Transmigrated as the Short-Lived White Moonlight, I Ended Up Happily Ever After With the Female Lead - Chapter 32.3

“Wuwuwu, that was too scary! I’m never riding that again!” Ji Yan’an cried pitifully, clinging to Song Yi’s clothes, refusing to move unless Song Yi comforted her.

Song Yi was content to be idle. She tossed the bundles to Su Zhang and then took Ji Yan’an’s hand and led her onto the boat. This was a very large official vessel, arranged by Song Yi using the Ji Manor’s name plaque. The official vessel not only had spacious cabins but also several servants. The official who provided the boat was the local magistrate of Songzhou. Song Yi’s subordinates had already ridden ahead on fast horses last night to inform the local official to prepare a boat, which resulted in today’s comfortable large vessel.

After everyone boarded, the official went to instruct the boatmen to set sail. Ji Yan’an and Song Yi entered the cabin, where food and supplies were all ready. However, Ji Yan’an wasn’t in the mood to eat. She lay on the table and stared blankly.

The white sail of the official vessel was like a white butterfly dancing on the long river. The river water gently lapped against the hull and gunwale. The boat moved quickly through the water, like a swallow.

Life on the boat was boring, but fortunately, Le Yan and Pang Zhi gradually loosened up and were willing to play with Ji Yan’an. Song Yi, meanwhile, was engrossed in reading. Time passed quickly, and on the evening of the second day, the official happily ran over to report to Ji Yan’’an that the area with a large crowd of people visible ahead was the shore, meaning they had arrived at Songzhou.

Ji Yanan stood up excitedly. She saw that there were indeed many people standing on the distant shore. Realizing she could finally disembark, she rushed to find Song Yi.

Song Yi had also just put down her book. Seeing Ji Yan’an arrive amidst the sunset glow, excitedly telling her they had arrived home, Song Yi felt utterly soft-hearted at that moment.

“Yes, we’ve arrived home.” Song Yi went along with Ji Yan’an’s words, her lips slightly curved. Ji Yan’an noticed her lack of excitement and quickly pulled her outside the cabin. Outside, the water rippled, and the sunset glow hit the water, reflecting on people’s faces. The mountains stretched endlessly. Songzhou was not a cold region, which was one of the reasons the Old Madam chose to recuperate there.

The slightly chilly wind wasn’t freezing; instead, it was refreshing. Ji Yan’an smiled as brightly as sunshine. The shimmering blue long dress made her skin look like snow, and the fluffy collar brushed against her head. For a moment, people couldn’t take their eyes off her.

“Beauty! What are you thinking about?” Ji Yan’’an, seeing Song Yi spacing out, shook her arm.

Song Yi snapped out of it and realized her own odd behavior. She avoided Ji Yanan’s gaze and turned away: “Then let’s pack up.”

“Oh…” Ji Yan’an pouted slightly and followed Song Yi to pack her clothes and jewelry. After Pang Zhi and Le Yan brought out the large and small bundles, the boat had already docked.

“Miss, please!” The official seemed exceptionally excited. He and several yamen constables lined the way to welcome Ji Yan’an and Song Yi to Songzhou, as if a senior leader was arriving for an inspection.

Everyone in the world knew that the current Empress Dowager did not favor princesses or imperial concubines; she only favored the Eldest Miss of the Ji Manor. The emperor, who valued filial piety above all, naturally favored whoever the Empress Dowager favored. Therefore, pleasing this one person essentially meant pleasing the two most powerful people in the palace.

Ji Yan’an was not unaware, but since she hadn’t grown up being served in such a grand manner, she simply couldn’t get used to this immense display of power. She had actually felt more comfortable these past few days with only a few people waiting on her.

“Miss, the Old Madam!” Le Yan was the first to exclaim. Ji Yan’an followed her gaze and saw a luxuriously dressed old lady.

Walking closer to the Old Madam, she saw that she was wearing an orange silk dress with gold threads and a cream-yellow tapestry with crane patterns. Her hair was tied in a bun, adorned with countless exquisite golden hairpins. A brocade sachet hung from her waist. The opulence dazzled Ji Yan’an’s eyes..

After a moment’s consideration, she realized this indeed matched the attire and bearing of the Ji Manor’s Old Madam.

“Grandmother!” Ji Yan’an rushed over, acting on instinct. She knew from Ji Huai that the original host was deeply loved by the Old Madam, so she figured there was nothing wrong with taking the initiative to rush forward and act spoiled. With that thought, Ji Yan’an confidently threw herself into the Old Madam’s arms.

Song Yi, Le Yan, and Pang Zhi arrived shortly after. They paid their respects and then watched the affectionate interaction between the grandmother and granddaughter.

“My dear Yan’an, did you finally remember your grandmother?” The Old Madam smiled, her wrinkles bunching together. She held Ji Yan’an tightly and didn’t let go. She swayed slightly from Ji Yan’an’s impact, and the hairpins and hair ornaments on her head rattled together, creating a noisy sound.

