At that moment, there were hurried footsteps outside the door. Ji Wushang and Madam Bei looked up and saw that it was Zhu'er!
Zhu'er was carrying a bowl of steaming medicine. As soon as she saw Ji Wushang wake up and look at her with bright eyes, she immediately put the bowl of medicine down on the table and ran over, crying, "Miss! Miss!" Tears streamed down her face like pearls.
"Good Zhu'er! Good Zhu'er!" Ji Wushang also wept bitterly, the events of his past life vivid in his mind, Zhu'er's tragic death still etched in his thoughts. Zhu'er was innocent and guileless, yet utterly loyal to him. He would cherish her for the rest of his life, find her a good family, and let her marry.
"You are all my good daughters and maids, stop crying all the time, you should all grow up now!" Madam Bei said, afraid that they would hurt themselves by crying. "Zhu'er, quick, bring the medicine to Miss. Don't cry! Be good!"
"Yes, Madam." Zhu'er looked at Ji Wushang, then glanced at Madam Bei, nodded, and went to fetch the medicine for Ji Wushang.
But at that moment, Ji Wushang noticed that Madam Bei was clutching her chest. Ji Wushang immediately turned pale with fright; her mother's illness had relapsed! She remembered that when she had a persistent high fever, Madam Bei had been attending to her at her bedside all day. As a result, after she woke up, her old illness relapsed, and in the end, she was poisoned to death by Ji Meiyuan!
"Mother, Mother! Quick, get the doctor!" Ji Wushang shouted immediately, but Madam Bei grabbed Ji Wushang's hand and gasped, "Don't worry." Seeing Madam Bei like this, Ji Wushang felt a pain worse than a nail being driven into his brain!
Zhu'er ran out in a panic to call the doctor.
The doctor instructed Madam Bei not to overexert herself and to take her medicine regularly. Ji Wushang called for Granny Li, who had served Madam Bei for many years, to fetch the medicine, and then stayed by Madam Bei's side.
Not long after, Doukou, the maid who was guarding outside the door, ran over and said, "Madam, Eldest Miss, Aunt Bai and Second Miss have arrived."
Ji Wushang was stunned. Aunt Bai, the Second Miss is Ji Meiyuan! How could this shameless woman be so brazen as to come to see him? Hmph, but this time, he will definitely treat her well!
Madam Bei glanced at Ji Wushang with concern. She had always taught Ji Wushang to be harmonious and accommodating to each other, but today she felt that Ji Wushang was different, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
"Don't worry, Mother, Wu Shang won't cause any trouble." Isn't that what Mother is worried about? But he is no longer a pushover to be bullied! Ji Wu Shang smiled. Madam Bei nodded.
☆、005 Punish the wicked servant girl and teach her a lesson for her arrogance!
A moment later, the maid Nianhua led in a beautiful young woman with a captivating figure. Behind her followed another young woman adorned with jewels. The beautiful young woman wore her hair in a high bun, her eyebrows delicately drawn, making her appear much younger. Her light red brocade robe was neatly tailored, showing that this Aunt Bai was very particular about her appearance. Her eyes were like flowing tassels, and a slight smile played on her lips, seemingly as gentle as a spring breeze. Her lips were red, her teeth white, and her face rosy; she looked no more than thirty-one or thirty-two. In contrast, Madam Bei was more elegant and dignified, not as stunningly beautiful as Aunt Bai.
Ji Meiyuan wore a light green pleated skirt underneath a pink half-sleeved jacket embroidered with peonies. Her hair was styled in a flowing bun with a gold phoenix hairpin. She had an oval face, almond-shaped eyes, vermilion lips, and a high nose. She moved with graceful, elegant steps. However, in Ji Wushang's eyes, this woman was utterly disgusting and vicious! But now was not the time for direct confrontation; everything would be repaid slowly!
"Wu Shang, your aunt heard you woke up and came to see you right away! Seeing that you can still stand up really puts your mind at ease!" Aunt Bai said as she entered the hall and saw Ji Wu Shang, her eyes crinkling into a smile, looking quite kind.
Ji Wushang sneered inwardly. Seeing that she could still stand? Hmph, she probably wished she could never stand again! She'd love to go to hell!
