Qing Zhu had never questioned her young lady's orders.
Coincidentally, the night watchman passed by. Qing Zhu snatched the torch from his hand and tossed it directly into the gates of Third Master Ji's mansion.
Even the bravest night watchmen would be terrified by such an act.
Seeing the fire light up behind the gates of Third Master Ji's mansion, the night watchman instinctively beat his drum and tremblingly called out, "The weather is dry and the air is flammable, beware of fire..."
As soon as he finished speaking, the night watchman felt his hands go empty.
By the time he came to his senses, he saw Qing Zhu tossing the wine pot into Third Master Ji's mansion again.
"BOOM—!"
Fire met wine, and it was impossible to contain.
The suddenly leaping flames, like a coiling giant python, instantly ignited the grass within the mansion.
"It's bad! Fire!"
"Someone, quickly, someone!"
The once deathly silent mansion was instantly filled with the cries of young servants.
In the main hall of Third Master Ji's mansion.
Only a small candle was lit in the pitch-black hall.
The sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren of Third Master Ji's branch family were all seated in the main hall.
Third Mistress Ji pricked up her ears, listening to the commotion outside, and said softly, "Perhaps the Emperor has already sent someone to arrest the widow of General Ji's mansion? Otherwise, why would it be so noisy outside?"
Third Master Ji was calmly sipping his tea, "They will be arrested sooner or later. The sooner the better. It would be best if they were arrested tonight and executed tomorrow, so that our family would not have to live in fear and avoid people."
Third Mistress Ji nodded, "My lord is right. I only hope that the affairs of General Ji's mansion will not implicate our family."
Third Master Ji's eldest son said disdainfully, "General Ji's mansion is indeed a disaster. If they are to die, the sooner the better. I say those women should have committed suicide as soon as they knew all the men in General Ji's mansion were dead, so as not to cause us so much trouble."
Third Master Ji's second son sneered at his elder brother's words, "Big brother is truly heartless. When you were having a good time at General Ji's mansion before, why didn't I hear you say anything bad about them?"
Third Master Ji's eldest son's face stiffened, choked by his words, "Shut up! Where are you any better? Don't you think I know that you knelt before Father and begged him to take your son to adopt into General Ji's mansion? And what was the result? You were sent back, weren't you?"
Third Master Ji's second son's face also turned grim, "At least I didn't turn my back on people like big brother."
"Stop arguing!" Third Master Ji reprimanded.
Third Mistress Ji quickly changed the subject, "My lord, the genealogy records are still here. If we don't send them to General Ji's mansion, will Ji Zizhao from General Ji's mansion send someone to retrieve them?" Su Dan Novel Network
As soon as Third Master Ji heard the name Ji Zizhao, his anger flared, "If that good-for-nothing had any real ability, he wouldn't have been cursed as a good-for-nothing by the people of the imperial city for so many years..."
"My lord! It's not good!" The gatekeeper servant boy rushed into the main hall, pointing towards the mansion gates and shouting, "Young Miss Ji has brought people to set our mansion on fire!"
Third Master Ji seemed to not have heard clearly, "What, what did you say?"
The servant boy hurriedly added, "My lord, please go and see! The gates of our mansion are about to burn down!"
Upon hearing this, Third Master Ji could no longer sit still. He immediately got up and walked out.
The others followed behind, hurrying towards the direction of the mansion gates.
Just as everyone arrived at the front courtyard, with a 'crack!', the heavy mansion gates, engulfed in flames, split in two and completely collapsed onto the ground.
Accompanied by Qing Zhu and Lian Ju, Ji Zizhao strode through the collapsed gates of the Ji family mansion.
The family members of Third Master Ji's branch could only watch as Ji Zizhao powerfully proved that she not only had the courage to come here to demand the genealogy records but also the courage to burn down the entire mansion.
Third Master Ji roared in fury, "Ji Zizhao, you are truly audacious!"
Ji Zizhao said calmly, "Why do you say that, Third Uncle-Grandfather? I don't quite understand."
Third Master Ji's eldest son stared in astonishment at the beautiful young maiden standing in the flames, his eyes wide.
It had to be said, Ji Zizhao's face was indeed too beautiful.
Third Master Ji's second son thought of his son who had been severely injured that day, his anger surging, "Young Miss Ji truly has great courage to intrude into the mansion of the younger brother of the former General Ji, and even set our mansion on fire. Is General Ji's mansion afraid that the Emperor's punishment will be too light when he punishes General Ji's mansion?"
Ji Zizhao swept her cold gaze over Third Master Ji's second son. Normally, she would have to address him as 'Uncle-Nephew', but she was too lazy to speak. The people standing here were simply not worthy of her using respectful terms.
Her maternal uncle had traveled a thousand miles to mourn for the Ji family in simple mourning clothes.
Yet, looking at these branches of the Ji family standing before her, they were all dressed in bright colors, none even wearing the simplest mourning attire, the sǐ má (coarse hemp).
To use respectful terms for such people would be an insult to the word 'relative'!
"What proof do you have that I set the fire?" Ji Zizhao retorted.
A servant boy from Third Master Ji's household pointed at Ji Zizhao and shouted, "If not you, then who? I clearly saw it through the crack in the door!"
Hearing this, Ji Zizhao let out a cold laugh, "You knew I was at the door but refused to open it, and now you falsely accuse me of arson. I would like to ask what intentions your mansion harbored?"
The crowd in the courtyard was left speechless.
Third Master Ji harbored intentions to sever ties with General Ji's mansion, but such matters could only be thought about, not brought into the open. Otherwise, wouldn't people in the imperial city point fingers at them and curse them for being heartless and inhuman in the future?
Third Mistress Ji would never forget that there were unmarried granddaughters in the mansion.
If the mansion's reputation was ruined, who would dare to marry their daughter in the future?
Third Mistress Ji tugged at her husband's sleeve, "My lord, say something!"
Third Master Ji's chest bulged as if a large lump had formed from anger. His eyes glared at Ji Zizhao, almost spitting flames.
Not only could he not scold Ji Zizhao, but he also had to pretend ignorance even though he knew Ji Zizhao had set the fire. Such humiliation made Third Master Ji grind his teeth!
"Why are you still standing here?" Third Master Ji directly issued an order for Ji Zizhao to leave.
Ji Zizhao's expression was calm, and her voice remained devoid of any fluctuation, "Once I receive the genealogy records, I will leave."
Upon hearing this, Third Mistress Ji immediately wanted to instruct her maids to fetch them. The names of the deceased were recorded on them, and her mansion had no use for them.
However, Third Master Ji grabbed his wife's hand and said to Ji Zizhao through gritted teeth, "The genealogy records are not with me. If you want them, go find them elsewhere."