Transmigrated as the Short-Lived White Moonlight, I Ended Up Happily Ever After With the Female Lead - Chapter 8

Ji Yan’an lowered her head in confusion to look at her long dress. “It’s not thin…” she thought. “And it’s so warm in the room.” Before Ji Yan’an could voice her confusion, Song Yi had already brought over a cloak and handed it to her, her manner brooking no refusal.

Ji Yan’an pouted and put on the cloak. She had to admit, it was indeed much warmer.

“Is the beauty concerned about me!” In a moment of excitement, Ji Yan’an blurted it out. Sure enough, Song Yi looked up at her, those dark eyes once again making Ji Yan’an feel guilty.

“That’s not right, I didn’t do anything to feel guilty about towards her, why should I feel guilty!” Ji Yan’an’s brain finally caught up, and she looked directly at Song Yi. As she watched, she suddenly burst into laughter; she could never stay serious for long.

As expected, snow began to fall again outside, making the weather even colder. None of the maids were willing to walk around in the snow; they all huddled in the side rooms, waiting for their mistress’s orders. Thus, the outside was very quiet. Ji Yan’an gently pushed open the window, and a blast of cold air immediately rushed in, like an invisible hand reaching into Ji Yan’an’s collar, making her shiver without cause.

“If it’s cold, why open the window?” Song Yi finally put down the book in her hand and walked over to Ji Yan’an.

Ji Yan’an, however, was intrigued and held out her small hand, gesturing for Song Yi to come and look with her.

Song Yi didn’t originally want to be as childish as her, but she inexplicably leaned her head closer.

The scene outside the courtyard was surprisingly beautiful. In a snow day, all things should have been withered, but Ji Yan’an’s courtyard was still lush and green. This was incredibly difficult to achieve in an era without technology, but Ji Yan’s parents had managed it for her.

All sorts of exotic flowers and plants were blooming, made even more delicate by the dusting of snow. It made one want to rush over and protect these flora. Yet, Song Yi’s eyes were filled with icy coldness, as if these flowers and plants should not have appeared, should not be blooming in winter.

“How is it, how is it? Isn’t it exceptionally beautiful!” Ji Yan’an’s eyes were shining brightly, making Song Yi momentarily unable to distinguish whether the stars or Ji Yan’an’s eyes were brighter.

Even with so much darkness in her heart, it could not be expressed at this moment. Song Yi stared at Ji Yan’an, who was a head shorter than her: “Beautiful.”

Hearing the answer that satisfied her, Ji Yan’an broke into a big smile. She then rubbed her small hands together and closed the window. The cold wind was blocked outside. Ji Yan’an showed no signs of being frozen; she excitedly ran off, picked up a book, and began flipping through it randomly.

“You won’t learn anything by reading like that.” Song Yi spoke the truth without any mercy. The book was about politics, and even if she read it seriously, she wouldn’t learn much.

Upon hearing this, Ji Yan’an deflated like a burst balloon, putting the book down. She rested her chin on her slender wrist, watching Song Yi with utter boredom.

Song Yi usually didn’t mind being watched, but with only the two of them in the room, and Ji Yan’an constantly giving her that resentful look, Song Yi really couldn’t handle it.

The beauty, Song Yi, stood up and walked out of the main room. Ji Yan’an was crestfallen, thinking Song Yi didn’t want to deal with her, when Song Yi returned… bringing several thick books with her.

“What is this?” Ji Yan’an walked over with interest to look, only to see two large characters, Neixun, Instructions for the Interior/Women’s Training, on the cover. The pages were yellowed, suggesting they had been put away and unread for a long time.

Ji Yan’an looked at Song Yi in surprise: “What does this mean? We don’t have this kind of thing in Yongzhao Kingdom!” The only thing Ji Yan’an was grateful for after transmigrating was that she wasn’t in some feudal dynasty where she’d have to bind her feet or adhere to those pedantic notions of women’s virtue. But the book Song Yi brought out today made Ji Yan’an feel as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.

Song Yi could, of course, see the fear and panic in the person before her. She smiled—a rare occurrence—and flipped open a few pages, pointing to the content: “Just look at these parts about etiquette. You’ve entered the palace many times, so you should be adept at everything else.”

Ji Yan’an froze. So, Song Yi was just worried that she would panic over the etiquette. Could this woman actually understand her so well?

Without waiting for Song Yi to say anything more, Ji Yan’an eagerly grabbed the book and began to read. She often spent half a day understanding one passage, but this did not prevent Ji Yan’an from studying alongside Song Yi.

Le Yan came in occasionally to add charcoal to the brazier. Seeing this harmonious scene, she felt very relieved. After all, before this, the one who came to see her young mistress every night was Ji Tong’an.

Le Yan used to be a little maid serving in Ji Yan’an’s courtyard. She had personally witnessed Ji Tong’an’s calculating look whenever she came, and her arrogant departure. Every aspect had made Le Yan’s impression of Ji Tong’an drop. But after her young mistress fell into the water, everything seemed different.

Le Yan sat on a small stool in the side room, looking at the snowy scenery with contentment: “Anyone she plays with is better than being with that Miss Ji Tong’an!” the little maid muttered to herself.

It was time for dinner. Because of the heavy snow outside, Ji Yongning did not ask them to gather together to eat. Instead, he instructed the kitchen to deliver food to each courtyard individually. As the only legitimate daughter, Ji Yan’an was naturally the most favored.

Ji Yongning and Mother Ji risked the heavy snow to come and visit Ji Yan’an. Upon entering, they saw Song Yi and Ji Yan’an each holding a book, while the dinner on the table was still steaming.

“Why haven’t you eaten dinner?” Ji Yongning suddenly said this, almost scaring Ji Yan’an into dropping the book in her hand. Once she realized it was Ji Yongning, she first bowed with Song Yi, then explained, “Daughter was absorbed in reading just now and forgot the time for dinner.”

Ji Yongning seemed very pleased with this answer. He smiled until his beard trembled, repeatedly saying that his daughter was showing great promise.

Song Yi stood by the entire time, a complete outsider.

Just as the family was about to happily start their dinner, Song Yi was about to leave when a warm, soft little hand suddenly grasped her icy one.

“Let’s have dinner together.” The girl’s eyes were still bright, making it impossible to refuse. Even though Song Yi would be having a meal in front of her father’s former friend, she did not shake Ji Yan’an’s hand away.

Song Yi secretly mused that she was making too many exceptions for this girl, yet she didn’t know why.

In short, Song Yi was safely pulled into the dinner party by Ji Yan’an. Fortunately, Ji Yongning and Mother Ji were not awkward because of the extra Song Yi. Especially Mother Ji, who, while serving food to Ji Yan’an, did not forget to serve Song Yi as well.

Ji Yongning was considered to have risen rapidly in the court, and he hadn’t been in a bad mood for a single day. The only thing that troubled him was the matter of his pearl of a daughter falling into the water yesterday. Seeing Song Yi and his daughter getting along so harmoniously, Ji Yongning secretly believed in Song Yi’s innocence. It was that Ji Tong’an, who had complained first… she truly needed to be thoroughly investigated.

The old political hand, Ji Yongning, did not disappoint Ji Yan’an after all.