Chapter 85
Chapter 85
Xie Yuheng waited for what felt like an eternity, yet Ji Hanyi never appeared. How could he possibly accept that?
He wanted to ask her what she had meant by the letter she’d sent that morning.
Did she truly intend to sever things between them so completely?
She had pushed him toward another woman and left while he was gravely injured, but he was willing to overlook all of it — as long as she came back.
Gu Yan regarded Xie Yuheng’s distraught appearance. His face was deathly pale, and he looked as though he could barely remain on his feet. Yet Gu Yan still wore a faint, unconcerned smile.
“Eldest Master Xie, there is no point in saying any more. Please leave.”
Seeing Gu Yan gesture for him to go, Xie Yuheng shoved aside the hand blocking him and glared coldly at him through gritted teeth. “What happens between Hanyi and me is none of your concern. You have no right to interfere.”
“Once Hanyi sees me, she will surely change her mind.”
Only then did the smile fade from Gu Yan’s eyes. He said flatly, “Eldest Master Xie, Cousin Yi does not wish to see you.”
Xie Yuheng swayed on his feet. He looked past Gu Yan at the plaque hanging above the gates of the Gu Residence.
In the past, he had disdained coming here. He had assumed that if he ever did, he would be met with the Gu Family’s ingratiating smiles and forced to endure their empty pleasantries — the very things he found most tiresome.
Never had he imagined that one day, he would stand outside the Gu Residence and be refused entry.
His hand clenched at his side. Taking a deep breath, Xie Yuheng looked at Gu Yan. “There has merely been a misunderstanding between Hanyi and me. I have no intention of divorcing her. Please go inside and inform Old Madam Gu that if Hanyi is willing to see me, the Gu Family may name any condition they wish.”
With that, Xie Yuheng waved for his attendants to bring forward the items they were carrying. He turned back to Gu Yan. “These are modest gifts for my mother-in-law and Old Madam Gu. Among them are two hundred-year-old ginseng roots. Please convey my request and give me one chance to see Hanyi.”
Gu Yan glanced at the items held by the two servants beside Xie Yuheng. Each box was exquisitely crafted, and anyone could tell at a glance that its contents were worth a fortune.
But for the past three years, Xie Yuheng had never once visited. He had never sent so much as a single gift to the woman he now called his mother-in-law. And now, after three years, what did he take the Gu Family for? Did he think he could toss them a few expensive gifts and they would immediately come running?
Gu Yan narrowed his eyes. Skilled as he was at hiding his emotions, none of the coldness within showed on his face. He spoke with the same good-natured manner as before. “Eldest Master Xie, it would be best for everyone if you parted on good terms. Please stop pestering my cousin.”
Xie Yuheng’s expression shifted at those words.
Part on good terms.
He had heard that phrase far too many times these past few days.
Everyone was telling him to let her go and part on good terms. Even his grandmother was no longer willing to help him.
Yet those were the words he least wanted to hear now.
Xie Yuheng cast a cold glance at Gu Yan, who stood in his way, and refused to waste another word on him.
Even now, he remained firmly convinced that as long as he could see Ji Hanyi and explain everything to her, she would understand.
He had once promised to take care of Mingrou, but he could assure Hanyi that even if he took Mingrou as a concubine, nothing would ever happen between them again. Mingrou had agreed to that as well.
Hanyi was only angry because he intended to take a concubine. As long as he did not touch Mingrou, her anger would subside.
She had always been that way. She never made a fuss, and even on the rare occasions when she did, a single explanation from him had always been enough to calm her.
This time would surely be no different.
She had been that way for three whole years. How could she possibly have changed in the span of a single month?
Xie Yuheng shoved Gu Yan aside and strode toward the gates.
Gu Yan frowned as he watched Xie Yuheng and stepped forward to stop him. “Eldest Master Xie, this is the Gu Residence.”
Xie Yuheng stared coldly at the arm blocking his path, his face full of disdain. “You dare stop me?”
