Ji Yinxue shouted, "You, eldest sister, don't make false accusations! They are all my head maids, how could they possibly harm each other?"
Seeing the fear and resentment flash across Ji Yinxue's face, Ji Wushang sneered, "If you don't believe me, you can ask her." Ji Wushang seemed to find strength from somewhere, or perhaps Pingting was just feeling guilty and was pulled out of the way. Ji Wushang practically kicked her, making her kneel in front of Feng Yun.
Ji Wushang roared, "Hurry up and tell me what you've done!"
Ji Dingbei saw that Pingting was trembling with fear, but looking at Ji Wushang's serious expression, he knew that there must be something fishy about this.
Ji Wushang glanced at Ji Yinxue at this moment, "Want me to say it for you?"
"You wretched servant, tell me, is it because you're jealous that I treat Feng Yun better than you, so you want to kill Feng Yun, huh?" Ji Yinxue suddenly stepped forward and kicked her. "You wretched servant, you've truly disappointed me!"
"Oh, Fourth Sister, you're really angry. It's not nice to you." Ji Wushang stepped forward and pulled Ji Yinxue aside. "Why not let her speak for herself? I don't think it's about vying for favor. I wonder, sigh, if there's something else going on."
"What do you mean, eldest sister? Do you think I would order Pingting to kill Fengyun?" Ji Yinxue retorted angrily, "Would I be that stupid?"
"That's not what I said." Ji Wushang said with a hint of amusement. Ji Yinxue immediately wanted to bite off her own tongue. Wasn't this just slapping herself in the face? She hated Ji Wushang to death and wanted to tear his face off!
Ji Dingbei's face was cold and tense. This was a statement that it was very possible that Pingting killed Fengyun at Ji Yinxue's behest!
"This servant really didn't kill anyone! This servant didn't kill anyone!" Pingting said, kowtowing violently. She looked at Ji Yinxue, then at Ji Wushang. "Young Miss, Fourth Young Miss, this servant really didn't kill anyone. That button, that button fell off by accident. Fengyun must have picked it up! That's right, that's right, Young Miss, this servant really didn't kill anyone!"
"Like this? She actually picked it up for you? Then why didn't she return the button to you before committing suicide? Instead, she held it tightly in her hand. Isn't that telling others that someone premeditatedly murdered her, and that this is a clue?" Ji Wushang coldly questioned.
"This, this..." Pingting was thinking of a reason when Ji Yinxue said, "Isn't it simple? Feng Yun must have originally intended to return the button to Pingting, but she didn't have time. She had already committed suicide in despair. In her dying moments, thinking about not returning the button to Pingting, she clutched it in her hand, hoping that someone would find it and return the button to Pingting."
Upon hearing this reason, everyone thought it made some sense. So, who was right?
Ji Wushang listened and smiled, "Pingting, are you telling the truth?"
"Yes, yes, I think that must be it. Fengyun and I are good sisters, how could I possibly want to kill her? A few days ago, I noticed that something was wrong with her, but I didn't pay attention in time. I never expected that she would be so despondent and commit suicide by drowning herself in the lake." Pingting said nervously, her eyes darting around very fast.
Ji Wushang approached Pingting and said, "Then why are you so flustered? If you didn't do it, why are you so panicked?"
"This servant, this servant..."
"She has a phobia of corpses. Big sister, why are you being so paranoid?" Ji Yinxue said with a smug look on her face.
Pingting immediately kowtowed upon hearing this, "Yes, yes, this servant has necrosis."
Ji Wushang looked at her, then at Pingting, and said, "Ji Yinxue, you're lucky!"
"The grievance has its source, the debt has its debtor, and the truth will always come out. Hehe, never mind, it was my fault. Sigh, forget it, since there was no such thing, let it go. I did bring it up because I felt that Feng Yun's death was a bit strange. I hope Father won't take offense." Ji Wushang said, then bowed to Ji Dingbei.
Ji Dingbei nodded. "Let's leave it at that. Collect the body and bury it! Steward Lin, have someone give her family some compensation money to appease them." Everyone dispersed.
