Bao Qi's face turned deathly pale, but Ji Meiyuan had already walked away.
Ji Wushang sat at the desk, copying the Buddhist scriptures several times, but still couldn't settle down, so she had to throw the scriptures aside. Just then, Yue'er came in from outside, "Miss, Miss."
"What's up?" Ji Wushang asked. "Come in."
"Reporting to Miss, just now when I passed by the pavilion, I overheard the Second Miss and Baoqi talking about something, saying that tomorrow the whole capital will know about the Eldest Miss!"
Ji Wushang frowned. What was this all about? Would the entire capital know about it tomorrow? Was it going to ruin his reputation?
"I was worried it might harm you, Miss, so I came to report immediately," Yue'er said. "Miss, should we capture Baoqi and ask her what happened?"
"Why did we capture Bao Qi? It would be bad if they turned on us. You can go now. I'll handle this." Ji Wushang pondered for a while before speaking.
Yue'er nodded and withdrew.
Ji Wushang stared at the doorway. Was she trying to ruin his reputation? Indeed, if he did, no young masters in the capital would come to propose marriage. But how could he face anyone after that? He only wanted to marry Nan Xuzong and reject Beigong Minhao; did he really need to tarnish his reputation? However, since Ji Meiyuan was so thoughtful, he should at least repay her!
He immediately summoned Tie Feng. Ever since the incident involving Aunt Qin, when Ji Wushang saved them from liability, the two brothers, Tie Feng and Tie Yi, had sworn to serve Ji Wushang to the death.
Tie Feng arrived immediately, saying, "Young Miss, please give your orders. I, Tie Feng, will go through fire and water without hesitation!"
“I have a small matter that I need you to handle, but I need to get more people involved,” Ji Wushang said.
"The Iron Guard brothers are ready to stand by at any time!"
Ji Wushang nodded, then leaned forward a little and whispered a few words, finally saying, "Tomorrow, I hope to see this effect. I had no intention of hurting anyone, but they just wanted to harm me. I have no choice but to take it one step at a time."
"Miss only needs to give the order, and Tie Feng will never hesitate." Tie Feng knows about the affairs of this manor. Since he started working here, he has witnessed everything that has happened. The eldest young lady is clear about her likes and dislikes, and is very intelligent. She is the master he has chosen!
Ji Wushang nodded, letting him leave. He trusted him to handle the matter.
Night fell deep into the house, and the cold air seeped into my spirit.
Ji Wushang lay down fully clothed, but couldn't fall asleep. She really wanted to go out and meet him, to ask him what to do and how to finalize her marriage!
But how can she get out? She can't go out! A young woman confined to her home can only wait to be married in the mansion, but what about him? His legs are injured, he can't jump, he can't fly, and she will never see him through this window.
Unexpectedly, just as Ji Wushang was thinking of going to sleep, he heard a faint sound at the window! Ji Wushang was startled, but didn't see anyone come in. He immediately got out of bed and went to the window, only to find a letter there.
Ji Wushang picked it up and looked out the window, but saw no one. He had no choice but to close the window tightly, sit back on his bed, and then open the letter.
"Wu Shang, if you were betrothed to the Prince of Zhenbei, would you be willing to elope with me?" These two short lines, without any embellishment, directly expressed his inner worries. The signature was Nan Xu Cong.
Ji Wushang clutched the letter tightly to her chest. If she really were to marry Beigong Minhao, would she truly elope with Nan Xuzong? Would she betray her filial piety, bringing shame upon her mother in the afterlife? Would she bring shame upon General Ji's mansion?
Ji Wushang sighed deeply. If she really didn't marry Nan Xuzong, then... A hint of ruthlessness flashed in Ji Wushang's eyes.
Just as Ji Wushang woke up in the morning, Zhu'er came in to help him wash up. Remembering what he had asked Tie Feng to do yesterday, Ji Wushang asked, "Is there anything particularly exciting happening in the capital?"
"Ah, Miss, you are truly amazing! This morning when Zhu'er was shopping with Granny Shi, I heard the people in the capital all talking about the Second Miss's daily life and diet! They said she doesn't get up until late in the morning, sleeps like a dead pig, eats a lot, and has a hidden illness..." Zhu'er leaned closer and whispered.
