Chapter 25. To them, he was no different from an outsider. ...
Pei Chengyu rode in on horseback, followed by four or five attendants who waved their whips and shouted at the crowd, who soon dispersed.
This was the third time he had seen her in such a disheveled state.
Yu'an lowered her eyes unconsciously, while Baozhu tenderly brushed off the miscellaneous vegetable leaves from her clothes.
Pei Chengyu dismounted, his face filled with anxiety. "Are you alright?"
Yu An shook her head. "No."
Pei Chengyu had just returned from Jiangling, but he was on his way to pick up his mother who was returning home from a trip outside the city. However, he encountered a crowded scene and a chorus of insults on the way.
She had clearly lost a lot of weight in the two months since they last met, but the Ji family still looked down on her as always.
"Did you and your maid come out today? Should I send someone to take you back first?" he said.
Yu An: "No need, we have a carriage, we'll be back in no time, no need for such trouble."
Just then, Ji Shu, who had been hiding in the distance, came over.
Pei Chengyu glanced at it, understood the gist of it, and said no more. He only said one sentence: "Be extremely careful when you go out in the future. No matter what happens, protect yourself first."
Yu An nodded, concealing her emotions completely before daring to look up at him. "Thank you..."
Pei Chengyu squatted down, picked up the hairpin she had dropped on the ground, and handed it to her.
Yu watched quietly, but her heart felt like it was being run over by a thousand cars. The pain was so intense that she forgot to breathe. She paused for only a moment before Baozhu took the hairpin from her.
She bowed and took her leave without saying a word, then got into her carriage, and that was the end of the matter.
Xu's mother stared intently at the scene in front of the shop, secretly crumpling her handkerchief beyond recognition. She cursed bitterly, "The Chu family is really lucky. When I was down on my luck, the capital was so cold and indifferent, but they always seemed to lend a helping hand to me..."
Xu Jingshu breathed a sigh of relief and made to turn around and leave, when she heard her mother say behind her: "Didn't you like Ji Jinghe since you were little? How come you're so spineless? You can't even fight for what you want. Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. You and those people from Jiuwan Mountain are destined to be apart in this life."
...
Inside the carriage, Ji Shu knew that her act of deserting at the last minute was immoral, so she dropped the airs she usually deliberately put on in front of Yu An. Only today did she truly take to heart what Ji Jinghe had said earlier.
Unable to bear the deathly silence in the car, and pondering how to offer comfort, Yu'an spoke first: "Don't tell your brother about what happened today."
"Why?" Ji Shu was taken aback.
Yu-An: "I don't want him to know."
Ji Shu: "Is it also because you're afraid of trouble?"
Yuan:......
This is the default setting.
Ji Shu understood in her heart, and naturally she wouldn't go back and say anything more. She was simply curious as to why two people who didn't love each other were so entangled together, even when the opportunity to separate was right in front of them, neither of them was willing to leave.
As expected, news of Ji Shu taking Yu An out today reached Ji Jinghe's ears. He had already planned to visit Banmu Courtyard, and now he felt even more compelled to go.
After what happened during the day, Yu'an and Baozhu's spirits were worn down, and the room naturally became quiet. Only after he left did it regain some liveliness.
Seeing her sitting on the couch busy with needlework, Ji Jinghe didn't care whether she got up to greet him or not, and felt a sense of peace in his heart: "I heard you went out shopping with Shuer today, did you buy anything?"
As soon as that indifferent voice rang out, the word "guilt" lingered in her mind, leaving her completely lost and unsure of where to put the needle and thread next.
Yu An turned to the side and forced herself to say, "Grandpa's off duty?"
Ji Jinghe didn't mind her irrelevant answer, and smiled, "I found some more things from the storeroom and brought them over to you."
Baozhu knew how her young lady felt in front of Ji Jinghe, so she took the initiative to serve tea, even though she herself was unwilling.
Ji Jinghe stood in the hall, the dark patterns on his official robes faintly visible in the candlelight. His extremely pleasing face was like a sculpture of ice and jade. Even the most ordinary actions were given an air of nobility because of him. When he held up a teacup, his slender wrist bones were prominent, as if he did not exist in this world.
He always had that superior attitude, just like Ji Shu. He was used to standing on the high ground and judging others, but he never did it himself. When did he ever think about whether his words and actions were consistent?
Knowing she was wronged, she refused to help anyone, watching helplessly as her father died unjustly...
Yu An stared blankly at the embroidery frame in her hands, losing all her energy. She just stared at it, not knowing what she was looking at.
When Ji Jinghe arrived, she was supposed to serve him well, but she couldn't utter a single word. In the end, she didn't even pay attention to what he said before he left or how he left.
*
The emperor's health deteriorated further, especially after he dealt with the old ministers who had followed him for decades; his condition showed no improvement whatsoever.
The entire Qianqing Palace was soaked in bitter medicine, and all the officials and concubines who came and went were worried when they saw Emperor Hongwen on his sickbed.
The competition among the princes for the crown prince position also quietly began, like a lurking undercurrent that drew everyone in the court into it.
After the court session as usual, King Qi and Ji Jinghe walked side by side toward the palace gate.
At the critical juncture when Chu Xingjian's case was about to be overturned, the steward betrayed him, exposing the "deal" between Ji Jinghe and Chu Xingjian.
