Yes, he was indeed unworthy of being the number one young master of the imperial city. Everyone else was worthy, but he was not! Nan Jinxue silently looked outside. The shouts of killing outside had subsided, and he figured that the assassins had been subdued.
It was time for her to leave, to return to that secluded mansion of a marquis, and walk the path she was meant to walk, even if it wasn't what she truly desired, but at least the path of a marquis she still had to walk. Whatever kind of life she led from then on was none of her concern.
No one can change themselves. Nan Jinxue sneered, picked up the longsword from the ground, put it back in its sheath, and strode out.
At this moment, Ji Wushang was asking Ji Yinxue if she was injured. It turned out that Beigong Jueshi had already blocked the fatal sword for Ji Yinxue. Fortunately, he only suffered some superficial injuries and his bones were not damaged.
Turning back, he glanced at her again. She was as beautiful as ever. Suddenly, Nan Jinxue remembered the song she sang.
A ten-mile-long procession of red bridal makeup.
Even if I offered her a ten-mile-long bridal procession, she probably wouldn't accept it! Unwilling? Nan Jinxue smiled. But who was that man singing to her? If she knew, she would definitely kill him! A ten-mile-long bridal procession—no one but me could give it to her! Whoever offered it, I would kill! Only I, Nan Jinxue, could give her a ten-mile-long bridal procession! Even if she didn't want it, one day I would become powerful enough to force her to accept it!
Ji Wushang looked up and saw Beigong Minhao, but didn't see Nan Jinxue. He then wondered if he had been too harsh in his words. Looking back into the cabin, he found that Nan Jinxue was no longer there.
Oh well. It's good that they left.
Those who had suddenly appeared were incredibly swift; seeing the soldiers arrive, they retreated in different directions, leaving none behind. The assassins, meanwhile, were now corpses, lying in the water or on the boats.
At that moment, Beigong Minhao examined the corpses on the ship with a serious expression, but found nothing. He could only shake his head and say, "These people are completely unrecognizable."
Ji Wushang and the others remained silent upon hearing this.
A man who looked like a general rode up on a tall horse and looked down at Bei Gongminhao and the others. After recognizing them as the heir and second son of the Prince of Zhenbei, he immediately dismounted and saluted, "This humble general is Lu Hao, the vanguard under General Ma of the Ministry of Justice!"
"Thank you for your hard work, Lu Xianfeng." Bei Gongminhao's lips curled up slightly.
"I will send someone personally..." "No need, you should handle and appease the people." Before Lu Hao could finish speaking, Bei Gongminhao interrupted.
Lu Hao said something polite, then led his men to settle all the people in the surrounding area, and left it at that.
At this moment, Ji Tiankui rushed over from the other side. Seeing that Ji Wushang and Ji Yinxue were unharmed, he was relieved. When he saw that the two brothers, Beigong Minhao and Beigong Minhao, were beside him, he immediately understood that it must have been these two brothers who had saved them. He cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Prince Wang and Peerless Young Master, for saving my sister. I am truly grateful."
"Brother Ji, you flatter me." Bei Gongminhao glanced back at Ji Wushang, saw her looking towards the river, then turned back and said, "Farewell, goodbye!"
"Thank you both for saving me!" Ji Wushang sighed as he watched the two of them leave.
Ji Yinxue stared blankly at the backs of the two people.
"Let's go back to the manor!" Ji Wushang pulled Ji Yinxue, and then he and Ji Tiankui returned to the Ji manor.
But as soon as they returned to the mansion, the three of them took their leave and departed.
Ji Wushang felt something was wrong as she looked around at the silence. Sure enough, before she even reached her own Xinyuan Garden, she saw Dongmei, a fourth-class maid, waiting for her in front of the courtyard. As soon as she saw Ji Wushang, she immediately came forward and said, "Miss, you're finally back!"
As she spoke, her eyes filled with tears, and she cried as she said, "Miss, something has happened!"
"What happened?" Ji Wushang frowned. He'd only just returned and he was already saying something was wrong? "Tell me slowly, don't cry!"
Before Dongmei could even speak, Aunt Nangong, accompanied by several maids and servants, came towards Ji Wushang. "Where is the eldest young lady? Didn't you say she was coming back?"
Dongmei was shocked to hear this. "Miss, run!"
"What?" Ji Wushang exclaimed in surprise. "Why would I run away? This is my home!" Before he could finish speaking, Aunt Nangong arrived with a group of maids and servants. "Wushang, you clearly know that Aunt Qin is pregnant. How could you let her sit in the pavilion by the central lake?"
"She said she wanted to sit there herself, it has nothing to do with me, right?" Ji Wushang was taken aback, he was probably really mistaken about this Aunt Qin!
"Aunt Qin just returned home and developed a high fever. The doctor said it was from the night breeze and that the snacks she ate were poisoned. You can't escape responsibility. Someone, take Miss to the Repentance Hall," Aunt Nangong said calmly.
"What? Aunt Qin has a high fever and is poisoned? Are you kidding me? I asked Zhu'er to call for some newly made pastries, and I ate them all without any problems. How could something be wrong with her?" Ji Wushang hurriedly looked at his Xinyuan Garden. "Where is Zhu'er?"
