After glancing briefly at her two half-sisters, she turned to Madam Ji and said, "Mother, now that this matter has happened, we have no choice but to accept the Wen Clan’s Second Young Master’s proposal."
Madam Ji’s eyes turned cold upon hearing this.
After a brief silence, she said, "No. Even if I have to send the two of them to a monastery, I will not allow them to become that man’s concubines."
Unable to understand her mother’s decision, Second Young Lady Ji asked, "Mother, isn’t marrying them into the Wen Clan a good decision? Once they join the Wen Clan, Father’s position would become more secure."
Madam Ji said nothing at first. Then she turned to her personal servant and ordered, "Momo, have the two of them kneel in front of the ancestors. Without my permission, no one is allowed to visit them."
The old servant bowed and replied, "Yes, Madam."
Following her order, the momo signaled to the other servants. "Escort the two young ladies to the ancestral hall."
Seized by the servants, the two daughters born of concubines dared not resist and obediently followed them toward the Ji Clan’s ancestral hall.
After they left, Madam Ji then turned to the remaining maidservants and ordered, "Leave us, and close the door."
The maidservants bowed and replied in unison, "Yes, Madam."
Once the room was cleared, Second Young Lady Ji asked, "Mother, what do you wish to say to me that you sent everyone away?"
Madam Ji took her daughter’s hand and said, "Second Lady, your father never intended to use marriage to bind our family to the Wen Clan."
Hearing this, the Second Young Lady Ji asked in surprise, "Why? The Wen Clan is the most powerful in the Yu Empire. They control the imperial court and even make decisions on behalf of the emperor. A marriage alliance with them is the best way to secure our future."
Of course, Madam Ji understood everything her daughter had just said. But she also knew something her daughter did not know.
Patting the Second Young Lady Ji’s hand gently, Madam Ji said, "Second, Lady, you don’t need to worry about this. Just do as your father says."
"But—" Seeing the worry in her mother’s eyes, Second Young Lady Ji swallowed the rest of her words. Lowering her gaze, she replied, "This daughter will listen to Mother."
Smiling gently, Madam Ji sighed in relief. "Good child."
After a moment of silence, Madam Ji added, "You should return to your room. And remember, stay away from the Wen Clan’s Second Young Master. Mother fears that since he failed this time, he may set his eyes on you next."
The Second Young Lady Ji’s face paled at her mother’s words. Knowing Wen Yirui’s reputation, she nodded and replied firmly, "This daughter understands."
Madam Ji smiled and said, "Mother is tired. You should go back now."
Hearing this, Second Young Lady Ji bent her knees slightly and bowed to Madam Ji, "Then, this daughter will take my leave now. May you rest well, mother."
After her daughter left, Madam Ji called out, "Someone, come."
Soon, a first-rank maidservant entered the main hall and bowed. "Madam, what are your instructions?"
Madam Ji rubbed her aching forehead and said, "Send the Fourth and Fifth Young Ladies to the monastery tonight. Make sure no one sees them."
"Yes, Madam." Accepting the command, the maidservant left and went to inform the steward.
Left alone, Madam Ji leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes in exhaustion.
While the political current of the Yu Empire was slowly shifting, night deepened, and the world fell into a deep slumber.
The next morning, Bai Hanyun woke up early to catch her flight to Xi Yang City.
After taking a bath, she changed into a modern-style light green Hanfu dress. After putting on her dress, Bai Hanyun then tied her hair into a double ring bun.
Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she paused for a moment before opening a drawer and taking out a wooden box.
Opening it, she took out the jade pendant Feng Xiyan had given her when the Yuezhi Tribe attacked Xiqiang City. As she stroked the smooth, warm surface of the jade pendant, her lips curved into a slight smile.
"Feng Xiyan, let me borrow your jade pendant for one day." After saying that, Bai Hanyun tied the jade pendant to her waistband, completing her look.
She twirled a few times in front of the mirror while checking her appearance. A moment later, a satisfied smile spread across her face.
Once she was ready, Bai Hanyun grabbed a small light green pouch she had bought along with the Hanfu and placed her phone and a small green folding fan inside.
Coming downstairs with the small pouch in hand, she headed straight to the backyard.
Seeing that the antique mirror was still drawing in water, Bai Hanyun checked the water level. After the heavy summer rain the previous night, the water level had returned to normal.
Staring at the surface, she muttered with a hint of surprise in her tone, "The heavy rain last night has actually replenished the water in this river. Looks like leaving the antique mirror here to send more water to Feng Xiyan shouldn’t be a problem."
Having made up her mind, Bai Hanyun squatted down and said to the mirror, "Hey, I’m going to Xi Yang City today. I might need to stay overnight there. It’s not safe to bring you with me, so I will let you stay here."
As soon as she said that, the submerged antique mirror emitted a soft glow once.
Seeing its response, Bai Hanyun smiled. "Good. If you behave, I will bring back something nice for Feng Xiyan and the others."
The mirror glowed again, this time, even brighter than the last.
Bai Hanyun chuckled at this sight and stood up. "Then I’m leaving now. See you tomorrow."
Leaving the backyard, she locked the door to the house.