Ji Wushang frowned, his sharp eyes fixed on Aunt Nangong. "Why are you in such a hurry, Aunt? Why not wait for the teacher to finish speaking? He hasn't finished yet!"
Aunt Nangong listened, muttering to herself, "Let's see what he has to say! Are all those doctors just sitting around doing nothing? Humph!"
The Ghost Doctor smiled, shook his head, and remained silent. He hadn't intended to get involved in the affairs of this mansion, but Granny Shi had mentioned that someone was trying to frame Miss Ji and asked him to intervene. In truth, he was just an old man and had already become indifferent to the affairs of this mansion.
But I dare not disobey my master's orders.
The Ghost Doctor stood up and looked around the room, his gaze finally settling on the honey water. "Excuse me, is this the honey water that Aunt drank before she fell into a coma?"
“Exactly.” Ji Wushang nodded. “Sir, have you noticed any problems?”
“What problem could there be! I’m afraid someone is trying to shirk responsibility by saying there’s something wrong with this honey water!” Aunt Nangong said reproachfully.
“I think someone is afraid there’s something wrong with the honey water.” Ji Wushang glanced at Aunt Nangong. “Aunt, you should take a closer look.”
"You, of course!" Aunt Nangong dared not lash out in front of everyone, so she had no choice but to swallow her resentment.
The Ghost Doctor asked, "I also heard that yesterday, Aunt Qin sat and chatted with the young lady in the pavilion, and even ate some pastries that the young lady had ordered to be made?"
Aunt Nangong was overjoyed to hear this; wasn't this proof of poisoning?
“Yes, I ate too.” Ji Wushang nodded, not caring about Aunt Nangong’s gloating expression.
"But there are some snacks I haven't tried before, which were made last night."
"Yue'er!" Ji Wushang had anticipated this moment and immediately called out to Yue'er. Yue'er promptly led several cooks from the kitchen and had a maid bring up some snacks.
"Miss, this is the chef who made the pastries yesterday, and these are the leftover pastries from last night," Yue'er said humbly.
Aunt Nangong looked at the exquisite pastries, some red and some green, which looked so tempting that she couldn't help but glance at them a few more times.
The Ghost Doctor stepped forward, picked up a piece of pastry, put it in his mouth, and began to chew. Everyone who saw this was astonished.
"You're quite the cheerful gentleman, aren't you? It's delicious!" Ji Wushang said with a smile instead of getting angry.
Aunt Nangong was about to scold her, but Ji Yinxue pulled her back and pleaded softly, "Aunt..."
Aunt Nangong glared at Ji Yinxue, "I really wasted my time raising you!"
Ji Yinxue lowered her head and remained silent. Ji Wushang watched, displeased. If she weren't Ji Yinxue's biological mother, he would have strangled her long ago!
"Delicious! Delicious!" the Ghost Doctor exclaimed after finishing his meal. "This is a true delicacy!"
"Sir, you are too kind. These pastries are just something I made in my spare time. I hope you will forgive my poor attempt to make them." Ji Wushang smiled slightly at the Ghost Doctor.
The Ghost Doctor nodded, then casually grabbed the teacup that had been holding honey water and poured it into his mouth!
"Sir!" Even Ji Wushang looked at him in surprise, thinking of stopping him, but it was too late. The Ghost Doctor had already gulped down the honey water!
Everyone stared, wide-eyed, unsure what to say.
"If I am poisoned, it means there's something wrong with the honey water or the pastries. The truth will be revealed in the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea. After that, allow me to tell you the truth about Aunt Qin's so-called poisoning in this room," the Ghost Doctor said meaningfully.
Ji Wushang looked on, deeply grateful; only in this way could he clear his name of suspicion…
——
The matriarch of the family, along with Ji Meiyuan and Ji Wuxia, had already arrived in the living room. In the living room, there was a middle-aged man of about fifty years old, dressed in a magnificent official robe, sitting in the center of the room. A maid had already served him a cup of tea and some snacks.
Upon seeing the Elder Madam and the Ji sisters, supported by Granny Guo, arriving outside, Minister of Personnel Bai Lixiong immediately stepped forward to greet them, "It's Elder Madam! And Meiyuan and Wuxia too!"
The matriarch beamed and said, "Lord Bai, I am so sorry for not welcoming you sooner! I am truly apologies!"
"Oh, not at all. I just happened to think of my precious daughter. Her mother has been nagging me all day long. I just remembered her after court and decided to come and see her. Hmm? Meiyuan, Wuxia, where is your aunt?"
Upon hearing this, Ji Meiyuan and the other woman were at a loss for words. They looked at each other in bewilderment, then turned their gaze to the matriarch of the elder family. The matriarch was still quite sharp-minded and immediately said, "Lord Bai has come from afar, so naturally you should rest well first. Come, sit down." With that, she led Bai Lixiong to the main seat.
