"Young Miss is back." Aunt Xie immediately went to greet Ji Wushang.
Ji Wushang bowed slightly and then asked, "Auntie, what is this?"
☆、099 Aunt Bai has actually changed her target?
"It makes me so angry! I just had everyone stand aside, just to find out what was going on in the backyard, but I didn't expect them to be so stubborn! I hit a few maids, but nothing happened. It's good that you're back!" Aunt Xie said casually.
Ji Wushang glanced at the people around her and found that they were all hitting people from the South Garden, East Garden, and West Garden. None of the people from her Aunt Xie's Garden had been hit. Was this a show of force to those gardens? Did they really think she was the mistress of the house?
The position of Madam is still undecided, and now they're already vying for it? Ji Wushang found it amusing, but his face remained expressionless. Looking at the people standing in the courtyard, he said, "I'm sure everyone knows how Madam Xie feels." Ji Wushang glanced at Madam Xie, then looked at everyone and continued, "Madam Xie is overjoyed and is focused on managing the inner courtyard well, which is why she's so eager to have everyone report on the situation in the manor. Don't say Madam Xie is strict; as long as you do your work properly, you will all be rewarded."
"Steward Xue, why don't you tell Aunt Xie what happened? You're an elder in the household, so whatever you say carries some weight!" Ji Wushang looked at Steward Xue, who felt a chill run down his spine under her gaze.
Ever since Consort Nangong returned to the manor, he had been inquiring everywhere and learning the truth from various versions of events. This was truly the young lady's shrewdness! Thinking back, he had initially intended to help frame Madam Bei, so he took Consort Nangong's money and participated in the scheme. He never expected that on their second trip to the Buddhist temple, she would cripple Consort Nangong! The thought sent chills down his spine. If he hadn't treated this young lady well, he certainly didn't know how he would have died!
She had previously asked him to assess the doctors in those clinics, and Butler Xue had done it immediately; otherwise, he would definitely have died in a different way!
"Yes, yes, yes." Steward Xue immediately nodded and bowed. Ji Wushang glared at him. These bastards knew how to read people's faces and do things the right way. But sometimes he needed such scoundrels. Only such scoundrels could make things more extreme and outrageous!
After listening to Steward Xue's report, and Steward Xue calling several people to join in, Aunt Xie's anger subsided slightly.
Looking at Ji Wushang, Aunt Xie smiled. She knew that if she were to fall out with Ji Wushang now, it would be tantamount to inviting trouble!
Seeing that there was nothing else, Ji Wushang said that the medicinal herbs had been prepared, and then left with Zhu'er back to his own courtyard.
That night, the darkness was dim, and all the lamps in the mansion were lit. Ji Wushang looked at his books and copied the Buddhist scriptures several times. Just as he finished copying, Xian'er brought in the gold and jade brocade sample that had just been made. Ji Wushang looked at it and was delighted. This sample was pleasing to the eye. He hadn't expected that Granny Fang's hands were so skillful.
"Put it down, let me see." Ji Wushang looked at it with joy in his heart.
"Yes." Seeing her delight, Xian'er responded cheerfully and immediately placed it on the chaise lounge.
Ji Wushang carefully picked up the brocade, touching the smooth gold threads, and felt satisfied. He then asked Xian'er to bring some gold threads and began embroidering clothes himself. The clothes he was giving to his future sister-in-law should be made by his own hands to show his sincerity.
Ji Yinxue returned to her orchid garden, feeling constantly tired and wanting to rest. However, thinking about what had happened that day, she felt something was amiss. Could it be that Ji Wushang had done it? Ji Yinxue recalled the events and then drank several mouthfuls of tea to dilute the effects of the medicine.
No, she couldn't have discovered me. Either she's become wary of me! Then why do I suddenly feel tired? Am I really tired? Ji Yinxue squinted her eyes, rested for a while, and then went to Aunt Nangong's place.
Aunt Nangong was still lying in bed, unable to speak, her eyes staring blankly at the bed. Ji Yinxue looked in her direction but saw nothing. She sighed, "Aunt, when will you wake up? You're like a living dead."
Aunt Nangong was of course unable to speak. She lay there stiffly, and if it weren't for the occasional breathing, Ji Yinxue would have thought she was dead.
