"Why are you so flustered and shouting so loudly!" Aunt Bai leaned against the headboard, looking at her. "Aren't you afraid that one of the maids will tell on you? If they have something on you, I won't be able to protect you!"
“Auntie!” Ji Meiyuan stepped forward and sat down beside Auntie Bai’s bed. “From now on, Auntie will be the mistress of this backyard. What do I have to be afraid of?”
"Don't forget, Ji Wushang is still the eldest daughter of the legitimate wife, and that's something you can never change! Unless she dies!" Aunt Bai said sternly, seeing her happy expression.
"Yes, I know!" Ji Meiyuan spat fiercely. "If she dies, I will become the legitimate daughter. I've known this for a long time. How could I not want that bitch to die! Humph!"
"Don't be impatient." Aunt Bai looked out the window. "Once I become Madam Bai, won't it be easy for you to get whatever you want?"
"Auntie is the best!" Ji Meiyuan affectionately stepped forward to tuck Aunt Bai in.
"You and Ji Wuxia should be going to the funeral together, both of you crying!" Aunt Bai smiled slightly and gestured with her eyes, "You should do your best to show your filial piety to Madam Bei in the end!"
"Yes." Ji Meiyuan walked in front of Aunt Bai and gave a deep curtsy.
Aunt Bai watched Ji Meiyuan walk away, her face full of smugness.
Ji Wuxia and Ji Meiyuan walked towards Beiyuan while crying and sobbing, but they were secretly overjoyed.
With the passing of Madam Bei, the weddings of Ji Tiankui and others will likely be postponed, or perhaps not.
Ji Dingbei ordered a mourning hall to be set up in the front hall, and then had people arrange the funeral. He also sent people to the Right Chancellor's residence, the maternal family of Lady Bei, to announce the death.
Aside
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☆、076 At the mourning hall, punish Aunt Nangong!
Ji Dingbei ordered a mourning hall to be set up in the front hall, and then had people arrange the funeral. He also sent people to the Right Prime Minister's residence, the maternal family of Lady Bei, to announce the death.
In the front hall, a large character for "memorial" stung Ji Wushang's eyes. Ji Wushang knelt to the side, while Ji Yinxue and others, along with some maids and servants, knelt around him. All that could be heard was the sound of weeping.
Ji Meiyuan and Ji Wuxia were both absent-minded, wishing the day would end quickly. Some ministers and relatives came to offer their condolences, each trying to comfort Ji Wushang. Ji Wusi had already fallen asleep beside Ji Wushang, weeping.
Ji Dingbei entered from outside and, looking at the dark coffin in the mourning hall, suddenly felt a pang of sorrow, an emotion he couldn't express. Ji Wushang looked up at him with tearful eyes, but couldn't utter a sound; her voice was hoarse from crying.
Ji Dingbei walked over, gently patted Ji Wushang's shoulder, and didn't say anything. He just stared blankly at the dark coffin before going inside. As soon as he entered the inner room, he wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes.
At this moment, the matriarch of the Yuan family entered, supported by Granny Guo. As soon as she saw the coffin of Madam Bei, she rushed over, crying out, "Luo'er! Luo'er! My Luo'er!"
Ji Wushang looked away, tears and snot streaming down her face. Granny Guo and several maids stepped forward and pulled at Madam Yuan, saying, "Madam, Madam, don't be too sad, it'll harm your health!"
"Yes, we should accept this loss and move on, alas!" Granny Shi stepped forward, crying as she pulled at the Old Madam Yuan, "Alas, Old Madam!"
Seeing Ji Wushang kneeling to one side, receiving condolences from others, the matriarch slowly walked over and said, "Wushang."
“Grandmother.” Ji Wushang wiped away his tears and looked up at the old lady. “Grandmother is not well, so please go back to Jingyuan first! Mother will worry if she sees you like this.”
"Sigh!" The old lady sighed, then turned to Guo Mama and ordered, "Bring a stool, this old body of mine needs to sit down."
"Grandmother, you mustn't, you mustn't!" Ji Meiyuan looked at the matriarch at this moment, "If you sit here like this, people will say that we, the younger generation, are unfilial! Grandmother is old and can't bear this."
"How dare you! The dead should be respected. Where is your knowledge of the classics?" The matriarch glared at Ji Meiyuan, who immediately kowtowed to her. "Grandmother is right."
