"American aid, Yin Xue! Don't delay the auspicious time!" Aunt Qin said, seeing that Ji Dingbei and the Old Madam Yuan remained silent, while the Marquis of Jinnan and Aunt Zhao looked on with amusement. After all, this was the General's Mansion marrying off its daughter. If word got out, what face would the General's Mansion have left? They would be utterly disgraced!
Ji Meiyuan and Ji Yinxue had no intention of backing down; neither of them would drink the poisoned wine! At this moment, Aunt Bai narrowed her fox-like eyes and said, "Meiyuan, just drink the one on the right. There is a proper order of seniority, and besides, isn't Second Young Master Nan going to make you his legal wife? This is how it should be."
Upon hearing this, a hint of murderous intent flashed in Ji Yinxue's eyes.
Aunt Qin quickly said, "Yes, Second Young Master Nan, you should announce who is the legal wife and who is the secondary wife. Once that's clear, it'll be natural who should get the wine first." Aunt Qin looked very serious.
Ji Wushang held the wine glass in front of him the whole time, a smile on his lips, which seemed to be sarcastic, or perhaps nothing at all. He didn't care what others were saying, nor did he care who took which cup of wine or whether they fought to the death.
Nan Jinxue stepped forward, a smile playing on her lips, and said, “Well, why don’t we let the eldest young lady decide who will be the principal wife and who will be the concubine? After all, the eldest young lady is the elder sister of both my wives. It’s not unreasonable for the eldest young lady to decide who will be the elder and who will be the younger.”
Those around were whispering amongst themselves, wondering how this could be. This young lady would be the sister-in-law of the second young master of the Nan family in the future, and now she was the eldest sister. It was truly incomprehensible to let the eldest sister decide the hierarchy of wives. How could this man let another woman decide who was the eldest and who was the youngest?
Ji Wushang smiled. He knew exactly what Ji Wushang was up to. He knew that no matter who announced who was the principal wife and who was the secondary wife today, it would probably cause a fight. It was better to pass the ball to him! But, you underestimate me. Since you've passed the ball to me, you should plan carefully!
"Young Master Nan, you're joking. This is your family matter, and as an outsider, it's not appropriate for me to speak," Ji Wushang said. "Second Sister and Fourth Sister, you can discuss it yourselves." As he spoke, he smiled and winked at each of them.
Ji Meiyuan and Ji Yinxue immediately exchanged glances. Ji Meiyuan said to Nan Jinxue, "Eldest sister is right, husband, you need to make a decision! Didn't you discuss it with Father before? What else do you need to think about?"
Those around were whispering amongst themselves, wondering what this meant. If they had already discussed it, they should have just said so directly. Why go through all this trouble and make everyone wait? When they arrived at the Marquis's residence, they would have to pay their respects again!
"Second sister, you're wrong about that." Ji Yinxue rolled her eyes at her. Trying to poison her? Now she'll have to push her into hell first! "Who knows what Father and Husband were talking about? Husband, just announce it! I'll accept whatever comes my way without complaint." As she spoke, she pulled up her sleeve to cover her face, indicating that she was heartbroken.
Nan Jinxue snorted lightly. These two women, no, the women of this family, are not to be trifled with. They are all good at acting. Fine, let them fight it out!
"Let's talk about this later!" With that, she stepped forward, placed her golden cup on the plate that Ji Wushang was holding, and then picked up the two silver cups, one on each side, and handed them to them.
Ji Meiyuan was astonished to see that he handed the silver cup on the right to Ji Yinxue! That meant that he had given her the cup on the left, the one with the poison!
Ji Meiyuan was trembling with rage. Was he ignorant or just doing it on a whim? Was he trying to drive her to the brink of despair?
Ji Yinxue bowed slightly and gave Nan Ershao a sweet smile, "Thank you, husband." Hmph, wasn't this my wine? See if you can get someone to poison it! You'll regret it! Thinking this, she glared triumphantly at Ji Meiyuan.
