Volume One, Chapter 8: She Did Not Want to See Mei Xianghan

Mei Changgong was throwing a tantrum in his room, kicking the servant who had come to report to him.

"Useless! You can't even get to the bottom of this?"

He had just sent people to the Ministry of Justice prison to find out exactly who had dared to torture his sister. However, the jailers did not care for them at all and simply drove his men away.

Furious, Mei Changgong smashed another cup. "These snobbish, bootlicking wretches! They clearly see that the Marquis’s estate has fallen and look down on us! Would they have dared to act like this when Father was still alive?"

If they were this disrespectful to him, one could only imagine how much Mei Gongxue had suffered during the six months she was locked in the dungeon. She had even been driven to the point of wanting to end her own life! No wonder Mei Gongxue refused to forgive them.

As an elder brother, it was not that Mei Changgong felt no pity for Mei Gongxue; it was simply that he had not watched her grow up, and their bond was not that deep. Yet, whenever he recalled her cold, distant demeanor, he felt irritated.

"And Xiaoxue, why didn't she say she was injured yesterday? I would have charged in right then and there to teach those jailers a lesson and vent her frustrations!"

A servant standing nearby interjected, "You didn't give her the chance, Young Master. Didn't you drive the carriage away immediately?"

On that snowy day, he had left Mei Gongxue behind all by herself.

Mei Changgong was momentarily choked for words, but he still grumbled, "Couldn't she have come back and told me herself? Does she not have a mouth?"

Their eldest sister-in-law was already in poor health, and Mei Gongxue had insisted on speaking in front of her—who knew what kind of schemes she was hiding? She deserved this suffering!

...

Peach Blossom Courtyard.

After returning, Mei Gongxue first lit a stick of incense for her parents. Mei Yanjun was indeed thoughtful; he had specially set up an altar in her courtyard for her to pay her respects, sparing her from having to run to the ancestral hall in the freezing winter while covered in injuries.

Had this been in the past, Mei Gongxue would surely have been moved by her second brother's concern. But now, she had long since recognized his hypocritical face. Take today, for instance: at breakfast, Mei Changgong had only shouted warnings at her not to pine after Ji Yunchu, while Mei Yanjun sat silently on the side without expressing an opinion. Yet, in less than a day, he had decisively decided to finalize the marriage between Mei Xianghan and Ji Yunchu. It appeared to be an open and fair discussion with no selfish motives, but was it not also a test of Mei Gongxue’s attitude?

"Eldest Miss, it is time for your medicine!"

Mei Gongxue looked at the medicinal soup Hongxiu brought in. Knowing it must have been sent by Mei Yanjun, she couldn't help but find it amusing. If he truly cared about her, why hadn't he rescued her immediately after Zhao Zhang was found guilty? Mei Yanjun always wore a gentle, misleading smile that made those around him believe he was an easy person to get along with. In reality, he was even more snobbish than the brawny, simple-minded Mei Changgong.

Hongxiu watched intently as Mei Gongxue drank the medicine dry, not forgetting to console her, "Miss, you must cherish your health. After all, you have a long life ahead of you; one must always look forward!"

Mei Gongxue smiled but did not reply. In truth, she was well aware of her physical condition. Before returning to the Marquis's estate, she had been taken in by a physician and had spent her time doing chores at the clinic. The lash marks were merely external injuries; the real issue was internal—her stomach. Not long ago, she had already begun to vomit blood.

But none of that mattered anymore. Mei Gongxue was planning to save some money and learn embroidery so that she would at least have a way to support herself. Once she found a suitable opportunity, she would leave the Marquis's estate. Even if she were to die, she would not die in front of them!

The only thing she couldn't stop worrying about was her eldest sister-in-law. If not for her, she didn't know when she would have been able to walk out of that prison. However, after three years of separation, her sister-in-law's health was far worse than before. Ever since that miscarriage, she had struggled to conceive; it was highly likely that the roots of her illness had been planted back then.

Having just finished the medicine, Mei Gongxue felt dazed and sleepy as she pondered these things. Suddenly, her maid reported, "Miss, the Second Miss is outside asking to see you!"

Mei Xianghan? Why was she here?

The annoyance in Mei Gongxue’s eyes was undisguised. "I won't see her."

The little maid stuttered, "The Second Miss said... if you refuse to see her, she will wait outside! She will wait until your anger has subsided!"

Mei Gongxue gave a light huff. Was she trying to force her hand, knowing full well she didn't want to see her? She coldly repeated the same two words: "Not seeing her!"

The maid went out to deliver the message.

Mei Gongxue’s medicine began to take effect, and she drifted into a light sleep on the daybed. When she woke up again, it seemed to be snowing outside. "Hongxiu, how long have I been asleep?"

"About an hour, I suppose!"

Mei Gongxue looked up at her. Hongxiu immediately understood what her mistress wanted to ask and, with a troubled expression, said, "The Second Miss is still standing outside waiting!"

Mei Gongxue was speechless. Rubbing her brow, she finally said, "Then let her in."

A moment later, Mei Xianghan entered, her cheeks flushed bright red from the cold. Mei Gongxue leaned against the daybed, her long hair draped loosely, wearing thick cotton clothes even inside the warm room.

"What do you want with me?" Mei Gongxue’s voice was crisp and cold, devoid of any pleasantries.

Mei Xianghan’s eyes reddened slightly. She had waited outside for so long, and yet her sister wouldn't even offer her a kind word? Still, she took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and stepped inside, wanting to approach Mei Gongxue but fearing rejection.

"Sister, I came to apologize to you sincerely. I know that whether it was the torment you suffered at the Zhao residence or the punishments you endured at the Ministry of Justice, in the end, it was all my fault!"

"I was too young and too cowardly back then! If I could go back three years, I would never have lied and used your name. As long as you can forgive me, I will do anything! Anything of mine in my room that you like, feel free to take—I will not be stingy!" She twisted her hands nervously, her gaze fixed on Mei Gongxue’s expression, desperately trying to convey the sincerity of her apology.

Mei Gongxue looked at her coldly and said lightly, "So you mean that as long as I forgive you, you will agree to any request I make?"

Mei Xianghan nodded firmly, as if she had grown much older. "Yes! As long as you aren't angry with me anymore!"

Mei Gongxue pulled her robe tighter and used a fire poker to stir the burning charcoal in the brazier; the firelight gave her face a hint of color, yet it could not illuminate the eyes that had been robbed of their luster by the passage of time.

A hint of playfulness suddenly surfaced in Mei Gongxue’s heart. She said generously, "Since you’ve put it that way, how about... you give Ji Yunchu to me?"

The single sentence choked Mei Xianghan instantly. Her eyes filled with tears of distress; she lowered her head and fidgeted. "How can marriage be a matter of child's play?"

Mei Gongxue smiled mockingly. "Then why was my marriage nothing but child's play?"

Mei Xianghan was left speechless. It seemed that after three years, she had only gained in age, but not in intelligence.