"Thank you, Auntie, Wu Shang is much better now!" Ji Wu Shang glanced around the inner room and said, "It's just a pity that Mother suddenly fell ill, boohoo!" After saying that, she started to cry.
"Big sister, don't cry, Mother will get better." Ji Meiyuan said softly, but she was secretly delighted. It was even better that she was sick!
Aunt Bai also asked a few insincere questions.
Ji Wushang remained silent. At this moment, Granny Li arrived with Madam Bei's medicine.
Ji Meiyuan's eyes darted around, and the maid Zhuguang beside her, having received the instruction, immediately stepped forward. "Granny Li, let Zhuguang do it! Zhuguang is used to doing these rough jobs." Before Granny Li could react, Zhuguang had already snatched the bowl away!
Ji Wushang looked up, intending to stop him, but...
"Or... Ah!" Before Granny Li could finish speaking, with a crisp "smash," the bowl of medicine fell to the ground!
Ji Meiyuan and Aunt Bai watched, inwardly applauding, but Aunt Bai scolded, "Clumsy girl! You've ruined the medicine, now you'll all starve!"
Ji Wushang stared, his hands clenched into fists. This was his mother's medicine! Clearly, this maid, Zhuguang, was doing it on purpose!
"Zhuguang and Granny Li, kneel down!" Ji Wushang said coldly, his sharp eyes sweeping over the two of them.
Immediately, Granny Li was terrified and knelt down. "Young Miss, spare me! Granny Li broke the Madam's medicine. Please spare me, please spare me!" Granny Li was always very obedient to her mistress and always sided with her mistress, but Zhu Guang was still hesitating whether to kneel down.
Normally, everyone knows that this young lady is a pushover, someone anyone can bully. She's probably gone a bit crazy to be scolding like this! Aunt Bai and the second young lady are both here! What's there to be afraid of! Thinking of this, Zhuguang was smug and didn't kneel down.
"Granny Li has been negligent in her duties. You are here to immediately prepare another bowl of medicine for Mother!" Ji Wushang said coldly. Granny Li was Mother's wet nurse, and she usually served Mother, so Ji Wushang trusted her character.
Immediately, Granny Li kowtowed.
Zhu Guang was still thinking of returning to stand next to Ji Meiyuan when Ji Wushang slammed her hand on the table. "Insolent maid Zhu Guang! I, the young lady, told you to kneel down, but you didn't! You have no respect for the law! Guards! Drag her out and give her seventy lashes!"
Immediately, Aunt Bai and Ji Meiyuan were both stunned in their chairs. What had they just heard? Ji Wushang was actually issuing orders to punish a maid? Seventy strokes of the cane? She'd be crippled if she didn't die!
Five rough-looking old women and three burly servants were already standing at the door, but they hesitated when they saw that Aunt Bai and Ji Meiyuan were both there. No one around dared to make a sound.
"What? You're not even listening to me anymore?" Ji Wushang's cold gaze swept over the people around her. The rough old women and burly servants trembled in fear. Why was this young lady suddenly so fierce today?
“I…I…” Zhu Guang’s legs went weak and she knelt on the ground.
"Oh dear, Wushang, Zhuguang probably didn't do anything wrong, so why are you shouting for fifty lashes?" Aunt Bai immediately came to the rescue. Zhuguang looked at Aunt Bai and regained her confidence, even thinking of standing up and not kneeling anymore.
"Didn't do anything wrong? When did I send Zhuguang to fetch the medicine? Did she receive my order? Hmph, acting on one's own is a crime! Breaking Mother's medicine bowl is a second crime! Disobeying orders just now is a third crime! Making a mistake and not knowing it is a fourth crime! Trying to argue is a fifth crime! Referring to oneself as 'I' in front of the master is a sixth crime! All six crimes will be punished! Seventy strokes of the cane is already a lenient punishment! She should be dragged out and beaten to death!" Ji Wushang coldly glanced at Ji Meiyuan and Aunt Bai, seeing their faces turn pale, and then said, "Aunt, Second Sister, am I right?"
(In the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty, according to custom, it was permissible for servants and maids in noble households to commit mistakes or even be punished to death.)
