Everyone lowered their heads and remained silent to indicate that they were listening to the instruction.
Ji Wushang waved his hand, "That's enough! Get out of here! I just twisted my ankle a little, I'll be fine after a bit of exercise. Don't let my mother and father know! Otherwise they'll worry, and I'll kick you all out! Do you hear me?"
No one dared to utter a sound. The young lady was certainly showing off, but deep down they were also secretly pleased. If Ji Dingbei, who was returning to the manor, knew that his precious daughter had twisted her ankle and that none of the maids, servants, or household staff had had time to take care of her, would they still be able to keep their jobs in the Ji household? Although the rules of General Ji's manor were stricter, the salary was higher than that of ordinary manor houses.
After glancing at Ji Wushang's feet a few times and confirming that he wasn't lying, everyone dispersed.
Ji Wushang pulled Ji Wusi aside and said seriously, "Wuzi, from now on you are not allowed to go to the artificial hill. If you like to play there, I must take you, understand? Your older sister is doing this for your own good. That artificial hill is very high! What if you fall down if you are not careful? Father, Mother and older sister will be sad." As she spoke, Ji Wushang's eyes stung and tears welled up.
Ji Wusi was also very obedient. Seeing Ji Wushang's sadness, she came forward and said, "Sister, don't cry. Wuzi won't go to play at the rockery anymore. Could it be that your two half-sisters said there are fun things under the rocks at the rockery, but Wuzi won't go there either?"
Ji Wushang listened, his face darkening. "Don't go a second time. There's nothing fun there. Your half-sisters are just tricking you!" He shouldn't tell Wu Zi how wicked they are; he didn't want them to corrupt Wu Zi's heart! As for Ji Meiyuan and Ji Wuxia, hmph!
And there's Aunt Bai and Aunt Nangong!
At this moment, Ji Meiyuan and Ji Wuxia walked over, both with beaming smiles. Ji Meiyuan flicked her sleeves and said, "Big sister, what brings you back? Did you have fun at the Buddhist Temple?"
"Hello, eldest sister." Ji Wuxia greeted her casually.
As Ji Wushang listened, a hidden anger began to rise in his heart.
She slowly stood up, helped Ji Wusi up, and instructed the maid Zhu'er to take Ji Wusi away. Then, she turned around and, before Ji Meiyuan and Ji Wuxia could react, slapped Ji Meiyuan hard across the face!
☆、009 Mastering Second Sister, Father's Backing!
Ji Meiyuan and Ji Wuxia were both shocked. How dare Ji Wushang hit someone?
Her face stung, and Ji Meiyuan gritted her teeth, wanting to strike back at Ji Wushang. But she dared not bring herself to do it. Ji Wushang's intimidating, cold gaze was fixed on Ji Meiyuan, her aura sending chills down Ji Meiyuan's spine. Ji Wuxia desperately wanted to escape this scene. She hadn't intended to get involved in their "war," but had only followed Ji Meiyuan's words to lure Ji Wusi. She never expected things to turn out this way.
Ji Wushang sneered, "Want to hit me? Humph!"
"I... I dare not." Ji Meiyuan was very angry, and her clenched fists were suddenly opened. She couldn't hit him, she absolutely couldn't hit him!
Looking at her slowly swollen face, Ji Wushang said sternly, "I hit him, that's all! You actually took Wuzi to the artificial hill to lure him to play! Don't you know Wuzi is afraid of heights? Instead of cherishing and pampering your younger brother, you took him to such a high place to play. What are you, Ji Meiyuan, up to!"
"I..." Ji Meiyuan covered her face, thinking hard but unable to come up with an excuse. She glanced at Ji Wuxia, hoping that Ji Wuxia could comfort her.
Ji Wuxia sneered inwardly, "Fool! Doesn't she know that her eldest sister has become a different person? Openly challenging me? She really doesn't know the meaning of death! Today, Father is coming back, and he'll definitely be supporting her! What are you looking at me for!" Ji Wuxia glared fiercely at Ji Meiyuan.
Ji Meiyuan's chest heaved rapidly; she hadn't expected that Ji Wuxia wouldn't try to defend her this time!
Ji Wushang watched their little tricks and couldn't help but laugh inwardly. Could they really fool him with such charades? He had seen enough of their open and covert struggles in his past life!
"What are you three doing?" At that moment, a loud, deep male voice rang out, accompanied by firm footsteps. The three turned around and saw Ji Dingbei walking towards them from a distance.
