Aunt Leng didn't say much, just sat there coldly, waiting for someone to say "start eating" so she could begin. Her eyes were clear and aloof, as if nothing could catch her eye, and these things were merely necessities for her survival, not essential sources of life.
Ji Wushang smiled and said, "These are pastries made by Aunt Zhao and Miss Zhao. They look delicious, and Aunt Jin and Aunt Leng will surely want to eat more later!"
"Of course!" Aunt Zhao looked at Aunt Jin and Aunt Leng. "I specially asked the kitchen to make extra, so you can eat more later. If you can't finish it, take it back with you!"
"Then thank you, Sister Zhao!" Although Aunt Jin's lips curled into a polite smile, anyone with eyes could tell that she was secretly displeased!
Ji Wushang smiled and said, "Why haven't the others arrived yet?"
No sooner had he finished speaking than a maid announced that Ji Yinxue, Nan Xianxian, Nan Zhaoxue, and Nan Zaiqing had arrived together. Ji Wushang smiled and stepped forward to greet them, "You're all here! It's just in time. We've already set out some refreshments for you to enjoy!"
"Really? Sister-in-law is so caring. She called us over to have some snacks right away!" Nan Zaiqing snorted coldly, glancing at Aunt Zhao. But when she saw her birth mother, Aunt Leng, her emotions softened slightly, and she stepped forward, saying, "Aunt."
Nan Zhaoxue looked at her birth mother, Aunt Leng, but unlike her younger sister, she didn't cling to her. Instead, she stood quietly to the side, smiling, and didn't say much.
"Please sit down!" Aunt Zhao was displeased. These people would never miss an opportunity to splash water!
Ji Wushang's bright eyes flickered slightly; this infighting was about to begin!
Ji Yinxue sat down next to Ji Wushang and whispered, "If it weren't for my sister-in-law having someone inform us, we wouldn't have known that Aunt Zhao had made so many delicious things!"
"Me too. Perhaps Aunt Zhao was a bit busy and didn't have time to call you over." Ji Wushang smiled.
Ji Yinxue scoffed inwardly. What busy? Maybe she just didn't want others to know she made the snacks! Was she just trying to curry favor with Ji Wushang?
Ji Wushang thought to himself, "Aunt Zhao invited me but not others. First, she's plotting to harm me. Second, she wants others to think she dotes on me, pushing me into the limelight and inciting jealousy. Naturally, all the blame will fall on me! Aunt Zhao can then reap the benefits!"
But they've got a very clever plan!
Ji Wushang looked at Aunt Zhao and said, "Aunt, everyone is here now, let's have some refreshments! I see that you and Miss Zhao look tired from walking here, so having some refreshments will allow you to rest."
Aunt Zhao glanced at Ji Wushang. Did she need to say anything? Did she think she was senile?
"Put some food on!" Aunt Zhao said unhappily.
Ji Wushang smiled as he looked at the concubines, then at the young ladies. Nan Xianxian and Nan Zaiqing seemed to be watching Ji Wushang constantly. Ji Wushang sneered and picked up a pastry for himself.
Aunt Zhao looked at Ji Wushang, her eyes revealing a strange expression, but she quickly smiled and ate the pastry in front of her.
Nan Xianxian looked at Aunt Zhao, trying to figure out what she could observe, but she couldn't find anything. So she could only silently eat her snacks.
Zhao Yirou, as always, wore a smile and then picked up a pastry and gave it to Aunt Zhao, saying, "Aunt."
"Yes." Aunt Zhao nodded. "That's very thoughtful."
"Auntie, please eat more!" Nan Xianxian also picked up a pastry for Auntie Jin.
Nan Zaiqing was unconvinced and also offered the pastries to Aunt Leng, saying, "Aunt, these pastries are quite delicious."
“It’s delicious!” Aunt Jin said, glancing at Aunt Leng.
Ji Wushang remained silent and ate his food by himself, while Aunt Jin looked at Aunt Zhao and asked, "Sister Zhao, how are these pastries made?"
