Gu Jianli stood there in a daze, staring at the now half a head shorter Ji Xuanke, unable to react for a long time. The Ji Xuanke in her memory had never begged for anything. Gu Jianli was unable to conceal her shock, completely unable to comprehend that he would do such a thing for her. However, after the brief shock came a longer-lasting embarrassment.
She showed no expression on her face, but her grip on the wheelchair’s armrest tightened.
“Xuanke, what kind of madness has possessed you?” Second Master Ji Wugou roared in anger.
The Second Madam and Ji Yuezhen hurriedly ran over to pull Ji Xuanke up. The Second Madam gave Ji Xuanke a hard slap on the shoulder, hating iron for not becoming steel: “Get up immediately! Aren’t you ashamed? Even if you don’t care about your own face, your father and mother still do!”
The Second Madam’s voice trembled. Her greatest fear had come true, and she couldn’t help but resent Gu Jianli, thinking her son’s soul had been ensnared by her bewitching appearance.
Others either came out from the hall or gathered at the doorway, peering outside.
Ji Wujing turned his wheelchair, slowly changing direction. He looked at the kneeling Ji Xuanke, a gleam appearing in his eyes. That gleam grew stronger, gradually filling with interest.
He had always taken what he wanted, but this was the first time someone had asked him for something.
Intriguing.
Amusing.
Ji Wujing’s mouth curved into a malicious yet determined smile. He glanced casually and saw Gu Jianli standing beside him.
Gu Jianli stood quietly in the snow. As a new bride and with the New Year approaching, she had chosen a fitting red attire. Her dark white jacket had sporadic red plum blossoms embroidered on the shoulders and cuffs. A dark red sash pressed down her bright red long skirt. The cold wind howled, blowing her red skirt, the hem trailing through the snow, with bits of snow falling onto the bright red fabric.
Delicate and frail, her slim waist easy to break.
In such an awkward and tense scene, she maintained a calm expression, standing with dignity and grace, keeping her pride and decorum.
Dignified or strong? But in Ji Wujing’s eyes, she seemed solitary and pitiful.
The gleam in Ji Wujing’s eyes dimmed slightly, replaced by deeper contemplation.
Regardless of the Second Madam and Ji Yuezhen’s pulling, Ji Xuanke knelt there resolutely, looking straight at Ji Wujing, his tone firm: “Uncle, Jianli is still young. Her family met with misfortune and she was forced into the manor. We had an engagement long ago…”
“Third Brother!” The old madam came out, supported by Nanny Song, “Think carefully about what you are saying! Your fifth aunt’s name is not something you can call out disrespectfully! Your mother indulges you, pampers you, and sent you away, but your kneeling won’t work on me! Even if you kneel until this old woman closes her eyes, I will never allow you to stake the family’s honor and disgrace on your nonsense!”
Ji Xuanke didn’t expect the old madam to speak to him like this. Did the elders see what he was doing as mere foolishness? The ripping pain in his heart grew heavier. It was as if the seventeen years of prosperity and beauty had suddenly been torn apart, leaving nothing but ruins.
The old madam was the Old Marquis’s second wife and only had one daughter. She didn’t care about the lives of her stepchildren, so why would she care about the grandchildren who had nothing to do with her?
The Old Marquis felt the old madam’s words were harsh, but looking at the unruly Ji Xuanke, he tacitly agreed.
The Second Madam felt heartbroken seeing her son’s despair. Her eyes quickly reddened, and she hurried to pull Ji Xuanke while angrily saying, “During the New Year, are you trying to make me die from anger? She is already your fifth aunt! Even if your fifth uncle divorces her, do you think you can marry her again without becoming a laughingstock?”
“Why not?” Ji Xuanke retorted angrily.
“Slap!” The Second Madam gave Ji Xuanke a hard slap on the face, her chest heaving with anger. Despite it being the coldest time of the year, she was boiling with rage.
Ji Xuanke’s face turned to one side, and he suddenly calmed down.
Even when he was learning to speak, he had been pampered. This was the first time in his seventeen years that he had been hit.
Ji Yueming had intended to see Gu Jianli make a fool of herself, deliberately exposing the situation out of spite. But seeing Gu Jianli standing there calmly, like a proud plum blossom, she felt a pang of discomfort. Instead of seeing Gu Jianli humiliated, she saw her exceptional third brother going mad over this woman!
What right did this woman have? What right did she have to make men follow her devotedly, one after another? Just because she was considered the most beautiful? So what if she was beautiful? What was so special about that?
She spoke mockingly, “Third Brother, don’t be so pathetic thinking about marrying a second-hand wife. Asking Fifth Aunt for a red envelope is more important.”
“Watch your mouth!” Ji Xuanke glared angrily.
Even Ye Yunyue, who had been married, didn’t like Ji Yueming’s words. However, having been reborn, she knew how miserable Ji Yueming’s future would be. Thinking of her future misery, she couldn’t be bothered to argue.
Ji Wujing suddenly spoke nonchalantly, “Sister-in-law, it’s time for Yueming to get married. Haven’t you found a suitable match? I have a powerful friend who’s looking for a match. Shall I be the matchmaker? Oh, you know him too. He’s Chen He from the Western Depot.”
Ji Yueming turned pale instantly.
Chen He… was a eunuch!
The First Madam was startled and quickly stepped out of the hall, pulling Ji Yueming behind her, smiling apologetically, “Thank you for thinking of her, Fifth Brother, but my husband and I have already arranged a marriage for Yueming. It’s all set.”
