Ji Zixiu was not foolish and knew what to say and what not to say.
As a result, the ones who provided free medicinal materials to the army this time became the Four Great Medical Halls.
Soon, the news spread throughout the imperial court.
Emperor Xiaochang was greatly moved upon hearing this.
He never expected that at such a critical moment, the most inconspicuous medical hall in Luoyi County would become the one that brought him the most prestige.
After finishing her work, Ji Zixiu specifically detoured back to the mansion.
Second Madam Yu Fenglan knew her daughter was back and hurried to prepare meals, even calling Ji Zizhao over.
Ji Zixiu, who was bouncing around the room without any decorum, greatly annoyed Second Madam Yu Fenglan.
"You're already going to be a year older, yet you're still so unsteady. How can you be more like a man than our household guards? Can't you be more composed like your eldest sister?"
"What's wrong with being like a man? I wish I were even more like one."
Second Madam Yu Fenglan was so angered that she couldn't even speak, and she picked up a chicken feather duster nearby.
The boat of reunion between mother and daughter, meant to sail smoothly, capsized in an instant.
All that was left was a floor covered in chicken feathers.
When Ji Zizhao entered, she saw her second aunt chasing her second sister all over the room.
As soon as she saw her eldest sister, Ji Zixiu became quiet and ran to her side, hugging her and starting to sob, "Eldest sister, I've missed you so much."
Second Madam Yu Fenglan felt uncomfortable seeing her daughter cry. Thinking that the sisters must have a lot to talk about, she personally left the room and called Ji Ziyan and Ji Zibi over.
The four sisters sat together, and before they could say anything, tears began to flow.
Ji Zizhao's eyes were also red, "Although the Mid-Autumn Festival has passed, we've caught the tail end of the reunion. As long as we are well, the Ji family can continue to be well."
The other three sisters nodded and wiped away their tears.
Ji Zixiu thought of the news from the court today and frowned, "Regarding the delivery of medicinal materials to the army this time, the court knows it's the credit of the Four Great Medical Halls, but they don't know that it was actually the eldest sister's hard work."
Ji Zizhao knew that her second sister was worried about her. "The credit of the Four Great Medical Halls is my honor. Moreover, superficial praise is nothing but fleeting clouds. The main thing is to make the Emperor truly desire to continue building medical halls."
Honor could not bring stability to the Ji family, but real power could.
As long as she held most of the medicinal fields and medical halls and pharmacies in Yulin, she could ensure the Ji family's long-lasting prosperity.
Ji Ziyan looked at her second sister, "I heard that they are going to fight in Tonglin again. Will second sister go?"
Ji Zixiu nodded, "If Yulin really dispatches troops, I will naturally go."
Ji Zibi quickly held Ji Zixiu's hand, "I'm worried about second sister and want to go with you."
Ji Ziyan frowned, "Fourth sister, don't be foolish. Fighting in the army is not a child's play."
Ji Zixiu also comforted her, "Don't worry, fourth sister. Your second sister is made of steel and iron, not so easily killed."
Ji Ziyan was truly helpless, "Second sister, how can even you start talking nonsense? What do you mean by dying?"
Ji Zixiu raised her eyebrows, "Oh my, this is unbelievable! My third sister, who manages the Ji family's household, is actually lecturing her own sister. I'm relieved now. When you remarry, who would dare to mistreat you with this temper?"
"Second sister, why are you getting more and more ridiculous!"
"How is it ridiculous? Who says you have to be a nun for life after a divorce?"
"Second sister!"
The room was noisy, and the sisters chatted and laughed merrily.
Ji Zixiu left after eating, much to the tearful farewell of Second Madam Yu Fenglan.
Ji Zibi calculated that a batch of medicinal materials would be collected from Luoyi County before the New Year, so she decided to leave that night as well.
After her sisters left, Ji Zizhao could not forget what they had said.
After the New Year, her second sister would reach the age of marriage, and she would have to find a good match for her.
As for her third sister...
Ji Zizhao would also keep her in mind. Unless her third sister no longer wished to remarry, she would ensure the best for her.
After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the weather grew colder day by day.
The Tong family did send several chests of dowry to Gu Peilan, including two land deeds for shops in the city.
Gu Peilan, consequently, took over half of the Ji family's household management from the Old Madam.
With the courtyard expanded and household management in hand, Gu Peilan was quite triumphant.
But little did she know that her own courtyard had already been tampered with by Ji Ziyan.
That evening, while Ji Zizhao was washing up, she heard Shui Ling say, "Miss, have you seen how long their faces were when the Tong family came to deliver the dowry for the remarried First Madam? You'd think they were sending off the deceased."
Ji Zizhao put down the brush in her hand, "So, the master of the Tong family did not appear?"
Shui Ling chuckled, "The servants looked as if they were attending a funeral. The Old Madam of the Tong family must have been unhappy and would not have come."
Hearing this, Ji Zizhao was relieved.
She did not care about Gu Peilan's temporary good fortune, but she was afraid that the Tong family would be foolish.
However, it seemed that the Tong family's attitude was as Ji Zizhao had predicted. Su Dan Novel Network.
The previous marriage alliance, coupled with this dowry...
As long as the rift between the Tong family and Gu Peilan deepened, Gu Peilan would not be able to establish herself in the Ji family by relying on her adopted family.
Before going to bed, Qing Zhu entered and handed her a letter.
Ji Zizhao opened it and saw it was a personal letter from Xin Bi.
The letter did not mention anything else. Some time ago, Miss Luohong from beside the Fifth Prince came to the Four Great Medical Halls with the Fifth Prince's invitation, saying that she had heard that the eldest daughter of the Ji family's younger brother was gravely ill and specially sought a doctor to treat him.
Xin Bi was unhappy upon hearing this.
What did she mean? She had already divorced, yet she still wanted to show favor to my family's lady?
Late affection is cheaper than grass; what were her intentions before!
Xin Bi simply used the excuse of being busy to suppress the matter.
She had intended to let it go, but recently Luohong had come again to urge her. Xin Bi could not make the decision, so she wrote this letter.
Ji Zizhao read the letter and had nothing to say.
No wonder Gu Peilan was not in a hurry about Ji Zongyou's lingering illness. It turned out she had sought help from the Fifth Prince.
However, the Fifth Prince using the guise of helping her to invite a doctor for Ji Zongyou made Ji Zizhao a little confused.
She then recalled the Empress mentioning that her portrait had not been returned by Consort Xi...
Could it be that they really intended to scheme for her to marry into the Fifth Prince's mansion?
With a sudden mess in her heart, Ji Zizhao threw the letter into the candlestick and instructed, "Delay this matter for now."
The longer it was delayed, the longer Ji Zongyou's lower body would fester.
After such great effort, Ji Zizhao certainly would not give Ji Zongyou a chance to fully recover.