Just as Ji Yinxue was about to leave, she saw Bai Mei, the head maidservant of Aunt Nangong, rushing back from outside in a panic. Ji Yinxue immediately looked at her. How could she explain it? When she arrived, she only saw an old nanny taking care of things! Even the head maidservant Bai Mei was nowhere to be seen!
"Where did you go?" Ji Yinxue asked abruptly.
Bai Mei was startled and, seeing that it was Ji Yinxue, immediately knelt down, "Greetings to the Fourth Miss."
"I'm asking you a question!" Ji Yinxue looked down at her, her imposing manner filling Bai Mei with fear. But fear aside, preserving her life was paramount. "I didn't do anything, Miss. I saw a few maids in the courtyard thinking about going to work in other courtyards, not wanting to stay in our South Garden anymore. They said, they said..."
"What did you say!" Ji Yinxue was furious. She hadn't expected such a thing to happen. It was actually true. She remembered how many maids had dreamed of coming to Nanyuan when her aunt was in power!
“They say it’s my aunt, but she… she won’t wake up. There’s no way out here…” Bai Mei said, trembling with fear. Before she could finish speaking, Ji Yinxue slapped her across the face. “Go, get all those people here! If you don’t bring them here, you can go to Steward Xue and be punished! My aunt isn’t dead yet! How can you treat my aunt and me like this!”
Bai Mei was slapped so hard she felt dizzy. She struggled to open her eyes before regaining her senses. As she knelt down and retreated, she said, "Yes, yes..."
Ji Yinxue was truly angry, and even the maid Feng Yun, who was standing to the side, was somewhat afraid of her and dared not speak. Ji Yinxue turned to look at her, "Feng Yun."
“This servant is here.” Feng Yun immediately knelt on the ground.
A glint flashed in Ji Yinxue's eyes, then she leaned close to Feng Yun's ear and whispered, "...Did you hear that!"
"Yes, yes, this servant heard you." Feng Yun was intimidated by her imposing manner and immediately retreated.
"You all forced me to this!" Ji Yinxue stood in front of the door, looking at the huge courtyard, her fists clenched.
A short while later, Bai Mei indeed ordered several servants to drive away about ten maids and servants who were packing their things to go to other courtyards or leaving the mansion. Ji Yinxue's eyes blazed with anger as she looked at them. "You heartless wretch! Give them all fifty lashes! Those who aren't dead, send them back to their hometowns! Those who are dead, drag them to the back mountain and bury them!" After saying that, she went into the house without looking back.
The maids and servants immediately knelt on the ground and begged for mercy, "Fourth Miss, spare our lives! We will never dare to do it again!"
Ji Yinxue didn't care about them, but hearing their pitiful cries, she turned around, her cold gaze fixed on them. They immediately fell silent, kneeling on the spot. Ji Yinxue smiled, "Gag their filthy mouths! Execute immediately!"
The servants behind them immediately took strips of cloth from who-knows-where and stuffed them into the mouths of the maids and servants. Several rough-working women came from behind and also busied themselves with the torture!
That night, the other courtyards might not know, but the South Courtyard witnessed Ji Yinxue's methods. Naturally, Ji Yinxue wouldn't allow them to spread rumors, otherwise their fate would be even more miserable!
East Garden.
Aunt Bai had already woken up and had her dinner properly. She then sat on the chaise lounge, enjoying fruits and snacks while listening to the various reports from the maids. She seemed quite relaxed. From Ji Wuxia's fall to Aunt Xie's earlier frivolous punishment of the maids in the courtyard, Aunt Bai heard it all.
"Finished telling the story?" Aunt Bai was surprisingly calm. The kneeling maids all nodded, and the head maid, Tianxiang, replied, "Yes, Aunt Bai, we've finished." Strange, if this were before, she would have already been shouting and killing these people! But Aunt Bai was so calm!
"Hmm. I want to say that you are all my confidants, and now, I'm afraid others are thinking of climbing over my head!" Aunt Bai watched them get up from the bed; at this point, her health had recovered quite well.
"This servant will do everything in my power to serve you, Auntie!" the maids and servants all replied.
Aunt Bai glanced at them. Indeed, she had personally selected these maids and servants, brainwashing or bribing them one by one. Now was the time to use their manpower! Whoever owed her something would have to pay it back!
"By the way, I heard that Aunt Qin is seven or eight months pregnant, isn't she?" Aunt Bai suddenly asked.
“Yes,” said Granny Yun, who was kneeling on the other side.
