Madam Bei was startled, then panicked. "What, what should I do? How could they do this to me? I treated them like sisters, and now they want me dead?" She then began to sob softly.
Ji Wushang patted Madam Bei's shoulder, "Mother, Mother, don't cry." Ji Wushang sighed. His mother was so kind; when others bullied her, all she could do was cry. Alas, she was the First Madam! The others were just concubines! Sigh. "Mother, don't be afraid. Their scheme has failed this time. We just need to do this and that..." Ji Wushang whispered in Madam Bei's ear.
☆、007 Uncovers the conspiracy and saves his mother!
Madam Bei was taken aback; she never imagined Ji Wushang could be so shrewd. However, she was still slightly uneasy and asked, "What about us..."
"Don't worry, Mother, I will help you find out! Daring to take out all of Mother's valuables, it seems there is clearly a traitor among us! I will not let such a person get away with it!" After Ji Wushang finished speaking, he helped Madam Bei up and walked towards the Buddhist hall.
Madam Bei could only nod and follow Ji Wushang.
Ji Wushang helped Madam Bei to the court. Seeing that there were many people listening to Buddhist scriptures, he felt a little more at ease.
However, Ji Wushang was still a little worried, so out of caution, he found a monk in charge.
Ji Wushang nudged Madam Bei slightly with his elbow. Madam Bei nodded slightly, then stepped forward, clasped her hands in a gesture of Amitabha, and calmly asked, "Master, may I introduce you to the Abbot?"
The presiding monk was about twenty-three or twenty-four years old, with a kind and honest face and a slight smile at the corner of his mouth. Seeing that she was a noblewoman and a young lady, he put his palms together and said, "Amitabha, the abbot is giving a sermon in the inner hall. If you wish to see him, you can go there after the abbot finishes his sermon."
"Master, when will the abbot finish his sermon?" Madam Bei asked, feeling uneasy.
“My mother wants to donate five thousand taels of silver for incense offerings. I wonder when we will be able to meet the abbot.” Ji Wushang stepped forward and bowed.
"Hmm..." The head monk was startled. Donating five thousand taels of silver was a large sum of money. At this moment, a voice came over, "Amitabha, may I ask what business the lady and young lady have with this old monk?" The head monk turned around and saw the abbot coming. He greeted him with Amitabha and then retreated to the court.
The abbot glanced at Madam Bei, then at Ji Wushang, and smiled slightly. “Donating incense money is not urgent. There are still Buddhist scriptures in the inner hall that have not been finished. I wonder if you two would be interested in listening?”
"It's an honor." Madam Bei was excited, and Ji Wushang was also happy. Looking at the abbot, he finally felt relieved. He had thought he would have to use a lot of words to persuade him!
They came here to listen to Buddhist scriptures only to get the abbot to prove that the two of them had left the east courtyard long ago. As long as it was proven that the two of them were not present, the framing by Aunt Bai and Aunt Nangong would not succeed.
Meanwhile, things were getting lively over here.
East Courtyard.
"Hmph! I've finally come back today, only to be shown this kind of show. Not bad! Very good!" Ji Dingbei (Master Ji, Ji Wushang's father, a first-rank Zhenbei General, hereditary, who guards the frontier year-round) had a gloomy face. He had just returned from the frontier today, but unexpectedly, Steward Xue came to tell him that the First Madam was actually planning to elope with a wild man while she was at the Buddhist temple to offer incense! Ji Dingbei, of course, did not believe it, but he still had some doubts in his heart, so he quickly took off his Battle Armor. Unexpectedly, he saw this scene when he arrived here.
Guose and Granny Sun were kneeling and fast asleep in front of the Buddha statue! There was no "good show" to be had!
As the butler watched, cold sweat poured down his back. He stepped forward and ruthlessly slapped the two women twice, and they slowly woke up.
"Where are the First Madam and the Eldest Miss? Where did they go?" Butler Xue shouted.
"I..." Guose looked at Steward Xue, her heart filled with fear. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Ji Dingbei standing to the side! She was immediately so frightened that she fell to the ground, "Master!"
Upon hearing this, Granny Sun immediately prostrated herself on the ground, crying, "Master!"
