Chapter 78
Chapter 78
Ji Hanyi had no desire to speak with Madam Lin or Xie Jin. Neither of them had ever been reasonable, nor were they capable of discussing anything calmly.
Fortunately, Old Madam Xie arrived just then with the help of a servant. She took in the scene inside the room, then saw the haughty look on Madam Lin’s face and sighed softly.
The Gu Family might have fallen on hard times, but Madam Lin was making her disdain plain for all to see. Who could possibly feel comfortable being treated that way?
Even a matter that could have been settled through civil discussion might now lead to serious consequences.
Old Madam Xie found her daughter-in-law more and more unpresentable and unfit for any important responsibility. Her only real talents lay in managing the household and its finances.
Taking a deep breath, Old Madam Xie stepped forward courteously and helped Old Madam Gu into the east sitting room. In a warm voice, she said, “I have never had the pleasure of meeting Old Madam Gu before, but now that we have met, I feel as though we are old friends.”
“We do need to have a proper discussion about the two children. Let us sit inside and take our time. This is a family matter, so there is no need for formalities.”
After hearing what Madam Lin and Xie Jin had said, Old Madam Gu’s expression had already soured. She now fully understood how difficult Ji Hanyi’s life must have been after marrying into the Xie Family and having to serve such an unreasonable mother-in-law.
Still, she had come to arrange an amicable parting. Seeing how courteous Old Madam Xie was, she decided that at least one person in the Xie Family could be reasoned with, and her expression softened.
She sighed and replied just as politely, “Very well. We can sit down and discuss it at our leisure. We did not come here today to make a scene. We only want a resolution for our Girl Yi.”
Old Madam Xie nodded. “That is only right. There must be a resolution between the two children. Our Heng’er is the one who has wronged her.”
Hearing that, Old Madam Gu finally felt a little better.
Old Madam Gu and Old Madam Xie walked in front, while Ji Hanyi and Madam Liu followed behind them.
Just then, Xie Jin suddenly moved to Ji Hanyi’s side and looked at her mockingly. “You’ve made such an enormous scene and embarrassed everyone. Do you really think you’ll get what you want?”
“Mingrou is my younger brother’s concubine now. You can’t drive her away. If you keep this up, you’ll ruin every last bit of affection between you and your husband.”
Ji Hanyi lowered her eyes without sparing Xie Jin a glance. She merely nodded. “That is why I no longer intend to hold on to that bond between husband and wife.”
Xie Jin stiffened with rage.
In the east sitting room, Old Madam Xie and Old Madam Gu sat together by the window. Madam Lin sat nearby with a disgruntled expression, while Xie Jin pressed close to her mother.
Ji Hanyi and Madam Liu occupied the lower seats on the opposite side.
Only the voices of Old Madam Xie and Old Madam Gu could be heard in the room. For once, no one interrupted them.
Old Madam Xie spoke with great sincerity, but everything she said came back to the same point: she did not want Ji Hanyi and Xie Yuheng to divorce. Madam Lin tried to interject several times, but did not dare. All she could do was glare at Ji Hanyi.
As far as Madam Lin was concerned, they might as well divorce. Her son would not be the one who struggled afterward. Surely he could still find a highborn lady to marry.
Ji Hanyi had failed to produce a child in three years, so what was the point of keeping a daughter-in-law like her? Madam Lin had long wanted her cast out.
Old Madam Gu, on the other hand, had formed an excellent impression of Old Madam Xie. She was an amiable person by nature, so she replied in the same mild manner, “Neither child has committed any grave wrong that led to this divorce.”
“Our Girl Yi has been sensible since childhood. She may have been somewhat spoiled when she was young, but she knows right from wrong. She is neither petty nor narrow-minded.”
“But you must know something of whether their married life has truly been happy. During that heavy snowfall last time, Yuheng left Girl Yi alone in the snow, yet she never spoke a single word against him. If we must give a reason for matters reaching this point, then let us simply say they were not fated to last.”
Old Madam Xie sighed upon hearing this. How could she fail to understand that the Gu Family truly intended to go through with the divorce? Even so, she continued trying to persuade them.
“What happened last time was Heng’er’s fault, and I have already reprimanded him for it. I also know that Hanyi is a good child. As their elders, how could we bear to break apart a perfectly good marriage?”
After saying so much only for Old Madam Xie to continue persuading her, Old Madam Gu finally said, “There is no need to try to change our minds. Now that things have reached this point, there is no reason to dredge up past grievances. Let the divorce be settled today.”
“Our Young Master Yan is still waiting outside to take Hanyi’s belongings home.”
Seeing the determination on Old Madam Gu’s face, Old Madam Xie turned to Ji Hanyi. “Hanyi, do you truly still wish to divorce Heng’er?”
Ji Hanyi nodded solemnly. “Old Madam, I have thought it through. The Eldest Master and I are simply not suited to each other.”
They had already said everything there was to say. After spending nearly half the morning trying and failing to dissuade her, Old Madam Xie finally understood that this ill-fated marriage was destined to end.
What a pity. Her grandson had been unable even to stand that morning, yet he had still insisted on going to the Gu Family to bring Ji Hanyi back. He had failed to cherish her before, and now she was determined to leave. As his grandmother, how could Old Madam Xie force her to stay?
Even Old Madam Gu had come today, which made it clear that the Gu Family had already discussed the matter and reached a firm decision.
