"From today onwards, Aunt Xie will take good care of the affairs of the inner courtyard of the mansion, and Miss, you will help manage them." The old lady paused for a moment before saying.
Aunt Xie seemed overwhelmed with gratitude and immediately knelt down on the ground. "Old...Old Madam, how can this be? I have always followed you, how can I manage the affairs of the inner courtyard? Let's hand the matters back to Aunt Bai and the others!"
"Hmm?" The matriarch looked at Aunt Xie. "You've been by my side for quite a while now, and you're usually obedient. Why are you being disobedient today?"
"Madam, I dare not." Upon hearing this, Aunt Xie immediately kowtowed.
Ji Dingbei was still standing in the hall, watching this scene, and said, "Tian'er, just listen to your mother!" In the backyard of the mansion, Concubine Bai was lying pregnant, Concubine Qin never left the West Garden, and Concubine Nangong, humph! Not to mention that wretched woman!
Aunt Xie shrank back immediately after being glared at by him. Looking at Madam Yuan, she still said, "Madam."
"Yes, after we return to the manor, I will speak with Steward Xue. You should take good care of things, and the young lady will help you." The old lady's words left no room for argument.
Ji Wushang was stunned for a while before he came to his senses and immediately knelt in front of the old lady. "Grandmother, Wushang is too young to shoulder such a heavy responsibility. It would be better to let Aunt Xie manage it. Wushang is more used to doing needlework in the inner chambers, which is quite pleasant."
The matriarch stood up with a slight tremor, supported by Granny Guo. She waved her hand and then walked up to Ji Wushang. "You should at least learn some things about managing the household. You'll be of marriageable age in a year and will be marrying into a wealthy family as the mistress of the house. What's wrong with learning in the mansion now? I know you still find it hard to accept, but this day will eventually come."
Ji Wushang looked up at her, unsure of her thoughts. If these were the words she was saying, she should be happy. Originally, it was Madam Bei—her birth mother—who managed the inner quarters. Now, as the eldest daughter, she was naturally expected to take charge. It was just that the concubines were all troublesome, causing problems and putting her, the legitimate daughter, in an awkward position. Elders are elders, but only those who are respected can shoulder such responsibilities.
Ji Dingbei glanced at the time, turned around, and said, "Mother, that's all I need to do. I will instruct the Iron Guards to escort you safely back to your residence. I will now bid farewell to you, Mother, and head to the Southeast." With that, Ji Dingbei kowtowed to Madam Yuan.
Upon hearing this, Ji Wushang immediately looked at Ji Dingbei and said, "Father."
"Wu Shang, be good." Ji Dingbei patted Ji Wu Shang's shoulder. Seeing her tearful eyes, he wiped away her tears with his hand. But she didn't want to cry any more, which made Ji Dingbei's heart ache.
Ji Yinxue looked on, then knelt down and stepped forward, "Father!"
Ji Dingbei looked at her, and although he still felt angry with Aunt Nangong, he felt a pang of pity for his delicate daughter. "Yinxue, take good care of yourself."
Seeing this scene, Madam Yuan secretly wiped away her tears. Aunt Xie, looking at Ji Dingbei, covered her mouth to hold back her sobs, her eyes filled with tears as she looked at Ji Dingbei. Finally, she couldn't help but rush over and hug him.
☆、093 are all people who can know a person's face but not their heart!
Ji Dingbei seemed to feel a sense of pride as a man, a feeling that had been shattered by Aunt Nangong earlier. Now, Aunt Xie had made up for it; her tears were soaking his clothes, and her soft breasts pressed against his chest, making him feel the pride of a man and a husband. With his beautiful wife in his arms, how could he not satisfy his vanity?
Ji Dingbei gently patted Aunt Xie's shoulder. She was still sobbing softly. Looking at Ji Dingbei, she said, "Master, you must take good care of yourself and eat and dress well. I will always think of you."
"Mmm." Ji Dingbei looked at her with his deep eyes, gently kissed her cheek, and said, "Wait for me to come back." Then he let her go.
Aunt Xie watched Ji Dingbei leave with lingering reluctance.
As Ji Wushang watched this scene, he was filled with mixed feelings. It seemed that Aunt Xie, who was eating incense, would be less concerned about these social niceties, but unexpectedly, it made her miss everything that she thought belonged to her even more!
