Seeing Yang Jingyuan unexpectedly, Madam Ji nearly wept with joy. For her, this was undoubtedly the best possible outcome.
During the formal greetings, Ji Yingying curiously watched Yang Jingyuan. Since he awkwardly wanted to distinguish between two Yang Third Masters, how would he address her mother? Would he still call her Madam Ji?
“Greetings, Mother-in-law.” Yang Jingyuan performed a deep formal bow.
Hearing him say “Mother-in-law,” joy seeped into the depths of Madam Ji’s eyes.
Ji Yingying lowered her head to hide her smile, her mood suddenly brightening. From Yang Jingyuan’s angle, her delicate head bowed, the cyan collar accentuating her porcelain-like slender neck—she was breathtakingly beautiful. He suddenly wanted to reach out and touch her neck, realizing he must have hurt her then. But who told her to act so foolishly? Learning nothing good, talking about hanging herself in the same place where the concubine had ended her life. She had nearly frightened everyone to death, and when he went to look, she was standing on a stool, sticking out her tongue, pretending… The feeling of heartache and pain welled up again, and Yang Jingyuan sat silently, letting the uncomfortable sensation gradually fade.
The Ji family members interpreted his silence as displeasure. Madam Ji caught Ji Yaoting’s eye, signaling him to invite Yang Jingyuan to the front hall for tea.
Yang Jingyuan couldn’t wait to leave, bowing in relief and following Ji Yaoting out. Zhang Fourth Lady, being pregnant, also wanted to give mother and daughter some time alone, and excused herself, saying she was tired.
With only mother and daughter remaining in the hall, Madam Ji’s eyes reddened slightly: “Yingying, are they treating you well in the Yang family?”
“Yes,” Ji Yingying answered simply.
How could they not treat her well when Old Madam Yang needed something from her? Ji Yingying wanted to ask her mother if, besides worrying about Zhao Xiuyuan, she was more concerned about protecting her brother and sister-in-law. Seeing her sister-in-law carefully protecting her belly, Ji Yingying decided not to ask.
Her mother had endured the hardships of widowhood to raise two children. Her brother was an only son, and her mother had always prioritized continuing the Ji family line. It was natural for her to think that way.
“Are you comfortable with the living arrangements and food?”
Ji Yingying nodded vigorously: “I live in Mingyue Residence, with five main rooms. I have breakfast with the Madam. She specially ordered the kitchen to make sugar-filled pastries that I love.”
Madam Ji was deeply gratified.
If it weren’t for marrying during the mourning period, she could have asked her daughter about matters between husband and wife. But now, married and in mourning, Madam Ji felt somewhat sad. She gently held Ji Yingying’s hand and said: “Yang Third Master… he will surely return to your side.”
What if he doesn’t return? Ji Yingying couldn’t help but think of this question. She remembered Madam Yang’s words about finding ways to live well and keep one’s spirit up in a large mansion to while away the endless lonely hours. Mother, had she never thought of this?
Unconsciously, mother and daughter seemed to grow distant. Ji Yingying didn’t want to voice the questions filling her heart, and obediently nodded: “Didn’t he come back to accompany me for the return visit?”
“That’s good then.” Madam Ji breathed a sigh of relief.
Mother believed it so easily.
Everyone had their requirements for this marriage—Mother, Old Madam Yang, Yang Jingyuan. No one had considered how wronged she felt.
Ji Yingying withdrew her hand and said: “It’s getting late to return to the city. Let’s have the meal.”
After the meal, Madam Ji wanted to speak with Yang Jingyuan and found an excuse to send Ji Yingying away: “Yingying, go to the kitchen and see. Nanny Tian has made some pickled vegetables, go pick what you like to take with you.”
Once Ji Yingying was out of earshot, Madam Ji said to Yang Jingyuan: “Third Young Master, I forced Yingying into this marriage. Don’t blame her.”