"Hmph, kneel properly!" The old lady glanced sharply at Ji Meiyuan, then looked at Ji Wuxia for a few moments before looking away.
When Ji Wuxia was being watched by the Old Madam, she immediately pretended to cry. At this moment, Granny Guo had someone bring over a stool, and then the Old Madam sat down to one side.
Ji Wushang took some gold ingots and paper money, put them in a basin and burned them. The sons of high-ranking families came one after another. It was estimated that the whole imperial city knew that Madam Bei of General Ji's mansion had passed away.
Ji Wushang had just finished burning the ingots when he looked up and saw a tall man kneeling in front of the spirit tablet. He was wearing a crown and a white robe.
Ji Wushang looked at him, wanting to blast the man away, but she didn't.
A young maidservant stepped forward and offered three sticks of incense, saying, "Second Young Master Nan, please."
Nan Jinxue nodded and accepted the incense, saying, "Thank you." She then turned and knelt before the memorial tablet, solemnly kowtowing three times before handing the incense to the maid who had come forward. Nan Jinxue turned back to look at Ji Wushang kneeling beside her. Seeing her red and swollen eyes, she knew Ji Wushang had cried too much, and a sense of worry rose in her heart. However, she dared not express too much, saying only, "Please accept my condolences, Miss. Please accept my condolences, gentlemen and ladies."
Ji Meiyuan stared intently at the handsome young man, completely mesmerized. Nan Jinxue, watching this, was also displeased, but Ji Wushang's complete lack of reaction only fueled her frustration.
"Please accept my condolences, Miss." Nan Jinxue said again at this moment, and then stood up.
Ji Wushang seemed to only hear him then, and looked up at him. "Thank you, Second Young Master Nan. Xian'er, see the guest out."
"Yes, Miss." Xian'er knew that Ji Wushang was saddened at this moment, so she naturally obeyed her orders. "Second Young Master Nan, please!"
Nan Jinxue looked at her, wanting to say something, but Ji Wushang had already lowered his head and was silently burning. Nan Jinxue could only sigh and leave, while Ji Meiyuan watched him leave, thinking of getting up to see him off, but was suddenly pulled back by Ji Wuxia. Ji Wuxia glared at her and whispered, "Are you out of your mind? Grandmother is still here!"
Ji Meiyuan glanced at the old lady after regaining her senses. Seeing that the old lady was staring intently at the door, she felt a little relieved, but she still dared not act rashly.
Ji Wushang ignored her. Such a despicable woman had nothing to be praised for in front of everyone. What did it matter if she gloated for a few more days? The most important thing was to deal with those wretched concubines. He wouldn't let them get away with it!
Just then, Aunt Nangong came in from outside, dressed in plain clothes. She was crying and looking very sad. She was being supported by several maids and servants, as if they were afraid she would collapse.
Nangong Auntie knelt quietly there. As a concubine, she naturally had to keep vigil for Madam Bei along with her other children.
When Madam Yuan saw Consort Nangong arrive, she said, "Xiaoxue, if you are not feeling well, you can have a maid bring a stool for you to sit on." Madam Yuan was naturally thinking about Consort Nangong's sickly appearance and was afraid that others would say that the household was not treating the consort well, so she said this.
"Thank you for your concern, Madam. I'm fine. My sister just passed away, and she said that as her younger sister, I should give her a proper send-off." Aunt Nangong said, wiping away her tears with a handkerchief, and then bowed towards the memorial tablet.
It was all reasonable and harmonious. Everyone present felt that Aunt Nangong knew how to conduct herself, even coming to keep vigil despite being ill.
Ji Wushang glanced at Aunt Nangong expressionlessly. Aunt Nangong felt uneasy under her gaze and could only turn her head away. Ji Wushang put down the paper and said, "Since Aunt Nangong is so ill, why did you come here? I heard the other day that you were eating delicacies. How could you suddenly fall ill?"
Upon hearing this, Aunt Nangong's face turned deathly pale. "Wu Shang, what are you saying!" Aunt Nangong's eyes flashed, and she said in a deep voice, "Don't believe everything you hear."
