Steward Xue was frantic with worry and immediately shouted, "It wasn't me! It was Aunt Bai who ordered me to do it! I'm not guilty!"
Immediately, everyone around was shocked. Even Aunt Bai felt dizzy and disoriented. "You, what did you say! You're framing me!" Aunt Bai shouted, and suddenly lunged at Steward Xue, intending to strangle him!
Ji Wuxia held onto her tightly, saying, "Auntie, calm down! Butler Xue has gone mad. If a dog bites a person, do you want to bite the dog too?"
Aunt Bai was stunned. "Yes, he's gone mad! He's gone mad! Master, you can't trust him!"
But everyone around understood the gist of it: Aunt Bai, seeing that things had gone wrong, was still trying to defend her innocence. This person was utterly despicable and invincible!
"Master! I'm not crazy, I'm not crazy!" Steward Xue was focused on saving his own life at this moment, how could he still be thinking about Concubine Bai! No amount of silver could buy back his life! Ji Dingbei was about to kill him, was he really going to work for Concubine Bai? He now understood that Concubine Bai's death was imminent!
Ji Dingbei turned around and looked at Steward Xue kneeling in front of him, "Tell me everything."
"Yes." Steward Xue glanced at Aunt Bai, whose face was deathly pale and who was baring her teeth and claws, trying to kill him. Steward Xue trembled as he recounted everything, omitting a single word. Meanwhile, some of the high monks nearby, hoping to save their own lives, helped to fill in the gaps in the story!
It turns out that the dolls under Aunt Qin's bed were arranged by Aunt Bai in advance with Steward Xue. Steward Xue ordered them to be placed there, and then invited these high-ranking monks over, intending to kill Aunt Qin completely...
After hearing the whole story, Aunt Bai collapsed as if her soul had been ripped out. Ji Wuxia immediately supported her, tears streaming down her face. "Aunt, why did you do this?!" Such a thing should be done, but someone more sensible should be chosen! Steward Xue, humph! He looks like a traitor who sells out his master; how can we rely on him!
Ji Wushang gave Aunt Bai a cold look; Aunt Bai was completely powerless.
Ji Yinxue smiled slightly; she was really enjoying watching this scene.
Aunt Xie was astonished, having almost gotten herself involved. Steward Xue had said that after the matter was settled, Aunt Bai would be reprimanded by the Old Madam for not being able to manage the inner quarters properly, and Aunt Bai would definitely be in power again! At that time, whatever amount of money Steward Xue wanted to make in the mansion, Aunt Bai would definitely let him do as he pleased!
Ji Dingbei sneered, "Steward Xue, to atone for your sins, shall be given fifty strokes of the cane and expelled from the manor! Within the boundaries of my Ji manor, no shop shall employ this man!"
“You so-called ‘high monks’ and villains are banished to the frontier! In any battle, you must be at the forefront of the charge, or else be skinned alive and fed to the dogs!” Ji Dingbei was determined, and his whole demeanor became even colder.
When Steward Xue heard this, the others immediately kowtowed, begging for mercy and a lighter sentence, but they had already been dragged away by the guards.
At this moment, everything was calm. Everyone was waiting to see how Ji Dingbei would deal with Aunt Bai. Aunt Bai was already being held down on the ground by several rough old women, waiting for Ji Dingbei to give the order.
Ji Dingbei glanced at Aunt Bai, his tone as cold as ice, "From this day forward, I, Ji Dingbei, will no longer have Bai Aomei as my concubine. Beat her to death! She shall not be allowed to enter the ancestral graves; she is no longer a member of the Ji family!"
"No!" Upon hearing this, Ji Wuxia immediately knelt down. "Father, Father, please take back your order! Father, Auntie was confused for a moment, she was confused for a moment! You can't kill Auntie, Second Sister will be heartbroken if she finds out, she will be heartbroken!"
"Your second sister? No way, she's in the Yuanyue Nunnery, probably cultivating her mind and spirit. She should feel ashamed to have such a concubine." Ji Dingbei's tone was extremely cold. He grabbed Ji Wuxia, who was tugging at his sleeve, and knocked her to the ground.
Aunt Bai was somewhat confused. Was today her death day? Was she to be divorced and then beaten to death? Or was she not allowed to be buried in the ancestral tomb?