"Yes." Everyone nodded.
Ji Wushang watched as Pingting stood up and walked behind Ji Yinxue. Ji Wushang sneered and then walked away.
Watching Ji Wushang walk away, Ji Yinxue's hatred for her intensified. She muttered angrily, "Pingting, come with me!"
"Yes." Pingting was so frightened that she almost lost her mind. She lowered her head and followed Ji Yinxue with fear in her heart.
Ji Wushang watched as Feng Yun's body was carried away, sighing inwardly before leaving with Zhu'er and Xian'er. Let them go so easily? Delusion! He would definitely expose their true colors!
Back inside, the moon was already setting in the west. Ji Wushang felt sleepy and fell asleep almost immediately.
Ji Yinxue had just returned to the Orchid Garden when she immediately slapped Pingting across the face. Pingting staggered backward, steadied herself, and quickly knelt down, pleading, "Please, Miss, spare my life! Please, Miss, spare my life!"
"Hmph, what a useless fellow! You killed her, and you've caused so much trouble, almost letting Big Sister see through your act! If I hadn't protected you, you would have been beheaded long ago!" Ji Yinxue coldly rebuked.
"Yes, this servant deserves to die. Thank you, Miss, for saving my life! Thank you, Miss, for saving my life!" Pingting said, kneeling and kowtowing several times.
Ji Yinxue gave her a cold glance. "You'd better be more efficient in your work from now on, or you'll be the next Feng Yun!"
"This servant knows, this servant will definitely do a good job, this servant will definitely work hard for Miss." Pingting knelt for a long time.
"Get up! Hurry up and tidy it up. I don't want to see anything unclean." She meant that everything had to be cleaned up. Pingting nodded quickly and went to do the work.
Ji Yinxue watched her walk away, a cold smile playing on her lips. "Hmph, Ji Wushang, you think you can fight me? Do you think I'm still the same Ji Yinxue you used to be? At your mercy? Dream on!"
Ji Wushang tossed and turned, realizing he was a little hot. How could the weather be so hot? Oh well, the weather is so unpredictable these days. Ji Wushang got out of bed, looked around, but found nothing amiss, so he simply changed his clothes and went back to sleep.
In that instant, Ji Wushang came up with a good idea to deal with Ji Yinxue.
He got up in the middle of the night, poured some powder from the medicine bottles, found a few herbs, and consulted several medical books. In no time, he had prepared a small bottle of powder.
Ji Wushang only went to sleep after seeing that she was satisfied.
The next morning, Ji Wushang quickly got up and sewed a purse. He filled it with some of the medicinal powder he had prepared the night before and added some fragrance to it. Instantly, the entire purse became very fragrant.
Ji Wushang hung at her waist, and as she walked, it swung back and forth, releasing a refreshing and captivating fragrance.
Just then, Zhu'er came in and, seeing Ji Wushang's attire, immediately exclaimed, "Miss, you look so beautiful today! And smell so good! What was it again?"
"No, it's incense. Hanging it up can refresh you!" Ji Wushang laughed. "Come on, it's time for dinner."
"Yes." Zhu'er nodded and followed Ji Wushang out.
Once in the courtyard, Aunt Bai, feeling restless, had been pestering Ji Dingbei to allow her to walk around the mansion, claiming it would be beneficial for the baby's growth.
Ji Wushang hadn't walked far into the courtyard when he saw Aunt Bai approaching. Aunt Bai was wearing a loose-fitting emerald green robe and a flowing white, floor-length skirt adorned with plum blossom patterns. Her face was like porcelain, lightly powdered, her lips slightly pursed, and her lower abdomen was slightly protruding, which she gently supported with one hand, giving her the appearance of a loving mother. She paused for a few seconds upon seeing Ji Wushang approaching, then immediately walked forward.
Ji Wushang smiled and stepped forward. If this person didn't meet, there would never be any sparks. Now that he needed more sparks, Ji Wushang would definitely not hide since he was here! She must know about Ji Meiyuan and Ji Wuxia's affair, so she must hate him to the bone.
