Chapter 91: 和解
[Reconciliation]
Hearing Lei Ming’s words, Tang Xiaobao felt somewhat embarrassed, unsure how to address this young master. Ji Ling, observing his awkwardness, spoke up first: “Indeed, he is my husband after all.”
Lei Ming, who had been observing Tang Xiaobao, heard Ji Ling speak such blunt words without reservation for the first time. He turned to look at him, only to find that the usually cold-hearted person was now gazing at his husband with a tenderness far gentler than usual—a stark contrast to her everyday demeanor. This realization struck him as quite peculiar. He’d been about to tease him, but then remembered they were in a prison cell—not exactly the place for banter—so he held his tongue.
After a moment of flustered confusion, Tang Xiaobao regained his composure. He took the food box from the servant behind him and said with a smile, “I brought you something to eat. Have some food first.”
He signaled the guard to open the cell door, then carefully unpacked the items he’d prepared. The specially designed food box had kept the meal warm, and the dishes still held a faint warmth. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he turned to Lei Ming standing nearby and said, “If you don’t mind, young master, perhaps we could share this together.”
Seeing this, Lei Ming accepted without hesitation. He smiled, sat down, and took the bowl Tang Xiaobao offered. With a hint of amusement, he remarked, “I’ve never eaten a meal in prison before. This is quite a rare experience.”
Ji Ling glanced at his scatterbrained friend, saying nothing, but simply picked up a pair of chopsticks and placed some of Tang Xiaobao’s favorite food into his bowl.
Seeing Ji Ling—usually so cold and aloof—act with such thoughtfulness now, Lei Ming couldn’t help but whistle in admiration. But then he thought about how this delicate little husband was so devoted to his own husband. He figured he must be quite the obedient one. If it were him, he’d probably be the same.
Though the surroundings weren’t ideal, perhaps the crowd made the meal enjoyable. Before leaving, Lei Ming told Ji Ling his matter would be resolved soon. He’d heard the head of the Ji family had already rushed back on horseback, likely to handle Ji Ling’s situation.
Upon hearing this, Ji Ling merely gave him a faint thank you.
Tang Xiaobao, who had expected the outcome to take several more days, was surprised when word reached him the very next day that the Second Lady of the Ji household was preparing to withdraw the lawsuit and was already on her way to the magistrate’s office. Hearing this news, Tang Xiaobao abandoned the preparations he was making and hurried off to the magistrate’s office, with Lühe and Feng Ling following close behind.
No sooner had they entered the courthouse than they saw the Second Lady standing before the magistrate. “That day, this humble wife was foolish,” she declared. “The one who poisoned the food was not Ji Ling, but another. That person has already been apprehended. I beg Your Honor to release Ji Ling. After all, this entire affair is a misunderstanding.”
Hearing the Second Lady’s words, the magistrate seated in the courtroom slammed his gavel down, his anger palpable. “How dare you! Had you not pleaded desperately just days ago, swearing on your life that Ji Ling was the one who harmed you, would this magistrate have sent men to arrest him? Now you claim it was not Ji Ling? Is this not deceiving this magistrate? Do you know what fate awaits those who deceive an imperial official?”
The Second Lady stood frozen, visibly shaken by the magistrate’s words. She raised her head, fear evident in her voice. “Forgive me, Your Honor. It was my mistake. I beg you to show mercy and spare my husband, Ji Ling.”
The magistrate glared at the woman below, seething with anger. Had she not coerced and bribed him into agreeing to this matter, holding his secrets hostage, he would never have helped her. Now that she’d created this mess, she wanted to withdraw the lawsuit? Wasn’t this just a blatant attempt to humiliate him? Bitter resentment simmered within him. He vowed never to meddle in such trivial matters again. Only after repeatedly confirming that the Second Lady truly had no other demands did he order Ji Ling, who had been confined to a cell these past days, to be brought forth.
Recalling the First Master’s threat, the Second Lady had no choice but to take Ji Ling back, intact, despite her hatred. What she hadn’t anticipated was that Ji Ling, who she’d expected to appear disheveled after days in confinement, now stood before her looking not the least bit bedraggled. If anything, her aura seemed even more icy and resolute, as if tempered by the ordeal. Seeing Ji Ling unchanged from when she’d entered, the Second Lady gritted her teeth inwardly. Yet she forced a concerned smile onto her face, tinged with just the right amount of contrition. “Ji Ling, I’m sorry. I never imagined the poisoner would be so cunning. They nearly fooled me too, and I wrongly blamed you.”
