Transmigrated as the Short-Lived White Moonlight, I Ended Up Happily Ever After With the Female Lead - Chapter 23

Ji Yan’an looked at Song Yi’s smiling face, and the anger in her heart subsided considerably. She wanted to stand below with Song Yi, but was called to her mother’s side by Madam Ji.

“Yan’an should also start learning how to handle the affairs of the inner quarters with me,” Madam Ji said, seeing her daughter’s reluctance, and advised her with a forced smile.

Ji Yan’an stood to the side, looking with Madam Ji at Ji Tong’an and Song Yi below, one kneeling and one standing. Song Yi’s straight back was just like her integrity; she didn’t commit the crime, and she wasn’t afraid of interrogation.

Song Yi wasn’t afraid, but Ji Tong’an was slightly flustered. Just now, Ji Yan’an had clearly sided with Song Yi, yet Madam Ji hadn’t pursued the matter against her, but instead had sent Wu Shiyuan and the other woman away. If they were to discuss the matter behind closed doors, wouldn’t it mean whatever the mother and daughter said would be the truth?

As the saying goes, to judge a gentleman’s heart by a villain’s measure, Madam Ji, seated in the main position, was considering the seriousness of the situation.

The imperial physician respectfully repeated the whole matter to Madam Ji. The dregs of the medicine had been brought, and after reading a few glances, Madam Ji, who was well-read, knew the imperial physician spoke the truth.

The few cooks also stated the situation from the previous night, confirming that Ji Yan’an and Song Yi had indeed gone to the kitchen together, and that Song Yi had been in contact with the pots while brewing the porridge.

Madam Ji covered her head, distressed. If Ji Tong’an’s accusation were true, then Ji Yan’an would also be under great suspicion. Normally, ten Third Concubines wouldn’t be as valuable as one Ji Yan’an, and even if Ji Yan’an had indirectly harmed the Third Concubine, it wouldn’t be enough for the Ji Residence to punish her. But the issue here was poisoning.

Ji Tong’an was already quite clever; she hadn’t pointed the finger at Ji Yan’an, avoiding putting Ji Yongning and Madam Ji in a difficult position. She just wanted to bring down Song Yi.

Due to the appearance of Wu Shiyuan, Ji Yan’an realized this was no longer a simple plot. As her character and actions changed, many plot points subtly shifted, making her completely unable to cope with the situation. Originally, she could have handled this matter, but now with Madam Ji involved, there were many more variables.

“Mother, last night, your daughter and Song Yi went to the kitchen together. There was medicine brewing at the time, but neither of us touched the pot. Song Yi even went out to get me a snack, leaving only me in the room. By that logic, doesn’t it mean your daughter had more opportunities to administer the poison?” Ji Yan’an shook Madam Ji’s arm, not hesitating to take all the blame upon herself.

Listening from below, Ji Tong’an wished she could rush up and tear Ji Yan’an’s mouth apart, but she could only clutch her handkerchief and cry weakly, looking fragile: “How could Tong’an not know Eldest Sister’s character? It’s just that your younger sister never expected Eldest Sister to take such a great charge upon herself for someone completely unrelated to her.”

Madam Ji frowned too. She was well aware of how much the Old Madam disliked such schemes. But Ji Yan’an had already spoken this way. If she didn’t come to a conclusion on this matter, wouldn’t it make the servants laugh at them?

Ji Yan’an knew the gravity of the situation, but how could she allow Madam Ji to interrogate Song Yi? And how could she watch helplessly as Ji Tong’an threw all the dirty water onto Song Yi? She had promised to protect Song Yi, and she couldn’t break her word.

Song Yi stood there calmly, listening to these voices as if watching an absurd play. She wasn’t an actor in this drama and also wanted to try and pull Ji Yan’an out. But Ji Yan’an was stuck between Ji Tong’an and Madam Ji, all for her sake. Song Yi couldn’t help but re-evaluate Ji Yan’an.

When did Ji Yan’an change? Was it the day she saved her? Or was it after she took her into the palace? Song Yi kept asking herself but couldn’t recall the exact moment that changed Ji Yan’an.

While Song Yi was still lost in the deep sea of recollection, Ji Yan’an was still arguing strongly with Madam Ji. Out of a desire to protect Ji Yan’an, Madam Ji reluctantly ordered: “There are many doubts in this matter. For now, confine Song Yi to the woodshed for reflection. We will discuss this another day.”

Such a perfunctory dismissal was unexpected by Ji Yan’an. She stared wide-eyed as Madam Ji rose and left, and then watched the servants move to take Song Yi away.

“Be gentle!” Ji Yan’an knew she couldn’t turn the tide; she understood the unyielding nature ingrained in Madam Ji. But seeing the servants handle Song Yi roughly, tying her up to lead her away, Ji Yan’an couldn’t help but shout.

Song Yi was numbly tied up. When the rope touched the wound on her back, the momentary pain made her gasp.

Her tightly clenched fists showed bulging veins, and Song Yi kept telling herself to endure.

It wasn’t that she hadn’t resisted before. In her first year at the Ji Residence, she had retaliated against Ji Tong’an’s bullying, but her hidden poisoned needle and her martial arts skills were discovered. The subordinate sent that night to search for evidence against her was also captured. The subordinate’s disguise as an assassin prevented Song Yi from being implicated. Since then, the security of the Ji Residence had become even stricter…

From that moment, Song Yi knew she had to endure, to grow slowly. She couldn’t act rashly again without absolute certainty. Thus, over the past few years, Song Yi had suffered terribly from bullying. During many cold nights, she felt she didn’t recognize herself anymore. Was she still the proud eldest miss of the Song family?

It wasn’t until Ji Yan’an started protecting her, noticed her dwelling was cold, and started snuggling into her arms. Song Yi dared not think any further; she felt her emotions were starting to become complicated.

Ji Yan’an rushed over, almost tripping over her skirt. Stabilizing herself, she roughly pushed aside the servants’ hands, gently loosened the ropes on Song Yi herself, and then pulled her towards her sleeping chamber.

“Miss!?” Jinxi called out.

“I’m just taking her to apply medicine. I will personally take her to the woodshed later. If you don’t believe me, wait for us outside the door,” Ji Yan’an retorted angrily, her voice deepening.

Song Yi followed Ji Yan’an to the chamber. Only the two of them were in the room. At this moment, Song Yi saw that Ji Yan’an’s eyes were red; they hadn’t been when she was talking to her mother just now.

Ji Yan’an didn’t speak, but was quietly sobbing. She told Song Yi to lie down on the lounge chair and gently lifted her upper garment. Sure enough, because the ropes were tied too tightly, the wound on Song Yi’s back was red and bleeding, looking more gruesome than the day before.

It was originally a good ointment, but without that unwarranted disaster just now, why would it be like this? Song Yi was afraid Ji Yan’an would cry again. This time, she didn’t speak or frown, acting as if those trembling little hands were applying medicine to someone else.

“Don’t endure it anymore,” Ji Yan’an said, choking up as she applied the medicine, then lowered her head to tidy up the medicine bottles.

Song Yi sat up and straightened her clothes, still with an expressionless face: “I wasn’t enduring it. It doesn’t hurt. What about you? Why are you crying, is it because you couldn’t protect me?”

Ji Yan’an nodded, burying her head very low, only showing the top of her head to Song Yi.

Song Yi helplessly reached out and ruffled Ji Yan’an’s hair. Feeling the softness under her hand, she ultimately said nothing. Could she tell Ji Yan’an that she was fine? No, she had to keep enduring.

“I should go to the woodshed,” Song Yi said.