When they arrived home, Wujing pulled off the clothes covering Gu Jianli’s head and immediately dismounted, asking the person who came to greet them, “Where is she?”
The servant promptly reported, “She has been received and is being entertained in the side hall.”
As Wujing walked toward the side hall, he asked, “Has she seen the young master?”
“No, without your instructions, the servants didn’t dare to act on their own. We were waiting for your return. Besides, the young master has gone to bed by now…”
Gu Jianli, holding onto the raised front of the saddle, dismounted slowly. Standing beside the horse, she watched Wujing’s departing figure, lazily tidying her hair, which had been messed up by the wind. Wujing, worried that she might catch a chill, had kept her head covered with clothes during the journey.
“Madam, you’re back!” Hongzan ran up with a cotton coat draped over her arm. “Are you cold? Would you like to wear this coat?”
“No need.” Gu Jianli shook her head and walked leisurely toward her bedroom.
Hongzan was momentarily stunned, then caught up with her, whispering, “Madam, are you going back to your room? Aren’t you going to the side hall to take a look? Are you really going to let Master meet that woman in private? I may be foolish, but I believe as the principal wife, you should go and assert your position. Today is the first time you’re meeting her; you need to establish dominance!”
Gu Jianli curved her lips into a smile and teased, “You’re starting to sound more and more like Jixia.”
Taking it as a compliment, Hongzan earnestly replied, “We’ve learned a lot from Sister Jixia; she taught us well!”
Gu Jianli smiled and instructed, “I’ve been on the road for a long time, and I’m cold to the bone. Go and tell them to prepare some hot water.”
“Right away!” Hongzan responded immediately.
Entering the room, Gu Jianli yawned lazily and nestled on the couch by the brazier, planning to take a nap before the hot water was ready.
After giving instructions to the courtyard servants, Hongzan returned to find Gu Jianli already asleep. She tiptoed over and covered her with a light blanket.
Thinking about the woman who had come to their door, Hongzan felt a surge of discomfort.
It was because of that woman that Master had dragged Madam back in the middle of the night. Look how exhausted Madam is…
She’s just an outside woman!
Hongzan looked down at Gu Jianli’s sleeping face, feeling both heartache and frustration. Madam being dragged back overnight because of an outside woman was truly distressing. Even in the grandest estates, such lack of consideration was unheard of. She was also frustrated with Gu Jianli’s passive attitude. How could she not be present at such a crucial time? It was infuriating!
Jixia had spent considerable effort training the four maidservants in the household, and over the past few months, they had become almost like extensions of JiXiaherself.
When the hot water was ready, Jixia and Changsheng had also returned.
Jixia personally woke Gu Jianli gently, saying, “The hot water is ready. Shall I help you to the western room, or would you rather skip the bath and just rest on the couch?”
Gu Jianli slowly blinked her eyes, handed her arm to Jixia, and pointed toward the washing room in the west.
Hongzan followed them to serve.
As her clothes were removed, Gu Jianli’s cold body was immersed in the hot water, bringing her complete comfort and washing away her weariness.
Jixia observed Gu Jianli’s expression. Seeing that she was more spirited, her dark eyes flickered, and she turned to ask Hongzan, “What’s the story with that woman?”
Hongzan recounted the day’s events in detail, more accurately, she relayed them for Gu Jianli to hear.
“That night, we were all resting when a servant ran in, saying a woman claiming to be the young master’s biological mother had come to the door. We all woke up immediately. The woman was wearing a veil and didn’t speak; it was her maid who did all the talking. And that woman was also lame.”
Gu Jianli looked at Hongzan with some surprise.
Hongzan, mistaking Gu Jianli’s apparent indifference for hidden panic, continued with her detailed account: “With neither Master nor Madam at home, Nanny Lin invited the woman to the side hall, telling her we would send someone to inform Master and wait for his decision. The woman didn’t speak, just waited quietly in the side hall. Yanzhi and Luchai were keeping an eye on her there, while Nanny Lin and Lizi stayed with the young master and Miss Lan.”
As warmth returned to her body, Gu Jianli felt much more alert. She leaned forward, her arms resting on the edge of the tub, her chin on her forearm, lost in thought.
Two small faces of her children floated before her eyes. Ji Xinglan did not resemble Wujing at all, but Ji Xinglou’s facial features bore a striking resemblance to Wujing.
Wujing had told her that Ji Xinglan was not his child…
Gu Jianli did not entirely believe Wujing’s words but found herself puzzled. If Ji Xinglan wasn’t Wujing’s child, then whose child was Xinglou? Could it be just a coincidence that Ji Xinglou resembled Wujing, or perhaps Ji Xinglou’s biological parents bore a resemblance to Wujing, being his relatives?
Gu Jianli silently pondered these thoughts, making Jixia and Hongzan increasingly anxious, thinking she was heartbroken.
After dismounting, Wujing went straight to the side hall. He stood at the doorway, looking at the woman seated inside, and frowned.
“Master.” Luchai led the maids in the room to pay their respects.
Luchai had called a dozen maids to guard the room, doing nothing but staring intently at the woman who shouldn’t have come to their door.
“Everyone, leave.” Wujing ordered coldly.