Ji Ling, who had remained composed since arriving, turned to face her nominal mother. A slow smile spread across his lips as he spoke softly, “Since it was a misunderstanding, resolving it is all that matters.”
Though puzzled, the Second Lady exhaled in relief upon hearing these words. Little did she expect Ji Ling to continue: “But this matter has troubled Magistrate Guan and become common knowledge. I’m afraid it can’t be good, can it?” Her tone seemed merely inquisitive, yet the chill within it sent a shiver down one’s spine.
The Second Lady, unsure of Ji Ling’s intentions and only wanting to smooth things over, could only go along with his words: “In a couple of days, I’ll release a statement to clarify this matter. You needn’t worry.”
Seeing Ji Ling’s expressionless gaze fixed on her once more, as if he remained unconvinced, she clenched her jaw. Bowing respectfully to him, she added in a tone laced with apology, “This matter was entirely (mine) mother’s fault.”
Before Ji Ling could respond, the magistrate above them grew impatient. Observing the two women, he deemed further discussion unnecessary. Since the Second Lady Ji was merely a woman of the household, he naturally could not impose any punishment. He merely issued a verbal warning: should she ever again engage in such baseless slander, she would not be so easily being let off the hook.
Ji Er Fu Ren (the second lady) kept nodding in agreement, though the expression on her face was barely holding up.
After the magistrate finished speaking, he turned to his clerk and addressed the crowd below: “Since this was merely a misunderstanding, there is no further action required. However, you must sign a written document as proof.”
The Second Lady Ji naturally raised no objection. She only wished to leave this place as soon as possible. Upon arriving earlier, she noticed someone recognized her. If she delayed her departure, who knew what trouble might arise. Ji Ling also saw no reason to object. Yet, when she caught sight of the young scholar acting as the clerk, a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes.
Once the clerk finished drafting the document, its gist was that Second Lady Ji had wrongly accused Ji Ling and now, realizing his mistake, had come to withdraw the complaint. At first glance, it seemed unproblematic. Yet, if it fell into the wrong hands, this document could easily be twisted into evidence that his stepmother couldn’t tolerate his stepson and had devised a scheme to frame Ji Ling.
Recognizing the content, Ji Ling glanced up at the young clerk before calmly signing his name. Immediately after, Second Lady Ji also signed hers. With the document secured, this farce finally concluded.
When Ji Ling was finally free to leave, he spotted Tang Xiaobao anxiously scanning the crowd for him. Hesitating briefly about his plan to confront the clerk, he turned and strode toward Tang Xiaobao’s location.
Tang Xiaobao watched Ji Ling approach and, overcome with emotion, broke into a light jog. Circling around Ji Ling to ensure he was unharmed, he urgently said, “Let’s hurry home. We need to wash with mugwort water to purify ourselves.”
“Alright.” Gazing into Tang Xiaobao’s bright eyes, Ji Ling’s lips curved slightly. Taking his hand, he prepared to leave.
Just as the two were about to depart, a woman’s voice called out from behind them, “Ji Ling, shall we return together?”
Turning, they saw Second Lady Ji. She appeared unchanged from usual, showing no sign of guilt for having wrongfully accused her stepson.
Ji Ling glanced up at her and continued, “Mother, there’s no need. It’s best we keep our distance. Otherwise, if something were to happen to you again, it would be my fault.”
His words were blunt and direct. Ignoring the person behind him whose face had turned grim, he took Tang Xiaobao’s hand and walked toward the carriage.
Watching their retreating figures, the Second Lady clenched her teeth in fury. Realizing the surrounding onlookers were deliberately or inadvertently observing her, she quickly regained her composure and boarded the carriage with her maid.
Seated inside, her face remained grim as she dwelled on the humiliation she’d suffered. Then, as if something occurred to her, her expression softened slightly. She turned to the maid attending her and instructed, “Make sure that matter is handled discreetly.”
The maid’s hands paused mid-massage on the Second Lady’s shoulders before she replied with utmost respect, ” Yes, Madam.”
Hearing the maid’s reply and recalling the countermeasure she had devised, the Second Lady’s expression brightened once more.
Yet the very next day, the Second Lady never could have imagined that instead of receiving the information she sought, she would hear another piece of news that left her utterly humiliated.
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