Yang Jingyuan turned his head, looking at Madam Ji with extreme coldness: “Mother-in-law, do you miss your life in Chang’an? After everything the Ji family has been through, you felt helpless, reminiscing about your noble life in the Xu family of Chang’an. You think that by having Yingying marry into the Yang family to live a life of comfort and prosperity, you’ve fulfilled your duty as a mother. Your sister-in-law is pregnant, and as long as she bears a son, the Ji family will have an heir, and you can rest in peace. That’s why you forced her to marry during the hundred-day mourning period. What right did you have? You counted on my deep love for her, calculating that I would return to the Yang family for her sake. Because deep down, you look down on me. You think I can’t make anything of myself unless I return to be a Yang family son, otherwise, I’ll amount to nothing.”
His gaze was like a needle, piercing deep into Madam Ji’s heart. Her face turned pale: “What ability do you have now to give her happiness? Do you want Yingying to follow you in a life of wandering? You can’t protect her! The reason I forced Yingying to marry quickly was because I knew too well that Old Master Zhao would never let Yingying ruin Zhao’s family’s chances for the Jin King title this year! Only by becoming a Yang family bride would the Zhao family be unable to touch her.”
The Zhao family? Wouldn’t taking Ji Yingying away be even safer then? Yang Jingyuan’s gaze grew colder as he stood up and bowed to her: “Farewell.”
Madam Ji covered her face, tears streaming through her fingers: “It doesn’t matter if you resent me, as long as you don’t resent Yingying.”
He resented himself for not having carved out his place in the world earlier. That’s why he was angry about her lonely wedding, why he directed his anger at her. Yang Jingyuan strode away without looking back.
Ji Yingying had known her mother was deliberately sending her away. The pickled vegetables were already prepared, just needing to be loaded onto the carriage. She waited at the ornamental gate, and seeing Yang Jingyuan emerge, she bit her lip and smiled as she went to meet him: “Third Young Master, what did Mother say to you?”
Yang Jingyuan didn’t answer and strode toward the exit.
So stubborn! Ji Yingying complained inwardly, hurrying to catch up, thick-skinnedly pestering him: “How many days of leave did you request? The Madam never asked me where you were, Mother must have told her…”
Yang Jingyuan suddenly stopped, causing Ji Yingying to bump into his chest. Seeing her looking up at him with a careful, ingratiating smile, Yang Jingyuan’s temper flared. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the gate.
Walking out of the main gate, Ji Yaoting turned back with a smile and said: “The pickled vegetables are all loaded on the carriage.”
Just as Ji Yingying was about to speak, Yang Jingyuan lifted her onto his horse, mounted behind her, and said to Ji Yaoting: “Thank you, Elder Brother.” Yang Jingyuan turned to instruct Xiangyou, “We’ll go ahead, you all return to the mansion on your own.”
Third Young Master is going home? Xiangyou couldn’t contain her joy, smiling broadly as she watched the two ride away.
The horse was moving too fast, the wind making it hard for her to keep her eyes open. Ji Yingying turned and nestled in Yang Jingyuan’s arms, saying softly: “Third Young Master, what I said last night was all true. The Madam still thinks of you.”
Yang Jingyuan thought again of the scene with the iron board breaking the bench and shattering the bluestone. He sneered: “Because Elder Brother is ill and Second Brother can’t manage alone. The Second and Third Branches want to seize the family property. She just wants me back to help fight. In her heart, the Yang family’s assets are the most important thing.”
“It’s not like that.” Ji Yingying remembered Madam Yang’s loneliness and wanted to speak for her.
“Whether it is or not, I won’t go back. And you’re not allowed to go back either.”
Hearing this, Ji Yingying became anxious: “Where are you taking me?”
Yang Jingyuan said coldly: “A wife follows her husband. Wherever I am is where you’ll be.”
So that’s why he came to her home—because she wouldn’t leave, he decided to simply abduct her! Ji Yingying grew angry: “Who says I married you? I married the Yang family’s Third Young Master!”
Yang Jingyuan was so angry he reined in the horse: “Ji Yingying, have you been bewitched?”