Ji Wuxia suddenly kowtowed to Ji Dingbei. Seeing Ji Dingbei's cold and stern face, she then knelt and moved to the matriarch, kowtowing repeatedly. "Grandmother, Grandmother, sob sob, for the sake of us two sisters, please help me beg Father not to execute Auntie, please don't execute Auntie! We don't want to lose Auntie!"
The matriarch remained unmoved, turning her face away and refusing to look at her.
Ji Wuxia felt a sense of despair at this moment. Looking around, she saw that no one was looking at her or pleading for her. Everyone felt that such a concubine deserved to die!
At this moment, Ji Wuxia crawled towards Ji Wushang, "Big sister, big sister, Father and Grandmother will listen to your advice, please help plead for her! I beg you, Aunt Bai can't die! I, I'll kowtow to you, I'll kowtow to you." Ji Wuxia shouted and kowtowed.
Ji Wushang looked at her, then helped her up. Ji Wuxia was slightly taken aback, but Ji Wushang said, "Third sister, you are very tired. You should rest for a while. Your body has not fully recovered yet!"
Ji Wuxia was just about to say that she wasn't tired, but then she felt her eyelids getting very heavy. Before she could figure out what was happening, she had already fallen asleep.
"Jinzhi, Yuye," Ji Wushang called to Ji Wuxia's two head maids, who stood like wooden statues to the side, "help the Third Miss down to rest."
Everyone was startled. Had the eldest young lady put the third young lady to sleep, or was the third young lady simply too tired?
Aunt Bai was shocked, as if she had just woken up. This... this was Ji Wushang's doing! It was her, it was her! She had been defeated by her once again! If it weren't for her meddling, how could Aunt Qin have possibly survived!
"Oh heavens!" Aunt Bai stared at Ji Wushang with red eyes, "You did it, didn't you?"
"What are you saying, Aunt? Why don't I understand?" Ji Wushang was taken aback, then looked at Ji Dingbei and then at Madam Yuan. "This, this, why would Aunt say such a thing?"
"Why aren't you taking her away right now?" Ji Dingbei said coldly. The rough old women immediately tied Bai Yiniang's hands behind her back and tried to drag her away, but Bai Yiniang suddenly struggled, "Master! I can't die, I'm carrying your child! This is the flesh and blood of the Ji family, your flesh and blood and mine!"
Ji Dingbei was suddenly stunned, as if he had been struck by a hammer. He turned around and looked at the tearful woman, Aunt Bai, who was crying pitifully, "Master, do you remember? You once told me that no matter what mistakes I made, you would not take my life and would forgive me. Have you forgotten?"
Ji Wushang turned to look at Ji Dingbei and Aunt Bai in disbelief. Everyone around was astonished; what were they saying!
"You once said that you wanted a son that belonged to you and me, and the baby I'm carrying today is definitely a son! Don't you want it? How can you be so heartless?" Aunt Bai seized the opportunity, seeing that Ji Dingbei was somewhat moved, and her eyes were filled with tears. "Yes, I made a mistake, but I love you too much, and I just wanted you to pay more attention to me... There's nothing wrong with that!"
When I saw Consort Qin carrying your child, I was happy, I was overjoyed. But if it were me carrying the child, I would be even happier! My lord, I beg you, please don't execute me! This child, this child is a life! I beg you, my lord, grant my request and let me give birth to this child!
Aunt Bai knelt down and rushed forward, suddenly grabbing Ji Dingbei's hand, "Master, Master, son, this is our son, our son!"
Ji Wushang really wanted to step forward and slap that vile woman a few times, but what was so hateful was that she was being manipulated psychologically! He wondered if his father was soft-hearted and would forgive her because she was pregnant.
"Master!" Upon seeing this, Concubine Qin knelt heavily, rushing forward to Ji Dingbei. "Master, have you forgotten my child, who is seven months pregnant? You even chose names for him: a boy, Ji Tianyue; a girl, Ji Muyou! It was her, she personally killed our children! She's the murderer, the murderer!" Concubine Qin shouted, pointing at Concubine Bai. "It was her! Such a cruel and vicious woman! She's the executioner!"
Ji Dingbei was suddenly shocked. He gently helped Aunt Qin up, then turned to look at Aunt Bai kneeling there. "Lock Aunt Bai in the dungeon. She is not allowed to see anyone. After the child is born, execute her."