Ji Wushang shook off those thoughts and knelt in the direction Ji Dingbei had walked. He remained kneeling there, his tears unshed, looking like a heartbroken man.
Ji Dingbei turned back one last time, only to see Ji Wushang kneeling there. He couldn't see anything else, and his heart softened even more. He had to keep in mind his guilt towards Bei Luo'er and his filial piety towards Ji Wushang.
Seeing that Ji Wushang had been kneeling for so long, and even Ji Yinxue had already stood up, while Ji Wushang was still there like a tearful person, the old lady felt sorry for him and said, "Wushang, get up quickly."
"Yes." Ji Wushang turned around and said a single word, which seemed to express the myriad sorrows in his heart.
Those around them, having just witnessed the scene of parting, were even more heartbroken and silently wiped away their tears.
Aunt Xie wiped away her tears with a silk handkerchief. "Madam, it's getting late. Why don't you go back to the manor now so that the people there won't worry?"
"Yes, let's go back to the manor now!" Madam Yuan nodded.
Ji Yinxue stepped forward and weakly called out, "Grandmother."
Looking at Ji Yinxue's thin face, streaked with tears, and the sprains on her small hands, it was clear that Ji Dingbei had been caught in the crossfire while dealing with Concubine Nangong's matter. Madam Yuan's heart softened. "You must be tired too. Don't cry anymore, okay? Granny Guo, after we return to the manor, deliver my collection of Golden Snow Biluochun tea to Fourth Miss's Orchid Garden."
"Yes," said Granny Guo.
Ji Yinxue was still thinking of declining, but the old lady waved her hand, signaling her not to say anything more.
Ji Wushang didn't say much. It was just a reward, nothing serious.
However, the matriarch was also moved by Ji Wushang's filial piety, so she said, "Granny Guo, the eldest young lady is now in charge of the household, so we should at least make her some new clothes. Let's take the gold and jade brocade bestowed by the Empress and make a suitable autumn outfit for the eldest young lady!"
"Grandmother, how can this be? That gold and jade brocade was bestowed upon you by Her Majesty the Empress herself. Wu Shang dares not accept it. Please take it back, Grandmother." With that, Ji Wu Shang kowtowed.
The matriarch shook her head slightly. "You have to act like a housekeeper and mistress. Although you will eventually marry out, you will still be a member of our General's Mansion. How can you not live a dignified life?"
As Ji Yinxue listened, her fingernails dug deep into her palms beneath her long sleeves, but she felt no pain. Instead, she smiled and said, "Congratulations, elder sister! As a junior, I should accept the gift from the grandmother. This was given by the Immortal of Generosity!"
The tone was teasing, but Ji Wushang could hear the gritted teeth in it. Ji Wushang pretended not to notice the undertone and instead laughed, "Fourth Sister is right. Thank you for your kindness, Grandmother. I, Wushang, will respectfully accept your offer." After saying that, she kowtowed again to thank the Old Madam.
The elder's wife nodded in satisfaction.
Before leaving, the matriarch instructed that five thousand taels of silver be donated as incense money, and the presiding monk thanked her profusely.
The whole family then returned to the mansion in a grand procession.
Ji Wushang and Ji Yinxue were now sitting in the same carriage they had come from, but each was lost in their own thoughts. Ji Wushang sighed, gently lifting the curtain by the carriage window, watching the trees and forest recede into the distance until they disappeared from sight. Ji Wushang thought of Nan Xuzong, wondering if he had finished his business. What was it? Before he could even ask, they had parted in haste. But did that business concern him? Ji Wushang smiled inwardly, amused at his own meddling.
Ji Yinxue was displeased and turned her face away to look at the scenery, but then she remembered something.
According to Ji Wushang's scheme, the weasel-faced guy must have been her doing. So, something must have happened on the mountain! Could it be that they recognized the weasel-faced guy and his gang without even going up the mountain? And what about the other two? Did she kill them to silence them? Only now, thinking back, did Ji Yinxue realize how ruthless Ji Wushang was!
Actually, it's less accurate to say that Ji Wushang succeeded in his plan and more accurate to say that Ji Yinxue's failed scheme backfired, harming her own mother, Aunt Nangong! Ji Yinxue hadn't told Aunt Nangong about her original plan, leaving Aunt Nangong unaware and neglecting the room's security, so much so that she didn't even realize someone had let a wolfish man in! Who told her to scheme against others?