"Speak!" Ji Dingbei had no patience. His knuckles were clenched into fists. His fists were incredibly hard; anyone who messed with him would pay with their life!
"Yes...yes..." Guose was too scared to speak, but after a long pause, she finally said, "It's haunted! It's haunted!"
Ji Dingbei was furious and kicked Guose a long way away. "Get out! Granny Sun, you speak!"
Seeing that Guose had been kicked unconscious by Ji Dingbei, Granny Sun didn't dare to breathe. Seeing that Ji Wushang and Madam Bei were nowhere to be seen, she knew things had gone wrong. But remembering what Aunt Bai and Aunt Nangong had said, she still said, "Master, this is what happened. We went to the east courtyard to bring fruit platters for Madam and Miss, but unexpectedly, we overheard them discussing something at the door. We vaguely heard them talking about walking and running, and we also heard a man's voice! It seemed he was... very... intimate with Madam!" Granny Sun wiped her sweat and continued fabricating, "Then I notified Steward Xue, but when I returned, I was ambushed and knocked unconscious. Now Madam and Miss are nowhere to be seen."
Ji Dingbei sneered. Wasn't the wife of a general satisfied enough? A man? What man! Humph!
However, at this moment, Ji Dingbei's personal attendant, Yue Shisi, ran over and said, "Master, I went to the west wing to check, but neither Madam nor Miss are here. I heard from the maids and servants that some valuables are also missing."
Ji Dingbei frowned as he listened. He was naturally suspicious, but he also believed in trusting those he employed. However, hearing his attendant say this, he became suspicious and said, "Why aren't you looking for them yet? This temple is so small, are you afraid they're hiding two people?"
As Steward Xue listened, he winked at Granny Sun, who glanced at the maid Guose, ignored her, crawled to Ji Dingbei's feet, and said, "Master, what this servant is saying is the truth."
"Hmph!" Ji Dingbei kicked the man away and was about to step out when a monk walked in.
Ji Dingbei stared intently, about to speak, when the monk spoke first, "Amitabha, I am the monk in charge here. May I ask, is this benefactor Ji?"
"Exactly." Ji Dingbei nodded in agreement. After all, he was a general, so he naturally had to show proper respect.
"That's right. My abbot asked me to pass on a message that Madam Bei and Miss Ji are listening to Buddhist scriptures in the inner hall," the head monk said.
Ji Dingbei pondered for a moment, then asked, "How long have they been in the inner hall?"
"It's been quite a while." The presiding monk thought for a moment and gave an approximate time.
"Please lead the way, Master." Ji Dingbei didn't say much more; he would go and see for himself to find out the truth.
Steward Xue and Granny Sun were both stunned. How could someone have gotten into the inner hall to listen to Buddhist scriptures?
"Master, are the First Madam and the Eldest Miss really in the inner hall? We... our Madam's gold, silver, and valuables are all gone." Steward Xue finally asked.
“Amitabha, what are you saying, benefactor? Do you think I would mistake two living people? What gold and silver? I only know that Madam Bei donated five thousand taels of silver as incense money when she met the abbot.” The head monk said, then turned to look at Ji Dingbei, “Benefactor Ji, please come with me.”
Ji Dingbei glared at Steward Xue, "Pack everything up, and return to the manor later!" With that, he turned and followed the head monk out. His attendant, Yue Shisi, naturally followed as well.
Steward Xue helped Granny Sun up. The two exchanged a glance, gave instructions to the maids and servants, and then followed her up.
At this time, there were not many worshippers listening to Buddhist scriptures in the inner hall, but Ji Wushang and Madam Bei remained there talking with the abbot.
Looking through the window at his wife and daughter inside the main hall, Ji Dingbei felt a little relieved.
Ji Wushang, with his sharp eyes, saw Ji Dingbei approaching and was overjoyed. It had been two years since they last met! Looking at Ji Dingbei now, he was about forty-five or forty-six years old. He had a broad face, a medium-length beard, a tall stature, strong arms, and a brisk, powerful stride.
Ji Wushang was deeply proud of such a father, but unfortunately, he was stationed on the frontier for many years and could not always protect him from the wind and rain.
