With Qing Zhu’s companionship, Ji Zi Zhao returned to the Zhaoyuan to change into mourning attire.
Nanny He took out the mourning clothes that Madam had sent earlier. The stark white color made Ji Zi Zhao’s eyes ache.
Everyone in the room had red-rimmed eyes.
Although the imperial messenger had already delivered the news, as long as they didn't wear mourning clothes, the people in the mansion could still deceive themselves with a sliver of hope. But once these mourning clothes were worn, everything would become an unalterable fact.
Xin Lan, standing by the side, trembled uncontrollably as she cried. “Miss, let, let your maidservant…”
She wanted to say she would help her mistress change into mourning clothes, but the words stuck in her throat, impossible to utter.
Although Shui Ling was not a member of the Ji family, the thought of seeing the Ji family’s old master again after so many years, only to be separated by death, made her throat tighten.
Under the candlelight, the lifeless mourning clothes seemed to presage the complete disappearance of the Ji family's former glory.
Ji Zi Zhao clenched her fists, filled with grief and indignation, her fingernails digging into her palms without her realizing it. Her bloodshot eyes fixed on the pale mourning clothes, and a bloody taste spread between her tightly bitten lips.
The rage in her chest had already burned away all her sorrow. Now, her heart was consumed by hatred!
From the moment she learned that all the men of the Ji family had perished, she had meticulously planned and advanced step by step, all for the purpose of vindicating the Ji family’s men today!
Taking a deep breath, Ji Zi Zhao’s voice was hoarse as she said in a low tone, “Help me change.”
Nanny He let out a sigh and quickly signaled Xin Lan and Shui Ling to stop crying. The few of them busied themselves taking out the mourning clothes and carefully dressing Ji Zi Zhao.
The mourning system in Yu Lin was very strict.
It was divided into five grades according to the degree of kinship between the living and the deceased: Zhan Fu, Qi Fu, Da Gong Fu, Xiao Gong Fu, and Si Ma Fu.
The Zhan Fu Ji Zi Zhao was currently wearing was made from the coarsest raw hemp. The sides and bottom of the garment were left unhemmed, the term "Zhan Bu" (chopped cloth) rather than "Ge Bu" (cut cloth) expressing the unending pain for a lost loved one.
From the moment she put on the Zhan Fu, she would not be out of mourning for three years.
The candlelight flickered, and the woman in the mirror, clad in mourning clothes, appeared simple and cold.
Ji Zi Zhao looked at herself in the mirror, then suddenly reached up and removed the ornaments from her hair bun one by one, using only a white jade hairpin to tie up her dark hair. This added a decisive sharpness to her already heroic features.
Her bloodshot eyes were unfathomably deep. Through the mirror, Ji Zi Zhao seemed to see the unwilling spirits of the Ji family’s men.
She closed her eyes, then opened them again, her heart resolute.
Ji Zi Zhao turned to face the doorway and, accompanied by Qing Zhu and Lian Ju, stepped steadily over the threshold.
The coldness on her body suddenly solidified, and the heaviness in her heart froze into ice, transforming into sharp ice picks at the bottom of her soul. No one knew that from the moment she stepped over the threshold, she had already resolved to fight against this unjust and chaotic world! Su Dan Novel Network.
At the entrance of the Ji family mansion, other female family members were already waiting, weeping softly.
Madam Lin Wan Yun was taking a headcount. Looking out, amidst the expanse of white figures, only the old madam was absent.
A moment later, Nanny Xu hurried over and bowed to Madam Lin Wan Yun. “Not long after everyone left, the old madam fainted. She just woke up, but I fear…”
Hearing this, the female family members at the gate wept even harder.
Madam Lin Wan Yun choked out, “Please trouble Nanny Xu to inform the old madam that I will handle everything. There is no need to worry.”
Nanny Xu nodded and turned, hurrying away from the mansion entrance.
Ji Zi Zhao watched Nanny Xu’s retreating figure, her gaze hardening.
She suspected that fainting was a pretense, and that the old madam truly did not wish to witness this scene.
From the moment the imperial messenger returned to the city with the news of mourning, the grandmother’s heart had already left the Ji family.
Now that the grandmother avoided seeing the bodies of the Ji family men, not even willing to face them one last time, perhaps it was not just an unwillingness but more so an inability to face it.
Ji Zi Yan quietly approached and softly called out, “Eldest Sister.”
Ji Zi Zhao came back to her senses and squeezed her third sister’s hand. “Tonight, no matter what, remember not to let Second Sister cause trouble.”
Even if the Ji family was framed in the battle of Luoyi, any conflict with the Second Prince would only lead to the Ji family suffering.
To vindicate the Ji family’s men, evidence was one part, and public opinion was the other.
Throughout history, public opinion always favored the weak.
“Eldest Sister, don’t worry. I will keep a close eye on Second Sister.” Ji Zi Yan said, then quietly walked over to Ji Zi Xiu and gently took her arm.
Madam Lin Wan Yun, seeing that the time was almost right, signaled the young servant at the gate to open it.
As the heavy mansion gates slowly swung open, the dark night instantly enveloped everyone.
“Everyone follow closely, do not separate,” Madam Lin Wan Yun said, leading the way out of the Ji family gate, accompanied by nannies carrying lanterns.
Other female family members, supported by the maids from each courtyard, followed closely behind.
Ji Zi Bi, who had just returned last night, deliberately slowed her pace to be at the very end. Ji Zi Zhao, knowing her intentions, also slowed down.
Taking advantage of everyone focusing on the path beneath their feet, Ji Zi Zhao lowered her voice and said, “Go to the Four Great Medical Halls now and tell the shopkeepers to open the doors of the Four Great Medical Halls, and even the windows.”
“Okay.”
Ji Zi Bi turned to leave but was pulled back by Ji Zi Zhao’s wrist. “Do not pay attention to what the commoners of Luoyi are saying. Just let them see and hear what we want them to see and hear.”
Ji Zi Bi nodded and then quickly hurried towards the direction of the Four Great Medical Halls.
The night was quiet and even more somber.
The Ji family members, their steps steady, moved through the night, slowly making their way towards the city gate.
The commoners in the city, though not showing themselves, were all hiding in their homes, peeking out through their windows.
As if sensing the people’s scrutiny, those who had been weeping softly gradually wiped away their tears. Even though their hearts were still heavy with grief, they gritted their teeth and pressed on.
This was the spirit of the Ji family: upright and honorable, their spines would not be bent by any adversity.
The commoners hiding behind their windows looked at the proud and unbowed widows of the Ji family, their eyes reddened. Some could not bear to look any further, not daring to continue watching.
At the city gate, it was empty.
Apart from the soldiers guarding the gate, there was not another soul.
When the Ji family was at its peak, officials who visited their mansion daily would have worn down their doorstep. But now, with the Ji family men dead on the battlefield and the Ji family facing the possibility of being accused of a crime, those officials who had once fawned over the Ji family had disappeared without a trace.
Human relationships fade with prosperity; the world is cold and indifferent.
The Ji family finally understood this truth in the face of cruel reality.
Behind the railing on the second floor of a teahouse near the city gate, Xie Jing Lan stood in silence.
Accustomed to wearing a white robe, he now seemed to blend in perfectly with the Ji family members dressed in mourning attire.