"You tell me, and I'll listen." Bei Gongminhao pursed his lips. "I miss you, so I'll come."
Is he always this direct? What do you mean, "I just wanted to come here"? Ji Wushang was a little amused and exasperated. "I am very grateful to you for saving me this time, but I think it's best if you don't get involved in the affairs of my household... I will find out about those things one by one."
"I never imagined that so many things would happen in your general's mansion!" Bei Gongminhao chuckled, his eyes narrowing into slits beneath the butterfly mask as he looked at Ji Wushang with amusement. "You're even more interesting."
Ji Wushang looked at him, took a step back, and chuckled.
Bei Gongminhao remained silent, his eyes fixed on Ji Wushang, but suddenly stepped forward, his entire demeanor changing. "I just miss you. I only miss you."
“I…” Ji Wushang looked at his burning gaze, “I… I don’t know who you are.”
☆、087 One-sided account is not enough to absolve them of responsibility!
“I am…” Bei Gongminhao paused, then suddenly smiled and changed his tone, “You’re still so clever, trying to find out my identity even like this?”
"Fine, I won't say then," Ji Wushang said in a deep voice, then looked outside. "It's getting late, you should go back soon! This is a woman's private quarters after all, it's best if you show up less often."
“I know,” Beigong Minhao said solemnly. “I won’t hurt you, nor will I ruin your reputation. It’s just a pity that he doesn’t agree to our marriage!”
"What?" Ji Wushang asked immediately when he heard him mutter something at the end.
Beigong Minhao smiled and said, "It's nothing."
A hint of disappointment flashed across Ji Wushang's face as she looked at him. "Oh, right, your jade pendant, you left it behind." Remembering the jade pendant, Ji Wushang immediately started searching under the bed. It was his thing, and he should return it to him.
Bei Gongminhao frowned. His own jade pendant? When did he lose his jade pendant?
Ji Wushang then took out the jade pendant from below and presented it with both hands. Bei Gongminhao looked at the jade pendant in front of him and suddenly remembered the jade pendant he always wore. He touched his body and found that it was gone!
Seeing his reaction, Ji Wushang realized that he was unaware that he had left the jade pendant behind. That was fine; he hadn't intended to give it to him. Such a high-quality and noble jade pendant was rightfully his.
Bei Gongminhao took the jade pendant and looked at Ji Wushang. "Thank you." This jade pendant was of great significance to him, given to him by his own mother. Fortunately, it was with her and not somewhere else.
Ji Wushang smiled and said, "It's getting late, please leave!" He had returned the jade pendant, so he should at least see him off.
Beigong Minhao glanced at the night sky; it was indeed close to dawn. She still needed to sleep, otherwise she definitely wouldn't have any energy tomorrow.
"Alright, see you another day!" Bei Gongmin said heartily. Ji Wushang immediately added, "Please use the window!" He pointed somewhat sheepishly to the window. Why did he feel like he was having an affair? Ugh! Ji Wushang frowned.
Beigong Minhao watched the wonderful changes on her face, but he couldn't guess what she was thinking. However, seeing that she had followed him, he figured she was probably thinking of closing the window after he left.
A sly glint flashed in Bei Gongminhao's eyes. Without a word, he walked to the window, opened it, and Ji Wushang stood behind him, watching him and waiting for him to leave.
Unexpectedly, Bei Gongminhao suddenly turned around, startling Ji Wushang. Seeing his expression, Bei Gongminhao moved with lightning speed, taking a step forward and gently kissing Ji Wushang's cheek!
Before Ji Wushang could react, the other person had already jumped towards the window and disappeared into the darkness in a few leaps!
Ji Wushang was still stunned in the distance. Had he just stolen a kiss from him? He had actually been kissed by a man whose name he didn't know? Ji Wushang's face and neck flushed red instantly, and his heart felt like it was about to jump out of his chest. He had actually been "ambushed"!
Ji Wushang almost covered his face. He had never done anything so intimate before! Although he had married Nan Jinxue in his previous life, he had never been so affectionate towards him... Ji Wushang, what are you thinking about? Why are you thinking about that heartless man?
