More than a hundred wounds, big and small, covered Shui Huan's body. By the time Ji Zizhao had finished treating them, half an hour had passed.
Ji Zizhao tidied up the medicine chest and instructed Shui Ling, who stood by, "If Shui Huan wakes up, you must come to the main house and fetch me."
The brothel had given Shui Huan a potent aphrodisiac to make her accept clients. No matter how forcefully it was dispelled, it would still cause damage to the brain.
Shui Ling paused for a moment. "Does the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family trust me?"
Ji Zizhao smiled and nodded. "Naturally."
Shui Ling had been a mere maidservant in the Zhao family for many years. Not only had she never been trusted, but she had never even been valued.
Watching the retreating back of the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family, Shui Ling's heart ached. To avoid disappointing her benefactor, she resolved to guard Shui Huan's bedside like a vigilant sentinel.
The Eldest Daughter of the Ji family was the first person to value and trust her. She absolutely could not let her benefactor down.
In the courtyard, Qing Zhu waited silently by the door.
Seeing her young lady emerge, she quickly stepped forward. "Zi Qiao is a house-born servant. According to the rules for house-born servants, if one betrays their master, all their relatives are to be beaten to death with sticks. I will beat Madam Xu to death now and send her before Zi Qiao."
Ji Zizhao shook her head. "Madam Xu grew up by Grandmother's side. If Madam Xu is executed, Grandmother will surely intervene."
Her grandmother, at present, harbored other thoughts. She could not afford to go against her, nor could she possibly tear the Zhao family apart to seek justice for her third sister or Shui Huan.
Furthermore, Madam Xu was the only one who could speak to her grandmother. Offending her would bring nothing but harm.
After a long pause, Ji Zizhao suppressed the turmoil in her heart. "Go and invite Madam Xu over. Be sure not to alarm Grandmother."
Qing Zhu nodded and turned to leave the courtyard.
Madam Xu had been in a state of trepidation since the third young lady was brought back to the Ji family. Now, seeing Qing Zhu at her door, she could already guess the general situation without needing Qing Zhu to explain.
When the third young lady returned, she was half-dead. Even if the eldest son of the Zhao family claimed the matter originated with Shui Huan, why hadn't her Zi Qiao returned with her?
A dowry maid was supposed to be by her mistress's side at all times.
With trepidation, Madam Xu followed Qing Zhu to Zhaoyuan and saw that the Eldest Daughter, having washed up, was leaning by the window, reading a book with her head bowed.
Without hesitation, Madam Xu knelt on the ground. "This old servant greets the Eldest Daughter."
Ji Zizhao's gaze did not lift from the book. "How long has Madam Xu been in the Ji family?"
Madam Xu calculated. "Replying to the Eldest Daughter, it has been a full forty years, since Old Madam married into the Ji family."
"Then I have a question I wish to ask Madam Xu." Ji Zizhao turned a page of the book in her hand, paused, and then continued, "The other day, when I went to the Zhao family, Zi Qiao pretended to be the third young lady and framed me. Later, I sent people to investigate carefully and discovered that Zi Qiao had secretly agreed to become the concubine of the eldest son of the Zhao family. Therefore, I wish to ask Madam Xu, how should someone like Zi Qiao be dealt with?"
Madam Xu's entire body trembled, and she almost collapsed onto the ground.
Although she had anticipated something might happen, she never imagined that Zi Qiao would do something like this!
Betraying her master first, then scheming to frame the Eldest Daughter!
If the Ji family's ancestral laws were strictly enforced, not only would Zi Qiao's life be forfeit, but her own life would also be in danger...
"Zi Qiao is young and foolish. Perhaps she was enticed by the Zhao family and went astray. I beg the Eldest Daughter for mercy! This old servant has served Old Madam for many years. If this old servant is gone, what will Old Madam do?" Madam Xu kowtowed and pleaded.
