Chapter 76
Chapter 76
By the time Ji Hanyi returned in the carriage, it was already eight in the evening.
It was rather late.
The dampness seeping through her collar felt uncomfortable against her skin. Ji Hanyi instinctively dabbed at it with the handkerchief, only for its unfamiliar, cool agarwood scent to make her suddenly realize that she had accidentally taken Shen Si’s handkerchief with her.
She stared blankly at it for a moment before hastily tucking it into her sleeve.
Rongchun, meanwhile, kept staring at the faint mark on Ji Hanyi’s lips. It looked as though the skin had broken, yet not quite. She could not help feeling that Young Madam’s lips looked redder than usual. She hesitated for a long while, but ultimately said nothing, thinking she might have been mistaken.
It was only when she noticed that Young Madam seemed to be missing an earring that she finally spoke up.
Ji Hanyi touched her ears and found that there really was only one earring left. She supposed the other must have fallen off somehow just now, and there was likely no hope of finding it again.
She did not pay it much mind, though it was a little regrettable.
When Ji Hanyi alighted from the carriage, she found Gu Yan waiting outside the main gate. The moment her carriage stopped, he hurried over.
Snow was still drifting thickly through the air. This would likely be the final snowfall of such magnitude that year.
A thin layer of white snow covered the shoulders of Gu Yan’s sapphire-blue robe. There was no telling how long he had been standing outside.
Ji Hanyi quickly gathered her skirts and stepped down from the carriage using the footstool. Upon seeing Gu Yan, she asked, “Cousin Yan, why are you waiting here?”
Gu Yan opened the umbrella in his hand and held it over Ji Hanyi’s head. In the dim, flickering light, he looked down at her and saw her red-rimmed eyes against her luminous, snow-white skin. He could not help taking a step closer. Gazing at her hesitantly, he said in a low voice, “Grandmother told me Cousin Yi intends to divorce Xie Yuheng.”
After speaking, Gu Yan watched Ji Hanyi’s face intently. His hands were clenched together behind his back, his palms already slick with sweat.
Ji Hanyi had sent her maternal grandmother a letter that day detailing everything that had happened at the Xie Family. It was no surprise that Gu Yan knew, and Ji Hanyi had never intended to hide it.
She raised her head to meet his gaze, murmured an acknowledgment, and nodded. “I intend to sever all ties with the Xie Family.”
Then she added softly, “Cousin Yan, I will probably need to stay at the Gu Residence for a few days.”
Gu Yan froze, his heart beginning to pound. He hurriedly said, “Cousin Yi can stay for as long as she likes.”
He continued, “Grandmother told me today to accompany you to the Xie Family tomorrow. I can also help bring back the belongings you left there.”
Ji Hanyi looked at Gu Yan apologetically. “I am sorry to trouble you, Cousin.”
Gu Yan stared into Ji Hanyi’s eyes, but when those beautiful, limpid eyes gazed back at him, he suddenly did not dare meet them. He hastily replied, “It is no trouble at all.”
“I had planned to collect you from the Xie Family today, but when I arrived, their gatekeeper said you had left that afternoon. So I came back and waited by the gate.”
With that, he darted another glance at Ji Hanyi and felt his cheeks begin to burn. He added quietly, “But I have not been waiting long.”
“Grandmother is still waiting for you. Come inside with me.”
Ji Hanyi was already somewhat exhausted, and her head felt a little dizzy. The outdoors was indeed no place for a conversation, so she nodded, drew her cloak closer around herself, and followed Gu Yan through the main gate.
Old Madam Gu’s courtyard was brightly lit. Everyone in the Gu Family was seated in the heated sitting room, clearly waiting for Ji Hanyi.
When they saw her enter, all eyes immediately turned toward her.
First Madam glanced at Ji Hanyi, her expression as lukewarm as ever. When she saw her son standing close beside Ji Hanyi, her brows furrowed slightly, and she fixed Gu Yan with a stern look.
Seeing his mother’s displeasure, Gu Yan paused before moving aside, though the corner of his gaze remained on Ji Hanyi.
Ji Hanyi walked forward a few steps and handed her cloak and hand warmer to Rongchun. She then properly paid her respects to her maternal grandmother, her eldest aunt, and her second aunt before greeting her cousin-in-law and younger cousin.
Of everyone in the room, her second aunt, Madam Liu, was the only one who showed any real warmth.
She was the first to speak. “It is just as well that Hanyi is divorcing and leaving the Xie Family. What is so remarkable about them anyway? They broke their original promise by taking a concubine, and of all people, they chose the woman who harmed Hanyi.”
