Suppressing the rage burning in her heart, Ji Zizhao coldly looked at Ji Zongyou. "The reason you've thrown caution to the wind is because you know I wouldn't dare kill you, or leave any marks on you. But I seem to have forgotten to tell you one thing: killing you doesn't necessarily require leaving any traces."
A panic seized Ji Zongyou's heart. "You, what do you mean..."
"The reason you vomited blood and fainted is not only because your internal organs have been pushed to their absolute limit, but also because they are as thin as a silken thread. Everything you eat now will not only cause you intense pain but also further burden your body. Once your stomach can't take it anymore, it will completely burst inside you."
Ji Zizhao stared unblinkingly at Ji Zongyou, as if looking at a dead man. "It's just a pity that you can't control your hunger at all, and can only keep eating... I will make you watch yourself stuff yourself to death, making you feel the torment of your stomach and spleen rupturing."
Ji Zongyou was truly terrified this time, his pupils even trembling.
Ji Zizhao then instructed Mo Hen to bring a mirror from the outer room and place it directly opposite the bed.
Ji Zongyou looked at himself in the bronze mirror, a mix of fear and hatred in his eyes. "Ji Zizhao, don't get cocky. My mother and sister will settle the score with you one day!"
"Is that so?" Ji Zizhao nodded.
Then she paused before sneering, "It's best they do it quickly. I've never been very patient. But don't worry, I won't send them down to accompany you on your journey to the underworld. Even as ghosts, I want you to walk through the gates of hell alone. As for your mother and sister, they will live on perfectly well, living a life worse than death."
With that, she turned and left with Mo Hen.
Even if Gu Peilan and Ji Renran hadn't acted, the blood of vengeance for her mother's death had already splattered upon them.
As long as she, Ji Zizhao, was alive, she would ensure that Gu Peilan and Ji Renran would never find a way to die!
At this time, the pleasure house had opened for business. Fortunately, the madam had the good sense to keep the patrons on the first floor lobby for the moment.
However, as Ji Zizhao, Mo Hen, and Xue Ying were about to head downstairs, they encountered a woman, accompanied by her maid, slowly ascending the stairs.
The woman was exceptionally beautiful, her every smile and gesture exuding a charm that was alluring yet refined.
The maid, seeing someone descending the stairs, immediately frowned and rebuked, "Who dares to be so ill-mannered? Not yielding the way for the courtesan queen to ascend, and having the audacity to block her path head-on?"
Xuetou and Mo Hen were not adept at verbal confrontations. Seeing the maid directly accusing them, they both stepped forward. Although they said nothing, the aura radiating from them was enough to make the maid stagger back a few steps.
The courtesan queen, instead, smiled. She looked at Ji Zizhao and said, "I didn't realize women could also frequent pleasure houses. You were the ones who were impolite, and now you intend to play the victim?"
Ji Zizhao, her identity not revealed, remained unperturbed. She said calmly, "Since you know I am a woman, you should know that the rules you use on men are ineffective on me. Or perhaps you believe all are the same? If so, would you accompany me if I paid?"
The courtesan queen's expression changed. For her to accompany a woman would become a laughing stock if word got out!
"I didn't expect to meet not only a bold one today, but also a sharp-tongued one. I am quite curious, which young lady from a prominent family is so arrogant?"
Ji Zizhao had no intention of revealing her identity and had not expected to encounter the courtesan queen. As she was contemplating how to extricate herself, she suddenly heard hurried footsteps ascending from downstairs.
The madam, having overheard the conversation and sensing that something was amiss, rushed upstairs. Upon seeing the scene, she nearly fainted from shock. She quickly pulled the courtesan queen behind her and said to Ji Zizhao, "The staff here were ill-mannered and have disturbed our esteemed guest. We beg your pardon."
The courtesan queen was surprised that the madam sided with an outsider. She looked at Ji Zizhao with suspicion, clearly trying to deduce her identity.
Ji Zizhao did not wish to prolong the entanglement. "It's just a minor matter, no need to dwell on it."
"Esteemed guest is gracious. Please, this way." The madam hastily bowed and personally escorted Ji Zizhao downstairs. Only after Ji Zizhao and her entourage had exited through the back door did she heave a heavy sigh of relief.
Seeing this, the courtesan queen, her face stern, huffed, "Mama, what are you doing? Why indulge her arrogance and undermine your own authority?"
The madam turned to the courtesan queen, her expression turning grim. "Don't say I didn't warn you. If you wish to continue being the courtesan queen here, then mind your tongue. Not a single word of today's incident is to be spoken."
The courtesan queen felt a surge of indignation. "Mama is so scared; is she royalty?"
The madam let out a cold snort. "Indeed, royalty. Can you afford to offend them?"
The courtesan queen hadn't expected her casual remark to be so accurate. She was just a lowly courtesan queen; how could she afford to offend such important figures from the imperial family? Though unwilling, she dared not say anything further.
That evening, news spread of Ji Zongyou's death at the pleasure house.
Upon hearing the news, Gu Peilan immediately rushed to the Zui Chun Lou with her attendants. Seeing her son's tragic state, having stuffed himself to death and vomited blood, she wept uncontrollably, demanding that the pleasure house pay with their lives.
The madam knew the truth of the matter and was not afraid of Gu Peilan, telling her to report it wherever she pleased.
Gu Peilan, of course, would not let it go. She directly reported it to the authorities. However, after the coroner's examination of the body, it was concluded that Ji Zongyou had indeed stuffed himself to death. Consequently, no matter how much Gu Peilan fussed, she could not stir up any further trouble. Instead, she became the laughingstock of the city.
Having given birth to a son who could stuff himself to death, how intelligent could the mother be?
Thus, amidst the ridicule of the common people, Ji Zongyou was hastily buried. On the day of the funeral, although the Old Madam did not attend, she remained in her room, lost in thought for a long time.
After all, he was her grandson, whom she had raised. Her death was naturally difficult to accept. However, she also understood more clearly that a useless person like Ji Zongyou, who only knew how to bring shame upon the family, was better off dead.
Ji Renran felt no sorrow at Ji Zongyou's death; rather, she felt a sense of liberation.
After Ji Zongyou's funeral, she conveyed the news to the Fifth Prince, hoping to garner his sympathy. However, the Fifth Prince, who was already in a state of utter chaos, had no inclination to entertain her.
Currently, the Seventh Prince had recovered from his serious illness, and the Emperor had refocused his attention on the campaign in Tonglin. The ministers in the imperial court were all shrewd individuals, and at this juncture, they were unwilling to take sides easily, preferring to wait and see the turn of events.
After all, if the Seventh Prince were to achieve a great victory this time, his position would be drastically different from before.