"I'm asking you, where did you go last night? Don't tell me you were in Qingya Garden reflecting on your mistakes!" Ji Dingbei was furious, looking at Ji Meiyuan as if he was about to slap her.
Ji Meiyuan looked at him, tears streaming down her face. "Father, I... I really was in Qingya Garden. All the maids and servants were watching!"
“There have never been any old women or maids serving in Qingya Garden. Second sister, you should tell Father the truth as soon as possible. Father is thinking about your safety and health.” Ji Wushang said coldly.
"You!" Ji Meiyuan was so angry that she questioned Ji Wushang directly, pointing her finger at him.
Ji Dingbei looked on, his anger blazing, "You beast!" and slapped him hard across the face!
☆、088 Punish the American aid! Unyielding and mighty!
"Ah! Father!" Ji Meiyuan almost screamed as she was knocked to the ground, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at Ji Dingbei. "You, Father, you!"
"Father, please don't hit Second Sister!" Ji Wushang knelt down in front of Ji Dingbei. "Father, please calm down, please calm down!" As he spoke, he immediately kowtowed heavily to Ji Dingbei.
The servants around immediately knelt down, not daring to utter a word.
"You're still defending her? Let me beat this beast to death, and I'll pretend I never had such a beast!" Ji Dingbei was furious and roared as he was about to beat Ji Meiyuan to death.
Ji Wushang grabbed his leg, "Father, please forgive Second Sister for the sake of Grandmother! Second Sister did not mean to do it. She pointed at me out of anger. Father, please calm down."
"Hmph!" Ji Dingbei snorted angrily.
Ji Meiyuan glared at Ji Wushang, her eyes practically spitting fire to burn her to death, yet she spoke with a fierce rage, "You hussy, stop pretending! Do you wish your father would kill me?! Do you?!" The last word seemed to be a roar, as if she wanted to tear Ji Wushang apart and devour her!
His face was already red and swollen, showing how ruthless Ji Dingbei had been in beating him.
Ji Wushang seemed stunned, staring at Ji Meiyuan with teary eyes. "I never imagined my second sister would say such a thing about me. If word gets out, how can I face anyone in this world? I might as well take a white silk ribbon and go with my mother!" With that, she was about to rush out when Zhu'er saw this and immediately stepped forward to stop her. "Miss, Miss, please don't! Don't do anything rash!"
“What use is my life? I tried to persuade Father not to be angry, but what was my intention? Why did you slander me like this, Second Sister? Second Sister, do you hate me that much?” Ji Wushang cried out to Ji Meiyuan.
Ji Dingbei stared at Ji Meiyuan with burning eyes. If it weren't for the thought of Aunt Bai still lying in bed, if she knew that he had killed Ji Meiyuan, she would definitely hate him to death! But this Ji Meiyuan really made him angry; just looking at her made him dizzy! If she continued to stay in the mansion, there would definitely be no peace!
However, those things in Qingya Garden must be related to her. If they become matters of the imperial court in the future, and if Ji Meiyuan destroys everyone in the mansion, it will be too late to regret it!
"American aid, I'm asking you, what exactly happened last night!" Ji Dingbei demanded angrily, then turned and hugged Ji Wushang's shoulder. "Wushang, you are my precious darling, don't make me worry like this. You all should at least think about the General's Mansion!" The last sentence was addressed to everyone.
Ji Wushang looked at Ji Dingbei and nodded solemnly, "Yes, Father is right to reprimand me." As he spoke, he knelt down and bowed his head.
Ji Dingbei pulled her up, "Wu Shang, sigh!"
Ji Meiyuan was already furious, "You, you!"
"Speak up now!" Ji Dingbei wished he could draw his sword and kill her immediately!
"I really didn't know anything last night. I, I really was in Qingya Garden!" Ji Meiyuan said angrily, but she still had to hide these things, so of course she used tears and snot to put on an act.
