“Exactly.” Ji Dingbei’s eyes flickered uncertainly. “I’m afraid we won’t be able to meet this Taoist Taibai again.”
"Father, please rest assured, there is always a solution to everything." Ji Wushang looked at him firmly. "Father has made great contributions, and Grandmother is a Buddhist nun. Buddha is merciful and will surely protect our General Ji's mansion."
"You're quite the talker, child," the old lady said, tapping Ji Wushang's forehead.
Ji Wushang said, "What Wushang said is the truth."
"Hmm. Hopefully!" Ji Dingbei looked out the door. "If it really doesn't work out, then..."
"What do you want to do!" The matriarch of the old lady shouted upon hearing his words, "You can't be so heartless! She's carrying your child!"
Upon hearing the two men's tone become more forceful, Ji Wushang was immediately stunned, his face showing a look of fear.
"Mother, don't worry!" Ji Dingbei's tone softened. "I would never do something like killing my own child unless absolutely necessary."
Ji Wushang listened, startled. "Father."
"No need to say anything more!" Ji Dingbei stood up. "Wu Shang, take good care of Grandmother. I'm going out for a walk." After saying that, Ji Dingbei walked outside.
Ji Wushang looked at the Old Madam Yuan, whose face showed a slight trace of pain. Ji Wushang felt a chill in his heart. Although the child belonged to Concubine Bai, if his father were to poison the child with his own hands, the one who would be most heartbroken would probably be his grandmother…
"Grandmother, don't worry, I will never let Father do that." Ji Wushang grasped the hand of the matriarch.
The matriarch was somewhat dazed, and after a long while she said, "You can't persuade him. Once he's made up his mind, he won't change it. You may leave now; I want to rest for a while."
"Yes." Ji Wushang and Granny Guo helped him to bed before Ji Wushang came out of the courtyard.
Upon exiting the inner room, she saw Xian'er and Zhu'er waiting. As soon as they saw Ji Wushang, they immediately came forward to greet her, "Miss."
"Okay, let's go back!" Ji Wushang said, but then changed his mind and said, "Let's go to the East Garden."
"East Garden?" Xian'er looked at Ji Wushang in surprise. "Didn't Miss dislike going to the East Garden?"
"Who said that?" Ji Wushang looked up at Xian'er, who immediately felt uneasy under her gaze. Ji Wushang said, "Don't say things like that in the future, otherwise, it won't be good if someone hears it and it gets back to you."
"Yes." Xian'er nodded hurriedly.
Xian'er and Zhu'er followed behind Ji Wushang, who slowly walked towards the East Garden. The autumn chrysanthemums along the way had gradually withered, and late autumn was approaching; soon, winter would follow.
Just then, a gust of wind blew by, and Ji Wushang, who was wearing a thin dress, felt a little cold. She turned around and said, "Xian'er, have you told anyone to make autumn clothes? Winter clothes need to be made too, I'm cold."
"Miss, I sent someone to the government to report the order for making autumn clothes half a month ago. I don't know what they look like now. I'll go and pick them up later."
"Hmm." Ji Wushang looked at the two of them, who were also shivering a little from the cold, and said, "Make a couple more clothes, you should add some clothes too, so you don't get cold."
"Thank you for your concern, Miss." The two bowed in thanks.
Ji Wushang nodded and continued walking towards the East Garden.
The East Garden was still filled with flowers and plants, and the chrysanthemums were in full bloom. Ji Wushang frowned as he looked at them, "Why are these chrysanthemums still so vibrant?"
The old woman sweeping the yard saw that it was Ji Wushang and immediately knelt down to pay her respects, "Young Miss."
"What variety of chrysanthemum is this? How can it bloom so beautifully?" Ji Wushang asked again.
"Miss, this old servant doesn't know either," the old woman kowtowed and said.
Ji Wushang shook his head, "Xian'er and Zhu'er, go inside and take a look."
"Young Miss is here!" Ji Wushang had barely lifted his foot when he heard this shouting voice.
As Xian'er listened, she muttered, "Why does it seem like Miss's arrival is to announce something?"
"Xian'er, um?" Ji Wushang frowned as he looked at her. Why was she talking so much? This was Aunt Bai's territory!
"yes."
At this moment, several maids and servants were kneeling inside the inner room. Ji Wushang stood in front of the inner room and said, "Xian'er and Zhu'er, you can wait here!"
"yes."
Ji Wushang walked in, and Tianxiang came out from inside, looking at Ji Wushang and saying, "It's Miss, please come in, Miss."
"Hmm." Ji Wushang didn't even raise her head, and the maids and servants kneeling beside her all bowed to her.
