The eldest uncle looked at her and asked suspiciously, "Why are you so downcast?"
The eldest aunt, Madam Lan, also looked on in confusion. She dismissed the maids and servants and then Madam Yue stepped forward. "What's going on? Weren't you saying you were seeing Wu Shang off? Why do you all look so unhappy?"
My second uncle also sat down in a chair. "What's going on?"
"It's all Third Sister's fault! She said the purse my eldest cousin gave me was just for beggars! She's insulting me! Humph! She also said that every time my eldest cousin comes, she tries to get something to take back with her!" Bei Lanlan was slightly angry, so she pointed at Bei Jing'er and scolded her.
Bei Jing'er listened, wanting to argue, but seeing all the elders present, she dared not utter a sound.
Upon hearing this, the elders' expressions changed. Bei Luojun looked ashamed. "It's my fault. I haven't disciplined my younger siblings properly, and Jing'er said such things, causing my cousin Wushang to suffer. She even said not to tell my uncle and aunt about this, so as not to hurt their relationship."
The eldest uncle listened, snorting and glaring, "This is outrageous!"
"Father!" Upon hearing her father's words, Bei Jing'er was about to speak up in anger.
"Jing'er, hurry up and admit your mistake!" Aunt Yue said in a stern voice. She knew her father well enough; why was she trying to argue with him? Besides, it was indeed Jing'er who had done wrong.
"Kneel inside! Reflect on your mistakes!" The eldest uncle was a man who valued family education and was quite traditional, so his words were unquestionable.
Bei Jing'er was angry but dared not say anything more, and could only rush out the door.
——
——
Sitting in the carriage, Ji Wushang's head was spinning from thinking about the matter. Zhu'er, sitting next to her, was really indignant and said, "Miss, she's so ill-mannered! Let's not come here again! To avoid being bullied!"
"Stop talking." Ji Wushang rubbed his temples. "Give those silver coins to the maids and servants here. I don't want this matter to spread everywhere."
“Miss.” Zhu’er looked at Ji Wushang, but swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.
"This is just a small matter between us cousins, nothing serious, not something we should keep bringing up," Ji Wushang said, then closed her eyes and said nothing more.
Pearl nodded. After all, this wasn't something to be proud of, so it was better to make a big deal out of it and let it go.
——
——
Inside a dark little room, a man sat on a chair, exuding an air of authority and dominance. Looking at the people kneeling before him, he sneered, "Why didn't you tell me beforehand that Miss Ji was sitting in the carriage!"
☆、042 Another storm breaks out, Wu Shang returns home!
The kneeling men dared not utter a word. One wore a butterfly mask, while another man dressed in simple clothes sat leisurely nearby, seemingly oblivious to the kneeling crowd. He even played with his own flowing black hair. His sharp eyebrows held a hint of gentleness.
Two women, dressed as peasant women, knelt and kowtowed, saying, "Sir, it wasn't our carelessness. It was just an emergency. We didn't know why a carriage from General Ji's mansion came. Seeing that the person in the sedan chair was a young lady, we didn't think much of it. Please spare our lives, sir!"
The man in the butterfly mask still frowned. He glanced at the man in plain clothes sitting to the side. He knew that what his subordinates said was true, but the one who was satisfied was not him, but the man in plain clothes.
The man in plain clothes sat up straight, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Where's Huang Que?"
"Huang Que has already committed suicide by poisoning himself," a man said in a deep voice while kneeling. "His body has probably been taken away by the Ma family army. I heard that the Ma family army is investigating this matter with all their might."
"Hmph, investigate?" The man in the butterfly mask sneered. "Isn't it a good thing to wipe out the whole family of a corrupt official? What's the point of investigating? The man has no relatives left, and his body is gone. Just build a cenotaph for him in Qiongshan Forest, and remember to worship him every year."
Upon hearing this, a sense of sorrow washed over everyone. Those subordinates who died for their masters were all buried in the Qiongshan Forest. The two masters would always instruct them to pay their respects every year, but no one knew if they would be the next to receive such a tribute.
The man in the butterfly mask had little expression on his face. "Get out of here! All of you, hide well and don't cause any trouble!" After saying that, he walked into the inner room.
Whoever owed the debt back then must pay it back!