Aunt Bai watched with disgust. "That damned little vixen!" she thought. "I can't let her get away with this!" Seeing Ji Meiyuan practically crying as she took the wine glass, Aunt Bai wanted nothing more than to snatch it away!
"Isn't this much better?" Nan Jinxue smiled, then gave Ji Wushang a special look—a look that was audacious and made visible to everyone!
Everyone knows that the Second Young Master Nan is a dashing playboy, a womanizer, but surely he wouldn't be this brazen? He actually gave his future sister-in-law a meaningful look? What kind of look was that? Does he even respect his elder brother? The Marquis's mansion is deep and secluded; this Young Master Nan's status must be quite something!
Ji Wushang's face was taut. "Second Young Master Nan, your wine!" His cold gaze was like countless knives piercing Nan Jinxue. Nan Jinxue, however, pretended not to see it, a bottomless smile on her face, and took the golden cup. "Thank you, Miss."
Ji Wushang glared at him before turning and leaving.
Ji Meiyuan and Ji Yinxue watched Nan Jinxue smile at Ji Wushang, and both of them felt an immense hatred in their hearts. That was their husband, and not only was he being shared with a slut, but he also had a slut older sister.
Let's ignore that for now. The immediate question is whether Ji Meiyuan is going to drink this cup of poisoned wine. Ji Meiyuan turned her gaze to Aunt Bai, whose eyes were filled with anxiety. Ji Yinxue's smug face had been flashing before her eyes countless times! Aunt Bai really wanted to rush up and kill her!
Nan Jinxue, unaware of the situation, said, "Hmm?" and gestured for him to raise his wine glass.
What should have been a simple wedding ceremony involving drinking a toast together turned into a series of unexpected complications, leaving Lord Jinnan and Consort Zhao quite impatient.
Seeing everyone getting impatient, the matchmaker immediately stepped forward and said, "The newlyweds and groom, drink the nuptial wine!"
Nan Jinxue smiled and said, "Please."
As he spoke, he immediately walked towards Ji Yinxue, raised his wine cup, and Ji Yinxue was naturally delighted. Wasn't this a sign that she was now the legal wife? It was customary for the woman to drink the nuptial wine with her husband first, signifying that she was the first to enter the household and that first come, first served! Ji Yinxue was overjoyed, "Yes, my husband."
As she spoke, she raised the silver cup in her hand, then crossed her arms with him, smiling broadly.
The two drank the nuptial wine amidst Ji Meiyuan's extreme resentment. As soon as Nan Jinxue put down his wine cup, a maid came forward to refill it. Only then did he walk up to Ji Meiyuan and ask, "Second Miss?"
Ji Meiyuan glared fiercely at Ji Yinxue, who was standing to the side. Should she drink the nuptial wine in her cup or not? Ji Meiyuan was torn. Was she really being forced to drink this poisoned wine? Ji Yinxue looked at her and said, "Drink it! See how you reap what you sow! You tried to kill me, now you're the one who's going to die!"
Ji Meiyuan's hands were trembling slightly at this moment; if the wine hadn't been poured too little, it would have definitely spilled.
"Drink." Nan Jinxue had little patience left. He raised his glass, the gesture a clear warning. He had already married these two women, yet they were all giving him the cold shoulder! Did he owe them something? Bitch, they climbed into his bed themselves!
Ji Meiyuan glanced at Aunt Bai, hoping she could come up with a solution.
Aunt Bai's eyes darted around, and she finally came up with what she thought was a great idea. She pointed to her lower abdomen and touched it.
Ji Meiyuan's eyes lit up as she looked at it. "Ouch!" she screamed, clutching her lower abdomen. "I, I'm in pain!" she cried, quickly placing the wine cup on the plate in the maid's hand. She continued to cry out that her stomach hurt.
Those around them were all astonished; how could such a thing suddenly happen? Nan Jinxue immediately put down her wine glass and came forward to help her, asking, "What's wrong?"
"I...I'm not feeling well," Ji Meiyuan said, her face pale.