"Auntie, are you well?" Ji Wushang smiled.
Zhu'er and Xian'er quickly bowed to Aunt Bai.
"It's Miss." Aunt Bai's lips twitched slightly, then she looked at Ji Wushang, "What brings you here? Where are you going?"
"I'll just take a stroll. Aunt, you should go back to the East Garden as soon as possible! Lest something unexpected happen." Ji Wushang's lips twitched into a sarcastic smile.
Aunt Bai felt a surge of anger at the look in her eyes, but she smiled and said, "Is that so? Then thank you for the reminder, Miss."
Ji Wushang nodded, ignoring her, and walked over quietly. He wasn't there to deal with her right now; he had more important things to do first.
Aunt Bai watched Ji Wushang walk away and snorted, "Look at that smug look on her face. I'll teach her a lesson she'll learn what death really means one of these days!"
"Auntie, why don't you give the eldest young lady...?" Tianxiang, who was standing to the side, stepped forward and made a killing gesture.
"Hmph, you think it's that simple? Besides, she's still useful now. You may not know what she's doing, but I do." Aunt Bai's lips curled into a sarcastic smile. Tianxiang nodded, "Yes."
Aunt Bai said, "Go, take me to see that Zhang Youcai. I heard he was a scholar, how did he end up having to rely on others?"
"Yes," Tianxiang said. "Auntie, in my opinion, perhaps appointing Zhang Youcai wouldn't be a bad idea."
"How so?" Aunt Bai asked, being supported by Tianxiang as she spoke.
"Zhang Youcai was originally the cousin of Zhang the embroiderer in the embroidery workshop. Why don't you recruit him?..." Tianxiang said a lot, and Aunt Bai nodded repeatedly.
Ji Wushang went straight to Ji Yinxue's orchid garden. Ji Yinxue had just gotten up when she heard that Ji Wushang had arrived. Thinking that she couldn't be negligent, she quickly finished washing up and invited Ji Wushang in to sit down.
"Big sister, why did you come so early? Your fourth sister didn't even have time to wash up and get ready!" Ji Yinxue smiled.
"So, you didn't have breakfast?" Ji Wushang asked. "Xian'er, bring some snacks."
"Yes," Xian'er said, immediately opening the box she was carrying and taking out some snacks to place on the table.
Ji Yinxue was somewhat surprised. Weren't those pastries the same bayberry pastries she had ordered made and placed on Ji Wusi's table? Now, Ji Wushang had actually had them made and brought here for her to eat?
Is this a warning to her?
"Big sister, what is this?" Ji Yinxue's expression was rather unpleasant.
"These snacks look delicious and fresh. Haven't you eaten yet? Come, have some with your elder sister!" Ji Wushang casually beckoned Ji Yinxue over, having already taken her seat at the table herself. Seeing that Ji Yinxue didn't come over, her face immediately darkened. "What, not giving your elder sister face? Not coming over? Or are you afraid your elder sister will poison you?" Ji Wushang's tone became extremely cold, ignoring the maids present.
Ji Yinxue forced a smile. "No, why would my older sister harm me? Sigh, it's just that my appetite hasn't been good lately, that's why I've lost my appetite even looking at this pile of pastries."
"Really? These are sour; I had them specially made, they're very appetizing." Ji Wushang smiled. "Come and eat quickly."
Her tone left no room for refusal, so Ji Yinxue had no choice but to sit down, look at Ji Wushang, and then pick up a pastry. Ji Wushang looked at her, took one for himself, and said, "Eat quickly." He then put it in his mouth.
Eat whatever you want, as long as you don't eat mutton or duck, you'll be fine. Let her give you all sorts of snacks, it's no problem!
Thinking to herself, Ji Yinxue put the pastry into her mouth, and sure enough, it tasted sour. Ji Wushang watched her eat it and smiled, while Ji Yinxue felt a prickling sensation on her back when she saw his smile, but she dared not refuse to eat it.
"Eat, keep going." Ji Wushang smiled.
"Oh." Ji Yinxue could only swallow another piece.
