Transmigrated as the Short-Lived White Moonlight, I Ended Up Happily Ever After With the Female Lead - Chapter 25

“First, tell me what your plan was just now?” Before Ji Huai entered, he vaguely heard Ji Yan’an murmuring to herself, so he figured she must have some idea.

Ji Yan’an adjusted her fur-lined cloak and couldn’t wait to share her plan. As soon as she mentioned having the Old Madam return to the capital earlier, Ji Huai shook his head and interrupted.

“That’s not appropriate. Asking Grandmother to return early will make us seem rude. Since we are asking a favor, we should personally travel to our ancestral home. We should first make her happy and comfortable, and then explain the whole situation. Grandmother loves you so much; she will definitely help you.”

If Ji Yongning was a shrewd old fox, then Ji Huai was definitely a clever young one. He thought things through comprehensively and handled matters smoothly, earning Ji Yan’an’s continuous praise. No wonder this eldest son of the Ji family was the one who later took charge, saving the lives of everyone in the Ji Manor—except for Ji Tong’an and her third concubine—from the villainous Song Yi.

Ji Yan’an looked at him with admiration and sincerely praised, “You are truly worthy of being my elder brother! But what reason should I use to leave the manor and go to our ancestral home, and how can I prove Song Yi’s innocence to Grandmother?”

Hearing this, Ji Huai mysteriously pulled Ji Yan’an and walked further into the courtyard, stopping beneath a bare tree where they were barely sheltered from being noticed by people outside the courtyard.

“Lately, I’ve noticed Father has been secretly investigating the incident of your falling into the water that day, and he’s starting to get some clues. If we can get Father to write a letter, Grandmother will surely believe that Ji Tong’an is up to no good.” Ji Huai seemed to trust his sister completely, sharing such confidential information with her. Ji Yan’an was very touched and remembered every word. Just as she was about to ask for more details, she noticed a page boy rushing past the entrance, shouting “Eldest Young Master.” Wasn’t that You Lu, Ji Huai’s personal attendant?

The naming conventions for people in ancient times were indeed profound; they always tried to extract words from poetry to piece together names that sounded so uncomfortable when called out.

“He must be looking for me to discuss today’s court affairs with the young master of the Li family. Yan’an, hurry back and warm up. Don’t sit in this small courtyard catching a chill again. Propose the matter tonight when Father returns from the palace and has dinner with Mother. I’m sure Mother will help you!” Ji Huai spoke somewhat quickly, but this didn’t stop Ji Yan’an from absorbing the useful information.

After watching Ji Huai rush out of the courtyard, Ji Yan’an did not leave as instructed. She simply returned to where she had been sitting earlier, letting the sharp, cold wind bring her the clarity of mind to think.

It was already noon. The fragrant smells drifting from the kitchen made Ji Yan’an’s stomach protest, but she still didn’t want to get up. Despite her lingering cold, she sat with her arms hugged to herself for the entire morning. She felt as though sitting there was like keeping company with Song Yi.

She had rescued Song Yi from that dilapidated little courtyard, only to indirectly cause her to be confined to another place with even worse conditions. This made Ji Yan’an feel utterly defeated.

She sat there, unaware that Le Yan had been frantically searching for her and was about to report the matter to Madam Ji. Luckily, Jinxi stopped her, guessing that she might be near the wood shed, which led her here.

When Le Yan arrived, Ji Yan’an was already curled up from the cold, and her soft, white dress was soiled. Ji Yan’an looked no different from someone who had just been in a fight. Not having worn any jewelry since early morning, she now looked like the young daughter of an ordinary family; apart from her delicate face, one could hardly associate her with the eldest daughter of the Ji Manor.

“Miss!” Le Yan was terrified, thinking she had fallen or been hurt. She rushed over, looking her up and down. Only after seeing no injuries did she sigh in relief. Ji Yan’an dismissed the maids who had followed and only kept Le Yan.

“Look how worried you are. I’m fine,” Ji Yan’an said with a light chuckle. Running around in the cold weather enough to work up a sweat showed how anxious Le Yan was.

Finding Ji Yan’an did not ease Le Yan’s mind; instead, she became more worried: “Miss, you have never been so distraught. Is it because of Miss Song?”

Le Yan might be simple-minded, but she wasn’t foolish. She could see how urgent Ji Yan’an was when protecting Song Yi, and similarly, how lost Ji Yan’an was when Song Yi was locked in the wood shed.

Ji Yan’an was also puzzled. Was it really just because she wanted to protect her and repay her kindness that she felt so sad when she couldn’t protect her?

Ji Yan’an was not good at contemplating such things, so she simply shook her head and dismissed the thought. When Le Yan urged her to eat lunch, Ji Yan’an subconsciously asked, “What about Song Yi?”

Le Yan paused, cautiously observing Ji Yan’an’s expression: “Originally, she was supposed to be supplied with three meals a day without fail, but the Third Concubine went to cause trouble and insisted on punishing Miss Song. So now, according to Madam’s instruction, she is only given one meal a day, which is dinner.”

Ji Yan’an clenched her fists in anger. The path she was taking toward her own courtyard shifted direction. She pulled Le Yan and walked toward the kitchen.

The cooks in the kitchen were busy, and maids and page boys were constantly coming over to take lunch to the various courtyards. It was a bustling scene. Watching these steaming lunches being sent to the various parts of the Ji Manor ignited a surge of unexplained anger in Ji Yan’an. Why should Song Yi be starving in that dilapidated wood shed while the culprits could eat and drink well?!

Still seething, Ji Yan’an noticed a maidservant quickly shrinking back into the room after seeing her. She looked secretive and up to no good.

The maidservant looked familiar; she was one of the maids serving Ji Tong’an. Ji Yan’an felt something was wrong and quickly rushed into the room, seeing her just finishing sprinkling a packet of unknown powder into a dish. Being quick-witted, Ji Yan’an grabbed the maid’s sleeve and shouted, “Who instructed you to poison the food!!”

This shout attracted the attention of all the cooks. Sure enough, they saw the maid clutching a packet of powder in her hand. Le Yan also rushed over with a group of people and detained the maid.

“Do you know her name?” Ji Yan’an asked Le Yan. Le Yan scrutinized her closely and blurted out the name: The maid was called Peng Zhi, and she was Ji Tong’an’s personal maid.

“Quick! Take her to Mother!” Ji Yan’an’s voice was trembling with excitement. Perhaps this time, she could directly rescue Song Yi!

Le Yan took the person away as instructed. Although she knew she should be present for the interrogation, Ji Yan’an first grabbed a plate of mung bean cake and ran toward the wood shed.

Song Yi definitely didn’t like the date cake that day because it was too sweet. Maybe she would like the slightly refreshing mung bean cake, Ji Yan’an murmured in her heart; while protecting the mung bean cake so the cold wind wouldn’t spoil its texture, and simultaneously quickening her pace.