WBSGVS Chapter 22 V1

Zheng Yihan knelt before the gate of the Ji residence.

Behind him, a group of onlookers whispered and pointed, their discussions full of mockery.

As the eldest son of the Zheng family, Yihan has always enjoyed a smooth path since his father became an official. He was talented himself, having passed the imperial examination at just sixteen, and even married the daughter of a great general. Other than a rough start in his childhood, he had encountered little opposition along the way.

But now, wherever he went, he faced little kindness. Even those who smiled at him could just as easily turn and sneer, “What a fool, chasing away his legitimate wife for a concubine, and a Ji family girl at that. How ridiculous!”

Or they would say to his face, “Brother Zheng, you’ve got ambition!”

Yihan felt an unbearable bitterness; gritting his teeth, he knelt there, as if their taunts were piercing through him, causing heat to rise that made him uncomfortable all over.

Yet he couldn’t leave.

He had already made too many mistakes, and now, to redeem himself, he needed to endure.

His body had been weakened in recent months; while it looked to be recovering, he still required careful nurturing. After the recent upheavals, he had been hit hard and was now extremely weak. He feared he might faint at any moment.

No matter how cold-hearted the Ji family was, A Li wouldn’t let him die here.

If only she could soften her heart, he could still salvage this situation.

With that thought, Yihan forced himself to move his arms and legs. The unyielding marble floor pressed painfully against his knees, making his legs feel weak, and his heart raced faster than usual, with beads of sweat forming on his back.

He took a deep breath and called toward the entrance, “Could I trouble you to pass a message for me?”

He had already been kneeling for a while, having asked the gatekeeper to relay his message upon arrival, but the gatekeeper had gone in only to come back out moments later, ignoring him completely.

The gatekeeper glanced at him but continued to look away.

Disheartened, Yihan lowered his gaze. It was clear that Ji Shuxin was preventing him from seeing A Li. Even if A Li seemed resolute, she couldn’t possibly ignore the fact that he was kneeling there.

Just then, a carriage stopped at the entrance of the Ji residence.

As the curtain lifted, Yu Yonglan stepped down. Her maid handed the invitation to the gatekeeper, who immediately straightened up to welcome her, “Miss Yu, please come in.”

Yonglan nodded slightly. As she descended the steps, she paused, glancing at the kneeling figure.

Hearing the movement, Yihan turned to look, and their eyes met. Heat flooded his cheeks.

After facing derision from acquaintances all the way here, he had not anticipated running into a noble lady while resolutely kneeling.

It was only the first day since the divorce, and there were already visitors from the Ji family?

Embarrassment aside, Yihan had already been kneeling for some time and could barely hold on. He feared that if he collapsed here, the Ji family might discreetly arrange for him to be taken away without informing A Li. Suppressing his shame and anger, he clasped his hands together and said, “Miss Yu, could you kindly relay a message for me?”

Yonglan ascended two steps, then paused, looking down at him from her elevated position.

“Thank you, Miss Yu,” Yihan replied sincerely, bowing again.

If it weren’t for the burning in his cheeks, one might truly think he was unaffected by the situation.

Yonglan took two more steps down, drawing closer, and then asked, “You care a lot about Miss Ji, don’t you?”

At the mention of Ji, Yihan’s face flushed even more, but he managed to nod firmly, “Of course. My reasons for taking a concubine are complicated. A Li is headstrong; I had to explain repeatedly, and this was the only way. Please, Miss Yu, help me. A Li surely doesn’t know I’m waiting out here.”

Yonglan studied him. Compared to five years ago, Yihan was no longer the confident young man he once was. She felt relieved that this was the case; it had allowed Ji Qingli to decisively end their marriage.

But to inform her?

She smiled, her expression soft yet laced with sarcasm. “If you truly care about her, why let her be bullied by your mother for five years? If you cared, why not ensure that savior of hers was properly settled before returning alone? Zheng Yihan, do you think she’s a fool? After all this, do you think you can use this act of self-pity to win her back?”

Yihan was taken aback. Each question from Yonglan pierced him, making him feel utterly ashamed. What shocked him more was her tone—light and casual, as if they were merely friends exchanging pleasantries.

He was momentarily stunned, unable to respond.

But Yonglan straightened up, smiled at him, and resumed her ascent into the Ji residence, showing no sign of discomfort.

If not for the echo of her questions still ringing in his ears, Yihan might have thought the encounter a mere illusion.

So this was the renowned eldest daughter of the Yu family in the capital?

Yihan suddenly became aware of his humiliation, his cheeks burning with anger, and he found it difficult to remain kneeling.

A servant nearby, having overheard everything, was also taken aback and rushed over to support his master, worriedly saying, “Young Master, should we head back?”

Yihan hesitated when two women’s voices caught his attention, “Oh? Isn’t that Zheng Yihan?”

He turned sharply to see two familiar yet nameless ladies approaching with their maids. As their eyes met, they quickly confirmed his identity.

“Why are you kneeling here?” one of the ladies asked.

“Surely you’re here to find Miss Ji?” said another.

