Chen Gang informed the refugees from Luoyi that it was the Fourth Miss of the Ji family who had gone to great lengths to bring them back to the main city. All their current medicinal expenses were also covered by the Ji family, so they should direct their gratitude towards them. The imperial court, in its self-preservation, had long since forgotten about them.
However, as Chen Gang finished speaking, the refugees, who had been filled with joy, fell instantly silent.
Someone, inexplicably, smashed a teacup. Immediately after, someone else spoke, "What is the Ji family? If it weren't for the Ji family's arrogance, how could Luoyi have been captured by the Turks?"
"The Ji family has made us wander aimlessly, unable to even return home. Now they pretend to be good Samaritans and treat us, do they truly believe we will be eternally grateful to the Ji family?"
"The Ji family is a disgrace to Yulin! People as arrogant as the Ji family deserve to die!"
Chen Gang stared in shock at the refugees, their eyes filled with hatred, as if they wished to uproot the Ji family entirely. While stunned, he couldn't help but glance towards the second floor.
At that moment, Ji Zibi stood with Ji Zizhao at a corner on the second floor.
Hearing the torrent of curses and accusations from the Luoyi refugees below, Ji Zibi clenched her fists, determined to go down and argue with them.
Ji Zizhao grasped Ji Zibi's wrist.
Her fair fingers exerted an irresistible force.
Ji Zibi looked at her elder sister in disbelief, "Eldest Sister, they are spouting nonsense! Our Ji family men have been soldiers since childhood, and the Ji family's rules are all about protecting the nation. Our grandfather has not a single spot of good flesh left on his body for the peace of Yulin. Now, our Ji family men fight and die for Yulin's stability, how can they be allowed to spew such rubbish here!"
"Knowing it is nonsense, arguing will only be a waste of time," Ji Zizhao gazed deeply at the refugees still denouncing the Ji family below. "Fourth Sister, remember this: never try to awaken someone who is pretending to be asleep with brute force."
Chen Gang hurried up the stairs, his face grim. "Madam, what should we do?"
Chen Gang, who had always been protected by the Ji family and had even witnessed the old General Ji himself, naturally didn't believe their men were so incompetent. But now, the Luoyi refugees seemed brainwashed, their ferocious expressions suggesting they wished to tear a piece of flesh from the Ji family. How could such people help the Ji family clear their name!
Ji Zibi's anger boiled over, and she gritted her teeth, "Stop their medicine directly and drive them out! Don't they think the court is good to them? Then let them go find the court."
"Absolutely not!" Ji Zizhao's voice was cold as she interrupted. "Using evil to counter evil is not forbidden, but it depends on whom it is used against. These people are homeless and have nowhere to go but the capital. If you are truly so cruel to them, how are you any different from the wicked people who caused them to lose their homes and loved ones?"
Ji Zibi knew her elder sister's words had merit, but she couldn't swallow her pride. "Should we just let them spout whatever they please? Eldest Sister, can such people truly bring justice to our Ji family men?"
Ji Zizhao looked at the Luoyi refugees below, still cursing the Ji family men. She suddenly recalled a phrase her grandfather often repeated: "Justice is not in people's hearts; right and wrong are merely a matter of circumstances. When circumstances change, so does people's hearts."
The battle of Luoyi involved too many complexities. The Second Prince could silence the Ji family army and kill all the soldiers who spoke for the Ji family. How could he not dare to threaten these innocent civilians? Ji Zizhao had underestimated the Second Prince's ruthlessness. However, only time would tell who would emerge victorious.
"Let them say what they like. There's no need to stop them, nor to scold them. Continue to give them medicine daily and provide them with food and drink," Ji Zizhao paused, then turned her gaze to Chen Gang beside her.
Chen Gang understood. He leaned closer, "Madam, do you have further instructions?"
Ji Zizhao, with a medicinal formula already perfected in her mind, said, "Ephedra five qian, Asarum three qian, Aconite, Licorice five qian, with Sandalwood and Perilla as the guide, one extra bowl per day."
