Ji Zizhao recognized it at a glance: it was her grandfather's sleeve!
Although her grandfather held the highest rank of Zheng Yipin in the court, and her uncles and father were all distinguished Third Rank Major Generals, the men of the Ji family had always been prudent with their wealth, dedicating most of their annual salaries to military provisions.
Her grandfather often wore a few washed-out tunics, a memory Ji Zizhao held dear.
Even more so!
The patch on the sleeve was still clearly visible.
She had heard that the Second Prince's first act upon returning to the city was to cause trouble for the Xuanping Marquis's mansion.
And in order to catch the Xuanping Marquis's mansion red-handed, he had preserved the apothecary's corpse for several days, not discarding it even as it began to fester.
Yet, for the men of the Ji family who died fighting for Yu Lin, he had banished their bodies to Luoyi, leaving them to rot in the wilderness!
Ji Zizhao's heart ached with a dull pain, and rage burned within her chest.
She would seek justice for the Ji family.
She would also take the Second Prince's life!
Qingzhu suddenly entered from outside the door, lowering her voice, "Miss, the Eldest Aunt is here to see the Eldest Madam."
For her aunt to return to her maiden home at this time, not to pay respects at the Ji family's cenotaphs, but to specifically block her mother's door, she suspected her aunt had come to beg for leniency for the Xuanping Marquis's mansion's heir.
After all, her mother's family was the prestigious Cishi Mansion in Bianjing.
Eldest Madam Lin Wanyun knew well how much the Old Madam doted on this daughter, and struggled to sit up to receive her.
Ji Zizhao, however, pressed her mother's hand and instructed Qingzhu first, "Go and tell Aunt that I said Mother is too weak and confined to bed. Any matters can wait until Mother recovers."
Qingzhu took her orders and left.
Eldest Madam Lin Wanyun looked at her daughter with confusion, "Zizhao, you must not act rashly."
Ji Zizhao helped her mother lie back down on the bed. "Mother, rest well. I will handle everything."
Eldest Madam Lin Wanyun was about to say more, but saw her daughter draw several silver needles from her sewing kit. Without giving her mother another chance to speak, she gently inserted them into several acupoints on her body.
Soon, Eldest Madam Lin Wanyun felt a wave of drowsiness.
In the courtyard, Ji Ruyun stared disbelievingly at Qingzhu, whose expression was blank.
"You're saying Ji Zizhao won't let me in?"
Ever since Ji Xinrou's death, she had become her mother's most cherished pearl. Her mother had paved the way for her, marrying her into the Xuanping Marquis's mansion to become the current heir's wife.
Growing up, who in the Ji family dared to refuse her aunt entry?
How dare Ji Zizhao!
Spoiled and pampered, Ji Ruyun strode directly towards the house. However, before she could take a few steps, Qingzhu blocked her way with her body.
Qingzhu had practiced martial arts for years, and even as a woman, she possessed hidden muscles.
With a mere push now, Ji Ruyun almost toppled to the ground.
Ji Ruyun was furious, "You damnable servant, I am the Eldest Aunt of the Ji family!"
Qingzhu's expression remained unchanged, "The Old Master once decreed that I should only obey the Miss."
Ji Ruyun, enraged, turned and looked at the several young servants outside the courtyard. "Are you all dead men? Hurry and grab this disobedient servant and beat her soundly!"
The servants flinched.
However, when they looked at Qingzhu in the courtyard, they not only did not step forward but collectively retreated several steps.
Ji Ruyun, "..."
What are they doing?
The servants, "..."
Eldest Aunt, the servants want to grab the person and throw them to the ground to vent your anger for you...
But shouldn't you find a servant that we can actually throw to the ground?
Ji Ruyun, already seething with anger, exploded in fury.
She turned and looked towards the house, behind which Qingzhu stood blocking the way. Ji Ruyun shouted, "Lin Wanyun, get out here at once! I'm telling you, don't think that just because people call you Eldest Madam, you are the mistress of the Ji family. Believe it or not, I'll go to Mother right now and have your position as mistress revoked!"
