Chapter 8
Ji Yan’an looked down at her long dress in confusion. It wasn’t exactly thin… and the room was warm enough.
Before she could voice her doubts, Song Yi had already returned with a cloak and held it out to her. The expression on her face left no room for refusal.
Pouting slightly, Ji Yan’an wrapped herself in the cloak.
She had to admit—it really was warmer.
“Are you worried about me, beauty?”
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
As expected, Song Yi lifted her eyes and looked at her.
Those dark, ink-black eyes fixed on her once again, making Ji Yan’an inexplicably guilty.
Wait a second. I haven’t done anything wrong to her. Why am I feeling guilty?
Only then did her brain seem to catch up.
She met Song Yi’s gaze directly.
After staring for a few moments, she suddenly burst out laughing.
No matter what, she could never stay serious for very long.
Sure enough, snow began falling outside once more, soft flakes drifting down in endless silence. The temperature dropped another degree. None of the maids wanted to wander about in the snow, so they all stayed huddled in the side rooms, waiting to be summoned by their masters.
The courtyard was exceptionally quiet.
Ji Yan’an pushed open the window slightly.
Cold air immediately rushed inside, like an invisible hand slipping beneath her collar. A shiver ran through her body.
“If you’re cold, why open the window?”
Song Yi finally set down the book she had been reading and walked over.
Instead of answering, Ji Yan’an grinned and waved her over, beckoning her to come take a look.
Song Yi had no intention of indulging something so childish.
Yet for some reason she couldn’t explain, she found herself leaning closer.
The sight outside was breathtaking.
Winter should have been a season of withering and decay, but Ji Yan’an’s courtyard remained lush and vibrant.
In an era without even the slightest trace of modern technology, maintaining such a garden through winter should have been impossible.
Yet Ji Yan’an’s parents had somehow made it happen.
Exotic flowers and rare plants bloomed among the snow, their delicate petals appearing even more fragile beneath the white blanket. The scene was so lovely it made one want to rush forward and shield every blossom from harm.
But Song Yi’s eyes remained cold.
As though these flowers should never have existed.
As though they had no right to bloom in winter.
“Well? Isn’t it beautiful?”
Ji Yan’an’s eyes sparkled brightly.
For a moment, Song Yi couldn’t tell whether it was the stars or Ji Yan’an’s eyes that shone more brilliantly.
No matter how much darkness lingered inside her heart, it seemed impossible to release it at this moment.
Looking down at the girl nearly a head shorter than herself, Song Yi finally replied,
“It is.”
The answer she wanted earned a dazzling smile from Ji Yan’an.
Satisfied, she rubbed her hands together and shut the window. The icy wind was sealed outside, while she herself showed no signs of having been chilled.
She skipped back to the table, grabbed a book, and began flipping through it enthusiastically.
“You won’t learn anything reading like that.”
Song Yi stated the truth mercilessly.
The book concerned political affairs. Even if Ji Yan’an read it seriously, there was only so much she could understand.
Hearing that, Ji Yan’an instantly deflated like a punctured balloon.
She set the book down and rested her chin on her slender wrist, staring at Song Yi with a deeply aggrieved expression.
Normally, Song Yi paid little attention to how others looked at her.
But there were only the two of them in the room.
And Ji Yan’an kept staring at her with those pitiful, resentful eyes.
Even Song Yi found it difficult to endure.
At last, the beauty rose and left the main room.
Ji Yan’an’s spirits sank immediately.
She thought Song Yi simply didn’t want to bother with her anymore.
Then, a short while later, Song Yi returned.
Carrying several thick books.
“What are these?”
Curious again, Ji Yan’an hurried over.
The title on the worn yellowed pages immediately caught her eye.
Instructions for Women.
The old pages suggested the books had been tucked away for years without being touched.
Ji Yan’an stared at Song Yi in shock.
“What is this supposed to mean? We don’t follow this sort of thing in Yongzhao!”
