Ji Zizhao looked at her mother's troubled expression, and then recalled her mother's words. "Mother, are you trying to be a go-between for Third Aunt?"
First Madam Lin Wanyun knew that the matter could no longer be hidden from her daughter. She could only grasp Ji Zizhao's hand. "The Zhao family sent someone to urge us today. Your Third Aunt saw that your third sister was fine, so she agreed to send your third sister back to the Zhao family tonight. Zizhao, although you have obtained control of the Ji family, it is ultimately nominal. Your Third Aunt has made up her mind on this matter, so you should not interfere further. Besides, your third sister is already a member of the Zhao family..."
Ji Zizhao felt her blood surge backward. Her slender back stiffened into a straight line. Ignoring her mother's outstretched hand, she got up and walked out.
"Zizhao!"
First Madam Lin Wanyun's voice was hoarse. "Why can't you see the situation clearly? Why are you so willful!"
"The situation is not for seeing, but for planning. Just because everyone thinks the Ji family is declining, does the Ji family have to become the prey of others? Third sister's surname is Ji, and the blood flowing in her veins is that of my Ji family. Just because the Zhao family is marrying a woman of the Ji family, they want my Ji family's woman to become their plaything?"
"Zizhao..."
"Mother, you are too muddled!"
With that, Ji Zizhao left Yun Courtyard without looking back.
The back door flickered with scattered candlelight, and whispered voices seemed to drift in with the wind.
Ji Zizhao immediately headed for the backyard, with Qingzhu following closely behind.
Her mother's obstruction was clearly to buy time for Third Aunt to quietly send Third Sister out of the manor.
She had originally planned to haggle with the Zhao family, but now it seemed too late.
"Qingzhu, have Uncle Ji take some people with loud voices to the Zhao family first, as quickly as possible. They don't need to knock on the Zhao family's door, just let Uncle Ji say these few words..."
Ji Zizhao instructed Qingzhu as she walked.
"Then, have someone prepare a carriage and tell Shuilin to bring out Shui Huan."
"Yes, your subordinate will attend to it immediately."
Qingzhu turned and headed for Zhao Courtyard, while Ji Zizhao continued to speed towards the back gate.
At the back gate of the Ji family, Third Madam Yin Wenying stood on the steps with a smile, gazing into the distance.
She had originally planned to send someone to escort Ziyan back, but she did not expect the Zhao family to actively send a carriage to pick her up. This way, she could be completely at ease. As long as Ziyan lived a good life with the eldest son of the Zhao family after returning, Ziyan would still be the only daughter-in-law of the Grand Tutor of the Zhao family.
With the status of the Grand Tutor's daughter-in-law, even if the Ji family fell in the future, she could live a stable life.
"Big, Big Miss..."
Someone called out, and the young servants at the back gate turned their heads. Seeing the Big Miss with a chilling gaze, they trembled all over.
Ji Zizhao looked at the empty back gate and knew that she had arrived a step too late.
Third Madam Yin Wenying also instinctively felt guilty seeing Ji Zizhao, who was radiating cold air. However, thinking that her actions were entirely for her daughter's future, she straightened her back. "If Zhaojie is here to see off Ziyan, there is no need. The Zhao family sent someone to pick up Ziyan a teacup's time ago."
Ji Zizhao clenched her fists under her sleeves and looked at the servants kneeling beside her, her voice deepening. "Prepare a carriage."
The servants kneeling on the ground were stunned.
Ji Zizhao could no longer suppress her anger and shouted, "Prepare a carriage!"
The servants kneeling on the ground felt their scalps tingle. They dared not look at the Big Miss's gloomy face and quickly got up to prepare horses and a carriage.
Third Madam Yin Wenying was also startled by this furious roar.
"What is Zhaojie doing? Is it not a good thing for Ziyan to return to the Zhao family? Or does Zhaojie wish for everyone to be like you, to reject a comfortable life and obstinately return to the Ji family to wade into muddy waters?"
"Third Aunt, you think sending Third Sister back to the Zhao family is for her own good?" Ji Zizhao asked, suppressing her anger.
Third Madam Yin Wenying said righteously, "Otherwise? Do not think that because you know some medicine to cure Ziyan, you can make any decision for Ziyan. The Ji family is declining now, which is why Old Madam handed over the seal of authority to you so readily. Otherwise, do you think it would be your turn to flaunt the seal of authority of the Ji family!"
Faced with the confrontation between their masters, Xichun, who was supporting Third Madam, was so scared that she did not dare to raise her head.
Especially when she heard Third Madam's extremely sharp and malicious words, Xichun wished she could disappear on the spot.
The Big Miss had just avenged Ziqiao today. If she were to vent her anger on her...
Before Xichun could finish thinking, she suddenly felt her hand go empty.
When she looked up in surprise, she saw the Big Miss grabbing Third Madam's collar and dragging her towards the carriage.
Third Madam Yin Wenying did not expect Ji Zizhao to be so strong. Her feet were lifted off the ground. "Ji Zizhao, what do you want to do? I am your elder! Hurry and let me go!"
Ji Zizhao acted as if she had heard nothing. When a servant opened the carriage door, she directly threw Third Madam Yin Wenying inside.
"Thump—!"
With a dull thud, Third Madam Yin Wenying was thrown into a daze.
Ji Zizhao then lifted her skirt and got into the carriage, coldly commanding, "To the Zhao family!"
The servant did not dare to delay and quickly got into the carriage, pulling the reins.
Xichun, standing at the back gate, watched the carriage speed towards the street and then collapsed onto the ground.
The Big Miss has gone mad...
Is she going to kill Third Madam?!
The Old Madam's courtyard had already extinguished its lights. Xichun dared not disturb her and could only run into Yun Courtyard.
First Madam Lin Wanyun, after hearing Xichun's report, quickly said to the wet nurse beside her, "Detain Xichun in Yun Courtyard. Remember, she is not to leave Yun Courtyard before Third Sister-in-law returns."
The wet nurse was stunned. "First Madam wants to suppress this matter? But if Old Madam asks..."
First Madam Lin Wanyun had no desire to listen further. "Then hurry up and go!"
That was her daughter, what else could she do?
Now, she could only pray that Zizhao would not do anything impulsive and foolish!
In the bumpy carriage, Third Madam Yin Wenying looked at Ji Zizhao defensively. "What, what do you want to do?"
Ji Zizhao suppressed her anger and asked instead, "How do you find Zhao Liang, Third Aunt?"
Third Madam Yin Wenying was stunned, then could not help but boast, "He is certainly a dragon among men. The eldest son of the Zhao family personally came to apologize and beg for my forgiveness that day. Although the status of the eldest son of the Zhao family cannot compare to that of the Fifth Prince, just for his care and concern, it is something that the pampered princes never had."
Even now, she did not forget to compare it with Ji Zizhao's marriage.
Ji Zizhao did not argue and suddenly leaned forward, gripping Third Madam Yin Wenying's wrist.
Third Madam Yin Wenying screamed in fright and tried to pull her wrist away, but could not match Ji Zizhao's strength.
The pulse was steady, deep and string-like, floating, large and scattered, firm and soft.
Indeed, Third Aunt's heart was very strong and healthy.
"I did not expect Third Aunt to have such a high opinion of Zhao Liang. If that is the case... then please, Third Aunt, take a good look at the true face of this so-called dragon among men later." Ji Zizhao said, releasing her Third Aunt's wrist.
Third Madam Yin Wenying: "..."
What, what did she mean?