Upon hearing this, Aunt Bai's vision went black, and she immediately fainted.
Those around watched, some applauding, others feeling the punishment was too lenient, but the matter still came to an end.
After seeing off Madam Yuan and Ji Dingbei, Aunt Xie looked at Ji Wushang for a long time before saying, "Miss, you are truly a genius! I really admire you!"
"Auntie, you're joking. Wu Shang didn't do anything, did he?" Ji Wu Shang smiled slightly.
"Miss, could you help me back to the West Garden?" Aunt Qin asked at this moment.
"Yes." Ji Wushang nodded, and Aunt Xie then said, "Sister Qin, please go back to your courtyard first!"
After everyone left, Aunt Xie ordered her servants to handle the matter. Ji Dingbei also wrote down a brief account of the incident, covering up the family scandal, and then sent it to the Emperor. As for Aunt Bai, she kept the matter hidden. If the truth were to be revealed, Ji Dingbei planned to say that Aunt Bai was ill, etc.
Seeing that the family affairs were mostly settled, Ji Dingbei was heartbroken about the unborn children of Concubine Qin and Concubine Bai, and saddened by the infighting in the inner quarters. However, he still prioritized the affairs of the state. After lunch, he led some soldiers and left the capital.
After Ji Wushang took a nap, Ji Yinxue arrived at Xinyuan Garden with her head maid Fengyun and Pingting.
"Big sister." Ji Yinxue still couldn't forget that matter!
Ji Wushang glanced at her lazily. "Yes, I'll tell Grandmother right away." Ji Yinxue nodded, inwardly delighted. "Thank you, elder sister."
"That's only right, since you're my fourth sister," Ji Wushang said. "I have to think about your marriage."
Ji Yinxue nodded, a blush rising to her cheeks. "Elder sister, about your marriage..."
"Father and Grandmother can decide!" Ji Wushang said. "I'm not really hoping for it anymore. Fine, I'll go to Grandmother's. You come with me! Then we went out together."
"yes."
The two of them boarded a carriage together and went to the street without any problems.
Ji Wushang glanced at Ji Yinxue. After so many days, the effects of the medicine should be kicking in by now, right? Since he had been going to the Prime Minister's residence these past few days, she would be left to enjoy the medicine herself. That way, she wouldn't be so preoccupied with plotting trouble.
Ji Yinxue also turned her head and looked at Ji Wushang, "Big sister, how much longer until we reach September Tower?"
"It'll be soon!" Ji Wushang lifted the curtain and looked at the person driving the horse in front. It was indeed his man, and beside him were Tie Feng and several iron guards.
"Big sister, are you coming with me later?" Ji Yinxue asked cautiously.
"Didn't we agree? I'd let you out of the carriage, and then I'd go to the Right Prime Minister's residence. I already had Xian'er tell the people there that I was going to visit my maternal grandmother and grandfather, the Prime Minister, this afternoon!" Ji Wushang said with a smile. Let's see what tricks you're up to!
"Can't you come with me?" Ji Yinxue's eyes were filled with tears. "I'm a little scared to go alone."
"Have Tie Feng and a few Iron Guards follow you; that way, they can protect you completely," Ji Wushang said cheerfully.
"Big sister, why don't you come with me? I'll talk to him, but I'm afraid I won't be able to convince him. With you there, I feel you can persuade him!" Ji Yinxue said earnestly.
Ji Wushang thought for a moment before saying, "What you said seems to make some sense..."
“That’s exactly right!” Ji Yinxue said quickly. “Big sister, please, I’m begging you. Good big sister, if it weren’t for you, how could I have gotten to this point?”
“Yes, I owe a debt to you in getting to where I am today,” Ji Wushang said. His words carried a hidden meaning, which startled Ji Yinxue. However, after carefully observing Ji Wushang and finding nothing amiss, she was relieved. “Thank you, elder sister!”
"Mm." Ji Wushang nodded.
Before long, Tie Feng called out, "Eldest Miss and Fourth Miss, we've arrived!"
Then someone pulled back the curtain, and Ji Wushang and Ji Yinxue, both wearing veils, stepped out of the sedan chair. Ji Wushang instructed the coachman to move the carriage aside, and then he and Ji Yinxue went upstairs together. Tie Feng and several guards naturally followed behind. Fortunately, Tie Feng and the others had changed into ordinary servants' clothes; if they had been wearing the armor of the Iron Guards, this display would have certainly attracted a lot of attention!
