“Yes!” Sang Lan was a tactful servant. She had followed her mistress for many years and understood her temper. At this moment, she wanted to say something, but since there was a high possibility that she wouldn’t avoid punishment after speaking out, she kept the words in her heart and hurriedly withdrew to the outside alongside the other palace maids and eunuchs.
Concubine Xiao’s hand supported her forehead as her elbow rested on the table. Her heart felt stifled and painful from the anger.
……….
Meanwhile, after Ji Yunshu returned to the Rong Estate with Lang Po, she started to sharpen her knives, and it wasn’t her vegetable knives. She was sharpening her precious knives which she stored in her sandalwood box. They had been collecting dust in her box for a while and would become blunt if neglected. Hence, she had to hone them once in a while. The small knife she was sharpening made a schlik-schlik each time it was placed against the whetstone.
Ji Yunshu carefully sharpened it, afraid that a careless move would ruin the blade. Those knives were different from the commonly seen ones as they were customized for her use.
Not to mention she spent a huge amount of money on them, so it was normal that she considered those knives to be her treasures.
After she finished sharpening one, she looked at her courtyard and was surprised by the sudden appearance of Shi Zijin who wasn’t usually around. At this moment, she was holding an exquisitely carved sword and stood in front of the water wheel motionlessly.
“Zhijin!” Ji Yunshu called her in a gentle voice.
Hearing her name, Shi Zijin turned around and walked over, stopping in front of the door, ready for any orders from Ji Yunshu.
“You’ve followed me for several days already. You must be tired. You don’t need to protect me all the times. Take a rest!”
Shi Zijin didn’t respond nor did she move. Her stubborn face showed a maturity unbefitting of a 15-year-old girl. In addition, her expression was very cold, similar to that of a wandering hero.
Ji Yunshu continued to sharpen her knife. After a while, she still hadn’t heard a reply, so she proposed once more, “Since you don’t want to rest, come in for a cup of tea.”
“No need!” Was uttered in response.
Ji Yunshu curled her lips. She honed her knife while studying Shi Zijin from the corner of her eyes. ‘Might as well just…’ She put down her knife and wiped it clean. Then, she got up and walked up to Shi Zijin. Her hand suddenly shot to grab onto Zijin’s firm and muscled arm, leading her into the room and making her sit at the table. Finally, Ji Yunshu placed a hot cup of tea in front of Shi Zijin. Her actions were smooth and organised with no wasted movements.
Shi Zijin didn’t resist and obediently sat there. However, she never relaxed for a second, sitting very straight in the chair. Her eyes looking straight ahead of her, placid like still water.
“Seriously, you’re not drinking?” Ji Yunshu asked.
Shi Zijin nodded.
Seeing her like this, Ji Yunshu couldn’t stop herself from laughing. ‘Forget it. Let her sit down then.’ Ji Yunshu took out a few more knives from her sandalwood box and resumed her grinding. It was a very serene atmosphere, punctuated by the metallic sounds of grinding.
Despite the awkwardness between them, after the time of joss stick, their tense relationship eased into an exceptional harmony – A silent person and a person who didn’t want to disturb the other.
Suddenly, Shi Zijin shot up, her hand reaching for the sword on the table.
Bam!
The sound was deafening in the silent room.
Ji Yunshu had just finished sharpening a knife, then she noticed Shi Zijing. She moved her sight to the door and saw Jing Rong arriving.
He walked in with a wooden face, his mask of indifference slightly broken by a slight frown similar to when he was in Yuhua Pavilion. It appeared that his talk with Mo Ruo didn’t yield any results.
Shi Zijin obediently left with no intention of disturbing them.
After Jing Rong came in, he sat across from Ji Yunshu and sipped the cup in front of him. After that, he did nothing. He simply sat there in silence.