Chapter 36 [Slightly Revised] Visiting Relatives
Yu An's outstretched hand fell to nothing. Helpless against Ji Jinghe's childishness, she had no choice but to call on Qing Que for help.
“Is the old man still angry? Miss Li has already been sent away by her aunt,” she said.
Ji Jinghe patted the snow off his sleeves and said indifferently, "Do you expect me to just randomly shove someone else at me?"
His expression was icy, even colder than when he was in front of the elders, deliberately silencing her. What else could Yu'an say?
She just hadn't expected him to have such a temper.
Yu'an didn't indulge him. After moving a little further away from the entrance of Rongshou Hall, she said truthfully, "Didn't the master tell me before that I should fulfill my duties as a wife and not be jealous or cause trouble? Now that I'm in mourning, my mother-in-law has chosen a good girl to serve the master in my place. What's wrong with that?"
"Besides, the old man has never said to me that he would never take a concubine in his life..."
Ji Jinghe froze, his steps gradually coming to a halt. His broad, upright back blocked everything, making it impossible to see his expression.
A biting wind blew through the corridor, the chill seeping into one's sleeves and making one shiver. Yu An's voice fell, making the place feel even colder and more stagnant.
Ji Jinghe turned around, a cold smile playing on his lips. "So, not denying it is the same as affirming it, right?"
"Why do you ask me that, sir?"
Yu An met his gaze without blinking. "I always remember what you said, sir. I was ignorant before, but I understand now. If you don't like Miss Li, we can find someone else until you do."
She spoke obediently, as if every word she said was reasonable and considered his best interests, but Ji Jinghe couldn't find a single word that pleased him.
She seemed to never care about him or others.
Ji Jinghe suppressed his anger and gritted his teeth, saying, "Do you really think I can't?"
Yu An smiled faintly: "If Master takes a fancy to any young lady, that would be a good thing. You must tell me as soon as possible so I can prepare..."
Before she could finish speaking, Ji Jinghe turned and left.
Without looking back...
Baozhu was puzzled. "What's wrong with you today, Miss? You knew the young master was angry, yet you still argued with him."
Yu An's smile faded as she watched the figure disappear into the snowstorm. She said calmly, "That's how he used to talk back to me. Now he's getting back at me."
Baozhu straightened Yu'an's cloak. "Times are different now, Miss. What if you push your fiancé further and further away like this?"
Yu An: "People who don't care about me will walk away on their own without me having to push them."
Baozhu understood, yet she didn't.
Even she can't see what Yu An is up to now.
Anyone with eyes can see clearly that Ji Jinghe is ostensibly angry about taking a concubine, but in reality, it's because he cares about her. If he didn't care, he wouldn't have been angry for so many days.
Logically, this should have been something that could be easily appeased with a few kind words, but this confrontation probably only made her angrier.
Yu'an tightened her clothes and instructed, "Isn't there still some fabric that the master sent last time? Have someone take it to make a few more clothes for my mother-in-law and the master, and send them over before February."
Baozhu: "Why are you still making clothes?"
Yu An sighed: "To repay a favor."
After the fifteenth day of the lunar month, before sending Chu Zhuo'an away, Yu'an took him to pay respects to his parents.
After purchasing a number of items, he felt at ease and had someone escort him back to Jiangling.
Although the siblings were sad, they didn't cry as much as they did when they parted for the first time; they were more restrained and calm.
February arrived in the blink of an eye. Yu'an glanced at the finished clothes and sent them out.
Ji Jinghe wasn't home, and there was no reaction to the clothes being placed in the study. Wanfangyuan seemed to still be angry, and didn't say anything after putting the things away.
On a sunny day, Yu'an took several headbands she had made herself to Wanfang Courtyard.
Shen Qiulan maintained a cold expression, but did not make things difficult for her. The nanny beside her offered her tea and a seat.
Without a doubt, her mother-in-law must be taking out her resentment from arguing with Ji Jinghe on her again.
Yu'an handed the headband to the nanny and said with a smile, "This was made by your daughter-in-law some time ago, and I'm bringing it to my mother-in-law today."
Shen Qiulan glanced at it briefly and said lazily, "What brings you here today?"
This mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are the type who only meet when they have something to say to each other.
Yu An got straight to the point: "It's been almost a year since my father's passing, and I was thinking of moving his grave this year during the Qingming Festival so that he could be buried with my mother. I came here specifically to ask my mother-in-law for permission."