One of the few things she had been grateful for after transmigrating into this novel was that she hadn’t landed in some oppressive feudal dynasty where women bound their feet and lived according to endless moral restrictions.
The moment she saw those books, a chill ran straight through her.
Song Yi naturally noticed her fear and panic.
A rare smile appeared on her face.
She flipped through a few pages and pointed at the contents.
“Just read the sections on etiquette.”
Her voice remained calm.
“You’ve entered the palace many times before. The rest should already be familiar to you.”
Ji Yan’an froze.
So Song Yi wasn’t trying to lecture her on feminine virtues at all.
She was worried that Ji Yan’an would become nervous because of palace etiquette.
This woman…
Did she really understand her that well?
Before Song Yi could say anything else, Ji Yan’an had already hugged the book and begun reading.
Many passages took her ages to decipher.
Even so, it didn’t affect her enthusiasm for studying alongside Song Yi.
From time to time, Le Yan entered to add more charcoal to the brazier.
Every time she stepped inside and saw the peaceful scene before her, she felt strangely comforted.
After all, before this, the person who came to visit her young mistress night after night had always been Ji Tong’an.
Le Yan had originally served in Ji Yan’an’s courtyard.
She had watched Ji Tong’an arrive each time with calculation hidden behind her smile, only to leave wearing an arrogant, self-satisfied expression.
Everything about Ji Tong’an lowered Le Yan’s opinion of her.
But after her young mistress fell into the water, everything seemed different.
Sitting on a small stool in the side room, Le Yan gazed at the snowy scenery outside with a pleased expression.
Anyone is better company than that Miss Ji Tong’an.
The little maid thought to herself.
Soon, it was time for dinner.
Because the snowstorm outside showed no signs of stopping, Ji Yongning decided against having everyone gather together. Instead, he ordered the kitchen to deliver meals to each courtyard individually.
As the family’s only legitimate daughter, Ji Yan’an naturally received the greatest attention.
Despite the heavy snowfall, Ji Yongning and Madam Ji still came personally to check on her.
The moment they entered, they saw Ji Yan’an and Song Yi sitting quietly with books in hand while the dishes on the table continued to steam untouched.
“Why haven’t you eaten?”
Ji Yongning’s sudden question nearly startled Ji Yan’an into throwing her book.
Once she realized who it was, she hurriedly rose and performed a respectful greeting alongside Song Yi.
Only then did she answer,
“I became absorbed in my reading and forgot it was time for dinner.”
Ji Yongning seemed extremely pleased by that response.
His beard trembled with laughter.
“My daughter has finally become diligent! Excellent! Excellent!”
Throughout the exchange, Song Yi stood silently at the side.
A complete outsider.
Just as the family prepared to begin dinner together, Song Yi intended to excuse herself.
Then a warm, soft hand suddenly wrapped around her cold fingers.
“Eat with us.”
The girl’s eyes were as bright as ever.
So bright that refusing her felt impossible.
Even knowing she would be dining across from one of her late father’s former friends, Song Yi still couldn’t bring herself to shake off Ji Yan’an’s hand.
Song Yi silently reflected that she had already made far too many exceptions for this girl.
As for why—
Even she didn’t know.
In the end, Ji Yan’an successfully pulled her into the family dinner.
Fortunately, neither Ji Yongning nor Madam Ji seemed the least bit uncomfortable about the additional guest.
Madam Ji, especially, remembered to place food into Song Yi’s bowl whenever she served Ji Yan’an.
Ji Yongning’s official career had been smooth and prosperous for years.
There were few days when he was in a bad mood.
The only thing troubling him recently had been his precious daughter’s fall into the water.
Watching Song Yi and Ji Yan’an get along so harmoniously, he found himself believing more and more in Song Yi’s innocence.
As for Ji Tong’an, who had rushed to accuse Song Yi first…
That matter definitely deserved a thorough investigation.
As expected of a seasoned veteran of officialdom, Ji Yongning did not disappoint Ji Yan’an.
