The lustrous, round eight-treasure box held a scattering of jewelry.
Most of the items inside had been crafted by the elder master of the Ji family.
Whenever the old master returned from campaigns abroad, he would always bring back some jewelry and trinkets. While they might not have been particularly valuable, they were a gesture of affection for the younger daughters of the Ji family.
Thus, the old madam was no stranger to the contents of the box.
However, at this moment, she overlooked everything else in the box, fixated solely on a jade hairpin, lost in thought.
The hairpin, adorned with fingernail-sized gems, showcased a multitude of techniques: carving, gold filigree, beading, inlay, and kingfisher feather embellishment. It was exquisite, delicate, grand, and beautiful, symbolizing auspiciousness and peace.
The old madam had seen this jade hairpin before, but certainly not on Ji Zizhao.
In fact, this jade hairpin should not have been in the Ji family's possession at all!
As the old madam’s fingers trembled uncontrollably while caressing the jade hairpin in the box, her face turned pale, as if facing an impending disaster.
"Are you sure it was Zhaojie’er who sent it?" the old madam asked, struggling, as she looked at Madam Xu.
Madam Xu nodded truthfully.
The next moment, the old madam clutched the jade hairpin in the box tightly.
Was Zhaojie’er sending this item at this juncture a genuine act of filial piety or a threat?
Madam Zhao, who was kneeling on the ground, waited for a long time without a response. She had no choice but to speak again, "Old Madam, as long as you nod your head and allow the third young lady to go to Fengtian Prefecture to clear her name, my Zhao family will certainly remember the Ji family's good deeds. I will ensure Liang’er dotes on the third young lady."
As Madam Zhao spoke, she rose to her feet on her own accord.
In her eyes, the Ji family had no reason to refuse.
The old madam looked at the jade hairpin in her hand again. When she raised her head, her entire demeanor had changed. "Madam Zhao, please return. The children have grown, and they will handle their own affairs. I, an old woman, am no longer able to interfere in their matters."
Madam Zhao: "..."
Had the old madam of the Ji family taken the wrong medicine?
"Old Madam, weren't you fine just now? Are you truly willing to watch the Ji family fall into eternal damnation with your own eyes?" Madam Zhao's eyes widened in disbelief.
The old madam, however, looked at Madam Xu beside her. "See the guest out."
As Madam Xu pulled her along, Madam Zhao walked reluctantly towards the door, wanting to continue her persuasion. However, the old madam's gaze was fixed intently on the jade hairpin in her hand, no longer looking at her.
Madam Zhao: "..."
So...
Had her Zhao family truly lost to a box of jewelry?!
The old madam naturally hoped for a situation where both sides benefited, by doing the Zhao family a favor and keeping a fallback for herself.
But now, she had to personally sever that fallback with the Zhao family.
This jade hairpin was sent to her at this particular time, not earlier or later. She truly couldn't fathom whether Zhaojie’er was subtly threatening her or genuinely showing filial piety.
However, regardless of the intent, the old madam couldn't afford to gamble!
This was her only remaining retreat.
"Madam Xu, go to Zhaoyuan later and ask Zhaojie’er where she obtained this jade hairpin."
"Yes."
Madam Zhao left the Ji residence, her face covered in dust. Just as she was thinking of returning home for a cup of tea to calm her anger, she saw Zhang Ji and several guards blocking the entrance to the Zhao family's residence the moment she alighted from her carriage.
Upon seeing Madam Zhao, Zhang Ji immediately led his men in loudly denouncing Zhao Liang's beastly actions, listing dozens of crimes such as the Zhao family harboring assassins, framing others, and now still clinging to their third young lady.
Several burly men, like gate gods, completely blocked the entrance to the Zhao family, wailing mournfully and their cries echoing to the heavens. As their speeches reached their emotional peak, they wept uncontrollably.
This extraordinary scene quickly attracted many onlookers.