“Who could tolerate such a thing? Hanyi is not some figure molded from clay. Why should she remain there and swallow such humiliation?”
Madam Zhang glanced at Madam Liu and gave a faint, cold laugh. “Humiliation? In a household of the Xie Family’s standing, even humiliation comes with a life of wealth and luxury.”
“Besides, the divorce has not even been finalized, yet she has already come back. What is the meaning of this?”
“Hanyi may not bear the Gu surname, but she has returned to the Gu Family. How many divorced young women are there in the capital? Is no one concerned that this might affect the unmarried girls in our household?”
Ji Hanyi lowered her eyes. She was about to say that she would not stay with the Gu Family for long when her maternal grandmother called her over.
The moment Ji Hanyi reached her side, her maternal grandmother took her hand.
Old Madam Gu looked at Madam Zhang and declared, “What is wrong with being divorced? Has a divorced woman committed some heinous crime?”
“The Xie Family are the ones who broke their word. Hanyi did nothing wrong.”
“Back then, First Master Xie put his promise in writing. He swore that after Hanyi married into the family, they would never take a concubine under any circumstances. It was all written clearly in black and white, complete with his handprint.”
“And how long have they been married now? A mere three years, and the Xie Family has already broken their promise. Our Hanyi will not suffer this indignity! She has every reason to return. She is not making trouble without cause!”
Old Madam Gu’s voice was forceful, every word ringing clear. Madam Zhang’s expression shifted slightly, but she still did not dare say anything more in front of the old lady.
Madam Liu understood Ji Hanyi’s resentment toward the Xie Family better than anyone. When trouble had befallen her own son, helping him would have required no more than a few words from them, yet the Xie Family had stood by and done nothing. Not only had they refused to help, but they had also mocked and humiliated them. She still remembered the stifling injustice of it all.
Old Madam Gu spoke again. “The Gu Family may have declined, but that does not mean we have no one left.”
She looked at Madam Zhang. “Take Young Master Yan with you tomorrow. This old woman will go as well. No matter what, we will be there to stand behind Girl Yi.”
Madam Zhang’s expression stiffened. She tried to decline. “There are so many matters to handle throughout the household. How could this daughter-in-law possibly have the time?”
Old Madam Gu regarded Madam Zhang coldly. “Have all the household’s affairs somehow piled up tomorrow morning?”
“You seemed to like the bird’s nest Hanyi had sent to you for the New Year. Yet you can’t spare any time tomorrow?”
Madam Zhang had no desire to wade into these muddy waters. Besides, if Ji Hanyi returned, wouldn’t the household have to pay for her food and lodging all over again? Compared to that, what did the little bit of bird’s nest she had sent amount to?
Madam Liu spoke up from the side. “Since Eldest Sister-in-law is too busy, I’ll go. I can take the opportunity to stand up for Hanyi.”
Madam Zhang glanced at Madam Liu. Seeing how eager she was to involve herself, Madam Zhang thought her a fool for insisting on offending the Xie Family despite all attempts to dissuade her. She merely said, “Younger Sister-in-law doesn’t manage the household, so you are indeed a more suitable choice.”
Old Madam Gu turned to Madam Liu, her expression finally easing somewhat. She nodded. “It will be just as well if you go.”
With the matter settled, the Old Madam asked Ji Hanyi to stay behind and talk.
Ji Hanyi sat beside the Old Madam, dressed in moon-white figured satin with lilacs embroidered across the bodice. Beneath the hazy light of the gauze lanterns, she looked all the more graceful and gentle.
She asked quietly, “Grandmother, have you told Mother about my situation?”
Old Madam Gu patted Ji Hanyi’s hand. “We’ll keep this from your mother for now. It won’t be too late to tell her after we’ve made a clean break with the Xie Family tomorrow.”
Ji Hanyi lowered her head and nodded obediently.
Old Madam Gu continued, “I’ve had a separate courtyard prepared for you. Wanyi lived there before she married. She married far away and hasn’t returned in years, so the place has been sitting empty anyway.”
Guilt appeared on Ji Hanyi’s face. “Father once purchased a residence in our hometown under Second Uncle’s name. I’ve already sent Second Uncle a letter, and he wrote back to say the residence has been prepared.”
Ji Hanyi paused. When she looked at Old Madam Gu, her eyes grew hot once more.
“Once my divorce has been settled, I’ll take Mother to Wei County, under Jinling, and we’ll live there permanently.”
“The climate there is pleasant. Perhaps Mother will recover more quickly there as well.”