"It'll only take a little time. If you like, I'll write down the recipe for you later," Aunt Zhao said casually.
"Oh." Aunt Jin nodded.
Nan Zhaoxue remained quiet, as if she had nothing to do with it all. Ji Wushang lowered his eyes and couldn't help but pay more attention, but Nan Zhaoxue didn't react much.
In her previous life, the Nan Zhaoxue she knew was the same way. She never said or did much, always quiet and unassuming. Even when the Marquis assigned her to the son of a Censor as his wife, she simply agreed without causing any trouble.
I wonder if being reborn will change everything?
Ji Wushang lowered his eyes and looked at the pastries in front of him. He had just taken a bite and really couldn't eat anymore. He had eaten quite a lot of food at the palace banquet and was now full and didn't want to eat.
If you don't want to eat it, then don't. You've already taken a bite. Why make things difficult for yourself?
Ji Wushang put down his chopsticks.
Aunt Zhao immediately said, "Wu Shang, why don't you eat more? Is it so hard to eat?"
"Auntie, it's not that it tastes bad, it's just that my husband and I ate quite a lot at the palace banquet, and I haven't digested it yet. I'm already full, so I can't eat anymore."
"Oh?" Nan Zaiqing immediately said, "Sister-in-law and elder brother went to the Imperial Garden for a palace banquet? But didn't Second Sister-in-law go too? How come Second Sister-in-law is eating happily now, while Eldest Sister-in-law is saying she's full?"
Upon hearing this, Ji Yinxue immediately put down her chopsticks, slightly angry. Was Nan Zaiqing implying that she ate a lot? She hated nothing more than being told that she ate too much!
Ji Wushang listened with a smile. Nan Zaiqing really didn't understand Ji Yinxue. Ji Yinxue's stomach was easy to digest. When she was in the General's Mansion, she often ate a lot. Even now, after eating a lot at the palace banquet, she would definitely eat something more in the evening. Now that she had touched on Ji Yinxue's taboo, Nan Zaiqing was in for a lot of trouble!
"I'm not feeling well, that's why I don't want to eat too much. But my sister-in-law is perfectly healthy, so it's perfectly normal for her to eat a little more," Ji Wushang explained. Then, looking at Ji Yinxue, he said, "Sister-in-law, why did you put down your chopsticks? There's still a little bit of snack left. Eat more. If it's not enough, I'll have someone make some later."
"No need!" Ji Yinxue said coldly. "I'm afraid people will say I eat too much! Humph!" As she spoke, she glared at Nan Zaiqing.
"Qing'er, apologize to your second sister-in-law!" Aunt Leng spoke coldly, putting down her chopsticks as well. "Who told you to talk during a meal? Do you even care about the rules of this Marquis's mansion?!"
"Auntie, I... I was just telling the truth. I only said that because I care about my sisters-in-law!" Nan Zaiqing's eyes looked aggrieved, but of course she wouldn't give in.
"What truth! Is that how you tell the truth?" Aunt Leng scolded angrily, then turned to Ji Yinxue, "Yinxue, Qing'er is still young, please don't blame her for what she said."
“I didn’t mean to blame her, Aunt, you can rest assured!” Ji Yinxue replied coldly.
"Alright, alright, let's not argue about such a small thing. Harmony is what matters in a family, don't you understand? Yinxue, if you're still not full, it's fine to have some more. It's also to give your aunt some face." Aunt Zhao acted like a peacemaker, as kind and benevolent as could be!
Ji Yinxue sneered. Didn't she know what kind of person Aunt Zhao was? She only knew how to use tricks like this to gain people's trust and sympathy! Only she knew how vicious she truly was!
Ji Wushang stood up. "If there's nothing else, then Wushang will take his leave now."
Aunt Jin glanced at Ji Wushang, then at Aunt Leng and Aunt Zhao, lowered her head, and ate another piece of pastry.
Aunt Zhao nodded, "Go!"
"Yes! Then please continue to enjoy your snacks, ladies. I'll take my leave!" Ji Wushang immediately went out, opened the door, and the wind blew in from outside. Ji Wushang gently rolled up her sleeves and patted herself down, the movement light and inconspicuous, before leaving.
