What happened? Could there be something wrong with the medicine Yiyun Shangcheng gave me last night? It shouldn't be. I studied it last night. The medicine does contain some blood-nourishing and health-promoting ingredients, not poison... And for safety reasons, Nan Xuzong doesn't allow anyone to enter Moxuan Garden. Those who come in are all Zhu'er and Xian'er. Not many people come to this inner room! Ji Wushang sat on the chair and thought for a long time before he felt that his head was not hurting so much.
We need to go and see what's going on!
Ji Wushang thought of Doctor Cui, but Doctor Cui had disappeared without a trace... How to find him? He was troubled, but after weighing the options, Nan Xuzong's birthday banquet was still more urgent and important.
Making him happy is the best thing ever!
I opened the cabinet, took out some medicine bottles, mixed some medicine for myself, and took it.
Lying in bed, Ji Wushang quickly fell asleep thanks to the medicine he had taken.
Unbeknownst to them, someone gently landed in the Moxuan Garden. Their eyes, like obsidian, flickered, but they simply sat down at the table near Ji Wushang's bed.
They just kept a close eye on it.
After sitting for a while, Bei Gongminhao moved around quietly. He didn't need to worry about her waking up. He saw medicine on the table as soon as he came in. It looked like Ji Wushang had just taken it and should be sleeping soundly.
But this medicine… Bei Gongminhao used a silk handkerchief to dab some of the remaining stains, then put it in his pocket. He had to protect her completely; he would definitely keep his promise to Nan Xuzong!
Bei Gongminhao lifted the beaded curtain and stepped outside. Looking at the painting on the screen, his heart trembled. This painting… he was truly jealous! Jealous that Ji Wushang could give Nan Xuzong so much love, while he could only watch from afar!
Bei Gongminhao looked at the painting in front of him, stretched out his hand, and concentrated his power in his palm, but just as he was about to strike, he pulled it back... In this life, unless Nan Xuzong died, she would never marry anyone again; but thinking about it, if Nan Xuzong died, would she still live? It's hard to say!
I have no chance left!
"Fine, let her be happy!" Bei Gongminhao dissipated the power and was just about to leave when he heard some noises outside! Bei Gongminhao immediately slipped into the inner room, while Ji Wushang, of course, wouldn't wake up so easily!
After thinking for a moment, Beigong Minhao immediately stepped forward and stuffed a pill into her mouth.
Ji Wushang was surprised and woke up when the foreign object was inserted into her mouth. Seeing that it was a man in black, she was about to shout, but Beigong Minhao immediately covered her cherry lips. "It's me. There are people outside! You took heart-protecting medicine!" To prevent any unforeseen circumstances, he still made her take the heart-protecting medicine.
Ji Wushang was shocked, while Beigong Minhao had already shrunk under the bed.
Ji Wushang thought for a moment, then pulled the quilt up to see who was coming!
Sure enough, someone blew a sleeping potion into the room. Once the effect had worn off, the person quietly opened the door.
Ji Wushang narrowed his eyes, already holding a dagger in his hand!
The visitor was startled when he saw the figure on the tall painted screen in the room. He was about to flee for his life when he remembered what Aunt Zhao had said: the Prince of Nan had left the house, so the person on the screen must be an imposter! Startled, the visitor mustered his courage and walked forward.
Only then did I realize it was a painting, but the people in the painting were painted too realistically!
Ji Wushang observed and listened to the footsteps, knowing it was a man. Damn it, was he plotting against her? Was he plotting against her because she couldn't stand being alone and couldn't wait three days for Nan Xuzong, so she had to have an affair with another man?
How laughable and infuriating!
The man immediately stepped forward, lifted the beaded curtain, and was about to pounce when a dagger was pressed against his neck. Instantly, a chilling coldness filled his senses!
Ji Wushang coldly moved his lips, "Who ordered you to do this?" He ripped off the black cloth, and immediately, the face of an ordinary middle-aged man came into Ji Wushang's view.
