Transmigrated as the Short-Lived White Moonlight, I Ended Up Happily Ever After With the Female Lead - Chapter 35

“Alright, we’re coming right now.” After finishing her recollection, Ji Yan’an immediately called out the door. The momo wet nurse/nanny heard her and left assured, but Ji Yan’an was troubled inside the room.

Song Yi sipped her water unhurriedly, then took a cloth to wipe her mouth and wash her hands. By the time she finished her series of actions, Ji Yan’an was already staring, mesmerized.

“Hmm?” Song Yi noticed her gaze.

“N-Nothing.”

Ji Yan’an also imitated Song Yi, rinsing her mouth and washing her hands, managing to look quite decent. After the maidservant cleared the leftover food from the table, Ji Yan’an was finally ready.

The two walked out of the room, heading down the corridor into the sunshine. A bit of the morning chill blew across their faces, and Ji Yan’an pulled her cloak tighter around herself.

Song Yi walked slowly, one hand behind her back. Nothing seemed worthy of her rushing, except, of course, Ji Yan’an.

“Old Madam! Eldest Miss and Miss Song have arrived!” The momo had been standing by the door early and, seeing Ji Yan’an and Song Yi, quickly ran back into the hall to report. The Old Madam, seated at the head, immediately showed a smile, wrinkles creasing around her eyes. The two people sitting below her also clearly sensed the change in the Old Madam’s attitude.

“Greetings to Grandmother.”

“Greetings to the Old Madam.”

Ji Yan’an and Song Yi spoke simultaneously. After curtseying and offering their greetings, they glanced at each other and both laughed.

“Yan’an, come, come quickly. This is Governor Chang of Songzhou, who personally came to fetch you yesterday. That young lady is his legitimate daughter, named Yunjie. Come to think of it, she is about the same age as you,” the Old Madam introduced Ji Yan’an warmly. “If it weren’t for the Governor’s constant care, Grandmother would have had a much harder time.”

This was a modest statement. Given the Old Madam’s high virtue and prestige, no one dared to make things difficult for her; Governor Chang’s help was merely the icing on the cake.

“Yan’an, on behalf of my father, thanks the Governor for his care.” As the legitimate daughter, Ji Yan’an had the extra step of formally bowing to Governor Chang.

“Big Sister…”

This “Big Sister” stunned everyone. Ji Yan’an was also very confused. Aside from herself calling Song Yi “Big Sister,” which other young lady here knew Song Yi?

“Big Sister, I’m here.” Seeing Ji Yan’an looking around, Chang Yunjie simply walked out from behind her, smiling as brightly as a flower. The peach-colored dress immediately reminded Ji Yan’an of the other person, besides Ji Tong’an, who also loved wearing peach-colored long skirts.

That person was the cannon fodder female supporting character from Ji Yan’an’s recent recollection: Chang Yun Jie.

No wonder Ji Yan’an had only felt a sense of familiarity when the Old Madam introduced Chang Yunjie; so, it was this person.

The fear of the unknown in Ji Yan’an’s heart slightly decreased. Now, she was more concerned about things going off script from the original plot again.

Other transmigrators had the ‘golden finger’ of holding the script; why was everything different since she had transmigrated?

“We are, by rights, the same age. How about we just call each other by name!” Ji Yan’an felt it was too weird to be called ‘Big Sister’ by a stranger, so she figured this form of address might avoid awkwardness.

“No, I want to call you ‘Big Sister’.” Chang Yunjie smiled and moved closer, almost hooking her arm through Ji Yan’an’s.

“Sister Song…”

“Call me Song Yi.” Song Yi’s voice was cold, and her face was expressionless, but Ji Yan’an knew Song Yi was angry.

“Okay…” Chang Yunjie was splashed with cold water in front of the Old Madam. She was already annoyed with Song Yi but dared not act out in front of Ji Yan’an.

Ji Yan’an was quite pleased with Song Yi’s reaction. She proactively linked arms with Song Yi and smugly told Chang Yunjie, “Sorry, little sister Chang, Song Yi is only used to me calling her Big Sister. Right, Big Sister!”

Song Yi looked at the childish Ji Yan’an and finally smiled. She shook her head helplessly, “Yes, only Yan’an can call me that.”

While the Old Madam and Governor Chang were chatting, they occasionally looked over. They happened to hear Song Yi’s remark, were stunned for a moment, and then smiled, choosing not to say anything and let them be.

“Sister Ji, would you like some tea?” Chang Yun Jie tried her best to break the awkwardness. Without waiting for Ji Yan’an to answer, she ran off to pour tea herself. Her movements were not skilled, and she even spilled some tea. Ji Yan’an pursed her lips and watched for a long time before Chang Yunjie finally poured a cup.

As she brought it over to Ji Yan’an on a tray, Song Yi immediately stepped in front of her. “Shall I pour tea for you?”