Then the matriarch turned to Ji Meiyuan and Ji Wuxia and said, "Why don't you hurry up and sit down with your grandfather? Such a lack of manners is truly laughable!"
"Oh, Madam, this child is still young! His manners and etiquette must be taught slowly." Bai Lixiong smiled. "However, this junior really does wish to meet Aomei." [According to seniority, Bai Lixiong is one generation younger than Madam Yuan, and of the same generation as Ji Dingbei.]
His meaning was clear: he wouldn't leave until he saw Aunt Bai today!
Madam Yuan knew that Ji Dingbei had confined Concubine Bai to her quarters, but after careful consideration, she decided that it was not advisable to offend the Ministry of Personnel for the time being. After all, they were close to the emperor, and Ji Dingbei had only just arrived at the southeastern coast to suppress the Japanese pirates. If any minister in the capital were to try to slander General Ji's family to the emperor, it would certainly be detrimental to them. A distant solution couldn't quench a nearby fire; if something happened to the Ji family, that entire family would suffer.
But why did the Minister of Personnel suddenly come? He said he was thinking of Aunt Bai, but that's probably just an excuse!
"Someone, invite Aunt Bai to this living room so that Master Bai can have a good look at her!" Old Madam Yuan winked at Granny Guo.
Granny Guo agreed and immediately went to do it.
The matriarch looked at Bai Lixiong and said, "Alas, I've been nagging you all this time. We've been waiting for you for so many years, and I never expected to see you today, Lord Bai!"
"What an honor it is that the matriarch, residing in her secluded residence, still has the time to look upon a junior like me!" Bai Lixiong stroked his slightly graying beard, his fox-like eyes looking at Ji Meiyuan, and then asked, "The girls have all grown up! They've become beautiful!"
"Grandpa." Ji Meiyuan said shyly and coquettishly. Ji Wuxia looked at Bai Lixiong with a deep sense of respect and didn't say much.
"By the way, I heard that Wu Xia was recently transferred to Madam Bei's household and became her legitimate daughter? And the young master of the Zhou family is coming to marry Wu Xia? They've even set a date?" Bai Lixiong seemed to remember something and looked at Ji Wu Xia as he spoke.
"Yes, Grandpa." Ji Wuxia felt unhappy whenever someone brought up this matter, but she could only swallow her bitterness.
"Very good, very good." Bai Lixiong exclaimed, but his fox-like eyes were calculating.
Granny Guo, accompanied by several maids, rushed towards Qingya Garden, shouting, "You old hags! Hurry up!" The group arrived at Qingya Garden in a hurry.
The Qingya Garden was quite chilly, making these people feel a chill in their hearts; however, it was fortunate that it was daytime.
As everyone entered Qingya Garden and walked into the hall, they saw Aunt Bai sitting alone on a chaise lounge in the courtyard, leisurely eating snacks, savoring them slowly with each hand, and basking in the sun.
Granny Guo was overjoyed and immediately led her people to kneel before Concubine Bai, saying, "Greetings to Concubine Bai."
"Oh, what's going on? You've all been sent here, maids and servants? Is Master thinking of having you take this old and faded woman like me to work for the servants?" Aunt Bai looked at the kneeling maids and servants in front of her with apparent surprise. She stood up from the chaise longue and pretended to pat her chest in fear.
"Madam, the old lady sent us to invite you back. Lord Bai has arrived," said Granny Guo, bowing her head.
"My father is here?" Aunt Bai seemed very happy, but when she looked at Granny Guo and the others, her tone suddenly changed. "I don't want to go! If my father sees that I've been confined to my house for three months, I'd rather die with a white silk ribbon!" As she spoke, she started to walk into the house.
Granny Guo immediately rushed forward and knelt at Aunt Bai's feet, pulling her along, "Aunt Bai! Please come with me out of Qingya Garden! Master Bai misses you terribly!"
"It's my father's business if he thinks I'm his father!" Aunt Bai replied coldly, kicking Granny Guo in the chest. Granny Guo, caught off guard, immediately rolled to the side, spitting out a mouthful of black blood, but immediately crawled towards Aunt Bai. "Aunt Bai! The old lady has ordered that Aunt Bai change into her newly made clothes and come to the living room to see Master Bai."
Aunt Bai turned around and glared at her. Seeing the blood spitting from her mouth, Aunt Bai felt a sense of satisfaction. "The old lady's order? I'm afraid I really have no choice but to obey."
“Madam, the old lady said that the three-month confinement has been lifted. If the master asks, the old lady will explain,” said Granny Guo, enduring the pain in her chest.
Aunt Bai glared coldly at Granny Guo, "I won't let this go! Humph!" Having had enough fun, Aunt Bai reached out and grabbed the kneeling maid holding the newly made clothes, then walked into the inner room.