Madam Zhao was both shocked and fearful. She was even more worried that if Zhang Ji and the others continued speaking, they might reveal the Zhao family's earlier attempt to frame the eldest young lady of the Ji family. However, she dared not silence these men whose arms were thicker than her thighs. In the end, to appease the situation, she gritted her teeth and wrote a letter of divorce on behalf of Zhao Liang.
Watching Zhang Ji and his men head to Fengtian Prefecture with the divorce letter, Madam Zhao collapsed on the ground, completely drained of strength.
At noon, the streets of the Imperial City teemed with people.
A carriage bearing the Ji family's insignia slowly stopped outside the Xuanyig Pavilion.
Qingzhu helped her young lady out of the carriage and whispered, "Madam He just sent word that the old madam has tacitly agreed to the third young lady staying with the Ji family. Madam Zhao and the old madam parted on unhappy terms."
Ji Zizhao's expression was calm, as expected.
She was not unaware of her grandmother's machinations, even if she didn't voice them.
She hadn't been entirely oblivious to her grandmother's covert support over the years.
While it wasn't yet time to reveal everything, using the matter of her third sister was a good way to remind her grandmother, lest her grandmother continue to treat everyone as fools.
Inside the Xuanyig Pavilion, there were many patients.
Chen Gang was pacing restlessly in the clinic when he saw Ji Zizhao enter.
The Xuanyig Pavilion had several private rooms for examining and treating patients. Chen Gang, feigning the role of a receptionist, led Ji Zizhao into the innermost room and then firmly closed the door.
Ji Zizhao sat by the window, resting her delicate wrist on the cloth pillow on the table. "Did you send for me in such a hurry because there's a problem with the supply?"
The four major medical halls had large demands for medicine. A regular medicine merchant would deliver goods every two months.
Chen Gang sat opposite Ji Zizhao, pretending to take her pulse as he placed his fingers on her fair wrist. His fingers trembled uncontrollably. "It's not a supply issue. It's that the four major medical halls were robbed yesterday."
Ji Zizhao frowned.
The Shenghuang City stood at the foot of the Emperor, and the city's security was a matter of paramount importance.
Moreover, with various merchants and households having just paid their taxes, the claim of a robbery seemed particularly suspicious.
"I've already contacted the other shopkeepers. The medicines and ingredients have been thoroughly checked and nothing is missing. However, the account books of several medical halls show signs of being examined."
Chen Gang knew that his "employer" had been living in hiding for many years. If not for the extreme suspiciousness of this matter, he would never have rushed to ask his employer to come to the medical hall in person.
Ji Zizhao carefully considered Chen Gang's words, feeling as if she had overlooked something.
After a moment, she suddenly asked, "Has the Jin family's medical hall been making any moves recently?"
Chen Gang was puzzled but replied truthfully, "The four major medical halls replaced Astragalus membranaceus with American ginseng, and the effect was remarkable. Other medical halls followed suit. The Jin family's purchase of Astragalus membranaceus became completely unsalable. Some time ago, I heard that the Jin family was in quite a stir, saying that the young master of the Xuanping Marquis’s mansion had punished the shopkeepers in the stores. However, since then, the Jin family's shops have been quiet."
Ji Zizhao nodded and instructed Qingzhu beside her, "Go and check both the Xuanping Marquis's mansion and the Jin family's shops. Report immediately if you find any irregularities, no matter how small."
Qingzhu took her orders and left.
Chen Gang carefully pondered, "Does the employer suspect the Jin family members of dishonesty?"
Ji Zizhao replied, "I hope I am mistaken."
The Xuanping Marquis’s mansion was Ji Ruyun's husband's family.
Ji Zizhao had no particular affection for Ji Ruyun, but neither did she harbor any hatred.
If this matter was not instigated by the Jin family's shop or the son of the Xuanping Marquis, it would be for the best. With the Jin family's remaining assets, it would be enough for Ji Ruyun and Jin Xueyan to live off their inheritance until old age. But if it was related to the Jin family, then she would have to apologize to her aunt.
The four major medical halls represented all her hard work and were a lifeline for the people of the Imperial City.
She would not allow anyone to scheme against them.