"You are truly hopeless!" Ji Dingbei almost gritted his teeth as he spoke. "Go to the Yuanyue Nunnery! I will send heavy guards to protect it! You should focus on your cultivation while keeping your hair intact, and you can return when you come of age! Without my order, if you step out of the Yuanyue Nunnery, your Aunt Bai will suffer because of you! Your third sister will suffer because of you! They will all be punished! There has never been such an insolent person in this mansion!" Ji Dingbei spoke ruthlessly, not even glancing at Ji Meiyuan.
Ji Meiyuan stood there, stunned, and didn't react for a long time.
Ji Wushang was also stunned. Was her father finally going to make a tough decision? Staying in the Yuanyue Nunnery until she came of age could she go home. Wasn't it time for her to get married by then?
None of the servants dared to utter a word of dissent. Ji Meiyuan looked at Ji Dingbei, and suddenly, with a touch of desolation, asked, "Father, are you really going to send me to the Yuanyue Nunnery?"
"Father, please give Second Sister a chance." Ji Wushang knelt down and walked forward.
Ji Dingbei looked at Ji Wushang and said, "Wushang, don't always be so soft-hearted. Some rules cannot be broken!"
As he spoke, he waved to Tie Yi and Tie Feng.
The two men obeyed the order and immediately grabbed Ji Meiyuan and dragged her outside.
Ji Meiyuan immediately screamed, "Father, Father! Ah, Aunt Bai, I want Aunt Bai, Aunt Bai!..."
Ji Wushang watched the direction she was dragged away, and instantly, the smile on his lips vanished. He turned to Ji Dingbei, his face filled with worry, "Father, if Aunt Bai finds out about how you punished Second Sister, what will happen to her...?"
"Don't worry!" Ji Dingbei stepped forward to help Ji Wushang up. "Kneeling all the time has hurt your legs. How am I supposed to explain this to your deceased mother?"
Hearing this, Ji Wushang felt a pang of sadness, but he still managed a forced smile. "Father has done enough. Mother in heaven will be at peace."
"Get ready, it's getting late, let's head to the Buddha Temple!" Ji Dingbei nodded and then walked out.
The people around dispersed, and Zhu'er came forward to help Ji Wushang, saying, "Miss."
"Hmm." Ji Wushang wiped away her tears with a handkerchief and straightened her clothes. This was a punishment for Ji Meiyuan, to prevent her from being so arrogant in the future! If Aunt Bai found out, she'd probably be so angry she'd vomit blood! Besides, her reputation as a cursed loner was already enough to give her a hard time…
The morning's events were finally over, and naturally, the servants were already buzzing with gossip. Ji Meiyuan was sent to the Yuanyue Nunnery, the stated reason being to allow her to properly study Buddhism and Taoism, but everyone knew in their hearts that she wouldn't be sent there unless she committed a serious offense; they said she could only return after reaching adulthood!
No one dared to say anything more. They harnessed the horses, got into the carriages, and sat down.
Ji Wuxia, being injured and still unconscious, did not go. Aunt Bai, unfit to move, remained in her East Garden. Ji Tiankui, busy with wedding preparations, couldn't go to any Buddhist temples. Ji Wusi, taken by servants, had gone to school and hadn't returned after class.
As soon as the matriarch came out of the courtyard, she heard about Ji Meiyuan's punishment. She summoned her son and asked him about it. After learning what had happened, she didn't ask any more questions, but she grew even more fond of Ji Wushang.
Yuanyue Nunnery is also an extremely beautiful place. It would be good for Ji Meiyuan to peacefully reflect on her past and worship Buddha there!
As soon as Ji Yinxue saw Ji Wushang standing there, she immediately stepped forward gracefully and bowed to Ji Wushang, saying, "Elder sister."
"Hmm?" Ji Wushang turned to look at Ji Yinxue, "Fourth Sister."
"I just came out of the courtyard and heard about what happened this morning. Sigh, I didn't expect that my elder sister would actually go to Qingya Garden. I was thinking that after we went to the Buddhist Temple, we would go to Qingya Garden together to take another look!"
