Ever since hearing from Gu Jianli that Gu Zaili had helped her family, Wen Jingshan’s heart had been in a constant state of worry. Finally, Gu Zaili came to see her, but before they could exchange a few words, Gu Zaili left abruptly. Wen Jingshan, feeling anxious, called out several times for Xiaohe, but Xiaohe was nowhere to be found.
Supporting herself with a cane, she hurriedly tried to follow, but after only a few steps, she accidentally fell. Her cane dropped to the ground, and her hands pressed against the surface, scraping against small pebbles that broke the skin of her palms. She looked at her hands briefly before picking up the fallen cane.
Not far away, a small figure flitted past.
Wen Jingshan looked over in surprise to see Ji Xinglou hiding behind a tree.
After her initial surprise, Wen Jingshan collected herself. Calmly, she shifted her gaze, using the cane to support herself as she slowly tried to stand up.
In the cold depths of winter, the brick surface felt coated with a layer of ice. Her cane slipped, and before she could fully stand, it fell from her hand again.
“So clumsy,” Ji Xinglou muttered.
Wen Jingshan suddenly felt very dejected. Even though Ji Xinglou did not know she was his mother, appearing so disheveled in front of him still pained her.
Five years had not completely erased her former pride. That pride had become more reserved, not daring to show its edge anymore.
Calmly, she picked up the cane again and stood up with effort. She gazed into the distance, her eyes vacant. After a soft sigh, she turned her head to look at Ji Xinglou, and smiled gently at him. The veil hid her pursed lips, but it couldn’t conceal the tenderness in her eyes.
She stood there, gazing at Ji Xinglou for a long time. Over the past five years, she had constantly imagined what he would look like, and now she finally saw him. Even if she could gaze at him forever, it wouldn’t be enough; she wished she could etch his appearance into her heart.
“Why are you staring at me?” Ji Xinglou asked impatiently, frowning.
Wen Jingshan remained silent.
“Why aren’t you talking?” Ji Xinglou grew more impatient.
Wen Jingshan gently shook her head.
“Are you not only a cripple but also a mute?” Ji Xinglou scoffed.
Wen Jingshan simply continued to gaze at him with a gentle smile.
Ji Xinglou crouched down, grabbed a handful of pebbles, and looked like he was going to throw them at Wen Jingshan. She stood still, not showing any intention to dodge, and the gentleness in her eyes didn’t fade one bit.
Ji Xinglou clenched the pebbles in his small fist so tightly that his palm started to hurt from the pressure.
“Hmph, I won’t bully a cripple,” he said arrogantly, tossing the pebbles away and dusting off his hands.
Feeling bored and uninterested in her, Ji Xinglou turned and took a few steps forward but then stopped. He frowned, hesitated for a moment, then ran back to Wen Jingshan, pointing his small finger at her nose and said fiercely, “I’ll tell you, I have a mother, her name is Gu Jianli! Don’t you dare try anything bad!”
Wen Jingshan nodded lightly, her gaze never leaving Ji Xinglou’s face.
Wen Jingshan’s nod left Ji Xinglou stunned. His resistance to her lessened somewhat.
“You… you really can’t speak? Then… can you write?” Ji Xinglou asked hesitantly.
Wen Jingshan could speak, but her voice was harsh and unpleasant. She feared that speaking would make Ji Xinglou detest her or even scare him.
Supporting herself with her cane, Wen Jingshan walked a few steps to the side, crouched down slowly at the edge of the brick path, and picked up a fallen twig. With great effort, she began to write in the frozen ground.
—Listen to your mother.
Ji Xinglou blinked and tilted his head to look at Wen Jingshan. His brows furrowed as he asked, “Are you really my aunt?”
Wen Jingshan gazed deeply into his eyes and, unable to help herself, reached out to gently trace the outline of his eyes with her finger.
His eyes looked just like Ji Chong’s.
By some mysterious impulse, Ji Xinglou did not pull away. However, he said with a displeased expression, “Let go! If you keep touching me, I’ll push you!”
Wen Jingshan seemed not to hear, her hand softly caressing his cheek as if holding a precious treasure.
“Why are you crying?” Ji Xinglou shouted, awkwardly standing up and stepping back.
Wen Jingshan snapped back to reality, tears streaming down her face.
She smiled, rose with the help of her cane, and slowly turned to walk back to the house, step by painful step.
Ji Xinglou stood there, watching her limping figure disappear. He felt a strange sensation, as if something had bitten his heart, causing it to ache.
He watched until Wen Jingshan entered the house, the door closing and blocking his view. Only then did he turn away, feeling sullen. As he walked past the moon gate, he suddenly remembered he hadn’t come alone. He craned his neck and looked around, finally spotting Ji Xinglan crouched in a corner, hugging her knees and crying.
“What are you crying about!” Ji Xinglou snapped, feeling another pang in his heart.
Ji Xinglan lifted her tear-streaked face, her eyes full of sorrow as she looked at Ji Xinglou and stretched out her small arms, crying out, “Brother, brother, hug me…”
“Why are you crying?” Ji Xinglou asked impatiently but still held his sister in his arms, clumsily patting her back.
Today was supposed to be Ji Xinglan’s visit.
“She doesn’t want me… she only wants to see brother… boo hoo… Is Lanlan not good enough… boo hoo…” Ji Xinglan finally sobbed out loud, overwhelmed with grievance.