Chen Gang pondered the prescription carefully and immediately understood. "Madam, rest assured, I will send word to the other shopkeepers right away."
Due to the large number of Luoyi refugees, if they were to be housed in inns, it might attract the attention of the capital's surveillance. Therefore, under the arrangement of the four medical halls, these refugees had no choice but to temporarily stay within the halls. That night, the refugees slept fitfully amidst their curses against the Ji family.
As the matter of the four medical halls secretly sheltering the Luoyi refugees could not be publicized, the next day, all four medical halls posted notices stating they were closed due to the allocation of medicinal herbs. Ji Zibi had expected that after waking up, these Luoyi refugees would at least feel grateful. However, upon hearing that the four medical halls had closed because of them, not only did the refugees show no guilt or gratitude, but they brazenly demanded that the doctors in the medical halls continue to treat them. They even ordered the hall workers, "What time is it? Why haven't you served us food yet? Could it be that the Ji family, knowing we are ungrateful, intends to abandon us?"
"The Ji family is inherently cold-blooded, so it's only natural for them to act this way."
"We initially thought the Ji family was treating us to atone for their sins, but after just one day, they couldn't sustain it. It serves those arrogant men right to have died on the battlefield; it's a way of clearing the house for Yulin!"
Such stinging words, like needles piercing the skin, not only enraged Ji Zibi but also made Xin Bi of Hui Chuntang and Wang Can of Miaoshou Zhai's veins bulge. If Chen Gang hadn't intervened, they would have already driven out these ungrateful wretches. Their place was a medical hall, only saving lives, never treating beasts!
Compared to Xin Bi and Wang Can's fury, Sun Zhi Ting of Jishi Guan remained relatively calm. At least when facing the Luoyi refugees who were confused about right and wrong and spewing abuse at the Ji family, his veins did not bulge. He merely narrowed his eyes and watched quietly from the side.
Chen Gang walked over to Sun Zhi Ting and asked suspiciously, "Old Sun, what are you looking at?"
Sun Zhi Ting's gaze remained fixed. "Tell me, if we were to poison these people until they are mute, how much medicine would that require?"
Chen Gang: "..." This wasn't calmness; this was pure rage!
Amidst the Luoyi populace's curses, two days passed. On the evening of the fifth day, shortly after the hour of Xu (7-9 PM), a messenger on horseback was seen galloping into the imperial city. Simultaneously, the gatekeeper scurried to the main hall to report, "Reporting to Old Madam, all Madams, and Young Ladies, a messenger on horseback has just entered the city and is heading straight for the imperial palace!" The messengers from the Second Prince's side had already been secretly killed. This messenger entering the city was likely someone from the Fourth Prince's faction. Ji Zizhao clenched the handkerchief in her hand, knowing that what was coming was finally here.
Everyone seated in the main hall, upon hearing this, broke out in a cold sweat. A messenger in front, an army behind. The Second Prince's retinue was about to return. The Second Madam, Yu Fenglan, upon the thought of soon seeing the corpse of her husband, immediately burst into tears. The Third Madam, Yin Wenying, and the Fourth Madam, Xiao Jingshu, though relatively calm, were both trembling with fear. Even the Old Madam, who had always remained aloof, felt her hand grip the walking stick heavily. The First Madam, Lin Wanyun, also felt profound grief, but soon the army would return to the city, and the widows of the Ji family would have to personally welcome the bodies of their men. Seeing her mother's gaze fixed, Ji Zizhao then helped her mother to her feet first. Leaning on her daughter's support, the First Madam Lin Wanyun looked at her sisters-in-law and said, "The men of the Ji family are returning home; there must be someone to receive them. I have already had the servants prepare the mourning attire. Everyone, please return to your respective courtyards to change. In the time it takes one incense stick to burn, gather at the mansion's entrance. I, we..." The First Madam's voice trembled heavily. She tightly gripped her daughter's hand, forcing herself to finish, "We... will welcome the men of the Ji family home!"