Gu Peilan fainted on the spot, and Ji Renran wept uncontrollably.
Although Ji Renran did not utter any words of complaint, the crystal-clear tears she shed were a clear, silent accusation of Ji Zizhao's ruthlessness.
The other wives in the household were at a loss.
There were indeed suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of the first wife, but Gu Peilan had made her position clear.
She had returned to the Ji family with her children only after the first wife's death.
It might be a coincidence, but there was no concrete evidence against Sister Zhao.
Ji Ziyan also frowned, her expression extremely grim.
Regardless of the reasons, it was a fact that her eldest sister had first struck Ji Zongyou upon her return and then forced Gu Peilan into unconsciousness.
If Ji Renran were allowed to continue her wailing, wouldn't her eldest sister be branded a sinner?
How would she ever face people again?
Wang Can took a few steps forward and checked Gu Peilan's breathing.
After a moment, he looked at Ji Zizhao with disappointment and said, "She has indeed fainted."
Given the excessive shock and her cornered state, it would have been strange if Gu Peilan hadn't fainted.
But just as the Ji family members were lost in their worries, Ji Zizhao spoke indifferently, "Qingzhu, carry her back to the Ji family."
"Yes." Despite her dislike for Gu Peilan, Qingzhu followed orders and carried her down the mountain.
Ji Renran, of course, followed them.
However, before descending the mountain, Ji Renran quietly glanced back at Ji Zizhao, only to see that she showed no emotion.
Her face, as beautiful as any of her own, was calm and composed, as if nothing could disturb her equanimity, not even the sky falling.
This Ji Zizhao made Ji Renran's heart flutter with unease once more.
Initially, Ji Renran had thought that her mother's collapse would at least make Ji Zizhao flustered.
After all, Ji Zizhao's accusations were mere suspicions without proof.
Now, with her younger brother injured and her mother unconscious, the people of the capital were in an uproar.
Ji Renran believed that under the pressure of public opinion, Ji Zizhao would be forced to give up.
But now...
Ji Renran suddenly felt that Ji Zizhao had no intention of stopping.
The more she thought about it, the more uncertain she became. Ji Renran stumbled several times on her way down the mountain.
Qingzhu paid her no mind.
Whether intentionally or not, after Ji Renran and her mother got into the carriage, Qingzhu unceremoniously threw the blood-soaked Ji Zongyou into the carriage as well.
Even though he was her own brother, seeing Ji Zongyou's terrifying appearance, which was more frightening than a ghost, Ji Renran's face turned ashen.
Qingzhu, as if oblivious, instructed the servants to escort them back to the Ji family.
Seated in the carriage, Ji Renran grew increasingly uneasy. While Qingzhu was still on the mountain, she took out a banknote from her sleeve and handed it to the servants outside, "Please do me a favor."
The servants were intimidated by the eldest daughter, but the amount of money on the banknote was too tempting.
On the mountaintop, the crowd was still watching.
However, with the situation escalating, people were whispering amongst themselves.
While Princess Ronghe was pitiable for losing her mother, the newly arrived first wife's family might not be entirely innocent.
Without any evidence, people were free to take sides.
When Lianju heard that some of the onlookers were even defending Gu Peilan, her murderous intent intensified.
Ji Zizhao, however, said, "Lianju, escort your mistress's remains down the mountain. I want to properly mourn my mother. A mourning hall is essential."
Lianju suppressed her anger and nodded, "Yes, Miss."
The other wives of the Ji family also hurried to help Lianju with the arrangements.
Having been sisters-in-law for decades, they naturally wanted to do their part.
Ji Ziyan walked up to her eldest sister, intending to offer comfort by holding her hand, but recoiled from the icy chill and almost withdrew her hand. "Is Eldest Sister feeling unwell?"
Ji Zizhao shook her head, looking at her third sister. "Just tired."
Ji Ziyan offered her arm to support her eldest sister. "I will accompany Eldest Sister down the mountain."
Ji Zizhao nodded and followed her mother's coffin down the mountain.
Though she claimed to be tired, Ji Zizhao actually wished to quiet her mind as quickly as possible.
Only then could she fully engage in the next round of battle.
After all, the real drama would begin once they returned to the Ji family.
And it was time for her to seek justice for her mother!
Ji Renran was not entirely wrong; Ji Zizhao indeed had no intention of letting the matter rest.
Seeing this, the onlookers also dispersed, unwilling to follow them to the Ji family.
However, new rumors soon began to circulate throughout the capital.
It was rumored that the eldest daughter of the Ji family, acting decisively, had declared the death of the late first wife of the Ji family to be related to the newly returned first wife and her two children. Moreover, without any evidence, she had injured Ji family's sole male heir and had driven her stepmother into unconsciousness.
Upon the spread of this rumor, the entire capital was shocked.
Some uninformed citizens naturally condemned the eldest daughter of the Ji family as cruel and ruthless.
There were even those who claimed that this tarnished her title as Princess Ronghe, bestowed upon her by the Emperor.
The people at the ancestral graves felt that these accusations were largely inaccurate, but in the absence of concrete evidence from the eldest daughter of the Ji family, they found themselves unable to defend her.
As Ji Zizhao entered the capital, rumors flew at her like a barrage of arrows.
In the carriage, Ji Zizhao closed her eyes, feeling a surge of exhaustion and a churning in her throat.
Ji Ziyan, seeing the hint of tears in her eldest sister's eyes, felt her heart ache.
As the rumors in the capital intensified, some people even spat at the Ji family's carriage.
Ji Ziyan, after careful consideration, did not wish to disturb her eldest sister further. She lifted the carriage curtain and said to Qingzhu, "Take a detour back."
Fewer people frequented the detours, and thus, there would be fewer rumors.
However, before Qingzhu could agree, Ji Zizhao opened her eyes.
Her dark eyes, washed by tears, were bright and sharp.
"Since the people in the city enjoy a spectacle, let them watch more," Ji Zizhao knew without a doubt who had instigated these rumors.
Did they truly believe that public opinion alone could force her to desist and allow them to comfortably establish themselves in the Ji family?
It was far too naive.
Public opinion was often a double-edged sword.
Ji Zizhao first looked at Zhang Ji and said, "Uncle Ji, please find out which servants were sent back with them today."
Zhang Ji nodded; this was not a difficult task.
Ji Zizhao then turned to Qingzhu and said, "Have Uncle Can and the others help me spread some news..."
Wang Can and the others controlled the four major medical halls in the capital.
Medical halls were places for healing the sick and saving the dying, but they were also gathering places for people.
Upon receiving Qingzhu's message, Wang Can and his colleagues immediately returned to their medical halls.
Coincidentally, the medical halls were bustling with patients.
Wang Can and the others, seeing the long queues of patients, their eyes gleamed with greed.
Truly, in all their years of practicing medicine, they had never wished for more patients than at this moment.