"It's kind of you, Mother, to prepare so thoroughly," Ji Zizhao suppressed the chill in her heart and took the brocade box. It wasn't the time to alert the enemy, and her mother couldn't yet accept the grim news about the Ji family. She didn't want to add to her mother's grief.
Seeing Ji Zizhao take the box, First Madam Lin Wanyun finally let out a relieved sigh.
The Ji family was a mess. The best outcome for their daughter was to return to the Fifth Prince's mansion.
Leaving Cloud Courtyard, Ji Zizhao returned to her own residence, Bright Courtyard.
In the courtyard, Madam He was leading the servants in cleaning. Upon seeing their young lady's return, she tacitly led Ji Zizhao to the side room.
As Ji Zizhao stepped inside, she saw the maid she had rescued from the Zhao family earlier, curled up on the bed.
The young maid seemed to harbor hostility towards everyone. Hearing footsteps, she immediately clutched herself tighter, defensively looking towards the door. Upon seeing it was the eldest daughter of the Ji family, tears instantly streamed down her face.
"This servant, Shuiling, greets the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family," Shuiling said, attempting to get up from the bed to kneel.
Ji Zizhao walked to the bedside and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Lie down. Let me check your injuries first."
Shuiling stared blankly at Ji Zizhao, her eyes filled with disbelief.
This was the eldest daughter of the Ji family; how could she tend to the wounds of a lowly servant?
The education Ji Zizhao had received meant she never differentiated between superiors and inferiors. It was only due to the turbulent times she had to tread carefully.
Shuiling's injuries looked shocking but were not fatal.
Shuiling lowered her gaze, watching the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family carefully tending to her wounds, and could no longer hold back her tears.
The world knew the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family as a good-for-nothing. Even she had secretly cursed her, thinking how could such a sheltered young lady who dared not even leave her room be worthy of being the granddaughter of the old Ji family general?
Yet, this very Eldest Daughter of the Ji family now was the most like the old Ji family general.
Mature, steady, experienced, composed, and at ease.
"Don't overthink it. Rest well," Ji Zizhao placed the deed of sale into her trembling palm.
Shuiling looked at the deed in her hand, stunned. She then looked at Ji Zizhao, who was already at the door, and suddenly gritted her teeth, "Eldest Daughter, this servant truly doesn't know who injured the Eldest Granddaughter. This servant only knows that late five nights ago, the First Madam hurried to the Eldest Granddaughter's courtyard. From the next day, the Eldest Granddaughter never left her courtyard. The two dowry maids of the Eldest Granddaughter were called away by the First Madam individually, and for some reason, only one returned in the end."
The matters of the Zhao and Ji families were currently in a volatile state.
Speaking such words at this time could very well lead to her own death.
Yet, Shuiling still spoke.
It was because this Eldest Daughter of the Ji family was worthy!
Ji Zizhao, aware of the dangers, had not asked anything.
Moreover, even if Shuiling hadn't said anything, she would have found out.
Ji Zizhao offered a faint smile, "Stay with me peacefully until all this is over. Since you are loyal to me, I will surely protect your safety."
Shuiling nodded without a doubt.
Leaving the side room, Ji Zizhao asked Madam He to call Zhang Ji to find her at Grace Courtyard.
Zhang Ji arrived quickly. Before Ji Zizhao even reached Grace Courtyard, he was already following her. "This humble one greets the Eldest Daughter."
Ji Zizhao looked up at the brightly lit Grace Courtyard not far away. "Uncle Ji, please help me inquire about two people."
"The Eldest Daughter's command is my duty."
"The two dowry maids accompanying Third Sister, one is named Shui Huan and the other Zi Qiao."
Relying on a family like the Zhao family, who devoured without spitting out bones, to reveal the truth would be exceedingly difficult. Having lived two lives, Ji Zizhao was long accustomed to relying on herself. Thus, she preferred to investigate herself rather than sit in her mansion and wait to be deceived by the Zhao family.
Currently, with one of the Third Sister's dowry maids missing and the other having betrayed her master, they were the most likely to yield clues.
After instructing Zhang Ji, Ji Zizhao returned to Grace Courtyard.
Third Madam Yin Wenying, having heard the doctor's words, had completely recognized and trusted Ji Zizhao's medical skills.
No wonder when the old grandfather was alive, he always said that among his several younger daughters, the eldest daughter was the most capable and steady, even tacitly approving when the eldest daughter did not wish to learn martial arts.
It turned out the old grandfather had already known the eldest daughter was secretly studying medicine!
However, facing Ji Zizhao, who stayed to care for Ji Ziyan, Third Madam Yin Wenying couldn't bring herself to feel close.
She even harbored resentment and blame.
Ji Ziyan was, after all, a member of the Zhao family. Now, the Eldest Daughter had brazenly brought her back. If the Zhao family came to question them, how would the Ji family explain?
If the Zhao family decided to divorce her, what would become of her Ziyan!
The news of the Eldest Madam of the Zhao family being carried back to the Ji family on a stretcher quickly spread throughout Sheng Emperor City.
For a time, when the city's residents passed by the Zhao family's entrance, they would spit to ward off bad luck.
Upon learning of this, the second daughter of the Zhao family, Zhao Xiuying, wept inconsolably in her residence.
Now that the residents of the main city avoided the Zhao family like the plague, who would dare marry her in the future!
Madam Zhao looked at her daughter's swollen, red eyes with a heavy heart.
Zhao Liang stormed in, pointing at his sister's nose and reprimanding her, "Cry, cry! All you do is cry!"
Zhao Xiuying trembled at the harsh words, her heart filled with resentment but not daring to speak it aloud.
Madam Zhao pulled her son aside and gave Zhao Xiuying a look. Zhao Xiuying, startled, quickly fled.
Only after Zhao Xiuying had run out of the courtyard did Madam Zhao release her son's hand and sigh heavily, "I didn't expect the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family to be so difficult to deal with."
Zhao Liang turned and sat on a chair, dismissively saying, "So what if Ji Ziyan was taken away? Mother, don't forget, the doctor explicitly said Ji Ziyan would likely never wake up in this life. Besides, those two dowry maids were dealt with long ago."
Madam Zhao knitted her brows. "Those two maids are indeed no longer a threat. However, you mustn't forget that the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family also took Shuiling from our mansion. With so many people in the household, can you guarantee that Shuiling knows nothing?"
A flicker of guilt flashed in Zhao Liang's eyes, and he gritted his teeth, "That damned slave!"
Madam Zhao's eyes darted around, and she went to her son's side to comfort him. "You don't need to worry. This situation is not without a solution. The Ji family is riddled with problems and doesn't dare to antagonize the Zhao family. As long as you bring Ji Ziyan back, the Ji family won't investigate further."
Zhao Liang's lips curved into a surprised smile, then he slumped again. "How could the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family possibly agree?"
Madam Zhao smiled and patted her son's shoulder. "The Eldest Daughter of the Ji family may not agree, but that doesn't mean everyone else in the Ji family is so unreasonable."
Zhao Liang blinked. "Mother means..."
Madam Zhao nodded. "As long as Ji Ziyan returns to the Zhao family, if the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family continues to make trouble, Ji Ziyan will lose face. At that time, the citizens of the Emperor City will only curse the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family for disregarding sisterly affection. As for what our Zhao family has done... who will bother to inquire further?"
Zhao Liang carefully pondered Madam Zhao's words and soon a smug smile appeared on his face.