Everyone in the imperial city knew that the second daughter of the Ji family possessed unparalleled skill with her whip.
Upon seeing the whip fall to the ground, the eunuch turned ashen with fear. "Quickly, someone! The second daughter of the Ji family is defying the imperial decree!"
In an instant, the guards standing behind took a step forward, drawing the sabers at their waists.
The sharp blades glinted coldly under the sun, making one's heart pound.
Second Madam Yu Fenglan grabbed Ji Zixiu's sleeve, pulling her down with all her might. "What are you trying to do? Are you mad? Hurry and kneel!"
"Kneel?"
Ji Zixiu flung her mother's hand away, sneering. "These people are going to send us off to become military prostitutes, and we're supposed to kneel and be grateful to them?"
The eunuch shrieked, "Second daughter of the Ji family, think carefully. If you truly defy the decree, I will order someone to take your life right here!"
Ji Zixiu gripped her nine-section whip and slammed it heavily onto the ground.
"Crack!"
A winding crack appeared on the ground beneath her feet. Sudan Novel Network
"Eunuch, are you out of your mind? An imperial decree is meant to be just, so people will willingly accept it. But you people, you slander the men of the Ji family with your words! And you even frame the women of the Ji family! Why should I show you deference and put on a smile!"
Ji Zixiu dared to resist because she always believed the men of the Ji family were innocent.
The third daughter, Ji Ziyan, kneeling behind, stared blankly at her second sister standing alone, her heart pounding.
Among the younger daughters of the Ji family, only the eldest sister had concealed the truth of the tragic deaths of the Ji family's men from the second sister. Yet, no one expected that the second sister would fundamentally disbelieve, from the bottom of her heart, that the Ji family men would be arrogant and obstinate!
This kind of faith, like a belief, could not be shaken by anyone.
Everyone had seen the actions of the Ji family's men. However, in the face of cruel reality, no one dared to continue to firmly believe in the character of the Ji family's men, yet only the second sister…
Unwavering!
Ji Ziyan's eyes welled up with tears of guilt.
Although her second sister was impulsive, how many people could possess such unwavering faith?
At this moment, she suddenly envied her second sister.
Ji Zixiu's sharp retort left the eunuch's face pale and green, his hand trembling with rage as he clutched the imperial decree.
The Ji family's downfall was a foregone conclusion, but the Ji family women, who should have been weeping and wailing, showed no panic at all and instead retorted at him?
Who would believe this if it were told?
"Guards! Guards! The second daughter of the Ji family is defying the imperial decree! Drag her out and behead her immediately, as a warning to others!" The eunuch was so enraged that his voice cracked as he shouted.
Almost instantly, the guards with sabers surrounded Ji Zixiu.
Ji Zixiu stood her ground, calm and composed. She gave a cold smile to the approaching guards. "Do you even deserve to?"
As the words left her lips, she raised her arm and whipped her soft whip towards the guards.
The clashing sound of blades and whip sent chills down one's spine.
Dust swirled with the cool breeze, rising and falling in the Ji family's front courtyard.
Within the time it took an incense stick to burn, all the guards were injured, most lying on the ground groaning in pain. Those still able to stand retreated defensively, no longer daring to approach easily.
The eunuch, who had served in the imperial court for over a decade, had never encountered anyone so audacious.
But looking at Ji Zixiu, who stood her ground, he couldn't defeat her in a fight or win an argument…
The eunuch was so angry he nearly had a heart attack on the spot!
Second Madam Yu Fenglan was terrified to death, shouting like a madwoman, "Ji Zixiu! What exactly do you want? All the women of the Ji family are about to become military prostitutes! But so what? At least we can stay alive! But if you continue to act recklessly, everyone in the Ji family will be buried with you! Do you really want to personally end everyone's lives!"
Faced with such a humiliating imperial decree, who wouldn't want to resist?
But with imperial power above all, how could they, mere women, resist!
Ji Zixiu looked at her mother's near-崩溃 state, paused for a long moment, and finally lowered her soft whip.
Even when she had broken her hands or feet during martial arts training, she had never shed a tear, but now her eyes were red as she looked at her mother, taking a small sniffle. "Daughter never intended to bring disaster upon the Ji family. Daughter just cannot forget Father's teachings. As a member of the Ji family, one must act uprightly, stand tall, have an iron will, and possess great integrity, to be worthy of the surname Ji! Daughter does not wish to be a military prostitute, nor does daughter believe that the men of the Ji family are as contemptible as they claim…"
Seeing that Ji Zixiu had no intention of continuing to fight, the eunuch quickly signaled to the guards beside him. "Quickly, seize the second daughter of the Ji family!"
Ji Zixiu's gaze swept over the charging guards, but she calmly looked at her mother and offered a faint smile. "This daughter is unfilial. Mother must take good care of herself in the future."
Second Madam Yu Fenglan's heart skipped a beat.
Ji Zixiu once again whipped out her soft whip, holding the guards back at bay.
"Do you even deserve to fight me?"
Ji Zixiu's eyes held an unyielding cold light, her entire being exuding an awe-inspiring aura. "We, the Ji family, live with dignity. Can we die disgracefully? Remember this, all of you. Today, I die because I miss the men of my Ji family, not because I have succumbed to your distortions of right and wrong!"
As she finished speaking, Ji Zixiu suddenly turned and charged towards a pillar behind her.
With speed as swift as the wind and power devoid of any reservation, she had resolved to die!
"Second sister, no, don't!"
"Zixiu!"
"Xiu Jie'er!"
Cries of alarm echoed through the Ji family's front courtyard.
A figure suddenly rushed towards Ji Zixiu, spreading their arms to shield her.
Ji Zixiu collided with the figure, causing them to let out a muffled groan and fall to the ground.
Even so, the figure held onto Ji Zixiu tightly, not allowing her to do anything foolish.
Ji Zixiu was both shocked and stunned, tumbling to the ground with the figure.
The Ji family members finally reacted, and only then did they clearly see that the figure was Ji Ziyan!
Ji Zixiu looked at her third sister, who had blocked her with her body, in disbelief. "Are you crazy? Do you know that if I hadn't held back my strength, it would have been you who died!"
Ji Ziyan hugged her second sister tightly. "Second sister has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. How could you bear to kill me?"
Ji Zixiu's eyes welled up with tears. "Why are you stopping me? I'd rather die than become a military prostitute!"
Ji Ziyan whispered to her second sister, "You won't. I believe eldest sister will find a way!"
Ji Zixiu was taken aback.
With imperial power above all, who dared to resist? Even Ji Zizhao, how could she?
But upon thinking of that perpetually calm and self-assured figure, the words of rebuttal were stuck in her throat.
Ji Ziyan looked at her second sister, who had relaxed in her embrace, and breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
Eldest sister will find a way, she definitely will.
The Ji family's madams listened to the sisters' conversation, their hearts filled with bitterness.
It was only at this moment that they belatedly realized that the name Ji Zizhao had become someone everyone silently relied upon.
However…