Ji Zibi chose to secretly follow her eldest sister back then, out of deep emotion and a sense of having no other choice.
However, at that time, she never imagined that the Ji family would one day be in such a state.
With the Ji family in peril, her eldest sister bearing the heavy burden, how selfish could she be to remain indifferent!
Ji Zibi's heart ached, and she said in a hoarse voice, "I don't want to be a turtle hiding its head in the Ji family. I want to help my eldest sister even more!"
Ji Zizhao understood her younger sister's feelings, but the Ji family was currently under siege, with too many eyes watching from the shadows.
"You've returned at just the right time. I want you to go to Luoyi."
Since it had already been confirmed that the defeat in Luoyi was complex, with both the second and fifth princes involved, once the second prince returned, he would likely give the Ji family no room to breathe. He would then cleverly manipulate the situation and present a distorted version of events to the Emperor to have the Ji family punished.
Ji Zizhao had originally planned to discuss matters with Lian Ju upon her return, but it seemed there was no longer time.
"What is eldest sister suspecting?" Ji Zibi had been in business for many years and had seen many people and things. Therefore, she could guess some things without much thought.
Ji Zizhao suddenly grasped Ji Zibi's hand, her cold fingers tightening bit by bit. Her reddened eyes were filled with immense, bone-chilling hatred. "The battle in Luoyi is full of suspicious points. The military report from Luoyi blatantly accuses the men of the Ji family of being arrogant and acting unilaterally. I have already discovered that the second and fifth princes have secretly colluded with Li Yunxiao. I fear that the men of the Ji family have become sacrifices in some people's power struggle." Sudannovel.com
Ji Zibi's eyes widened in shock.
On her way back, she had wondered how there could have been a complete annihilation...
So that's how it was!
Ji Zizhao's expression grew stern. "Lian Ju has already arrived in Luoyi. I need you to work with her, coordinating from within and without."
Ji Zibi understood her eldest sister's character. If she hadn't found solid evidence, she wouldn't have made such a definitive statement.
Knowing the gravity of the matter, Ji Zibi immediately nodded solemnly. "Eldest sister, rest assured, I will set off immediately!"
"Lian Ju is already investigating for evidence. Upon your arrival in Luoyi, you do not need to rendezvous with Lian Ju. Just bring your people and maintain a wait-and-see attitude. Everything will be done according to my command."
After Ji Zizhao cautiously explained everything, she patted Ji Zibi's shoulder and added, "It's not too late to go back and see Fourth Aunt before you leave. Now that Fourth Uncle is gone, if you delay your return, Fourth Aunt's life will likely be even more difficult."
Ji Zibi's heart warmed, and she nodded with red eyes.
It wasn't until Ji Zibi, with a grim expression, left the Xuan Yi Pavilion that Chen Gang stood up and walked over from inside the room.
"Do you require me to investigate today's matter?" Chen Gang knew that the person in charge had intentionally concealed her identity in recent years. Now that the Ji family was already in such a predicament, it would be bad if their identity were to be known by those with ulterior motives.
"Today's matter is as if it never happened. Tell everyone in the medical hall that if they want to live, they should keep their mouths shut." The Butterfly Gu was indeed vicious, but to refine such a Gu required a substantial investment of wealth.
To put it bluntly, not everyone was qualified to experience the taste of the Butterfly Gu.
The black-clothed men around that man were cautious. They likely hoped even more than she did that this matter would remain unknown.
Chen Gang nodded and cautiously accompanied the person in charge to the back door. Habitually, his mouth couldn't stay idle, and he reported in detail the income and situation of the recent medical halls.
He also specifically mentioned the shops under the Xuān Píng Marquis Mansion.
The four major medical halls had always had dealings with pharmacies in the capital. The shops under the Xuān Píng Marquis Mansion were among them. Everything was fine initially, but the shops under the Xuān Píng Marquis Mansion began to increasingly cut corners, not only shortchanging customers but also mixing stones into medicinal herbs to increase weight.
The shops under the Xuān Píng Marquis Mansion, relying on the backing of the Xuān Píng Marquis, were unafraid even if they were reported to the Feng Tian Prefecture.
Fortunately, after the person in charge learned of this, they spread the news. Now, all the medical halls in the city knew about it and had collectively refused to cooperate with the shops under the Xuān Píng Marquis Mansion.
Even if the Feng Tian Prefecture protected the shops under the Xuān Píng Marquis Mansion, it was useless now. No medical hall was willing to cooperate with them, which was indeed a difficult situation for them.
Ji Zizhao thought of Ji Ruyun's arrogant demeanor that day and felt that it was normal for the shops under the Xuān Píng Marquis Mansion to act in such an overbearing manner.
As the master, so were the servants.
If the upper beams are not straight, how can one expect the lower beams not to be crooked?
When Ji Zizhao returned to the Ji family, it was already past midnight.
The entire Ji family was silent, with only the Shu Yuan where the Fourth Madam resided still lit by a faint candlelight.
Ji Zibi, following her eldest sister's instructions, returned to the Ji family that night to see her mother.
Xiao Jing Shu's tears flowed, unsure whether to cry or laugh. However, after the initial excitement, a worried expression immediately appeared on her face.
Like the other young daughters of the Ji family, Ji Zibi had practiced martial arts from a young age and entered the military camp for training at the age of seven. If it hadn't been for an injury sustained in the military camp, she would never have secretly followed the eldest daughter around.
Xiao Jing Shu knew that the Ji family looked down on the eldest daughter, so she lied and said Ji Zibi was studying business under a master. In reality, even she didn't know what Ji Zibi had been up to with the eldest daughter all these years.
"You returning at this time, is it at the eldest daughter's suggestion?" The Ji family is already in such a state, and everyone wants to avoid trouble. If Ji Zibi returns now, won't she also be subjected to gossip and even punishment from the Emperor?
Ji Zibi, avoiding the main issue, said, "Eldest sister said I should come back to see mother. I will be leaving again shortly."
"Did the eldest daughter really say that?" Xiao Jing Shu was somewhat skeptical. Although Ji Zibi had always been in secret contact with the eldest daughter, she had never had a deep relationship with her.
Ji Zibi took out a stack of silver notes from her embrace and pressed them into her mother's hand. "Last time I wrote, I told mother never to be enemies with eldest sister. Eldest sister is not as incompetent as outsiders say. Furthermore, eldest sister has treated me sincerely all these years, and has never lacked anything. Now the Ji family faces internal and external troubles, mother, you must help eldest sister more."
Xiao Jing Shu was stunned looking at the stack of silver notes. "This is all from eldest daughter?"
Ji Zibi nodded. "This is just the travel money eldest sister gave me last time when I was in Bachuan, for fear I would suffer. I've also saved a lot of money over the years, all deposited in Huitong Money House. If mother needs money, just tell me anytime."
Xiao Jing Shu's eyes widened as she listened.
These silver notes added up to at least several thousand taels...
Who spends their pocket money like this!
She truly didn't realize that the seemingly unremarkable eldest daughter was so wealthy!!