After Ji Wushang left, a maid naturally closed the door.
Ji Wushang smiled and then walked towards Moxuan Garden with Zhu'er. Just then, he felt a surging, overwhelming force coming from his lower abdomen!
Ji Wushang immediately clutched his lower abdomen, "Zhu'er!"
"Miss, what's wrong?" Zhu'er exclaimed in alarm, and quickly helped Ji Wushang up. Ji Wushang was sweating. Damn it, she had secretly tested the pastries with silver needles and there was no poison in them. How could she have abdominal cramps? What went wrong!
"Quickly, help me back to Moxuan Garden," Ji Wushang commanded immediately, despite the pain.
Zhu'er immediately helped Ji Wushang away, shouting, "Someone come here! Something has happened to the Princess Consort!"
Upon hearing the shouts, the people in Moxuan Garden immediately came out and helped Ji Wushang inside.
Nan Xuzong suddenly felt a suffocating feeling in his heart while in the study. He immediately put down the book in his hand and pushed the wheelchair outside with a jolt, shouting, "Wu Shang!"
"Young Master, Miss..." Zhu'er immediately had someone help Ji Wushang to bed.
Nan Xuzong immediately began examining Ji Wushang with his golden hair curled up, his eyes flickering uncertainly, "Gong Shu!"
"Master!" Gong Shu walked in from outside, carrying a lot of medicinal herbs and other things. He had just gathered a lot of things according to his instructions.
Seeing this scene, Gong Shu immediately put down the medicinal herbs and rushed forward, "Master!"
"Yes, Pearl, help her up!" Damn it, how dare she lay a hand on Wu Shang? Are they tired of living?! Luckily, the wound wasn't deep… I was too careless!
After a while, Ji Wushang finally woke up. Nan Xuzong lay down on the bed with her, gently embracing her, and asked anxiously, "Wushang, how are you feeling?"
"I...I'm fine now, I just don't understand why this happened." Ji Wushang looked at Nan Xuzong, thinking of getting up from the bed, but he had already pressed her down on the bed with his large hand. "Don't move around, just rest."
"I tested it with a silver needle to make sure the pastry wasn't poisoned before I took a bite, but I never expected this to still happen."
“I think the pastries weren’t poisoned, but the chopsticks were. Your hands were contaminated with the poison, so it seeped into your skin.” Nan Xuzong looked at her. “You were given a drug that causes infertility… Damn it, so you wanted to kill my child! Don’t worry, I’ve already had them returned!”
Ji Wushang was slightly surprised. This infertility medicine was indeed terrible. But what child did he just mention? Could it be that he was really pregnant? He would ask later.
"It was Aunt Zhao who invited me over, and Zhao Yirou was also there. I think they set a trap for me."
"You're still not careful enough, they're too cunning!" Nan Xuzong looked at her and couldn't help but affectionately smooth her hair.
“Cong, I also drugged them before… I don’t know if it will have any effect on you… Aunt Zhao was thinking of using me to deal with those concubines and young ladies, so I played along and let them turn against each other. You… won’t blame me, will you?” Ji Wushang looked at him.
"How could I blame you? I love you so much, how could I bear to blame you? Just do what you want. Those wolves in sheep's clothing are not worth pitying. Now everyone in the manor knows you're in trouble, and everyone is on edge. If those concubines don't get into some kind of trouble, they will be held responsible. As long as no one dies, Father will definitely turn a blind eye! Concubine Zhao brought this on herself. As for that Miss Zhao Yirou, I heard from the servants that since she likes Concubine Zhao so much, let her stay by Concubine Zhao's side!"
“I want her to marry my second brother.” A glint of light flashed in Ji Wushang’s eyes. Nan Xuzong hugged her and kissed her forehead. “Whatever you do, I will support you.”
"Cong, and what you just said... what about killing your child... I, am I pregnant?" Ji Wushang pushed him away a little, then asked in a low voice, wondering if she really was pregnant.