Ji Meiyuan's heart leaped with joy. Now that her father saw her swollen face, wouldn't he punish that wretched woman?! Thinking this, Ji Meiyuan knelt down, tears streaming down her face as she looked at Ji Dingbei, "Congratulations on your return, Father! I'm so glad to see you again! I thought I'd never see you again! Waaah...waaah..."
Ji Wushang was taken aback. What was this? Acting, huh? Fine! I'll play along! Ji Wushang also bowed deeply, "Greetings, Father!"
Ji Wuxia also bowed, saying, "Father."
"What happened?" Ji Dingbei had sharp eyes and noticed that something was wrong with his three daughters. Now, seeing Ji Meiyuan kneeling with tears in her eyes, he helped her up and asked, "What's wrong? Hey, why is your face swollen?"
"It was my eldest sister, sob sob... I don't know why, but my eldest sister slapped me hard, I... sob sob... I... Father stood up for me!" After saying that, tears streamed down her face like broken beads, and she cried miserably.
Ji Dingbei's intimidating eyes swept over Ji Wushang. Ji Wushang knelt down and bowed deeply, remaining kneeling. He raised his eyes, his eyes already wet with tears, and said with unbearable grievance, "Father, it's my fault! I failed to discipline my half-sisters Meiyuan and Wuxia, letting them take Wuzi to play on the artificial hill, almost causing Wuzi... Wuzi... Waaah... I arrived in time to bring Wuzi down. I... I was just anxious and worried, and I accidentally slapped Meiyuan because I love them too much. I wish my sisters could understand more reason, so I scolded them a bit... Father, punish me! It's my fault, I was impulsive! Father, hit me!" After saying this, he cried, grabbed Ji Dingbei's large hand, and slapped himself across the face.
How could Ji Dingbei possibly hit Ji Wushang? His most beloved daughter was this precious child. Although he had many daughters, Ji Wushang was the most filial! That year, when Ji Wushang was four years old, the Ji family fell into ruin, and Ji Dingbei became the most despised man in the capital. However, Madam Bei didn't leave him with Ji Wushang; instead, she followed him closely. He remembered that day, there was only one steamed bun left. He gave half to Madam Bei and half to Ji Wushang. In the middle of the night, Ji Wushang crawled to Ji Dingbei's side, holding the half-eaten bun, and sweetly called out, "Daddy, eat steamed bun."
Ji Dingbei took a deep breath. "Father knows you meant well for your sisters. How could Father bear to punish you?" He helped Ji Wushang up. "When you ran back, Father wondered why you were in such a hurry to come back. It turns out it was for this. Father won't punish you, don't worry." After saying that, Ji Dingbei patted Ji Wushang's hand. "Wushang has lost weight. You need to eat something nourishing."
Ji Wushang felt a surge of relief. He had only relied on his father's kindness, and his father was truly good! But thinking about it, he had already hit her! And this bitch was trying to play the victim? Didn't he know what she was up to? There would be plenty of time in the future; he would make her regret it for the rest of her life!
Ji Meiyuan was about to explode with anger! She had been hit and cried, but... wasn't her father going to punish her? Was he going to let it go with just a few words from her? How could that be!
Ji Meiyuan burst into tears, crying, "Father! Father is unfair!"
"Nonsense!" Ji Dingbei shouted, startling Ji Meiyuan so much that she dared not even cry out. Ji Wuxia, who had been standing there, slowly tried to back away. She felt like an outsider; she should just leave quickly.
"Oh my, sir!" From a distance, they could hear Aunt Bai's charming voice, and Ji Dingbei and the others turned their heads to look almost simultaneously.
Today, Aunt Bai wore a purple silk robe, a light blue embroidered plum blossom silk blouse, and a cherry-red floral skirt. Her face was radiant with a gentle smile, her lips were a delicate pink, and her triangular eyes were both alluring and seductive. Her figure swayed gracefully. Beside her was Third Aunt Nangong Xue, who wore a snow-white floral silk dress. Her skin was fair, her face serene but lacking color, and her phoenix eyebrows were slightly furrowed. She looked like a sickly beauty.
One is alluring, the other is elegant.
But Ji Wushang knew that neither of these two concubines were easy to mess with; one was fiercer than the other, one was better at pretending than the other, and one was more cunning than the other!
Aunt Bai stepped forward, gave a deep bow, and said in a seductive voice, "Master."
"Hmm." Ji Dingbei's face relaxed slightly.