The man in plain clothes glanced at his subordinates on the ground, a slight smile playing on his lips, and then followed them into the inner room.
The man in plain clothes took off his tattered clothes, beckoned, and took out a brand-new set of clothes from the wardrobe next to him, putting on the gorgeous outfit. He looked at the man with the butterfly mask and slightly curled his lips, "Minho, tell me, how are you going to repay me this time?" His words were somewhat playful, and his peach blossom eyes were fixed on the man who was removing the butterfly mask.
Bei Gongminhao smiled meaningfully, his previous sharpness completely gone. "We are friends through thick and thin, and we will never forget each other."
"Hmph!" The man in plain clothes snorted lightly, "I'm afraid even heroes can't resist the charms of a beautiful woman!"
"Don't say that, hehe." Bei Gongminhao sneered twice, "You, the prince of the Western Regions, are only mortal. Let's see when you'll be bewitched by some woman!"
Yiyun shook his head, changed his clothes, and now looked handsome and tall. "I am the future king of the Western Regions. What kind of woman can I not have!"
"Haha!" Bei Gongminhao laughed twice, making Yi Yunshangcheng's eyes full of questions. "What are you laughing at? Am I wrong?"
"No, no!" Bei Gongminhao walked out and disappeared from Yiyun Shangcheng's sight. Yiyun Shangcheng watched his back, slowly pondering what she had just said, but she didn't feel there was anything wrong with it.
Bei Gongminhao boarded the carriage and entered through the west gate, heading towards the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion. As he passed Qingxuan Street again, a slight smile appeared on his lips as he thought of Ji Wushang. He had never imagined that Ji Wushang would become his hostage, but her behavior had truly opened his eyes; no one had ever played him like this before! However, he had never intended to use her as a pawn, but under the circumstances, he had no choice but to do so.
However, Bei Gongminhao thought of Nan Xuzong again, and a cold smile crept onto his lips. His friend of many years, he never expected that Nan Xuzong's martial arts skills were so formidable. Even when he and Yi Yunshangcheng joined forces, they could only manage a draw. It wasn't that he hadn't seen Nan Xuzong's skills before, but he never expected that Nan Xuzong would actually come to his rescue. Could it be that he, too, had fallen for Ji Wushang?
This thought stunned Bei Gongminhao. Nan Xuzong was his good friend, but he hadn't told him about his plan because of Nan Xuzong's physical limitations. But now, if Nan Xuzong had intervened to save him because of romantic feelings… Bei Gongminhao became a little agitated, but then he thought again, no. Ji Wushang couldn't possibly like Nan Xuzong, she definitely couldn't!
Bei Gong Minhao caught his breath slightly. No matter what, he would try his best! She was the legitimate daughter of a general's family, and he was the heir to a prince's mansion—a perfect match! This thought brightened Bei Gong Minhao's mood. He called for a horseman and hurried towards the Zhenbei Prince's mansion.
——
Ji Wushang returned to the manor and saw that some maids and servants were busy. He went straight back to his own courtyard. Thinking about what had happened today, he was in a bad mood. He told Zhu'er not to let the maids disturb him and went into his inner room to sleep.
Unexpectedly, for some reason, Madam Bei summoned Ji Wushang over.
Ji Wushang thought to himself, "It must have been some gossipy person who told my mother about what happened on Qingxuan Street today, making her worry again! These maids and servants are such a handful! I'll have to deal with them one by one from now on!"
It was still early, and moonlight shone on the ground. Led by Zhu'er, Ji Wushang headed towards Madam Bei's North Garden. At this moment, Ji Wushang recalled the scent of the flowers and pondered some pharmacology. He believed that if it were ordinary poison or medication, he should be able to detect it by smell and discern the clues.
Madam Bei had been eagerly waiting for Ji Wushang at the North Garden Gate. When she saw Ji Wushang slowly approaching, her worried expression immediately turned into a smile. She rushed to greet him, saying, "Quickly, let your mother see if you are injured today?" As she spoke, she took Ji Wushang's hand to check.
