xie Yuheng during the day.
At night, she did her best to return to the study before Xie Yuheng came back to the courtyard, avoiding him whenever possible. Her days were relatively peaceful.
On the afternoon of the third, Xie Yuheng returned from the front courtyard with his father. Madam Lin asked him to stay so they could discuss the guest list for Old Madam Xie’s birthday banquet on the fifth.
She asked whether he was close to any of his colleagues so she could send invitations to them as well.
Xie Yuheng replied, “Just follow the arrangements from previous years.”
Madam Lin nodded and kept him there to talk for a while longer. She asked how things had gone when he pleaded with Old Madam Xie.
Xie Yuheng paused before answering, “Grandmother relented. She said that since Mingrou sincerely wishes to offer her birthday greetings, she may leave her courtyard that day.”
Madam Lin nodded and sighed. “Mingrou truly was foolish this time. I can’t believe she did such a thing.”
She looked at Xie Yuheng. “Did Old Madam really say Mingrou could only be married to a licentiate? Is there truly no room for negotiation?”
“If she is married off somewhere so far away, it will likely be difficult for us to ever see her again.”
“Besides, she has always been in poor health. She has been frail since childhood. I cannot help worrying about her.”
Xie Yuheng said quietly, “I bought some blood bird’s nest for Mingrou and sent her medicine to strengthen her health. She suffered in the ancestral hall, and her body truly couldn’t bear it. Seeing her that way distressed me as well.”
“As for Old Madam, I don’t think there is any room left for negotiation.”
Madam Lin sighed. “Thankfully, you remembered to send her those tonics. I only hope she recovers soon. Otherwise, once Old Madam’s birthday has passed, she’ll have to travel so far away. How will her body endure it?”
Leaning back in his chair, Xie Yuheng said, “Don’t worry, Mother. She will receive bird’s nest and tonics every day without fail. I’ve also made arrangements with the old women guarding the entrance. They won’t make things too difficult for her.”
Seeing how concerned Xie Yuheng was about Li Mingrou — even defending her after she had tried to harm Ji Hanyi — Madam Lin could not help asking what was on her mind. “Can you truly bear to send Mingrou away? If you can’t, I can speak to your father again and have him plead with the Old Madam on Mingrou’s behalf.”
She sighed. “I watched you and Mingrou grow up together. No one knows better than I do how much you care about her. If you want–”
Before Madam Lin could finish, Xie Yuheng cut her off.
He looked at her, unusually solemn. “Mother, Mingrou and I can never be together.”
“All I want now is to spend the rest of my life with Hanyi.”
“I was the one who asked Grandmother to send Mingrou so far away. I know she did what she did this time because of me. I only hope nothing like this ever happens again.”
Madam Lin was left speechless. She had not expected Xie Yuheng to change his mind so suddenly.
From his tone earlier, it had sounded as though he still had not let go of Li Mingrou. He was clearly so concerned about her, so why was he refusing now that she had offered him a solution?
Unable to hold back, she tried persuading him again. “Why don’t you tell me the truth? If you truly like Mingrou, then once the Old Madam’s birthday celebration is over, I’ll take charge and make Mingrou your concubine. Once the deed is done, even if the Old Madam disapproves, she will have no choice but to accept it.”
“I know you’ve never liked Ji Hanyi very much. Even if Mingrou cannot become your wife, I believe she would be willing to become your concubine.”
“You only have to say the word, and I’ll arrange everything for you.”
“To be honest, I like Mingrou too. I would be happy to see the two of you together.”
Xie Yuheng froze.
He listened to his mother in a daze. So even in her eyes, he had never liked Ji Hanyi.
Did Hanyi think the same — that he did not like her at all?
Over the past few days, he had asked many people around him, and every one of them had said that he disliked Ji Hanyi.
The more he heard it, the more it felt as if his heart were bleeding. Just how had he treated her in the past?
A crushing weight seemed to press down on his heart, and his throat felt painfully tight. After a long while, Xie Yuheng finally said, “Now that Hanyi has married me, I will never take a concubine.”
