"Wipe the water off the ground! If I come back and see not a single drop still wet, all of you get out of the manor!" Ji Wushang shouted sternly as he caught up with Ji Sisi.
"Yes." All the maids and nannies in the room knelt down and bowed.
Ji Wushang followed Ji Sisi to the villa, which was next to Jingyuan. Walking through the corridor into the villa, he found it to be both clean and elegant. Ji Wushang thought it would be better to let the Old Madam Yuan recuperate here.
Thinking about it this way is also a good approach.
Once inside, Ji Sisi turned to look at Ji Wushang. "Sister, come in quickly! Go change your clothes, I'll wait for you outside!"
"Okay." Ji Wushang nodded with a smile.
Ji Wushang went into the inner room, while Ji Sisi sat in the outer room, playing with her hair that was hanging down.
Ji Wushang glanced at her before turning into the inner room. However, he hesitated because none of the clothes hanging there were to his liking. Just then, someone outside called for help.
"Fifth Miss, something has happened in the courtyard, please come and take a look!" a maid shouted from outside.
Upon hearing this, Ji Sisi immediately stood up and said to Ji Wushang inside, "Sister, something has happened in the courtyard. I'll go take care of it first. You should change your clothes first!"
"Okay." Ji Wushang didn't come out, but simply replied.
Ji Sisi smiled and immediately went out. "What is it?"
...The sound had faded into the distance, and Ji Wushang only came out when he heard no more sound.
Ji Wushang noticed that Ji Sisi's tea was still warm and untouched. He walked out and watched Ji Sisi walk away with a maid until they disappeared from sight.
Ji Wushang narrowed his eyes, examined the clothes for a while, and then turned around. When he walked back into the inner room, he saw three or five green snakes on the clothes.
Ji Wushang was so frightened that he stepped back and took a sniff of the clothes. However, he did not expect to find that the clothes had been smeared with some golden powder. Ji Wushang took a few steps back, and the green snakes, attracted by the scent, climbed onto the clothes and slithered inside!
Ji Wushang broke out in a cold sweat. If he changed into those clothes, wouldn't he be chased by snakes? If they caught up with him, he would definitely be bitten to death!
He immediately took out some medicine bottles from his body, opened them, and sprayed the fumes towards the green snakes. The green snakes smelled the realgar and slithered away with a squeak.
It seems someone is trying to harm me; it's her!
Seeing that no one was around, Ji Wushang immediately headed towards his own Xinyuan Garden.
When she returned to Xinyuan, Ji Wushang put on a light green silk dress. Her courtyard was still quite clean, as someone came to clean it every day.
Ji Wushang walked out, but after taking only a dozen steps, he turned back into Xinyuan Garden and rummaged through the boxes and cabinets until he found the boxing manual that Ji Sisi had given him.
I quickly opened it and glanced at it, and my expression changed instantly.
"You really went to great lengths. Luckily, I didn't practice this boxing manual much, otherwise, I would have died at your hands!" Ji Wushang snorted coldly, put the boxing manual back into his cabinet and locked it.
Some of the boxing movements in the manual may seem very simple and ordinary, but in reality, many of them, if practiced, will not improve your health. Instead, they can cause neurological disorders and changes in your bones, potentially leading to injury or disability!
Back then, Aunt Xie wasn't dead. Based on my guess, Ji Sisi really didn't have any motive to harm anyone... Ji Wushang couldn't quite understand it, but since someone had provoked her, and was so young yet possessed such skills, how could he forgive her? If there were other opportunities, wouldn't it be even more difficult for her when she was a bit older?
After putting everything away, Ji Wushang carried with him all the medicine powders and silver needles he had kept hidden away, just in case.
After leaving, Ji Wushang went directly into Jingyuan Garden. Ji Sisi was not in the courtyard at this time.
The maids and nannies immediately knelt down and bowed when they saw Ji Wushang enter, saying, "Fourth Imperial Consort."
