Madam Yue sighed and called out to the cleaning maids, "Go down! Check carefully to see if the medicine is ready. Pay attention!"
The maids all nodded and then withdrew in twos and threes. Madam Bei was already standing there crying. Seeing that the maids had all left, she thought about going over to see what had happened.
Seeing this, the eldest uncle lifted the curtain, and then all four of them went inside.
The man on the bed looked at Madam Bei and Ji Wushang, turned over, and then saw his grandfather, the Prime Minister, open his eyes and look at them. His face was deathly pale, and he weakly opened his eyes as he looked at Ji Wushang and Madam Bei, saying, "We've finally been waiting for you! It hasn't been easy!"
Madam Bei and Ji Wushang were taken aback. Madam Bei wiped away her tears and looked at Bei Zhentang, asking, "Father, are you alright?"
Seeing that Bei Zhentang's face was ashen, but his eyes were bright and piercing, Ji Wushang couldn't help but admire that he was indeed the prime minister of the current dynasty, even his acting skills were top-notch.
"Grandpa," Ji Wushang called out as he stepped forward.
Bei Zhentang's eyes swept over Ji Wushang's entire body before he said, "Okay."
The eldest maternal uncle and his wife, Yue Shi, had already stepped aside and left. Lady Bei asked, "Father, what exactly happened? How did it come to this?"
“Something big has happened in the court, so you absolutely must not go to the Qiuju Banquet this time!” Bei Zhentang frowned and said, “This is a royal game, you can’t afford to play it.”
Upon hearing this, Ji Wushang and Madam Bei were stunned. What did they mean by "royal games"? Could something really happen at a Autumn Chrysanthemum Banquet? But was it too late to say they wouldn't go now?
“Grandpa, it’s too late. The palace has already sent an invitation. It’s probably not going now.” Ji Wushang looked at Bei Zhentang and frowned.
Upon hearing this, Bei Zhentang's face showed a slight disappointment. "Your Ji General's Mansion shouldn't have gotten involved in the royal family's struggle. Alas! If it weren't for the princes in the court fighting over it, why would this old man be pretending to be sick here? The case of the officials in the capital being massacred a few days ago still hasn't yielded any results, and now, with the Eighth Prince drowning, it's one thing after another."
"Father, why didn't you tell my husband?" Madam Bei frowned. Why didn't she tell Ji Dingbei? The two were officials in the same court; perhaps Ji Dingbei could step forward and refuse the invitation from General Ji's mansion.
"Very well, forget it." Bei Zhentang shook his head. "What's coming will come, I'm just afraid Wushang will cause a big disaster." As he spoke, his eyes turned to Ji Wushang. Ji Wushang frowned. "Please tell me clearly, Grandfather, how could Wushang cause trouble?"
"Your fate is incompatible with the Crown Prince's!" Bei Zhentang's words revealed the truth, causing Ji Wushang to turn pale upon hearing them.
Incompatible... In his past life, he killed the Crown Prince! Will it be the same in this life? Could it be that he will kill the Crown Prince for some reason? Cold sweat broke out on Ji Wushang's forehead, and he didn't know how to answer for a moment.
"Father, why are you like this? Who said that Wu Shang's fate is incompatible with the Crown Prince's?" Madam Bei wondered in her heart. Why did this seem like something out of the ordinary, so mysterious?
"It's the abbot of the Buddhist temple," Bei Zhentang sighed. "Now that you've gone to the Autumn Chrysanthemum Banquet, you absolutely must not approach the Crown Prince. Understand?" Bei Zhentang's expression was serious, his eyes fixed on Ji Wushang. "The fate of the entire family rests on your shoulders!"
Ji Wushang listened, stunned. Was he that important? Why wasn't he like this in his past life? In his past life, he wasn't even liked by this grandfather, yet today he was saying that the fate of the entire family rested on his shoulders…
"Also, Luo'er, how are you feeling? Your brother and the others told me, how could you be so careless? Did you take your medicine?" Bei Zhentang sat up straight, leaning against the edge of the bed, and looked at Madam Bei.
"I'm much better, thank you, Father." Madam Bei was puzzled, still thinking about Ji Wushang. "Father, do you think it's possible to avoid the Crown Prince by not attending the Autumn Chrysanthemum Banquet since Wushang is suddenly said to be ill?"
"No way." Bei Zhentang flatly rejected the idea. "Prepare well!" He then looked at Ji Wushang, who could only nod in agreement.
At this moment, someone outside asked to come in. Zhentang heard that it was his two sons and two wives, so he let them in.
Ji Wushang bowed to each person.
"Actually, there's another matter, concerning your General Ji's residence. I didn't want to pursue it, but after hearing from your two brothers, the situation seems quite serious. As the First Madam, how could you be the target of such a plot?" Bei Zhentang asked Madam Bei as everyone stood up.
