Ji Wushang looked at her and asked, "Where did Zhang Xiuniang sit before she died?"
One of the maids listened and looked at the other maids, who all gave her meaningful glances, indicating that she should tell the young lady.
Ji Wushang and the others knew that they were indirectly responsible for Zhang Xiuniang's death, and these maids were all trained by Zhang Xiuniang, so they had some feelings for them and probably harbored some resentment towards them.
A maid in red came forward and pointed to a small table next to her. "Miss, the embroiderer sits here doing her needlework."
Ji Wushang looked over and saw that the seat was elegant, and there was an unfinished embroidery on the table. He never expected that it would become a masterpiece.
Ji Wushang sat down, closed her eyes, and seemed to feel Zhang Xiuniang standing beside her, then handing her the embroidery. "Young Miss, let me show you how to make this embroidery more exquisite. Every stitch requires effort, strength, and care. Here, Young Miss, please try it..."
"Young Miss..." The maid couldn't help but exclaim when she saw Ji Wushang pick up Zhang Xiuniang's embroidery.
Seeing this, Zhu'er immediately shouted, "What the young lady wants to do is none of your business, you maids!"
When Ji Wushang opened his eyes, his gaze was as cold as a knife. He then swept his gaze over Zhu'er and the maid, saying, "Zhu'er, apologize!"
"Yes!" Knowing that Ji Wushang was angry, Zhu'er immediately knelt down before the maid. "Zhu'er was rude. Please punish me, sister."
"Please get up." The maid was also afraid of Ji Wushang, so she immediately helped Zhu'er up, and Zhu'er quickly stood aside.
Ji Wushang picked up the embroidery, which was a dragon and phoenix design. Unfortunately, he had only just started and the outline was not yet finished.
"The embroiderer is determined to finish this dragon and phoenix design for you, Miss. She often tells us that your embroidery skills are improving rapidly. She said that if you win the Wenge Embroidery Competition, she will definitely finish this dragon and phoenix design and give it to you on your wedding day." A young maid, unable to bear the sight, stepped forward and knelt down to say this.
Ji Wushang held the dragon and phoenix embroidery and his hands trembled. "Thank you, embroiderer. You are so thoughtful."
Those around them looked at each other, unsure how to respond.
"Now, I will finish embroidering the dragon and phoenix design on this basis and send it to the embroiderer to comfort her spirit in heaven! The embroiderer will not have sacrificed in vain. I, Ji Wushang, swear that I will find the murderer and offer a blood sacrifice to the embroiderer!" Ji Wushang held the dragon and phoenix embroidery in his hand, his gaze cold as he looked out the door.
The crowd listened, exchanging glances, too afraid to speak, but filled with admiration for the young lady. Zhang Xiuniang had been destitute and had only come to the General's Mansion for refuge. If she were to die, she would simply be buried hastily. For Ji Wushang to say he would avenge her was already an immense honor.
Ji Wushang, holding the dragon and phoenix embroidery, stood up and said, "You maids, those who like it can continue to stay here and make embroidery. Those who don't, go to Steward Lin and get your travel expenses to go home."
"This servant is willing to stay in the embroidery workshop and continue doing needlework," the people around knelt down and said in unison.
Ji Wushang nodded, "Whose embroidery is the best? You can nominate yourself, or someone else can nominate you!"
The maids looked at each other, and in the end, they all pointed to the red-clad maid who had been talking to Ji Wushang.
Ji Wushang looked at her and asked, "What's your name?"
"This servant agrees with you." The maid in red knelt and kowtowed.
“From now on, you will be in charge of this embroidery workshop. I will have someone talk to Steward Lin so that you can manage it smoothly.” Ji Wushang looked her up and down and saw that she had a good temperament and was indeed capable of taking on the important task of the embroidery workshop.
"Yes, this servant will do her best." Heming bowed again.
Ji Wushang nodded, "Zhu'er, let's go."
"Yes." Pearl immediately followed.
Ji Wushang sat on the chaise lounge for the entire afternoon, listening to Tie Feng say that finding evidence this time was extremely difficult because there were indeed no signs of harm on Zhang Xiuniang's body, and tests showed that Zhang Xiuniang had not been poisoned.
After listening, Ji Wushang told Tie Feng to leave. If that was the case, there were definitely no useful clues, which meant that they couldn't directly get justice for Zhang Xiuniang. In that case, they would have to use other means to avenge her!
Ji Wushang began working on the dragon and phoenix embroidery, threading the needle and carefully finishing everything, stitch by stitch with utmost care.
As night deepened and the wind picked up, Ji Wushang remained seated, continuing her embroidery.
When Zhu'er brought in the bird's nest, Ji Wushang was still cooking. Not wanting to disturb him, he put the bird's nest aside and quietly withdrew.