Upon entering the inner room, a faint fragrance wafted out, along with a medicinal scent, though much of it was masked by the aroma.
Ji Meiyuan was talking to Aunt Bai in the inner room. Aunt Bai had been quite frightened when she woke up. The servants did not dare to tell her that it was the work of a cursed star. She was so angry that she collapsed on the bed after hearing some maids and servants talking about it.
While serving her, Ji Meiyuan made harsh remarks, saying that she would find out who spread the rumors, and how she would deal with them and torture them.
When Aunt Bai heard that Ji Wushang had come to the East Garden, she immediately flew into a rage and wanted to send Ji Wushang away. However, Ji Wuxia said something that allowed her to call Ji Wushang in.
“Aunt, why don’t you watch how my eldest sister puts on her act?” Ji Wuxia said.
Knowing that Tianxiang had led them in, Ji Meiyuan smiled and said to Aunt Bai, "Aunt, I really want a younger brother. Do you think the baby in your belly is my younger brother?"
"You little rascal, how can you say that!" Aunt Bai said with a hint of indulgence. "How would I know if it's a boy or a girl? Whether it's a boy or a girl, as long as your father likes it, it's fine either way!"
"That's true," Ji Meiyuan said with a smile. "Hmm, didn't you say that eldest sister was coming? Where is she?"
"I'm here." Ji Wushang looked at the two of them. They clearly saw that she had arrived, but they were still talking to themselves, as if they remembered her! However, Ji Wushang stepped forward and bowed, "Auntie."
"Oh, so you've arrived after all?" Aunt Bai's lips twitched slightly, and Ji Meiyuan also quickly stood up and looked at Ji Wushang, "Elder sister."
"Why are you so happy?" Ji Wushang asked, looking at them. They should be very sad. The maids and servants outside are all kneeling. Logically, they should know that Aunt Bai's child is a cursed star, and they should be crying with long faces!
"Elder sister, what do you mean by that?" Ji Meiyuan's face tightened upon hearing this. "Don't you want Aunt to be happy?"
"Don't mention it. Look at your second sister, so sensitive! What I mean is, why are you so happy? You should at least tell me so I can share in your joy!"
Ji Meiyuan rolled her eyes at Ji Wushang, "We didn't say anything happy."
"Really?" Ji Wushang looked at Aunt Bai. "I'm just curious, why are there so many maids and servants kneeling outside? Don't they have anything to do?"
Upon hearing this, Aunt Bai immediately gave Tianxiang a meaningful look, and Tianxiang promptly went out.
"Is it not too much for a concubine to make someone kneel down when she is not happy?" Ji Meiyuan said smugly, as if she were very proud of herself.
Ji Wushang laughed and said, "That's right. This is the East Garden. If you want the servants to kneel, they can kneel; if you want them to stand, they can stand. As long as you're happy, that's all that matters."
Upon hearing this, Aunt Bai's face turned deathly pale. These words implied that her aunt could do whatever she pleased without any regard for reason!
"Why does Wu Shang say that!" Aunt Bai coughed twice and said, "Tianxiang, please serve tea to the eldest young lady."
"Yes," Tianxiang replied from outside.
"I came to see my aunt. I heard that she wasn't feeling well lately, so I came to check on her. But seeing that she looks much better now, I can rest assured."
"You've taken so long to get here!" Ji Meiyuan said, feigning a joke.
"Yes, alas, as you know, my mother just passed away, and I don't want to bring bad luck to the East Garden, for fear that it might be tainted by something unclean."
"You're overthinking it," Aunt Bai said. "You don't need to worry about that. There's nothing unclean in the East Garden!"
"Is that so?" Ji Wushang looked at Aunt Bai. At this moment, Ji Wuxia walked in from outside, carrying a bowl of medicine, the smell of which wafted over.
Ji Wushang immediately stood up, "The medicine has arrived?"
"Ah, it's Big Sister!" Ji Wuxia exclaimed as if she had been startled, looking at Ji Wushang.
"Why are you making such a fuss?" Ji Wushang stepped forward. "Come on, let me do it. Look, your hands are trembling a bit as you carry the medicine." As he spoke, Ji Wushang was about to step forward to help carry the medicine, but Aunt Bai was worried. "American aid, why aren't you helping?"
"Yes." Ji Meiyuan was not very willing. The medicine was very hot, and the smell was not pleasant at all!
Ji Wushang looked at Aunt Bai and knew that she would stop him like this. Anyway, he had no intention of going forward to get the medicine!