Ji Wushang nodded in agreement. This was indeed a good move. Let's see who she wants to marry now! If she wants to get married, she'll have to scheme against others. Hmph, how many people will actually come knocking on her door right now? Besides the Second Young Master Nan coming today to discuss his wedding date with Ji Yinxue, what other goals does Ji Meiyuan have to achieve?
Waiting for the dog to bite the bone!
"Don't gossip about these things with others, otherwise, if your second sister finds out, she'll definitely punish you," Ji Wushang said warmly.
"Yes, Pearl understands. Pearl was just telling you, Miss." Pearl nodded.
Ji Wushang hummed in agreement. "Get it done quickly, I need to go to Jingyuan to pay my respects."
"yes."
Before the man even reached Jingyuan, he heard the matriarch scolding Ji Meiyuan, "You silly girl, why did you provoke others for no reason? How come people are saying this about you? You're really making this old woman furious!"
"Grandmother, Mei Yuan was really slandered. Mei Yuan doesn't know why this happened!" Ji Mei Yuan said while crying.
Ji Wushang smiled wryly, wondering how this could have happened. He had intended to ruin someone else's reputation, but unexpectedly, he ended up ruining his own! This was karma!
Ji Wushang entered Jingyuan at this moment. When Granny Guo saw that it was Ji Wushang, she immediately stepped forward to greet her, "Young Miss".
"What's wrong? Why did I hear Grandmother talking as soon as I entered the garden?" Ji Wushang asked, puzzled.
"Young Miss, didn't something unexpected happen today?" As she spoke, Granny Guo approached to tell her about Ji Meiyuan's tarnished reputation, making sure no one was in the garden. Then she added, "Young Miss, you must be careful when you go inside. The Old Madam is still furious!"
"Wu Shang will certainly serve him carefully. That's true, alas, how could such a thing have happened?"
“Isn’t that right? In my opinion,” Granny Guo glanced around again before whispering, “the Second Miss must have done something shameful, and now it’s been exposed.”
"Hehe, is that so?" Ji Wushang chuckled. This Granny Guo really knew how to guess, but that's exactly how she should guess.
"Look, why have you said so much? Miss, please go inside with Granny Guo! Please don't tell anyone what Granny Guo just said!" Granny Guo said sternly.
“How can Wu Shang speak so casually? You have been so kind to me, and I will surely remember it. If you ever need my help in the future, please just ask.” Ji Wu Shang said earnestly.
Granny Guo was delighted to hear this and nodded, "Please come in."
As soon as Ji Wushang entered the room, he saw Ji Meiyuan kneeling on the ground. It looked like she had been kneeling for a long time, but the old lady showed no intention of letting her get up.
Ji Wushang immediately knelt down and bowed, "Greetings to Grandmother. I tossed and turned all night because of what happened yesterday, so I got up late this morning. I hope Grandmother will forgive me." As he spoke, Ji Wushang kowtowed twice earnestly.
The matriarch looked at her, knowing that her marriage was indeed a bit of a worry, and nodded, "Get up and sit over there!"
Ji Meiyuan was dumbfounded. She had been kneeling the whole time, while Miss Ji was allowed to sit down after kneeling and kowtowing twice? Ji Meiyuan was indignant! But what could she do? She could only continue kneeling.
Ji Wushang looked at Ji Meiyuan and said, "Grandmother, what's going on? Why is Second Sister kneeling? Grandmother, please don't hurt yourself over this."
"Hmph, your second sister should kneel like this!" the old lady said angrily.
Ji Meiyuan listened, her eyes shooting towards Ji Wushang, wishing she could kill her! She had intended to ruin Ji Wushang's reputation so that she would never be able to hold her head up again, but unexpectedly, she ended up being the target! She had just punished Bao Qi and was summoned here by the maids of Jingyuan. Upon seeing the Old Madam, she was immediately forced to kneel until now! This must be all thanks to Ji Wushang!
Ji Wushang stepped forward, ignoring Ji Meiyuan's glare, and walked to the side of the old lady. She then gently massaged the old lady. Having studied medicine, she was certainly familiar with the art of massage. With her hands massaging, the old lady was completely relaxed, and the anger on her face gradually subsided.
