After lunch, Su Tanghuan was reclining on a chaise lounge near the window, basking in the sun while flipping through Lady Ji’s dietary records.
She planned to accompany Lady Ji to the mourning hall to keep vigil once Lady Ji awoke from her afternoon nap.
As a wife, she had to show proper respect for her deceased husband.
Yugui lifted the curtain and entered. “Eldest Young Mistress, Second Young Master requests your presence at Tingsong Ge.”
Su Tanghuan felt both annoyed and fearful.
That fellow was always causing trouble for her.
But now he was the head of Zhongyong Hou Fu, and barring any mishaps, he would also be the heir to the Houjue.
Not only did she have to obey him obediently, but she also had to please the master of the house.
Yuzhi and Yugui accompanied her to Tingsong Ge.
“Tingsong Ge is Second Young Master’s study. Usually, when visitors come to see him, they meet there. You don’t need to be nervous.”
“Hmm, do many people usually come to visit Second Young Master?”
“Second Young Master returns only two or three times a year, usually for Lady Ji’s birthday or during festivals to accompany her. Even if there are visiting cards, he turns them away. Second Young Master says that court matters should be discussed at court, so there aren’t many visitors.”
Wow, quite aloof.
Su Tanghuan remembered something: “Eldest Young Master said he returned this time for Mother’s fiftieth birthday. Do you know which day it is?”
Yuzhi looked somewhat dejected: “Lady Ji’s birthday is in ten days, but it probably won’t be celebrated now.”
Su Tanghuan’s guilt deepened further.
She had to find a way to obtain the medicinal ingredients to treat palpitations.
Tingsong Ge.
A servant bowed respectfully. “Eldest Young Mistress, Second Young Master requests that you enter alone.”
Su Tanghuan felt a bit apprehensive.
Yuzhi whispered, “Second Young Master may seem cold, but he’s actually quite kind. Moreover, he respects Eldest Young Master and will surely respect you too.”
But he didn’t believe her words, nor did he treat her as a sister-in-law.
“Hmm.”
Su Tanghuan thought for a moment, then turned and whispered instructions: “Tell Yugui to check on Lady Ji. If she has woken from her nap, say I’ll visit her after meeting with Second Young Master, and come tell me immediately.”
Yuzhi, being astute, understood her meaning.
“Alright, don’t worry. I’ll have Yugui go right away.”
Su Tanghuan felt reassured.
The study door was open, but a screen blocked the view inside.
She tiptoed around the screen and cautiously peeked inside.
In the dim light at the far end of the study, a figure stood tall like a pine tree in front of the desk, staring at her with cold eyes, making her shrink back in fear.
A cold voice came from inside: “A petty thief!”
Why did this person speak so harshly?
Anger flared up within her.
Straightening her posture, she took a few steps forward and curtsied to the detestable fellow.
“What does My Lord wish to see me about?”
Ji Yan approached her, looking down at her. “Do you want to live or die?”
Su Tanghuan felt uneasy.
She looked up, putting on a surprised expression, her almond-shaped eyes wide open.
“Mother cannot handle any shocks. Doesn’t My Lord know that? The House Physician said her pulse was much steadier this morning, all because of me. Does My Lord wish for Mother to be in danger again because I’m forced to leave? Does My Lord wish to see his own elder brother’s flesh and blood cast out?”
Ji Yan was both angered and amused by her shamelessness. “Were you really concerned about Mother when you inquired about her health and medicinal cuisine?”
So the House Physician had told him everything, which was why he suspected her motives.
She stubbornly insisted, “I asked about Mother’s health because I want to show filial piety to her.”
Ji Yan cut straight to the point without mincing words: “Will a liar truly show filial piety?”
Su Tanghuan stiffened her neck. “Would I use my own innocence to deceive someone?”
Ji Yan’s cold gaze fell upon her belly.
“Innocence? Do you even possess such a thing?”
Su Tanghuan instinctively placed a hand on her stomach. “The child is your elder brother’s!”