"Just a little bit more, and it'll be there..." He gently breathed into her ear, and Ji Wushang suddenly froze, stepping back. It was gone... As expected, it was still not easy for her to conceive.
"Don't do anything rash. I want to rest for a while. I'm really tired. Has the poison in my body been removed?" Ji Wushang looked at him.
“Yes, it’s all gone. It’s normal that you’re tired because I gave you your medicine. I’ll hold you while you sleep, sweetie.” Nan Xuzong held her close, without doing anything else. “I don’t feel at ease if I don’t hold you…” he murmured.
"Cong, I want to know, when will their matter be resolved?" Ji Wushang nestled in his warm embrace.
"It won't be too late. There'll be a good show tomorrow." Nan Xuzong lowered his head and kissed Ji Wushang, then said, "They'll suspect each other of doing it, and we'll have a few days of peace and quiet. Tomorrow, while we have this time, I'll take you for a walk in the countryside. Early spring is coming soon, and you'll miss out on a lot of beautiful things, which will be a bit of a regret." It's good to spend more time with her while we have the chance.
“Okay.” Ji Wushang nodded.
At this moment, in Jinbi Garden, Aunt Jin was tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep. She was experiencing waves of pain in her abdomen, which the doctor could not help with. Even after taking the medicine, she was still in pain!
Aunt Jin hated Aunt Zhao with a vengeance. She herself was in pain all night, but nothing else mattered! However, Aunt Jin's biggest worry wasn't herself, but Nan Xianxian!
"A charming smile!" Aunt Jin's face was contorted with rage as she forced herself to endure the pain.
"Your servant is here!" The head maid, Qiaoxiao, immediately knelt down. "Madam, the doctor said your illness is something you just need to bear with, and there won't be any other consequences!"
"Damn it! Go, go to Xianxian Garden and see if anything has happened to the Third Miss! If anything has happened, you must tell me!" I will never let that Aunt Zhao get away with this! I've been so patient with her for so many years, I've been more than kind to her, and now she's seeing Nan Jinxue's power growing and thinking of eliminating everyone so that her family can monopolize the entire Marquis's mansion! I don't want anything, I just want to live a peaceful life! Since she's not letting me have an easy time, then I will definitely not let her have an easy time either!
"If anything happens to Xian'er, I will never let you off the hook!" Aunt Jin's face was full of anger, but she also had a fleeting feeling of inner turmoil.
“Auntie, Aunt Zhao also has something to attend to. She just saw a doctor and took medicine before falling asleep!” Another head maid, Qianxi, ran in from outside and knelt down to report, “Also, the Princess Consort also showed signs of poisoning after returning to Moxuan Garden. She was saved by the Prince and is probably feeling better and has fallen asleep.”
"Hmph, what a brilliant idea you have, you bitch! You're putting on a show for everyone, aren't you! Poisoning us all? Everyone knows who made the pastries, and everyone knows who did the poisoning!" Aunt Jin sneered. "Get out of here!" I will absolutely not let Zhao Rui get away with this!
"Yes." Qianxi withdrew.
A short while later, Qiaoxiao arrived and said, "Auntie, the Third Miss... she really is in trouble. Like you, she's rolling around in bed in pain."
Aunt Jin closed her eyes as she listened. Damn bitch, how could she make Xianxian suffer like this!
"Get out!" Aunt Jin roared angrily, clenching her fists.
Qiaoxiao immediately ran downstairs.
As for Aunt Leng, she was also suffering from abdominal cramps and had been lying in bed enduring the pain. Nan Zhaoxue and Nan Zaiqing were not immune to this either.
Each person began to calculate in their own mind: since others wanted them dead, why not strike first to avoid being killed?
...
Yi Yun Muchen felt extremely sore all over. Trying to move even an inch felt like being cut with a knife. She even had difficulty opening her eyes, but she still did... A new day had begun.
Yi Yun Muchen turned her head and looked at Bei Gong Jue Shi, who was resting his head in her arms. Her face flushed and she immediately stepped back. She had actually been so open with him for so long!