Ji Wuxia immediately handed the medicine to Ji Meiyuan, saying, "Second sister, please take this medicine."
"Elder sister, please move aside." Ji Meiyuan knew what Aunt Bai was wary of, so she asked Ji Wushang to step aside. Ji Wushang smiled and stood to the side, which reassured Aunt Bai.
Ji Meiyuan carefully carried the tray towards Aunt Bai. Ji Wushang looked at the somewhat dark-colored medicine and asked, "Aunt, what kind of medicine is this? Do you have the ginseng I gave you?"
"Oh, no, I forgot where I put the ginseng."
"What is this medicine? It looks so dark to me, did the doctor make a mistake?" Ji Wushang asked, peering inside.
"It's just some medicine to prevent miscarriage, nothing serious. I doubt the doctor would dare to make a mistake." Aunt Bai looked at Ji Wushang with an expression that said, "You're an idiot." Ji Wushang seemed indifferent. "I see."
At this moment, Tianxiang brought in tea from outside, saying, "Miss, please have some tea."
"Alright." Ji Wushang sat down in the chair, took the teacup, and asked, "What kind of tea is this?"
“Yes, Miss, it’s Tieguanyin,” Tianxiang said, standing up.
Aunt Bai looked at Ji Wushang and asked suspiciously, "Is there something wrong?" She hadn't asked Tianxiang to poison anything or anything. She wouldn't be that stupid. If something happened to Ji Wushang in the East Garden, people would say that Aunt Bai poisoned her legitimate daughter!
"It's nothing, Tieguanyin is fine too," Ji Wushang said, taking a small sip of tea.
Ji Wushang was just about to say something when a maid announced from outside the door, "Master has arrived!"
Immediately, Aunt Bai beamed, "Your father is here!" Naturally, her tone was directed at Ji Meiyuan. Ji Meiyuan was also happy, "Yes, father is here!" Before she could even put the medicine down properly, Ji Meiyuan suddenly felt her foot slip, "Ah!" and fell headlong into Aunt Bai's arms!
Aunt Bai was so frightened that her face turned pale. She tried to move her body, but how could she possibly move!
Immediately, the bowl of still-scalding hot medicine that had just been brought over was splashed onto Aunt Bai!
"Ah!" Aunt Bai screamed, a sound so shrill it was deafening!
Ji Meiyuan fell face-first to the ground, looking like a dog eating shit, and the bowl of medicine was spilled all over Aunt Bai's quilt. If it weren't for that quilt, Aunt Bai would have been in serious trouble!
Ji Wushang and Ji Wuxia were speechless with surprise, while Tianxiang was even more stunned, her mouth agape and unable to utter a word!
Ji Dingbei came in from outside and saw that the inner room was in a mess. What was worse was that Aunt Bai's face was pale and the quilt was covered with medicine residue!
"What's going on!" Ji Dingbei shouted, while Ji Meiyuan seemed to be lying on the ground, not having reacted yet. Only when Ji Dingbei shouted did Ji Wushang come to his senses and exclaim, "My God!"
"Aaaaaaah!" Aunt Bai looked at the quilt covering her, the medicine still steaming! It was currently being applied to Aunt Bai's lower abdomen, and she felt a sharp pain spreading from her lower abdomen to the depths of her heart!
Upon hearing this, Ji Dingbei was immediately shocked. He strode forward and yanked the quilt covering Aunt Bai onto the ground.
Ji Meiyuan slowly got up from the ground, panicked. "It's not my fault, I, I, Aunt, Aunt, Father?" As if suddenly realizing what was happening, she saw Ji Dingbei's murderous gaze and immediately knelt down. "Father!"
Ji Dingbei stepped forward and slapped her across the face. "You can't even do this little thing right! What were you thinking about!" He had just seen her slip and fall, she must have been distracted!
Aunt Bai was also furious. "I've wasted my life raising you! You little brat, are you trying to kill me?! I'm your birth mother, how could you treat me like this!"
"Auntie, Father, it wasn't me, I really didn't mean it, it was really an accident, an accident!" Ji Meiyuan cried out repeatedly, trying to convince Aunt Bai and Ji Dingbei.
Although she had been humiliated by Ji Dingbei, Ji Meiyuan could only cover her half-red face with one hand and cry as she argued back.
Ji Wushang and Ji Wuxia were originally standing to one side, so naturally no one would put the blame on them. At this moment, the two of them looked at Ji Dingbei, and Ji Wushang stepped forward and bowed, "Father."
Ji Wuxia immediately stepped forward, "Father!"
"Master, I, I'm in pain!" Aunt Bai cried out, clutching her lower abdomen.