Chapter 67

Chapter 67

Early the next morning, Rongchun entered carrying hot water. Ji Hanyi was still curled up in bed, her thick black hair covering her small face. The sight made Rongchun’s heart ache, and she said softly, “Young Madam, it’s time to get up.”

Ji Hanyi knew today was Old Madam’s birthday. She gave a languid hum, then poked her face out from under the covers and asked Rongchun, “Is Old Madam’s birthday gift ready?”

Rongchun hurriedly replied, “Don’t worry, Young Madam. I had it ready last night.”

Ji Hanyi nodded, then closed her eyes again as she pushed herself halfway upright. Her unadorned face was pale. “Take everything he sent over last night from the table and put it in the storehouse. Those things are very valuable, and there’s silver too. Keep them safe and don’t lose anything.”

Ji Hanyi had no intention of returning the things Xie Yuheng had sent last night. She no longer wanted any entanglement with him. All she wanted was to leave quietly and without fuss. In any case, she would not take those things with her when she left.

Rongchun nodded. When she saw Ji Hanyi’s slightly red and swollen eyes, her heart ached again. She held out a boiled egg and said, “Young Madam, roll this over your eyes.”

Ji Hanyi pressed the egg against her eyes. Now that a night had passed, she was no longer as heartbroken as she had been the night before. Instead, she felt more at peace, with no lingering indecision or attachments.

Knowing she could not afford to delay, Ji Hanyi got up early.

The residence was exceptionally lively today. Old Madam Xie came from a distinguished family, so although her birthday fell on the fifth day of the New Year, before the festivities had even ended, many guests still came to celebrate. Even those who could not attend sent gifts.

First Madam, Madam Lin, was the busiest of all. She brought Ji Hanyi to the rear courtyard to help receive the guests, so Ji Hanyi asked Rongchun to deliver to Old Madam the Buddhist pine she had tended for more than half a year.

For some unknown reason, the Buddhist pine in Old Madam’s room had withered the previous year, and every replacement afterward had failed to survive. Old Madam Xie had dwelled on it for a long time. For a while, she had been deeply melancholy, convinced that it was some kind of omen.

Ji Hanyi had taken the matter to heart. She bought a Buddhist pine and kept it in her study, carefully tending it for more than half a year. Once she was certain it was healthy and thriving, Old Madam Xie’s birthday happened to arrive.

Ji Hanyi had barely slept the night before, and she spent the entire morning at Madam Lin’s side, forcing herself to stay alert. During a brief break, however, she spotted someone she had not seen in a long time — Li Mingrou.

Li Mingrou was also looking at her, her gaze dark and subdued. Ji Hanyi paused, then turned to ask Madam Qin, the Fourth Young Madam of the Third Branch, who was seated beside her, what was going on.

Of everyone in the Xie Residence, Madam Qin was the only person Ji Hanyi was somewhat close to. They both enjoyed calligraphy and painting and always had something to talk about. Madam Qin was also the youngest and generally did not have as many schemes or hidden motives as the others.

Madam Qin looked surprised by Ji Hanyi’s question. “Sister, you truly didn’t know?”

Ji Hanyi paused, then shook her head.

Madam Qin explained, “It’s Old Madam’s birthday today. Eldest Master went to plead with Old Madam on her behalf, saying Li Mingrou remembered Old Madam’s kindness and wanted to celebrate Old Madam’s birthday with her.

“After what she did to you, Sister, Old Madam originally refused. But Eldest Master kept pleading for her and said she would be sent away tomorrow or the day after, so she was allowed out today.”

Ji Hanyi listened with a faint smile on her face, though inwardly she found the situation bitterly ironic.

What was so shameful about letting Li Mingrou out to celebrate Old Madam’s birthday? Everyone in the Xie Residence knew, yet Ji Hanyi alone had been kept in the dark, as if she would make a huge scene and ruin Old Madam’s birthday banquet the moment she found out.

She knew the reason. Xie Yuheng had deliberately instructed everyone to hide it from her, afraid she might do something to Li Mingrou again.

Ji Hanyi did not ask anything else. There was no point in pursuing the matter further.

Madam Qin, however, leaned closer and whispered in Ji Hanyi’s ear, “That Li Mingrou has the heart of a viper. She nearly brought disaster down on you this time, Sister. Why is Eldest Master still pleading for her?

“What do you think of Eldest Master doing this, Sister?”

Xie Yuheng had always been like this. It was far from the first time.

He had never cared what she thought. In his heart, she had never been someone whose feelings he needed to consider.

But that had long since ceased to matter. Dwelling on it now would only be making life difficult for herself.

Throughout their conversation, Ji Hanyi kept an eye on Li Mingrou’s every move. At one point, their gazes met, and Li Mingrou immediately looked away.

Ji Hanyi withdrew her gaze, leaned toward Nanny Lin, and quietly gave her a few instructions, telling her to keep a close eye on Li Mingrou.
Once bitten, twice shy. Ji Hanyi had no intention of letting herself be bitten a second time.

