Chapter 99
Chapter 99
Madam Lin listened to the old maidservant’s report. When she heard that Ji Hanyi had left without taking a single thing with her or saying anything at all, she sat in stunned silence for a long moment. Then she slowly took a sip of tea and said coolly, “At least she knew what was good for her.”
The maidservant murmured her agreement, then asked, “What should we do with the clothes and jewelry the Eldest Young Madam used to wear?”
Madam Lin considered the question briefly before answering, “Every outfit made for her used the finest fabric, all so she could uphold Yuheng’s standing. Since she had the good sense to agree to an amicable divorce, those clothes can hardly be given to anyone else. Have them all gathered up and burned. The mere sight of them is irritating.”
She added, “As for the jewelry, those are all fine pieces. Put them away in my storeroom. If Heng’er has a daughter one day, we can bring them out for her to wear.”
The maidservant repeatedly assented, then hurried away to have all of Ji Hanyi’s belongings cleared out.
Gu Yan had been waiting outside. As soon as he saw Ji Hanyi emerge, he hurried over, took the things from her maid’s hands, and placed them in the carriage. When he noticed the faint redness around Ji Hanyi’s eyes, he quickly asked, “Did the Xie Family give you a hard time?”
Ji Hanyi shook her head. “It doesn’t matter anymore. I will never come back here again.”
Gu Yan paused. His heart clenched at the sight of Ji Hanyi struggling to suppress her emotions, and he could not help saying, “If the Xie Family was unreasonable enough to mistreat you, I will make everything they have done public. They pride themselves on being honorable and upright. Let everyone see what kind of people they truly are.”
Ji Hanyi hurriedly stopped him and said in a low voice, “Cousin, please don’t act rashly. I am all right.”
Ji Hanyi knew perfectly well that the Xie Family wielded considerable influence in the capital. They had served as court officials for generations, and neither First Master Xie nor Second Master Xie held a low-ranking post. Besides the many connections they had accumulated over the years, Old Madam Xie’s maiden family was also a prominent marquis household.
Given all that, it would be easy for the Xie Family to retaliate against the Gu Family if the matter escalated. Moreover, Gu Yan had only been serving at the Imperial Academy for a short while and did not hold a high rank. If he stepped forward on her behalf, he might only bring her further trouble, and that was the last thing she wanted.
All she was waiting for now was for her mother to come to terms with everything. Once the shop had been transferred, she would leave the capital. If all went smoothly, she might remain there for only a few more days. In all likelihood, she would never return to the capital again.
At a time like this, there was no reason for the Gu Family to offend the Xie Family.
Gu Yan was taken aback by her words. He stared at Ji Hanyi’s reddened eyes. Though she tried to conceal it, tears clearly glimmered within them, lending a damp sheen to her gentle features. His heart trembled at the sight.
The cousin he had considered perfect in every way since childhood had suffered such humiliation at the hands of the Xie Family.
He opened his mouth to say something, only to see Ji Hanyi take Rongchun’s arm and climb into the carriage. She turned back and said softly, “Cousin, let us talk after we return.”
“This is not the place for it.”
Gu Yan watched the pale blue curtain fall, hiding her pale-yellow silhouette from view, and clenched his hand once more.
As Ji Hanyi sat inside the carriage, her fingers were trembling faintly.
Her heart quivered, and the anger churning within her had yet to subside.
She lowered her head and propped her forehead against one hand. After staring at her trembling fingertips, she raised her handkerchief to cover her eyes.
She had still failed to remain as calm as still water. She had not truly let go of the past.
She did hate him.
She truly hated Xie Yuheng.
She hated him for loving Li Mingrou so deeply, yet being cowardly enough to drag her into the mess.
Rongchun looked at Ji Hanyi worriedly. Ever since entering the carriage, Ji Hanyi had sat with her forehead propped against her hand without saying a word. Unable to hold back, Rongchun said softly, “Once we return to Jinling, let us raise another one.”
Ji Hanyi paused, then gently shook her head.
She was no longer certain she would be able to protect another one.
Rather than suffer the heartbreak again someday, it would be better not to raise one at all.
After they returned, Old Madam Gu asked whether the visit to the Xie Family had gone smoothly. Ji Hanyi concealed little from her maternal grandmother. The Xie Family’s possessions belonged to the Xie Family, after all. Whether she took them with her made no real difference.
She had not married into the Xie Family for those things in the first place.
Old Madam Gu, however, was both heartbroken and furious. “The Xie Family has gone too far. Retribution will catch up with them sooner or later.”
Ji Hanyi rose and gently rubbed Old Madam Gu’s back, saying in a low voice, “The Xie Family’s affairs have nothing to do with us anymore. Grandmother, please do not damage your health over such matters.”
Old Madam Gu sighed. “I simply feel that you deserved so much better.”
“Your father was such a good man. Who could have imagined that he would misjudge them so badly back then?”
Ji Hanyi lowered her eyes, a trace of sorrow crossing her unadorned face. No one could know what the future held. When she had first seen Xie Yuheng, she too had counted herself fortunate, believing him to be such a good man.
That afternoon, at the Censorate, Wen’an hurried toward the Censor’s office with a letter in hand, beside himself with joy.
He was so delighted that he tripped on the steps outside the office and fell with a yelp. Even then, he immediately scrambled back to his feet and rushed to deliver the letter to the Marquis.