Seeing her anxious expression, Ji Wushang felt a surge of emotion. How could she possibly let her mother worry about her like this again? "I'm fine, Mother, don't worry." She said, taking Madam Bei's hand. "I'm really fine." Looking at Madam Bei, who was still somewhat skeptical, she nodded upon seeing the determination in Ji Wushang's eyes. "I heard what the maids said. They said that on Qingxuan Street, the carriage was somehow startled, but luckily, the Prince of Nan saved it. Oh, I should properly thank some other noble families in the future."
"Mother," Ji Wushang said to Madam Bei, "Let's go back to the inner room and talk!"
"Hmm." Madam Bei's emotions had calmed down a little, and she took Ji Wushang's hand and walked into the house.
As Ji Wushang walked in, he observed his surroundings. Unexpectedly, he couldn't smell the familiar fragrance. However, upon entering the inner room, he smelled it again. This startled him. Was he being moved from the courtyard to his mother's bedroom? Was he trying to let his mother slowly die in her sleep, or perhaps gradually perish amidst this nameless fragrance?!
Ji Wushang frowned, and the maids around him stepped aside to serve him. At this moment, Madam Bei pulled Ji Wushang's hand and said, "Sit down and talk to your mother!"
At this moment, the maids Chunfeng and Chunhua brought in some potted plants. The flowers were blooming quite lushly, and they had just been sprinkled with water, making them look sparkling.
Ji Wushang looked closely and asked, "Spring Breeze and Spring Blossoms, what kind of flower is that?" The smell is rather strange.
☆、043 The Bonsai Incident: The Truth Gradually Becomes Clear!
When Madam Bei heard Ji Wushang's sudden question, she was taken aback, and a look of worry appeared on her face.
“Miss, it’s Hua Fengxiang,” Chunhua said in a low voice, while Chunfeng, standing to the side, dared not speak, her head bowed, lost in thought.
"Let's switch to Moonfall Fragrance!" Madam Bei said, seeing Ji Wushang frown. "We're used to that Flower Phoenix Fragrance, let's try something different."
"Yes." Chunfeng frowned, glanced at Chunhua, responded, and walked out.
Watching them walk away, Ji Wushang asked Madam Bei, "What's wrong with Mother's illness?"
"It's alright." Madam Bei grinned slightly. "Aren't you feeling better now?"
"Hmm." Ji Wushang looked at her and saw that her face was rosy, so he knew that she must have taken some medicine and that her body was slowly recovering.
"Oh dear, you didn't say anything just now. How did the horse get spooked?" Madam Bei was only worried about Ji Wushang. As she asked this question, her brows furrowed slightly, fearing that Ji Wushang might have suffered even the slightest mishap.
"Actually, the horses were just startled; nothing serious happened. As for Prince Nan..." Ji Wushang paused, recalling Prince Nan's figure. Although he was crippled and confined to a wheelchair, he had saved her life. "Prince Nan just happened to be passing by and saved her. Mother, please don't ask." Ji Wushang said, lowering her head slightly. In truth, Ji Wushang didn't want to say more. The matter was still unclear, and if Madam Bei were involved, it would only make her more worried about her health.
Madam Bei smiled and said, "Alright, alright. I won't ask anymore!" Madam Bei thought that Ji Wushang was just being shy and that's why he was dragging the candy around. She smiled and patted Ji Wushang's hand.
Ji Wushang hadn't forgotten the flowers Chunfeng and Chunhua had just given him, so he immediately looked up, his eyes bright and lively, "Mother, is it usually Chunfeng and Chunhua who are in charge of changing the potted plants?"
"Hmm." Madam Bei's face paled slightly as she responded. "It was originally Yuhua. I thought that girl was quite old and had found a good match for her. But unexpectedly, she fell into the lotus pond and drowned the day before her wedding. It was only three years ago. Sigh, back then you were crying and begging to see her!"
Ji Wushang was taken aback. He vaguely remembered that the maid Yuhua had treated him well back then, but she died for no reason... Now that he thought about it, she probably knew something that she shouldn't know in the backyard and was harmed by someone.
"What a pitiful life," Madam Bei said sadly, her expression somber.
“Mother, don’t be sad. The deceased is gone, so let’s not talk about her.” Ji Wushang relaxed his brows and said, “Then who is responsible for Mother’s clothes? Also, the courtyard looks quite clean, who is in charge of that?”
Madam Bei's doubts grew, but knowing that her daughter was doing it for her own good, she said, "The clothes are usually taken care of by Granny Shi, and the cleaning and arranging of the courtyard is done by Granny Li."