In a side room, a man dressed in a clean white robe sat to one side, holding a letter in his hand. On his table were a pot of fine wine and two cups. This man had bright eyes and a handsome appearance.
"We will meet at the beginning of Shenshi (3 PM Beijing time) to discuss the grievances between us. Wushang, stay." These few words gripped Nan Jinxue's heart. She hadn't expected Ji Wushang to write to her! She hadn't believed it before, but seeing that familiar handwriting touched her deeply. She was determined to see what was going on! Did she truly want to settle all grievances with her?
"Ji Wushang, are you underestimating me?" Nan Jinxue said with a smile, then put the letter in front of her back into her bosom, poured herself a cup of wine from the wine pot, and drank it.
It's almost time.
Nan Jinxue was somewhat expectant.
Ji Wushang followed closely behind Ji Yinxue, eager to see what was going on and how she was trying to frame him! What kind of blow would he deliver this time? He'd have to see how she treated him!
Ji Wushang and Ji Yinxue went up to the third floor. When they reached the third floor, Ji Yinxue suddenly stopped, turned around and looked at Ji Wushang, whispering, "Could we have the guards go down and wait? It's not good to let them know what we're discussing."
Ji Wushang nodded and said, "Okay." Then he turned around and said to Tie Feng, "You guys go downstairs and keep watch. If anything happens, we'll call you up."
"Yes." Tie Feng immediately cupped his hands in greeting, then led the guards away.
Ji Yinxue was satisfied and led Ji Wushang to the agreed-upon private room.
Just then, the waiter carrying the tray came upstairs and saw Ji Wushang following another tall woman into the room, which made him a little suspicious.
"Is this the young lady that Master knows? Master said that as soon as that young lady comes, we must inform him..."
"Hey, what are you thinking about!" Before the waiter could finish his mutterings, he was bumped into by another waiter. "What are you looking at? If the manager sees you, he'll twist your head off!"
"Second Brother, look, it's that young lady. Master said that she's here and we have to report to him." The waiter wasn't intimidated by his words.
"Then hurry up and report to the master!" the so-called second brother said angrily in a low voice. Immediately, the waiter ran up to the seventh floor.
Ji Yinxue was standing in front of a side room, but instead of opening the door, she looked at Ji Wushang and said, "Big sister, let's go in together!"
"Hmm." Ji Wushang reached behind him, unable to guess what she was planning to do, so he could only be careful.
Ji Yinxue smiled, then pushed open the door, and the two went inside. After entering, Ji Yinxue closed the door.
Before Ji Wushang could even notice, Ji Yinxue suddenly leaned against him! Ji Wushang was surprised and immediately stepped back, but Ji Yinxue was nimble, and her hand was already on his! Instantly, Ji Wushang felt something stirring within him! Yet it was as if nothing had happened at all!
"What are you doing!" Ji Wushang shouted angrily!
"I didn't do anything, big sister, what's wrong with you?" Ji Yinxue looked at her and then helped her up. "It's Yinxue's fault. I don't know why, but I suddenly staggered and couldn't stand up. It's Yinxue's fault. I'm sorry, big sister."
Ji Wushang gave her a cold look. "Why did you bring me to this place? Where is he? You two must have been talking, right?"
The man inside the room felt a surge of heat. "Damn it, it's so hot!" Nan Jinxue cursed, looking around at his surroundings. He opened the window, but still felt hot all over, so he quickly downed the entire bottle of wine in front of him. Only after finishing it did he realize his mouth was even drier. He longed for... that feeling... Nan Jinxue was shocked. "What... what is this?!" He immediately picked up the wine pot, opened it, and smelled it. He discovered it had been spiked with a drug called "Xiaoyao Dan" (逍遥散).
Instantly, Nan Jinxue smashed the wine pot in front of her to pieces.
Ji Wushang and Ji Yinxue were startled when they heard the sound.
"What's that sound?" Ji Wushang looked at her, wondering if the woman in front of him had truly poisoned him.
"The person who loves you," Ji Yinxue said with a smile.
"The person who loves me?" Ji Wushang asked.
At that moment, Nan Jinxue suddenly walked out from inside. She was stunned when she saw the two women in front of her. When she saw Ji Wushang, her eyes became even more deep and ardent. "Young Miss."