In the main hall, a strange atmosphere hung over lunch. Even after the meal ended, Huo Xian showed no intention of leaving. He invited Ji Chongwang to Ji Chongwang’s waterside pavilion and had someone prepare sake, acting quite at home.
As for Ji Chongwang, he was forcibly led into his own study by Nanyue, who held a knife to his back, making the usually composed face of Ji Chongwang twitch with anger.
Ji Yuluo pretended not to notice. Since Huo Xian was looking for trouble, it wasn’t appropriate for her to stay and eavesdrop, so she followed Ji Xianyu into the inner courtyard.
Ji Yunkou also intended to return to Fuxia Courtyard, but she lagged behind, as if trying to avoid some great calamity. When Ji Xianyu turned to look at her, she abruptly stopped, fearing she might collide with her.
Ji Xianyu waved her over, “Second Sister, since Elder Sister rarely visits, let’s go to the garden and chat. I had the nanny prepare some fragrant melon seeds this morning.”
Ji Yunkou glanced quickly at Ji Yuluo with caution, “No, no, I have a headache. I want to go back and rest.”
After speaking, she hurried away as if being chased by ghosts.
Ji Yuluo watched Ji Yunkou’s fleeing figure, raising her eyebrows thoughtfully, a fleeting smile in her eyes.
Only Ji Xianyu sighed sincerely, saying, “Actually, Second Sister is quite pitiful. She was greatly traumatized when our aunt fell into the water and has been gloomy and withdrawn ever since. She avoids people and doesn’t like to talk anymore. She used to love beautiful things, but now she doesn’t even wear bright-colored clothes.”
Ji Yuluo responded, “She accused Mother in court, causing her to suffer in prison. Do you pity her?”
Ji Xianyu opened her mouth but couldn’t find the words. Finally, she sighed again, sounding much older than her years, “She was out of her mind back then. Fortunately, Mother is unharmed…”
Ji Yuluo glanced at her and smirked.
If she didn’t know the truth, Ji Yuyao and Ji Xianyu really seemed like sisters born from the same mother, both filled with useless compassion.
Utterly boring.
Ji Xianyu stomped her foot and exclaimed, “Oh!” Then, hugging Ji Yuluo’s arm, she said, “The garden has two new swings. Let’s go sit there, Elder Sister, and tell me about your recent happenings!”
Thus, Ji Yuluo was pushed to the garden. At first, Ji Xianyu asked about everything, but when Ji Yuluo had nothing to say, she began talking about her own affairs.
But what affairs could she have? As a young girl, it was all about makeup, clothes, and fabrics, chirping away like a parrot, noisy enough to melt the snow on the branches. Her face radiated the joy and innocence of a young lady without a care in the world.
A young lady without a care in the world.
Ji Yuluo grasped the rope of the swing, her mind drifting.
Ever since she left the palace that day, she had been waiting for the invitation to Consort Xi’s birthday banquet. Whether Consort Xi sent the invitation or not was understandable, but without it, when would she next have a chance to enter the palace?
What opportunity would she have to get close to Zhao Yong?
Ji Yuluo had been plotting this matter for days, her mind filled with the heavy red palace gates. Yet, Ji Xianyu, this little girl, somehow managed to drive those images out of her mind with her crisp voice, filling it with her own trivial chatter.
Ji Yuluo thought she wasn’t paying attention to what Ji Xianyu was saying, but after a while, she unexpectedly asked, “So floral brocade is popular in the capital now?”
After chatting for a long time, their tea was almost finished. Finally, a maid from the front hall came to urge, “First Miss, the Young Master says that if you are done catching up with Third Miss, it’s time to return to the manor. The Young Master is in the front hall now.”
Ji Yuluo agreed and left calmly, under Ji Xianyu’s reluctant gaze.
Biwu was waiting by the decorated entrance gate and quickly stepped forward to follow her. Once there was no one else around, she couldn’t help but say, “Miss, the way the Young Master acted just now… it’s a homecoming visit, but he was so disrespectful.”
Ji Yuluo gave a faint smile and didn’t respond to the comment.
As for Huo Xian, he could do as he pleased. Even if he committed murder in the Ji family, as long as it didn’t interfere with her plans, it was of no concern to her.
With this thought, Ji Yuluo raised her head and noticed a figure half-hidden among the trees by the corner gate. It was Nanny Sun, who served beside Gu Rou.
Because of a letter, Lin Chan and Ji Chongwang had concluded that Gu Rou knew about a certain secret. Thus, they didn’t know how much Nanny Sun was aware of. They didn’t dare to sell her off casually, nor did they want to keep her around, so they sent her to the kitchen to do menial tasks.