Now that Li Mingrou had finally been released, Ji Hanyi could not shake the feeling that she was planning something.

At Ji Hanyi’s warning, Nanny Lin quickly lowered her voice. “Rest assured, Young Madam. This old servant will keep a close watch on her. I will never let her harm Young Madam again.”

Ji Hanyi turned back and chatted with Madam Qin about other household matters. Just as she was about to rise, she saw Xie Jin approaching.

The moment Madam Qin spotted Xie Jin, she got up and went to speak with someone else. She had always done her best to avoid the haughty Eldest Young Lady of the Xie Residence.

Xie Jin was dressed with exceptional grandeur today, making her impossible to miss. She had always been fond of pomp and ceremony, and she genuinely possessed talent. She had even gathered a circle of admirers among the noble young ladies of the capital, so pride radiated from her every gesture.

That pride became especially pronounced whenever she saw Ji Hanyi.

Ji Hanyi had no desire to engage with Xie Jin and was about to leave when Xie Jin sat down beside her. Sitting ramrod straight, she slowly cast Ji Hanyi a sidelong glance.

“Gu Xun has been released. Did you know?”

It had been nearly a month since his release. Ji Hanyi could not fathom why Xie Jin was bringing it up now.

She pursed her lips slightly and accepted the cup of tea offered by a maid at her side.

Her expression remained composed as she lowered her head and took a sip, then nodded. “I know. My aunt wrote to tell me earlier.”

Xie Jin scrutinized Ji Hanyi’s face but could not detect the slightest hint that anything was amiss.

She herself had only learned from her husband a few days ago that Gu Xun had been released. When she asked how it had happened, her husband had said little, merely claiming that the matter was difficult to explain. That had only made her more curious.

That morning, her husband had asked her to come back and make inquiries. He wanted to know whether someone was backing the Gu Family, so they would have a better idea of where matters stood and how to handle anything involving the Gu Family in the future.

If the Gu Family truly had a powerful connection, they might even need to curry favor with them.

Xie Jin had scoffed inwardly at her husband’s words. What powerful connection could the Gu Family possibly have? If they had such connections, why would they have needed to come begging to the Xie Family?

Still, her husband had said that both the Commander and Lord Left Censor-in-Chief had singled out Gu Xun by name. Even she found that suspicious, which was why she had reluctantly come to question Ji Hanyi.

At Ji Hanyi’s answer, Xie Jin smiled faintly. “I only learned this morning that it was the Lord Commander of the Jinyiwei who told my husband to release him.”

She paused, studying Ji Hanyi’s composed face with a probing gaze tinged with disdain.

“Has the Gu Family found some other family to back them?”

“Or does someone the Gu Family knows happen to be close to the Lord Commander?”

Ji Hanyi paused briefly, then shook her head. “I rarely visit the Gu Family, so I wouldn’t know.”

The answer was vague and noncommittal. Xie Jin still had no idea what had truly happened, and the entire affair struck her as exceedingly strange.

What connections could the Gu Family possibly boast? If they were truly so well connected, would the First Master of the Gu Family still be stranded in such a remote region?

Looking at Ji Hanyi’s face, Xie Jin decided that her husband had simply overthought the matter.

Most likely, the Second Madam of the Gu Family had spent more silver and somehow managed to plead her case before the Commander of the Jinyiwei. By some twist of fate, he had agreed. That was probably all there was to it.

As for the Left Censor-in-Chief, he had likely heard about the matter from somewhere and mentioned it in passing.

With that thought, a trace of mockery returned to Xie Jin’s expression. She looked at Ji Hanyi and said, “It seems asking you was a waste of time. Clearly, you aren’t particularly close to the Gu Family. But now that your cousin has been released, why are you still quarreling with Yuheng?”

“The Xie Family did not bring you in as a bride so you could behave with such disregard for the rules.”

Cradling the hand warmer, Ji Hanyi glanced at Xie Jin. “Elder Sister, you should weigh your words more carefully in the future instead of making baseless accusations.”

“First, I never mentioned this matter to the Eldest Master, nor did I ever ask him to help me. Second, I have not caused any trouble, and I certainly would not do so over this matter.”

“This was settled a month ago. There is little point in Elder Sister bringing it up again now.”

Xie Jin froze. Ji Hanyi’s words were nothing like her usual quiet, docile manner. Every sentence she spoke today had an edge to it.

She was Xie Yuheng’s elder sister. Since when had Ji Hanyi dared speak to her this way?

Xie Jin narrowed her eyes at Ji Hanyi. Seated with her back to the railing, Ji Hanyi looked delicate and composed in a gown the pale hue of an autumn moon. Her jewelry was simple, yet her features were as lovely as a painting. With rosy lips and pearly teeth, she possessed a beguiling charm that was difficult to ignore.