"She's already been given twenty lashes, but that girl is still very stubborn. I've had someone take her to the woodshed!"
Upon hearing this, Ji Wushang asked, "Auntie, are you saying you punished Zhu'er with a cane? Have you already found out the truth? How can you hit someone so easily?"
"Do you think I don't even have this ability?" Aunt Nangong glared. "This matter has already alarmed the Old Madam Yuan. The Old Madam Yuan spared Zhu'er's life because of you! You should take good care of yourself!" Aunt Nangong said coldly.
"Where is Father? I need to talk to Father!"
"Your father? After you all went out to play, the palace issued an edict ordering your father to suppress the Japanese pirates along the southeastern coast. He won't be back for at least three to five months. All affairs of the household will be handled by the Elder Madam and me." Aunt Nangong's eyes gleamed as if she had seen a glimmer of hope. Finally, it was her turn to control the entire General Ji's mansion! Haha, you people have finally met your match!
Ji Wushang could hardly believe it; this was clearly a series of elaborate schemes!
First, there was Aunt Qin's appearance. Then, out of boredom, I had Zhu'er make some pastries, but unexpectedly, the pastries were problematic, and the blame was immediately placed on me! After that, the mastermind behind it all clearly knew I would go to my father to explain the situation, yet at the last minute, someone requested an imperial decree to transfer my father to the southeast coast to suppress the Japanese pirates! Leaving me without any help! And the mastermind behind it all could then rely on Aunt Nangong and the Old Madam Yuan to personally eliminate me and my mother!
Moreover, we could take the opportunity to poison Aunt Qin's medicine! That way, both the unborn child and the toddler would die, and we could eliminate even more enemies!
If I had been killed on the pleasure boat along with Ji Yinxue and Ji Tiankui, I could have avoided a lot of trouble. If I hadn't died, I would have been tormented for a while!
It seems that the biggest beneficiary is Aunt Nangong, but she probably doesn't even know that someone is using her behind the scenes!
This person is extremely insidious and vicious!
At this moment, several rough-looking old women came forward and greeted her, "Young Miss."
"I'll leave myself!" Ji Wushang replied coldly, knowing he would have to figure out a way to escape! Turning around, he saw Aunt Nangong sneering at him.
Ji Wushang narrowed his dangerous eyes, "Aunt Nangong, please take good care of Zhu'er! Zhu'er is innocent! If I find out anything bad about her, I will make sure all your maids and servants are buried with her!"
Aunt Nangong was shocked. How dare she threaten her? Ji Wushang had already walked away, leaving behind only her stubborn back.
Aunt Nangong stood there, and her head maid, Qianjiao, stepped forward. "Aunt, shall we go back?"
"Go and drag that wretched maid Zhu'er out of the woodshed and let the doctor take a look! Don't let her die!" Aunt Nangong said to Qianjiao, and then walked into her own courtyard.
Qianjiao immediately responded and ran away.
Aunt Nangong went to Aunt Qin's West Garden again. The West Garden was brightly lit, and all the maids and servants knelt on the ground, greeting Aunt Nangong as she arrived.
Aunt Nangong glanced at it and said coldly, "All of you, go and kneel in the Hall of Repentance!"
The maids and servants immediately cried out in distress, but they had already been taken away by some of the servants guarding the courtyard.
Concubine Qin slept soundly in bed. Concubine Nangong entered the inner room, her eyes flashing with a ruthless glint as she looked at Concubine Qin's large, protruding belly. She wondered if it was a boy or a girl. If it was a boy, Concubine Qin would likely be favored from now on! She herself had been unable to conceive for years, taking Chinese medicine for months without any effect, while Concubine Qin had become pregnant after just one encounter with Ji Dingbei—it was truly unfair!
As Aunt Nangong approached, Aunt Qin's head maid, Zhucui, arrived with a bowl of medicine. Upon seeing Aunt Nangong, she immediately greeted her, "Aunt."
Aunt Nangong snapped out of her daze, "Hurry up and feed her the medicine, and be careful, or you'll be in big trouble!"
"Yes," Zhu Cui replied, but she knew perfectly well that Aunt Nangong was probably plotting to kill Aunt Qin! Luckily, she arrived in time, otherwise, she would have been framed and killed! From now on, she must keep a close eye on Aunt Qin.
Aunt Nangong watched as Zhucui helped Aunt Qin drink her medicine, then went outside.
After giving instructions to a few capable maids, Aunt Nangong headed towards her southern garden.
Before they even reached Nanyuan, on the way there, Ji Yinxue was already crying as she waited for Aunt Nangong.
Looking at Ji Yinxue, who was crying with tears streaming down her face, Aunt Nangong scolded, "Why are you crying? I'm not dead!"
"Aunt, my elder sister must have been framed. You must find out the truth!" Ji Yinxue stepped forward and grabbed Aunt Nangong's arm. "She has always been very good to me. I don't believe my elder sister would drug Aunt Qin!"