"Oh." Ji Wushang nodded and whispered a few words in Madam Bei's ear. Madam Bei frowned and then relaxed. After a while, Ji Wushang finished speaking, and Madam Bei nodded, "Okay, we'll do as you say!"
Just then, Chunhua and Chunfeng each brought in a pot of Moonfall Rice, and then Madam Bei called in Granny Shi.
Ji Wushang looked at the spring breeze and blossoms, "Oh, this Moonfall Rice smells quite nice. Let me see. The Moonfall Rice in Mother's room is really good; I like it too. I'll ask for a pot to take home sometime." After saying that, he smiled at Madam Bei. Madam Bei said affectionately, "Take it if you like."
"Yes." Chunhua placed the potted plant on the table in front of Ji Wushang. Ji Wushang brought it to his nose and smelled it, and his expression immediately changed. He hadn't expected the plant to be powdered! How could Yue Luohe be so fragrant! The fragrance was faint, just like the scent of the flowers in the courtyard a few days ago! It must be some kind of medicine or powder!
Chunfeng also placed another pot of Moonflower on a tall tea table not far away, and the two maids bowed and left.
Madam Bei glanced at Ji Wushang, noticing her serious and slightly cold expression as she smelled the flowers on the tall coffee table. Madam Bei herself felt uneasy. It seemed the potted plants really had been tampered with.
Madam Bei called for Granny Shi outside. Granny Shi came in and greeted Ji Wushang.
Ji Wushang said, "Granny Shi, look, the Moonfall Rice is blooming so profusely!"
“Yes, Miss, you can smell the fragrance of these flowers from a distance.” Granny Shi didn’t know what she wanted to say, so she could only go along with it. However, the fragrance could indeed be smelled from a distance.
"Alas, what a pity. These flowers can't bloom for more than a hundred days! People can't either, can they? Chunhua has fallen ill, and according to the rules of the manor, she can't stay and work anymore. Once she recovers, you can have Steward Xue arrange for her to go to the tea shop! She's been with Mother for two or three years, and as her master, I've already been very kind."
Granny Shi was taken aback. Chunhua had been perfectly fine just moments ago, how could she have fallen ill? But turning to look at Madam Bei, and then at Ji Wushang, she realized that something must have offended her master. Thinking of what Ji Wushang had just mentioned about Yue Luohe, she had a pretty good idea of what was going on. Making a maid sick was easy. She could just find an excuse, as long as it was done discreetly… Granny Shi knew how to do that.
“Yes, Miss.” Granny Shi nodded.
"Oh!" Ji Wushang exclaimed, "Why do these Moonfall Rice leaves have thorns? Granny Shi, please remove both of these Moonfall Rice plants! Otherwise, the thorns might hurt Mother. Also, don't send those potted plants into Mother's room for a while, lest they have some thorns or are unclean."
"Yes." Granny Shi immediately went to do it.
Madam Bei watched as Granny Shi left before turning back to Ji Wushang, "Wushang, sigh!"
"Mother, please don't worry, just take good care of yourself," Ji Wushang comforted her. "Grandmother's birthday is coming up soon, Mother, please prepare something special. Don't let those concubines look down on you."
"Okay. You should go back first!" Madam Bei nodded solemnly. Her daughter had really grown up, and she wouldn't be so weak anymore! Just thinking about those potted plants from earlier brought a sense of sadness to her heart, but more than that, she felt gratified and joyful.
"Wu Shang, you've really grown up!" Madam Bei exclaimed, reaching out to touch Ji Wu Shang's face.
A warm feeling welled up in Ji Wushang's heart, and he felt an urge to cry. He sat with Madam Bei for a while longer before going back.
Having just returned to the courtyard, Ji Wushang didn't see Zhu'er, so he casually asked Yue'er, who was tidying up the house, "Yue'er, where's Zhu'er? Where did that little hussy go?"
"I don't know! Maybe he's making something delicious?" Yue'er turned around and smiled. After her younger brother Xier was rescued by Ji Wushang, she was determined to follow Ji Wushang.
"Hmm." Ji Wushang nodded and took the Buddhist scripture to copy it.
Yue'er looked over and asked, "Miss, what are you copying?"