Perhaps people who are getting older all like lively scenes. The Old Madam was surrounded by a group of other old ladies, though their clothing was clearly not as rich as the Old Madam’s, and having a few extra hairpins was considered a lot.

When those old ladies saw Ji Yan’an, they all flattered her, saying she had grown more and more beautiful. They even praised Le Yan and Pang Zhi. However, the cold aura emanating from Song Yi prevented any of them from speaking to her directly. They all felt that this young girl was difficult to approach.

“The wind is strong outside. How about we go home and talk?” Ji Yan’an was truly tired of dealing with the old ladies’ enthusiastic “greetings.” She just wanted to grab the Old Madam and quickly leave. Unfortunately, she didn’t know the way and had to rely entirely on the Old Madam to lead her.

“Very well. Yan’an is tired from the journey. Let’s go back and rest together, my dear.” Once the Old Madam spoke, the other old ladies dared not say a word. They were each helped by their maidservants and returned to their homes. The magnificent scene finally dispersed a little. The women washing clothes by the lakeside dock were still happily doing their laundry. Under the sunset, a rustic, rural atmosphere emerged.

It truly was Songzhou, far from the capital. There were no young lords swaggering through the streets, nor were there many patrolling guards. The streets were full of ordinary common people. Perhaps the most noble and prominent family here was the Ji family, after they had made their fortune.

The Ji family’s ancestral home was here. Later, Ji Yongning rose to prominence and was successively promoted, moving to the capital, but he left behind a newly built grand manor. When the Old Madam’s old illness flared up this spring, she decided to return to her ancestral home to recuperate, and that’s why she had been away for so long.

On the way back to the old manor, Song Yi took one carriage, while Ji Yan’an rode with the Old Madam.

Ji Yan’an was constantly concerned about the Old Madam. She wasn’t merely trying to use the Old Madam’s favor to save Song Yi; she genuinely wanted to fulfill the original host’s duty as a filial grandchild.

“Yan’an, you didn’t just come here simply to see your Grandmother this time, did you?” Sitting in the carriage, the Old Madam held Ji Yan’an’s hand. Her well-maintained hands gently stroked Ji Yan’an’s soft, young hands, and she looked at her with doting eyes.

Ji Yan’an was caught off guard. She stuttered, unable to speak, feeling a lump in her throat. What made an Old Madam who should be enjoying her remaining years see everything more clearly than anyone else?

“Is it because of that girl named Song Yi?” The Old Madam once again hit the nail on the head, but she showed no sign of disappointment. Her eyes were still bright as she looked at Ji Yan’an.

Ji Yan’an nodded, embarrassed and ashamed. She even wanted to withdraw her hand, but the Old Madam didn’t give her the chance. Instead, she wiped her tears and smiled: “Actually, I know about all of you who only visit when you need something. But I’d rather believe that my good granddaughter has come to see me and, by the way, discuss some matters. That way, everyone can be more comfortable.”

Ji Yan’an was stunned. In her mind, the Old Madam should have been a woman of infinite grandeur, the winner of the previous generation’s family conflicts, a sharp-eyed person who had almost seen through the mundane world. Yet, meeting her today, she seemed to be a person still bound by family affection.

Rather than being bound, it was more like she cared. The Old Madam wasn’t offended that Ji Yan’an had come to see her for another reason and was even happy after knowing her true purpose.

Ji Yan’an should have realized that for the Old Madam to be the winner of the last generation’s family conflicts, she must have been full of cunning and schemes. Even while retired and recuperating at her ancestral home, she still had people planted in the Ji Manor. She knew every move the Ji Manor made, let alone a matter as big as the poisoning.

“Grandmother… Yan’an has always missed you in her heart. I…” Ji Yan’an couldn’t continue. She had only just transmigrated. Strictly speaking, she had no real connection with the Old Madam in front of her. How could she claim to have missed her every day?

The Old Madam clearly didn’t believe her, but she was still delighted: “Then Yan’an, why don’t you talk about Song Yi and the poisoning incident?”

Seeing the Old Madam cut to the chase so quickly, Ji Yan’an looked at her blankly and quickly shook her head: “No, Grandmother. Let’s go home and rest first. We can talk about it tomorrow.”

The Old Madam smiled. Her hand remained on Ji Yan’an’s, and the gold hairpins on her head no longer rattled. The interior of the carriage became much quieter.

With an elder present, Ji Yan’an didn’t dare to lift the curtain to look outside. She only listened to the sound of the horses’ hooves clipping the ground. Street vendors along the road were still shouting their wares. The laughter of children playing at someone’s doorstep drifted into Ji Yan’an’s ears.

For some reason, Ji Yan’an mentally pictured a lively rural scene, with herself and Song Yi holding hands and watching it.

Song Yi? The thought of her made Ji Yan’an’s mind feel a little cluttered. This aloof and defiant female lead also seemed different from the original book. And why are all my thoughts about a happily ever after (HE) ending with Song Yi!!