Ji Wushang waved for them to stand aside, and only when he saw that all the water on the ground had disappeared did he feel slightly satisfied. He went forward to check on the condition of the matriarch of the Yuan family. He saw that she was now wearing new clothes, her complexion was clearer, and she had regained some of her senses. Although she was not yet awake, her breathing was stable.
Ji Wushang nodded in satisfaction, "Take good care of Grandmother. If anything happens to her, I will not forgive you."
"Yes," the maids and nannies replied.
Ji Wushang nodded, and at this moment Xiaoyou brought up the prepared medicine, "Fourth Imperial Consort, the medicine is here."
"Bring it over here." Ji Wushang pointed to the coffee table not far away.
"Yes." Xiaoyou immediately picked up the medicine and put it away.
Ji Wushang immediately stepped forward, pulled a silver needle from under her sleeve, and inserted it into the wound in front of everyone. Seeing that the needle showed no change, Ji Wushang then put it away.
Those around Ji Wushang watched her nervously, hoping she wouldn't lose her temper again. Ji Wushang stirred the medicine, then scooped up a spoonful and smelled it; a flash of cold light appeared in her eyes!
Ji Wushang slammed the medicine back onto the table. "Who touched the medicine?!" Her phoenix eyes swept over Xiaoyou, who quickly knelt down. "Reporting to the Fourth Imperial Consort, no one touched the medicine. I prepared all the medicine myself." Cold sweat dripped down Xiaoyou's face.
Ji Wushang stood up at this moment, "So, you mean you increased the dosage of the medicine? Or did the physicians in the prefecture increase the dosage? Hmm?"
"This servant was following the Fourth Imperial Consort's instructions to take the prescription to the clinic, where the physician helped find the medicine. After that, this servant returned to the kitchen to prepare the medicine! This servant truly does not know if there was too much or too little medicine!"
"So the problem lies with that physician? Men, bring that physician to the courtyard immediately!" Ji Wushang said coldly. "All of you, get out here!" It was time to teach them a lesson! Otherwise, these people wouldn't know how to serve others!
All the maids and nannies arrived in the courtyard trembling with fear. Ji Wushang sat on the chaise longue, looking at the people kneeling in front of him. The bowl of medicine that had just been brewed was on the tea table next to Ji Wushang.
At this moment, the two maids, Hongfei and Cuiwu, entered the Jingyuan Garden. Ji Wushang was delighted, as he was in dire need of manpower right now!
Hongfei and Cuiwu stepped forward and knelt down. "Fourth Imperial Consort, His Majesty has ordered us to come in and serve you."
“Perfect. Hongfei, you go to the kitchen to prepare this medicine according to this prescription, and stay by my side at all times.” Ji Wushang said, “Just buy the medicine outside! Be quick.” Ji Wushang took out another sheet of paper that he had copied earlier.
"Yes." Hongfei immediately nodded and took the prescription from Ji Wushang.
The people around lowered their heads and dared not speak. Ji Wushang didn't even trust the family physician anymore and sent Hongfei to buy medicine outside. This time, disaster was probably about to strike!
Ji Wushang beckoned, and Cuiwu immediately stood beside him.
At this moment, the royal physician arrived. Ji Wushang looked at the physician with a slightly cold gaze. The physician, upon seeing Ji Wushang, immediately knelt down and said, "Greetings, Fourth Imperial Consort!"
"Did you help prepare this medicine?" Ji Wushang didn't waste any words.
"It was I who helped with the tidying up," the physician said, bowing his head.
"Then why didn't you prepare the medicinal herbs according to the prescription I gave you? What are you trying to do by increasing the dosage?" Ji Wushang slammed her hand on the tea table. The physician was even more surprised and immediately kowtowed three times. "Fourth Imperial Concubine, I prepared the medicinal herbs according to the prescription given by that maid. I did not increase the dosage!"