Ji Yinxue could tell she was faking it so she could get away with drinking the nuptial wine earlier. Sure enough, Aunt Bai came forward and said, "Quickly, help her to the side! That wine, I guess it can't be drunk."
Upon hearing this, Aunt Zhao said, "If we can't even drink the nuptial wine, how can we get married?"
“Yes, Aunt is right, we definitely have to drink this nuptial wine!” Ji Yinxue said earnestly, stepping forward to take the silver cup and walking towards Ji Meiyuan. “Since Second Sister can’t hold it, I’ll hold it for her so she can drink it. That way it will be smoother. After all, we both married Young Master Nan at the same time. From now on, we’ll serve our husbands together, without distinction.” As she spoke, she stepped forward, already holding the wine cup, and stood in front of Ji Meiyuan.
Ji Meiyuan looked at her with such rage that she wanted to rush forward and bite her to death!
Aunt Zhao looked Ji Yinxue up and down, and felt that this fourth young lady was a bit... well, it was hard to put into words, but she was definitely more shrewd than that Ji Meiyuan! If she could be brought in to use her for her own purposes, that would be fine, but if she couldn't, she would probably be a big obstacle in the future!
Let's wait and see.
"Jin Xue, it's almost time, hurry up and finish!" Aunt Zhao said, meaning that no matter if Ji Meiyuan's lower abdomen hurts or not, you should at least drink a small sip of the nuptial wine and get it over with quickly.
Nan Jinxue nodded, "Second Miss, please." With that, she picked up her wine glass and gestured for Ji Yinxue to help hold the glass for Ji Meiyuan to drink.
Ji Yinxue was happy to oblige. "Second sister, please." She said, handing her a wine glass.
Looking at the smile in her eyes, Ji Meiyuan felt a lump in her throat, and her hand finally trembled as she held the wine glass. "I don't need your help, I can drink by myself!"
Aunt Bai, who was listening from the side, was shocked. "American aid, you can't drink!"
Ji Meiyuan struggled to her feet, and everyone sighed in relief; this marriage had truly been a difficult one.
"Please." Ji Meiyuan smiled, but her eyes held endless malice. Nan Jinxue nodded and then exchanged cups with her. He drank all the wine, but at that moment, Ji Meiyuan suddenly staggered and almost fell to the side. The wine in the cup clattered to the ground.
There was no sizzling sound as she had imagined, but Ji Meiyuan felt even more resentful. She hadn't expected this wine to be so potent; it was like killing someone without shedding blood. It was poisoned, yet it was as if it hadn't been poisoned at all!
Ji Yinxue was surprised; how shameless! She deliberately poured out the wine!
"Oh no, how could this happen? This is so unlucky!" Ji Yinxue cried out, then rushed forward as if to help. "This is so unlucky, what should we do?" Tears streamed down her face. "Second sister, you, how could you do this!"
"You, you!" Ji Meiyuan was so angry that she thought, if the woman hadn't poisoned the wine, would she have deliberately poured it away?
"Bang!" Almost simultaneously, Ji Dingbei and Marquis Jinnan slammed their hands on the table!
Upon discovering this coincidence, Ji Dingbei and the Marquis of Jinnan glared at each other, then turned away, expressing their displeasure.
"Oh dear, this is a small matter, a small matter!" The matchmaker was terrified, but under the murderous glares of the concubines, she had no choice but to step forward. "It's alright, it's alright, come on, quickly fill the wine cup!"
"Hmph!" Nan Jinxue glared at Ji Meiyuan. She had kindly offered to drink the nuptial wine with her, but Ji Meiyuan deliberately poured it away? What did she mean? Did she think she didn't know about her little tricks?
Ji Wushang stood in that corner and smiled silently. Although the play had been going on for a while, it turned out to be even more exciting than he had imagined.
Ji Yinxue stood to the side, looking extremely smug and proud, but she stepped forward and said, "Second sister doesn't know the rules, husband, please don't blame her."
“From now on, you should call her by her name, Madam,” Nan Jinxue said with amusement. After marriage, according to the hierarchy of status, a madam can naturally address a wife, concubine, or other women by their given names.