"Is that so?" Ji Wushang looked at Bai Mei, the head maid kneeling beside Aunt Nangong, and sneered. "But Bai Mei told me! She said that Aunt Nangong wanted to eat delicacies a few days ago. I was thinking, if you want to eat such delicacies, you should only do so when you are in good health, right? Could it be that Aunt Nangong is not in good health, so why would she eat such delicacies?"
The food was all delicacies, but a few days ago Ji Wushang asked Xian'er to make a bowl of bird's nest soup at the dining hall. Unexpectedly, he ran into Bai Mei, who was desperately ordering her servants to make some seafood.
"Bai Mei?" Aunt Nangong glanced at Bai Mei. Qian Jiao had been beaten by Ji Wushang and was still bedridden. That's why Bai Mei was replaced as the head maid. Unexpectedly, Bai Mei was not a clever one either!
"This servant, this servant did not!" Bai Mei kowtowed to Aunt Nangong. "Aunt, you must investigate this thoroughly. It was absolutely not me who said that you wanted to eat delicacies. At that time, this servant was in the courtyard watching the fourth-class maids plant flowers! How could I have had time to tell the eldest young lady that you ate delicacies?"
"Heh." Ji Wushang smirked as he listened. If today weren't the anniversary of his mother's death, he would definitely have given Bai Mei a taste of the power of a beating! "See, didn't Bai Mei say it herself?"
Hearing this, Aunt Nangong became even angrier and slapped Bai Mei across the face. "Fool!" But she regretted it as soon as she hit her. This was in the mourning hall, and there were so many dignitaries and nobles around who had come to pay their respects!
Aunt Nangong's face flushed with anger, turning red and then pale as she glared at Ji Wushang. "You actually set a trap for me?"
“Aunt, how can you say that?” Ji Wushang said with a sorrowful expression. “I’m just telling the truth. Is it not allowed to tell the truth even under the emperor’s nose?” As she spoke, she covered her mouth and nose and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
The people around them pointed and whispered, obviously discussing how Aunt Nangong could deceive everyone like this, truly disgracing General Ji's mansion! Some were even gloating, enjoying watching this family's shameful deeds!
"I, Wu Shang, don't make such slanderous accusations. Aunt Nangong hasn't done anything to offend you, has she? How could you say such things to defame my innocence?" Aunt Nangong frowned, clutching her chest as if she were about to have a seizure.
Ji Wushang remained expressionless, took the plaster paper, and burned it in the brazier. "Would I lie to Mother? How could I lie to Mother? I think anyone who lies before Mother's spirit deserves divine punishment! Aunt, since you refuse to admit you're healthy and instead make up this excuse, why did you hit Bai Mei just now? Did Bai Mei tell the truth, making you so enraged that you attacked her?"
Upon hearing this, the people around erupted in discussion, pointing at Aunt Nangong with disdainful glances.
Aunt Nangong trembled all over. She never expected that her little trick, the fact that she had only slept a little longer and stayed in Nanyuan a little longer, and that she had only come here to kneel for a short time (she hadn't originally wanted to kneel for so long!), would be used by Ji Wushang to make a big deal out of such a small thing!
anger!
Aunt Nangong was about to argue, but the old lady gave her a cold look and said, "Since Aunt Nangong is alright, she can kneel in this mourning hall until the funeral tomorrow at noon!" Then she turned to Granny Guo and said, "Granny Guo, help me up. My old bones are really no good anymore, alas!"
"Respectfully bidding farewell to the old matriarch." Ji Wushang prostrated himself before the old lady and then continued burning the paper money.
Hearing that she had to kneel until the funeral procession at noon the next day, Aunt Nangong's face turned deathly pale. "Madam, Madam! This concubine, this concubine..."
"Do you have any objections?" The matriarch turned and glanced at Aunt Nangong. "Or are you going to kneel until Luo'er's burial is complete?"
“No, it’s not…” Aunt Nangong listened, then knelt down in despair, naturally with a hint of hopelessness in her voice.
Ji Yinxue looked at Ji Wushang, then at Aunt Nangong, "Aunt..."
Ji Wushang slowly raised his head, his cold eyes sweeping over Ji Yinxue with endless chill. Ji Yinxue looked at him, immediately dared not speak, shrank back, and continued to kneel.
The mourners watched as the dust settled, and only then did their private conversations decrease.