"Yes, that was my initial plan too, but I thought I'd go and take a look anyway." Ji Wushang looked at her. Ji Yinxue was wearing only a thin shirt and a light cloak, looking rather frail. He frowned and said, "Why are you dressed so lightly? Is it because you didn't get enough food? Should I go and talk to them, eldest sister?"
"How could I trouble you, elder sister?" Ji Yinxue smiled slightly. "I wore less clothing because the weather was relatively sunny, though the sun must be strong at midday. I've already asked Feng Yun to get a jacket. You won't be cold."
“That’s excellent.” Ji Wushang nodded.
At this moment, Aunt Xie was already supporting the Old Madam, who was accompanied by Granny Guo. Upon seeing this, Ji Wushang and Ji Yinxue immediately stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Grandmother, are you well? Aunt, are you well?"
"No need for formalities." Although the old lady had some wrinkles on her face, she was still radiant and her beauty remained unchanged.
Ji Wushang observed the expression on the old lady's face and saw that she was not saddened by Ji Meiyuan's punishment, nor did she feel any unease about Aunt Bai's pregnancy with a cursed child... Ji Wushang felt that the old lady was truly indifferent to these younger generations because she had taken incense to Buddha? Just going with the flow of the world's cycle of reincarnation?
Does she not care?
The matriarch looked at Ji Wushang, stepped forward and patted her hand. "Wushang, this huge backyard, tell me, Aunt Qin doesn't dare to take a single step out of that courtyard, Aunt Bai is lying in bed and can't get up, even your third sister is lying in bed and can't get up, and your second sister has gotten into trouble and is now practicing at the Yuanyue Nunnery. Alas, what kind of sins has this mansion committed?"
"A cursed lone star!" Someone muttered to themselves in private.
Upon hearing this, Ji Wushang immediately looked around at the crowd. "Who was it that just mentioned the 'lone star'? Hmm?" Ji Wushang asked coldly.
The matriarch, upon hearing this, was also displeased. "Who said that?"
How could those people dare to say anything? Even if they thought he was a jinx, they wouldn't dare to say it again! Otherwise, they would be in for a world of trouble if they were kicked out of the mansion!
“Grandmother, perhaps that scoundrel was just talking nonsense. Don’t take it to heart. If there really is such a thing as a cursed star, wouldn’t it bring death or injury to some people?” Ji Yinxue stepped forward and looked at the old lady.
As the matriarch listened, her sharp gaze swept over them, sending a chill down Ji Yinxue's spine.
Ji Wushang pulled Ji Yinxue aside, "Fourth Sister, what are you talking about, whether it's bad luck or not?"
"Yes, Yinxue was wrong. Please punish me, Grandmother." With that, Ji Yinxue knelt down and bowed her head.
"What are you saying over there? Hurry up and get in the car!" Ji Dingbei shouted from the other side.
The matriarch was displeased, but said nothing more. The sensible Granny Guo helped the matriarch walk together toward the luxurious carriage.
Aunt Xie glanced at Ji Yinxue, then at Ji Wushang, smiled, and without saying a word, turned and followed Madam Yuan.
Ji Wushang looked towards Aunt Xie, a sense of impending doom creeping into his heart.
This Aunt Xie, don't be fooled by her quiet and reserved nature. She may be like those people who seem to be hiding their true strength, but are actually the most formidable. Such people are even more detestable than those who are openly arrogant and confrontational!
Ji Wushang turned around and looked at Ji Yinxue, who was still kneeling there, tears welling up in her eyes, looking extremely aggrieved.
Aunt Nangong, who was watching from the other side, assumed that Ji Wushang had bullied Ji Yinxue, so she immediately stepped forward and asked, "What happened?"
"Ah, Auntie." Upon hearing this, Ji Yinxue immediately scrambled to her feet, and Ji Wushang helped her up as well. "Auntie," they both said to Auntie Nangong.
"What are you doing here?" Aunt Nangong, relying on her temporary power, became sharp and looked Ji Wushang up and down. "Miss, you are dressed quite beautifully."