A person of no significance, Ji Yuluo glanced at her and then looked away.
Nanny Sun clearly saw her too and hurriedly performed a curtsey. Only after Ji Yuluo passed did she raise her head.
Outside the gate was her nephew, Sun Zhixing.
Since Madam Ji caught them and confirmed Yiniang Gu’s guilt, Sun Zhixing had not dared to come to the Ji residence. After all, he had a part in the plot to harm the eldest Miss Ji.
But if he wasn’t in dire straits, he wouldn’t have come today.
However, Nanny Sun was even more destitute than he was. Without Yiniang Gu, and being shunned by the Madam, her days were far from easy!
Reluctantly, she only managed to give Sun Zhixing three copper coins.
Sun Zhixing looked displeased. Just then, he caught sight of the eldest Miss Ji in the distance, his lecherous nature causing him to narrow his eyes.
Nanny Sun opened the gate and slapped him on the head. “Look, look! How dare you ogle a Jinyiwei officer’s wife! Aren’t you afraid of having your eyes gouged out!”
Sun Zhixing yelped, rubbing his head, but a sudden idea struck him. Jinyiwei… Huo Xian had money!
A bold thought sprang to his mind, and he started to smile. But the thought of the curved blade in Huo Xian’s hand made him shiver, and he furrowed his brow in frustration.
By the time the hour of You (5-7 PM) arrived, the setting sun cast its golden glow over the stone steps.
Huo Xian had gone to the Town Patrol Department on his way back, so by the time he returned to the residence, only Ji Yuluo was there. As she just entered the rear courtyard, the head stewardess approached, presenting a card with gold trim and embossed patterns. She said, “Madam, someone from the palace came by earlier. Consort Xi had an eunuch deliver an invitation to her birthday banquet, specifically instructing you to attend. She said she wants to personally thank you for saving her life.”
Ji Yuluo took the invitation, her heart still unsettled. The stewardess added, “Entering the palace is no small matter. Madam should consult with the Master first.”
This was the trouble for women in the inner quarters; even going out required their husband’s approval.
Ji Yuluo sent Biwu to inform Huo Xian, waiting until it was nearly dark. When she heard that Huo Xian had returned, Biwu took the gilded invitation to the study.
Nanyue, with his handsome and friendly appearance, smiled as he accepted her message. “Please wait a moment, Biwu. I will inform the Master.”
With that, he pushed open the door and entered the study. Biwu peeked through the curtain, catching only a glimpse of a dark robe.
Not long after, Nanyue came out and handed the invitation back to Biwu. He said, “The Master has agreed. The Emperor had already informed us in advance. On that day, the Jinyiwei will be in charge of patrolling the inner palace, and the Master can take Madam along.”
Biwu was delighted. “That’s wonderful! Thank you, Brother Nanyue.”
Nanyue walked with her for a while, chatting about various topics. His friendly manner gradually eased Biwu’s initial unease. During their conversation, Nanyue remarked, “The nobles in the palace love to keep fish and grow flowers. The palace has many ponds, and since it will be a night banquet, Madam must be very careful. Last time, we were really fortunate. Many women in the capital can’t swim, and drowning is a serious concern.”
Biwu almost blurted out, “Yes, indeed,” but suddenly, a string in her mind seemed to be plucked, and she quickly regained her composure. She restrained her smile and said, “There’s no need to worry, Brother Nanyue. Madam has learned to swim. During her three years at the Chengyuan Temple, she had ample free time and took the opportunity to learn. It turned out to be quite useful.”
Nanyue scratched his head. “Well, that’s quite a coincidence.”
After seeing Biwu off, Nanyue returned to the study and relayed the information he had gleaned from her to Huo Xian. “It seems that the Third Miss and Madam Ji are unaware of this. Master, is there anything unusual about this matter?”
Huo Xian was flipping through a thick dossier presented by Liyang. It contained cases handled during the tenure of the former prefect of Yunyang, Wang Qian. Liyang suspected that the assassination at the yamen three years ago might be related to some of these old cases.
Over a span of ten years, there were thousands of cases.
Huo Xian set aside the dossier, raising his eyebrows slightly. “Learned?”
In that case, there was nothing unusual about it.
However, his long-standing habit of thorough investigation, formed from years of arrests and interrogations, compelled him to verify any doubtful points for peace of mind.
Huo Xian gestured for Nanyue to leave.