Aunt Nangong bowed deeply, her voice trembling, "Master." She barely uttered those two words before bursting into rapid coughing, "Cough, cough, cough..."
"If you're not feeling well, don't go out like this." Ji Dingbei frowned, stepped forward and patted Aunt Nangong on the back to help her catch her breath.
Aunt Nangong frowned slightly. "Thank you, sir. I usually stay in the courtyard, but I came out with my sister because I heard you would be coming back." As she spoke, she gave Aunt Bai a deep look.
Aunt Bai grinned and said, "It's because you're so anxious, little sister! You haven't seen the master in so long, and you've been missing him terribly."
"Hmm." Ji Dingbei nodded in satisfaction.
At this moment, Aunt Bai and Aunt Nangong noticed Ji Wushang.
"That little vixen..." Aunt Bai frowned. Could it be that things had gone wrong? Her triangular eyes darted up and down at Ji Wushang, but Ji Wushang held his head high and puffed out his chest, saying, "Let her look!"
Aunt Bai still had questions in her mind, so she turned her gaze to her daughter Ji Meiyuan. When she saw the red swelling on her daughter's face, she immediately became furious. She glared at Ji Wushang and asked, "Meiyuan, did Wushang do this?"
☆、010 Defeat the second wife decisively, no food allowed!
“Yes,” Ji Meiyuan said, as if seeing a glimmer of hope, and bowed to Aunt Bai. “I beg you, Mother, to do justice for your daughter! Just now…”
"Enough!" Ji Dingbei frowned, wanting to say something more? How come so much trouble has arisen just from gathering together? He'd only just returned! Who's this show for!
"Master!" Aunt Bai said, kneeling down in front of Ji Dingbei. "Look, the American aid worker's face is all swollen. How can we just let it go?"
"What? Are you going to fight back?" Ji Dingbei asked coldly.
Aunt Bai immediately dared not utter a sound.
"Get up, all of you!" Ji Dingbei said in a deep voice.
The two of them could only stand up.
Just then, Madam Bei arrived. Madam Bei's face was gloomy. Seeing her daughter Ji Wushang with her head down, she felt displeased. Thinking of what had just happened at the temple, her heart clenched. Her steps were slightly hurried, but her face lacked its usual gentleness.
"Oh, the First Madam is back? You're back from the Buddhist temple so soon! I heard there were lots of fun, delicious, and beautiful things there!" Aunt Bai said to everyone she met.
Ji Wushang frowned. What had Aunt Bai heard? Hmph, she hadn't settled accounts with her for what happened at the Buddhist Temple yet, and now she'd walked right into it? She'd better be prepared to pay the price!
As Aunt Nangong, Ji Meiyuan, and Ji Wuxia listened to Aunt Bai's words, their expressions also became strange, and a hint of sarcasm could be seen at the corners of their mouths.
"Master." Madam Bei bowed deeply to the master before turning to Aunt Bai and saying, "I haven't been back long." She glanced at Aunt Bai disdainfully, then pulled Ji Wushang over and asked warmly, "Why are there tears in your eyes?" She took out a silk handkerchief from her bosom and wiped away the tears from the corners of Ji Wushang's eyes.
"It's alright, Mother. It's just that Wushang wasn't good enough." After saying that, she cried out softly.
Madam Bei glared fiercely at Aunt Bai and the others.
But Aunt Bai had no intention of letting this family off the hook. She walked up to Madam Bei, took her hand, and said, "Sister, why did you come back alone? Why did Wu Shang come back first? And what about the maids and servants? They've all disappeared. I'll help them clean up sometime!" As she spoke, she pretended to look behind Madam Bei, as if searching for someone.
Ji Wushang glanced at Ji Dingbei, whose face was also very unpleasant. At this moment, Aunt Bai seemed to have no idea what was going on! Why bring up something that shouldn't be brought up? She's the one who deserves to be taught a lesson!
Seeing Ji Dingbei looking at her and Aunt Bai, Madam Bei couldn't shake off Aunt Bai's hand, so she could only say coldly, "We came back with Master. Wu Shang had something to do, so he rushed back first. What, you have something to do?"
Aunt Bai was taken aback, and the hand that was supporting Madam Bei stiffened for a moment. After a while, she smiled insincerely and rolled her eyes. "It's nothing, it's just that I feel a little strange. Why did Master go to the Buddhist Temple as soon as he returned to the manor? Third Sister, don't you think so?" She cleverly passed the ball to Aunt Nangong.