Ji Dingbei strode over and saw Madam Bei standing there looking at him. He couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion. This woman had worked so hard for him all her life, and now that he was often away from the mansion, it was his good wife who could hold things together! Ji Dingbei grabbed Madam Bei's hand and asked, "Luo'er, are you alright?" His eyes were bright as he looked at Madam Bei (Bei Luo'er) with a hint of excitement.
Madam Bei looked at Ji Dingbei, momentarily speechless. The abbot, however, said, "Benefactor Ji, Madam and Miss have been listening to Buddhist scriptures in the inner hall with great devotion. May Buddha have mercy!"
"That's good, thank you, Master!" Ji Dingbei looked at Madam Bei, then at Ji Wushang, and then bowed to the abbot with his palms together in a cross-shaped gesture.
The abbot returned the greeting, said "Amitabha," and left.
Ji Dingbei looked at Madam Bei, then took Ji Wushang's hand and sighed, "You are so sincere in your devotion to Buddhism, you will surely bless my Ji family in the future. As for the five thousand taels of incense money, have the accountant send it to Luo'er when we return to the manor."
Lady Bei listened, nodding with tears in her eyes. In the end, the matter was resolved without serious harm.
Ji Wushang looked at her father and nodded. She was deeply moved. This was her father; although she hadn't been a good person in her past life, he had always loved and cherished her. Her marriage in her past life, while unsuccessful, was partly her own fault. She hadn't truly understood Nan Jinxue, leading her to beg her father to petition the emperor for a decree. Her loving father had agreed, exchanging fifteen more years of guarding the border for her marriage to Nan Jinxue…
Father is getting old, and he still has to guard the frontier for another fifteen years. Thinking this, Ji Wushang's tears fell unconsciously.
Ji Dingbei felt a pang of pain in his heart. "Wu Shang, my good daughter, be good. Let's go back to the manor!"
Sitting in the sedan chair, Madam Bei held Ji Wushang's hand and placed it on her knees. The two sat together in the sedan chair, while Ji Dingbei was leading the way.
As they chatted, Ji Wushang casually asked, "Mother, what day is it today?"
"The first day of the eighth month," Lady Bei replied.
The first day of the eighth lunar month. Ji Wushang pondered these four words, and instantly, memories flooded his mind: the first day of the eighth lunar month!
☆、008 The half-sister is vicious, Wu Shang saves her brother
That was the anniversary of his younger brother Ji Wusi's death! Ah! Ji Wushang was suddenly terrified and broke out in a cold sweat. "Stop the sedan chair! Stop the sedan chair!" Ji Wushang shouted.
This startled Madam Bei. She was about to ask what was wrong, but Ji Wushang, without waiting for the sedan chair to come to a complete stop, jumped down! Ji Dingbei was still trying to ask what was happening when Ji Wushang had already run out quickly, shouting, "Father, Mother, there's no time to explain!"
Ji Dingbei narrowed his eyes, watching Ji Wushang run towards the mansion. After thinking for a moment, relying on the old general's intuition, he said, "Hurry back to the mansion!"
The group quickened their pace.
Ji Wushang only regretted not having a pair of wings. Today, right today! Her good second sister Ji Meiyuan and good third sister Ji Wuxia would push their own brother off the artificial hill!
Ji Wushang dared not imagine it, and only hoped that time would pass slowly.
Just as she entered the mansion, Granny Zhang returned with some silk. She greeted Ji Wushang with a bow, "Miss."
"Where is Wu Zi?" Ji Wushang asked immediately.
"Young Master is probably doing his homework in the study!" Before Zhang Mama could finish speaking, Ji Wushang had already run quickly toward the study, hoping he was there!
But when he arrived at the study, Wu Zi was nowhere to be found. The schoolteacher, Mr. Niu, was dozing off! Ji Wushang, filled with anger, shook Mr. Niu awake. "Teacher! Where's Wu Zi?!"
"Ah! Young Miss!" Teacher Niu was startled. He knew about the young lady's punishment of the maid the other day, and dared not be presumptuous. He immediately bowed and said, "Young Master is very diligent in his studies and very intelligent. He can recite all the books I teach..."
"I'm asking where Wu Zi is!" Ji Wushang almost shouted. Teacher Niu immediately replied, "He ran off to play after finishing his homework, probably towards the artificial hill!"
