Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Inside the room, Ji Hanyi sat before her dressing table. Seeing Rongchun’s hesitant expression again, she smiled faintly. “I know what you want to say.”

She looked at the sickly face reflected in the bronze mirror and slowly removed the ornaments from her hair. “Rongchun, you don’t need to say anything. I know what I’m doing.”

She was a granddaughter-in-law of the Xie Family, and Xie Yuheng was the family’s most accomplished eldest grandson. She knew countless eyes were watching her, waiting to find fault with her.

In the past, for the sake of harmony and peace within the household, she had never dared to make a mistake or vent her emotions. She yielded at every turn and did everything she could to maintain an amicable relationship with Xie Yuheng, afraid that she might otherwise become a burden to him.

But now, the thought of the long, oppressive years ahead, with the rest of her life laid out plainly before her, filled her with growing revulsion.

If she had to spend her whole life trapped in such suffocating, powerless, tedious shackles, then she thought she might as well bring it to an end.

Ji Hanyi knew Xie Yuheng would not stay here tonight. Similar incidents had happened often enough before. Whenever Xie Yuheng was angry with her, he would even have copies of Admonitions for Women and Rules for Women sent over for her to read.

Back then, she would always be hurt. She would even wonder if she truly had failed in some way. But now that she thought about it, no matter how well she conducted herself, she would never be good enough in his eyes.

After washing and grooming at an unhurried pace, she summoned the maids waiting in the outer room and asked them a few questions. From their answers, she learned that Xie Yuheng most likely would not return that night.

She wondered how long it would be before she had another chance to see him and discuss a divorce.

Resting her head on one hand, she gazed at the tightly closed lattice window. The wind howled against it, just as it had when calamity first struck the Ji Family. Back then, even the tightly shut windows had been unable to keep out the panic sweeping through the entire residence.

Ji Hanyi closed her eyes. She did not want to think about it anymore.

Sure enough, Xie Yuheng did not return that night. When she saw him the next morning, his expression was aloof, his entire manner distant. His cool, indifferent gaze was merciless no matter whom he looked at, as though he were trying to force Ji Hanyi to give in first.

Ji Hanyi merely pretended not to notice. She lowered her head and went about her own business.

There had always been a clear boundary between her and Xie Yuheng, keeping them completely separate. She was not permitted to cross it by even half a step.

Once Xie Yuheng had finished getting ready and was about to leave, he paused for a moment because of Ji Hanyi, something he ordinarily would never have done.

Ji Hanyi had also finished dressing. She wore pale, understated colors, with only a single jade hairpin in her hair. Beneath the lamplight, her brows resembled wisps of soft smoke, while her graceful figure seemed as ethereal as blue-green mist.

She had been born delicately beautiful and alluring, with cherry-red lips and snow-white skin, quite unlike her somewhat taciturn nature.

Xie Yuheng watched her in silence. She sat before the dressing table with a hand warmer clasped between her palms, her alluring eyes lowered as she quietly discussed with Rongchun which hairpin she should choose.

She was unusually quiet today, so quiet it was as if she were not beside him at all.

He had grown accustomed to her coming over every morning to speak with him at length, telling him about matters in the courtyard and offering solicitous reminders to take care of himself.

Xie Yuheng paused slightly.

It suddenly occurred to him that he had never truly spoken a single heartfelt word to her.

In truth, after escorting Mingrou back last night, he had returned. Standing outside the curtain, he had heard Ji Hanyi coughing inside, one painful bout after another. He had thought then that he had, after all, wronged her to some extent.

Third Uncle had happened to run into him yesterday and brought up the matter, telling him that what he had done was wrong and that he had let Hanyi down.

At first, Xie Yuheng had not thought he had done anything wrong. Mingrou had been frail and alone since childhood, and he had promised to take good care of her. Since Hanyi was his wife, she ought to help him care for Mingrou as well.
But Third Uncle had pointed out that Xie Yuheng had taken Mingrou away first. Wouldn’t his wife have been frightened?

As a man, abandoning his wedded wife to take another woman away first was already a breach of basic propriety.

Afterward, he had realized that leaving a woman alone for an entire snowy night had indeed been thoughtless of him.

He had assumed the carriage would soon bring Ji Hanyi back, so he had not returned for her himself.

He could let last night’s incident go, as long as she admitted her mistake.

Besides, Ji Hanyi was Mingrou’s sister-in-law and was older than her. Whatever had happened, both reason and sentiment dictated that Ji Hanyi should be more accommodating toward Mingrou.

In any case, he had already found Mingrou a suitable match. Once spring came, the two families could discuss the marriage.

Ji Hanyi was his wife and would remain so for the rest of her life. Why did she have to be so petty? Moreover, Father had ordered him to keep his promise and forbidden him from taking any concubines, and he had never intended to do so anyway.

Yet after waiting for a while, he saw that Ji Hanyi’s eyes remained lowered, as though she had no intention of even glancing his way. He had gone out of his way to wait for her for once, only to be disappointed. Turning away, he lifted the curtain and walked out.

The servants waiting outside helped Xie Yuheng put on his hood and fasten his cloak. Ji Hanyi followed him out, simply having Rongchun fasten her cloak before heading to her mother-in-law’s quarters to pay her respects.

Xie Yuheng could not help casting a cool glance in Ji Hanyi’s direction. He had never particularly liked her fussing over him in the past, but now that she had suddenly stopped, he still found himself frowning.

His expression remained unchanged, however, his aloof features as distant as ever. That brief glance was all he gave Ji Hanyi before walking away.

His graceful figure was like a solitary crane, forever leaving her with nothing but the sight of his retreating back.

Watching Xie Yuheng leave, Ji Hanyi called out, “Eldest Master.”

Xie Yuheng paused at the unfamiliar form of address.

She had never called him that before. She had always addressed him as “husband,” saying it made them sound closer.

Why had she suddenly changed how she addressed him?

Xie Yuheng stopped in the dim courtyard and looked back at Ji Hanyi.

She stood outside the brightly lit doorway. Though he could not make out her face clearly, he could still sense the delicate beauty framed by her pale blue cloak.

In truth, the first time he saw Ji Hanyi, even he had been struck by her beauty. She had still been young and unseasoned then, but her raven hair had been thick and lustrous, her eyes as bright as cold stars. She had seemed like a branch of flawless jade, with limpid glances and orchid grace.

But her character possessed none of her appearance’s pure elegance. She was petty and jealous, always targeting Mingrou at every turn.

He acknowledged her as his wife, but he disliked her temperament. Now, he was more disappointed than ever. Three years had passed, yet she had not changed at all.

Ji Hanyi spoke again. “Can you come back a little earlier tonight? There’s something I need to discuss with you in private.”

“It’s important, but it won’t take much of your time.”

Xie Yuheng’s brows drew together faintly, but he nodded.

After Xie Yuheng left, Ji Hanyi sighed. He had never taken anything she said to heart, so she had no idea whether he would return. If he did not, she could simply finish writing the Divorce Agreement and give it to him.

The weather had grown even colder over the past few days. Ji Hanyi stood beneath the covered walkway as the biting wind swept through, stirring the white fox fur at her collar. Silken strands brushed against her chilled chin.

The sky was still pitch-black, and the lanterns beneath the eaves swayed in the wind, making the shadows on the ground ripple and waver.

Ji Hanyi let out a misty breath. The New Year was fast approaching, so this was hardly a good time to speak to Xie Yuheng about divorce.

But she truly would not wait any longer.