Before exiting, Nanyue mentioned another matter. “Master, I heard that the Marquis’s health has declined again. Every winter, his leg ailment acts up, and this year it’s especially severe. He can hardly walk.”
Without lifting his head from the dossier, Huo Xian pressed his thumb against the edge of the paper and remained silent for a long time. Seeing this, Nanyue quietly withdrew and thoughtfully closed the door behind him.
He stood in the corridor, looking up at the sky.
The winters in the capital grew colder each year, and the snow seemed to get thicker with each passing year.
At the end of the eleventh month, Consort Xi’s birthday arrived.
A birthday celebration at night was more enjoyable, so Consort Xi had arranged a grand night banquet.
Ji Yuluo sat in front of her dressing table, fastening a white jade earring to her ear while Hongshuang selected a suitable hairpin for her.
It couldn’t be a wooden hairpin; it would be difficult to clean if it got stained with blood.
Nor could it be a jade hairpin; the tip wouldn’t be sharp enough.
Hongshuang suddenly remembered something and said, “Miss, where is that corundum hairpin with the frost pattern cracks? I remember that it was crafted by the Master himself for your birthday one year.”
That hairpin was also Ji Yuluo’s most handy weapon and she never parted with it.
Upon hearing this, Ji Yuluo lowered her eyes slightly, fiddling with the agate ring on her hand. She said, “I lost it.”
Before Hongshuang could ask further, someone knocked on the door and entered.
Expecting Biwu, Ji Yuluo was surprised to see Juan’er, who had received her slave emancipation documents two days earlier. She brought tea and snacks, carefully setting the table and standing by with a teapot, ready to serve refreshments.
Ji Yuluo glanced at her sideways and raised an eyebrow, saying, “Biwu gave you your emancipation documents two days ago. Why haven’t you left?”
Juan’er looked embarrassed.
The truth was, after helping the First Miss trick the Second Miss, the First Miss had indeed fulfilled her promise. However, upon entering the Huo residence, Juan’er realized that being a maid there was more prestigious than at the Ji residence.
Not only did she receive higher monthly stipends, but she also got coal for winter.
Moreover, she had seen the First Miss return from a palace visit with a carriage full of rewards, and even Biwu had benefited considerably. Juan’er envied them and saw a promising future for herself.
She didn’t want to leave.
Juan’er nervously expressed her intentions, pledging her loyalty. “First Miss, please keep me by your side. I will serve you faithfully and take good care of you!”
Ji Yuluo rubbed the ring on her finger without lifting her eyes. She said, “We agreed on the terms. With the money and the documents, you are a free person. Leave the residence early.”
Juan’er’s face stiffened. Stammering, she said, “Miss… I have served you before, and I can be useful to you like Biwu, serving you with all my heart.”
During her time at the Huo residence, Juan’er had observed that the First Miss was still as gentle as ever and not strict with her subordinates. She thought she might still have a chance. Little did she know, her words had crossed a line.
Even Hongshuang paused.
Anyone who takes money to do a task and receives benefits should know to never mention it again. Only a fool would bring it up again, trying to get more benefits. This was tantamount to a threat.
And for someone holding another’s handle, the word “threat” was the most taboo.
Ji Yuluo slowly raised her eyes, her expression unyielding. She said coldly, “Tomorrow morning, I will have Biwu see you out of the residence. I will add fifty taels of silver. As master and servant, I do not wish to treat you unfairly.”
Juan’er twisted her hands. Though the fifty taels were not her initial wish, it was quite a sum.
The First Miss truly did not intend to keep her…
Juan’er bit her lip, nodded reluctantly, and ran off.
The door opened and closed again.
Ji Yuluo leaned closer to the copper mirror but suddenly realized that the white jade earrings did not match her outfit for the day. So, she removed them and replaced them with pearl ones.
She held the pearl earrings against her ears, tilting her neck, and said, “Have Chaolu follow her out of the city tomorrow.”
Hongshuang, understanding the gravity of the situation, responded seriously, “I understand…”
The woman in the mirror continued adjusting her attire, her expression pure and calm. “I do not like those who betray their masters.”
Hongshuang understood clearly and nodded in agreement, saying no more.
At this moment, a nanny knocked on the door and said, “Madam, the Master is waiting for you in the courtyard to go to the palace together.”
Huo Xian was waiting outside the main courtyard, leaning against a stone archway covered in vines. Juan’er hurried past, almost stumbling. She quickly stopped and bowed to Huo Xian before walking away.
Ji Yuluo emerged from the room, smiling gently at him. “Husband, let’s go.”