As Madam Bei listened, tears welled up in her eyes. She hadn't wanted to be drugged either. But alas, human hearts are unpredictable; how could she have imagined that someone would plot against her?
“Mother is also heartbroken. She never imagined that such a vicious person would do such a thing. Grandfather, please rest assured, Wu Shang will definitely find the mastermind behind this and make her lose all face!” Ji Wu Shang said.
"Hmm." Bei Zhentang looked at Ji Wushang with admiration. "Wushang has really grown up."
“Father, I just invited the Ghost Doctor, who is sitting in the front hall,” said Uncle Bei Junfeng. “He can diagnose my sister.”
"Why were you invited here?" Madam Bei asked.
"Isn't it all because of my illness? I'll take a look at you while I'm at it." Bei Zhentang waved his hand, and Madam Bei nodded gratefully and kowtowed in thanks.
Ji Wushang also kowtowed.
It's quite surprising that the dignified Right Chancellor would feign illness; it's truly awe-inspiring.
The Ghost Doctor examined Madam Bei's illness and found that there was nothing seriously wrong. Her palpitations were also gradually improving, and the chances of recovery were very high. Everyone present was very happy.
The group chatted for a while before leaving. Bei Luojun wanted to see Ji Wushang, but Ji Wushang had already left.
Zhang's mother was already working at the mansion and did not leave with Ji Wushang and his mother.
Ji Wushang and Madam Bei sat in the car. Madam Bei held Ji Wushang's hand, looked at her, and said, "Good daughter, you must listen to what your grandfather says."
"I have engraved Grandfather's words in my heart and will never forget them," Ji Wushang said. He didn't want to provoke the Crown Prince, but what if the Crown Prince provoked him? Should he defend himself or not?
Ji Wushang was thinking to himself, while Madam Bei had already fallen asleep leaning against the side due to exhaustion.
Ji Wushang also slowly leaned to one side and fell asleep as the sedan chair swayed.
Suddenly, the sedan chair lurched forward, startling Ji Wushang and Madam Bei awake! Just as they were about to ask what was happening, they heard sounds of fighting and strife outside! Madam Bei and Ji Wushang were greatly surprised. What was going on?
Madam Bei was terrified. Seeing this, Ji Wushang immediately comforted her, "Mother, Mother, everything will be alright, everything will be alright!" While reassuring her, Ji Wushang gently lifted the curtain with her hand.
To his surprise, he witnessed his own servants being systematically defeated by masked thugs! He had been in a rush on this trip, so he hadn't brought many servants or strong men with him. Little did he know, he had played right into their hands!
Ji Wushang looked around and realized he had ended up in a desolate wilderness! A wave of desolation washed over him; he feared today's fate was sealed. He had been on a main street, how had he ended up in this desolate place? Looking ahead, Ji Wushang saw a man dressed as a servant of the manor, fighting alongside the group of men in black. He immediately understood; it must have been the spy's doing!
What to do? This is a desolate wilderness, and there's no one to call for help. Waiting for my father to find me and rescue me is definitely not going to work! I have to rely on myself to escape!
The driver was already lying on the ground, stabbed to death, his eyes wide open in death.
"Mother, sit tight! I'll get the horse!" Ji Wushang had no time to mourn and calmly turned back to say to Madam Bei.
"Alright!" Seeing Ji Wushang say this, Madam Bei could only agree, without even considering whether Ji Wushang could actually ride a horse.
Ji Wushang sat down in the driver's seat, took the reins, took a deep breath, and shouted, "Giddy up!" He then yanked the reins at the horse. The horse neighed loudly and galloped off.
The thugs fighting in the distance were caught off guard by Ji Wushang's ability to escape on horseback. One of their leaders immediately roared, "Quick! Madam and Miss have escaped! Mount up and give chase!"
Ji Wushang didn't have time to look around; he only wanted to figure out how to steed the horse, as it was his first time doing so. He kept telling himself to hurry up and steer the horse, hoping it would obey him.
In his panic, Ji Wushang could only follow whatever path he could find, with the people behind him in hot pursuit, raising clouds of dust.
Ji Wushang's heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of his chest. Seeing that the people behind him were about to catch up, Ji Wushang was extremely anxious and yanked the rope hard.
Suddenly, someone drew a bow and shot an arrow from behind. With a whoosh, the arrow flew past Ji Wushang's ear! Madam Bei, sitting inside the carriage, was terrified and her face turned deathly pale! "Mother, quickly get down!" Ji Wushang shouted immediately. Madam Bei listened and threw herself onto the base of the carriage.
Ji Wushang only wanted the horses to go faster and faster. The two horses galloped forward, while people behind them were still drawing bows and shooting arrows!