Upon hearing this, Ji Meiyuan was instantly furious. "What, what did you say?"
"Madam, please tell her again!" Nan Jinxue was disgusted. Compared to Ji Meiyuan's persistent pestering and the final scheme to get into her bed, this was even more disgusting to Nan Jinxue, even though Ji Yinxue's scheme to get into bed with Ji Wushang failed and she ended up with Nan Jinxue as lovers in bed.
"Hehe, just call me Second Sister!" Ji Yinxue smiled, her heart overflowing with joy. She could finally become Nan Jinxue's legal wife! So what if she was older? Humph! Only those who knew how to capture a man's heart could survive forever!
"You!" Ji Meiyuan was furious. Aunt Bai, standing to the side, was also filled with resentment. She hadn't expected Nan Jinxue to change her mind! Making Ji Yinxue the legal wife, and even addressing her as "Madam" in front of so many people—where did this leave Ji Meiyuan? Wasn't this implying that Ji Meiyuan was a concubine? Heaven knows how difficult it is for a concubine to be elevated to the status of legal wife! She herself was the best example! Moreover, Aunt Bai knew in her heart that her own Meiyuan was no match for that brat, Ji Meiyuan!
Aunt Bai gestured to Ji Meiyuan, signaling her to hold back for now. After all, this was done in front of so many people, and she had to give everyone an explanation. Otherwise, if they stayed here, wouldn't they just become a laughing stock?
Ji Meiyuan snorted, picked up the glass of wine that had been refilled, and drank it all by herself. "You've got guts," she thought, "if I, Ji Meiyuan, don't get my revenge, I'm not Ji Meiyuan!"
Nan Jinxue stood to one side with a cold expression. Some of the ministers, relatives, and friends sitting around felt awkward, while others felt that they had witnessed an unprecedentedly good show, which was even more exciting than any actor's performance.
"Come, come, please get in the sedan chair, get in the sedan chair!" The matchmaker came forward and quickly went to call the maids over.
"Fourth Miss, please." This matchmaker was good at judging people. Seeing that Nan Jinxue had said that the Fourth Miss was the Madam, she had someone help her walk forward.
Ji Meiyuan stood there, seemingly ignored by everyone. Her face, hidden beneath the red handkerchief, was contorted with rage. Her fists were clenched tightly, as if she wanted to draw her dagger right now and kill this so-called Fourth Sister in front of her!
Aunt Bai knew she was having a hard time, but she didn't know what to do! She kept thinking that Ji Yinxue would kill her after she entered the manor! The poisoned wine hadn't worked, so she would definitely kill her on their wedding night! Anxious, she could only watch as the matchmaker led Ji Meiyuan away.
Meanwhile, Aunt Qin, seeing this, immediately called to everyone and instructed several maids to take good care of the people from the Marquis's residence. Although Ji Dingbei was dissatisfied with what had just happened, she was still his daughter, and he knew that after marrying into the family, he would have to rely on the Marquis's residence. So he spoke to the Marquis of Jinnan in a polite manner, saw him out of the residence, and then went to entertain the other guests.
Nan Jinxue mounted her horse and then looked back at the sedan chair behind her.
As the eldest sister, Ji Wushang naturally needed to see Ji Meiyuan and Ji Yinxue off.
Ji Wushang went up, then pulled Ji Meiyuan, who was standing in front of the sedan chair, and said warmly, "Second sister, when you get to the Marquis's mansion, serve the Second Young Master Nan well! You will still have a chance to become his legal wife in the future." He said the last sentence very softly, and then immediately walked out.
Ji Meiyuan wanted to question her about whether she was working for Ji Yinxue, but why did she say she had a chance to become the legal wife? Wasn't that infuriating enough? Now she didn't even have a chance! That Ji Meiyuan would definitely kill her tonight!
Ji Wushang moved gracefully forward, took Ji Yinxue's hand, and said, "Fourth sister, I don't know what to say right now. But I'd like to remind you to be careful in everything you do!" As she spoke, she gave Ji Yinxue a meaningful look, then turned to look at Ji Meiyuan with a peculiar expression, before immediately turning and walking away.