Ji Wushang felt disgusted. The person who had schemed against her was right beside her, someone she had confided in, someone she considered a close friend, someone she had always helped and cared for, someone who had made her feel sad to see her punished! She never imagined that the person who would ultimately scheme against her would be right beside her! She had almost ruined herself, almost been successfully manipulated and destroyed!
You can know a person's face but not their heart!
Ji Yinxue turned around and looked at Ji Wushang, "Big sister."
"Hmm?" Ji Wushang seemed to snap out of his daze, turned to look at her, and seeing the bitterness on her face, said, "Fourth Sister, don't be so sad. I hope Father can calm down!"
Ji Yinxue looked at her. In Ji Yinxue's eyes, what she had just said was like rubbing salt into a wound! But Ji Yinxue still smiled and gently shook her head, "I'm not angry."
Ji Wushang smiled awkwardly, standing there, and said, "That's very good." Then he ignored her.
The carriage had already entered the market street, and Ji Wushang watched as the vendors vied for attention. Ji Yinxue, seeing that she had already turned her face away, stopped talking and also looked in the direction of another carriage.
Unexpectedly, a carriage passed by, and the person was none other than Bei Gong Jue Shi! Instantly, Ji Yin Xue's heart almost jumped out of her chest. She thought of calling out to him, but then she thought that it was really inappropriate for the occasion. Besides, the Old Madam was present. How could she lose the example of a proper young lady? Ji Yin Xue looked at him and couldn't help but lower the curtain.
As Bei Gong Jue Shi rode by, he saw the carriages of General Ji's mansion, a convoy of three or four carriages, and thought of Ji Yin Xue.
However, he had not forgotten what he needed to do, so he immediately reined in his horse and headed back towards the Prince of Zhenbei's residence.
Ji Wushang turned his head and saw that Ji Yinxue seemed somewhat disappointed, unlike before, so he asked, "Did something happen?"
"No." Ji Yinxue glanced at Ji Wushang. "It's nothing."
Ji Wushang watched as the curtains were drawn, knowing that she must have seen someone or something but simply didn't want to talk about it.
"Alright, I won't ask," Ji Wushang said. "Think about it yourself. I'm still your older sister. I know you're saddened by what happened to Aunt Nangong, and I'm saddened too." After saying that, she covered her face and stopped talking.
Ji Yinxue looked at her and sighed. She knew in her heart that although it wasn't explicitly stated, everyone understood that their relationship was no longer as friendly as before. Was it because she was too jealous of her that she had done such a thing? But at the time, she felt so much hatred, just looking at her filled her with hatred! When her father was dealing with Concubine Nangong and wanted to kill her, she really wanted to rush in and kill them all! It was clearly this woman in front of her who did it!
But we still have to call each other sisters! Ji Yinxue smiled slightly, "I saw an old friend."
Ji Wushang looked up at her, "The second son of the king?"
Ji Yinxue nodded slightly.
Ji Wushang also had a slight idea of what she was thinking. It was probably because the death of Madam Bei had caused her to postpone all the marriages, or perhaps they had made some vows of eternal love during the lantern festival, but Bei Gong Jueshi had not yet fulfilled them, and she was feeling frustrated.
Seeing him now caused her such distress. Also, her relationship with Beigong Jueshi was still in a rather secretive stage and could not be told to outsiders.
Ji Wushang patted her hand, "Don't worry, your older sister will help you."
"Really?" Ji Yinxue looked at her. "Big brother is going to marry the Seventh Princess. When will Third Sister get married? And then, and if Big Sister can get married too, then, then it will be my turn..." Ji Yinxue said, lowering her head and speaking softer and softer.
Ji Wushang nodded, "Let's discuss this matter after we return to the manor!"
Ji Yinxue hummed in agreement.
Once inside the mansion and everything was settled, everyone returned to their own courtyards. Nangong was carried into the courtyard, and a doctor was immediately summoned. Xie, naturally, was busy managing everything to support the mansion and to impress the matriarch.
Of course, they came up with an excuse, a mix of intimidation and coaxing, and spent a lot of money to keep quiet, since the reputation of General Ji's mansion was important.
It was nearly dark by then, and the streetlights were slowly being lit.
Aunt Bai finally woke up, but she couldn't see Ji Meiyuan and Ji Wuxia by her side. Only her head maid, Tianxiang, was fishing and dozing off.