The Emperor was furious. If it weren't for Prince Qi risking his life to speak out, Ji Jinghe's fate would probably have been even worse than it is now.
Ji Jinghe: "Your Highness has been very busy lately, please take care of your health."
With Chu Xingjian's downfall, the Xia family took over as prime minister, and even the fifth prince benefited from it. In the final moments, it all came down to who was "cleaner," and a slight misstep could lead to total defeat.
King Qi laughed, "It's kind of you to still remember me. In a while, you will be going out on an inspection tour. The journey will be dangerous, so please be careful."
By risking his life to offer advice to the emperor, Ji Jinghe secured a loyal and righteous minister for himself. His position in the Censorate was like a sharp blade hanging over the heads of his enemies.
King Qi both cherished and loved talent.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."
Thinking of this, King Qi couldn't help but recall the rumors he had heard yesterday: "Is everything alright with my wife at home?"
Ji Jinghe looked at him, hesitated for only a moment before replying.
King Qi replied calmly, "The thieves are cunning, but that's the truth, and no one can control it. Next time, I'll have to tell my wife to bring enough men before going out. The common people are really ignorant. As long as someone is stirring things up, they probably won't be able to tell right from wrong and will follow them."
Ji Jinghe was confused when he heard that they were talking about Yu An, and then he realized that she had had an accident when she went out yesterday.
Although he had doubts, he couldn't ask in detail in front of the King of Qi, so he had to ask Qingque in private to find out why.
Chu Xingjian was at least someone who did some practical things for the people. Even if he died with a stench of crime, it shouldn't have been enough to arouse public outrage. Besides, Yu An was a member of the Ji family.
Qingque: "I went to the jewelry shop to inquire. Yesterday, Madam Xu and Miss Xu were also present."
Ji Jinghe sorted out his thoughts and said in a deep voice, "Send more people to investigate thoroughly and see if anyone is deliberately stirring up trouble."
Qingque responded.
After returning to the manor, Ji Jinghe first went to Jianjia Pavilion. When Ji Shu saw her brother's menacing appearance, she immediately perked up her ears. She originally wanted to close the door in advance and pretend to be asleep, but she couldn't hide forever, so she had no choice but to bite the bullet and entertain him.
"Do you still think I'm not sincere enough?" she asked tentatively.
Ji Jinghe sat down, stroking the teacup, concealing his cold demeanor behind the rising steam. "What exactly happened yesterday?"
Ji Shu feigned ignorance: "Nothing, I just went to the shop..."
Ji Shu took a deep breath as her eyes swept over her, and finally pouted and said, "That's your business, I can't interfere. I promised my sister-in-law that I wouldn't tell. If you want to know, go and find out for yourself. Anyway, I keep my word."
Ji Jinghe frowned, and the teacup he had just picked up was placed back on the table with a light touch, his face no longer showing any kindness.
"She doesn't tell you not to talk about it, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't talk about the Xu family. Let me ask you, what did the Xu family say to your sister-in-law yesterday?"
“They didn’t say anything, did they?” Ji Shu recalled. “Madam Xu complained a bit, and Sister Xu and her sister-in-law stood together and talked about something, but I was far away and didn’t hear clearly. I only know that they stood together for a while and then separated.”
Ji Shu looked at his expression, which seemed suspicious. "But I do feel that Madam Xu and Sister Xu have changed a lot, especially Sister Xu. I always feel that her eyes are different, very strange..."
She used to be approachable and dazzling, but when we met yesterday, her smile didn't reach her eyes, and there was a distance between us. Two months ago, they weren't like this at all.
Hearing Ji Shu's words, Ji Jinghe was also puzzled. He had known the Xu family since childhood and had never felt anything was amiss, but things started to go strange after he got married.
Is it that he misjudges people, or that people's hearts are fickle?
Having said that it was just a question, Ji Jinghe turned and went to the Half-Acre Courtyard.
When he arrived, Yu'an was still the same as before, sitting on the couch doing needlework. Just like yesterday, Yu'an looked at him indifferently. Baozhu poured him a cup of tea as usual, and then the couple looked at each other in silence.
They repeated their movements countless times as if they had rehearsed them beforehand, becoming so skilled in front of him that he was no different from an outsider to them.
He opened his mouth, but a sense of trepidation, like returning home, arose within him. He choked for a moment before finding the words: "Are you satisfied with the things I gave you yesterday?"
That mahogany box?
Yu An casually replied, "What the old man gives is naturally of good quality."
A strange thought surged into Ji Jinghe's mind, and he asked a question as if possessed: "What do you think of the design? I heard from Qingque that although it is valuable, the style is old-fashioned, and I'm afraid you won't like it."
He lifted the tea lid and skimmed off the foam, but stopped completely as she finished speaking.
"I really like the jewelry the old man gave me, and I will wear it if I have the chance in the future."
I will wear them... but they are two unpolished jade stones... how can I wear them?
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Author's Note: The female lead's growth path is long, but once she gains momentum in investigating cases, it won't stop. It hasn't even started yet [please!]. My plan is to establish herself first, then investigate cases. If you think the female lead's progress is too slow right now, I'll speed it up. I've already written about ten chapters of my drafts.
Actually, I really want to reply to any of your comments, good or bad, whether you're giving me encouragement or throwing insults, but I've been very restrained because of the distance between the author and the readers. [heart] Please understand... I'm truly grateful for your support. [please][hug] (bows)
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