Yihan forced a smile, “I made a mistake and came to plead for forgiveness, seeking A Li’s pardon.”

The two ladies exchanged glances, covering their mouths with their handkerchiefs as they smiled.

One lady, Lady Wang, expressed admiration, “Ji Qingli must have dealt quite the blow. No wonder it took five years for you to dare take a concubine. Unlike ten years ago, when she would have caused a scene, she divorced on the spot. Now her husband can only kneel in supplication; indeed, a jealous woman.”

Shaking her head, she added, “We’ll help you speak to Miss Ji. One night of marriage is worth a hundred days of kindness; why let it come to this?”

The other lady chimed in, “We just happen to be going inside; we’ll tell Miss Ji. Seeing you like this, she’ll surely feel pity.”

Yihan didn’t want to leave anymore, clasping his hands together in thanks. “Thank you, ladies.”

“No need for thanks,” Lady Zhang waved her hand, pulling Lady Wang along. Once inside the Ji residence, they burst into laughter. “Oh my, this is too amusing!”

Lady Wang lowered her voice to giggle, “Who would’ve thought Ji Qingli would end up like this? Returning home after the divorce, what a disgrace!”

Lady Zhang agreed, “Isn’t it?”

They exchanged a smile, feeling exhilarated.

Remembering how glamorous Ji Qingli had once been, surrounded by admirers, the threshold of suitors nearly trampled, only to now return home in disgrace.

But as they approached, curiosity nagged at them: why didn’t Ji Qingli seem downtrodden at all?

She appeared rather composed?

Intrigued, they couldn’t wait to share what they had just witnessed at the entrance, eagerly anticipating her reaction.

However, Ji Qingli feigned ignorance, “Someone’s kneeling at my Ji residence? Are they begging? Why not give them a little something? Did they forget their coins?”

Lady Zhang and Lady Wang were momentarily taken aback, speechless. They continued to observe Ji Qingli’s expression, confirming that she truly seemed unfazed, stirring an uncomfortable feeling within them.

The disappointment of a failed spectacle, the bitterness at seeing someone thrive, and a hint of jealousy all coursed through her. That Ji Qingli could present herself so well must certainly be due to the Ji family’s backing.

Lady Zhang tentatively asked, “Is Miss Ji truly not curious about who that person is?”

Qingli calmly shook her head. “He’s just a beggar; a few coins will suffice. Why bother knowing who he is?”

Lady Zhang clicked her tongue but found herself at a loss for words, so she turned to leave.

However, Lady Wang didn’t budge. Instead, she frowned, feeling discontent. “Miss Ji, you’re so ungrateful. I’ve never seen someone so callous.”

Qingli smiled. “Why should I be ungrateful?”

Seeing her smiling, Lady Wang, emboldened by the notion that Qingli had indeed been bullied by the Zhang family for so long, argued defiantly:

“How can you not know that your ex-husband is kneeling outside? You dismiss him as a beggar, but do you realize he bled yesterday and is here kneeling today because he cares about you? You don’t even bother to check on him. Shouldn’t you at least acknowledge the years you spent as a couple or your childhood bond? Your behavior is truly ungrateful.”

Qingli shrugged. “That man chose to ignore our years of relationship and broke our family rules to take a concubine. If I were to uphold the reputation of being sentimental, I’d have to go see him and demean myself. Isn’t that what being ungrateful is? It doesn’t cost me anything to ignore him.”

“You!” Lady Wang was momentarily speechless. As Qingli signaled for them to enter, her resentment deepened. Why could Qingli be so unaffected? Her husband took a concubine, and she could simply walk away without a second thought, while Lady Wang found herself embroiled in constant strife with her own husband’s concubine.

Unable to contain her frustration, she stepped closer and hissed, “Are you still a woman? It’s common for men to take concubines. You’ve been married for five years without a child! Even divorce has grounds. Yet you divorced him just because he took a concubine, and now he’s kneeling and begging for you. You won’t even see him; that’s truly excessive!”

Qingli’s expression turned icy, shaking off Lady Wang’s grip.

Lady Zhang, who had been quietly observing, was taken aback and quickly pulled her friend aside, whispering, “Watch your words!”

Startled, Lady Wang stumbled, instinctively holding onto her companion, only to see Qingli’s face frozen in anger. A cold sweat broke out on her back. What had she just done?

How could she have thought Ji Qingli was easy to bully?

“Miss Ji!” Lady Wang called out weakly.

But Qingli, no longer smiling, replied coldly, “I am happy; what business is it of yours? Guards, escort Lady Wang out; she is unwelcome here.”

No more words were exchanged; she dismissed her as callously as Lady Wang had dismissed her ex-husband.

Lady Wang’s face paled at the prospect of being thrown out like this, feeling her dignity crumble before the entire aristocracy of the capital. “You dare! Ji Qingli, don’t think I’m afraid of you!”

Qingli found it amusing. “You needn’t fear me. This is my home, and I will do as I please.” She cast a cold glance at the nearby maids. “What are you waiting for?”

The maids jolted into action, each taking an arm and escorting Lady Wang out. “Lady Wang, please take care.”