No one present found anything amiss.
The old madam was even more grateful that the Zhao family hadn't kicked them while they were down, but instead considered their in-laws' reputation.
The second daughter-in-law, Yu Feng, smiled proudly and said, "Although it was rumored long ago that Grand Tutor Zhao's mansion would be holding a birthday banquet, these days, apart from our Ji family, very few mansions have received an invitation from the Zhao residence."
The third daughter-in-law, Yin Wenying,'s eyes sparkled with pride. "Even though Yan'er married into the Zhao family, she is ultimately a daughter of our Ji family. Of course, she must lend a hand to our Ji family at this time."
The fourth daughter-in-law, Xiao Jing Shu, also wanted to say something, but seeing that the eldest daughter-in-law, Lin Wan Yun, was silent, she closed her already open mouth.
After all, it was the third young lady who married into the Zhao family. Even if it was truly glorious, what did it have to do with them? To put it bluntly, they were just tagging along for the ride. It was better to keep a low profile and not stand out at this time.
In the main hall, everyone was chatting and laughing.
Although no one explicitly stated it, everyone present understood that the Ji family was still awaiting the Emperor's judgment. However, if the Zhao family was willing to support the Ji family at this juncture, even if the Ji family were to fall, it wouldn't be too disastrous.
At the very least, when the people of Sheng Huang City mentioned the Ji family, they would still add the phrase "in-laws of the Zhao family."
Instead of "the sinful Ji family."
However, as they talked, there was still no decision on who would attend the banquet.
After all, the Zhao family's invitation only allowed for one person to attend.
The old madam swept her gaze over the people present. The daughters-in-law, who had just been chatting cheerfully, immediately changed their expressions, wishing they could disappear on the spot.
If it were in the past, everyone would have rushed to gain prestige.
But now, if a member of the Ji family appeared, wouldn't they be subjected to the guests' scorn?
Even the third daughter-in-law, Yin Wenying, who missed her daughter terribly, had to lower her head.
"Since Sister Zhao is now the head of the Ji family, she should attend the banquet herself," the old madam finally set her gaze on Ji Zi Zhao. She wanted someone to bear the brunt of the Ji family's sins and disgrace, but she couldn't be blamed for being heartless. Who knew that the late patriarch had chosen Ji Zi Zhao?
If anyone was to blame, it was the late patriarch.
Lin Wan Yun's arm trembled.
If this trip to the Zhao family was handled well, the entire Ji family would be honored.
But if it was handled poorly, only the person attending the banquet would be humiliated.
To put it bluntly, it was all risk and no reward, and thankless work.
Lin Wan Yun grew more uneasy the more she thought about it. She stood up, intending to go in her daughter's place.
Unexpectedly!
Ji Zi Zhao stood up first, "Your granddaughter accepts your command, and I am willing to not disappoint you, Grandmother, nor bring shame to the Ji family."
The old madam nodded perfunctorily, "So be it."
The daughters-in-law present, looking at Ji Zi Zhao standing alone in the main hall, breathed a sigh of relief.
The third daughter-in-law, Yin Wenying, couldn't help but secretly chuckle.
Back then, when her daughter Yan'er was to marry into the Zhao family, this useless girl had secretly made trouble to prevent Yan'er from agreeing. Now, letting this useless girl see firsthand how glorious Yan'er's life was would be for the best.
The old madam, supported by Madam Xu, first walked towards the inner rooms, and the others also rose to take their leave.
Lin Wan Yun, thinking of the Zhao family's birthday banquet in a few days, had no time for worries or blame to tell Ji Zi Zhao. As she left the main courtyard, she hurried back to her own courtyard to arrange the gestures and clothes Ji Zi Zhao would need for the banquet.
Since the decision was made, they couldn't afford to be ridiculed for their attire.
Under the envious and gloating gazes of the other daughters-in-law, Ji Zi Zhao returned to her courtyard.
As dusk deepened.
Ji Zi Zhao changed her clothes under Yong Mei's service and let down her hair, finally feeling completely relaxed.
Qing Zhu suddenly strode in, cupping his fist, "Miss, the Xuanyi Pavilion is in trouble!"
Xuanyi Pavilion, Huichun Hall, Miaoshou Zhai, and Jishi Guan were collectively known as the four major medical halls in Sheng Huang City.
Over the years, countless officials and nobles had sought treatment for illnesses and disasters at these four medical halls.
It was rumored that even the imperial physicians in the palace had secretly sought prescriptions from these medical halls.
However, the common people of Sheng Huang City only knew of the fame of the four major medical halls, but they did not know that there was only one person in charge of these four medical halls.
Or rather, even the shop assistants and resident doctors of the medical halls were unaware of the existence of this person in charge.
The only ones who knew of the existence and identity of the person in charge were the shopkeepers of the four major medical halls.
"Someone hired a doctor from Xuanyi Pavilion with a large sum of money for a house call in the middle of the night. Shopkeeper Chen specifically sent the most experienced doctor from the pavilion, but they were detained outside. It's rumored that the diagnosis was incorrect. If another doctor is not found within half an hour to continue the consultation, the entire staff of Xuanyi Pavilion will likely have to pay with their lives." Su Dan Novel Network.
In Sheng Huang City, under the Emperor's gaze, it wasn't that no one dared to be arrogant, but rather that no one had the capital to be so.
Now, someone threatened to kill everyone in Xuanyi Pavilion due to a misdiagnosis. This likely meant that the visitors were not here with good intentions.
Lives were at stake, and Ji Zi Zhao dared not delay. She quickly asked Qing Zhu to fetch the men's clothing she kept at the bottom of the cabinet, and then found a potion to disguise her face.
An hour later, she walked out the back door and boarded a carriage.
Although the four major medical halls were not founded by her alone, they were the crystallization of her efforts. The four shopkeepers were loyal to her, willing to face any danger with her, and were like family.
In the dead of night, the streets of the imperial city were already deserted.
Even outside Xuanyi Pavilion, where lives were hanging by a thread, there was no one around.
Qing Zhu cautiously stopped the carriage in an alley opposite Xuanyi Pavilion. "Miss, please wait. I will go and investigate first."
Ji Zi Zhao, however, took out her owner's waist token and threw it to Qing Zhu. "There's no need to cause unnecessary panic. Just go in with the token and tell them inside that I can save people, but they must release everyone from Xuanyi Pavilion first."
No matter how ruthless those people were, they had their objectives.
She had to take the initiative to prevent the lives of dozens of people in Xuanyi Pavilion from being controlled by others.
Qing Zhu nodded and entered Xuanyi Pavilion with the token.
Inside Xuanyi Pavilion, several figures in black, their faces covered, exuded a murderous aura, standing in a line.
All the shop assistants and doctors sat in a state of panic, their faces as white as paper.
Shopkeeper Chen Dao was silently confronting the leader of the men in black when Qing Zhu, also disguised, walked in.
"Our owner is outside now. No matter who you want to save, our owner is willing to help, but the prerequisite is that you must all leave Xuanyi Pavilion," Qing Zhu said, raising the owner's jade token he held. His deep voice was filled with a murderous aura.
Upon seeing this, the other men in black tightened their grip on their daggers and faced Qing Zhu.
For a moment, their eyes met, and the tense atmosphere was about to erupt.
The shop assistants and doctors of Xuanyi Pavilion were terrified.
Even Chen Gang himself was tense.