Ji Wushang spotted a bend in the road and immediately ordered his horse to gallop there. The arrow shot into the cliff face! Looking at the surrounding terrain, Ji Wushang suddenly had a dangerous idea in mind.
"Don't think too much," Ji Wushang could only tell himself. "If you want to survive, you have to fight for your life!"
"Kill! Leave no survivors!" A roar made Ji Wushang freeze in shock. Was it really over this time? Who had hired someone to kill him?
Unexpectedly, after turning a corner, they found themselves in a forest! Ji Wushang's hope was rekindled. Once in the forest, abandoning the carriage would make it much easier to evade their search!
Ji Wushang was searching for something when he finally spotted a bag hanging on the horse. He remembered that when he left the manor earlier, the coachman had apparently hung it there for the horse's feed! The coachman must have put it there because he was worried the horse was hungry! Suddenly, an idea came to Ji Wushang's mind.
Using the horse's strength, Ji Wushang took the bag of feed and began scattering it along the roads behind him as he rode.
The horses of the villains behind them immediately smelled the food on the ground and lowered their heads to eat, completely ignoring the whipping of the riders!
The sudden halt of the horses caused chaos among the thugs! Ji Wushang felt slightly relieved when he saw that the people behind him hadn't caught up. However, to his surprise, the feed was soon exhausted! Without food, the thugs could easily catch up!
Sure enough, they hadn't gone far when thugs started chasing them from behind, each armed with knives and swords, their murderous intent palpable, determined to intercept and kill Ji Wushang and his companion!
☆、055 A close call, a benefactor saves the day!
Ji Wushang was at a loss for what to do. At this point, the horses couldn't keep up with their speed! The gang leader spurred his horse forward and swung his knife at Ji Wushang's horse! The horse neighed in terror at the sight of the blood-stained blade! Ji Wushang was shocked, thinking he was surely doomed this time!
The cold steel blade slashed towards Ji Wushang. Ji Wushang didn't care about anything else and jumped into the bushes. Unexpectedly, the horse was immediately chopped down, and blood splattered all over the ground! Because the horse suddenly stumbled and the carriage fell to the ground, Madam Bei's head hit a pillar, and she immediately suffered a head injury and fainted.
Before Ji Wushang could save Madam Bei, the man had already come up again with his knife, determined to kill Ji Wushang! He leaped into the bushes, while Ji Wushang scrambled up from the bushes and stumbled forward.
The leader seemed to regard Ji Wushang as prey, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Ji Wushang ahead. He was agile and chased after Ji Wushang. Ji Wushang was originally a woman who stayed at home and was not fast at running. Unexpectedly, her legs went weak and she knelt down and fell to the ground.
Ji Wushang turned around, and the man had already raised his steel knife towards Ji Wushang again!
Just at the critical moment, a sudden "clang" rang out, and a pebble struck the back of the leader's knife. The powerful force made his entire arm go numb, but the leader was startled. However, he quickly realized that reinforcements had arrived, and he was even more determined to kill the mother and daughter! Thinking this, the leader immediately slashed at Ji Wushang again!
Ji Wushang stared at the gleaming broadsword that had just appeared, stunned for a second. The next moment, he kicked backward, but unexpectedly, he was already being pulled into a warm embrace! Ji Wushang was surprised, but what he saw was that the person threw a throwing knife with their right hand, which struck the leader squarely in the face! The leader tumbled off his horse and immediately rolled to the ground, dying with his eyes wide open!
The thugs who arrived later saw the masked man and immediately rushed forward to kill him. The man was completely wrapped in black clothes; if Ji Wushang hadn't been held in his arms and felt his strong heartbeat and warmth, he would have truly thought he was enveloped in a mass of black!
The man's mouth was covered by a black cloth, but it wasn't hard to see that he was laughing, laughing at their overestimation of their abilities!
The man continued to throw knives with his right hand, killing the villains who tried to kill him before they could even get close! The surrounding villains couldn't even get close to him! Let alone hurt him in the slightest! His aura seemed to form a barrier, and Ji Wushang couldn't even smell the blood! However, he was so close that Ji Wushang's heart raced and her face turned red, not from love, but from the shyness of an unmarried young woman.
Thinking of breaking free from his embrace, she didn't expect him to hold her even tighter! This made Ji Wushang even more embarrassed. The man lowered his head, his deep, slightly purple eyes looking at Ji Wushang, and chuckled softly, "Be good and don't move!" His voice seemed to have a magical power, and his eyes were like a washing basin, making Ji Wushang feel as if she was being sucked into a vortex of depravity!
"No!" Ji Wushang snapped out of her daze and said unconsciously, but the man did not relax at all because of her words. His large hand was placed on Ji Wushang's waist, tightly holding her slender waist.
At this moment, several more men in black appeared. The man's lips twitched slightly. "Leave one."
Immediately, the men in black joined the battle and quickly wiped out the remaining thugs!