Ji Wushang followed her gaze and looked at himself. He was only wearing a light blue printed horse-face skirt with trim, and a white snowflake jacket over it. How could he be dressed up beautifully?
“Auntie is really making fun of Wushang. If Auntie doesn’t like it, Wushang should tell Father and ask what kind of clothes would be more suitable.”
Aunt Nangong laughed and said, "No need for that. I was just praising Miss's beauty. Why would I need to report this to the Master?" At this moment, she looked at Ji Yinxue and then at the Old Madam Yuan, whom she had just seen, and gave up. "Yinxue, why don't you get in the carriage quickly?"
"Yes." Ji Yinxue nodded, then glanced at Ji Wushang, "Big sister, shall we go together?"
“Okay.” Ji Wushang smiled and sat in the same carriage as Ji Yinxue, while Aunt Nangong glanced at them a few times and then went to the carriage in front.
The group set off in a grand procession towards the Buddhist temple. The journey was peaceful, with bustling scenes all around. Ji Wushang gently lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked outside.
"Big sister, what exactly happened this morning?" Ji Yinxue asked, looking at Ji Wushang as if she had just remembered something. "I heard that Father was very angry!"
"Yes, it's just a small matter." Ji Wushang lowered the curtain and looked at Ji Yinxue. "You should have heard about it from the old woman, right? That's how it is." Ji Wushang smiled. "It's better for Fourth Sister to know less about such things, lest Father finds out and thinks that we sisters aren't very well-behaved."
"Look at what you're saying, eldest sister. I was just concerned about second sister. It's a pity that I didn't have time to visit her before I heard that second sister had been sent to Yuanyue Nunnery." Ji Yinxue looked at Ji Wushang with regret. "I was so worried about eldest sister. Sigh, she didn't even tell me about such a big thing. I was so shocked when I heard it."
“Alas, how could I have thought of all that back then? I was just afraid that Father would be furious and the situation would be urgent. How could I dare to tell you anything? Besides, Aunt Nangong, she…” Ji Wushang stopped mid-sentence.
Ji Yinxue listened and pursed her lips.
"Alright, let's not talk about those things anymore." Ji Wushang looked at her and said, "You've been cooped up in the courtyard these past few days. Now that you're out, you should relax and unwind! I haven't been out for a long time either, and I really miss the outside world."
"Mmm." Ji Yinxue nodded, her eyes somewhat unfocused as she gazed outside, lost in thought.
Ignoring her, Ji Wushang leaned against the side and took a nap. Last night was quite a commotion, and now that the carriage was swaying, he was a little sleepy.
Ji Yinxue turned around, looked at her, and smiled silently, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes...
After an unknown amount of time, they heard someone outside say, "Miss, Fourth Miss, we have arrived. Please get off the carriage."
Ji Wushang listened and slowly woke up, realizing he was quite tired. He rubbed his temples before looking at Ji Yinxue, who turned and smiled, "Big sister, let's go downstairs!"
"Mm." Ji Wushang nodded.
Accompanying the carriage were two head maids, Zhu'er and Fengyun. One lifted the curtain, while the other set up the stools for getting off the carriage.
Ji Wushang was helped out of the car by Zhu'er, and then Feng Yun helped Ji Yinxue out of the car.
Ji Wushang looked into the distance, where Madam Yuan was being helped in by Granny Guo, and Aunt Xie followed her in, with Ji Dingbei following behind.
"Big sister, hurry up!" Ji Yinxue said, and Ji Wushang nodded. The two of them immediately followed.
Upon arriving at the temple, it seemed that news of General Ji's family's visit to worship had circulated, as there were far fewer worshippers. After paying their respects to the Buddha, Ji Wushang and his entourage proceeded to the imperial court.
The monk in charge recognized Ji Wushang before, and when he saw Ji Wushang step forward, he beamed with joy. Seeing Ji Dingbei and the others present, he also greeted them warmly.
Ji Dingbei pulled the presiding monk aside and said, "Master, may I introduce you to the abbot? I have something I'd like to ask him."