The old madam Xu watched the second wife's departing figure, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Old Madam, are you truly going to deceive Eldest Miss like this? The Ji family relies entirely on Eldest Miss now. If she were to learn of this, it would surely break her heart!" The mere thought of the consequences sent shivers down Old Madam Xu's spine.
Eldest Miss's sadness was a minor concern. If she were to abandon the Ji family altogether because of this...
That would be a truly grave matter!
The old madam gripped her prayer beads, her eyes flashing with condescension. "As long as she still calls me Grandmother, she must obey me. I am preserving Zongyou, which also helps her eldest branch flourish. If she has any gratitude, she should understand my difficult intentions!"
Old Madam Xu: "..."
She truly didn't know what else to say.
The old madam did not believe she had done anything wrong.
On the contrary, she believed this was the best course of action for everyone.
In any high-ranking official residence in this imperial city, were there not some unsavory affairs? No one truly fought to the death over trivial matters. In the end, weren't they all still living their lives grandly?
"Go to Cloud Courtyard. Tell those servants in Cloud Courtyard to keep their mouths shut. If Sister Zhao truly finds out, just say that Shui Ling fell gravely ill. If Sister Zhao remains unaware, and once the person is dead and carried out of the mansion, then find someone to inform Sister Zhao," the old madam waved her hand at Old Madam Xu.
Old Madam Xu sighed silently and turned to leave the room.
Gu Peilan's actions were also swift. By the time Old Madam Xu arrived at Cloud Courtyard, she had already settled Xinlan.
Old Madam Xu, not entirely reassured, went to inspect personally. She found Xinlan in the woodpile of Cloud Courtyard's woodshed, naked and disoriented.
Her state was truly...
Old Madam Xu could only sigh, not knowing what else she could say.
Gu Peilan had initially wanted to tell Old Madam Xu that she was afraid Xinlan wouldn't die, so she had deliberately had a lot of cold water poured into Xinlan. But seeing Old Madam Xu's demeanor, she lost interest and left Cloud Courtyard, leaving everything to Old Madam Xu.
What else could Old Madam Xu do? Helplessly, she followed the old madam's instructions, silencing everyone in Cloud Courtyard. If anyone dared to reveal this matter to Eldest Miss without authorization, their entire family would face death.
After Gu Peilan finished all this, she returned directly to her own courtyard.
Seeing that the courtyard where Ji Renran resided was completely dark, she finally returned to her room to sleep soundly.
The strict lockdown lasted only a few days before Gu Peilan quietly sent Ji Renran with the household staff to the Tong family. Ji Renran had been staying at the Tong family during this time and had not returned.
Although Gu Peilan looked down on the Tong family's ways, she did not want to involve her daughter in this matter.
Moreover, Ji Renran's efforts to please the Tong family were also a source of confidence for her position in the Ji family.
Old Madam Xu spent half an hour arranging matters in Cloud Courtyard before leaving.
On the way, she encountered several young servants carrying a maidservant towards Crane Heron Courtyard. Without needing to think, she knew where they were taking the maidservant to serve.
After causing a death, they still showed no remorse...
Old Madam Xu sighed helplessly, wondering when the old madam would ever see sense.
Those in Zhao Courtyard were, of course, unaware of what had transpired within the mansion.
Since their young lady had not returned, Qingzhu and Lianju had been guarding the back gate, keeping watch.
It wasn't until dawn that the Fourth Prince's carriage was still parked at the Ji family's back gate.
Lianju and Qingzhu were still surprised when they saw the Fourth Prince disembarking the carriage with their young lady in his arms.
Ji Zizhao had been restless all day yesterday and had slept lightly in the carriage. She had only fallen into a deep sleep around dawn. Now, for the first time in a while, she was sleeping soundly.
Xie Jinglan looked at the defenseless face of the girl curled up in his arms and silently curved his lips. He then handed her over to Lianju. "Let her sleep a little longer."
Lianju carefully took her young lady and quickly turned to enter the back gate.
Xie Jinglan waited until Ji Zizhao's figure had completely disappeared through the back gate before turning back to his carriage.
Qingzhu, who was about to close the back gate, saw Tang Di sitting outside the carriage and, without thinking, cursed, "You lecher!"
Tang Di: "..."
Did your conscience not hurt when you said that?
Xie Jinglan knew that Qingzhu was scolding him.
However, he did not bicker with Qingzhu and smiled, giving an order. "Let's go."
Xie Jinglan did not return to his own residence but went directly to the imperial palace.
After Emperor Xiaochang finished his morning court, he personally advised Xie Jinglan, recounting what had happened at the Xue family yesterday.
Emperor Xiaochang was surprised for the first time, but he felt relieved.
If Xue Yongnian had not died of plague, then there would be no further danger in the imperial city.
However, after Xie Jinglan left, Emperor Xiaochang thought of the person who bore a striking resemblance to the figure in his heart, and his head began to ache. After a long while, he waved to Feng Gu, who was by his side. "Go tell the Ministry of Rites to include Princess Ronghe and her younger sister on the invitation list for the Dragon Boat Festival banquet."
Feng Gu nodded busily and went out.
Emperor Xiaochang had not initially intended to have Ji Zizhao attend the palace banquet. But he feared that once the matter of the Xue family became known, Ji Zizhao would once again become famous in the imperial city. If he, as the emperor, did not show any acknowledgment, he might gain a reputation for being unfeeling.
He did not expect that Ji Zizhao's trip to Luoyi would lead her to learn medicine from Uncle Zhong Zhang.
For a young lady to not properly tend to her boudoir but to attempt to learn the skills of men...
How could Emperor Xiaochang not be wary?
Emperor Xiaochang had never had the habit of nurturing a hidden threat. If Ji Zizhao proved to be insatiable or even intended to revive the Ji family...
Then there would be no Ji family in Yulin in the future.
As Emperor Xiaochang had foreseen, with the Xue family opening their gates, the lockdown in the imperial city was lifted.
Soon, the common people in the city learned of what had happened.
It was precisely for this reason that the name of the eldest daughter of the Ji family once again earned the admiration of the citizens of the imperial city.
For a time, all the noble ladies in the city were overshadowed.
The various princes, who had been secretly waiting for a miracle all night, almost vomited blood collectively.
Did that eldest daughter of the Ji family truly know medicine?
How could she know medicine!
Upon hearing this news, the Eighth Prince was so enraged that he smashed the teacup in his hand and immediately ordered the secret disposal of the doctor who had stayed at his residence yesterday.
Master Tong's complexion was also not much better upon hearing the news, and he did not even eat breakfast.
Sitting in his study, Master Tong could not understand how the useless person from the Ji family had suddenly shone so brightly. Even if she had been low-key and unwilling to go out before, she wouldn't be so lucky now, to have been accepted as a disciple by Physician Zhang after just one trip to Luoyi.
After much thought, Master Tong directly put pen to paper and wrote a letter, sending it to Physician Zhang immediately.