Ji Wushang closed his eyes, feeling much more awake, and immediately went forward to close the window.
But a flutter still stirred within him… His kiss was so light, yet it was a well-timed surprise attack, leaving Ji Wushang completely flustered.
However, after several attempts, Ji Wushang realized what he was doing and that he had to set aside any romantic feelings. This mansion was fraught with danger, forcing him to conceal everything that shouldn't be there!
He and Nan Xuzong, and that person just now, were just strangers who met by chance... just strangers who met by chance... Ji Wushang kept repeating the words "strangers who met by chance".
The next morning, Ji Dingbei had already prepared everything and called upon everyone who could walk in the courtyards to go to the Buddhist temple to pray. The matriarch of the Yuan family was delighted and naturally went along as well.
Ji Wushang was thinking about Zhu'er. He woke up early in the morning, and after Xian'er helped him wash up, Ji Wushang went to the courtyard where Zhu'er lived.
Zhu'er had already tidied up the villa. When she saw Ji Wushang and Xian'er arrive, she immediately knelt down before Ji Wushang, "Miss!"
"Yes," Ji Wushang said, "Get up quickly!"
When Xian'er saw that it was Zhu'er, her eyes widened immediately, but then she glared at her angrily, "You fake Zhu'er, you're still alive!"
“Xian’er, she really is Zhu’er!” Ji Wushang said, looking at her. “Are you sure you recognize her?”
Upon hearing this, Zhu'er immediately knew that someone had impersonated her after she was kidnapped, and then her mistress saw through the deception. Zhu'er was probably dead by now! But thinking of what happened last night, Zhu'er felt a surge of anxiety. "Miss, last night, Zhu'er suddenly fainted! Miss, how...how did you get back?"
Xian'er had already examined Zhu'er closely and confirmed that it was indeed Zhu'er, then exclaimed in admiration, "What happened? I clearly saw Zhu'er lying in a pool of blood, and it was I who ordered the Iron Guards to bury her..."
“I rescued Pearl from somewhere else,” Ji Wushang explained to Xian’er, “Don’t be surprised.”
"Oh." Xian'er nodded in agreement.
Ji Wushang turned his head, looked at Zhu'er's questioning gaze, and said, "Well, I'm lucky to be back. You must have been starving when you fainted. Are you still hungry?"
Upon hearing this, Zhu'er remembered that she was hungry... and her stomach started rumbling again. Ji Wushang laughed, "Go to the courtyard for a meal, and then you'll all come with me to the Buddhist Temple. Father wants to make a prayer!" That's right! For the cursed star in Aunt Bai's womb!
Zhu'er was extremely excited upon hearing this. Ji Wushang nodded, and Xian'er immediately took Zhu'er's hand and led her to their meal. Ji Wushang then looked around to make sure everything was alright. Just then, a maid called out that it was time to leave, so Ji Wushang went out.
After passing through several courtyards, they finally arrived at the front hall and saw Ji Dingbei. Fortunately, there weren't many people around, only one or two maids tidying up. Ji Wushang quickly stepped forward. Hearing the footsteps, Ji Dingbei immediately turned around and, seeing it was Ji Wushang, his expression softened slightly.
"Father." Ji Wushang stepped forward and bowed. Ji Dingbei stepped forward as well. "Get up quickly. You may all leave!" These were all sensible people. Ji Wushang had come, surely intending to say a few words during this departure time.
After the maids had all left, Ji Wushang came forward and said, "Father, I have something to tell you. Whether you believe it or not, I have to tell you."
"Tell me," Ji Dingbei said, looking at her with a slightly serious expression.
Ji Wushang looked at him, nodded, and then told him about what happened yesterday. However, he didn't mention that the man in black had saved him; he only said that he had barely managed to escape.
Ji Dingbei was speechless after hearing this. "You mean, there's a person dressed as a general in armor in Qingya Garden? Using a heavy bronze sword? And his boots are made of black iron?"
"Yes, Father. I was thinking that the weather was a bit cold and I couldn't sleep, so I thought I would go to Qingya Garden to see my second sister and bring her some warmth. But I didn't expect to run into such a person! Fortunately, I am quite agile and I escaped when I saw that the situation was not right. Otherwise, I would definitely have lost my life in Qingya Garden!"