Madam Lin stared at him. “If you’re concerned about that promise from years ago, there’s no need. The Ji Family is long gone. Even if Ji Hanyi makes a fuss, she has no one backing her. So what if you do take a concubine? What can she possibly do about it?”
“Would she dare leave the Xie Family? Would she dare defy you?”
Xie Yuheng’s fingers slowly clenched. Even his breathing tightened. He stared blankly at the floor, then drew a deep breath and said, “I do not like Mingrou. Mother, please don’t say such things again.”
Madam Lin was stunned for a long moment, unable to make sense of his words.
If he did not like Mingrou, why was he always thinking about her? Why did he remember to send her tonics and bird’s nest every day? That time Ji Hanyi returned through the snow after he abandoned her, she had been chilled to the bone, yet he had not seemed particularly worried about her.
Was it not obvious whom he liked?
Anyone asked to judge the matter would know whom Xie Yuheng truly cared for.
Madam Lin voiced her thoughts. “In the past, whenever Hanyi fell ill, I never saw you show any concern. Yet whenever anything happened to Mingrou, you worried about her every single time. That day, after you brought Mingrou back first, you were still so worried that you stayed in her room until nearly dawn. You barely slept all night. And you call that not liking her?”
“If you didn’t like her, would you have abandoned Hanyi because you were so worried about Mingrou?”
“If you didn’t like Mingrou, why are you still taking her side after she harmed Hanyi this time?”
Madam Lin continued urging him, “Things have already come this far, so why are you still being stubborn? If you don’t make up your mind now, it will be too late for regrets once Mingrou is truly sent away.”
“Besides, the two of you were childhood sweethearts. Even the Old Madam would understand.”
“Ji Hanyi cannot bear children. Since she cannot, let Mingrou bear them for you. You might not necessarily care for a child Hanyi gave you, but you would certainly love Mingrou’s children.”
“The more I think about it, the better it seems. If Hanyi cannot have children, so be it. Once you take Mingrou as a concubine, the two of you can have children, and then–”
Xie Yuheng kept his head lowered, his fingers trembling. Suddenly, he shouted, “Mother!”
Madam Lin jumped in fright. Looking at him, she asked, “What is it?”
Xie Yuheng clenched his hands tightly. Every word his mother had spoken felt like a knife carving into his flesh.
He pressed a hand to his forehead, his heart trembling uncontrollably.
That was right. Ji Hanyi had suffered so badly from the cold, yet it had never even occurred to him that she would be in pain.
He had sent Li Mingrou countless precious gifts, yet he had never given Hanyi a single one.
But despite how thoroughly he had neglected her, Ji Hanyi had never complained. She had simply remained quiet.
As if she had long since grown accustomed to enduring every terrible grievance he inflicted on her.
Xie Yuheng raised his head, his eyes threaded with red. “Mother, you needn’t mention Mingrou again. I have only ever looked after Mingrou. I have no other intentions toward her.”
“All I want now is to treat Hanyi well.”
Madam Lin stared at him, still unable to understand any of this.
Uncertain, she asked again, “Have you truly thought this through?”
Xie Yuheng gave a quiet hum of assent, his voice unwavering. “I have.”
Madam Lin fell silent for a while and did not bring it up again.
Though she regretted what had happened and felt guilty for failing to look after her younger sister’s daughter, matters had already reached this point. With her son suddenly taking such a firm stance, there was nothing she could do.
She looked at Xie Yuheng and asked about something else. “Over the past three years, have you been giving Ji Hanyi extra money?”
Xie Yuheng frowned slightly. “Why would you ask that, Mother?”
Madam Lin told him what Second Madam Xie had seen last time, as well as the matter of Ji Hanyi’s three ledgers.
She added, “I’ve been thinking about it these past two days. Her shop does turn a profit, but only a little over a hundred taels. How could she afford to be so generous and even cover the rest with her own money, without taking a single coin from the Xie Family? I simply don’t believe it.”
“The more I consider it, the more certain I am that you must have been giving her extra money.”
“Otherwise, where could she possibly have gotten any money of her own?”