The man was so surprised he couldn't speak, but just then, several noises came from outside, and someone shouted, "Help! Something's happened to the Princess Consort!"
Ji Wushang smiled, "Good cooperation!" Ji Wushang pulled out the silver needles that hadn't been put away yet and stuck them into several acupoints on the man's body. Immediately, the man cried out!
Ji Wushang sneered. Zhu'er and Xian'er had already rushed in and were startled when they saw the black-clad man who looked like a hedgehog.
"Miss, are you alright?" Pearl asked timidly.
"Do I look like someone who has something to do?" Ji Wushang glanced coldly at the kneeling man. "Go, get out!" He needed to make room for Beigong Minhao to leave!
Ji Wushang led his men out of the inner room and saw Aunt Zhao arriving with a large group of people. It seemed she had come to catch them in the act of adultery! Hmph, what a clever plan!
When Aunt Zhao and the others saw the man covered in silver needles, his face contorted in pain, and Ji Wushang's dagger firmly pressed against the man's neck, and when they saw that Ji Wushang was dressed perfectly and there was no fighting in the room, Aunt Zhao realized that Ji Wushang was indeed no ordinary man!
Several guards stepped forward and pinned the man to the ground.
Ji Wushang said coldly, "Did Aunt Zhao bring so many people here just to watch a show?"
"Um, Wu Shang, I only came here with people because I heard someone shouting that the Princess Consort was in trouble. I didn't expect Wu Shang to be so capable!" Aunt Zhao said haphazardly.
"It's actually quite good that you've come. I was just thinking of asking Aunt Zhao to deal with this matter! I didn't expect someone to be shouting outside. It seems that this person already knew what happened here!" Ji Wushang's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly. She would definitely cleanse this manor thoroughly! Starting with Moxuan Garden! Although Nan Xuzong is often away, this incident has exposed that Aunt Zhao must have people planted in Moxuan Garden!
Aunt Zhao's lips twitched. "Oh, what is it?"
"You know perfectly well what I'm asking!" Ji Wushang sneered. "Then we'll have to ask this person!" Ji Wushang smiled coldly and stepped forward. The people around automatically made way for Ji Wushang to stand in front of the man.
The man stared at Ji Wushang, his face filled with fear. He hadn't expected that Ji Wushang would know someone had gone to her room! And that dagger, those silver needles!
Aunt Zhao! The man looked at Aunt Zhao, his lips twitching as if he wanted to beg for help, but Aunt Zhao immediately said, "Wu Shang, I think it's getting late. Let's continue the interrogation tomorrow! Lock this man in the woodshed for now!"
"Wait!" Ji Wushang sneered. Locking him in the woodshed meant that if he stayed there until tomorrow, he'd be seeing a corpse! Ji Wushang said, "Let's finish what needs to be done today. Since everyone's here, why wait until tomorrow? Since no one's asleep yet, why drag things out until tomorrow? As the saying goes, a long night can lead to many unforeseen events!" Ji Wushang stepped forward, her beautiful eyes glaring. "Tell me, who ordered you to barge into this room like this? What are you planning to do?"
"I, I, I was just thinking of stealing, I didn't mean to do anything else!" The man was timid at this moment, thinking that he could not escape punishment, so he naturally had to start with the lightest punishment!
"Theft? Theft all the way to Moxuan Garden? You know the way quite well!" Ji Wushang said coldly, and suddenly pulled the silver needle out of the man's shoulder. The man cried out in surprise, gritting his teeth in pain!
Aunt Zhao stepped forward. "Princess Consort, is it really appropriate for you to resort to such private torture?"
Ji Wushang smiled and said, "Auntie, what need is there for mercy towards such a villain? How can we manage this backyard if we don't make him reveal something? Yes, Auntie is now in charge of the entire Marquis's mansion, but I don't know what extraordinary abilities this person has to be able to sneak into my Moxuan Garden without alerting any of the guards! It seems that you servants really do need to be reorganized!"