"What's impossible?" Aunt Nangong glanced at Ji Yinxue with displeasure. "As the saying goes, you can know a person's face but not their heart. The eldest sister you see is only one side of her. Perhaps there's another side you don't know about!"
“Then my eldest sister definitely wouldn’t have drugged me!” Ji Yinxue knelt on the ground, looking up at Aunt Nangong, “Please let me see my eldest sister, Aunt.”
"Do you know that Madam Bei is still unconscious? Perhaps the eldest young lady is jealous of the pregnant Concubine Qin because of this, and poisoned the pastries. This is perfectly normal!" Concubine Nangong coldly shook off Ji Yinxue's arm that reached out to her. "You want to go to the Hall of Repentance to see her? No way!"
"Guards, take the Fourth Miss back to the Orchid Garden. She is not to leave without my permission!" Aunt Nangong said fiercely.
"Auntie!" Ji Yinxue looked at Auntie Nangong with tears in her eyes.
"Take her back to Lan Garden immediately! If she leaves even a step, none of you will be allowed to stay in this mansion!" Aunt Nangong bowed her head. "I'm doing this all for your own good!"
Ji Yinxue wanted to say something, but she was already taken away by those rough-looking old women.
——
Ji Wushang sat alone in the Hall of Repentance, his mind in turmoil, unsure of any way to resolve this predicament.
Think about it, who is the prime suspect this time?
Now there is only one person who can help me.
☆、065 Stomp! Destroy Aunt Nangong's arrogance! (Brilliant!)
This person is Aunt Qin. All the problems lie with Aunt Qin; only when Aunt Qin speaks can the truth be revealed.
However, he had already heard that Aunt Qin was unconscious... He needed to think of a way to deal with this. Ji Wushang pondered for a moment in the Repentance Hall, but before he knew it, a large group of maids and servants had come to join the fun and were locked in another room. Ji Wushang couldn't help but find it amusing.
What's going on here? No, I didn't drug her. Aunt Qin must have been drugged by someone close to her or someone else. So, who are these maids and servants?
Ji Wushang immediately stood up, gently opened the door a crack, and saw several old women outside. He recognized them as the people who served Aunt Qin.
At this moment, no one was watching her in the hall, so she was at least free. It seemed that Concubine Nangong knew some rules; punishing the eldest young lady required the consent of the master and mistress, and Concubine Nangong wouldn't dare to punish the eldest young lady on her own.
Ji Wushang watched as several maids and servants sat in the hall chattering and blaming each other. After thinking for a moment, he made up his mind and went outside.
When everyone saw that it was indeed Ji Wushang, they were initially surprised, then some were disdainful, some remained stunned and at a loss, some were too timid to look at him, and some knelt down to pay their respects.
Ji Wushang frowned. She was supposed to be a young lady! She was only in the Hall of Repentance; did she really need to act like this? Not kneeling before them? That was truly defying the heavens! Had she forgotten about the dye shop opening after not showing them any respect for days?
"What? You don't even kneel before me? Have you grown wings? Or have you become too bold?" Ji Wushang raised her cold eyebrows slightly, looking down at them.
The maids and servants exchanged glances before finally bowing. Ji Wushang sneered, "Too late! But remember this punishment! You will all tell me what happened tonight."
The servants, upon hearing this, immediately fell silent, exchanging bewildered glances. Wasn't this the young lady's doing? Why was she asking what else? Was she feigning ignorance? Or was she testing them?
Ji Wushang immediately shouted, "What, you all think I drugged you? Hmph! Do you think I'm that stupid? Who would be brainless to do something as stupid as drugging someone! Hurry up and confess! If you don't figure out the truth and my father finds out, you'll all be in deep trouble! I'll send a letter home, and your entire family will be kicked out of the capital!"
The maids and servants listened in silence, perhaps out of fear, while others exchanged furtive glances, hesitant in their hearts.
Ji Wushang immediately slammed his fist on the table, furious. "They're not even obeying my young lady's orders? Are they trying to rebel?"
"This servant wouldn't dare!" The maids and servants were so frightened by her imposing manner that their legs went weak and they all knelt on the ground.
Ji Wushang pointed to a person who looked like an elf, frowned and said, "You, speak."
The maid who was called looked up and immediately said, "Yes, Miss. Aunt Qin had some snacks with you in the pavilion. After returning to the West Garden, she had just drunk some honey water to soothe her lungs when she felt unwell. When I saw the head maid, Zhu Cui, she immediately called the doctor. Aunt Qin was already lying in bed with a high fever and fast asleep. The doctor said she caught a chill and was poisoned."
"Caught a chill? You only sat for a short while, how could you catch a chill so easily?" Ji Wushang asked sharply.
The maid was speechless for a moment, standing there dumbfounded. Ji Wushang looked at her and asked, "Has the doctor checked if there is any poison in that cup?"
"We checked, and there's nothing wrong with the honey water."
"Honey water?"
"yes."
"Has Aunt Qin come into contact with anything?"
"No……"
Seeing her hesitation, Ji Wushang immediately said, "Think carefully before you answer me!"