Gu Yan caught the contempt in Xie Yuheng’s eyes, and his own gaze darkened. He cupped his hands once more. “If Eldest Master Xie insists on forcing his way inside, I will have no choice but to send for the Military Patrol Office and let them handle this matter.”
Xie Yuheng sneered. “Even if the Military Patrol Office comes, there is nothing unreasonable about a man wanting to see his own wife.”
Gu Yan pressed his lips together and gave Xie Yuheng a long look.
Then he said, “Eldest Master Xie, Cousin Yi has been married to you for three years, yet you never once came to visit my aunt. Last time, for the sake of your other cousin, you left her alone and terrified in the snow. Do you know how long she was ill with that cold?”
Mockery crept across Gu Yan’s face. “Of course you don’t. You were too busy keeping the cousin you brought home company, sending her all manner of nourishing soups and medicines, and fussing over her every need. How could you possibly have had any time to spare for your wife?”
“If there is even a shred of humanity left in you, then please let Cousin Yi go. My cousin is already willing to step aside so you can be with the woman you love. What is the point of coming here to make a scene outside the Gu Residence now?”
“Do you truly think the three years Cousin Yi has already wasted in the Xie Family household weren’t enough? Must you take her back and continue wasting her life?”
“Cousin Yi was good in every possible way. There was never a single way in which she was unworthy of you. It was the Xie Family who proposed the marriage, and we only accepted because of the Xie Family’s fine reputation. Consider it a good deed and let her go.”
With that, Gu Yan clasped his hands before him and bowed deeply to Xie Yuheng.
Xie Yuheng’s eyes reddened, and his heart trembled.
Those words — let her go — cut deeper than any knife, yet he could not find a single word to refute them.
Pressing a palm against his chest, Xie Yuheng stood in the bitter wind. Then he bent forward and clutched Gu Yan tightly by the shoulder. None of his usual upright composure remained as he stared at Gu Yan with bloodshot eyes. “Please, let me go inside and see her. Just once. One look is all I ask.”
Gu Yan saw the faint glimmer of tears in Xie Yuheng’s reddened eyes, but his expression remained indifferent. “If Eldest Master Xie continues making trouble here, Cousin Yi will only become even more disgusted with you.”
“Cousin Yi no longer has any expectations where Eldest Master Xie is concerned. If Eldest Master Xie wishes to enjoy the blessings of both a wife and a concubine, you may marry someone else in the future.”
As he spoke, Gu Yan signaled to the attendants behind him, telling them to notify the Xie Family and have someone come collect Xie Yuheng. Xie Yuheng truly did not look well, and Gu Yan was genuinely worried that something might happen to him outside the Gu Family’s front gate.
Gu Yan then reached up and pushed Xie Yuheng’s hand off his shoulder. Lowering his eyes, he said quietly, “I must return and report to Grandmother. Eldest Master Xie, it is cold outside. You should go home soon.”
Gu Yan gave Xie Yuheng one last look. “If Cousin Yi wanted to see you, why would she refuse after hearing you were here?”
With that, Gu Yan turned and walked away.
Gu Yan had nothing but contempt for Xie Yuheng’s current behavior. His cousin was wonderful in every way, with such a sweet and gentle disposition, yet she had been hurt so deeply in the Xie Family household. If Gu Yan had not feared that a confrontation with Xie Yuheng might cause Cousin Yi more unnecessary trouble, he would never have spoken to the man so civilly.
Xie Yuheng watched Gu Yan’s retreating figure with a lost expression. He took another two steps forward and murmured, “If she won’t see me, then I’ll wait here for her…”
The attendants following Xie Yuheng were stunned. Never before had they seen the Eldest Master care so much about the Young Madam. They were all personal attendants who remained by the Eldest Master’s side, yet even they could not understand what was happening. They hurriedly tried to persuade Xie Yuheng to return home first.