Aunt Zhao's lips twitched. Damn it! Her words were tantamount to saying that she couldn't manage the backyard properly? She actually let this man sneak into Moxuan Garden to steal. Either she was a bad housekeeper, or she had condoned or even instructed this man to enter Moxuan Garden!
All the maids and servants around knelt down, pleading, "Please forgive us, Your Highness!"
Aunt Zhao's face turned even paler. With just one sentence from Ji Wushang, everyone knelt down. Did that mean they all agreed that Ji Wushang was right? And that Aunt Zhao was really incompetent in managing the household?
"Princess Consort! These matters in the inner palace must be taken seriously! Those who steal must be severely punished! Guards, drag this person away and beat him to death with sticks!" Aunt Zhao said harshly in an attempt to save face.
Ji Wushang smiled, wanting her to speak!
Sure enough, the man was immediately surprised upon hearing this, and the next second he shouted, "Spare me! Spare me! Princess Consort, it was, it was, it was Aunt Zhao who instructed me to go to your room, intending to catch you in the act!"
Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted in an uproar.
Aunt Zhao's face turned deathly pale. She stepped forward and kicked the man in the chest. Ji Wushang was surprised; her movements were incredibly fast! This woman is no ordinary person!
"What, Aunt? Are you going to kill him to silence him?" Ji Wushang stepped forward coldly, protecting him. "He wants to tell the truth, why are you so agitated, Aunt? Could it be that there really is such a thing!"
"Go and see how he is!" Ji Wushang coldly ordered.
Aunt Zhao was furious. "How dare they slander me with blood on their lips! I cannot tolerate this!"
“There’s no need to be so quick to kick someone! If they’re slandering Aunt Zhao, you can confront them on the spot!” Ji Wushang said calmly, while Aunt Zhao’s face turned red and then pale. Aunt Zhao couldn’t refute Ji Wushang’s words in the slightest!
Several guards immediately helped the man up, intending to take a look, but they were all shocked.
"Reporting to the Crown Princess, the person is already dead!" The guard had no choice but to tell the truth.
Upon hearing this, Aunt Zhao's eyes lit up immediately. "Humph!"
Ji Wushang immediately turned around to look and saw that the silver needle in the man's chest had been inserted. He had inserted the silver needle in the chest to make him feel pain, but he did not expect that Aunt Zhao would kick him to the ground, and the silver needle would be inserted into his heart and cause his death!
"What's going on!" Just then, a shout came from afar.
Ji Wushang looked around and saw the Marquis, Nan Jinxue, and Ji Yinxue, followed by some servants, guards, and maids.
Aunt Zhao was secretly pleased. Now that the person was dead, no matter how powerful Ji Wushang was, he couldn't bring the dead back to life for interrogation!
"Father." Ji Wushang stepped forward and bowed, and Aunt Zhao and the others also bowed.
The Marquis glared at them, "Dismissed! What's going on?"
Ji Wushang stepped forward and said, "Father, this unfamiliar man dared to sneak into Moxuan Garden to steal. He was caught, but just now, he mentioned something about Aunt Zhao. Aunt Zhao was anxious and kicked him, and he died."
These words were innocuous and wouldn't have any effect on Aunt Zhao. However, all the maids present knew that the man had just revealed that this person was instigated by Aunt Zhao! What a vicious heart!
But why doesn't Ji Wushang tell the truth?
Aunt Zhao was secretly pleased, but she concealed her emotions, saying, "It was my impatience that led me to act rashly when I saw this person stealing in Moxuan Garden..."
"Alright, since these are just minor matters, there's no need to linger here any longer! It's late, everyone disperse!" The Marquis's eyes swept over Ji Wushang a few times, then looked at Aunt Zhao, the people around him, and even the dead man.
I have a general idea in mind, but how can these things be allowed to get out! Whoever framed whom will ultimately suffer a setback for the Marquis's mansion!
The most important thing right now is to cover it up!
Ji Wushang sneered inwardly. This was truly lenient towards Aunt Zhao! Ji Wushang bowed, "Yes, Father."