Ji Wushang nodded in approval. "Very good."
There's nothing wrong with this snack; there's definitely no bayberry in it! I'm not going to bother looking for bayberries!
Ji Wushang smiled and said, "By the way, I'll need you to teach me needlework. Thank you."
"No trouble at all." Ji Yinxue felt like she was being tormented. Ji Wushang looked at Zhu'er, who immediately handed over the embroidery. Ji Wushang smiled and said, "Come on, let's continue today."
Helpless, Ji Yinxue had no choice but to continue teaching. This time, Ji Wushang deliberately made her say a lot of things, until she was so thirsty that Ji Yinxue had to drink several mouthfuls of tea.
Ji Wushang sat close to her, and Ji Yinxue could smell the fragrance emanating from Ji Wushang from time to time. Seeing that she had fallen for his charm, Ji Wushang moved even closer to her, trying to annoy her, keep her busy, and make her tired.
Finally, Ji Yinxue, feeling sleepy, said, "Big sister, I'm sleepy, really sleepy. Let's stop here for today! We can talk again another day."
"Alright, thank you so much, Fourth Sister! Sigh!" Ji Wushang sighed, then looked at Ji Yinxue, "I really don't know how to thank you enough."
"You're welcome." Ji Yinxue smiled. Ji Wushang said, "How can I?" As he spoke, he looked around, then at the beads, then at the thread, and finally at himself. After thinking it over, Ji Wushang took off the sachet he was wearing and stuffed it into Ji Yinxue's hand. "Big sister didn't bring anything good today, but this is something that can refresh you. Wearing it makes me feel refreshed and gives me a pleasant fragrance!"
"Big sister, how can this be?" Ji Yinxue refused. If this was poison she had given her, she wouldn't even know how she died! She didn't believe that she was really doing this for her own good! Ji Yinxue scoffed inwardly.
Ji Wushang said, "Are you afraid I'll harm you? We're all sisters, what are you afraid of?" Ji Wushang retorted, "Do you know what happened to Second Sister and Third Sister? They don't get along, and look what's become of them. If we don't love each other, how can we face our parents? It will make Father sad."
Ji Yinxue's face twitched as she listened. Others might not be able to tell, but she could guess that it was definitely her doing. Now she was saying this. Fine, she would take the sachet. She didn't believe that she had really poisoned her!
"What you say is true, I'll accept it. I'm truly grateful for the sachet." Ji Yinxue smiled and placed the sachet aside on the table.
Ji Wushang nodded, "Okay, then I'll be going now."
"good."
Ji Wushang left with Zhu'er and Xian'er. As he was leaving, he turned back to look at Ji Yinxue. The look in his eyes made Ji Yinxue's heart almost jump out of her chest. What on earth was going on?
As Ji Wushang walked along the road, Xian'er and Zhu'er, somewhat confused, finally asked when no one was around, "Miss, those pastries really weren't poisoned, were they?"
"What do you think?" Ji Wushang looked at Xian'er. "Am I that vicious? Humph, I'm a very good older sister. I never thought of killing her before, and I won't kill her this time either."
Xian'er and Zhu'er listened, glanced at each other, nodded, and followed behind Ji Wushang.
Killing her would be too easy for her; she should suffer for the rest of her life. Ji Wushang thought to himself.
They hadn't walked far when they saw that the Sunrise Pavilion in the distance was full of people. Ji Wushang looked over and saw Ji Tiankui, Ji Dingbei, and others. Also present were Aunt Bai, Aunt Qin, and Aunt Xie. Ji Wushang hesitated, wondering whether to go and see what was going on, but then he saw Ji Dingbei and the others looking in his direction.
Judging from their manner of speaking, they seemed to be asking her to come over. Just then, Ji Wushang saw a servant run down from the Sunrise Pavilion and kneel before her, saying, "Young Miss, Master requests your presence at the Sunrise Pavilion."
"Okay." Ji Wushang nodded. Since they came to invite him, they must have something to say.
Ji Wushang followed, followed by Xian'er and Zhu'er.