"Yes." Ji Dingbei nodded. "Did you see any American aid?"
"No." Ji Wushang's heart was still racing as he recalled that terrifying moment. "I did see Zhu'er by chance in the courtyard!"
"Your head maid?" Ji Dingbei sat in the chair. "Wasn't she already dead? How come she's locked up in Qingya Garden?"
"I don't know either, but Father, I'm telling the truth!" Ji Wushang walked in front of Ji Dingbei. "Father, you must check the situation in Qingya Garden! I don't know if Second Sister has already been..."
Ji Dingbei was shocked. "No way!"
Although I really dislike Ji Meiyuan, the best course of action now is to expose her! If I let her stab me in the back in the dark, wouldn't that be letting her off easy? It's better to keep her in the open than in the shadows, so I can see what she's thinking!
I must uncover the secrets hidden within Qingya Garden! And I must eliminate that mysterious figure!
Ji Dingbei looked at Ji Wushang and said, "I'll have someone summon your second sister from Qingya Garden!"
"Yes, Father." Ji Wushang nodded.
"Tie Yi, Tie Feng!" Ji Dingbei called out to the outside. The two Tie brothers immediately ran in. As soon as they saw Ji Dingbei and Ji Wushang, they knelt down and said, "Greetings, Master! Greetings, Miss!"
"I order you to go to Qingya Garden immediately and bring the Second Miss out!" Ji Dingbei said in a strong voice as he looked at them.
"Yes!" The two immediately carried out the order.
Ji Wushang watched them leave, then turned to Ji Dingbei and said, "Father, I talked to my fourth sister before. She said that she had also gone to Qingya Garden during the day to see my second sister, but she found that my second sister had gone mad there!"
"When did this happen? Why haven't I heard you mention it before?" Ji Dingbei's eyes deepened as he looked at Ji Wushang. Ji Meiyuan was, after all, his daughter. Even though she had done something wrong, blood was thicker than water, and no matter what, Ji Dingbei would still care.
“On the very day that Third Sister had her accident, we were talking about this on the artificial hill. Then we discussed whether we should go to Qingya Garden to see Second Sister. But we never expected that Third Sister would be so scared that she would slip and fall off the artificial hill.” Ji Wushang lowered his head slightly.
"Why didn't you say so earlier!" Ji Dingbei looked at Ji Wushang, slightly helpless. "If the American aid worker really went crazy, how am I supposed to explain this to Aunt Bai?"
“Father, you were the one who locked Second Sister in Qingya Garden back then. Besides, Aunt Bai was also locked in Qingya Garden before, and she was fine. How could Second Sister be in trouble? There must be something fishy about this. Before we figure things out, I don’t dare to tell you anything and make you anxious! You already have so many things to do. If I add more trouble, how can I explain it to Mother?” Ji Wushang blurted out all of this.
Ji Dingbei was stunned for a moment upon hearing this. He realized that he hadn't thought this through clearly enough. His daughter, on the other hand, was much more sensible. Sigh!
"Father is being serious." Ji Dingbei gently patted Ji Wushang's shoulder. Hearing her mention the word "Mother" just now made Ji Dingbei even sadder. He owed Bei Luo'er a lifetime, and there was no way he could ever repay it in this lifetime.
Ji Wushang looked at him, "Father is right. I know Father is worried about Second Sister, but I am worried too. Although she caused this wound on my forehead, I don't resent or hate her. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come to Qingya Garden thinking of seeing her and making up with her. What I fear most is that she harbors resentment towards me." As Ji Wushang spoke, her eyes welled up with tears, but she held them back.
Ji Dingbei was moved and said, "It's all my fault, Wushang. You've suffered so much, I'm so sorry."
"Hmm." Ji Wushang responded softly, lowered his head, and wiped away his tears with a handkerchief. "Father, I feel that when my second sister comes here later, she will definitely not tell the truth. Moreover, she will insist that she must have been reflecting on her mistakes in Qingya Garden last night."
