As the people around jostled her, Ji Ziling, about to curse, saw a handsome young man's face appear in the window of a carriage in the alley opposite.
Her heart, for no reason, beat faster in her chest.
Though the man's appearance was not truly outstanding, his natural demeanor was enough to compensate for any shortcomings in his features.
Yet, as soon as she glanced at him, a hand with well-defined knuckles lowered the carriage curtain.
Ji Zixiu, preoccupied with his thoughts, saw his fourth sister frozen in place and hurried to pull her, "What are you doing? Hurry up and follow me. We have important matters to attend to today. If things go as planned, not only will I soar to prosperity, but you will also benefit and be able to marry into a good family."
Ji Ziling was also nearing the age of marriage. Given her current status, she could at best marry into a humble family as a principal wife. If it were a slightly more prominent household, she would likely only be a concubine.
Originally, she had no intention of accompanying them today, but Ji Zixiu insisted she come for moral support.
However, at this moment, Ji Ziling had a change of heart.
As long as she could secure this matter for her younger brother, she would not have to worry about becoming the wife of a high-ranking family in the future.
Just like that man she saw earlier…
He must be a noble son from some family in the imperial city, right?
Ji Zixiu noticed the gleam in his fourth sister's eyes and felt more confident.
He had to admit that the whipping he received last time had left him with a lingering shadow. But this time was different. His fourth sister was one of the few women in the imperial city who could attend private tutoring. The boorish men of the Ji family, who only knew how to threaten people with whips, were no match for his fourth sister.
The women of the Ji family, still immersed in the villagers' gratitude, were unaware that the Ji family's Second Master was approaching with his men.
As Ji Zizhao slowly rose, the women of the Ji family and the common folk straightened their backs.
Madam Lin Wanyun, seeing that the time was approaching, was about to send a wet nurse to respectfully invite the Old Madam over. Unexpectedly, Wet Nurse Xu hurried over first.
Normally, Wet Nurse Xu would report to Madam Lin Wanyun. However, driven by her inner respect, and with immense guilt and concern, she approached the Eldest Young Lady and whispered, "Eldest Young Lady, the Old Madam is unwell. She was vomiting and purging yesterday. Today, I fear..."
Ji Zizhao resented her grandmother's selfishness, but she never intended to watch her grandmother fall ill. Upon hearing Wet Nurse Xu's words, she quickly handed the villagers at the door to her mother to appease them and turned to head towards the back courtyard.
Wet Nurse Xu watched the Eldest Young Lady leave without hesitation. She wanted to stop her but could find no reason. She could only quickly follow behind the Eldest Young Lady.
Seeing the Eldest Young Lady's genuinely hurried expression, Wet Nurse Xu's heart felt like a churned-up mess of emotions.
Why couldn't the Old Madam see the Eldest Young Lady's goodness?
Alas!
Yet, as someone close to the Old Madam, even though Wet Nurse Xu felt pained for the Eldest Young Lady, seeing her enter the main courtyard, she still had to remind her, "Eldest Young Lady, please slow down, mind your steps!"
The Old Madam, who was lying on her bed sipping bird's nest soup, her expression changed drastically upon hearing that Ji Zizhao had arrived. Thinking of the lie Wet Nurse Xu had fabricated, she spat out the bird's nest soup she hadn't finished.
Just then, Ji Zizhao, holding up her skirt, entered the room.
Seeing her grandmother vomiting profusely, Ji Zizhao quickly helped her sit up and gently patted her back. "Grandmother, when did you start feeling unwell?"
The Old Madam had just choked quite severely. She seized the opportunity to feign unconsciousness, closing her eyes and weakly saying, "Last night, in a dream, I saw your grandfather. When I woke up, I felt unwell. Zhaojie, you don't need to worry about me. Focus on sending your grandfather and the others on their way."
Though she said this, how could Ji Zizhao truly disregard her?
Even with the memories of her previous life, from the moment she opened her eyes in this life, she was destined to be part of the Ji family.
No matter how much her grandmother had wronged her, how could she joke about her grandmother's health?
If she were truly so heartless, with what face would she offer incense and kowtow when worshipping the men of the Ji family in the future!
"It is likely due to your grandmother's distress that this has happened. Grandmother, please do not worry. You will probably be fine after a few days of rest." Fearing her grandmother might be frightened, Ji Zizhao spoke softly to comfort her, but her hand had already silently grasped her grandmother's wrist. She applied slight pressure with her fingertips, discreetly checking her grandmother's pulse.
As Ji Zizhao held her wrist, her grandmother's hand gradually warmed.
Ji Zizhao's heart, however, grew colder and colder.
The pulse was four beats per breath, neither floating nor sinking, neither large nor small, rhythmic, steady, and moderate. It was smooth, strong, and the deep pulse at the cubit position was continuous.
This was clearly the sign of a normal pulse.
In other words, her grandmother's body had no problems whatsoever!
Ji Zizhao casually asked Wet Nurse Xu by her side, "What did Grandmother eat last night?"
Wet Nurse Xu had not expected the Eldest Young Lady to ask such a question. After a long pause, she stammered, "Just, just some plain congee..."
Seeing Wet Nurse Xu's flustered expression, Ji Zizhao's heart was already certain of the answer.
It seemed that her grandmother's illness was a pretense, and the real reason was to avoid attending the funeral!
The Old Madam had long known that Ji Zizhao liked to tinker with plants and flowers since she was young. However, she didn't believe Ji Zizhao's medical skills were any good. Even when Ji Zizhao had saved her life last time, she had dismissed it as a coincidence.
After all, how could a girl who had been reclusive since childhood possess the skills of a divine doctor?
Therefore, the Old Madam was now guiltlessly feigning illness. "Oh dear... my head is starting to hurt too. Now, forget about walking, even opening my eyes is a struggle... Zhaojie, I think you should quickly go to the front courtyard and let me rest in peace."
Ji Zizhao looked at her grandmother, who was clinging to her like dead weight, and didn't even want to say another word.
She knew her grandmother was heartless and fickle, but she had never imagined she could stoop to such a level.
To be buried is to bid eternal farewell. Did her grandmother truly consider her husband and sons so insignificant?
The Old Madam, seeing Ji Zizhao remain silent for so long, began to panic. However, she still kept her eyes tightly shut.
But the Old Madam did not know that no matter how well she pretended, her pulse could not deceive Ji Zizhao.
The four beats per breath had changed to six beats per breath.
It was obvious that her grandmother was anxious.
Could it be…
Her grandmother not only wanted to avoid the funeral but was also hiding something else?
Ji Zizhao glanced at Wet Nurse Xu, whose face had turned pale, and seemed to have found an answer.
It appeared her grandmother had been ensnared once again.
"Eldest Young Lady, this is terrible!"
Shuiling rushed into the room, forgetting to even curtsy. "Ji family's Second Master has arrived with his men, saying that no one in our Ji family can break the fire basin. He is now outside the door arranging for his own grandson to do it!"