Chapter 77
Chapter 77
Early the next morning, the first person to rise and come to Old Madam’s quarters was none other than Second Madam Gu, Madam Liu.
Madam Liu had gotten ready bright and early. When she saw Ji Hanyi helping Old Madam Gu out, she first paid her respects, then went over to inspect Ji Hanyi’s attire. Shaking her head, she said, “Why are you dressed so plainly? You’re going there to get divorced, so hold your head high and go happily.”
As she spoke, Madam Liu removed a gold hairpin from her own hair and replaced the rather plain white feather fan hairpin in Ji Hanyi’s hair with it.
She looked Ji Hanyi up and down again. Ji Hanyi wore a high-collared, side-fastening jacket of lilac silk, with gold frog closures at the collar and flowering branch and coin motifs embroidered across it. Beneath it was an ivory skirt with a pink border. The outfit was lovely, but with no jewelry around her neck and such subdued colors, she did not look imposing enough.
Madam Liu pushed Ji Hanyi toward the side room where she had slept the night before. “Hurry and make yourself up a little more. Put on some rouge and powder. You mustn’t look haggard.”
“We’re the ones asking for the divorce, not them.”
Ji Hanyi had originally intended to settle the matter as discreetly as possible, but with Madam Liu urging her on, she had no choice. She asked Rongchun to put a coral necklace on her and dabbed a touch of rouge on her lips.
When Gu Yan entered, he found Ji Hanyi seated sideways beside his grandmother, handing her a cup of tea while quietly discussing the visit to the Xie Family with Second Aunt.
A gold hairpin glittered in her jet-black hair. Her figure was graceful and dignified, her skin fair as snow. The jade pendants at her ears nearly brushed her shoulders, swaying delicately with every movement. The touch of crimson on her lips left Gu Yan’s mouth dry.
It was still dark outside, and the frigid wind continued to howl. The room was brightly lit, and the lamplight fell across Ji Hanyi’s pale clothing, making the fabric shimmer with a soft, radiant glow.
Gu Yan stood rooted to the spot, staring so intently that his eyes had nearly gone glassy. It took him a long while to come back to his senses.
Old Madam Gu glanced at Gu Yan and asked with a smile, “Is everything ready?”
Gu Yan jolted awake as if from a dream. Realizing that he had lost his composure in front of his grandmother, his cheeks heated. He hurriedly looked away and nodded.
“The carriage is ready as well. There’s a charcoal brazier inside.”
As he spoke, he stole a quick glance at Ji Hanyi before adding, “It’s already lit, so the carriage will be warm by the time we get in.”
Old Madam Gu smiled. “You’ve always been thorough. That’s good, since Girl Yi has been sensitive to the cold since she was little.”
Only then did Ji Hanyi realize Gu Yan had entered. She rose, walked over to him, and dipped into a curtsy. “I’ll have to trouble Cousin Yan today,” she said softly.
Gu Yan hastily shook his head. “Cousin Yi, I… I wanted to go too…”
“The Xie Family has treated Cousin Yi poorly. I also want Cousin Yi…”
When Ji Hanyi raised her eyes to look at him, he suddenly realized how wrong his words had sounded. His face turned scarlet, and he hurriedly corrected himself. “I didn’t mean that I wanted Cousin Yi to get divorced. I only meant that I wanted to help Cousin Yi.”
Ji Hanyi smiled at Gu Yan, wondering how the mischievous cousin who had climbed trees as a boy had somehow grown so much more reserved with age.
Still smiling, she said, “I’m not blaming you, Cousin. Thank you for helping me.”
That softly spoken thanks sent Gu Yan’s heart pounding wildly again, leaving him at a complete loss.
Fortunately, his grandmother suggested they go to the main hall for breakfast just then. Ji Hanyi walked past him to join her, and only then did he press a hand to his chest and slowly release a long breath.
He turned to watch Ji Hanyi’s retreating figure. He had barely slept the previous night. The thought of his cousin getting divorced still felt like a dream, so unreal that whenever he awoke in the middle of the night, he feared it would vanish like a mirage.
By the time they finished breakfast, dawn had broken. Before they left, Old Madam Gu carefully reminded Madam Liu and Gu Yan not to act impulsively once they arrived. Peace was always preferable. There was no need to insist on winning merely for the sake of pride. The best outcome would be to settle the divorce amicably.
After all, the Xie Family had connections in the capital. If they could avoid offending them, it was better to do so.
Having said that, Old Madam Gu took Madam Liu aside and gave her several more pointed reminders.
At first, she had wanted her eldest daughter-in-law to go. The woman was calm, shrewd, and thorough in her considerations, unlike her second daughter-in-law, who could be rather impulsive.
But Old Madam Gu understood what her eldest daughter-in-law was thinking and had no intention of forcing her.
Madam Liu nodded repeatedly in agreement.
Her desire to visit the Xie Family today was not entirely for Ji Hanyi’s sake. On her previous visit, she had swallowed no small amount of anger. She had gone there to plead for her son, only to be mocked instead.