Ji Hanyi’s father’s hometown was in Wei County. Since Ji Hanyi’s second uncle had been unwilling to move to the capital, her father had purchased two adjoining residences there under his younger brother’s name many years ago. He had planned to return after retiring from office so the two brothers could live as neighbors.
Fortunately, that residence had been preserved. At least she still had somewhere to retreat to.
Ji Hanyi lowered her eyes again and said softly, “I’ll only be staying here for a few days. Grandmother doesn’t need to prepare a separate courtyard for me. I can simply stay with Mother.”
Ji Hanyi had said nothing in the small hall earlier, but she had understood everything her eldest aunt said.
She had indeed brought trouble upon the Gu Family. Moreover, she was a divorced woman, while the Gu household still had unmarried young ladies awaiting marriage. Even with Grandmother here, Ji Hanyi would feel guilty if she and her mother remained in the residence for too long.
Old Madam Gu listened to her in silence. The lamplight was as faint as a bean, and Ji Hanyi sat before her in splendid brocade, gentle, composed, and beautiful. Yet the sight filled the old woman with sorrow.
Back when Ji Hanyi’s father was still alive, he had held a high-ranking position. He was also exceedingly handsome, admired by all, and had even received praise from the Empress Dowager.
The Ji Family had been at the height of its glory then.
Ji Jing had come from humble origins, but he possessed a wealth of learning. Once he had achieved success, countless scholars of humble birth gathered behind him and followed his lead. He had been riding high in those days, and Old Madam Gu’s two sons had done everything they could to ingratiate themselves with Ji Hanyi’s father.
Of course, Old Madam Gu knew perfectly well how capable her two sons were. They had only entered officialdom with Ji Jing’s help. Even Gu Yan and Gu Xun’s admission to the Imperial Academy had been arranged through Ji Jing.
The Imperial Academy was not a place just anyone could enter. Gu Yan and Gu Xun might have been sons of officials, but they were neither descendants of meritorious officials nor imperial relatives nor sons of native chieftains. How could gaining admission have been easy for them?
Back then, her two daughters-in-law had treated Ji Hanyi as if she were their own daughter. Whenever Ji Hanyi came to visit, they would bustle around her with extraordinary warmth and attentiveness.
But now Ji Jing had met with disaster, and Old Madam Gu’s daughter had returned to her maiden home. Her two sons had been demoted, and one of them had even died on the journey. The household’s finances grew tighter with each passing year, and her two daughters-in-law’s hearts had long since changed.
What could Old Madam Gu fail to understand? She understood everything.
People’s hearts changed easily, and all flocked to where profit lay. She could not judge her two daughters-in-law too harshly, even if their behavior left others heartsick.
The only member of the Gu Family with any prospects now was Gu Yan. After graduating from the Imperial Academy, he had remained there as an Erudite of the Five Classics. But how could that meager salary possibly support such a large household?
Her eldest son was still stranded in a miasma-ridden region. Since he had been demoted there from the capital and was poor at navigating social niceties, he suffered constant exclusion. He even had to rely on money sent from home to make ends meet.
What little ancestral property the Gu Family had possessed was almost entirely spent long ago on bribes and connections for her two sons.
Her two grandsons would need to marry in the future, while the young ladies would need dowries when they wed.
The Gu Family was now nothing but an empty shell. There was nothing left.
Old Madam Gu understood all of this, and Ji Hanyi did too. That was why Ji Hanyi always sent gifts back during festivals and holidays, even though her own life in the Xie Family was far from pleasant.
She understood everything and had always been so considerate.
Yet it was precisely this thoughtfulness that made Old Madam Gu’s heart ache beyond endurance.
As the Old Madam, she wanted to favor Ji Hanyi, but her two daughters-in-law could not understand her feelings.
She reached out and drew Ji Hanyi into her arms. Gently patting Ji Hanyi’s back, she said in an aged voice, “Girl Yi, you don’t need to think about any of this, nor do you need to worry.”
“Your grandmother is partial to you. Just stay here and live in peace. You’re a young woman — what will you do if you go all the way there and something happens?”
“Don’t worry. Your grandmother has prepared the safest possible path for you. You needn’t worry about anything, and your life will be smooth and secure in the future.”
Ji Hanyi froze. She lifted her head and looked at Old Madam Gu with reddened eyes. “What safe path?”
Old Madam Gu lowered her gaze. Smiling kindly, she gently stroked Ji Hanyi’s soft hair. “You’ll understand when the time comes.”
“At my age, there is nothing else I desire. All I want is for everyone to live safely and peacefully.”