Ji Wujing responded with a lazy “Oh,” and a smirk, “Get her married off soon. The longer she stays, the more problems there will be…”
“Yes, yes…” The First Madam quickly replied with a smile.
Ji Wujing’s gaze fell on the disheveled Ji Xuanke. The Second Madam quickly stood in front, using her body to block Ji Wujing’s view, imitating the First Madam’s apologetic smile, “Fifth Brother, don’t hold it against Xuanke…”
The Second Master also spoke up, “Fifth Brother, this is all under the palace’s orders. Our family is just following the decree…”
“Not holding a grudge. Just a kid,” Ji Wujing said.
Second Master and Second Madam both looked closely at Ji Wujing’s expression, finding it hard to believe that the always vengeful Ji Wujing would truly not hold a grudge.
Ji Xinglan suddenly sneezed.
Ji Wujing glanced at her, patted her head, and said, “Let’s go back.”
Ji Xinglan looked at Ji Wujing in confusion. Her father rarely smiled at her. But she didn’t dare to smile back. Although she didn’t understand what had happened, she could tell that everyone was in a bad mood. Her third brother even got slapped, which was very scary!
Gu Jianli calmly let Jixia and Nanny Lin pick up Ji Xinglan and Ji Xingluo, then she turned Ji Wujing’s wheelchair around. This time, she didn’t lower her head but raised her chin slightly, looking at the distant snow-covered mountains.
Ji Xuanke knelt there, watching Gu Jianli’s figure gradually walk away. He closed his eyes, holding back his tears. The once naive young man seemed to see the harsh reality of life in an instant and suddenly matured.
Back in the courtyard, Gu Jianli calmly instructed Jixia to make a simple meal in the small kitchen and asked Nanny Lin to brew a remedy for the cold. Not only had Ji Xinglan sneezed, but everyone had been standing in the snow for so long that it was best for all to drink a bowl.
She also had Lizi heat water and personally found clean shoes and socks to change Ji Xinglan and Ji Xingluo into.
Ji Wujing watched her coldly, noticing how she acted as if nothing had happened.
After eating, everyone drank a bowl of the cold remedy, and Nanny Lin took Ji Xinglan and Ji Xingluo away. Jixia and Lizi were tidying up the dishes. Jixia kept glancing at Gu Jianli, full of worry.
With the children gone, the hall quieted down. Gu Jianli mentally prepared herself and then spoke to Ji Wujing, “Fifth Master, I have had Lizi heat the water. Would you like to take a hot bath first or rest for a while?”
Ji Wujing slept more than he was awake each day, getting up late and often napping in the afternoon after lunch.
Ji Wujing lazily propped his cheek, made a noise, and said, “No bath, just sleep.”
With that, he pushed himself up from the wheelchair’s armrest.
Gu Jianli hesitated for a moment but then steeled herself and walked over to support him into the inner room.
As the door to the inner room closed, Jixia watched it with a deeply furrowed brow, extremely worried.
The inner room was always dim, not as bright as the outer room. Upon entering, it gave a feeling of dark oppression. As Gu Jianli helped Ji Wujing towards the bed, she was thinking about what to say to him. She had been pondering this all the way back but was still at a loss.
Ji Wujing’s narrow fox-like eyes glanced sideways at Gu Jianli’s face. He barely perceptibly curled his lips and suddenly slapped Gu Jianli’s butt hard.
The shock and pain made Gu Jianli cry out. She stared at Ji Wujing, tears instantly streaming down. It was unclear whether it was from fear, pain, or pent-up emotions finally finding a release.
“Does it hurt?” Ji Wujing asked with a smile.
Gu Jianli looked at him with wide, tear-filled eyes and instinctively shook her head.
Ji Wujing frowned, made a noise, and grabbed Gu Jianli by her slim waist, giving her another hard slap on her butt.
He released his grip, and Gu Jianli, with a vacant look in her eyes, stumbled a couple of steps before her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the colorful carpet. She looked up at Ji Wujing, feeling both incredulous and wronged, and it really hurt…
Tears fell silently, one after another. She didn’t make a sound, just looked at Ji Wujing and cried silently. She cried for a long time before she belatedly covered her face with her hands, letting the uncontrollable tears soak her palms.
Ji Wujing leaned on a nearby table and squatted down, then lazily sat cross-legged on the carpet, a smile playing on his lips. He said, “Little girl, why carry such heavy burdens? Didn’t Ji Jingyi say that brooding would make you sick? If you dare vomit on me again, no matter what you call it, I’ll have to give you acupuncture.”
Gu Jianli’s body stiffened, and a small sob caught in her throat as her silent tears turned into quiet whimpers.
“Right, if you feel wronged, cry it out. Don’t hold it in,” Ji Wujing said, flicking her forehead with his finger.
Suddenly, Gu Jianli burst into loud sobs. She had never cried so ungracefully before.
Gu Jianli cried for a long time.
Though it was Ji Wujing who had told her to cry, his patience had limits. After a long while, his patience finally wore thin.
“Alright, come here. Uncle will hold you, don’t cry,” Ji Wujing said, pulling her into his arms and gently patting her like a child.
Gu Jianli cried herself into a daze, her body soft and without resistance.
After a long time, Gu Jianli finally stopped crying. She quietly nestled in Ji Wujing’s arms, her eyes closed.
Ji Wujing patted her face and laughed, “Did you cry yourself to sleep? Or did you cry yourself unconscious?”