Upon hearing this, Aunt Bai felt embarrassed. Ji Wushang's words were all reasonable. If she were to defend Zhuguang again, she would be protecting her servant, and wouldn't that make her a laughingstock? The Great Xia Zhou Dynasty valued reputation, face, and integrity above all else, and Aunt Bai still cared about her reputation! A mere maidservant, forget it! Aunt Bai weighed the matter in her mind and remained silent.
Ke Meiyuan listened, unsure of what to say. Her heart was pounding, but then, a thought flashed through her mind.
With a smile that was seven parts smile and three parts warmth, she said, "Elder sister, you don't need to deal with this kind of maid. She's a maid in my courtyard. Let me go back to Plum Garden to handle her." After Ji Meiyuan finished speaking, she immediately scolded Zhuguang, "Get out of here right now!" As she spoke, she also winked at her.
"Heh!" Ji Wushang sneered twice. "The mistake she made today should be punished today! If this wicked maid isn't properly punished today, she'll inevitably cause chaos in our Ji family in the future! Second Sister usually has excellent manners, and I don't want this maid to stay by your side for too long, instigate Second Sister, and make her ill-mannered! Since Second Sister can't bear to punish this maid in front of so many people, I'll be the villain today! Come on! Drag her out and give her seventy lashes!"
"Ah, Miss, spare me! Miss, spare me!" Zhuguang burst into tears, wailing loudly.
Ji Meiyuan's face flushed red and then turned pale as she listened. She was talking about Zhuguang, but wasn't she secretly humiliating herself? Zhuguang was her personal maid, but today she was being punished by Ji Wushang in front of so many people. If word got out, Ji Meiyuan would not only lose face, but people would probably say that she had raised an unruly maid and that she herself was ill-mannered!
The rough old woman and sturdy servants dragged Zhuguang away in a few quick movements. Soon after, pig-like screams and the thud of a board hitting flesh could be heard from outside.
Ji Wushang was still very upset. Her mother's illness was already serious, and now she had smashed the medicine bowl. How could she not be angry? In her past life, she was used to being bullied by these concubines, maids, and half-sisters. How could she let them have their way in this life? They all thought they were easy to bully, they all thought they could be beaten and cursed without fighting back! Bah! Now she would expose their stupidity! She, Ji Wushang, would see how she would trample them all under her feet!
Aunt Bai glanced at Ji Meiyuan, nudged her elbow, and then smiled at Ji Wushang, saying, "Wushang, it's getting late, so we'll be going now. We'll come to see you another day."
Ji Wushang nodded, "Respectfully seeing off Aunt!"
After they all left, Ji Wushang said to the maids and servants, "You may all leave now! I'm tired and need to rest."
The maids and servants all nodded, bowed, and retreated. This incident, which served as a warning to others, had made them all behave themselves. Ji Wushang's only worries were Madam Bei's health and Ji Wusi's.
Ji Wushang sighed deeply and then went to sleep.
Ji Meiyuan and Aunt Bai were so angry that they went back home, and the maids and servants who followed them were trembling with fear.
Ji Meiyuan lived in the Plum Garden in the west wing, and Aunt Bai also lived in the East Garden in the west wing, which was very close to the Plum Garden. The two walked together, each lost in their own thoughts.
As soon as Ji Meiyuan returned to the plum garden, she started smashing things. Aunt Bai sat in a chair, watching her tantrum, and said coldly, "Are you feeling any better? Don't you even look at yourself! Zhuguang is so disrespectful! You're making a laughingstock of yourself!"
"Mother, how was I supposed to know she'd suddenly become so clever! She's never like this before! She must have eaten something! When I see her, I just want to strangle her!" As she spoke, Ji Meiyuan brutally crushed the potted plant in her hands, twisting off all the flowers and even the buds.
"I think she's changed too! That bitch, did she get a high fever from being caught in the rain and it damaged her brain?"
"Mother, I want the Second Young Master Nan! I want to marry the Second Young Master Nan!" When Ji Meiyuan heard Aunt Bai mention Ji Wushang getting caught in the rain, she immediately thought of the elegant Second Young Master Nan Jinxue of the Marquis's Mansion. A blush appeared on her face, and she looked like a mustard green in October.
