The passing of midnight marked the end of the New Year's Eve vigil.
The young ladies, having noticed Zuo Xiuhua’s displeasure, had been too afraid to utter a sound. Once the vigil was finally over, they quickly took their leave.
Zhong Xinyi, still immersed in the excitement of the poetry contest, chattered endlessly with Xu Meiqing and the others. Ji Zizhao, however, was preoccupied with Xue Yinuo's words and lagged slightly behind.
To her surprise, as soon as she stepped out of the courtyard, someone blocked her path.
Ji Zizhao looked up and saw Xing Jiqiu smiling faintly at her.
"Is Miss Xing here for something?" Ji Zizhao maintained proper decorum outdoors.
Xing Jiqiu stepped forward, holding something in her hands, and said softly, "I heard that the fourth sister of the eldest daughter of the Ji family was injured heroically and is gravely wounded. I am very worried, but our current status makes it inconvenient for us to be too close. This is my sincere token of concern. I hope the eldest daughter of the Ji family will not find it lacking."
As Xing Jiqiu spoke, she handed over the box she was holding.
Ji Zizhao opened it to find a wild ginseng root, tied with a red string.
Ginseng primarily nourishes the five internal organs.
It calms the spirit, settles the soul, stops palpitations, dispels evil Qi, brightens the eyes, and opens the mind, aiding intelligence.
When identifying wild ginseng, one primarily looks at the five elements and six characteristics.
Looking at this particular ginseng, Ji Zizhao knew at a glance that it was likely over a thousand years old.
"This is too precious. I accept Miss Xing's kind thoughts, but please take this gift back." Using a thousand-year-old wild ginseng as medicine was a level of extravagance that even made Ji Zizhao’s heart ache.
Xing Jiqiu pushed the wild ginseng back. "We have a long future together. If we wish to walk this path smoothly, mutual support is essential. If a single wild ginseng root can dispel any ill feelings the eldest daughter of the Ji family has towards me, then it is worth not just a thousand years, but ten thousand."
Items like this, which were priceless and rarely available on the market, were typically kept in the collections of noble households. The fact that Xing Jiqiu offered it so readily demonstrated her sincerity and thoughtfulness.
Ji Zizhao had never judged anyone based on her fourth sister's situation. She hadn't expected Xing Jiqiu to think so far ahead, even offering a thousand-year-old wild ginseng to prevent any rift between them.
Such a person, perhaps not the most virtuous or the cleverest, was undoubtedly adept at handling matters and considerate in her every word and deed. If she married the Seventh Prince, she would surely be his staunchest supporter.
Ji Zizhao truly had to marvel at the Empress's discerning eye for people.
Fireworks still soared into the sky from the temporary palace, indicating that the Emperor's banquet had not yet concluded.
Ji Zizhao went first to the Empress’s chambers. While taking the Empress’s pulse, she observed her expression. Seeing no abnormality, she took her leave.
Xue Yinuo's news could not possibly be unfounded.
Yet, looking at the Empress, she seemed completely unaware.
Or perhaps, Xie Jinglan already knew the news and was deliberately withholding it to spare the Empress worry?
Ji Zizhao returned to her own room, lost in thought, until a soft call brought her back to reality. "Eldest sister…"
Ji Zizhao’s senses snapped back as she saw her fourth sister looking at her from the bed.
"You’re awake. Do you still feel unwell anywhere? If you feel nauseous or wish to vomit, do not panic, it is a normal reaction…" Ji Zizhao hurried to the bedside, placing her hand on Ji Zibi's wrist while carefully observing her.
Ji Zibi shook her head, then shook it again. As she shook her head, tears began to fall. "It’s my fault, for making Eldest Sister worry."
Seeing that her pulse was steady and there were no major issues, Ji Zizhao sat by the bedside. "Worry is natural. You are my sister, of course I worry. But how did you end up at the temporary palace all of a sudden?"
Fearing that her Eldest Sister would worry about Shopkeeper Sun, Ji Zibi first explained the situation at the county town's pharmacy. Everything had proceeded smoothly, except for a batch of medicinal herbs that needed to be collected after the New Year. Thus, Shopkeeper Sun remained in the county town to celebrate the New Year.
After finishing her account of the pharmacy, Ji Zibi paused before adding, "When I returned home, I learned that Madam Yang had been staying at the Ji family residence and planned to leave after the New Year."
Ji Zizhao naturally remembered that her aunt had not yet departed when she went to the temporary palace.
At the time, she had been in such a rush and it wasn't convenient to inquire about her aunt's departure, so she had privately entrusted her aunt to the care of her third sister. She hadn't expected her aunt to stay until the New Year.
She suspected her aunt had stayed specifically to help watch out for any trouble the new Madam might cause in her absence from the manor. Furthermore, the Yang family's decision to stay and celebrate the New Year at the Ji family's residence indicated their importance of their granddaughter, serving as a subtle warning to the new Madam not to bully her.
A pang of emotion welled up in Ji Zizhao's heart. She hadn't realized her aunt had done so much for her.
"However, Third Sister heard that the new Madam intended to arrange only a simple carriage for Madam Yang, citing simplicity. Third Sister said that the Yang family is Eldest Sister's maternal family, and to slight them would be to disrespect Eldest Sister. Therefore, she had me stage this visit to the temporary palace to warn the new Madam that Eldest Sister knew about this and would expect a grand gesture of hospitality. I had originally intended to return upon reaching the town, but unexpectedly…"
Ji Zibi choked back a sob, but her eyes shone with unwavering determination.
If she had to choose again, she would still save those people.
Ji Zizhao saw through her thoughts at a glance. "Fourth Sister, did you already know their identities?"
Ji Zibi nodded. "Precisely because I knew, I had to risk my life to save them. Now that Eldest Sister is venturing into officialdom, and those young ladies come from prominent families, if they owe me a debt of gratitude, their families will surely support and repay Eldest Sister in the future."
Paving the way for her eldest sister was her true purpose in saving them.
Even if it meant risking her own life.
"Since the Ji family's troubles, Eldest Sister has borne everything. We, as members of the Ji family, may not be as outstanding as Eldest Sister, but we will always stand with you. If it were not me today, but Second Sister or Third Sister who encountered this, they would also have acted without hesitation."
Ji Zibi smiled, for she had no regrets.
Her Eldest Sister was their collective honor, worthy of their utmost devotion, even their lives.
Ji Zizhao's chest felt heavy with emotion. She suddenly bent down and embraced the person on the bed. In truth, they were her honor. It was because of them that she had been able to persevere to this day.
In the quiet room, the sisters held each other, weeping and finding warmth in their mutual embrace.
After an unknown amount of time, Ji Zizhao spoke again. "Fourth Sister, the secrets you carry are a constant concern. Now that you have come of age, do you still hold the same thoughts as before?"