However, when Zhu'er went to tidy up Ji Wushang's bed at the usual time, she didn't expect that Ji Wushang was still there. So Zhu'er went up to her and whispered, "Miss, it's time to rest."
"Later." Ji Wushang didn't even look up, continuing what he was doing.
"The bird's nest is cold, Miss. Would you like to finish your drink before we make more?"
"Take it away, I don't want to drink anymore," Ji Wushang replied simply.
Zhu'er listened, shook her head, and had no choice but to take the bird's nest soup away. It seems Miss won't rest until she finishes, but the dragon and phoenix painting is only a little bit finished! How could it be finished so easily?
After a long while, it was almost Hai Shi (9 PM to 11 PM Beijing time).
"Miss……"
"Get down." Before Zhu'er could finish speaking, Ji Wushang interrupted her, "Get down, you don't need to keep watch tonight."
"Miss……"
"I don't want to say it a second time, get out." Ji Wushang finally looked up and gave her a cold look. Zhu'er looked at her, bowed, and walked away.
Ji Wushang looked at the embroidery in his hands. He had only just finished embroidering the dragon's tail; the rest was unfinished. If he were to finish it before Zhang Xiuniang's seventh-day memorial service, would he be able to do it in time?
Ji Wushang was at a loss. How could he finish the embroidery? And how could he make Aunt Bai disappear completely?
Ji Wushang was filled with resentment, genuine hatred at this moment. He hated himself for being so soft-hearted, and hated Ji Dingbei for repeatedly making excuses for her! Otherwise, how could Zhang Xiuniang have died so tragically! He had been too merciful!
Ji Dingbei was in his study at the time, listening to Tie Feng report on Zhang Xiuniang's matter. After he finished speaking, he stood aside and waited for orders.
Ji Dingbei sighed as he listened, "Give Zhang Xiuniang a proper burial after the seventh day after her death, and make sure this matter is thoroughly investigated!" He had at least a relationship with her father, but he never expected such a thing to happen. If this gets out, how will he save face? The daughter of an old friend died tragically in a friend's mansion, this is simply unbelievable!
Tie Feng immediately went to do it, and as soon as he left, he heard Aunt Bai waiting outside.
Ji Dingbei also thought that he hadn't visited Aunt Bai for several days and wondered how the child in her womb was doing, so he said, "Let her in."
Upon hearing the report, Aunt Bai slowly made her way to Ji Dingbei's room. She deliberately sticking out her lower abdomen, which, though not very prominent to begin with, appeared much larger, as if she were seven or eight months pregnant.
"Hey, why did you come alone? Where's Tianxiang, that maid? It's so late!" Ji Dingbei saw Aunt Bai step across the threshold alone, so he immediately went to help her. "What if she gets hurt?"
"Master, how could there be so many careless mistakes? It's here now, isn't it?" Aunt Bai was very good at acting coquettishly, throwing a flirtatious glance at Ji Dingbei, and then said, "These past few days, the child has been kicking my belly quite often! It's making me feel uncomfortable sometimes."
"This must be a naughty little devil!" Ji Dingbei chuckled as he listened. "I never thought I, Ji Dingbei, would have another son!"
"Look how happy you are." Aunt Bai reached out and touched his face. "I haven't seen you for several days, Master. Have you forgotten about me?"
"How could that be?" Ji Dingbei took her hand and rubbed it back and forth in his palm. "I was just too busy with official duties and only just got back to relax."
"I thought you were having an affair with another concubine!" Aunt Bai said sourly, knowing how much he doted on her.
"Sigh." Ji Dingbei looked at her somewhat displeased face and said, "Aren't you feeling unwell? It's normal for men to have multiple wives and concubines. I'll make it up to you later."
"Master, what do you think we should name this child?" Seeing his reaction, Aunt Bai knew she couldn't say anything more; she knew she would upset him if she did.
"Let me think about it." Ji Dingbei was indeed very interested in this. After thinking for a moment, he asked, "Do you think it's a boy or a girl?"
“It must be a boy, otherwise he wouldn’t have kicked me so hard.” Aunt Bai smiled happily.
"Hmm, how about the name Ji Tianhe?" Ji Dingbei said with a smile.
"Tianhe?"
"Yes, may the world be at peace!" Ji Dingbei got up from his seat, then paced around and said, "My wish in Ji Dingbei's heart is that the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty can be peaceful and harmonious throughout the world, and that is what our son desires!"
“Then I’ll listen to you.” Aunt Bai also got up from her seat, walked to Ji Dingbei’s side, put her right hand on his arm and her left hand on his chest, “Master.” Her voice was sweet and seductive, and her eyes were captivating.
Ji Dingbei helped her up and they went to the bed together. "You should rest well. I'll stay with you tonight."
"Yes." A glint of shrewdness flashed in Aunt Bai's eyes. "Master, I heard that Zhang Xiuniang is dead. What are you going to do about it?"