Last time, she managed to stop Chu Zhuo'an even when she sent someone to pick him up. This year, since the grave is being moved, she should inform her in advance to avoid being stopped again.
Shen Qiulan's face darkened. "Move the grave?"
"It was the imperial court that buried your father there. Even if he were to be moved, it shouldn't be now."
Yu'an had anticipated that things wouldn't be simple, so she prepared her explanation in advance: "It is precisely because I know it's too early that I've come to ask my mother-in-law for instructions."
"This matter shouldn't be asked of me; you should ask Ji Jinghe. If you insist on my opinion, you don't need to waste your breath; it will definitely be forbidden."
Shen Qiulan looked at her and said, "You understand the reasoning better than I do. The fate of serious criminals is decided by the court. Now that the court is in turmoil, are you deliberately trying to smear your husband?"
Yu An didn't understand. "A year has passed. Is there still anyone who cares about such trivial matters?"
Shen Qiulan: "Then you underestimate those in the imperial court. If it weren't for paying attention to these trivial matters, would Ji Jinghe have been demoted?"
The fact that the Xia family members were able to find Chu Xingjian's steward and leak the "deal" between Ji Jinghe and Chu Xingjian already explains everything.
Hearing that Shen Qiulan was still bringing up the Chu family, she stopped talking. Knowing that there was no point in making a fuss, she didn't want to invite trouble and got up to leave.
Baozhu suggested that they have their subordinates quietly get it done, or go and ask Ji Jinghe for help again.
Yu An lay in bed, feeling that neither of these two methods was good.
She inquired about Shen Qiulan in case of any unforeseen circumstances.
If it were really as they say, having someone else submit a memorial to Ji Jinghe about moving the grave would not be worthwhile.
She went to find Ji Jinghe, but he was so angry that he wouldn't even sleep in his study and went straight to the government office. Even if she went to call him now, she probably wouldn't be able to get him back.
With her arm resting on her forehead, her mind a jumble of thoughts, Baozhu came over, lowered the curtain, and tucked the blanket around her. "Miss, why don't you wait another year? Aren't they saying that His Majesty is dying? Maybe he'll be alright once the new emperor ascends the throne?"
Yu An gave a vague "hmm," knowing that there was no rush.
She hadn't originally intended to move; she was just asking on purpose.
Yu'an asked Baozhu to grind the ink and then took out the secret letter and copied it.
She placed the two secret letters together, compared them one by one under the light, and after confirming that there was no doubt about them, she put them in an envelope and sealed it with beeswax.
"Place this at the entrance of the Pei residence."
"The Pei residence?" Baozhu asked, taking the gift. "Wasn't it for the young marquis?"
Yu An nodded: "No, it's a gift for the Pei family."
During this period, people were sent everywhere to inquire, and it was found that the Pei family and the Xia family had a close relationship.
Since Chu Xingjian took office in the capital, she had never heard of any connection with the Pei family. Perhaps it was fate that allowed her to still be involved with the Pei family.
She knew that the affairs of the court were limited, and everything could only be deduced. Today, she was just testing the waters, and even if there was no result, she would accept it.
The ripples caused by this letter were entirely beneficial to her.
"Remember, send someone clever, and make sure no one finds out. It has to be done without anyone noticing," Yu An instructed.
Baozhu: "I know."
Yu An: "When I have nothing to do, I pack some things for my long journey."
Baozhu: "Is the young lady going on a long journey?"
Yu An nodded: "In any case, it will come in handy."
Baozhu was skeptical, but knew this was a matter of utmost importance that could not be delayed. After Yu'an explained everything clearly, she immediately set about doing it.
I don't know where I caught a chill, but I felt unwell when I rested at night. After sitting at my desk and doing some accounting in the morning, I started to feel weak.
It seemed to be a cold. After running a fever all night, the symptoms became more and more severe, to the point that even taking medicine was ineffective. Ji Shu thought it was because she had been working hard as a seamstress for half a year, which had depleted her body and caused the illness to enter her body, making it impossible for her to recover.
"Don't worry about the family for now. There are so many maids managing the household; they're not dead." Ji Shu picked up the medicine, letting it cool just right before swallowing it, and handed it to Yu An.
Yu An didn't care. She suppressed her cough and drank the bitter medicine all at once.