Ji Yan’an was baffled. Seeing Chang Yunjie frozen awkwardly in place, she could only nod blankly.

A beautiful woman pouring tea for me? I’d be foolish not to drink it!

This was Ji Yan’an’s thought, but Chang Yunjie’s eyes were fixed intently on Song Yi. Song Yi had hijacked her again.

To salvage some dignity, Chang Yunjie chose to carry the tray and offer tea to her own father. Governor Chang took the tea cup with a face full of embarrassment.

The Old Madam did not stop but continued to smile kindly and converse with Governor Chang, which finally managed to turn the awkward situation around.

“Shall we go for a walk in the courtyard?” Chang Yunjie saw that her father and the Old Madam were talking happily and figured her chance had come. She immediately linked arms with Ji Yan’an, suggesting they break the awkwardness.

Before Ji Yan’an could react, Chang Yunjie had already pulled her out. She stood at the door, unsure whether to leave or wait.

“No, no, Song Yi has to come too!” Ji Yan’an immediately broke free from Chang Yunjie, picked up her skirt, ran back to the main hall, and dragged Song Yi out under everyone’s gaze.

Seeing Song Yi dragged out, Chang Yunjie was so angry she nearly ground her teeth. She just wanted to get close to the legendary Eldest Miss of the Ji Residence; why did Ji Yan’an keep dragging this Song Yi along?

“Sister Ji, Yunjie feels that it would be best for just the two of us to talk…” Chang Yunjie held back her temper, implying that Song Yi should go somewhere else.

This sounded quite unpleasant to hear. Ji Yan’an was about to retort, but the usually quiet Song Yi reacted quickly this time: “Is there something I cannot hear?”

That single sentence left Chang Yunjie speechless; she just struggled to find the right words. Ji Yan’an looked at Song Yi with satisfaction and chimed in, “Exactly. Miss Song is one of us. What is there that cannot be said among us?”

With the two of them acting in concert, even if Chang Yunjie’s face was purple with rage, she dared not act out. She could only follow behind them, forcing a smile, looking even more like a maid than Le Yan.

The group sat down in a small pavilion in the courtyard. Although the pavilion had no walls, it did block some of the cold wind. Once seated, the atmosphere solidified, and no one spoke.

Chang Yunjie was, after all, a pampered eldest daughter who had spent these years in Songzhou. She dared not be presumptuous toward Ji Yan’an, but that did not mean she was afraid of Song Yi. She always believed that Song Yi dared to be so arrogant only because Ji Yan’an protected her.

“Does Yunjie’s family have any concubine-born sisters?” Although Chang Yunjie was still angry, Ji Yan’an took the initiative to ask, breaking the silence.

She had long known that this Eldest Miss came to Songzhou for a concubine-born sister in her family. Chang Yunjie pondered, trying to guess Ji Yan’an’s thoughts. “There are two concubine-born sisters in my family. But they are not the sort to be presented at court. My mother arranges where they marry, and they must follow her instructions. Is Sister Ji troubled by a concubine-born sister at home?”

Ji Yan’an had asked this question precisely to get advice from the simple and direct Chang Yunjie, and she really did gain some insight.

Although Chang Yunjie’s words were crude, the principle was sound. Concubine-born children naturally played a disadvantaged role in this era and were a group that could not be presented at court. Although the dynasty was open-minded, birth origin was still highly regarded.

She certainly could not let Ji Tong’an marry off casually; to Ji Yan’an, the transmigrator, that felt somewhat inhumane. Chang Yunjie’s words simply gave Ji Yan’an inspiration: perhaps one day, her identity as the legitimate Eldest Miss could be the fatal blow to defeat Ji Tong’an?

Seeing that Ji Yan’an was interested in this topic, Chang Yunjie did not miss a single opportunity to curry favor with her. The first step to currying favor with Ji Yan’an was to send Song Yi away.

“Miss Song, would you mind brewing a pot of tea for us? I noticed your movements were skilled just now. You must brew tea often, right?” Chang Yunjie’s entire focus was on Ji Yan’an, and her tone toward Song Yi, who had repeatedly hijacked her, was naturally hostile, even deeply sarcastic.

However, Chang Yunjie had overlooked Song Yi’s importance to Ji Yan’an. Just as Ji Yan’an was about to get angry and flare up, Song Yi secretly shook her head at her. A flash passed through her phoenix-like eyes, and Ji Yan’an vaguely felt that Chang Yunjie was about to suffer.

Song Yi had already turned around and asked a maidservant for tea leaves. Hot water was immediately handed over. Song Yi looked relaxed. At first, putting in the tea leaves and pouring the water was smooth and fluid. She even poured tea for Ji Yan’an carefully, then handed it to her to warm her hands.