The Xie Family had stood by and watched coldly, yet hadn’t her son still been released safe and sound in the end?
When the carriage arrived at the gates of the Xie Residence, the gate attendant saw Ji Hanyi alight and hurried forward to welcome her. In a low voice, he said, “Eldest Young Madam, you’re finally back. First Madam ordered us to wait at the front gate and said you were to see First Madam as soon as you returned.”
Ji Hanyi nodded. She had intended to go straight to Madam Lin in the first place.
After entering the Xie Residence, Ji Hanyi asked Gu Yan to wait in the outer courtyard while she went inside with Madam Liu and Old Madam.
Ji Hanyi then quietly instructed Rongchun to invite Old Madam Xie to Madam Lin’s quarters as well. Old Madam Xie was at least reasonable, and Ji Hanyi did not want matters to become too ugly.
When they arrived, Madam Lin’s expression shifted slightly at the sight of Ji Hanyi helping Old Madam Gu and Madam Liu inside. She immediately straightened in her seat and forced a lukewarm smile. “Old Madam Gu and Second Madam are here as well?”
Then she turned a cold gaze on Ji Hanyi. “What is the meaning of this?”
“After what happened to Yuheng last night, you didn’t even stay by his side to care for him. He merely took a concubine, yet you brought people from your maternal family to back you up?”
Xie Jin, who was seated beside Madam Lin, also looked toward Ji Hanyi.
Xie Jin had come early that morning after receiving a letter from her mother. First, she had come to see her younger brother. Second, she was here to make Ji Hanyi see reason and stop her from causing a scene over him taking a concubine.
Men from other families had already taken concubines by the time they reached her brother’s age. Ji Hanyi should know better than to be so ungrateful.
Now that she saw Ji Hanyi had brought so many people with her, a mocking smile appeared on Xie Jin’s face.
What did the Gu Family amount to these days?
Even bringing Old Madam Gu here would change nothing.
Contempt flashed in her eyes as she turned her head away.
Standing to the side, Madam Liu bristled at the expressions on Madam Lin’s and Xie Jin’s faces. They were looking at her just as they had the last time, plainly holding everyone from the Gu Family in contempt.
Still, she did not want to cause trouble. She stepped forward and spoke before Ji Hanyi could. “First Madam Xie, I believe you have misunderstood. That is indeed not why we came today.”
“Now that Eldest Master Xie has taken a concubine, it is a joyous occasion. We came today to help him fulfill his wish.”
Madam Lin glanced at Madam Liu but said nothing, waiting for her to continue.
Madam Liu took out the written pledge Ji Hanyi had given her. “When First Master Xie went to the Ji Family to propose this marriage, he personally wrote this pledge. It clearly states that once the match was settled, Eldest Master Xie would never be permitted to take a concubine. Unless his wife passed away, he could not go back on this promise.”
“Since the Xie Family has now broken that promise by taking in a concubine, our Hanyi is generous enough to grant him his wish.”
“But since the Xie Family broke its word, this marriage is no longer valid. They will divorce today, and from this day forward, the two families will have nothing more to do with each other.”
After hearing Madam Liu’s declaration, Madam Lin nearly thought she had misheard.
She stared hard at Ji Hanyi and exclaimed in disbelief, “Have you lost your mind? How dare you divorce Yuheng?”
Ji Hanyi remained calm as she quietly raised her eyes. “The bond between Eldest Master and me has run its course. Now that Eldest Master has taken the woman he loves as his concubine, I only wish for us to part on good terms.”
Old Madam Gu took Ji Hanyi by the hand and led her forward, then had a maidservant present the Divorce Agreement to Madam Lin. “We have no desire to pursue the Xie Family for breaking its word. As Girl Yi said, we came today only so they could part on good terms.”
“The Divorce Agreement has already been prepared. As long as the Xie Family agrees, they will be officially divorced.”
The moment Madam Lin saw the Divorce Agreement, she nearly fainted from rage. Gritting her teeth, she snapped, “What family’s daughter-in-law fails to bear a child after three whole years?”
“It is perfectly justifiable for my Yuheng to take a concubine. No matter who judges this matter, the Xie Family is in the right.”
“They may divorce, but it will be because the Xie Family no longer wants this daughter-in-law, not because you demanded it.”
Madam Liu stepped forward twice. “From what I can see, First Madam Xie has neither manners nor the ability to understand plain words.”
“Why don’t you take a proper look at what that pledge says? It states clearly that even if Hanyi cannot bear a child, Xie Yuheng is still forbidden from taking a concubine.”
“Why do you think my brother-in-law agreed to this marriage in the first place? Wasn’t it because your family shamelessly begged for it back then?”
Madam Lin was so enraged by Madam Liu’s words that she could only point at her, unable to speak for a long while.
Xie Jin patted her mother’s back while glaring coldly at Ji Hanyi. “Fine, then divorce him. I only hope certain people don’t regret it later and come back to the Xie Family threatening to kill themselves.”
She gave another cold snort. “Aren’t you merely using this little stunt to stop my brother from taking a concubine? You had better give up on that idea now.”