“I told you that day that my brother definitely didn’t want to take a concubine, but you just wouldn’t believe me.”
Ji Shu sighed, "Now look what happened, you two had a fight."
Yu An smiled, wiping her mouth with a handkerchief, without saying a word.
Ji Shu verbally defended Ji Jinghe, but in her heart she still favored Yu An, after all, it was her family who had wronged her first, and the estrangement was caused by her family.
“You should take good care of yourself. My brother has me and my grandmother with him. He came back in just two days. He’s all bark and no bite.”
Yu An didn't care; as long as he didn't come back, she was free.
Unfortunately, several days later, her illness was still raging and she couldn't get better no matter what she did.
Ji Shu felt it was a psychological issue and asked her if it was because of the relocation of the grave.
Yu-an was too busy coughing to answer.
Seeing her face turn red from coughing, Ji Shu patted her back to help her catch her breath. "If it's because of this, I'll go tell Grandmother right now. It's not like I'm telling you to take your medicine but you don't get better for a long time."
"No need...no need." Yu An leaned back against the headboard. "I've just been dreaming about my family lately, and I'm wondering when we'll be able to meet again since we haven't seen each other in so long."
Ji Shu was straightforward: "Then tell me who you dreamed about. As long as it's a place a person can go, I'll have the servants go and pick them up right now, bring them home to stay with you for a while, how about that?"
"It's in Changping, I want to go there directly."
"Now?" Ji Shu hesitated. "But you're sick..."
Yu-an: "It's only a day's journey, it's no big deal. I just want to stay there for a few days and then come back."
Ji Shu didn't want her to travel far when she was so ill, but when she thought that she had never heard her mention these things before, she wavered.
"Since they're in Changping, why not call them over?"
Yu An shook her head: "My uncle still has a pharmacy to take care of. If he comes, the family of four will lose their income."
All I can say is that Yu An is kind-hearted and doesn't want to trouble others.
Ji Shu simply went directly to Rongshou Hall to inform her. After asking several times, Ji's mother, seeing her granddaughter's earnest words and her concern for Yu'an's health, finally agreed.
Ji Shu originally wanted to go with them, but Yu An refused, citing the harsh conditions, and asked her to act as the housekeeper for the next few days.
With such a large household and business, the steward was exhausted, and the servants were always busy. Yu'an instructed the servants to go back and rest early, and within half an hour, no one was seen walking around in the courtyard.
Yu'an took the two finished garments and went to the study alone. Baozhu waited at the entrance of the half-acre courtyard for a long time before she saw movement under the eaves.
"How are you, young lady?"
Yu An nodded without saying anything until she returned to her room and closed the door, at which point she took the thing out of her arms.
The candlelight shone on his face, revealing a rosy complexion, showing no sign of illness.
"Take this and find a reliable craftsman to make an exact replica."
She had often heard people say that an official's official seal and private seal were the most precious, and were usually hidden in secret places. She was thinking about how to trick Ji Jinghe into giving them to her. Unexpectedly, she actually succeeded in her gamble today. How wonderful!
“It’s probably not easy to find a craftsman who dares to forge an official seal…” Baozhu said worriedly as she took the paper with the seal.
"So price is not a concern. As long as it is done well, I can afford to pay a hundred taels of silver."
Yu An handed her the dough with the shape of the entire stamp on it, saying, "You must be quick, preferably finished within seven days."
Baozhu glanced at the medicine on the table again, and hesitated, "Then this medicine..."
"I'm not drinking anymore, take it away and pour it out."
If she had known earlier that what she wanted was in the study, she wouldn't have been worrying for the past two weeks, wondering how much effort it would take to get it.
In this light, it seems that kicking Ji Jinghe out in anger was actually a good thing.
Craftsmen are hard to find, and Baozhu had to ask around to find one before finally managing to finish the item and get it in her hands before setting off.
Yu'an's illness showed no signs of improvement, and it wasn't until several days later that Ji Jinghe heard about it.
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Author's Note: A side note: As I mentioned before, I will pay attention to all comments, good or bad, whether they are negative or helpful. Whether you mean well or badly, I will keep sincere suggestions in mind and try my best to address these issues in my future writing. But! No personal attacks! You can criticize the plot and me, but please don't criticize my parents or family. [Hands clasped in prayer]
Thank you all for your support! [roses][roses]
[Highlight: Don't read any further, the author is revising the story! Revising the story!]
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