Moreover, the meaning behind Old Madam Gu’s earlier words had been obvious: the Xie Family had broken their agreement. The Gu Family was asking only for a divorce and no compensation whatsoever. They were already being more than reasonable.
Old Madam Xie had no intention of forcing the issue. Even if she made the two of them stay together, there was no guarantee they would live well, so she could only agree.
Ji Hanyi breathed a sigh of relief when Old Madam Xie gave her consent. Just as she was about to rise and pack her things, a jumble of footsteps came from beyond the curtain. A moment later, two attendants helped Xie Yuheng inside. He was so unsteady that he could barely walk.
The moment Madam Lin saw him, she hurriedly ordered someone to bring over a padded chair. She then berated his attendants for bringing Xie Yuheng here in his condition.
But no matter how Madam Lin tried to persuade him, Xie Yuheng remained rooted to the spot. His bloodshot eyes stayed fixed on Ji Hanyi, who sat turned slightly away from him.
She seemed to have dressed more strikingly than usual today. She had always been extraordinarily beautiful, and now she sat there with her eyes lowered, so still that even her earrings did not sway. Yet she did not spare him a single glance.
The woman whose gaze had once followed him everywhere would never look at him again.
A knife-like pain tore through his heart. He raised his voice. “I won’t agree to the divorce. It doesn’t matter who else has agreed.”
His voice rang through the room, drawing everyone’s attention.
Ji Hanyi also turned her head slightly and looked at him.
Xie Yuheng had changed into a blue robe. Despite his severe injuries, he still carried himself with the refined elegance and cool reserve of a cultured gentleman.
Ji Hanyi had once believed that, for all his aloofness, he was at least a man of good character — a true gentleman. Even if he treated her with such coldness for the rest of their lives, she had never thought herself wronged.
But now she finally saw him clearly. Even his character had become something she despised.
Seeing her act so heartlessly, Xie Yuheng pushed away the attendants supporting him and forced himself one step closer to her. His eyes reddened, and his voice trembled. “Must you be so heartless?”
“What is your heart made of?”
Ji Hanyi pursed her lips and lifted her gaze. “Then what is Eldest Master’s heart made of?”
“In Eldest Master’s eyes, none of your decisions ever need to take me into consideration. Yet I’m expected to accept them gladly and be pleased with the outcome. Is that it?”
Xie Yuheng’s voice grew urgent, full of resentment that she did not understand him. “I told you, Mingrou has no one to rely on. I’m all she has. She’s a woman — if she leaves the Xie Family, how is she supposed to survive?”
“Why do you always refuse to let her off?”
“Why must you always hold everything against her?”
Ji Hanyi closed her eyes. His words still stirred a faint bleakness in her otherwise tranquil heart. She replied evenly, “She poisoned me at the banquet and tried to ruin my reputation. She wanted me disgraced and abandoned by everyone.”
“Whatever I’ve done, I can answer to my own conscience for it. I’ve never held anything against her.”
“I raised the matter of divorce with Eldest Master before the poisoning ever happened. Eldest Master was the one who refused to believe me, yet you still blame me now. In your heart, must I obey your every word before you consider me understanding and sensible?”
Xie Yuheng staggered, but gritted his teeth and said, “Mingrou has already been punished. What more do you want?”
Ji Hanyi raised her eyes calmly. “What if I had been the one who poisoned someone? I would have been driven out of the Xie Family. Every one of you would have cursed and spat on me, and no one would have pleaded for mercy on my behalf.”
Xie Yuheng froze, his face turning deathly pale. He hurried to explain, “That wouldn’t happen…”
Ji Hanyi did not look at him. “Eldest Master, you know the truth as well as I do. You cannot fool yourself.”
“But I no longer care. The only thing I care about is finalizing our divorce today.”
Xie Yuheng’s eyes reddened sharply. “I won’t agree…”
Madam Lin hurried over to support him, her face full of distress. “Why would you still want to stay married to a woman like her? If she wants a divorce, then divorce her! It is the Xie Family casting her out. Without her, there are plenty of women better than she is.”
Old Madam Gu frowned at Madam Lin. “First Madam Xie, you ought to think before you speak. Do not spout nonsense here.”
Madam Lin looked up at Old Madam Gu and finally poured out everything she had been holding back. “I’ve wanted to cast her out for a long time. Now that she’s the one asking for a divorce, all the better. The Xie Family has no use for a woman who hasn’t borne a child in three years.”
“Besides, just look at the standing of the Xie Family and then at the standing of the Gu Family! The Ji Family is long gone. The fact that we were willing to marry her back then should have had you burning incense in gratitude. How do you still have the gall to bring up that old agreement?”
Old Madam Xie suddenly glared at Madam Lin, her face dark with fury. “Shut up!”
Startled by the rebuke, Madam Lin froze. When she saw the rage on Old Madam Xie’s face, her heart gave a nervous jolt, and she did not dare say another word.
Old Madam Gu had originally intended for everyone to part on good terms and preserve some dignity. But since Madam Lin dared to say such things, she saw no reason to spare them any face.
She gave a cold laugh and looked at Madam Lin. “Today, I’ve finally learned just how shameless First Madam Xie can be.”
“What? When you came begging, you said every pretty word under the sun, but now that the Ji Family has fallen, this is the face you show us?”
“I don’t mind putting it bluntly. If it hadn’t been for Hanyi’s father back then, who knows where you would be now? Yet here you are, throwing your weight around as though you were someone important.”