Ji Yinxue froze, as if she were being warned. She knew things wouldn't be that simple. Yes, she had just seen her in a secret conversation with Ji Meiyuan! Damn it, who knew what that perverted, despicable Ji Meiyuan would do to kill her tonight! She'd heard that this pervert had personally killed her own sister!
Ji Wushang smiled and nodded to everyone before walking back to Aunt Qin. Aunt Qin smiled and said, "Miss, you will be getting married like this in the future. It's just a pity that no other young ladies will come to see you off."
"No, there's more. Fifth Sister is on Mount Emei. Maybe she'll be back in a few days." Ji Wushang smiled. Fifth Sister Ji Sisi was Aunt Xie's biological daughter. Unfortunately, Aunt Xie couldn't even see her one last time before she died.
Aunt Qin nodded in agreement.
Aunt Bai was anxious and stepped forward, saying, "I want to see the Second Miss off." As she spoke, everyone made way for her. If Aunt Nangong were able to stand up and walk, she would definitely see the Fourth Miss Ji Yinxue off as well.
Aunt Bai glanced at Ji Yinxue with disgust before walking over to Ji Meiyuan and whispering, "Meiyuan, did the young lady just say something to you?"
"She said I have a chance to become the legal wife in the future. Aunt, what should I do? I don't want to be killed by her. I... I want to kill her!" Ji Meiyuan cried, her face contorted with grief, and then her tone became more and more vicious as she spoke.
"You killed her? How did you kill her?" Aunt Bai looked at her and then said, "Go, ride in the same sedan chair as her! Let her die by your dagger! Then create some trouble, saying that she wanted to kill you, but she couldn't! And that's how it ended up!" As Aunt Bai spoke, she immediately glanced at Ji Yinxue.
"Auntie, I'm feeling a little unwell. How about I ride in the same sedan chair as Fourth Sister?" Just then, Ji Meiyuan suddenly shouted, and then collapsed onto Aunt Bai's body!
Baoqi, as a maid who accompanied the bride, immediately stepped forward to help Ji Meiyuan.
Everyone listened intently, staring at Ji Meiyuan and Aunt Bai. What on earth was going on?
Ji Yinxue's nerves were on edge. What was that look in Aunt Bai's eyes just now! And Ji Wushang's warning words... this meant they were going to kill her! What should she do!
Nan Jinxue was impatient. These women were really slow!
"Let's all go in the sedan chair!" Nan Jinxue said impatiently. "Hurry up, don't be late!" Aunt Zhao and Marquis Jinnan have probably already returned to their residence. They both value auspicious times and are very punctual. We can't keep them waiting any longer!
Ji Meiyuan immediately said, "Thank you, husband." As she spoke, Aunt Bai and Baoqi helped her walk towards Ji Yinxue.
Ji Yinxue turned around at this moment, but through the red handkerchief over her head, she couldn't see what was going on in front of her, whether they had pulled out any weapons, or whether they had taken out anything to kill her. However, with the sound of their footsteps, every cell in Ji Yinxue's body tensed up.
His hand unconsciously reached for his sleeve. If someone really wanted to kill him, he had to strike first! He refused to believe that in the chaos, no one could see the truth!
Ji Meiyuan and Aunt Bai approached Ji Yinxue, and just as they brushed past each other, they suddenly heard someone shout, "Watch out!"
Everyone was shocked, and Ji Meiyuan was even more surprised. She thought someone had warned her that Ji Yinxue was going to draw her knife and kill her! Instantly, she pulled a dagger from under her boot. Ji Yinxue was quick-witted and nimble. Seeing her draw her dagger, she acted first, slipping a dagger from her sleeve and stabbing fiercely at them!
"Ah!" A shrill scream rang out, and suddenly, blood was everywhere. As Ji Yinxue's white knife went in and the red knife came out, she saw that the one lying on the ground was none other than Aunt Bai!