But when Song Yi poured for Chang Yunjie, the teapot seemed out of control. The flow of water was intermittent. Chang Yunjie, watching anxiously, lightly nudged Song Yi’s arm, wanting to urge her to hurry. Unexpectedly, Song Yi’s movement was quite large, and the entire teapot tilted far away, spilling directly onto Chang Yunjie’s hand. The hot water scalded her, making her scream. Several maidservants immediately surrounded her. Some ran to fetch a doctor, and others ran to inform Governor Chang.

Song Yi had already put the teapot down, showing no sign of panic. She stood beside Ji Yan’an, silent.

“Oh, Big Sister is so careless!” Ji Yan’an deliberately emphasized the words “Big Sister,” perfectly adopting the demeanor of a ‘green tea’ girl.

Song Yi smoothed her sleeves and put her hands behind her back. “That was hot water. It truly scalded her.”

Ji Yan’an, just like Song Yi, didn’t care at all. “It’s fine. Currying favor always comes at a price.”

Song Yi was the first to see through Chang Yunjie’s attempt to curry favor, and Ji Yan’an was the second. Her overly attentive behavior was too easy to be disgusted by, especially given her terrible attitude toward Song Yi.

Ji Yan’an now felt that her absolute bottom line was Song Yi. No one could be mean to Song Yi, and no one could touch Song Yi.

“So, you two did it on purpose?!” Chang Yunjie felt her intelligence had been insulted, being made a fool of and serving them so diligently for so long.

“Ji Yan’an! You are no different from those lowly concubine-born brats in our residence, all of you are equally unfit to be presented at court!” Chang Yunjie was badly scalded and then heard the two of them chatting as if watching a fire from across the river. Her long-suppressed anger finally erupted, and she shouted loudly.

The Old Madam and Governor Chang, who rushed over upon hearing the commotion, both caught that sentence. Governor Chang subconsciously turned back to look at the Old Madam’s expression. Sure enough, the Old Madam’s face was as dark as the bottom of a pot. Her expression of anxious concern changed. “Governor, you have failed to properly discipline your daughter.”

This sentence made Governor Chang lose face completely. He walked over to check Chang Yun Jie’s injury and found a large, red, swollen patch. No matter how embarrassed he was, he had to ask for the truth. “Did my daughter offend the two Misses?”

Song Yi was about to speak, but it was Ji Yan’an’s turn to stop her. “Yes, Chang Yunjie disregarded propriety and defamed my Ji Residence. I was the one who threw the tea water on her hand. And just so you know, if there’s a next time, it won’t be her hand I throw it on.”

Song Yi understood that Ji Yan’an was taking the blame to protect her. Chang Yunjie was stunned. It wasn’t like that, yet Ji Yan’an said it without batting an eye or showing any embarrassment.

“Father! That’s not true! Song Yi deliberately splashed it on your daughter when she was pouring the tea!” Chang Yunjie was in so much pain that tears were about to come out, but she still yelled to prove herself.

Governor Chang also looked very troubled and tried his best to explain to the Old Madam. “Old Madam, please see, I know Yun Jie’s nature best. She absolutely would not say such disrespectful things.”

“So, the Governor means he does not believe Yan’an?” The Old Madam held a hand warmer, looking impatient.

Ji Yan’an understood the meaning in the Old Madam’s words and stepped forward again. “If the Governor doesn’t believe me, he can ask the maidservants!”

Governor Chang’s gaze naturally focused on the maidservants surrounding Chang Yunjie.

“Is the Eldest Miss’s statement accurate?” Governor Chang directed his question at Chang Yunjie, but one composed maidservant spoke up. “Eldest Miss, we only recognize Miss Yan’an. As for what just happened, Miss Chang was indeed excessive. How could the Ji Residence be defamed in such a way?”

The maidservant was very clever, daring to accuse Chang Yunjie in front of Governor Chang. Song Yi appreciated her, just as her gaze was only reserved for Ji Yan’an.

Governor Chang saw that things were going poorly and was about to take Chang Yunjie and run, but Chang Yunjie, unwilling to give up, threw the teacup next to her toward Ji Yan’an as she was leaving. Song Yi blocked it with her body. The cup hit the wound on her left shoulder, causing the wound to break open, and blood began to seep out.

“Pass down my order! Give that Chang Yunjie thirty heavy planks before she leaves!” The Old Madam was very anxious when she saw the teacup about to be thrown at Ji Yan’an’s face. Although Song Yi blocked it, she was still scared.

Scared that her legitimate granddaughter would be disfigured at the peak of her youth because of a vile person, scared that her dearest treasure would be hit, scared…

All these factors made the Old Madam, who was nearly half-buried, experience a fit of rage again. Once the order was given, several maidservants quickly went to seize Chang Yun Jie.

Governor Chang panicked.