Luchai felt uneasy but dared not say anything and retreated. The servants all left, leaving only Xiaohe, the maid beside Wen Jingshan.
Despite his irritation, Wujing restrained himself and asked, “Why have you come to the capital?”
“How is he?” Wen Jingshan’s voice trembled. Her voice was hoarse, made so by poisoning herself.
With Xiaohe’s support, Wen Jingshan struggled to stand and said hoarsely, “I heard he had smallpox, so I wanted to see him. I held back for a long time and came after the rumors had calmed down, traveling for two months to get here.”
Under the veil, she forced a bitter smile, “I just want to see him, just once.”
Wujing’s gaze dropped to her leg. After a moment of silence, he said, “He sleeps soundly at night. Seeing him won’t wake him.”
A glimmer of joy appeared in Wen Jingshan’s lifeless eyes.
Wujing turned and walked to the door, opening it and waiting beside it. Wen Jingshan, with one hand on a crutch and the other supported by Xiaohe, laboriously walked out of the room.
Watching her struggle, Wujing grew increasingly annoyed.
When they reached Ji Xinglou’s door, Wen Jingshan put aside the crutch and leaned solely on Xiaohe, making her steps even more laborious. She finally reached the bedside and, upon seeing the sleeping Ji Xinglou, tears streamed down her face.
Which mother in the world doesn’t want to watch over her child every day? But she gave birth to this child while on the run; her husband had died when the child was born, her entire family was slaughtered, and the child was taken from her before he was even a month old.
Her tears wouldn’t stop, nor could she contain the five years of longing and bitterness.
She had so many tears, but she dared not make a sound, for fear of waking Ji Xinglou. She bit her lip hard, drawing blood, to stifle her sobs.
As she cried, she also smiled.
He was well, healthy, and pure.
She vividly remembered Ji Chong’s joyful expression when he had bet that the baby would be a girl.
“Mother…” Ji Xinglou turned over, blowing a small bubble from his lips.
Wen Jingshan covered her mouth, desperately trying to hold back her sobs. She reached out, wanting to touch Ji Xinglou, but her fingers hovered above his head before trembling and withdrawing.
She silently watched Ji Xinglou for a long time, until her body could no longer hold on. Then she signaled for Xiaohe to help her out.
Once outside, Wen Jingshan picked up her crutch and walked quickly, almost fleeing to a tree in the courtyard, where she leaned against the trunk and wept bitterly.
The last time she had cried like this was five years ago when Ji Chong had died.
Wujing sat on the steps, his head bowed, his dark eyes revealing no emotion. He waited silently for a long time before standing up and walking to Wen Jingshan. “I’ll arrange for you to rest first. Tomorrow, you can see Xinglou during the day.”
Wen Jingshan was surprised and incredulous. “Really? I don’t have to leave now? I’m afraid… I’m afraid I’ll bring trouble to him…”
As she spoke, her tears fell again.
It was her fear of bringing trouble to Ji Xinglou that had made her hesitate for so long to see him. The pain of missing her son from thousands of miles away had plagued her for five years. It was this bitter longing that had kept her alive until now.
As the former Crown Princess and niece of the former Empress Dowager, too many people in the capital recognized her. Ji Xinglou, as a child, could have his identity changed to survive, but her own danger was much greater. No matter how much she couldn’t bear to part from him, she didn’t dare to take Ji Xinglou with her when they fled, so they went separate ways.
Wujing nodded.
He personally escorted her to the guest room, standing at the door as Xiaohe helped Wen Jingshan, who struggled with every step. Just as he turned to leave, Wen Jingshan called out, “Master!”
Wujing turned back, seeing Wen Jingshan kneel laboriously with Xiaohe’s support.
Knowing her intention, Wujing quickly walked over to help her up, speaking sternly, “Your address is incorrect, and so is your etiquette.”
Wen Jingshan, devoid of her past grace, was now just a humble mother. “You deserve this kneel from me. Without you, neither Xinglou nor I would be alive today.”
Wujing smiled lightly, “There’s no point in revisiting old debts. Without His Highness, there wouldn’t be the Ji family today.”
He then instructed two maids to attend to Wen Jingshan before returning gloomily to the bedroom. Finding Gu Jianli absent, he asked the servants and went directly to the western room. When he entered, Gu Jianli was leaning against the bath, her head tilted as she asked Jixia what they should have for breakfast.
“Master!” Jixia’s voice was filled with undisguised joy when she saw Wujing. If Master didn’t stay with that woman but came here instead, what did it mean? It meant Madam was still the most important!
Gu Jianli turned to look at Wujing, who had just walked in, and asked, “Do you want to soak to warm up as well? I’m just about done and will be getting out soon. Then the servants can prepare hot water for you.”
“Everyone, leave,” Wujing said irritably.
Jixia and Hongzan had just left when Wujing undressed and stepped into the bath.
The bath was small, definitely cramped for two people. Gu Jianli stood up to leave, but Wujing grabbed her. He sat lazily in the water with his legs crossed, pulling Gu Jianli to straddle his lap. Holding her by the waist, he rested his chin on her shoulder, remaining still.
After a while, Gu Jianli gently called, “Master?”