A glint of ruthlessness flashed in Aunt Nangong's eyes, but in the blink of an eye, she appeared even more gentle, weak, and endearing. "I only heard it from Second Sister; I don't know the truth." Hmph!
Aunt Bai glared at Aunt Nangong, then looked at Madam Bei, waiting for her to speak!
Ji Dingbei remained silent, wondering who was the mastermind behind calling him to the temple to catch his wife in adultery.
"Oh, Aunt Bai, you're not right about that. Father heard that Mother and I were at the temple offering incense and praying to fulfill our vows, so he picked us up on the way back. Oh, I've never heard of my mother having to ask the maids and servants if she could go somewhere. And Father's whereabouts, Aunt Bai, do you want to know that too?"
Aunt Bai's face turned deathly pale. The implication of her words was that she, Aunt Bai, was merely a concubine! What right did she have to know the whereabouts of the First Madam? Let alone the Master! Her question just now was practically an admission that she was unwilling to remain a concubine. The First Madam wasn't even dead yet! And she was already thinking of climbing the social ladder! What did Ji Dingbei hate most? Women who disregarded etiquette, seniority, and the virtues of womanhood!
Not only were the four or five people present stunned, but even the maids, servants, and household servants working around them were taken aback. They never expected Ji Wushang to say such a thing. Everyone knew that the First Madam was kind and gentle, and would never use her power to oppress anyone, but today Ji Wushang's lips curled into a sharp sneer!
"I, I didn't mean that. Master... Master..." Aunt Bai was about to say something when Ji Dingbei flicked his sleeve at her and strode away.
Aunt Nangong stared wide-eyed, never expecting that Aunt Bai would be defeated by this legitimate eldest daughter time and time again!
Madam Bei snapped out of her daze and gave a soft snort, "You second branch of the family don't need to eat dinner! Go and face the wall in silence!" After saying that, Madam Bei felt another pang of pain in her heart.
Ji Wushang immediately dared not slacken his efforts and helped Madam Bei leave.
Madam Bai and Ji Meiyuan stared in disbelief. What had the First Madam said? She was actually punishing them by not letting them eat tonight!
"What are you looking at! Open your dog eyes!" Ji Meiyuan saw the maids and servants around her pointing and whispering, and immediately vented her anger.
Immediately, those people dispersed.
Aunt Nangong looked at Aunt Bai and sighed, "As expected, Wu Shang is quite the smooth talker! Alas!" With that, she took Ji Wuxia's hand and left.
Aunt Bai glared at them fiercely, then turned and slapped Ji Meiyuan hard across the face, yelling, "You idiot!"
"Mother!" Ji Meiyuan cried.
"Don't call me Mother! Humph! Call me Aunt! Don't you know the rules? If someone hears this, who knows what trouble it will cause!" Aunt Bai pulled Ji Meiyuan aside and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "My good daughter, how can you continue the charade if I don't hit you? Your father hasn't gone far yet!" As she spoke, she glanced at the figure in the distance.
(Rules: As a concubine, one is not entitled to be called "mother" by her daughter; she can only be called "auntie.")
"Auntie!" Ji Meiyuan felt a little better upon hearing this. Auntie Bai was ruthless! She didn't understand why her own mother was so cruel to her, even if it was just an act! However, Ji Meiyuan transferred all her hatred to Ji Wushang and her mother, hating them even more deeply.
Aunt Bai watched this, then left in anger.
That night, Aunt Bai and Ji Meiyuan went hungry. Ji Dingbei didn't pay much attention to whether they were hungry or not; that's another story.
——
Ji Wushang sat under the dim oil lamp, sorting out the thoughts of the day. She needed to think carefully about how to find the traitor among her mother's people! At this moment, Zhuguang brought some candied fruit and gently placed it on the table. "Miss, have a bite, it will sweeten your mouth."
"Okay, just leave it there!" Ji Wushang replied, but looking at Zhu'er, he suddenly remembered that Zhu'er hadn't gone to the Buddhist temple with him today. So, it was possible that she could see who had taken the valuables out of Mother's room!
“Um…” Zhu’er thought for a moment before saying, “When I passed by the dining hall, I saw Granny Shi go in for a moment, but I didn’t pay attention and left.”
Granny Shi. Ji Wushang frowned and waved his hand, "You may leave now!" Zhu'er obediently left.
It could be Granny Shi, but it could also be another maid or servant. After all, there are so many people; we have to call them out one by one and ask them questions! Ji Wushang made up his mind and headed towards Madam Bei's North Garden.