Ji Zizhao had, of course, anticipated this.
Like the Second Prince, accustomed to a life of luxury, he would naturally reveal his identity to save his life when faced with danger.
It was a pity, however, that those vagrants lurking around Temple Street, perpetually hungry and poorly clothed, illiterate and ignorant, would never recognize the Second Prince's entourage.
A person's knowledge determined their entire outlook. For those who couldn't even secure a meal, symbols of power were but a joke.
In Luoyi, with the Ji family's devoted protection, the Second Prince could brazenly scheme from behind their shield. Now, it was time for him to taste the bitter fruits of his own actions.
Lian Ju's eyes fluttered open, and she saw her mistress changing her bandages. "Miss..."
Ji Zizhao gently placed a hand on Lian Ju's shoulder. "Just rest."
Though the wounds on Lian Ju's body had not fully healed, her complexion had improved considerably. Yet, every time she opened her eyes, the sight of the Ji family's men piled up like mountains would send a suffocating pain through her chest.
"The eldest young master was gravely wounded. Even when we arrived, he was… but the more than ten bloody gashes on his body were still glaringly apparent! The old general's body was cleaved in two. If it weren't for the soldiers who, with some conscience, placed the bodies of the other Ji family generals beside the old general, I fear… it would have been impossible to identify which corpse was the old general's!"
Lian Ju's eyes were red-rimmed, her voice a furious growl filled with indignation.
Ji Zizhao silently bandaged Lian Ju's wounds, her fair fingers utterly devoid of warmth.
The hatred in her heart burned like a raging inferno, threatening to consume her completely before it would be appeased.
"Miss, all those who returned with us have been bought off by the Second Prince. For the Ji family to reclaim their honor will be exceedingly difficult!" Lian Ju's anger overwhelmed her, and a mouthful of blood gushed out.
Ji Zizhao swiftly drew a few silver needles from her pouch.
One was inserted into Lian Ju's chest, followed by others strategically placed at the nape of her neck. Soon, Lian Ju's eyes darkened, and she fell back into a deep sleep.
Behind her, a stifled sob could be heard.
Ji Zizhao picked up a soft cloth, dampened it, and gently wiped the bloodstains from Lian Ju's lips. She then pulled the thin blanket over Lian Ju…
Once everything was done, she turned around and saw Ji Ziyan, her hands covering her mouth, tears streaming down her face.
Ji Ziyan had wept through the entire night after reading the military dispatch. She thought she had prepared herself for everything, but upon seeing the blood-spitting Lian Ju and hearing those cruel, brutal words…
She realized that what had transpired in Luoyi was far more bloody and savage than she had ever imagined.
Ji Zizhao walked into the inner hall and looked at her third sister, whose face was streaked with tears. She spoke softly, "You're here?"
Her voice was hoarse, as if ground by sand, her pale face devoid of color in the candlelight.
"Eldest sister, I'm so sorry, I'm late." Ji Ziyan's tears welled up again. The overwhelming guilt made it difficult for her to stand. She rushed to kneel on the ground.
She had spent a whole night processing everything that had happened, moving from shock to acceptance, and then to sorrow. But she had forgotten that while she was lost in her grief, events were still relentlessly unfolding, and it was her elder sister who was stopping them.
It was her elder sister who bore everything, buying her a sliver of breathing room.
It was her elder sister who carried all the burdens, providing a brief period of peace for the Ji family.
But…
Her elder sister didn't even have time to grieve, let alone weep.
Ji Zizhao grasped Ji Ziyan's hands firmly and pulled her to stand before her. Her ice-cold fingers possessed an irresistible strength. "Now is not the time for grief or self-blame, third sister. I need you to stand with me."
Ji Ziyan nodded resolutely. "Eldest sister, just command me. I will not disappoint you."
Currently, trapping the Second Prince at Phoenix Mountain was merely a delaying tactic.
Frankly, she could hold the Second Prince for a while, but not forever.
Sooner or later, the Second Prince would arrive at the imperial city with grim tidings.
Ji Zizhao detested the one who had caused the deaths of all the Ji family men. In fact, her hatred was boundless!
But now, she had to force herself to remain calm. Impulsiveness would only push the remaining women of the Ji family into an abyss of despair. Only through calmness and meticulous planning could she exact bloody retribution from those who owed the Ji family.
"In a few days, the Second Prince will return to the city with his army. By then, you must keep a close eye on second sister. Remember, do not let her cause any trouble." Ji Zixiu's temper was too straightforward. Upon seeing the bodies of the Ji family men, she would undoubtedly lose control. This was why Ji Zizhao had temporarily suppressed the truth and not informed everyone.
To bring down the Second Prince would not be achieved through mere clamor from the Ji family.
"If that's the case, Eldest sister has thought of everything?" Ji Ziyan asked in a hoarse voice, a glimmer of hope appearing in her despairing eyes.
"We still have to wait."
Justice was a simple word, but in this corrupt era of power, it was often harder to attain than reaching the heavens.
Ji Ziyan trembled, the hope in her eyes slowly fading. "But... what if we wait in vain?"
Ji Zizhao's dark eyes were clear and sharp, a fierce glint burning beneath the anger, difficult to withstand. "If we wait in vain, we will net them all, and perish together!"
Ji Ziyan nodded heavily, her grip tightening on her elder sister's cold hand.
She knew, just by imagining it, how difficult this path would be. But thankfully, she was not alone… As long as her eldest sister was there, she felt a sense of peace.
Even in death, she could face it with a smile.
The night was deep, and the study in the Fourth Prince's mansion was brightly lit.
Xie Jinglan, leaning back behind his desk, read a letter. His refined face flickered in the candlelight.
"Reporting to Fourth Prince, this letter was delivered to the study through the mansion's servants and maids, one by one. Thirteen servants were involved in this matter. It is my oversight; I beg for your punishment." Tang Di knelt on one knee on the ground, his tone filled with self-reproach.
Xie Jinglan's expression was placid, his emotions unreadable.
He did not recognize the handwriting on the letter, but at the very bottom, Ji Zizhao's name was openly inscribed.
It was clear that the sender not only was unafraid of him investigating but had also openly revealed their identity.
Xie Jinglan had to admit that this eldest daughter of the Ji family possessed courage. Not only did she dare to block the Second Prince at Phoenix Mountain outside the imperial city, but she also dared to openly inform him of everything.
He rose and walked to the window, his long, narrow eyes gazing in the direction of Phoenix Mountain.
In the dark night, flickering flames were faintly visible.
"It seems Phoenix Mountain is on fire. You will now take your men and secretly head out of the city to douse it with several buckets of oil. Ensure you prevent my second brother from returning to the imperial city."
"Yes, your subordinate understands."
Tang Di took his leave, but Xie Jinglan remained by the window.
This letter, while appearing to ask for a favor, was actually laced with a strong sense of probing.
Ji Zizhao's actions against the Second Prince at this time suggested she had likely guessed the truth behind the defeat in Luoyi.
If he were to intervene, it would prove his detachment from the Luoyi incident.
If so, since he was uninvolved, he naturally had to act. The struggle for the throne involved mutual trampling and slaughter.
In this way, he would naturally owe her a debt of gratitude.
Conversely, if he did not intervene, Ji Zizhao could infer that he was in league with his second brother.
It was likely that…
While sending him this letter, Ji Zizhao had already prepared for a decisive confrontation, even if it meant mutual destruction.