Inside the Xie residence, First Madam Lin’s main room remained bustling.
Xie Jin had not yet left, and Li Mingrou was also in the room.
Xie Yuheng sat in a chair, propping his forehead with one hand. A hint of exhaustion flickered in his eyes as he massaged his temples and spoke to Xie Jin. “Rest assured, Eldest Sister. I said I would not help her, so I will not.”
Hearing this definitive promise, Xie Jin finally felt at ease. She said to him, “You must remember this. No matter what schemes she uses to beg you, you cannot let your heart soften. It’s not that I’m telling you to leave someone to die, but look at the state of the Gu family now. If you start this precedent, won’t all of the Gu family’s future messes fall on your shoulders?
“Your brother-in-law also said that Gu Xun’s sentence depends on how the Ministry of Justice decides it. The Northern Imperial Prison is only responsible for interrogation. Whether the crime is major or minor has nothing to do with the Northern Imperial Prison, and it certainly has nothing to do with us.
“Besides, what great connection does that Gu family have with our Xie family? They are merely Hanyi’s maternal relatives. Since she married into the Xie family, she shouldn’t always be thinking about her maternal home. Doesn’t this show she hasn’t put her heart into you?”
Xie Yuheng frowned, feeling an inexplicable sense of irritability. He recalled Ji Hanyi mentioning a divorce agreement to him the previous night. She hadn’t returned to the main bedroom all night, and he hadn’t seen her when she left this morning.
He knew something of Ji Hanyi’s temperament. She had always been gentle and mild; even when he reproached her, she would at most argue a few words and never mention it again afterward. Most of the time, she followed his lead. She had never made a scene like this before.
He remembered the look in her eyes when she spoke of divorce last night. There was a rare persistence in her gaze, as if she wasn’t just acting out of spite.
He suddenly realized that in the three years she had been married to him, he had never once visited her mother. At this moment, a desire to compensate her arose within him. Perhaps helping her this time would stop her from making trouble. He preferred a peaceful life and did not like her behaving this way.
Seeing that Xie Yuheng remained silent after she finished speaking, Xie Jin couldn’t help but ask, “She still hasn’t returned? Is she having a falling out with you? You have no idea—her aunt came here today and made quite a scene in front of Mother. Those Gu family people have no upbringing. You must not be soft-hearted. If Hanyi wants to throw a fit, let her. It’s not like she can turn the world upside down.”
Seated above them, First Madam Lin also spoke: “Your sister is right about this. Let her throw her tantrum. It’s better than her bringing trouble upon you in the future.”
Li Mingrou chimed in with a look of concern. “But if we don’t help the Gu family, what if my cousin-in-law gets angry with Cousin? What if she starts resenting Aunt as well?”
First Madam Lin’s face darkened. “What right does she have to resent anyone? She hasn’t even conceived a child in three years. It’s already a mercy that Yuheng hasn’t divorced her.”
Just then, a servant woman came in to report that Ji Hanyi had returned.
First Madam Lin’s expression remained cold as she looked at Xie Yuheng. “I see she is becoming more and more undisciplined. Out of consideration for her illness, I didn’t require her to come pay her respects so she could recover. Instead, she goes out and only returns now, with no thought of serving you upon your return.”
Listening from the side, Li Mingrou felt a sense of satisfaction. The words Ji Hanyi had said to her last time were still weighing on her mind. What right did Ji Hanyi have to pity her? Clearly, Ji Hanyi was the one who was truly pitiable. Even though she was the wife of the Eldest Young Master of the Xie family, who liked her besides the Old Madam?
Xie Yuheng suddenly stood up, interrupting whatever else First Madam Lin was about to say. He said softly, “I’ll head back first.”
Seeing that Xie Yuheng wanted to return as soon as he heard Ji Hanyi was back, First Madam Lin said, “Fine, go back and explain this clearly to her. Make her give up on this idea.”
Xie Yuheng pressed his lips together and said nothing. His heart was tight with a rare agitation over Ji Hanyi’s affairs as he turned and walked out.
The snow tonight was exceptionally heavy, seemingly even heavier than that night. The cold wind was bone-chilling.
An attendant held an umbrella to shield Xie Yuheng from the snow. As he stepped into the drifts, he couldn’t help but think of Ji Hanyi being trapped in the carriage that night. In truth, she hadn’t wanted to go that day. It seemed as though everything that had gone wrong began after she returned that night.
Xie Yuheng sighed. If Ji Hanyi truly still blamed him for that night, then he would ask his brother-in-law to help her cousin this time. He would consider it a way to repay his debt to her.
***
Back in her courtyard, the Nanny at the gate followed beside Ji Hanyi, telling her that Xie Yuheng had been back and was then called away to First Madam Lin’s. She also mentioned that Xie Jin hadn’t left yet and asked if Ji Hanyi wanted to go pay a visit.
In the past, whenever Xie Jin came, Ji Hanyi would always accompany her to avoid any breach of etiquette.
Ji Hanyi knew what they were discussing with Xie Yuheng—it was undoubtedly about her aunt’s visit today. The Xie family never included her when discussing important matters. Although they didn’t show it on the surface, she could clearly feel that invisible sense of being treated as an outsider.
Ji Hanyi simply nodded, having no intention of going over. She paused for a moment and asked the Nanny, “Did you deliver the items I asked you to take to the Eldest Young Master’s study this afternoon?”
The Nanny quickly replied, “I’ve already handed them to Laishun, who was guarding the door. He said he would place them on the Eldest Young Master’s desk.”
Laishun was the servant specifically assigned to Xie Yuheng’s front courtyard study. If it was in his hands, it would reach Xie Yuheng.
Normally, as the end of the year approached, the government offices would be busy auditing case files. Xie Yuheng would be even busier than usual, likely staying in his study for half a month at a time, just as he had in previous years.
Ji Hanyi felt relieved. She nodded and told the Nanny to have the maids prepare hot water for a bath before heading to the main room. She figured she only had to wait a few more days—once Xie Yuheng signed the divorce agreement, everything would be settled.
As she soaked in the hot water and her body warmed up, Ji Hanyi closed her eyes and thought. She didn’t know when her cousin would be released, but she still needed to write a letter to her aunt. She had to tell her not to try and bribe anyone at the Northern Imperial Prison for the time being, lest something go wrong.
Amidst the swirling steam, the memory of Shen Si’s cold eyes surfaced for no reason. She hurriedly opened her eyes. She didn’t know why she had suddenly thought of him. Seeing him again after several years, Ji Hanyi understood more deeply than ever the vast difference between them, like that of clouds and mud.
Perhaps there had never been any intersection between them at all.
In truth, Shen Si’s coldness was entirely different from Xie Yuheng’s. Shen Si’s coldness came from his high position, an emotionless gaze looking down upon everyone; it was a coldness that was distant, noble, and untouchable. Xie Yuheng’s coldness was a matter of temperament—he was quiet and reserved, yet he was always gentle and polite when dealing with others.
Ji Hanyi told herself not to think about it. When she finished dressing and emerged from the bathroom, she saw Xie Yuheng.
A warm charcoal fire had already been lit in the inner chamber. Xie Yuheng was sitting on the daybed, his cool gaze fixed upon her.