As everyone hadn't had time to react, Ji Zizhao quickly pulled out the silver needles she carried with her from her sleeve and plunged them into several major acupoints on Ji Ziyan's body.
Her movements were swift and her hand steady.
After all the needles were in place, Ji Zizhao finally let out a slight sigh of relief.
While it couldn't cure the condition, it could at least temporarily control the injuries.
"You, what are you doing!" The doctor looked at Ji Zizhao, who was fumbling by the bedside, with a hint of panic in his eyes.
Madam Zhao seized the opportunity to look over and immediately berated, "Eldest Daughter of the Ji family, how can you be so venomous? Not only did you harm your own sister, but you also implicated our Zhao family's descendants. Are you now planning to silence us by killing someone in front of us!"
Ji Zizhao's sharp gaze fell upon Madam Zhao.
Madam Zhao felt a wave of unease under the scrutiny, but she turned to grip Grand Tutor Zhao's arm, "My lord, you must seek justice for Ziyan today! Although Ziyan is a daughter of the Ji family, she is also a wife of our Zhao family. For years, I have treated Ziyan as my own daughter. I never expected the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family to... to want Ziyan to die with her unborn child!"
The people in the courtyard listened to Madam Zhao's tearful lament and secretly envied Ji Ziyan.
No matter how well-matched a marriage was, once a woman married into her husband's family, everything depended on the husband's family's favor. Now, Madam Zhao was crying with such heart-wrenching grief; she truly seemed to regard the Third Daughter of the Ji family as her own child.
However, those who were feeling indignant on behalf of Ji Ziyan and cursing Ji Zizhao in their hearts at this moment had no idea that Madam Zhao, who was crying as if the world was ending, was actually overjoyed.
Madam Zhao dared to frame Ji Zizhao so brazenly because she was certain that Ji Ziyan would be unable to speak.
Once Ji Ziyan breathed her last, the entire matter would be without proof.
At that time, not only would the truth be completely hidden, but the Ji family, wary of Ji Zizhao being labeled a murderer, would have to abandon any pursuit against the Zhao family.
"Madam Zhao is indeed correct. My third sister has indeed lost her child and did indeed fall into the water, but all of this happened five days ago." A calm voice suddenly rang out.
Madam Zhao, who had been inwardly gloating, suddenly looked up and met Ji Zizhao's eyes, which were as deep as an abyss.
Madam Zhao hadn't expected Ji Zizhao to be so difficult to deal with. Gritting her teeth, she said, "Is the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family resorting to distortion to clear her name! Ziyan falling into the water was witnessed by our household servants. Is the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family not afraid of our Zhao family reporting this to the authorities by speaking such falsehoods now!"
"Bruised and swollen flesh, obstruction by cold, poor circulation of qi and blood, swelling of the back of the head, delirium, high fever, and multiple fractures and dislocations. If you truly report this to the authorities, Madam Zhao, are you confident you can explain it clearly?" Ji Zizhao's face was stern, her gaze icy, and her words sharp.
With outsiders present, she couldn't lift the thin quilt covering her third sister. Yet, merely by touch, she could imagine, even with her eyes closed, what her third sister had endured in this Zhao household!
There were dozens of wounds on her body, barely able to be felt by touch, and the large swelling on the back of her head...
It was evident that Ji Ziyan had suffered inhumane beatings!!
No wonder the Zhao family had sent an invitation to the Ji family, no wonder Madam Zhao had staged this scene of framing...
Was this kind of misdirection not a sign of guilt and evasion?
Madam Zhao felt a chill run through her entire body, her eyes widening in disbelief.
She knew better than anyone what had happened to Ji Ziyan in the Zhao household, which was why she knew with even more certainty that Ji Zizhao's words were all true!
However, Ji Zizhao had not been present when the incident occurred. How could she know the details so precisely?
Madam Zhao stiffened her neck and gritted out, "The doctor is here now. How can you speak such nonsense!"
Ji Zizhao turned her gaze to the young doctor beside her. "Which medical hall are you from?"
The doctor trembled under Ji Zizhao's sharp gaze and quickly lowered his head. "I, I am from Miaoshou Zhai."
Ji Zizhao narrowed her eyes slightly. "Please trouble Madam Zhao to send someone to Miaoshou Zhai to invite a doctor over."
Madam Zhao acted as if she had heard a fairy tale.
Miaoshou Zhai was one of the four major medical halls in Sheng Huang City. Normally, one had to queue up to have a doctor from there make a house call. How could a mere good-for-nothing summon one with a few words?
Grand Tutor Zhao frowned and questioned, "What do you take our Zhao family for, Eldest Daughter of the Ji family?"
Ji Zizhao did not back down. "I merely wish to verify the origin of this doctor. Yet, Grand Tutor Zhao impedes me. Does the Zhao family harbor some unspeakable business?"
Grand Tutor Zhao: "..."
Did her mouth eat arsenic?
How could it be so venomous!
There were still guests standing in the courtyard. Even though Grand Tutor Zhao was unwilling, to prove the Zhao family's innocence, he still ordered a servant to quickly go to Miaoshou Zhai to invite someone.
Seeing this, the young doctor was so frightened he almost knelt to the ground, looking at Madam Zhao in terror.
Madam Zhao also hadn't expected Ji Zizhao to be so difficult to fool, her hand tightening on the armrest beside her.
Seeing Ji Zizhao stop the servant again and hand over her Ji family eldest daughter's jade token to the servant, Madam Zhao, who had been trembling with fear, soon calmed down.
A hint of a mocking smile even appeared at the corner of her lips!
What kind of place was Miaoshou Zhai? How could a good-for-nothing be able to invite them?
The servant had already gone to invite someone, but Madam Zhao's mouth did not stop. She cried and wailed, shouting that the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family had attempted murder and was now delaying time, not only killing her unborn grandchild but now intending to silence her own sister.
Her words were full of righteous indignation, her expression tragically mournful.
Grand Tutor Zhao clenched his fist, inwardly resolving to have this wicked Ji family member sent to Fengtian Prefecture for investigation today!
Ji Zizhao ignored Madam Zhao's lamentations, her dark eyes scanning the room and its surroundings, but she found no sign of the maids.
The maids who had accompanied her third sister were Zi Qiao and Shui Huan. Shui Huan was nowhere to be seen. If this Shui Huan had not also betrayed her master, then perhaps...
"Someone from Miaoshou Zhai is here!"
In the courtyard, someone exclaimed, and everyone in the room was jolted.
The guests in the courtyard, who had been inwardly cursing the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family for overestimating herself, were now wide-eyed in astonishment.
He, what had they seen...
Not only had Miaoshou Zhai sent someone, but even more so!
For a moment, everyone in the courtyard looked towards the room with great curiosity.
Who exactly was this Eldest Daughter of the Ji family?
How could she play an ace card right from the start!
Led by the servant, a middle-aged man walked into the room. He wore a straight brown robe and carried himself with an air of distinction.
As soon as Grand Tutor Zhao saw the newcomer, he quickly stood up. "Shopkeeper Wang, why have you come in person?"
"I heard someone was impersonating my Miaoshou Zhai to deceive people, so I had to come and see for myself," Wang Can said, glancing casually at Ji Zizhao, who was sitting nearby, and wiping the sweat from his brow.
The household's jade token had been sent to Miaoshou Zhai, how could he not come!
Madam Zhao's body swayed, almost falling from her chair.
The shopkeeper of Miaoshou Zhai!
How was this possible?!