Ji Wushang sneered at the person the physician pointed to, which was none other than Xiao You. Xiao You knelt down and kowtowed again, "This servant did indeed give the prescription to Doctor Chen without making any changes!" As she spoke, she quickly took out the prescription from her bosom, "This servant prepared the medicine according to the prescription given by the Fourth Imperial Concubine!"
Ji Wushang stretched out his jade-like hand, and Cuiwu immediately stepped forward to present the prescription that Xiaoyou had held up to Ji Wushang.
Ji Wushang opened it and saw that it was indeed the prescription he had written. It meant that someone had sneaked into the kitchen when Xiao You wasn't looking and increased the dosage of the medicine.
"Okay, so that means you weren't the ones who increased the dosage?"
"Please, Your Highness, investigate thoroughly. This servant has never done such a thing!" Xiao You immediately kowtowed.
"I was only following the orders of the Fourth Princess and dared not disobey." Doctor Chen immediately knelt down as well.
Ji Wushang nodded, "Alright, then this time, I'll spare your lives. But if it turns out you were the ones who did it, I'll make you regret ever being born!"
Those around them lowered their heads, cold sweat pouring down their faces.
Ji Sisi walked in from outside, looking secretly pleased. As she entered the courtyard, she saw the clothes Ji Wushang was wearing and the servants kneeling on the ground.
Ji Wushang narrowed his eyes slightly, "Fifth Sister is back?"
"Hmm, sister, what's going on?" Ji Sisi asked with surprise. "Why are so many people kneeling?"
Ji Wushang looked into her eyes, stood up, and said, "It's alright, everyone go back to work!"
Those around him held their breath, and seeing that Ji Wushang didn't seem to be joking, they stood up and quickly went about their business.
Ji Sisi stepped forward and said, "Sister, I just went to the courtyard and took care of something!"
"What is it?" Was this a deliberate question to dispel his doubts?
"A maid broke a bowl, and I went to ask her to clean up the whole courtyard!" Ji Sisi said with a smile as she looked at Ji Wushang.
Ji Wushang smiled and said, "Well done, not bad, Fifth Sister!"
"Thank you for the compliment, elder sister! I will do even better in the future!" Ji Sisi said with a smile, and as she watched Ji Wushang enter the house, she immediately asked, "Elder sister, what's wrong with your clothes..."
"I went back to Xinyuan to change. I don't like the clothes in that other courtyard." Ji Wushang said as he walked into the room and looked around before sitting down by the old lady's bed. After a while, Hongfei brought in the medicine that had been decocted. Ji Wushang smelled that it was fine before carefully feeding it to the old lady.
After busying himself for a while, Ji Wushang instructed everyone to take good care of the children before leaving Jingyuan with his two maids, Hongfei and Cuiwu. Ji Sisi followed behind.
Ji Wushang turned to look at her, "What's wrong, Fifth Sister?"
“I’ll go with you too. I’m scared to be alone in Jingyuan,” Ji Sisi quickly explained.
"Then let's go together." Ji Wushang didn't care about anything else.
When they returned to the main hall, Nan Xuzong, Ji Dingbei, and Ji Tiankui were talking. The three grown men were having a good time, but they stopped when they saw Ji Wushang and Ji Sisi arrive.
Ji Wushang bowed to the three of them, "Father, elder brother, Your Highness."
"Get up quickly." Ji Dingbei immediately stepped forward. "There's no need for formalities! You silly child!"
Ji Wushang listened with a smile, while Ji Sisi followed suit and bowed. Ji Dingbei quickly helped her up as well.
"Father, I just went to Jingyuan to see Grandmother." Ji Wushang got straight to the point.
"Hmm." Ji Dingbei nodded. "Alas, it's not that your father is unfilial, but rather..."
"I understand Father's difficulties." Ji Wushang glanced at Nan Xuzong, who nodded and stepped forward. "How is Grandmother? I should go with you to see her." Nan Xuzong's face showed a hint of apology.