Ji Yan’an’s eyes darted around, looking this way and that. Her heart simply couldn’t settle down. If the Old Madam’s hand hadn’t still been holding hers, Ji Yan’an would have wanted to pull out a handkerchief to relieve her stress.

She finally managed to endure until the carriage slowly came to a stop. Recalling the etiquette she had frantically studied beforehand, Ji Yan’an knew she should alight first and then hold the curtain for the Old Madam.

After performing the set of manners, the Old Madam was very satisfied and stepped down from the carriage, though Ji Yan’an was quite exhausted. Since the Old Madam went in first, Ji Yan’an had a good reason to stand at the door and wait for Song Yi to descend.

Song Yi’s fair hand lifted the curtain. She first poked her head out. A single plum blossom hairpin simply held her hair in a bun, which was a different kind of charm compared to the Old Madam’s head full of opulent gold hairpins.

Although the Old Madam wore many ornaments, they were all matching sets and of good quality. Overall, she was more impressive than many other old ladies of her age.

As beautiful as the Old Madam was, Ji Yan’an still felt happier looking at Song Yi.

“I missed you so much!!” Ji Yan’an took three steps as two, rushing forward with a gust of wind, and threw herself directly into Song Yi’s arms, carefully avoiding the wound on her left shoulder.

“The person is still alive.” Song Yi gently caught Ji Yan’an and said with a suppressed smile, which completely bewildered Ji Yan’an. After realizing what she said, Ji Yan’an wasn’t too surprised. She already knew Song Yi came with a built-in sarcasm function!

The two walked side-by-side into the old manor. The old manor gave a feeling that was no less grand than the Ji Manor, and perhaps due to the sedimentation of years, the house appeared even more dignified. The two stone lions at the gate, though covered in dust, were still imposing, commanding the entire street and showcasing the owner’s status.

Ji Yan’an looked up and down. The interior of the old manor was impeccably clean. The courtyard was spotless. Even the trees and flowers that had withered in winter were not neglected, but were tended to by specialized maidservants. Everything was in order. As the sky gradually darkened, candles were lit. Strolling through the courtyard, only peace remained in their hearts.

Ji Yan’an and Song Yi were both wearing blue, and they walked close together. When the Old Madam turned around to look for Ji Yan’an, she couldn’t recognize her at first glance.

“That’s wonderful. Miss Song has also grown to be so beautiful.” The Old Madam didn’t mention Song Yi’s identity, simply treating her as Ji Yan’an’s friend.

Song Yi offered a polite smile and said nothing. She followed the Old Madam into the side hall where dinner had been set out. The food was steaming hot, as if the Old Madam had precisely timed her instructions. Ji Yan’an sat next to her as instructed, and to ease the awkwardness, she also pulled Song Yi to sit beside her.

The Old Madam picked up her chopsticks and took the first bite, and the rest of the people also began to eat. Le Yan and Pang Zhi were not supposed to be at the table, but the Old Madam thought it would be too quiet with just a few people and insisted they join.

After everyone nervously finished the lavish dinner, the Old Madam, as usual, drank tea, but her eyes kept returning to Pang Zhi and Song Yi.

“Yan’an’s visit, I presume, is also about Miss Song’s matter? I have been secretly investigating Yan’an’s falling into the water incident a few days ago, and Ji Tongan, the Third Miss, is certainly involved. So, what about this poisoning incident?” The Old Madam’s gaze was too sharp. Pang Zhi was frightened again, kneeling on the ground and trembling, unable to complete a sentence.

“Answer whatever the Old Madam asks.” Song Yi’s cold voice reminded Pang Zhi. She was the only one who dared to meet the Old Madam’s gaze at this moment, and the only one who spoke.

Hearing this, Pang Zhi, perhaps recalling how Ji Tongan had scolded and scared her, steeled her heart, closed her eyes, and kowtowed repeatedly, spilling the entire sequence of events. The Old Madam held a teacup throughout, her expression barely changing.

Ji Yan’an watched, anxious, and kept wanting to interject, but Song Yi stopped her with a look. After Pang Zhi finished in one breath, the Old Madam also finished her tea. Ji Yan’an quickly refilled it.

“Ji Tongan will retaliate. If she could bribe one maidservant, she could naturally…”

“Being able to bribe other maidservants, the testimony of Pang Zhi alone won’t be enough to convict her. We should ideally have some other evidence.” The Old Madam analyzed calmly. She never said a single word expressing disbelief toward Song Yi but instead followed Ji Yan’an’s line of thought to bring down Ji Tong’an.

“What my Ji family needs is not the kind of vile person who only resorts to underhanded tactics in private. And if we ourselves want to bring down such a person, we must ensure that everyone is completely convinced.” The Old Madam flicked her sleeve, stood up, and fixed her clouded yet commanding eyes on the doorway. Her gold hairpins clinked together, producing a noticeable sound.