"Cough, cough!" Aunt Bai couldn't help but feel a little annoyed, so she coughed a few times. Tianxiang immediately opened her eyes. "Ah, Aunt, you're awake? This servant will go and call the doctor to come and take a look!"
"No need." Aunt Bai frowned, her face still slightly pale. She then remembered that Ji Meiyuan had been locked up in Qingya Garden for spilling tea and pushing Ji Wushang, but Ji Wuxia should be by her side, after all, she was her biological mother.
"Where is the Third Miss?" Aunt Bai coughed a few times.
"Third Miss, Third Miss, she..." Tianxiang stammered, unsure whether to tell the truth or not, but also unsure how to fabricate a story or lie.
"Speak! You dare to deceive me, I'll make you die a horrible death!" Seeing her like this, Aunt Bai became even angrier. "Did that little hussy go to lick Madam Bei's coffin?!" This Aunt Bai really has no morals to speak of! She should be torn to pieces!
Upon hearing this, Tianxiang immediately knelt down on the ground, pleading, "Auntie, please don't be angry! Auntie, please spare my life!"
"You lowly servant girl, I told you to speak, but you've spouted a bunch of nonsense!" Aunt Bai glared coldly at Tianxiang, her eyes like daggers that seemed to want to blind her and sever her neck!
"Reporting to Aunt Bai, the Third Miss, because she was afraid to look at the Second Miss in Qingya Garden, accidentally fell off the artificial hill! Now, she is lying in bed..." Tianxiang stammered, trembling with fear, afraid that Aunt Bai would be angry.
Aunt Bai was furious upon hearing this. "You, you wretched servant! What's going on! I need to go see her, is she alright? What did the doctor say!" Aunt Bai was still breathless, but she was extremely worried about Ji Wuxia's injuries.
Tianxiang was terrified when she saw her like that. "She, she's fine!"
If she said something unpleasant, would she be strangled? Tianxiang thought to herself and took a step back.
At this moment, the old women and maids outside rushed in and looked at Aunt Bai. Among them, Granny Yun immediately yelled at Tianxiang, "How can you be such a head maid? You didn't even say anything when Aunt Bai got agitated! Do you not want to stay here anymore?" Granny Yun served Aunt Bai, and in the whole courtyard, apart from Aunt Bai, she was the most arrogant. She didn't even put the head maid Tianxiang in her eyes!
"Cough cough, tell me, what happened to Wu Xia? If you tell even half a lie, I'll kill you all!" Aunt Bai struggled, determined to get the truth.
As Granny Yun listened, her face stiffened slightly, but she couldn't possibly say, "Madam, your most important thing is to recover your health and give birth to a healthy and chubby little prince! This inner courtyard can't function without you, Madam! You must stand before us all! Right now, Madam Xie is in charge!"
Aunt Bai paused. Yes, the most important thing is to take good care of her own health. The baby needs to be healthy and be born safely! But what did Granny Yun say just now? Aunt Xie is in power? "Isn't it that guy Nangong?" Aunt Bai rolled her eyes at Granny Yun.
Granny Yun looked slightly embarrassed, but still said, "It's Aunt Xie and the eldest young lady."
Aunt Bai immediately felt a tightness in her chest. What was going on? How could Aunt Xie and the eldest young lady be in power!
"What, what's going on!" Aunt Bai struggled to sit up, wanting to know the truth.
Just then, a maidservant announced from outside, "Auntie, Auntie Xie has arrived!"
Aunt Bai was stunned. They had just been talking about her, and here she was.
But, "Please!" Aunt Bai said through gritted teeth, wanting to see if Aunt Xie was here to intimidate her! Hmph, she's only just taken power and she's already trying to establish her authority in the East Garden? She really underestimates Bai Aomei!
Aunt Xie nodded to the young maid, and then led her head maid, Biyu, Wang Lian, and several other maids into the room. Biyu and Wang Lian were carrying some things, which looked like tonics.
Aunt Xie stepped forward and saw Aunt Bai lying on the bed, surrounded by maids and servants. She smiled and asked, "Sister Bai, how are you feeling now? Are you feeling any better? Should we call the doctor to come and take another look?"
"It's alright, you won't die!" Aunt Bai snorted coldly, seeing that although she was all smiles, she didn't seem to appreciate it.