Aunt Bai smiled slightly, "Hmm, it's been so many days since I've seen her. I miss Sister Qin terribly." These words made everyone feel uneasy, but they were all familiar with Aunt Bai's methods and used to it. If she ever showed concern for someone, that person was likely to suffer!
"You may all leave! Granny Yun and Tianxiang, please stay." Aunt Bai glanced at them and said, not caring what they thought. Immediately, the people filed out, while Granny Yun and Tianxiang exchanged a glance and then stepped forward, "Please give your orders, Aunt."
"Hmm." Aunt Bai lay down on the couch with apparent ease. "I don't want my daughter to be lying in bed. Either someone else can lie down with my daughter, or I can let my Wuxia stand up."
"Yes." Granny Yun and Tianxiang nodded in agreement.
Aunt Bai continued, "I know my child is a cursed star, and I can't predict his fate, but I want to control his destiny myself. I want my child to live, so he cannot die! Anyone who stands in my way will be killed!"
"Yes." Granny Yun and Tianxiang exchanged a glance, not understanding why Aunt Bai was saying so much. What was she thinking?
Seeing their reaction, Aunt Bai approached, beckoning Yun Mama to come closer, and then whispered a few words in her ear. Yun Mama nodded, "Yes!"
"Whether this matter succeeds or not depends on you. You can enjoy wealth and honor in the future!" Aunt Bai said.
"Thank you, Auntie!" Granny Yun watched as Auntie Bai took out a purse from her bosom. The purse was finely crafted and filled with silver. It looked heavy and substantial. It was a good thing!
Tianxiang's eyes lit up, and she looked on with longing. Aunt Bai looked at her and said, "Tianxiang."
"This servant is here!" Tianxiang immediately knelt down.
This person is just despicable. Tianxiang has been bullied by Aunt Bai countless times, beaten and scolded hundreds of times. But when she was dazzled by her money, she forgot everything. All that was left in her mind was the word "money"!
Aunt Bai beckoned, and Tianxiang immediately knelt down like a dog and came closer. Aunt Bai whispered a few words in her ear and then instructed, "Did you hear that? Do it secretly. If anyone finds out, you'd better end it yourself. I don't want to see you in my eyes anymore."
Upon hearing this, Tianxiang immediately nodded. This definitely had to be done properly; how could she possibly die?
As night deepened, it was already midnight. The surroundings were quiet, and the lights in the mansion were almost dim. Every now and then, a few guards would patrol, and then silence would return.
Aunt Qin was sleeping soundly in the West Garden. Her head maid, Feng Yu, had been keeping watch by Aunt Qin's bedside the whole time. Tonight, it was Feng Yu's turn to be on duty.
Fengyu was so tired from taking care of Aunt Qin that she fell into a deep sleep and didn't even notice anyone coming in.
The figure slowly walked towards Aunt Qin's bedside, looked around, and then took out a rag doll covered with silver needles from his bosom and stuffed it behind a small cabinet under Aunt Qin's bed.
Seeing that no one around him had noticed, the man immediately scattered some of the items on the clothes hanging nearby, as well as on silk handkerchiefs, washbasins, potted plants, and so on. Satisfied, he silently withdrew.
Nothing happened that night, and Aunt Qin slept soundly, waking up refreshed and energetic.
"Auntie." Fengyu saw that she had woken up and busied herself taking care of her.
"Mmm." Aunt Qin nodded, looking at the baby in her belly, which was already quite large. She hoped it was a healthy baby. Her face was full of maternal love.
"Bring in a basin of water," Aunt Qin said.
"yes."
The sun was slowly rising. Ji Wushang had just finished her breakfast when she heard Zhu'er come in from outside and say, "Miss, the old lady says she wants you to go to Jingyuan."
"Hmm? What's wrong?" Ji Wushang wondered. "What is it? I'll naturally go to pay my respects later. Does Grandmother miss me?" Ji Wushang teased.
☆、100 Whether it's something important or not, just a little something comes up!
"Zhu'er doesn't know either. A maid came to call for someone, saying that the old lady wanted to see you." Zhu'er saw that she was joking, but after looking at the maid just now, she felt that something had happened.
"Hmm." Seeing this, Ji Wushang said no more. Zhu'er helped him change his clothes, casually put his hair in a bun, and then went out.
