Ji Mingzhu did not wish to see Xie Yunzheng, but things did not go as she hoped.
On this day, they inevitably crossed paths.
She had just finished a cup of tea in the pavilion when someone from the Old Matriarch’s courtyard came to summon her to Hewutang for a conversation.
“Young Miss, these past few days you haven’t paid your respects to the Old Matriarch, and she has been quite concerned. Hearing that your health has greatly improved and you can now move about, she sent me to fetch you so you can speak with her.”
Ji Mingzhu’s heart slowly sank, her good mood dissipating along with it.
Out of propriety and to avoid shaming her aunt, except during her recent illness, she had paid her respects at Hewutang every day.
Each time, the Old Matriarch had ignored her.
Only when outsiders were present would she show her a measure of closeness.
She was neither kin nor acquaintance to the Xie family and had never expected the Old Matriarch to treat her like a true granddaughter.
That the Xie family had given her a place to stay was already a great kindness.
Thus, even when slighted, Ji Mingzhu harbored no resentment.
Now, for the Old Matriarch to say she missed her likely carried deeper implications.
Glancing at Xie Yunxuan, she had a guess.
Ji Mingzhu rose gracefully. “Second Brother, you must be tired from the journey. After finishing this tea, you should return to your courtyard and rest.”
Xie Yunxuan didn’t know what his grandmother wanted to say to Mingzhu and instinctively wanted to accompany her.
“Since I brought you out, I should see it through. It won’t be too late for me to rest after you return to Xiaoxiangyuan.”
Nanny Wang said with a smile, “Second Young Master, the Old Matriarch and the young miss have some private words to share. With a young gentleman like you listening in, the young miss might feel embarrassed.”
Xie Yunxuan’s expression darkened. “If it’s nothing unspeakable, why should she be embarrassed?”
Not wanting Xie Yunxuan to clash with the Old Matriarch, Ji Mingzhu smiled. “I have already had my Ji-ji ceremony. Some words truly aren’t suitable for you to hear.”
Xie Yunxuan was well aware of the Old Matriarch’s attitude toward Mingzhu.
While she had never made things difficult for her, they were not close enough for intimate conversations.
Unusual occurrences often signal trouble.
He truly wasn’t at ease letting Mingzhu go to Hewutang alone.
The feeling of living under someone else’s roof was unpleasant. Though Mingzhu appeared optimistic and cheerful on the surface, she was actually sensitive and prone to overthinking.
She was already burdened with worries. If something unpleasant happened again, would her illness ever truly recover?
Xie Yunxuan said, “I’d also like to go to Grandmother’s for a cup of tea. You can speak privately; I won’t disturb you.”
Nanny Wang had been instructed to bring only Ji Mingzhu to Hewutang.
Lowering her head, she said, “Second Young Master, if you’re concerned, you can inquire about the situation after the young miss returns to Xiaoxiangyuan.”
It was clear they were determined to have Mingzhu face whatever was to come alone.
There had been no such incident in her previous life, so Ji Mingzhu felt uncertain.
Face soldiers with a general, and floods with earthworks.
Based on her understanding of the Old Matriarch, it was likely about making her recognize her place and not covet what wasn’t hers.
As for resorting to force… that was unlikely.
“Second Brother, I am already an adult.”
Her eyes held a faint smile, free of fear or anxiety, only calm acceptance.
“I know you’re worried about my health. With Nanny Wang here, she will look after me.”
Xie Yunxuan’s throat moved.
After a long pause, he uttered a single word, “Alright.”
Ji Mingzhu gave him a gentle smile and stepped away with Nanny Wang toward Hewutang.
Xie Yunxuan stood in the pavilion, watching her slender, delicate figure recede into the distance.
Though only a few months had passed, it seemed a distance had grown between them.
Although she still knew how to act coquettishly, he could clearly sense that Mingzhu no longer relied on him.
Could the underlying reason truly be explained simply by the two words “growing up”?