"Aren't you ashamed!" Aunt Bai scolded playfully. "But don't worry, Second Young Master Nan is yours! She wants to marry him? No way! How could Second Young Master Nan possibly look favorably upon that woman, Ji Wushang? You dress yourself up nicely, and in a few days, I'll go and talk to them, ask what they think. As for Ji Wushang," Aunt Bai sneered, "today was just the punishment of a maid! Nothing serious! Neither she nor her daughter will escape our grasp! Tomorrow, when Madam Bei goes to the temple to offer incense, just wait and see the show! I'll show you what true power is!"
☆、006 Scheming in the temple, let's see who's smarter!
"Fine!" Ji Meiyuan's eyes flashed with hatred.
"Your status as a concubine's daughter will be revoked by your mother sooner or later, and you will become a legitimate daughter!" Aunt Bai said fiercely. The implication was that her heart could never be satisfied with being a concubine! How could her own daughter be allowed to remain a lowly concubine's daughter! The next day, Madam Bei woke up and refused to stay in bed. She insisted on going to the Buddhist temple in the suburbs to offer incense, fulfill her vows, and pray for other matters.
Ji Wushang couldn't refuse, but she was also worried, so she went with Madam Bei. Because she had only recently been reborn, and with those bone nails embedded in her brain, the events of her past life always gave her a headache, and the memories were very blurry. She had a feeling that something was wrong, so Ji Wushang carefully stayed by Madam Bei's side.
Madam Bei and Ji Wushang prayed to Buddha in the temple, then moved to a side room in the east courtyard to rest. Madam Bei was in the inner room, and Ji Wushang was in the outer room, separated only by two beaded curtains.
Ji Wushang had just opened the book, intending to study the Buddhist scriptures in the Buddha Temple, when instead, he suddenly collapsed onto the desk.
"Granny Sun, where is that man we were supposed to meet? Where did he go? Why aren't you hurrying? He's been unconscious for a long time. If you don't hurry, the master will be here soon! It will be too late!"
Ji Wushang felt her head was very heavy, but upon hearing the voice, she was startled. Where was she? She slowly opened her bright eyes, looking at the dimly lit room and the Buddhist scriptures inside, before remembering where she had just been…
"They're coming! You'd better stand firm! When the master comes, he'll catch you in the act! Don't say anything wrong! Otherwise, neither Aunt Bai nor Aunt Nangong will spare you!" Hearing the fierce old woman's voice, Ji Wushang remembered that this was Granny Sun, who served Aunt Nangong Xue. She was usually gruff and ruthless, and when she got down to business, she was completely fearless!
Ji Wushang narrowed his eyes. Caught in the act! These things really did happen to him!
"Go check if that man has arrived yet! When he brings the men over, tell him to bring the Madam and the Eldest Miss... do you hear me?!"
Ji Wushang was shocked and furious! Not only did they frame his mother, but they also wanted to defile him? But he had to calm down! Calm down! If he didn't teach these sluts a lesson, they wouldn't know who they were!
Ji Wushang tried to stand up, but a wave of dizziness forced her to stop and catch her breath. She'd been drugged! How hateful!
"Go check if the young lady and the madam have woken up yet! I'm going to find that man!" Granny Sun instructed before leaving.
Just then, the sound of a door lock being opened could be heard from outside.
Ji Wushang tensed up and looked around nervously.
The outer room of this wing was neatly arranged. Not far from the desk, there were two prayer cushions, a Buddha statue on the altar, an incense shrine in front of the Buddha statue with several sticks of incense still inserted, two or three kinds of fruit on the altar, and a picture of Maitreya smiling on the wall.
Ji Wushang didn't have much time to think. After silently reciting "Amitabha" a couple of times, he took the Buddha statue and held it tightly in both hands. He then hid himself in a dark corner.
Sure enough, the maid Guose sneaked into the room and closed the door. She looked around, and when she saw that no one was on the desk, she broke out in a cold sweat. Gathering her courage, Guose slowly walked towards the inner room.
No way! Ji Wushang looked on anxiously and threw a fruit plate from the offering table to the ground, making a loud noise.