Seeing that it was Xiaomin, a young maid from Jingyuan, she stepped forward and said with a smile, "Xiaomin, what's the matter? Why are you in such a hurry? I'm just thinking about going to pay my respects to the old lady." As she spoke, she stuffed a purse into Xiaomin's hand. Xiaomin didn't really refuse and said with a smile, "Replying to Miss, this servant doesn't know much either. I just heard that the old lady was calling for you. It seems to have happened yesterday. I don't know anything else. You'll know when you get there, Miss."
"Well then, I'll trouble you to lead the way." Ji Wushang nodded. He wondered if yesterday's events were due to him and Ji Yinxue being discovered at the September Pavilion, or something else entirely. Could it be that letter?
Ji Wushang couldn't guess what was going on. By this time, they had already entered Jingyuan Garden. Granny Guo was already waiting outside. When she saw Ji Wushang arrive, she immediately stepped forward and said, "Miss, you've finally arrived. The old lady wants you to come in."
"Alright, did Grandmother say anything?" Ji Wushang felt more at ease looking at Granny Guo, whose eyes and brows were full of smiles.
"Well, this old servant doesn't know," said Granny Guo hesitantly.
"Is there anyone inside?" Ji Wushang asked.
"Only Aunt Xie is here."
Ji Wushang nodded. It was just a matter of how many people there were. Ji Tiankui was probably busy with his wedding. If it was October 8th, it would be almost here. He should hurry up and finish preparing the clothes for the Seventh Princess.
It was nearing late autumn. Ji Wushang pulled his robe tighter around himself and went inside. He saw Madam Yuan sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed), with Aunt Xie sitting beside her. Both of them were dressed warmly, looking cozy.
Ji Wushang immediately bowed to them, saying, "Greetings to Grandmother and Aunt Xie."
The matriarch looked up and saw Ji Wushang. Her face showed some displeasure, but she still said, "Wushang, come and sit here."
At this moment, the incense burner was burning brightly, making the whole room even warmer.
Aunt Xie remained silent, her face serene. The matriarch of the Yuan family said, "I heard you went out yesterday to buy some medicinal herbs? Did you go with Fourth Miss?"
"Yes, Grandmother, we will go together," Ji Wushang said loudly.
"Did something happen on the way?" The old lady's lips twitched, and she asked meaningfully.
Ji Wushang listened, then paused. Was this an attempt to trick him into revealing information? Or had someone whispered something to his grandmother? Ji Wushang smiled and said, "What could possibly happen? It was just some trivial matters. My fourth sister and I went to that herbal medicine shop, bought some herbs, had lunch at the September Pavilion, and then came back."
"I heard from the servants that you received a letter? Hmm? A letter with ambiguous language! Have you fallen for some young master? Should I go and talk to him for you, hmm?" Seeing that she wouldn't speak, the old lady had no choice but to break the ice herself. As she spoke, her tone became increasingly harsh, revealing her displeasure.
Ji Wushang's smile froze. Was this accusing him of having an affair? Hmph, did Ji Yinxue spread this rumor? The servants around him were maids and old women, but they were still his obedient servants! The guards shouldn't be gossipy either, after all, they had been by his side for some time!
"Grandmother, what letter are you talking about? How come Wu Shang didn't know about it?" Ji Wu Shang said dejectedly. "Is someone framing Wu Shang? Wu Shang has been wholeheartedly managing the affairs of this manor and solving problems for Aunt Xie. Aunt Xie knows this. I just returned to the manor and immediately started helping Aunt Xie with her affairs. Aunt, are you right?" Ji Wu Shang looked at Aunt Xie with innocent eyes. Upon hearing this, Aunt Xie nodded. "Reporting to Grandmother, what the eldest young lady said is correct. As soon as she returned, I had someone call her over." Aunt Xie said with her head bowed.
"As the saying goes, there's no smoke without fire. If there hadn't been such a thing, how could the news have spread that the eldest daughter of the Ji family was intercepted on the street and given a love letter?" the old lady said sternly.
Seeing this, Ji Wushang immediately knelt before the Old Madam. "Grandmother, you must investigate this thoroughly and clear Wushang's name! How could a delicate woman like Wushang possibly like any young master? It must be that others are jealous of my help in handling matters in the inner quarters, which has aroused their jealousy and led to this rumor. If Grandmother doesn't believe me, you can call over the guards and the maids and servants." Ji Wushang looked at her, tears streaming down her face.