"Hmph!" Ji Wushang turned and ran out, towards the artificial hill!
She took the shortest route to find it and finally arrived at the artificial hills. But looking at so many artificial hills, she was at a loss.
At this moment, Ji Wushang heard some laughter and playful noises, and he immediately looked up.
His own younger brother, Ji Wusi, was at the highest point of the artificial hill! How dangerous that was! And in the distance, there were Ji Meiyuan in light red and Ji Wuxia in light green! Ji Wushang was trembling all over, muttering to himself, and shouted towards the artificial hill, "Wuzi!"
Upon hearing this from the artificial hill, Ji Wusi turned around and looked at Ji Wushang, exclaiming excitedly, "Sister!"
At this moment, Ji Wushang clearly saw Ji Meiyuan and Ji Wuxia approaching Ji Wusi! Good heavens!
"Ji Meiyuan! Ji Wuxia!" Ji Wushang shouted loudly, disregarding the taboo of using her name.
Upon hearing this, Ji Meiyuan and Ji Wuxia were stunned for a moment. When they looked at Ji Meiyuan under the artificial hill, their faces turned pale.
When did Ji Wushang return? Ji Meiyuan glanced at Ji Wuxia, then at Ji Wusi, who was still looking around ahead. The two looked at each other, lost in thought, hesitant.
"Wu Zi! Go back to the pavilion and wait for your sister!" Ji Wushang shouted again. Only when Ji Wusi went to the pavilion not far from the rockery would it be safe!
But now Ji Wushang saw Ji Meiyuan walking towards Ji Wusi! What was she planning to do?!
Ji Wushang's heart leaped into his throat. Looking at Ji Meiyuan, he was so anxious he didn't know what to say! "Yes!" Ji Wushang immediately shouted to the maids and servants around the artificial hill, "Someone! Someone come quick!" He then sat down on the ground, clutching his foot, "Someone come quick! I've twisted my ankle!"
Hearing Ji Wushang shout, Ji Wusi immediately became worried. Looking around, he saw Ji Wushang clutching his foot in pain, and Ji Wusi felt very concerned.
He turned to look at Ji Meiyuan and Ji Wuxia, who were about to approach, his cheeks puffed out, and said, "My two half-sisters, Wuzi won't go see what's fun under the rocks yet. My sister's foot is injured, and Wuzi needs to go check on her first!" After saying that, before Ji Meiyuan and Ji Wuxia could speak, Ji Wusi had already run off.
"Hey, hey! Come back! Wu Zi, come back! Did you hear me!" Ji Meiyuan shouted, but Ji Wusi didn't stop. Seeing that Ji Wusi had already run quickly to Ji Wushang's side, she was about to explode with anger!
Ji Wuxia glanced at Ji Meiyuan with disdain and left without saying a word.
Ji Wusi quickly reached Ji Wushang's side. With his chubby little hands, he forcefully pushed aside the maids, servants, and servants, shouting domineeringly, "Get out of my way! You lackeys! Hurry up and call the doctor! You'll be sorry if my sister hurts her foot! Get out of my way!"
The servants and maids had no choice but to step aside, but Ji Wushang didn't let them see at all. When he saw Ji Wusi arrive, he immediately hugged Ji Wusi to his arms, "Wuzi!"
"Sister?" Ji Wusi looked at Ji Wushang with some doubt, her big, dark eyes staring at Ji Wushang. "Sister, phew, your foot doesn't hurt anymore."
"It doesn't hurt, it doesn't hurt." Ji Wushang was relieved and looked up in the direction of the artificial hill, just as Ji Meiyuan and Ji Wuxia came down from the artificial hill.
Since you're so heartless in harming Wu Zi, don't blame me for being ruthless in return! Ji Wushang's eyes flashed with a sharp, cold light, sending a chill down the spines of Ji Meiyuan and Ji Wuxia, who were walking along. But no matter how hard they tried to find that gaze, they couldn't locate it. The two exchanged a glance, each harboring their own secrets, and descended the artificial hill.
Ji Wushang scolded the group, "You took so long to get here! Didn't you eat? You're so inefficient! What are you doing staying in General Ji's mansion?!"