The entire courtyard watched in stunned silence as the eldest daughter of the Ji family, carrying the unconscious third daughter, hurried towards the exit.
Seeing Ji Ziyan's comatose state, the noble ladies who had just envied her for finding a good mother-in-law couldn't help but feel apprehensive. What misfortune had befallen the third daughter of the Ji family to be bound to such a family that devoured people without spitting out bones?
Xie Jinglan watched Ji Zizhao's receding figure, his expression silent and unreadable.
Zhao Liang, who had been standing in the courtyard, finally reacted. He rushed to his father's side and lowered his voice, "Father, we absolutely cannot let the eldest daughter of the Ji family take her away. Now that Ji Ziyan is unconscious, if the Ji family uses this opportunity to twist the truth, our Zhao family will truly be unable to explain ourselves!"
Zhao Liang certainly couldn't let Ji Ziyan leave like this. Once Ji Ziyan woke up…
Wouldn't he be…?!
Grand Tutor Zhao belatedly realized the gravity of the situation and quickly ordered the guards, "Chase them! Stop the eldest daughter of the Ji family!"
In an instant, all the guards converged in the courtyard.
Zhao Liang knew about Qingzhu, who was once a young general under the late master of the Ji family, and dared not confront Qingzhu directly. He immediately led the guards, brimming with anger, towards the back door. His plan was to surround Ji Zizhao and Qingzhu before making a move.
Grand Tutor Zhao, worried about his son, quickly followed with the household servants towards the main entrance.
Ma Jingbo watched the Zhao family's actions, unsure of what to feel.
They had known Zhao Liang for quite some time, yet they had never imagined that Zhao Liang, or even the entire Zhao family, would be so brazen and unreasonable.
Lu Yong was so incensed that he was already clenching his fists. "Fourth Master, should we intervene in this matter?"
Currently, the Emperor's stance towards the Ji family was still unclear. Xie Jinglan ought to remain neutral to protect himself.
However, he couldn't forget the Ji family's eldest daughter's resolute declaration of divorce at the Fifth Prince's mansion that day.
Nor could he forget her composure and reassurance to the Ji family members when her neck was bleeding.
Such a woman, with her grand plans and far-sighted vision, should not have her hands dirtied by the Zhao family.
Xie Jinglan's gaze deepened, and he also walked towards the main entrance of the Zhao residence.
Seeing this, Lu Yong and Ma Jingbo, along with the other young nobles, followed behind Xie Jinglan.
They didn't necessarily want to be enemies with the Zhao family. In fact, their relationship with Zhao Liang was deeper. However, this matter was about the incident itself. The Zhao family had slandered them first and then framed them. To this day, they still hadn't provided an explanation for the third daughter of the Ji family's unconsciousness, yet they were so self-righteously trying to block their path…
With such open hostility and forceful attempts, did the Zhao family still have any shame?
Anyone could see that this was outrageous.
Zhao Liang, leading the guards in pursuit from the back door, did not manage to intercept Ji Zizhao. Instead, he encountered the second daughter of the Ji family, Ji Zixiu, who was looking for her elder sister.
Ji Zixiu, who had been confined to her courtyard, finally saw daylight, only to be surrounded once more.
Ji Zixiu immediately recognized the person leading the group. "Zhao Liang?"
Zhao Liang's grip on his staff tightened, and he defensively looked at Ji Zixiu. "Your Ji family is truly shameless! Not only are you trying to openly abduct Ji Ziyan, but you've also brought reinforcements?!"
Ji Zixiu was speechless.
Had Zhao Liang gone mad? What nonsensical things was he spouting?
Ji Zixiu had no idea what had happened. She had only heard that her eldest sister was here and had come to find her.
However, Zhao Liang, already considering Ji Zixiu as a reinforcement for the Ji family, spoke bluntly, "Ji Ziyan is unconscious. The eldest daughter of the Ji family is indeed wrongly accused, but our Zhao family was unaware of this beforehand. My mother promised to give the Ji family an explanation. Your Ji family is making trouble unreasonably, openly abducting our Zhao family's bride. Where is your Ji family's dignity!"
Ji Zixiu only listened to the key points. So, even though Zhao Liang was spewing venom, she only heard two pieces of information:
Third sister is unconscious!
Eldest sister is wrongly accused!
Ji Zixiu, who was naturally straightforward, was furious upon realizing this.
Her gaze towards Zhao Liang turned ice-cold.
When Zhao Liang saw Ji Zixiu, he thought that by speaking first, he could suppress the Ji family's arrogance. However, he saw that Ji Zixiu's cold face showed no sign of being at a disadvantage. Instead, she…
Drew out the nine-section whip coiled around her waist!
Zhao Liang stumbled back in shock. Everyone in the Sheng Imperial City knew the formidable power of the second daughter of the Ji family's whip. "Second daughter of the Ji family, what are you trying to do?"
Ji Zixiu flicked the whip on the ground, making sharp cracking sounds. "What am I trying to do? Of course, I'm going to beat you, you insane dogs of the Zhao family!"
Zhao Liang gritted his teeth. "Second daughter of the Ji family, you need to think carefully. No matter how you look at it, your Ji family acted rudely today. Our Zhao family kindly invited your Ji family, but your eldest daughter snatched someone first, and now your second daughter is hitting people. If this matter spreads, your Ji family's reputation will be ruined."
Ji Zixiu's eyes blazed with fury, wishing she could burn Zhao Liang through. "You spew such dogshit!"
Ji Zixiu was truly enraged. As she spoke, she swung her whip towards Zhao Liang.
The Ji family was a century-old military clan, and all their children had trained in martial arts under the late master of the Ji family since childhood. Although Ji Zixiu was a woman, she possessed exceptional talent in martial arts from a young age. Zhao Liang, a mere spoiled young master who only knew how to live a life of idleness, was no match for Ji Zizhao.
Soon, the alley was filled with cries of pain.
Under Ji Zixiu's whip, Zhao Liang and his guards scattered in disarray, covering their heads and fleeing.
Grand Tutor Zhao, leading his servants, had just stepped out of the manor. Seeing Qingzhu helping Ji Ziyan onto the carriage, Grand Tutor Zhao hurried forward to block Ji Zizhao.
However, before Grand Tutor Zhao could speak, a guard, his face bruised and swollen, ran over and pointed towards the alley. "Master, Master, disaster! The young master is being beaten!"
Grand Tutor Zhao was shocked. "What did you say!"
From the alley not far away came continuous cries of agony, among which the most miserable was Zhao Liang's.
Grand Tutor Zhao had only one son in his life, whom he had always doted on like his own eye. Upon hearing his son's cries for help, he immediately followed the guard towards the alley.
Seeing this, Qingzhu urgently said to her young lady, "Miss, hurry onto the carriage. This is our chance to leave."
Ji Zizhao nodded. But just as she was about to step onto the carriage, she heard several crisp sounds.
"Crack! Crack! Crack!"
Ji Zizhao knitted her brows, withdrew the stool she had placed on the carriage, and peered into the alley.
That sound was…