Ji Yunchu stared at the meal still steaming on the table. He did not speak, his silence serving as a tacit admission.
At the mere thought of what Mei Gongxue had just said, an inexplicable fire ignited in Mei Changgong’s chest. He looked Ji Yunchu up and down.
"I never told you the exact time Xiaoxue would be released from prison, did I? And I don't recall the road to the gravesite passing by the Ministry of Punishments Prison, either."
Ji Yunchu raised his head slightly to sweep a cold, stern gaze over him. "You may be able to control her, but do you honestly think you can control me?"
Mei Changgong’s expression turned somber. "Then you must have heard what I said! Ji Yunchu, regardless of how we may have treated you, surely you owe my father a debt of gratitude?"
Ji Yunchu listened with a calm, indifferent expression.
Mei Changgong continued, "Before my father died, the thing he worried about most was A Xiang. She has been frail since she was a child. You promised him you would look after her! Do you not understand the meaning of that commitment? So, I am asking you: stay away from Xiaoxue!"
Hearing this, a look of disdain tugged at the corner of Ji Yunchu’s mouth. "The Third Young Master finally remembers his filial piety? You know how much the Old Marquis doted on Mei Gongxue, don't you? Now that he is dead, you have all teamed up to bully his own daughter!"
Mei Changgong’s face flushed a deep, indignant red. He glared viciously at Ji Yunchu, yet the overwhelming shame kept him from retorting. He could only sneer.
"She did it on purpose! She purposely acted pitiful in front of us, purposely acted so cold—refusing even to call me brother—just to remind us that we owe her! It’s as if she contributed so much to the Marquis Manor!"
"That eunuch Zhao Zhang is the one who killed Father. If she really had any heart, she would have found an opportunity to assassinate him after she was married off, rather than being so spineless and useless!"
Ji Yunchu’s brows furrowed instantly. "The Third Young Master speaks with such righteous indignation! Since you are a man and have studied martial arts for years, why haven't you gone to kill your enemy and take Zhao Zhang’s life yourself?"
"I—!" Mei Changgong’s eyes, which had been wide with anger, suddenly dimmed. He tossed his wine cup aside in frustration. "I don't have the ability!"
Ji Yunchu let out a cold snort. "You don't have the ability, so you expect your own sister, who doesn't have the strength to truss a chicken, to do it?"
His words were like a sharp blade, piercing deep into Mei Changgong’s heart. Even as he searched for something to say in his defense, he could find no suitable words.
After a long while, he turned his head to look at Ji Yunchu, his voice low and hoarse. "Don't sit there and offer empty sarcasm. Three years ago, she begged you, too. But tell me, what did you do that was any different from us?"
Ji Yunchu did not defend himself. "I was useless."
In his mind, he kept replaying the scene of Mei Gongxue crying as she begged him to speak up for her. Her eyes had been full of despair, her hands clutching his sleeve as if he were her last straw. When he had refused, she had slumped as if all her support had been pulled away.
Yesterday, he had actually been waiting outside the prison long before she emerged.
Given Mei Gongxue’s original nature, he had expected her to be filled with resentment, to rebuke him for his coldness, or to be full of grievances, complaining about why he had arrived to pick her up so late.
But he had never imagined that Mei Gongxue would simply stand there, her eyes like an ancient, dried-up well—devoid of any life.
Only three years had passed; how could she have become like this?
At this thought, Ji Yunchu’s hands, hanging at his sides, clenched into fists. "There is no point in saying these things now. Let’s not sit here bickering like dogs."
Mei Changgong fell silent as well. Thinking of the changes in Mei Gongxue over these three years, he felt as if a heavy weight were pressing against his chest.
It was all Zhao Zhang’s fault! Everything was his doing!
Mei Changgong had actually been secretly inquiring about Mei Gongxue’s situation. After all, Zhao Zhang frequently held banquets at the estate, and every time, Mei Gongxue would appear to toast the guests, seemingly fine. Who would have known that behind closed doors...
He dared not even think deeply about how desperate Mei Gongxue must have been every night, facing such a deviant.
Ji Yunchu seemed unable to sit still any longer; he rose to leave.
Mei Changgong called out to him, "Don't say I didn't warn you. Our Marquis Manor has only two daughters. One has already suffered an unhappy marriage; we do not wish for the other to meet a similar fate. Keep yourself in check, and do not let her down!"
A moment later, he added, "Otherwise, even in the afterlife, Father will not be able to rest in peace!"
Ji Yunchu froze for a moment before walking away in silence.
...
Meanwhile, in the Taohua Courtyard.
Hongxiu returned from the kitchen alone, carrying a bowl of light porridge and a few side dishes.
Mei Gongxue had tried her best to restrain herself. Though she did not eat hurriedly, she still filled her stomach. She intended to visit her eldest sister-in-law, but as soon as she stepped outside, she could not hold it back and threw up everything she had just eaten.
Her mouth felt bitter, as if she had vomited up her very bile.
Hongxiu’s tears spilled over immediately. Watching her mistress’s pale face, she felt deeply unsettled.
"It’s nothing, just a sensitive stomach. I’ll be fine after some rest," Mei Gongxue said, trying to comfort her instead.
Hongxiu sobbed, "My Lady, if you had only let me accompany you when you were married off, I would never have let your body be ruined like this!"
Mei Gongxue shook her head. "That place... it was already a misfortune that I was the one sent there. Why should I have dragged you down with me?"
Hongxiu cried even harder. "They only took advantage of your gentle nature back then. It was clearly the Second Young Miss who caused the trouble, yet they falsely reported your name. Since you two look exactly the same, why couldn't they have let the Second Young Miss marry him instead?"
Fearing her tears would stir up painful memories, she quickly put on a forced smile.
"At least it’s all in the past now. The Second Young Master specifically sent over some scar-removal ointment and nourishing tonics. He knows you fear the cold, so he even hired a group of craftsmen from the palace to install underfloor heating in your chambers! You see, the Second Young Master still cares about you!"
"Is that so?" Mei Gongxue’s voice was low, sounding as if it drifted up from a distant valley, tinged with exhaustion.
She had once longed for family affection, but after experiencing betrayal, she had finally seen reality for what it was. Did they truly care for her? Or was it more likely they were trying to ease their own guilt, or perhaps they were afraid that her appearance would bring shame to the Marquis Manor when she went out?
"Take it away."
Mei Gongxue no longer craved that thin, cold affection, nor did she need anyone’s pity.
Hongxiu wanted to persuade her further, but a young maid came to the door to report.
"Young Master Yunchu is here to see the Eldest Young Miss."
Mei Gongxue looked impatient and ordered them to send him away immediately.
However, a moment later, the young maid returned, holding something in her hands.
"Before he left, Young Master Yunchu left behind a music score. He said that if there is ever an opportunity, he hopes you might play it for him!"
It was an extremely rare and precious score—the "Youlan Tune"! Mei Gongxue had once searched the entire Capital for it, all to no avail.
To think that Ji Yunchu had actually found it!
But it was too late. The zither was already gone.
Mei Gongxue tossed the score onto the zither stand without a second thought.