"Lin Wanyun, don't play deaf and mute! If you dare to disrespect me, I will never forgive you!"
"Lin Wanyun, speak! Say something!"
Ji Ruyun stood in the courtyard, her throat dry from shouting, but there was not a single echo from the house in Yun Courtyard.
Helpless, Ji Ruyun angrily left the courtyard, grabbed Jin Xueyan beside her, and instructed, "Hurry and call your maternal grandmother over, tell her Lin Wanyun is rebelling!"
Jin Xueyan, also unwilling to give up the current glory and wealth of the Xuanping Marquis's mansion, quickly turned and ran towards the main courtyard.
Xinlan hurried into Yun Courtyard. Knowing that Miss was taking care of Eldest Madam, she said to Qingzhu, "As per Miss's arrangements, Master Yang has been settled in Chun Courtyard. Please trouble Sister Qingzhu to inform Miss later."
Ji Ruyun, who was standing at the courtyard entrance waiting for the Old Madam, heard this and her eyes suddenly lit up.
Master Yang?
Isn't that the eldest young master of the Yang family, Yang Lang!
She then glanced at Qingzhu, who stood like a sentinel in the courtyard. Ji Ruyun suddenly smirked, turned, and left.
Ji Zizhao waited until her mother was completely asleep before getting up and leaving the room.
The courtyard had already returned to its usual quiet. Ji Zizhao did not care and had no intention of asking where Ji Ruyun had gone. She directly led Qingzhu towards the front courtyard.
In the open space of the front courtyard, several Madams had already set up mourning altars with the help of their servants.
Inside the coffins of the uncles, neatly arranged clothes were placed, showing the thoughtfulness of the aunts.
Ji Zizhao knelt sincerely, kowtowed solemnly, and offered incense to the uncles one by one.
"Uncles, your niece Ji Zizhao swears to heaven today that I will lead the women of the Ji family through this difficult time, guide my sisters to uphold the righteous path, stand tall, have no vain evil in our intentions, and act with integrity. As long as the Ji family exists, Ji Zizhao will exist. If the Ji family perishes, Ji Zizhao will be the first to rush to the Yellow Springs to kowtow and apologize to you all in person!"
The wives who were guarding their husbands' cenotaphs saw this, and their eyes, already red and swollen from crying, were once again filled with tears.
If it were before, they would never have believed that Zhaojie could possess such ability. But now, with Zhaojie supporting them and helping them stand strong, they knew that Zhaojie's words were not mere empty promises.
Ji Zizhao slowly rose with Qingzhu's support. Just as she was about to ask Lianju to fetch an heirloom of her father from Yun Courtyard to personally build a cenotaph for him, she saw Shuiling, her eyes red, standing in front of a mourning altar.
Ji Zizhao walked forward in confusion and discovered that her father's cenotaph had already been set up.
Shuiling choked back tears and said, "After the Third Miss and Fourth Miss came out of Yun Courtyard, they personally built this mourning altar. The clothes inside were found by the wet nurses from Yun Courtyard. The Third Miss said that if Miss felt it wasn't good enough, she could choose another heirloom for the Great Master herself."
Ji Zizhao walked silently to the coffin. Inside lay a long robe that her father often wore.
She reached into the coffin and caressed her father's long robe, as if she could still feel the warmth of her father embracing her tightly when he wore this robe.
Ji Zizhao dared not forget her father's past advice and teachings: "Xiao Zhao, you are the eldest daughter of our family. The responsibility you carry on your shoulders is never yours alone, but the entire Ji family!"
The warmth remained in her palm, the words echoed in her ears. The scenery remained, but people had changed.
Ji Zizhao's heart churned with sorrow, but in the end, she did not shed a single tear.
Before she could clear the Ji family's name, before she could win justice for the men of the Ji family, before the deep-seated hatred was avenged...
What right did she have to kneel here and lament her feelings!
"Eldest Daughter, something has happened!" Zhang Ji rushed into the mourning hall.