"If that's the case, I definitely won't let her off!" Ji Dingbei said coldly, looking at Ji Wushang, and then changed his tone, "Wushang, you, as the eldest young lady, now have to shoulder this responsibility. This inner courtyard is now missing a mistress, so you have to learn slowly so that you can leave a good impression on your mother-in-law when you get married in the future."
“Father is right.” Ji Wushang bowed and looked at him.
By this time, Tie Yi and Tie Feng had already brought Ji Meiyuan there!
Ji Meiyuan was dressed exactly as she had been when she moved into Qingya Garden. She looked cheerful and bright-eyed. As soon as she came forward and saw Ji Dingbei and Ji Wushang, she immediately bowed and said, "Father, Eldest Sister!"
Ji Dingbei looked her up and down, then around her several times before asking, "American aid worker, where were you last night?"
“Father, I’m in Qingya Garden. I’m there, quietly reading and reflecting on my mistakes.” Ji Meiyuan said earnestly, then looked at Ji Wushang, “Why is eldest sister here?”
"It's nothing, I'm just talking to Father about some things here." Ji Wushang stepped forward and looked at her. "Second Sister, it seems you weren't even at Qingya Garden last night, were you? Otherwise, why didn't I see you when I went there?"
"Big sister went to Qingya Garden? Why didn't I know?" Ji Meiyuan's face was full of innocence.
"Tie Feng, Tie Yi, tell me, what did you see in Qingya Garden?" Ji Wushang changed the subject and looked at the two of them.
Ji Meiyuan was secretly pleased, but her face showed a sorrowful expression as she looked at Ji Dingbei and said, "Father." Her voice sounded as if she was about to cry.
A wave of nausea washed over Ji Wushang.
"Reporting to Miss, when Tie Yi arrived there, he saw the Second Miss reading a book very attentively, with no one else around," Tie Yi said, and Tie Feng said the same thing.
Ji Dingbei listened and said, "No sorrow."
"Father." Ji Wushang looked at Ji Dingbei. Sure enough, she would definitely argue with him! If he hadn't spoken up beforehand, Ji Dingbei might have actually believed her side of the story!
“Father, if you still have doubts, we can let Zhu’er come out. Zhu’er can testify that Second Sister was indeed not in Qingya Garden last night.” Ji Wushang looked at Ji Dingbei and said firmly.
"Bring Zhu'er here!" Ji Dingbei commanded them. Faced with his two daughters' ingenious word choices, Ji Dingbei was momentarily at a loss. He, too, wanted to win over the people.
Seeing this, Ji Meiyuan wondered if Ji Wushang had really told Ji Dingbei everything. How ridiculous! She was indeed not in Qingya Garden last night, and she didn't know what had happened. Suddenly, people appeared and led her through a secret passage to the outside. Then, in the early hours of this morning, she was brought back to Qingya Garden! Those people were indeed members of the Crescent Moon Cult from Aunt Bai's side, but Ji Meiyuan didn't ask any further questions.
Looking at Ji Wushang now, Ji Meiyuan wished she could tear off her face!
Ji Wushang's gaze fell on Ji Dingbei. He had already told him in advance and hoped that he could believe what he said!
Before long, Zhu'er arrived. Zhu'er looked at Ji Wushang and the others and bowed to them one by one.
Ji Dingbei nodded, then looked at Zhu'er and asked, "Were you in Qingya Garden last night?"
"Yes." Zhu'er slowly recounted the story again, which was no different from what Ji Wushang had said.
As Ji Dingbei listened, he already had a good idea of what was going on.
Ji Meiyuan immediately knelt down, crying, "Father! That Zhu'er is my eldest sister's head maid, she will definitely speak up for her! Father, you must investigate this carefully!"
"You're still trying to deny it!" Ji Dingbei glared at her angrily. "Your eldest sister already told me about this reaction! If it's true, you really disappoint me!"
"Ah, Father!" Ji Meiyuan felt a chill of fear at this moment. She never expected that Ji Wushang would think of these things! Turning her head, she glared angrily at Ji Wushang, who also knelt down. "Father, Wushang only wanted what was best for Second Sister. I never expected that Second Sister would be so unrepentant. I don't know who the people in Qingya Garden are. Father, you must investigate carefully."