Early the next morning, Ji Hanyi did not head to the main house. Since her mother-in-law had told her to focus on recovering last time, she did not intend to go pay her respects.
Since she had already mentioned her intentions to Xie Yuheng, these next few days were the perfect time to pack her things.
When Xie Yuheng rose that morning and the maids came in to serve him, the room felt empty with just one person missing. A sense of irritation inevitably rose in his heart.
When did Ji Hanyi become so lacking in propriety? For the sake of a cousin, she had pushed things to this point with him. She was his wife; did she really expect him to bend the law for her to be satisfied?
If his rank rose higher in the future, would she be constantly taking favors outside to help her natal family? This was something Xie Yuheng could not tolerate. His wife should not be someone like that, as it would only invite trouble. If he let Ji Hanyi have her way this time, would she expect him to help her cover up a murder next?
The damp, cold air of the morning hit him as he stepped outside. Despite his thoughts, he could not help but glance toward the back gallery. Standing at a distance, he looked at that flicker of lamplight, but ultimately turned away, unwilling to be the first to yield.
Ji Hanyi had breakfast in the study. That morning, the servant brought bird’s nest porridge and pigeon soup. What was served for breakfast was usually arranged by the kitchen according to the courtyard’s schedule; if one wanted such delicacies, they had to send the ingredients to the kitchen themselves. Ji Hanyi had never done so.
The servant whispered at her side, “The Eldest Young Master ordered these. He said the Young Madam is ill and should nourish her body.”
Ji Hanyi watched silently. This belated concern failed to stir any emotion in her. Truthfully, there were no irreconcilable grievances between her and Xie Yuheng. Her expenses in the Xie Manor, as he had said, were never neglected.
But Xie Yuheng would never understand. His natural bias, the guarded and blaming eyes of her mother-in-law, and the detached, lukewarm distance of the rest of the Xie family—they were all taking their cues from him. The entire household knew he did not like her. He knew it best of all.
Though Ji Hanyi had been a submissive wife since her marriage, she still had her pride. She ate only a little of the breakfast before looking at the servant and saying softly, “Tell the kitchen they don’t need to make these anymore. Just serve what they used to.”
The servant was stunned. She truly didn’t understand. Previously, the Eldest Young Master had been cold to the Young Madam and never showed such care. Now that he was starting to show concern, wasn’t that a good thing?
No matter how others in the Xie Manor whispered about the Young Madam not being favored, the servants of Orchid Snow Residence liked her. They knew the Young Madam didn’t manage the household accounts and didn’t have a large dowry, yet every New Year or festival, she would use her own silver to give them rewards. Whenever a servant’s family faced difficulties, she would provide support from her own pocket. She was gentle and kind to the servants in the courtyard, fair with rewards and punishments, neither biased nor overly harsh.
If one were to ask which courtyard’s servants had the most peaceful and comfortable life, it was Orchid Snow Residence. The servants all hoped for the Eldest Young Master and Young Madam to get along well, wishing he could see her virtues. That young lady from the Li family seemed fragile and gentle, but she was always coming around to sow discord; the servants secretly felt the injustice on the Young Madam’s behalf.
Nanny Zhang couldn’t help but say, “This is the Eldest Young Master’s kind intention. What if he feels discouraged if he finds out?”
Ji Hanyi smiled, looking up into Nanny Zhang’s eyes with a gentle gaze. “It’s fine. You don’t need to worry.”
Nanny Zhang was dazed, truly not understanding what the Young Madam was thinking. As a servant, it wasn’t her place to say more, so she could only comply.
In the afternoon, Ji Hanyi returned to the main house and had Rong Chun pack her things to move to the study first. She didn’t have much, as she hadn’t brought many belongings with her originally. Most of the items in this room had been acquired after she married into the Xie family. Of the rouge and powders on the dressing table, the box of jewelry, and the clothes in the trunks, only a few pieces were truly hers.
Ji Hanyi told Rong Chun to only pack her personal items and leave the rest behind, to avoid any unpleasantness when she eventually left. To be honest, she didn’t blame Xie Yuheng. He simply didn’t like her, and there was no crime in that. If she hadn’t sought him out in the first place, perhaps he and Li Mingrou would have been a perfectly harmonious couple. Thus, she only wanted their parting to be dignified for both sides, without resentment.
The things she packed were indeed few—pitifully few. A small trunk wasn’t even full.
The maid waiting outside the curtain saw the small box Rong Chun was carrying out, and her expression flickered with uncertainty. A sense of unease filled her heart; she felt as though something major was about to happen in the courtyard.
The morning light filtered through the carved windows, casting dappled shadows over Ji Hanyi. She looked around at the furnishings; when she had first stepped into this room, she had put her heart into every arrangement.
But as time went on, she discovered that the two small clay figurines sitting on the curio shelf had been made by Xie Yuheng and Li Mingrou when they were children. The tea served in the courtyard was often Jinling Spring because Li Mingrou liked it. The pear tree planted outside had been planted by Xie Yuheng and Li Mingrou together. Even the screen in the room featured the flowers and birds that Li Mingrou favored.
She couldn’t touch those things. This room had never truly belonged to her.
Ji Hanyi walked to the window. Opening it, she could see the lush pear tree. She had looked at it for three years; all the endurance and sorrow were finally about to vanish like smoke.
She gazed at it for a moment, then looked down at the jade pendant clutched in her hand. The maid guarding the courtyard gate came in and stood behind her, whispering, “Young Madam, word has come from the front gate that the Gu family’s Second Madam has arrived.”
Ji Hanyi paused, knowing exactly why she was here. Fortunately, her Second Aunt had not gone directly to her mother-in-law. She tucked the jade pendant away and told the servant to invite her in and prepare tea.
Soon, hurried footsteps echoed as Second Madam Liu entered, her face haggard. Ji Hanyi went over to support her toward the Luohan couch, then dismissed all the maids in the room.
Before she could speak, Liu-shi gripped her hands tightly. Her bloodshot eyes stared intently at Ji Hanyi as she pushed a small casket into her hands. “Hanyi, why hasn’t your cousin been released yet?”
“Do you know that if your cousin is tortured into a confession, his guilt will be sealed!”
“What did Yuheng say? Do they want money?”
“This is all I could scrape together. Hanyi, say something!”
“You know he’s all I have. Your Second Uncle is dead, and Gu Xun is my only hope…”