"Grandmother, are you comfortable?" Ji Wushang whispered.
"Mmm, that feels good." The matriarch nodded gently.
Ji Wushang smiled slightly, while the matriarch was slowly drifting off to sleep. Ji Wushang's touch became lighter and lighter before finally stopping.
Ji Wushang walked down and looked down at Ji Meiyuan. Ji Meiyuan's eyes were wide open, speechless. What was going on? Her grandmother had fallen asleep so soon? Heavens! She, she must have done something shameful to her grandmother!
"You actually plotted to kill Grandmother?!" Ji Meiyuan was furious. Turning around, she shouted at the servants outside, "Guards! Eldest sister is trying to poison Grandmother!"
Upon hearing this, Ji Wushang was speechless. Was Ji Meiyuan a pig-brain? Just because she saw her grandmother sleeping on the chaise longue, she thought she had poisoned her?
Immediately, all the servants of Jingyuan who could come in came in to see what was happening. The old lady was startled by Ji Meiyuan's shout and woke up with a start. She opened her eyes and saw that everyone was there.
"What's going on? Nobody's doing anything?" the matriarch of the elders said angrily. She had just been woken up and hadn't even settled the score yet! She hadn't been sleeping well lately, and it was rare for Ji Wushang to massage her for a couple of times before she fell asleep. She really wanted to take a break for a while, but this Ji Meiyuan was truly disgusting!
"Reporting to the Old Madam, it was the Second Miss who said that the Eldest Miss was right and that she had tried to poison the Old Madam, so everyone rushed here," said Granny Guo, immediately kneeling on the ground, and the servants followed suit.
The matriarch was trembling with rage, pointing at Ji Meiyuan, "You heartless wretch! How dare you utter such words! You, you're going to drive me crazy!"
"Grandmother, please, please spare my life! I, Meiyuan, really thought that my elder sister was going to do something heinous to you, so I cried out. Just now, I really saw my elder sister touch your shoulder a few times, and then I saw you lie down. I was worried, so I said those words!" As Ji Meiyuan spoke, she immediately kowtowed to the matriarch.
Upon hearing this, Ji Wushang immediately knelt down, tears streaming down her face. "Waaah, Grandmother, you must stand up for Wushang! I saw that you were angry and seemed tired, so I boldly stepped forward to massage you. I learned this technique from some servants, but I never expected that my second sister would say such a thing! It breaks my heart! How can I dare to get close to you in the future? If I do, people will say that I'm going to..." Ji Wushang didn't say the words "attempt to poison you," but she believed that the old lady could understand them.
The matriarch frowned, slammed her hand on the table, and said, "Hmph, you don't need to plead for her! With such a heart, it seems you haven't properly cultivated your character at the Round Moon Nunnery! Come, take the Second Miss to the Hall of Repentance, and make her kneel there for a whole day until sunset before she can return to the Plum Garden!"
Upon hearing this, Ji Meiyuan's legs went weak. She had already been kneeling for an hour or so, and now she had to kneel until sunset. What use were her legs? Today was the day that Second Young Master Nan was to visit. She had to go see him! She had to tell him that it wasn't her who had been tarnished by the rumors, but Ji Wushang! She was still the pure Second Miss Ji! She had admired him for a long time, and she wanted to marry him! She didn't mind marrying him together with Ji Yinxue! But she absolutely wanted to be his principal wife!
Ji Wushang watched and secretly snorted coldly. Anyone who wanted to fight him should think twice!
After Ji Meiyuan was taken away by the maid, Ji Wushang finally came to his senses. "Grandmother, please don't be angry. Alas, Wushang knows that Second Sister's legs will hurt from kneeling. Grandmother, could you please reduce her punishment?"
"Ignore her! Your soft heart and pleading with her won't get you anywhere, she won't hear you or appreciate it! You'd better be careful from now on!" said the matriarch. "Get up! Don't kneel. Come, Wushang, talk to your grandmother."
"Yes." Ji Wushang nodded before standing up.
In the afternoon, as expected, Ji Wushang heard Nan Jinxue and Aunt Zhao visiting Xinyuan to discuss his wedding date with Ji Yinxue.
"Miss, would you like to go take a look?" Pearl asked.