Ji Xinglou, at a loss, felt helpless. His sister, though prone to crying, had never been this heartbroken. She used to always smile at him, comfort him, and take care of him. Now, he awkwardly tried to comfort her, “Don’t cry. She doesn’t want you, I don’t want her either. I want my sister, and my sister has her brother. Others are bad; your brother is good! We’ve been together since we were little, and we’ll always be together. Who cares if others don’t want you? Even if they did, your brother wouldn’t give you away!”
Gu Jianli, having seen Gu Zaili off, returned to find Wen Jingshan, and happened upon the scene of Ji Xinglan crying in her brother’s arms.
Gu Jianli stood frozen for a moment, realizing the situation was serious. The little girl was heartbroken. If things weren’t explained clearly, a thorn would remain lodged in her heart.
But… how could it be explained clearly now? Even matters difficult to clarify to adults were even more challenging to convey to two five-year-old children.
Gu Jianli stood to the side, deep in thought. It wasn’t until Ji Xinglou, holding his sister’s hand, left that Gu Jianli emerged from the corner to see Wen Jingshan.
Gu Zaili had left in a hurry, but before leaving, she had asked Gu Jianli to pass on a few words to Wen Jingshan.
Five years ago, during the execution of the entire Wen family, Gu Zaili had indeed made efforts to secretly save a few people. She had managed to protect Wen Jingshan’s mother, brother, and a half-sister. However, she was unable to save more. She had settled these people well, far away from the capital.
Upon hearing Gu Jianli’s words, Wen Jingshan couldn’t help but sigh. Her eyes reddened, but she smiled. She carefully noted the location, determined to reunite with them one day. However, now was not a good time, as she feared implicating them again.
Before leaving, Gu Jianli hesitated and mentioned Ji Xinglan.
“I have no other intentions, just seeking advice,” Gu Jianli said.
“I didn’t know about this little girl’s situation beforehand…” Wen Jingshan thought for a while. “If it’s still possible, meeting her as her aunt is acceptable.”
Gu Jianli didn’t immediately agree; she wanted to think it over more.
She didn’t know how to resolve this matter, but putting herself in the children’s shoes, she remembered hating being deceived by adults when she was young.
After leaving Wen Jingshan, Gu Jianli returned to her room, where Yanzhi quickly handed her a note. Gu Jianli took it inside, sat by the window on a chaise longue, and opened the note.
“What is it this time?” Ji Wujing asked as he walked in from outside.
“The coming-of-age ceremony for the Empress’s younger sister. I’ve been invited to be the one who pins up her hair,” Gu Jianli replied.
“A pinning-up person? What’s that?” Ji Wujing asked.
Gu Jianli was used to Ji Wujing’s lack of knowledge about many things and knew he wasn’t genuinely interested, merely asking out of curiosity. She explained briefly while putting away the note, “During a girl’s coming-of-age ceremony, there are guests invited. The pinning-up person, along with the assistants and officials, are all part of the formalities.”
Suddenly interested, Ji Wujing asked, “Gu Jianli, who did you invite as the pinning-up person and assistants during your coming-of-age ceremony?”
Gu Jianli bent down, took the needlework basket from the small table, placed it on her lap, and silently began working on her half-finished embroidery.
Ji Wujing casually picked up a pillow and tossed it next to Gu Jianli, saying, “Why aren’t you answering me?”
Gu Jianli looked up at him innocently and said, “It was you. You, who were in a deep sleep and scared me half to death.”
Ji Wujing suddenly remembered. Indeed, on her coming-of-age day, she had been carried to his room in a flower sedan.
“Oh, by the way, my sister wants to rebel,” Gu Jianli mentioned.
Ji Wujing casually responded with an “oh.”
Gu Jianli glanced at him before returning to her needlework.
Ji Wujing asked, “Gu Jianli, where’s the sachet you embroidered for me?”
Gu Jianli’s hand paused, almost pricking her finger with the needle.
Ji Wujing’s face darkened. “Gu Jianli, this is too much. Last winter, you promised to make me a dress, and I’ve been waiting for a year. Then in the middle of the year, you said you’d make me a sachet, but that never happened either.”
Gu Jianli awkwardly waved the fabric in her hand and said seriously, “This really is for you.”
“What is it?” Ji Wujing walked over and stood in front of her, looking at the fabric in her hand.
“Diapers.”
Ji Wujing was silent for a moment, then said expressionlessly, “Gu Jianli, say that again.”
Gu Jianli tried to hold back her laughter and said with a straight face, “You’re going to be in a coma for another ten days, right? I thought it would make you more comfortable. It’s really out of the goodness of my heart. Don’t waste it… Let go! Let go!”
Ji Wujing grabbed Gu Jianli by the waist and lifted her up. “Gu Jianli, when have I ever wet my pants? But you, as a child, would wet your pants after a few kisses. Come on, let Uncle tie it on for you.”
“I did not! Ji Zhao, don’t talk nonsense!” Gu Jianli laughed, wrapping her arms around Ji Wujing’s neck. She rubbed her cheek against his ear, smiling as she said, “It’s just a small quilt, afraid you’d be cold, wanting you to sleep more comfortably.”
Ji Wujing coldly laughed.
He had already lost hope of receiving any finished product.