"Have him buried on the seventh day after his death, and we will thoroughly investigate this matter," Ji Dingbei said solemnly.
"I think so too, but I'm wondering if there's a deadline for this thorough investigation? Zhang Xiuniang was murdered. If the case isn't solved within a time limit, some people might criticize you, sir, for not taking good care of your old friend's daughter."
“You’re right. Someone come here!” Ji Dingbei nodded, then said to the people outside.
Immediately, a servant stepped forward and knelt down, saying, "Master, please give your orders."
"Go tell Tie Feng to solve the Zhang Xiuniang tragedy within three months. However, do not make a fuss about it, and do not report it to the Ministry of Justice. If there are no results within three months, let him deal with it himself! Go back to his father's side!" Ji Dingbei ordered. If it were reported to the Ministry of Justice, someone would definitely interfere, and then the matter would be publicized, which would be extremely detrimental to his reputation as a general!
Tie Feng's father, Tie Zhong, was his friend and subordinate on the frontier. Saying that he should go back to his father's side was just a small punishment.
The servant agreed and immediately went downstairs.
Aunt Bai smiled as she listened, then looked at Ji Dingbei and said, "Master, you are truly wise."
"Mm." Ji Dingbei nodded.
Just then, Aunt Bai suddenly felt a sharp pain in her abdomen. "Ah, Master, Master, it hurts so much, it hurts so much!"
"What's going on? Someone! Call a doctor!" Ji Dingbei immediately shouted outside, looking anxiously at Aunt Bai, who was lying on the bed writhing in pain, her face pale and her forehead covered in cold sweat. "It hurts, sir, it hurts so much! Help me, help me!"
"Don't rush, don't rush, I'm here, quick, quick, call the doctor!" Ji Dingbei almost roared.
——
"Is the matter settled?" Ji Wushang asked, sitting in the darkness and looking at the person kneeling on the ground.
“Miss, I have already sprinkled the medicine powder on the ground. She will surely step on it when she leaves the East Garden.”
"Alright, then continue, take good care of her, and do your best." Ji Wushang took out a purse from his pocket, poured out some silver, and placed it in front of her. "Take good care of your mother, and I will go and ask a doctor to treat her."
"This servant will do her best!" Yue'er accepted the silver, then looked at Ji Wushang, "Miss, don't be too sad. If Zhang Xiuniang saw that you were doing things for her, she would be happy even in the afterlife."
"You make it sound so easy. She just appeared in my dream and said that she harbors resentment but has nowhere to vent it. She is currently on the verge of death, her soul scattered, unable to enter the cycle of reincarnation. She needs my help to get her reincarnated. How can I not help?" Ji Wushang looked at Zhuguang.
Yue'er broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing this. "If Miss doesn't do this, will she come looking for us?"
"Yes, as you know, Aunt Bai was originally carrying a cursed lone star. Father knew about this, but he never said anything. Now that the fetus has formed, I'm afraid disaster is about to befall us," Ji Wushang said expressionlessly.
"Then, Miss, you..."
"Go down now, just do your job well, I won't treat you unfairly." Ji Wushang helped her up, "I know you've suffered a lot, you've really worked hard."
“It is my honor to serve you, Miss! Besides, you have helped me a lot, how can I not repay you? I heard that my younger brother, Xier, is learning a lot in that shop and often plays with the young master. He is very happy, and it makes me happy too.”
"That's good, you can go now!" Ji Wushang looked at the sky. "It's getting too late."
"Yes." Yue'er listened and withdrew.
Ji Wushang put down the embroidery in his hands, sneered, and thought, "This is about to be the show! Zhang Xiuniang, this time, I will definitely get justice for you!"
The next morning, Ji Wushang had just finished having breakfast in the courtyard when he heard Xian'er rushing in. Ji Wushang looked at her and said, "Catch your breath before you talk." These maids are all so disrespectful. They run around panting after reporting something, and they need to rest when they arrive. There's enough time to talk.
"Yes." Xian'er nodded as she listened, and then, after catching her breath for a while, she said, "I just heard that around 9 pm last night, Concubine Bai went to Master's study. Unexpectedly, she suddenly suffered from severe abdominal cramps! Concubine Bai is now lying in the East Garden, unable to get up, and can only wail in pain."
"Hmm." Ji Wushang showed no surprise. "Has the doctor examined you? What did he say?"
"The doctor examined her, but couldn't figure out what was wrong. I heard some of the maids saying that a cursed star had come to harm the mother first!" Xian'er came forward and whispered.
Ji Wushang nodded, "Hmm, a cursed lone star, do you believe it this time, Father?"
"This servant was unaware that the master had gone to court."
"Alright, keep asking around. I'll go see what's wrong with Aunt Bai later." Ji Wushang stretched out his chopsticks again, picked up a pastry, and put it in his mouth.