Guose was so frightened that her courage seemed to have been shattered. She hurriedly went to the altar, but when she saw that the Buddha statues had all disappeared, she could no longer stand and immediately knelt on the ground, kowtowing frantically, "Buddha, spare me! Buddha, spare me! Guose was forced, Guose was forced!"
Ji Wushang glanced at the Buddha statue in his hand, then quietly circled behind Guose and slammed it down on her neck. Instantly, Guose felt a sharp pain in the back of her neck, and she nearly fell forward to the ground.
Ji Wushang tried to calm his chest, and was just thinking of moving the person to another place, but at this moment, footsteps sounded outside the door again. Ji Wushang swallowed a mouthful of water, and used his hands, feet and teeth to get Guose ready. Then he gently opened the door, leaving it a crack, and hid in the shadows.
Granny Sun was muttering something under her breath, complaining about something. She was about to walk past the room when her sharp eyes noticed the door was ajar. Suspicious, she slipped inside. As soon as she entered, she saw Guose kneeling on a prayer mat in front of the offering table.
Granny Sun couldn't help but feel angry. This maid was actually kneeling in front of Buddha? How could she be so cowardly! What a useless thing! Granny Sun was annoyed and pushed Guose with her hand. "Guose, you useless thing..." Before she could finish speaking, Ji Wushang behind her slammed her to the ground. With a pain, she and the maid Guose became devout believers.
Ji Wushang dared not delay, and put the Buddha statue back in its original position. "Buddha, please don't be angry!" He put his hands together in a cross shape, then turned around and dealt with Guose and Granny Sun at the same time. After he finished dealing with them, he ran into the inner room.
Inside the room, Madam Bei was indeed lying unconscious on the bed. On the dressing table beside the bed were some valuables of gold and silver. Ji Wushang was immediately alarmed; this was a frame-up! Had she cheated on her husband and then eloped? Her mother was the wife of a high-ranking general; could she really afford to elope with some random man? Ji Wushang was furious, but her reputation was paramount. Although it was impossible, if there were witnesses and evidence, everyone would believe it! What had happened to the First Madam? Perhaps she couldn't bear the loneliness of her boudoir… This thought sent chills down Ji Wushang's spine.
If they succeed in their evil scheme, Mother's illness will surely worsen! Moreover, she will lose her reputation, and wouldn't she be drowned in a pig cage or thrown into the river? She'll lose her life too!
Ji Wushang dared not think too much. He climbed onto the bedside and pinched Madam Bei's philtrum, but she still did not wake up. Not long would pass; Granny Sun had arrived, and the man would surely be there soon too! He had to escape this place to get out of this mess!
Thinking of this, Ji Wushang looked at the teacup and teapot on the table. He poured a cup of tea, then aimed at her nostrils and mouth, and splashed the tea on them.
Suddenly, Madam Bei slowly woke up, looking at her daughter in front of her, full of doubt.
"Mother, there's no time to explain. Let's leave here first." Ji Wushang disregarded Madam Bei's exhaustion, grabbed the valuables beside him with one hand, and took Madam Bei's arm to help her out. "Mother, I'll tell you about this later. Don't worry."
Madam Bei nodded. Her daughter had changed; she had become clever and quick-witted, decisive and someone she could rely on! Heaven had opened its eyes!
Ji Wushang helped Madam Bei out of the room and looked around. This was the east courtyard. To the left was a bamboo garden, which was full of bamboo and some seasonal flowers. Across the bamboo garden was the west courtyard. Both east and west courtyards were for pilgrims to rest, but Ji Wushang knew that he could not stay in these courtyards.
"Come here, Mother." After passing through the west courtyard, there was the back mountain of the Buddhist temple, where there were some simple Buddhist huts, and they were also close to the Buddha hall. Having made up his mind, Ji Wushang helped Madam Bei through the east and west courtyards. Seeing that Madam Bei was sweating, he found a secluded spot on the artificial hill to squat down and catch his breath.
“It was Aunt Bai and Aunt Nangong who did this. They drugged us, and then they brought a man, saying that they wanted to ask Father to come and catch them in the act.” Ji Wushang did not mention that they also wanted to defile him, but paused, “Fortunately, I heard Granny Sun and Guose talking in my dazed state, so I woke up, knocked them unconscious, and then this happened.”