Xie Yunxuan’s mood was somewhat heavy.
And somewhat despondent.
He liked the feeling of being depended on by Mingzhu.
Now that she was becoming increasingly independent, would there come a day when Mingzhu no longer needed him at all?
Hewutang.
Xie Yunzheng’s mother, Princess Anhe, was also there, personally massaging the Old Matriarch’s head.
“Mother-in-law, calling Mingzhu here at this moment is sure to anger Xuan-ge’er.”
The first thing Xie Yunxuan did upon returning to the estate was to pay his respects to the elders.
But upon hearing that Ji Mingzhu was ill, he barely exchanged a few words before hastily rushing off to Xiaoxiangyuan.
If Ji Mingzhu were truly too ill to leave her courtyard, that would be one thing.
Yet in the blink of an eye, the two of them had brazenly gone out to enjoy the scenery.
To win a smile from the beauty, he had cast his elders to the back of his mind.
How could the Old Matriarch tolerate this?
“Xuan-ge’er cares for her excessively. If we let them be alone together again, there will be trouble in the future.”
“And what about sister-in-law? I wonder if she might hold a grudge? She treats Mingzhu like her own daughter and would surely wish for Mingzhu to become her daughter-in-law.”
“Nonsense!” The Old Matriarch slapped the table. “Xuan-ge’er’s marriage is not for her to decide. Marrying a down-and-out girl would only hold Xuan-ge’er back!”
After calming her emotions slightly, she snorted, “What reason does she have to complain? What I’m doing is for the future of her own son.”
Princess Anhe was also very fond of this nephew and did not want him entangled with a family in decline.
If nothing else, if he married a capable wife, this connection could later be of use to A Zheng.
Marriage alliances were the best means of forging bonds and should never be wasted.
She said with a smile, “Xuan-ge’er has both learning and experience; he deserves to be matched with a lady from a great family.”
The Old Matriarch, looking at her own grandson, naturally found everything about him excellent.
Not just a lady from a great family—he was even qualified to marry a princess.
Thus, she looked down even more on Ji Mingzhu.
“Before, considering her young age, I turned a blind eye. But now she has reached Ji-ji and is of marriageable age. Some principles must be made clear to her in advance, lest she cause trouble later and put everyone in a difficult position.”
The Old Matriarch stroked the pure green jade bracelet on her wrist, her cloudy eyes gleaming with shrewd light.
“Both Zheng-ge’er and Xuan-ge’er are good boys; we must not be careless in their marriages.”
Princess Anhe nodded. “A Zheng serves in the Ministry of War and will spend more time in the estate from now on. Besides the young mistress, the working maids must also be properly restrained. We cannot let them ruin A Zheng’s marriage prospects.”
Guogongfu was a family of nobility and merit; the wives to be married must also be chosen from high-ranking and influential families.
Taking a concubine before marriage would hinder the taking of a wife.
Her own son was aloof by nature and disdained women who threw themselves at him.
But it’s not the thief you fear, but the thief’s covetous gaze!
If someone were to resort to schemes and force themselves upon A Zheng, the situation would turn dire.
Ji Mingzhu encountered Xie Yunzheng outside Hewutang.
The man was dressed in dark robes, tall and graceful, walking over as if strolling leisurely through a courtyard.
He was injured, his face slightly pale, softening some of his cold, hard edges.
A flicker of annoyance passed through Ji Mingzhu’s eyes.
The person she could never get enough of before—now, upon meeting again, she felt no trace of that heart-fluttering sensation.
If circumstances allowed, she would have preferred to turn and leave.
Xie Yunzheng was sensitive to people’s gazes.
He immediately caught the annoyance in Ji Mingzhu’s eyes.
I don’t understand when I might have offended her, to be treated like this by her.
Earlier, she even told Second Brother that she didn’t like him…
Unable to hold back, I asked, “Miss Ji, have I ever done anything to wrong you?”