Those around breathed a sigh of relief and slowly got up.
But Ji Wushang stepped forward and knelt down again in front of the Marquis of Jinnan, "Father, I have something to report."
"Speak." Since he's already kneeling, he naturally has to listen. Otherwise, if word gets out, people will say that he, as the Marquis, is ignoring his daughter-in-law, Ji Wushang! Do you think the people in the General's Mansion will let him off the hook?
Ji Wushang said, "This man sneaked into Moxuan Garden to steal, and we just checked, and there wasn't a single injured person in the courtyard! This means that someone deliberately let him in! Auntie is in charge of the affairs of this backyard, and she must be extremely busy, which is why this happened today! For the safety of this backyard, I implore Father to entrust the affairs of the courtyard to me! I will definitely consult with Auntie on everything! Only then will this backyard not be so unsafe!"
Aunt Zhao was trembling with anger. She never expected that Ji Wushang would take advantage of such an event to try and seize her power!
"Ji Wushang! If someone sneaks in, and these servants can't stop them, is it my fault?" Aunt Zhao sneered.
Ji Wushang's lips twitched. "Auntie, since the servants couldn't stop it, it means they're incapable of fulfilling their duties! What use are such servants? It would be better to replace them with new servants to protect their masters! If Auntie can't bear to be such a villain, then I, Wushang, will be the one!"
☆、167 Overcoming all difficulties, we made meticulous preparations!
Nan Jinxue and Ji Yinxue's lips twitched. They hadn't expected Ji Wushang to be so formidable. This was the first time they had ever seen Aunt Zhao tremble with anger!
The Marquis was completely shocked. What should he do? He should have stayed far away! He shouldn't have come at all!
Ji Wushang's words, on the surface, meant that Aunt Zhao was reluctant to thoroughly investigate and purge the servants, but in reality, he was rebuking her for protecting her confidants and having selfish motives!
Aunt Zhao looked like she was about to fight Ji Wushang. "How dare you talk back to me? I'm your elder!"
“Aunt, I am only stating the facts and have no intention of contradicting you! If you want to think that way, I can't stop you!”
Ji Wushang had no intention of contradicting her, but Aunt Zhao's words showed that Aunt Zhao herself was narrow-minded, actually portraying Ji Wushang, who was wholeheartedly protecting the safety of all the masters, as disrespectful!
Those around were terrified; this verbal battle was no less intense than the clashes on the battlefield! Aunt Zhao was furious that Ji Wushang had spoken to her like that in front of everyone; for someone as proud as her, it was like being spat on!
Ji Wushang's beautiful eyes met those of the Marquis of Jinnan, "Please let Father decide!"
The Marquis snapped out of his daze, "Hmm..." His gaze drifted to Aunt Zhao, whose eyes blazed with fury, wishing she could devour Ji Wushang.
"Help Auntie back. This courtyard will be managed by Wu Shang for now. Replace the servants in the back courtyard that need to be replaced!" After thinking it over again and again, the Marquis still gave the order. It seemed that Ji Wu Shang was not going to get up even while kneeling. He was determined to compete with Auntie Zhao. As the Marquis, he could not stop him no matter what!
Ji Wushang sneered inwardly, but softened his tone, "Thank you, Father!"
Aunt Zhao almost clutched her chest as she watched the maid come forward to help her back. She shook off the maid's hand, turned around abruptly, and went back.
"Get up, the ground is cold!" the Marquis said coldly. Because Ji Wushang had offended Aunt Zhao, he was afraid he would have a hard time in the future! The Marquis turned around, looked at Nan Jinxue and Ji Yinxue, and sneered, "What are you doing here!"
"Father, I heard that the Crown Princess was in trouble, so I came to see her." Nan Jinxue replied gently, her eyes drifting towards Ji Wushang. Although she was holding Ji Yinxue's hand, her eyes did not fall on Ji Yinxue at all.
Ji Wushang stood up and snorted coldly, "So you've come to see if I've been caught cheating on you?"