Granny Guo immediately collapsed to the ground, and several maids hurriedly helped her up. "Granny, are you alright?"
"She won't die. Cough cough." Granny Guo watched Bai's figure; that woman was truly ruthless!
After washing up, Aunt Bai changed into her newly made clothes. Just as she finished changing, someone hugged her from behind, and the warm body startled her.
"You guys are really fast!" Aunt Bai released the hand that was gripping her waist, then turned around and met those deep eyes.
Hei Wuyai smiled silently and said, "It's very fast. So fast that we don't even have enough time to be tender."
Aunt Bai blushed slightly as she looked at him, "What if she really is pregnant? What should we do?"
"Give birth to him/her."
"If it's a girl."
Upon hearing this, Hei Wuyai's face darkened. He leaned close to Aunt Bai's ear and whispered a few words. Aunt Bai's face turned deathly pale, but then a fierce glint flashed in her eyes as she asked, "What if it's a boy?" She wanted to hear his answer.
"Let our son become a First-Rank General Who Guards the North!"
"You think that's possible? The eldest son, Ji Tiankui, is already a General of the Cavalry!"
"I trust your methods. Everyone in this manor will be under your control!" Hei Wuyai smirked, then gently bit Bai Yiniang's ear. "If she's still not pregnant, we'll try again!"
Aunt Bai was about to say something when Hei Wuyai had already vanished.
After composing herself, Aunt Bai went out. Granny Guo's complexion had improved considerably. Upon seeing Aunt Bai arrive, she immediately and respectfully gestured for Aunt Bai to go out first.
Before long, Aunt Bai saw several people sitting in the living room, chatting and laughing happily. Granny Guo stepped forward and said, "Aunt Bai, please!"
Aunt Bai snorted coldly and walked inside.
Bai Lixiong saw Aunt Bai approaching and immediately stood up, exclaiming, "Aomei's here!"
The matriarch looked on with delight, "Come on, thank you for your hard work! You've been helping manage the backyard all day long. Ah, thanks to Aunt Bai's help! Someone, give Aunt Bai a pair of gold and jade ornaments as a reward."
Aunt Bai smiled and bowed slightly, "Thank you, Madam." She really knew how to put on an act, bestowing gifts only in front of her father! And what about helping manage the backyard? Would a concubine who manages the backyard really send her to Qingya Garden?
However, Aunt Bai was very capable. She stood up and said, "Madam, isn't Aunt Nangong in charge of managing the backyard? What did you mean just now?"
Bai Lixiong listened with many questions in mind, and also looked at the matriarch of the elder family.
The matriarch said, "Well, Aunt Nangong was originally in charge of finances, so naturally she will remain in charge of finances. You should take on more responsibility and manage the inner quarters."
"Yes, Madam. Aomei will definitely manage it well." A sly glint flashed in Aunt Bai's eyes.
Ji Meiyuan and Ji Wuxia were overjoyed to hear this. Ji Meiyuan stood up and said, "Congratulations, Aunt! Congratulations, Aunt!"
Aunt Bai glared at her, "What congratulations? Isn't this something we've been managing all along?"
Ji Meiyuan sat down immediately and said dejectedly, "Yes."
Bai Lixiong had a general idea of what was going on in this family, but as long as Aunt Bai left the mansion, she could continue to work for him! He didn't care if there was any chaos in the mansion!
Bai Lixiong sat there for a while, then gave a few instructions to Aunt Bai, Ji Meiyuan, and Ji Wuxia before taking his leave of Madam Yuan. Madam Yuan then had a maid escort Bai Lixiong back home.
"Someone, give all the instructions to the people in the gardens," said Madam Yuan, looking at Aunt Bai.
Aunt Bai stood up, bowed to the old lady, and said, "Thank you, old lady."
Just then, a servant ran up and knelt in front of the hall. "Reporting to the old lady, there is progress in the matter of Consort Qin's poisoning. Please move to the West Garden."
"Alright." Madam Yuan nodded. Granny Guo understood and immediately stepped forward to help Madam Yuan up. But as she stood up, she felt a sharp pain in her heart, which must have been because Aunt Bai had just kicked her.
The matriarch noticed this and frowned, asking, "Granny Guo, what's going on?"
"I just have a slight pain in my chest, it's an old ailment, nothing serious." Granny Guo endured the pain, but her eyes drifted to Aunt Bai standing to the side.
The matriarch frowned. This was hardly an old ailment. Granny Guo had been with her for over thirty years. What ailment could it be? Wasn't it just something that Aunt Bai had done?
"Then let's go to the West Garden and take a look." Madam Yuan gave Aunt Bai a disapproving look, and Aunt Bai smiled and said, "I'll go and see what's going on too."
☆、066 A group of men vying for one woman: It's difficult!