Xie Jingxi, finding a target for his anger, immediately ordered Ren Jun, "Kill! Kill this dog blocking our way for me!"
Ren Jun obeyed, leaped from the carriage, and with one stroke, ended the life of the Jin family's shopkeeper.
This scene left everyone standing outside the flames speechless.
Although Tang Di's methods were somewhat brutal, it had to be said that such a fierce operation had smoothly shifted the Second Prince's attention and hatred to the Jin family.
Wang Can nudged Chen Gang beside him and pointed to Tang Di's group, asking, "Who are they?"
Before Chen Gang could answer, Tang Di walked over, "The situation is urgent and we can't discuss details. However, you can rest assured, now that we've taken this on, we will see it through to the end."
Chen Gang understood; they didn't want to reveal their identities.
With no other choice, he looked to the most senior among them, "Old Sun, what do you think?"
Sun Zhiting, "..."
Don't ask me, my tooth hurts.
Zhang Ji could tell Tang Di wanted to distance the Four Great Medical Halls. "It's best for you to return first. Otherwise, if there's any movement in the Imperial City tomorrow, it might arouse suspicion."
Chen Gang nodded, also feeling that it was the best time for them to retreat. After all, they were just doctors, better at treating illnesses and dispensing medicine.
Tang Di turned back to Zhang Ji behind him.
Zhang Ji, however, did not act rashly. Instead, he sent someone back to deliver a message to his eldest young lady first.
By the time Ji Zizhao received the message, the sky was already faintly brightening.
Thinking of the Fourth Prince's cold and sinister demeanor, it wasn't hard to imagine that his subordinates would also be efficient. However, Ji Zizhao hadn't expected the Four Great Medical Halls to be cleared already.
This was just perfect, saving her the trouble of finding a way to clear the names of the four shopkeepers.
However, Ji Zizhao did not ask Zhang Ji to return.
Although the Fourth Prince had made his move, leaving no room for retreat, Ji Zizhao still had to guard against that man of profound schemes and hidden sharp edges.
As the sky brightened, Ji Zizhao felt no sleepiness. She simply let Xinlan come in to help her wash up.
Last night, Ji Ziyan had returned to Yan Courtyard with red eyes. While it could be hidden from the others in the manor, it couldn't be hidden from Lin Wanyun. Lin Wanyun, who had barely slept all night, thought it over and rushed to Zhao Courtyard early in the morning.
In the inner hall, Ji Zizhao was listlessly sipping winter melon and millet porridge when she saw her mother enter.
Upon seeing Ji Zizhao's face, as pale as thin gold leaf, Lin Wanyun was startled. She quickly went over and held her daughter's hand, asking carefully, "Zi'er, why is your complexion like this? Did the Fifth Prince truly write a letter of divorce?"
Ji Zizhao weakly curled her lips.
Why would such a treacherous being be worth it?
But looking at her mother's worried eyes, Ji Zizhao felt an unbearable bitterness.
There were many things she shouldn't say, but had to. When the Second Prince returned to the city, her third sister would already be overwhelmed just by dealing with the Second Sister. She would need help to manage the other female relatives. Although her mother was a woman, she was ultimately the matriarch of the Ji family.
Waving her hand, she signaled Xinlan to help her out first. Ji Zizhao then clasped her mother's hand. Before she could speak, tears began to stream down her face.
"Don't scare your mother. What happened?" Lin Wanyun's heart was pounding out of her chest.
Her daughter, though usually quiet and reserved, was not delicate or weak. Since taking over the Ji family, she had been capable and independent. Now, to shed tears before even speaking, how could her mother not be worried!
Ji Zizhao's lips trembled. After several choked sobs, she finally spoke, "Mother, do you truly believe that when the men of the Ji family say they died in battle, they died in battle?"
Lin Wanyun's heart constricted. "Zi'er, what do you mean by that?"
Ji Zizhao gritted her teeth. In her tears, she finally revealed everything.
Lin Wanyun had lived within the manor since marrying into the Ji family. When had she ever experienced such things? Now, with every word her daughter spoke, her heart beat faster. By the time she heard the last word, her mind went blank, and half her body felt numb.
After a long while, Lin Wanyun finally regained her breath. "You, are you telling the truth?"
Ji Zizhao cried uncontrollably, large tears falling like pearls from a broken string.
Having lived two lives, she had been born with a clear mind and sharp memories. Therefore, throughout those fifteen years, Ji Zizhao never gave anyone a chance to understand her, but she understood everyone in the manor through observation.
Especially her mother, Lin Wanyun.
Her mother, though seemingly gentle, was most adept at managing affairs. Over the years, although her mother had never acted harshly, she had managed the Ji family meticulously. Within the entire Ji family, whether it was her aunts or the servants below, everyone had always been most convinced by her mother's words.
And the only thing that kept her mother standing firm in the Ji family was one matter...
Everyone depended on her.
Now, the Ji family, appearing harmonious, could not withstand a crisis. Once the wind and clouds surged, the Ji family would surely fall apart. Only with her mother present could the hearts of the Ji family be stabilized.
And she, the more helpless she pretended to be now, the more it would embolden her mother.
Some people were like this: weak against strength, strong against weakness.
Ji Zizhao knew it was cruel, but forcing her mother to stand up now, cruelly, was better than her mother being completely crushed by the brutal truth afterward.
"Don't cry, don't cry..." Lin Wanyun pulled her daughter into her arms. Her warm body was filled with a spirit of determination. "Don't worry, as long as mother is here, the Ji family will not fall into chaos. No matter what burden it is, mother will carry it with you."
Lin Wanyun never imagined that behind the extermination of the Ji family men, there were such filthy and despicable things hidden.
And she, had almost pushed her own daughter into a bottomless abyss!
That Fifth Prince...
How could he be so insidious and cunning!
"Zi'er, don't worry. If the Fifth Prince dares to pester you again, mother will risk her life to get a letter of divorce for you!" Even if her daughter never married, she could never associate with a beast.
Ji Zizhao nodded slightly, not believing the Fifth Prince would come knocking at this time.
She suspected the Fifth Prince was currently pacing restlessly, awaiting news of the Second Prince's return.
She suspected...
That the Sheng Imperial City would soon be turned upside down!
Ji Zizhao's thoughts were correct. Xie Jingzhou was indeed restless in his manor.
Five days ago, Xie Jingzhou had received a secret letter from the Second Prince stating that he was rushing back to the city with a large army. Yet, even now, the Second Prince had not appeared. How could Xie Jingzhou not be anxious?
Luohong's voice suddenly sounded from outside the door, "Your Highness, the palace has sent an invitation for you to enter the palace the day after tomorrow."