The messenger from Helu Courtyard arrived when Ji Zizhao was already asleep.
Shui Ling did not want to disturb her young lady over such a trivial matter, so she quietly left the courtyard.
She had barely taken a few steps when Xin Lan, who had been waiting in the shadows, stopped her.
Shui Ling was startled by Xin Lan's sudden appearance. "Sister Xin Lan, why are you here?"
Xin Lan took Shui Ling's hand and lowered her voice. "Did someone from Helu Courtyard come to summon you?"
When Shui Ling first came to the Ji family, Xin Lan had taken care of her. Even though Xin Lan was no longer in Zhaoyuan, Shui Ling still had no reservations about her. "Yes, I suspect Young Master Zongyou wants to cause trouble for the young lady but doesn't dare, so he's found me to take it out on."
Shui Ling was already accustomed to the punishments in large households.
Even when she was in the Zhao family, she had been made to kneel countless times.
Xin Lan looked at Shui Ling and thought, if only it were just simple trouble.
However, the words on the tip of her tongue, Xin Lan could not bring herself to say. She thought for a moment and then said, "Even if it's kneeling, if you really kneel all night, how will you serve the young lady tomorrow? The young lady cannot be without someone to serve her. Hurry back."
"But Helu Courtyard..."
"I'll go in your place."
Shui Ling truly did not want Xin Lan to take the punishment for her, but she also knew Xin Lan was right. Granny He's waist had been injured by the young lady from the main branch, making her unable to do strenuous work. If she were also injured, who would serve the young lady?
Suddenly, Shui Ling knelt on the ground.
Xin Lan quickly pulled her up. "What are you doing?"
Shui Ling held Xin Lan's hand. "Sister Xin Lan, you are taking the punishment for me. I will remember this kindness, and I will repay you doubly in the future."
Xin Lan smiled and said, "Don't be silly. We are all the young lady's people. It is natural for us to help each other. Don't mention today's matter again, lest the young lady get upset over such a small thing. Hurry back."
Shui Ling nodded, cast a deep glance at Xin Lan, and then turned to walk back to Zhaoyuan.
Xin Lan watched Shui Ling's figure gradually disappear, and the smile on her lips slowly faded.
Zhaoyuan was far from Helu Courtyard, and those in Zhaoyuan naturally had no idea how chaotic Helu Courtyard was at the moment.
If Young Master Zongyou truly only wanted to find someone to punish, that would be fine. But things were not that simple.
Xin Lan understood that once she stepped into Helu Courtyard, she likely would have no chance of leaving. Yet, even so, she strode into Helu Courtyard.
Yong Mei's incident had shown Xin Lan that the young lady was undertaking great endeavors and could not be without trusted servants. She had been foolish herself back then, losing the opportunity to stay by the young lady's side. How could she now stand by and watch the young lady lose another person?
From the time she was sensible, she had been sold into the Ji family and had always followed the young lady. Su Dan Novel Network.
For Xin Lan, the young lady was her only family.
Now, it was just a matter of doing something for the young lady, and she was willing.
Ji Zongyou, who had been impatiently waiting in the room, saw Xin Lan enter. The ferocity on his face lessened slightly. He hadn't expected the maid from Ji Zizhao's courtyard to be so pretty.
But before Xin Lan could speak, Ji Zongyou grabbed the whip from the couch and lashed out at her.
The whip, merciless and unrelenting, struck Xin Lan's body, causing searing pain.
Soon, Xin Lan's entire body was crisscrossed with bloody marks, and her clothes were tattered.
Ji Zongyou looked at the skin that flickered in the candlelight and smirked sinisterly. "Do you want to undress yourself, or should I call the young boys from the courtyard to help you?"
Xin Lan knew that from the moment she entered, there was no turning back. But she had grown up by the young lady's side, and even in death, she could not disgrace her.
She raised her whip-marked hand and slowly began to unbutton her clothes...
Shui Ling, who had returned to Zhaoyuan, had intended to visit Xin Lan in Yun Courtyard the next day. However, unexpectedly, the young lady received a list of medicinal herbs from the Four Great Medical Halls the next day. Shui Ling didn't think much of it at first, but her young lady was frowning over the list.
Xin Lan, worried that her young lady might have instructions and no one to carry them out, stayed in Zhaoyuan, not daring to leave.
From day to evening, Ji Zizhao's brows were tightly furrowed as she looked at the list.
The goods on it were all medicinal herbs that were to be transported to Luoyi in the second batch. Logically, these herbs should have already left the city by now. However, along with the list, Wang Can had also sent a letter stating that the imperial court had suddenly issued an order to halt the supply of medicinal herbs to the medical halls in Luoyi.
The Seventh Prince was gaining popularity in Luoyi, and the imperial court also had the support of the people. At this critical juncture, the Emperor should have pressed his advantage and sent the second batch of goods to Luoyi. Yet, at such a crucial moment, the shipment was suddenly halted.
This indicated that the matter was not simple.
Ji Zizhao called Qing Zhu over. "Go into the city and find out if anything major has happened recently."
Qing Zhu nodded and turned to leave.
As soon as Qing Zhu had left, the horns signaling the curfew sounded throughout the imperial city.
Shui Ling, standing nearby, was surprised. "It's not even past Xu Shi, why is there a curfew?"
The curfew in the imperial city was from Zi Shi to Yin Shi the next day. This rule had been established since the founding of the dynasty. Why was it being moved up by two hours for no apparent reason?
Ji Zizhao looked at the medicinal herb list in her hand again, suspecting that things were more serious than she had imagined.
Qing Zhu left quickly and returned even faster.
As soon as she entered, Ji Zizhao smelled a faint scent of blood.
Qing Zhu lowered her voice. "During the curfew just now, patrolling soldiers caught a few drunk people and beheaded them on the spot."
Ji Zizhao frowned upon hearing this.
She had heard of people being caught during curfew before, but they were usually detained for a few days.
After all, breaking curfew was not a major offense. Even if the Emperor wanted to establish authority, he wouldn't want to be branded a tyrant.
Qing Zhu was also puzzled. "Could it be that those soldiers acted on their own initiative?"
Ji Zizhao, however, said, "Soldiers are different from officials. Officials have a thousand thoughts in their minds, but soldiers only have military law in theirs. For soldiers to execute those who broke curfew on the spot, it must be a military order."
And the only one who could issue such a military order, besides the current Emperor, was no one else dare.
Ji Zizhao understood that today's slaughter might be a warning to others from the court.
But what Ji Zizhao couldn't understand was why the Emperor would risk his reputation as a wise ruler.
Qing Zhu thought for a moment and then said, "When I was returning, I happened to see that doctors from medical halls other than the Four Great Medical Halls were being escorted away to Shizi Street. Those people did not look like soldiers, and among them were people close to the Fourth Prince."
Ji Zizhao was taken aback. "Are you sure you didn't mistake them?"
"I am absolutely sure." She would recognize Tang Di's face even if he turned to ash.
Since the Fourth Prince was already involved, it was likely that all the other princes had received the news.
Ji Zizhao still had many questions, but this matter involved the imperial court, and it was no longer something she could interfere with.