"Go see him? No, I won't go." Ji Wushang shook his head; he had no intention of seeing that scumbag Nan Jinxue! But there was one person he absolutely had to see. Ji Wushang smiled slightly. "Go. When the time is right, have Tiefeng help Second Sister meet with Second Young Master Nan. Right now, Second Miss is in the Reflection Hall; have Tiefeng follow her around. Understand? Also, if anything unusual happens, report back to me immediately!"
"Yes." Pearl immediately replied and walked away.
Ji Wushang carefully finished embroidering the cloak for the Seventh Princess.
Upon hearing from the maid outside the door that the Second Young Master Nan and Aunt Zhao had come to discuss their wedding date, Ji Meiyuan became extremely anxious. What should she do? Her reputation was already ruined, which meant that no powerful or influential man in the entire capital would come to propose marriage! Her only option now was to choose Nan Jinxue, who had come to propose!
But I'm locked up here! What should I do?!
If all the maids outside are sent away, and I manage to escape and see Nan Jinxue to explain things, then that would be perfect! After I finish speaking, I can come back and continue kneeling!
Ji Meiyuan immediately peeked outside and saw that the maids were still talking outside, while guards were standing at the gate.
Ji Meiyuan rolled her eyes, then cried out, "Ouch, ouch! Someone help! My stomach hurts so much, my stomach hurts so much!" Ji Meiyuan immediately rolled on the ground, writhing and rolling around, almost sweeping the dust off the ground with her clothes!
Upon hearing this, the maids and guards outside rushed in and managed to subdue her.
"Second Miss, what's wrong?" a maid asked anxiously.
"You wretched maid, can't you see my stomach hurts? Hurry up and help me to the doctor's room!" Ji Meiyuan said angrily.
"Should we tell the old lady?" another maid immediately asked.
"What are you telling me! You have to bother Grandmother with such a trivial matter? Are you all courting death?!" Ji Meiyuan roared, slapping the little girl across the face. "Hurry up and help me to the infirmary!"
"Yes." Several maids immediately helped Ji Meiyuan to the medical room.
Tie Feng watched all this from outside the door, then followed them as they walked toward the medical room.
At this moment, Nan Jinxue was in the pavilion with Aunt Zhao, Madam Yuan, and Aunt Xie, discussing the marriage between Ji Yinxue and Nan Jinxue. Nan Jinxue felt nothing; she was constantly thinking about going out and about. She hadn't seen Ji Wushang for many days, and now that she was at this residence, she really wanted to see him.
Aunt Zhao knew he had no interest in the marriage, so she didn't force him. Finally, the date was set for November 15th, an auspicious day. Moreover, the date couldn't wait for anyone. Everyone knew that if Ji Yinxue was pregnant and it was discovered, then according to the customs of the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty, she would definitely be drowned in the river.
Nan Jinxue didn't care. Seeing that things were settled, she made an excuse to wander around the mansion without needing anyone to guide her.
Aunt Zhao privately warned him not to go to the courtyards of the young ladies, nor to the courtyards of the concubines, but Nan Jinxue gave her a perfunctory reply and left.
Ji Meiyuan was helped to the clinic by the crowd, where she saw an old doctor reading a medical book.
"What happened? Quickly, help the second young lady to her bed in the room." The old doctor looked on anxiously.
After helping him to bed, the old doctor began to take his pulse, while Ji Meiyuan pretended to open her eyes, saying, "All of you servants, go away. Let the old doctor take a look."
"This..." The servants were all in a dilemma. This second young lady was being punished! How could she just walk away?
"What are you standing there for? I'm in so much pain, what more do you want from me!" Ji Meiyuan shouted angrily when she saw that they weren't leaving.
Several maids immediately knelt down and went out, while the servants and guards retreated to stand guard outside the medical room.
The old doctor looked at Ji Meiyuan, then at the servants outside, and leaned closer, "Second Miss, you seem to be in good health. Why does it hurt somewhere?"
"I...I really have a stomachache," Ji Meiyuan said. "Ouch!"
The old doctor, hearing this, stepped forward to examine the body, only to be struck on the head by Ji Meiyuan. The old doctor immediately felt a headache coming on. "Second Miss, you…"