Upon hearing this, Ji Yan wished he could strangle her on the spot.
He snorted coldly. “It’s not impossible for you to stay at Ji Residence.”
Su Tanghuan dared not utter a word, waiting for him to continue.
Ji Yan picked up a piece of paper with writing on it from the desk and flung it before her, tapping his finger on it.
“Sign this, and you can stay.”
It was a one-year contract.
It stated that within the year, she would voluntarily relinquish her status as a commoner and become a registered servant of Ji Residence. If she behaved properly, the contract would automatically become void upon her departure from Ji Residence after one year. Otherwise, the contract would be immediately submitted to the local authorities.
The authorities could then arrest her, and she would forever bear the status of a servant.
Su Tanghuan could not believe it, her almond-shaped eyes widening in shock. “Servant status? Why should I sign a servant contract? I am a commoner, and I am carrying your elder brother’s child!”
Ji Yan clasped his hands behind his back and said coolly, “According to the ‘Great Jin Legal Code,’ those who falsely claim to be officials or impersonate official family members shall be sentenced to death or exiled two thousand li. By that standard, you are already a criminal servant.”
Su Tanghuan was stunned.
He really wasn’t afraid of Madam Ji falling ill!
She believed this scoundrel was truly capable of throwing her into prison.
At the moment, she hadn’t yet obtained her household registration document, so she couldn’t go anywhere.
Her fake pregnancy wouldn’t withstand scrutiny either.
If she were thrown into prison, she would either become a criminal servant or fall back into her aunt’s hands. In that case, she might as well hide in Ji Residence, even if it meant being controlled by him under a servant status!
But…
Su Tanghuan was unwilling and wanted to struggle a little longer.
Tears welled up in her almond-shaped eyes as she choked back a sob. “If the Shizi knew of this in the afterlife…”
Ji Yan’s eyes turned icy, and he suddenly reached out, gripping her neck and pinning her against the wall.
“Shut up! Do not slander my elder brother.”
His iron-like fingers choked her until she couldn’t breathe, her face flushing red with suffocation as the fear of death washed over her.
She stared in terror at the sharply chiseled face so close to hers.
There was murderous intent in his eyes!
Su Tanghuan was terrified.
Was he really going to kill her?
Ji Yan gritted his teeth. “Su Tanghuan, when I found my elder brother, he still had a breath left. He told me himself that someone had saved him half a year ago, but that person took his seal and abandoned him, leaving him to fend for himself.”
Su Tanghuan’s mind went blank with shock.
Ji Yan’s thin lips curled into a cold smile. “If you saved my elder brother, then you were also the one who abandoned him! You caused his death, and now you dare to slander him with a bastard child. Tell me, don’t you deserve to die?”
Su Tanghuan felt as if she were about to die.
His words also sent a cold sweat down her spine.
He had encountered Ji Yuan before he died? If only she had known earlier, she could have used that small act of saving his life to seek temporary shelter.
It seemed fate was determined to destroy her!
Suddenly, the pressure on her neck loosened, and fresh air rushed in.
Her body went limp, and she slid to the ground, gasping for breath, feeling a sense of relief as if she had been reborn.
Her mind began to work again.
Wait, did he just say “bastard child”?
That meant he believed the House Physician’s pulse diagnosis and acknowledged her pregnancy?
She felt she could hold on a little longer.
With an accusatory look, Su Tanghuan tentatively asked, “It’s true that I saved him. Otherwise, why would he give me something as important as his seal? So why don’t you believe the child is the Shizi’s?”
Ji Yan’s face darkened. “Because my elder brother suffered a severe injury five years ago, so…”
Gritting her teeth, she forced out three words: “He’s impotent.”
Su Tanghuan’s eyes widened, forgetting to breathe.
Huh?
He’s impotent?
Oh no!
How did she not find out about this?
If she had known earlier, she wouldn’t have bothered with that fake pregnancy belly.
Now this empty fake belly has become evidence of her deception!