Ji Wushang watched as the thugs lay on the ground, each one covered in blood, their heads severed. A wave of nausea washed over her. Blood, it was blood… She smelled blood again. Before her eyes, Ji Wushang was horrified to see the scene of her own death in her past life—the scene of her own blood flowing from her head, into her eyes, and covering her entire body!
"Ah!" Ji Wushang cried out. The man holding her was startled and looked at her, only to find her face filled with terror. Yes, he wasn't ruthless enough! Not ruthless enough! The people who killed him and framed him were still living happily in their mansion! Those who wanted him dead were still there!
Ji Wushang clenched her fists, but the man had already released her. His purple eyes were fixed on her, but Ji Wushang seemed oblivious, walking towards Madam Bei in the dilapidated carriage. Her steps were unsteady, her face pale, her lips tightly pressed together. Her hair was disheveled, and her clothes were stained with blood, but she seemed oblivious to his gaze, her eyes fixed on Madam Bei in the carriage.
Ji Wushang rushed to the carriage, his hands trembling as he checked for Madam Bei's breath. When he could still feel her faint breath, Ji Wushang became agitated and turned to shout at the man still standing there, "Save my mother!" Tears streamed down his face. Seeing the man's still somewhat bewildered expression, Ji Wushang lost his footing and knelt down, crying, "Save my mother!"
The man stared in astonishment, then immediately waved to the two women. The men in black beside him quickly helped Madam Bei to her feet and ran into the woods. Ji Wushang was certain that their dwelling was deep within the forest. This man… he… Ji Wushang's vision blurred, and she finally collapsed, but before she hit the ground, she was caught in an embrace.
In her coma, Ji Wushang dreamt once again of the death she suffered on the eve of her rebirth. Death gripped her heart tightly! Hatred, nothing but hatred! This time, someone must have deliberately hired someone to kill her! Few people knew she had left the Right Prime Minister's residence; only a few concubines, Madam Bei, and a few young ladies knew. She had sworn to ensure they would never harm her mother and Wu Zi again, but unexpectedly, today, her mother was still seriously injured!
The man was now dressed in magnificent Western Region noble attire. The luxurious clothes, the tightly cinched gold belt, the large earrings on his ears, and his purple eyes all spoke of his nobility.
Yi Yun Shangcheng sat by the bedside. This was his bed, a soft, comfortable bed, and lying on it was her. Yi Yun Shangcheng never imagined that his second meeting with her would be under such circumstances. That mountain marked the border between the Western Regions and the Lower Zhou Dynasty. He never expected that she would have fled in such a panic, straying into his territory. If it weren't for the report from the guards who were monitoring him, he would never have known that someone had gone to assassinate her!
Cold sweat beaded on her forehead; she was having nightmares, painfully resisting her dreams. Yiyun Shangcheng desperately wanted to help her, but he still lacked the ability to delve into her dreams. He didn't have that ability; only the high priest of the Western Regions possessed it, and he was merely a prince.
Yiyun Shangcheng took the towel handed to her by the maid Maria, then kissed it on Ji Wushang's forehead, and Maria wisely withdrew.
Ji Wushang gripped the bedsheet tightly with both hands. The clothes she was wearing had been changed by Maria, and now, the cold sweat she had broken out in slowly seeped through the silk robe.
"Wake up." Yi Yun Shangcheng was a little annoyed because she hadn't asked Bei Gong Minhao what the woman's name was last time! Now he couldn't remember her name.
"Please wake up." Yi Yun Shangcheng frowned, wanting to shake Ji Wushang awake so she wouldn't struggle in her nightmare.
His large hand reached out and slowly grasped her small hand. Instantly, he felt Ji Wushang's warm and tender touch, which startled Yi Yun Shangcheng. Ji Wushang felt the warmth and immediately gripped it tightly! Her fingernails dug fiercely into his palm. Yi Yun Shangcheng frowned, not expecting this woman to have so many claws.
Startled awake, Ji Wushang screamed as he woke up. The bone nails seemed to be right in front of him. Ji Meiyuan, with a ferocious expression, was about to hit his skull!
"You're awake." Yi Yun Shangcheng pulled her hand back, looked down at her palm, and saw that blood was seeping out. She thought to herself, "This isn't just ordinary pain."
Ji Wushang took a deep breath, remaining silent. It felt like she had been reborn. She thanked the assassination attempt! It had rekindled her thirst for revenge! She had been too indulgent with her mother and father's doting love. She thought that by staying by their side, she could ensure their safety, but they still wouldn't let her go! Well then, from now on, she would show no mercy!
Ji Wushang quickly looked around at his surroundings. No matter where you are, you need to familiarize yourself with your surroundings first in order to take the initiative! But when he saw that his clothes had been changed and there was a tall man in front of him, Ji Wushang was still stunned.