Her slender hands, delicate neck, soft, dainty voice, and narrow waist never failed to stir envy in Xie Jin’s heart.
From the very first moment she had laid eyes on Ji Hanyi, envy had taken root in her heart.

How could any woman be born so flawless, as though Goddess Nüwa herself had meticulously sculpted every last detail? If she had possessed a face like that and a figure that even other women envied, she could have bewitched countless men and had scores of admirers at her feet.

Of course she had fantasized about it — possessing a face that could captivate the world and make every man flock to her. Unfortunately, it was Ji Hanyi who had been blessed with such beauty, not her.

Deep down, she had never wanted Ji Hanyi to live too well.

At the very least, Ji Hanyi could not be better off than her, even if she was her own younger brother’s wife.

Xie Jin’s expression darkened, and she gave a cold laugh. “You say there was no quarrel, and I’m simply supposed to believe you? I heard that you and Yuheng are even sleeping in separate rooms, yet you still claim nothing happened?”

“Your Gu Family’s troubles may have been settled, but now you’re dissatisfied because the Xie Family did nothing to help you. You bear a grudge over it, so you’ve come to pester my brother instead.”

“And when it came to Mingrou, you deliberately stirred up trouble and threw the entire household into chaos. Now you’re even showing me disrespect. Clearly, you have no sense of propriety in your daily conduct. Why else would Yuheng dislike you so much?”

Ji Hanyi was thoroughly annoyed.

Xie Jin had always loved prying into the affairs of her courtyard. She paid more attention than anyone to the slightest development between Ji Hanyi and Xie Yuheng.

Ji Hanyi had never cared to waste her breath arguing over such things. Xie Yuheng often said he preferred peace in the inner courtyard and disliked petty squabbles between women. He really ought to come over and listen for himself, so he could find out who in the Xie Residence truly enjoyed stirring up such quarrels.

Setting her teacup down on the stone table before her, Ji Hanyi lowered the arm resting on the armrest and straightened slightly. She looked at Xie Jin. “If you insist on jumping to conclusions and spouting nonsense without knowing the facts, then I’m afraid I can no longer keep you company, Sister.”

“The Eldest Master handles cases at the Court of Judicial Review, yet apparently he doesn’t understand that listening to only one side clouds one’s judgment, while hearing both sides brings clarity. As his elder sister, it seems you don’t understand that principle either.”

Xie Jin’s expression changed. Pointing at Ji Hanyi, she sputtered, “You…”

Ji Hanyi lowered her gaze and said nothing, simply letting Xie Jin point at her.

She had already made herself clear. If Xie Jin insisted on continuing, Ji Hanyi could hardly stop her mouth.

But today was Old Madam Xie’s birthday banquet, and guests surrounded them. Ji Hanyi glanced calmly at Xie Jin. For someone who cared so much about saving face, if Xie Jin truly caused a scene, Ji Hanyi would not be the one to regret it.

Besides, she would be leaving tomorrow. Why should she put up with Xie Jin any longer?

Just then, Madam Lin approached Ji Hanyi and saw Xie Jin pointing at her. If word spread that the family was at odds in front of so many people, it would be disastrous. Old Madam also cared deeply for Ji Hanyi, so Madam Lin quickly pushed Xie Jin’s hand down and murmured, “Whatever you have to say, save it for later.”

Xie Jin froze. Seeing her mother’s stern expression, she finally swallowed her anger.

She then told Madam Lin that Gu Xun had been released.

Madam Lin also looked at Ji Hanyi in astonishment. She had assumed Gu Xun had been convicted, never imagining he had been released.

Ji Hanyi had not said a word about it all these days, and Yuheng had never mentioned it to her either. For some inexplicable reason, a wave of intense discomfort suddenly rose in Madam Lin’s heart.

Madam Lin asked Ji Hanyi, “When did you find out?”

Ji Hanyi replied, “A month ago.”

Madam Lin drew in a breath. Just two days ago, she had still been wondering whether Ji Hanyi was making such a fuss because of Gu Xun. She had never imagined that Gu Xun had been released long ago.

She gave Ji Hanyi a complicated look, but she had no desire to say much at the moment. She merely told Xie Jin, “Since he was released, that fellow from the Gu Family was fortunate. There’s no need to bring it up again.”

“After all, the Xie Family had no hand in the matter.”

Still seething, Xie Jin stared coldly at Ji Hanyi. “Do you think my brother will like you just because you sent Mingrou away?”

“With a personality like yours, my brother could never like you.”

Ji Hanyi nodded calmly, entirely unperturbed. “That’s for the best.”

Xie Jin stared at Ji Hanyi with wide eyes, beginning to wonder if she had fallen under some evil spell.

Madam Lin’s expression also turned complicated. She said to Ji Hanyi, “Come with me to the main hall and keep Old Madam company.”

This time, Ji Hanyi rose and followed Madam Lin away.

Xie Jin stared after Ji Hanyi’s retreating figure, unable to come to her senses for a long while.