Ji Li stood there motionlessly, but his heart was trembling in secret. That news… was too much for him to digest.
Jing Yi snickered as he studied Ji Li's expression. He intended to seize this opportunity to execute his plan. “Despite the risk, this prince asked for my Imperial Mother's help to ask for Imperial Father's blessings for our marriage. I thought that, by doing that, I could be acknowledged by Secretary Ji. Little did I expect this would cause misunderstanding. So what if this prince wants to gain your support? Is the aid I provided insufficient for you to swear your loyalty to me?”
Ji Li was rendered speechless.
Jing Yi lips quirked upwards as he continued, “Secretary Ji, you have no choice but to side with this prince. From now onwards, if this prince wins, the Ji Family will share my victory, but if this prince fails, the Ji Family will fall as well.”
If this prince wins, the Ji Family will share my victory, but if this prince fails, the Ji Family will fall as well. Jing Yi's words were seared into Ji Li's mind. He opened his mouth, but the words stuck in his throat.
Ji Li found himself back at the military office, with no recollection of how he got there.
Upon his return, Ji Huan, who had been waiting for him, quickly approached him. “Big Brother, where did you go?”
Ji Li did not reply.
“Big Brother…” Ji Huan was worried when he saw how distracted Ji Li was. He pressed on, “Big Brother, did you go to… Prince Yi's estate?”
Ji Li continued to remain silent.
“What did Prince Yi tell you? What did you say to him?” There was no answer. “Big Brother…”
“That's enough,” Ji Li interrupted him, “Stop asking.”
Finally, Ji Huan gave up. He knew that something was wrong, but he dared not continue asking.
Then, Ji Li headed for Ji Muqing's courtyard.
The wedding gifts from the Imperial Palace had arrived, and were now occupying the entire courtyard. Prince Yi's wedding was a grand occasion, and had to be celebrated jubilantly. All the gifts were meticulously picked, every one of them of top quality and exquisitely made.
The gifts included enamel and jade containers, silk cloaks embroidered with orchid cacti, jade combs, round ivory mirrors, jade pillows, a pure gold pine-and-crane hairstick, dangling buyao hairsticks decorated with jade coins, gold ornaments inlaid with rubies, earrings in the shape of a swallow in flight, a phoenix ornament made from jade beads…
Glittering jewellery stretched as far as the eye could see.
The eunuchs who sent the wedding gifts from the Imperial Palace checked the items against the summary list. “They are all here!” The eunuch bowed down to Ji Muqing, who was standing at the door. “Prince Yi's Consort, all the wedding gifts are here.”
“Thank you.” With a look from Ji Muqing, Cailan took out some silver taels to tip the eunuchs.
After receiving the silver, the eunuchs left.
Ji Li entered the courtyard, and ordered everyone else to leave. Then, he pulled Ji Muqing into the room.
“Big Brother, that's enough,” Ji Muqing yelled. “What else do you want to do? The Emperor has already issued an imperial edict and delivered the wedding gifts to us. Unless you kill me, I will definitely marry Prince Yi!” She was unyielding.
Ji Li pulled her by her arm towards himself and pushed up her sleeve before she could react. On her fair and smooth arm, there was no cinnabar mark. It was completely bare! [1]
Although he had mentally prepared himself for this, Ji Li was stunned. “Prince Yi was not lying. You have already…”
Ha! At that moment, his ears were buzzing and his brain could not think.
As Ji Li grabbed her sleeve, Ji Muqing's eyes almost popped out of her head. She struggled, trying to break free of his grasp, but she did not have sufficient strength to do so. She stood there helplessly, her face pale. “I…” The words stuck to her throat.
Her shameful secret had been exposed. She felt so humiliated that she wanted to die. Her eyes turned red and tears started rolling down her cheeks.
“How could you do something like this?” Ji Li reprimanded her.
“Big Brother, I… I didn't intend for that to happen.” She clutched Ji Li's sleeve, eyes br.i.m.m.i.n.g with tears. “I have no idea how it happened either. Big Brother, please believe me.”
“How can I believe you when the truth is presented right before our eyes?”
“I really don't know how it happened. I pa.s.sed out after I got hit. Then, I woke up and… Big Brother, please believe me. I know what I should and shouldn't do. I would never purposely never do something that will put the family to shame! It was that beast who did this!” Desperate, she tried to explain herself.
Ji Li pushed her away.
Ji Muqing dropped to her knees with a loud thud. Her face was covered with tears. “Big Brother, please keep this secret to yourself. If anyone finds out about this, I'll be doomed.”
“You finally realize how serious this is?” Ji Li glared at her with a pair of bloodshot eyes.
“Of course I know how serious this is. I have been living in fear since the moment I woke up on that bed. I have been startled awake every night in fear that someone will find out about this. What should I do if that happens? What will happen to the Ji Family? Fortunately, Concubine Xiao promised to keep this secret for me. On top of that, Prince Yi is also willing to marry me as his consort. Even that man is dead! No one will find out about that incident. Big Brother, I'm your blood-related sister! Please consider my position, and give me your blessings! Let bygones be bygones. Marrying Prince Yi is now my only way out,” she pleaded, sobbing.
Ji Li heaved a heavy sigh. There was nothing else he could do. He could only accept it. “Get up.”
“Big Brother?”
“What has happened has happened. You've done something that's unresolvable.” He pulled her up.
Nose red, Ji Muqing begged with a pitiful tone, “Big Brother, you’ve agreed to my marriage?”
“What else can I do other than agreeing?” Ji Li helplessly gave in. “I can't possibly bear to see you living with this shame for the rest of your life. It's not that I refuse to give your marriage my blessings. However, your marriage involves more than just the two of you. You will get caught up in the political infighting between the princes. Unfortunately, now that we have come to such a state, I have no choice but to let you marry Prince Yi. Hopefully, things will be better for you once you move into Prince Yi's estate.”
“I hope so too.”
“Stop crying.” He heaved another heavy sigh. “Get ready. Father and Wanxin are on their way to the Capital. I'll keep your secret to myself.”
“Thanks, Big Brother.”
Then, Ji Li left the room.
When he arrived at the entrance of the courtyard, he ran into Ji Huan. “Big Brother, you…”
“I'm alright. Muqing is getting married. You should help out and order the servants to prepare everything needed to put together this wedding. Make sure nothing is out of place. Our Ji family is, after all, a reputable family.” He finished his words and stalked off.
What is with this sudden change of stance? Caught off guard by Ji Li's statement, Ji Huan was glued to the ground. But that did not last for long, and he was soon on his way to meet Ji Muqing again.
She had only just finished crying, and her eyes were still red and swollen. Quietly, she sat there as she wiped off her tears.
“Muqing, what's wrong?”
Upon hearing Ji Huan, she quickly lowered her head before she shook her head and replied, “I'm fine.”
“What did Big Brother talk to you about? Why did he suddenly change his stance?”
“I… I don't know. Perhaps, Big Brother has finally come to his senses. Second Brother, please leave me alone for now. I'm tired.”
“Sure,” he agreed stiffly. He then left the room, scratching his head in puzzlement.
What an insensitive boor! He was completely oblivious to Ji Muqing's cheerlessness.
Ji Muqing wiped away her tears before she stared into her reflection in the mirror. Her face had turned pale. When she heard the maids approaching her room, she hurriedly grabbed the rouge and put some on her face, hoping that it would put some rosiness to her face.
The maids resumed arranging the wedding gifts, and none of them noticed anything wrong with her.
[1] TLN: Reminder, this is completely fictional. Virginity. Is. A. Construct.