Xie Jingxi, who wished he could dismember Jin Qianyu right now, suppressed his rage upon hearing the imperial decree from his father. With Ren Jun's support, he knelt and kowtowed, "Your unworthy son accepts the decree."
The eunuch delivering the message seemed unwilling to trouble the Second Prince. After conveying the imperial decree, he personally helped the Second Prince up. "His Majesty learned of Your Highness's return and has not yet slept. Your Highness should quickly return to the palace with this humble servant."
Xie Jingxi nodded, not daring to offend the imperial attendant. "Esteemed Eunuch, you are correct. I will lead my men into the palace now."
As he finished speaking, he stepped onto the carriage again, supported by Ren Jun.
Ren Jun waited until the Second Prince was securely seated in the carriage before shouting to the assembled army, "March into the palace!"
The army, receiving the order, stirred restlessly.
The female members of the Ji family standing nearby were stunned.
They had come late at night precisely to welcome home the bodies of their husbands and fathers-in-law!
But what had the Second Prince been doing?
Not only had he wasted time dealing with his personal matters throughout, but now he wouldn't even spare them a glance and was simply heading into the palace with his men?
Yin Wenying, the Third Madam of the Ji family, a woman known for her quick temper, immediately stepped forward and blocked the carriage. "Your Highness, where are the bodies of our Ji family men?"
Xie Jingxi looked coldly at Third Madam Yin Wenying. "What are you to question me?"
Third Madam Yin Wenying was, after all, just a woman. Stared at by the Second Prince, even with a belly full of things she wanted to say, she could no longer voice them.
Seeing that Third Madam Yin Wenying was still blocking the carriage, Xie Jingxi immediately called out, "General Ren."
Beside him, Ren Jun clenched his fists, his face cold. He stepped forward and shoved Third Madam Yin Wenying aside.
He felt reluctant, but what could he do?
From the moment he decided to betray the men of the Ji family, he had no turning back.
Third Madam Yin Wenying of the Ji family cried out as she fell, her hands scraping and drawing blood.
Ji Ziyan rushed to her mother's side, looking at the bloodstains on her hands, her eyes reddening. "Mother, how are you?"
Xie Jingxi scanned the women of the Ji family, a cold laugh echoing in his heart.
The Ji family, finally, had fallen.
"A bunch of dismissed women, get out of the way at once! Don't say I didn't warn you. Your Ji family is already guilty. If you dare disrespect me, your sins will only multiply!" Xie Jingxi sneered, his words a warning and a threat.
Were these mere women of humble origins, unfit for the public eye, trying to block his carriage and cause trouble?
"You talk nonsense!" Ji Zixiu, who had endured enough, drew the soft whip coiled at her waist and aimed it at Xie Jingxi's face on the carriage.
Xie Jingxi flinched in surprise.
The whip skills of the second daughter of the Ji family were highly praised by the citizens of the imperial city.
Ji Ziyan rushed in front of Ji Zixiu, gripping her second sister's hand tightly. "Second Sister, absolutely not!"
At the same time, Ren Jun stepped forward, drew the saber at his waist, and shielded Xie Jingxi. "Anyone who dares disrespect the Second Prince will be executed without mercy!"
It was only now that the members of the Ji family belatedly realized that this follower who had once trailed behind the men of the Ji family had long since defected to the Second Prince. Su Dan Novel Network.
Ji Zixiu looked at Ren Jun, her eyes blazing. "Ren Jun, stop pretending to be loyal. If not for the Ji family, you would have died on the battlefield countless times. Now that the Ji family is in decline, you've become a dog by the Second Prince's side. Do you really think I wouldn't whip you?"
As Ji Zixiu spoke, she raised her whip and lunged towards Ren Jun, but Ji Ziyan desperately held her back.
To prevent her second sister from causing trouble, Ji Ziyan simply knelt on the ground, embracing her second sister's legs.
Ji Zixiu was furious. "Ji Ziyan, what are you doing?"
Ji Ziyan offered no explanation, only choked out, "If Second Sister wants to fight, kill me first."
"You..."
"The Ji family... truly a pile of loose sand!"
Knowing that no one could touch him now, Xie Jingxi let out another cold snort, his eyes filled with mockery, and he stared pointedly at Ji Ziyan kneeling on the ground.
"I heard the third daughter of the Ji family married young Master Zhao. Married women are indeed different. You understand reason, and most importantly... you know how to protect your man. Third Daughter of the Ji family, rest assured. Although I disdain being protected by someone dismissed, given your sincerity, when my father bestows his punishment, I will indeed plead for the Ji family, so that they may at least retain their full bodies."
Such frivolous words were more unbearable than the executioner's blade falling on their heads!
The women of the Ji family gritted their teeth, wishing they could rush forward and tear apart this blasphemous beast.
Ji Zixiu was enraged. "Ji Ziyan, let go of me! Didn't you hear what he said about you?"
Ji Ziyan lowered her head, biting her lip tightly, remaining silent and unwilling to let go.
Of course, she heard how jarring the Second Prince's voice was. She also wished she could kill him!
But...
She had promised her eldest sister and absolutely could not let her second sister cause trouble.
She believed even more that her eldest sister would surely find a way to make the Second Prince pay the price for all of this today!
Yang Lang, standing behind the Ji family's female members, glared with righteous indignation. He had been educated by his mother for over a decade and had never encountered such a detestable person. The thought that such an individual might become the Crown Prince, or even the new Emperor of Yulin, sent shivers of fear down his spine.
Xie Jingxi, unwilling to waste more time, waved his hand with a look of mockery. "Let's go. Don't keep Father waiting..."
"Wait!"
Before he could finish speaking, he was abruptly interrupted.
First Madam Lin Wanyun stepped forward, looking directly into the Second Prince's eyes. "All the men of my Ji family have perished on the battlefield. Regardless of right or wrong, please, Your Highness, return the bodies of the Ji family men to us."
Xie Jingxi sneered. "A bunch of convicted criminals dares to wish for burial?"
"Even if the Ji family is truly guilty, it is ultimately the Emperor's decision. By what right does Your Highness pre-emptively condemn the Ji family? Even if the Ji family is indeed guilty, we are willing to be buried with the entire male lineage of the Ji family! To descend to the underworld together! The people of Yulin all know that His Majesty is a wise ruler and governs with benevolence. Yet, Your Highness is now so stingy as to refuse to return the bodies of the Ji family men. Is this His Majesty's will, or yours?"
First Madam Lin Wanyun's words pierced the air, resounding with force.
The other female members, hearing this, also stepped forward, denouncing the withholding of the Ji family men's bodies.
Xie Jingxi, whose lips had been curled in a sneer, could no longer smile.
A surge of anger blocked his chest, making it impossible to swallow or spit out!
He had not expected a mere woman confined to the inner court to be so sharp-tongued.
If he said it was his father's will, wouldn't that openly proclaim his father was not a wise ruler?
But if he claimed it was his own decision, it would be a grave insult to his father!
Xie Jingxi's gaze, now dark, fixed on First Madam Lin Wanyun's face, his eyes burning with killing intent.
Under normal circumstances, such confrontation would have terrified First Madam Lin Wanyun. But now, her husband was already dead. What else was there for her to fear?
Death comes to all. At worst, she would accompany her husband hand in hand to the netherworld!