Ji Zizhao tapped the book in her hand with neither haste nor slowness, and cast her eyes down at Madam Xu, who was prostrate on the ground. "Madam Xu need not threaten me with Grandmother. If I were truly concerned about Grandmother, I would not have summoned you here today."
Madam Xu's heart pounded.
Indeed, ever since the Eldest Daughter took the seal of authority, she had always acted with unbridled independence.
"Eldest Daughter, spare my life, spare my life..." Madam Xu was truly terrified now. The sounds of her head hitting the ground echoed with a 'bang, bang!' sound, and soon a large bump formed on her forehead.
Ji Zizhao did not reply. She resumed reading the book in her hands.
In medicine, one must administer the right treatment for the ailment to achieve a cure.
The same applied to managing people; only by breaking their inverse scale could one achieve swift and decisive results.
The Ji family's rules were always severe. If one house-born servant made a mistake, their entire family would be implicated.
Zi Qiao was the flesh and blood born from Madam Xu's womb. How could Madam Xu not cherish and fear her?
Her head hit the ground until she lost consciousness, her ears ringing. Over the years, Madam Xu, relying on her position by Old Madam's side, had never humbled herself so before anyone else.
Now, whether it was due to her advanced age or her skin and flesh becoming more delicate, such shock and pain made Madam Xu feel weak in all her limbs, and her vision began to blur.
But if Madam Xu wanted to survive, she had to continue to grit her teeth and kowtow.
Time passed, and just as Madam Xu felt that she had lost half of her life, she finally heard the Eldest Daughter's voice, light and airy. "Qing Zhu, help Madam Xu to sit down."
Ji Zizhao put down the book and personally walked to Madam Xu, who was trembling all over, her forehead swollen.
Madam Xu trembled violently as she watched the Eldest Daughter, who had suddenly approached her, walk towards her. She was so frightened that she closed her eyes.
If it were anyone else, Madam Xu would not have been afraid.
But this Eldest Daughter was a madwoman. Even Old Madam could not control her. Who wouldn't be afraid?
The expected pain did not come. Instead, a cool, refreshing sensation spread across her swollen forehead.
Madam Xu opened her eyes in surprise and saw the Eldest Daughter personally tending to the wound on her forehead.
Ji Zizhao's voice was gentle, as soothing as her hands tending to the wound. "I was just contemplating how to deal with Zi Qiao appropriately. I didn't expect Madam Xu to be so eager to express her loyalty. I see Madam Xu's loyalty and am very pleased. However, regarding that Zi Qiao..."
Although Madam Xu was by Old Madam's side, even Old Madam had never personally taken care of her.
This feeling of being lifted from the mud to the clouds brought tears to Madam Xu's eyes.
"Regarding Zi Qiao's matter, Eldest Daughter, there is no need to show mercy. Deal with her as you see fit." Madam Xu steeled her heart. After this ordeal of life and death, she had come to understand. When the third young lady was sent back, she was nearly dead. No matter why Zi Qiao had betrayed her master, it was a capital offense.
Today, it was the Eldest Daughter who sought her out and preserved her dignity. If this matter were to be brought up again in the future, even Old Madam would have difficulty protecting her.
"Madam Xu has served Grandmother faithfully for many years, both in hardship and in labor. Though I am untalented, I always remember Madam Xu's kindness. The matter of Zi Qiao will be left to Madam Xu to handle personally. In this way... even if someone brings it up again in the future, Madam Xu will be able to prove her innocence."
With such straightforward words, if Madam Xu still didn't understand, she would have lived all these years in vain.
"This old servant thanks the Eldest Daughter for her consideration, thank you, Eldest Daughter..." Madam Xu quickly stood up, intending to kneel on the ground again.
Ji Zizhao steadied Madam Xu's wavering body and instructed Qing Zhu, "The elderly should not stay up late and worry themselves. Take Madam Xu back to rest."
Qing Zhu nodded, took Madam Xu's arm, and led her out the door.