Just then, a series of groans were heard. Ji Wushang looked up and saw Gong Shu pushing Nan Xuzong, who was sitting in a wheelchair, towards them. Their eyes met. Nan Xuzong looked at her, his sinister eyes like a deep pool, staring at Ji Wushang as if he wanted to suck her in. However, Nan Xuzong also saw sorrow, despair, and a glint of revenge in his eyes.
Nan Xuzong was dressed in all black, with a small white flower adorning his clothes, which suited the scene perfectly.
He hadn't expected her to be even more heartbroken than he'd imagined. The night before, Ji Tiankui had been calling out for someone at the September Tower before reporting back to him that something had happened at General Ji's residence. His first thought was of Ji Wushang, thankfully, it wasn't her who was injured.
Unexpectedly, the Ghost Doctor returned and reported that Madam Bei was about to pass away, and Miss Ji was deeply saddened. The Ghost Doctor felt ashamed and even requested to return to the deep mountains. Nan Xuzong did not insist on keeping him. Before leaving, the Ghost Doctor left several medical books, asking him to give them to Ji Wushang, saying, "I sensed that Miss Ji is extremely interested in medicine. Alas, I am unworthy, so I have written down the essence of my life's learning in these books as an apology. I am truly ashamed that I failed to cure Madam Bei."
Nan Xuzong glanced at the small bag next to the wheelchair, which contained the medical book of the Ghost Doctor that he had brought.
Looking back, seeing her so sad, how could I not feel the pain she was in?
Gong Shu pushed the wheelchair to the altar, but Nan Xuzong waved his hand to stop. A maidservant on the other side respectfully offered three sticks of incense, saying, "Young Master Nan, please."
"Thank you for your trouble." Nan Xuzong took the three incense sticks, then turned around and looked at Ji Wushang, who was looking down at the burning platinum paper.
☆、077 Please fail. Wushang counterattacks!
Nan Xuzong looked hesitant to speak, but still respectfully bowed to Madam Bei's memorial tablet, while Gong Shu also stood aside and respectfully bowed to Madam Bei several times.
The maidservant stepped forward, respectfully placed the three incense sticks that Nan Xuzong had handed her, and then stood aside.
Nan Xuzong turned to look at her, and Gong Shu cooperatively pushed the wheelchair a few steps away from Ji Wushang. Nan Xuzong said, "Please accept my condolences, Miss. After all, the dead cannot be brought back to life."
At this moment, Aunt Nangong was filled with resentment. As she watched Nan Xuzong go forward, she glared fiercely at Ji Wushang, hoping to glean some information from them. Ji Meiyuan and Ji Wuxia were also watching Nan Xuzong, wondering why Nan Jinxue had moved forward so quickly earlier, and why Nan Xuzong was now doing the same.
This is infuriating! Does Ji Wushang even deserve this kind of welcome?
In a fit of anger, Ji Meiyuan threw all the aluminum foil ingots in her hand into the brazier and burned them.
Ji Wushang's lips twitched slightly, without even raising his eyebrows. "Thank you." His tone was flat, with an added touch of calm.
Nan Xuzong watched, and at that moment, Gong Shu stepped out of his wheelchair from behind him, about to speak, but Nan Xuzong gestured for him to stop, saying, "Gong Shu, let's go."
"Sir, you're not..."
"Let's go." Nan Xuzong's thick eyebrows furrowed slightly.
Hearing his tone, Ji Wushang finally looked up, only to see that Nan Xuzong had already been pushed away by Gong Shu. She didn't know what he wanted to say to her, but oh well, she'd say it later if there was another chance. Right now, the matters at hand were more important.
Gong Shu pushed Nan Xuzong forward the whole time. Those who came to pay their respects made way for him, but Nan Xuzong seemed not to see them at all and did not care about their strange looks.
Gong Shu pushed the wheelchair onto the street, and only after making sure no one was paying attention did he say, "Master, why didn't you let me tell you that you wanted to give her the medical book? It's the Ghost Doctor's kind intention, after all."
“You don’t understand,” Nan Xuzong said calmly. “She’s lost her mother and is grieving; she certainly wouldn’t have time to study any medical books. Besides, with so many people around, didn’t you see how closely her aunt and several half-sisters were watching her? Do you understand the implications of that?”
“You’re right, sir.” Gong Shu nodded. “I understand. We can’t tarnish the reputation of other people’s young ladies.”