It was indeed the best news imaginable. Miss Ji had retrieved all her belongings from the Xie Family and left for good. From now on, she truly had nothing more to do with them.
Who knew how happy the Marquis would be when he heard the news?
The two attendants outside the Censor’s office saw Wen’an stumble and hurried over to help him up. Wen’an waved them off with a smile and merely urged them to hurry and pass on the message.
When Wen’an entered, he found the Marquis seated behind a desk piled high with official documents. He promptly delivered the letter to him.
Shen Si cast an indifferent glance at the smile Wen’an could not suppress, then lowered his gaze to the letter again.
After reading it, he placed the letter back on the desk and tapped his fingertips against the tabletop.
Since Ji Hanyi no longer needed to return to the Xie Family, it was time for the Xie Family to clean up their own mess.
He looked at Wen’an and gave a quiet order.
Wen’an’s eyes lit up, and he nodded hastily. “Rest assured, Marquis. I’ll make sure the right people handle it properly.”
Shen Si looked at Wen’an’s eager, delighted expression once more. The man had never been this enthusiastic about any of his previous orders.
He waved a hand, dismissing Wen’an for the time being.
Once Wen’an had left completely, Shen Si lowered his eyes to the letter on the desk again.
Leaning back in his chair, he thought of how he had not seen her for several days.
He truly missed her.
Shen Si returned home earlier than usual that evening and, for once, went to visit his mother of his own accord.
Old Madam Shen was reclining on a small heated platform, holding a colorful tassel tied to the end of a slender bamboo rod and using it to tease the long-haired tortoiseshell cat in her arms. Two maidservants knelt at her feet, massaging them, while several other maids and matrons stood nearby, laughing at the cat’s antics and offering a few flattering remarks to amuse Old Madam Shen.
Two of the Shen Residence’s young daughters-in-law were also keeping her company, chatting and laughing with her.
The room was bustling with merriment. A maid had barely lifted the curtain to announce Shen Si’s arrival when he strode straight inside.
The moment he entered, all the lively chatter in the room fell silent.
The two young madams were the daughters-in-law of the son the Former Chief Grand Secretary had adopted from his elder brother. Back then, Old Madam Shen had been nearly forty and still had not conceived, so the Former Chief Grand Secretary had adopted one of his elder brother’s sons.
The First Branch had many descendants, including four sons. The Former Chief Grand Secretary adopted the fourth-born, who thus became the Fourth Master of that generation. Fourth Master had already been seventeen when he was adopted. Two years later, Shen Si was born, ranking fifth among his generation in the clan.
Fourth Master had since risen to the rank of Right Assistant Director of the Office of Transmission, a fifth-rank official. He had also taken two concubines and had many children. He and his family often came over to keep Old Madam Shen company and fill her courtyard with life. Later, after the Dowager Madam passed away, the Shen family’s First Branch and Second Branch divided the household. The First Branch moved into the residence across the street, while the Former Chief Grand Secretary’s line remained in the ancestral residence. These days, Fourth Master’s wife, Madam Bai, assisted Old Madam Shen in managing the household.
Old Madam Shen was now sixty-five and no longer had the energy to oversee everything herself. Fortunately, Fourth Master was filial and honored her as if she were his birth mother. All his children and grandchildren were expected to attend upon Old Madam Shen. He even repeatedly reminded his own wife to be meticulous in her service and tolerate no mistakes. Every one of them served Old Madam Shen with wholehearted devotion.
Thus, although Shen Si had never married, the Shen Residence was rarely quiet and remained a fairly lively place.
Upon seeing Shen Si enter, the two young madams hurriedly rose and greeted him. “Fifth Uncle.”
They then moved to one side and stood there with perfect decorum.
Though they were only two or three years younger than Shen Si, they belonged to a younger generation in the family hierarchy. In his presence, they had to rise and greet him with due respect.
Old Madam Shen was also surprised to see Shen Si at this hour. With the help of an elderly maid, she sat up slightly and looked at him. “You don’t usually come to see me at this time.”
Old Madam Shen knew her son very well. He was indifferent to everything and distant even toward his own mother. He was not nearly as attentive as her adopted son, who came to pay his respects every morning and evening. If Shen Si visited her even once a day, Old Madam Shen would have burned incense in gratitude.
Yet today, the sun seemed to have risen in the west. He had actually come to see her of his own accord at this hour.
Shen Si swept aside his robe and sat on the chair a maid had brought over. Looking at the long-haired tortoiseshell cat perched on the bench, he said, “I had nothing else to do, so I came to sit with you for a while.”
Old Madam Shen stared at him blankly. What was this about? She did not believe him for a moment.
She glanced around the room. It had been warm and lively only moments ago, but Shen Si’s arrival had left everyone sitting bolt upright. Her two sweet-tongued granddaughters-in-law no longer dared to sit, and even the maids and matrons were too intimidated to speak.
Old Madam Shen simply dismissed them all.
Once the room had quieted, she looked at Shen Si. “All right. Out with it.”
Leaning back in his chair, Shen Si lowered his eyes and took a sip of tea. “I only came to visit Mother.”
Old Madam Shen believed none of that nonsense.
She suddenly paused, studied Shen Si again, and remembered something. “Did you come because of the invitation the Gu Family sent this morning?”
Shen Si glanced at his mother, his expression as impassive as ever. “What invitation did the Gu Family send?”