Ji Wushang said, "The maids and nannies in Jingyuan need to be replaced with a new batch. Otherwise, we should first have the head nanny teach them how to serve the old grandmother!"
"This..." Ji Dingbei was puzzled. Could it be that something had happened at Jingyuan? He rarely came back from outside. This huge general's mansion was managed by Madam Qin. Could it be that she was mistreating the elder lady?
"Bring Madam Qin over here!" Ji Dingbei immediately ordered the guards standing outside.
Ji Wushang immediately said, "Wait, Father."
"Hmm?" Ji Dingbei asked with some doubt. "To be honest, Fu'er has been handling all the affairs of this manor single-handedly. It's not easy for her, but Father doesn't have much heart to take another concubine to assist her in managing this manor anymore. Alas!" Ji Dingbei sighed as he finished speaking. "Father is getting old after all. Once this war is over, Father will request His Majesty to allow me to retire from the military and return to my hometown!"
"I understand Father's thoughts, which is why I didn't ask you to call Mother here," Ji Wushang said. "I know how hard Mother works, especially now that she's pregnant. Therefore, I beg Father not to cause Mother any distress. I've investigated what happened at Jingyuan. It was the maids and nannies who were negligent, making the courtyard a mess. When I went to the courtyard, I smelled a strong, mixed odor of medicine, which made Grandmother feel quite uncomfortable!"
"Damn it, is this going against the heavens? Where is Granny Guo?" Ji Dingbei asked immediately.
Ji Wushang paused, "Granny Guo developed epilepsy a long time ago, and Mother sent her back to the countryside." Even this is unknown; it seems the inner courtyard has been neglected for a long time!
Ji Sisi sat there, slowly playing with her hair, merely watching Ji Wushang and Ji Dingbei's conversation without saying a word.
"Well, we need a nanny to serve the old lady," Ji Dingbei muttered to himself, knowing he was far too busy.
“It’s Granny Zhu who’s taking over,” Ji Wushang said. “Father, because things weren’t handled well at Jingyuan before, it’s not good for Grandmother’s recovery. So, I’m thinking of having Grandmother move out of Jingyuan and stay in another courtyard. I…” At this moment, Ji Wushang looked at Nan Xuzong, “I want to stay for a few days and take care of Grandmother. I’ll leave after she recovers…” She finished speaking quickly and immediately looked at Nan Xuzong, hoping that he would agree to her request.
Of course, Ji Dingbei also had to agree.
Nan Xuzong's face darkened upon hearing this. If she were to stay, how many days would she have to stay? Three days was already the limit. If this illness lasted for ten days, half a month, or even more than a month or two, wouldn't he and she be separated like this?
No, that won't work.
"You really have to stay here?" Nan Xuzong's face showed some displeasure. He knew he shouldn't have brought her back, especially since this place was extremely unsafe. What would he do if something happened to her? He wouldn't forget that there were a few wolves always watching him!
Ji Dingbei was also surprised to hear this. Of course, he hoped that Ji Wushang could stay for a few days. First, he could help take care of the old lady's illness, so that he wouldn't be seen as an unfilial son. Second, he could take care of Mo Qiqi and Qin Fu, since they were pregnant and it was inconvenient for them to do many things. They also couldn't be too tired, so Ji Wushang would have to take care of them. Third, Ji Sisi's studies couldn't stop. She was only ten years old and needed guidance and care.
However, judging from Nan Xuzong's expression, it was clear he wasn't entirely willing. Thinking about it, it made sense; after all, she was the Fourth Imperial Consort and the mistress of the Zongwang Mansion. Staying temporarily at General Ji's residence was fine, but staying too long wouldn't be appropriate, given that the Zongwang Mansion had only recently been completed and she should be there regularly to oversee its upkeep. Moreover, Nan Xuzong needed her!
"Hmm." Ji Wushang looked into his eyes, knowing he wasn't entirely in agreement, but still nodded. "Not too long. Once Grandmother's condition improves, I'll go back, okay?"