At the gate of the Ji family manor, the second master of the Ji family stood with his grandson and granddaughter blocking the entrance.
Originally, after the last incident, the second master had given up on the idea of adoption. However, unexpectedly, Madam Xu had paid him a visit last night.
Under the guise of visiting the second master, Madam Xu spoke only of the matter of no one smashing the fire basin during today's funeral procession.
With such obvious implications, the second master would have to be completely foolish not to understand.
The Ji family was different now. The injustice of the Luoyi defeat had been completely cleared, and it was only a matter of time before the Emperor bestowed posthumous honors.
Therefore, even though the second master's legs still trembled somewhat as he stood at the Ji family gate, he gritted his teeth and refused to back down even an inch.
As long as his grandson smashed this fire basin today, it wouldn't matter even if the Ji family still refused to let his grandson be adopted. The honor of having smashed the fire basin for the Ji family alone would be enough for his grandson to marry a good woman.
By then, his entire household would be honored and prosper.
"I say, have you truly forgotten your pain once your wounds have healed? Did I not handle you too lightly last time?" Ji Zixiu had never encountered such a shameless person. If it weren't for the funeral procession today being a significant event, she would have loved to lash out with her whip again at these shameless individuals.
The thought of the lacerations from last time made Ji Zixiu's legs instinctively go weak.
The second master grabbed his grandson's arm and, suppressing his anger, said, "Regarding the incident last time, I overlooked it for the sake of my elder brother and did not hold you juniors accountable. But how can you repeatedly disrespect your elders like this?"
Ji Zixiu's delicate eyebrows furrowed. "What if I disrespect my elders?"
Seeing that defiant face, the second master almost spat blood.
What kind of upbringing was this!
Ji Ziling could not stand by and watch her grandfather be disadvantaged. She stepped forward, supported her grandfather's arm, and then turned to face Ji Zixiu, whose eyebrows were knitted in anger. "We have come here today simply because Grandfather is concerned that the Ji family lacks male heirs to perform their filial duty by smashing the fire basin. Must even such an important matter be handled with such emotional impulsiveness, Cousin Zixiu?"
Ji Zixiu had always disliked Ji Ziling's self-righteous demeanor since childhood. "Who do you think you are to lecture me?"
Ji Ziling did not get angry. She sighed sadly. "I once heard that Grand Uncle allowed Cousin Zixiu to practice martial arts as she pleased, and I was so envious of Grand Uncle's enlightenment and indulgence. But I never expected Cousin Zixiu to rely on Grand Uncle's favor and become so arrogant and overbearing. If Grand Uncle knew now that Cousin Zixiu not only disrespects elders like this but also obstructs the descendants from fulfilling their filial duties by smashing the fire basin, I fear he would not rest in peace even in the afterlife."
Ji Ziling was very clever. With a single sentence, she garnered the sympathy of the surrounding villagers.
The villagers naturally did not understand the friction between the main Ji family and its branches, but from the current situation, it was clear that the branch was more filial, sensible, and cared more about family ties.
Seeing Ji Ziling's pretense, Ji Zixiu's eyes burned even hotter.
Ji Ziling smiled provocatively. Under Ji Zixiu's gaze, she turned her back to the villagers outside the gate and signaled to her brother beside her.
Ji Zixiu understood and immediately feigned sincerity. "Cousin Zixiu, please don't misunderstand. I genuinely only want to see Grand Uncle and my other elder cousins off on their journey."
Ji Ziyan was secretly alarmed.
It was not for nothing that Ji Ziling was sent to school. With just a few words, she had managed to shift the blame onto their own family.
Seeing that Ji Zixiu was about to say something else, Ji Ziyan quickly stepped forward. "Cousin Zixiu, you have spoken too harshly. It is true that our Ji family has no male heirs now, but smashing the fire basin is a major event, and it should be discussed with Elder Sister and Grandmother."
First Madam Lin Wanyun had never encountered such shameless people as the Ji family branch. However, Sister Yan was right. At this moment, they could only stall for time. After all, given the Old Madam's attitude towards the branches last time, she would certainly not relent this time. Sudanan novel network.
Shui Ling, being quick-witted, saw the situation and hurried towards the backyard.
The second master was not in a hurry. He simply stood there with his grandson and granddaughter, waiting.
Times had changed. Although he didn't know why his eldest sister-in-law had sent someone yesterday to bring up the matter of smashing the fire basin, the second master was clear in his mind. Since his eldest sister-in-law had this intention, she would not embarrass him.
However, the Old Madam, lying in bed, pretended to be confused with her eyes closed when she heard Shui Ling's words.
It was indeed she who had deliberately invited the second family over, and she had also deliberately spread the word about smashing the fire basin. But she had only wanted to take advantage of the Ji family's preoccupation with the second master, so they wouldn't be able to keep an eye on her. She never expected that the second master would actually benefit.
With the commotion at the manor gate now, she feared that Sister Zhao would have to deal with it personally.
Ji Zizhao had not expected her second uncle-grandfather to show up again.
Her second sister's whip was not to be trifled with. Last time, it was said that she had beaten the two grandsons from the branch until they wet themselves. Moreover, after her previous uproar regarding the tomb records, how could her second uncle-grandfather seek trouble again today during the Ji family's funeral procession?
Did he not have enough humiliation?
Something was wrong.
Ji Zizhao pondered for a moment, then asked Shui Ling, "You say only second uncle-grandfather is here?"
Shui Ling nodded in response. "Exactly."
Given her second uncle-grandfather's character, he would not act rashly without confidence.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have brought his third uncle-grandfather along to visit that time, nor would he have deliberately left the tomb records with his third uncle-grandfather afterward.
Unless, second uncle-grandfather was certain that his grandson could smash the Ji family's fire basin today.
The pulse under her fingertips involuntarily quickened a little.
Ji Zizhao lowered her gaze slightly, looking at her grandmother's restless eyeballs under her eyelids, and understood everything.
She truly never expected her grandmother to go to such lengths to avoid attending the funeral.
Since that was the case, she no longer needed to bother with familial ties or reputation.
Seeing that her young lady was silent, Shui Ling was anxious. "Miss, what should we do? Second uncle-grandfather has brought people and blocked our manor gate."
With a plan already formed in her mind, Ji Zizhao feigned anger and looked at the Old Madam in her arms. "Second uncle-grandfather is truly selfish. For the honor of his own family, he has set his sights on the heroic souls of the Ji family's male descendants. Grandmother, please do not be angry. I will handle this matter properly."
As she spoke, her nimble fingers flipped out a silver needle from her sleeve.
The silver needle hidden in her sleeve was originally for self-protection in emergencies, but she never expected to use it on a family member one day...
It was truly laughable!
The Old Madam wanted precisely this effect. To prevent the second master from truly gaining an advantage, she also feigned anger, her chest heaving continuously. "I never expected the branches to bully my Ji family so much for lacking male heirs. Sister Zhao, listen to your grandmother. This matter absolutely cannot be let go of, cannot be let go of..."
The Old Madam originally intended to act more furious, but unexpectedly, before she could finish her sentence, she felt a sharp pain in her back. At the same time, she truly felt a surge of anger that made it difficult for her to even breathe.