Ji Zixiu returned to the main city with the Seventh Prince and others. However, now that she was in the army, even going home was done on a rotation with other soldiers.
Moreover, Ji Zixiu was highly valued by Han Jingyu. By the time she finished her military duties, two days had passed.
Coincidentally, it was on this very day, as Ji Zixiu was leaving the military camp to head home, that she encountered an imperial eunuch delivering a summons.
Remembering the news she had heard from her fourth sister and the widespread gossip among the common folk upon their return to the city, Ji Zixiu directly requested the summons meant for the Tong family and personally went to their residence.
Ji Zixiu certainly did not possess the calmness of her eldest sister, nor the good temper of her third sister, nor the composure of her fourth sister. Now that she had finally found an outlet, she would not miss this opportunity to vent her anger.
As it turned out, by the time Ji Renran and Gu Peilan rushed over with the Tong family's matriarch, the Tong family's guards had already been overturned on the ground, their bodies covered in crisscrossing whip marks.
The Tong family's matriarch was so enraged her face turned pale, "What is the meaning of this from the Second Young Lady Ji?"
Ji Zixiu tightened her grip on the whip and laughed coldly, "Your own daughters, Madam Tong, are the ones who behave disgracefully. They refuse to uphold their proper positions and instead engage in illicit affairs with married men. And now you dare to ask me what I mean? Then I, on the other hand, wish to ask you, Madam Tong, what *you* mean!"
Being inexplicably blamed, the Tong family's matriarch was left speechless.
Seeing the situation was not good, Ji Renran stepped forward and said, "You must be the Second Sister. Regardless of how the older generation behaves, it is not for us juniors to comment. However, please rest assured, Second Sister, that I, my mother, and my brother are all members of the Ji family. In the future, we will naturally stand together with you and everyone else."
Hearing this form of address, Ji Zixiu knew immediately what Ji Renran's status was.
However, the thought of her nodding and acknowledging Ji Renran as her sister was pure fantasy. "I only have one eldest sister. What right do you have to call me sister?"
Such vulgar and offensive words turned Ji Renran's face a shade of green.
Ji Renran, of course, could not bring herself to argue on the street with Ji Zixiu. Her eyes rolled, and tears began to flow, making her appear truly wronged and pitiable.
They had finally gotten rid of one troublesome fourth sister, only for a second sister to appear...
One doesn't fleece a sheep to death, do they!
Gu Peilan seized the opportunity to shield her daughter behind her and shouted, "What is Xiu Jie'er doing? Sister Zhao disliked us and drove us out. Now, even hiding at my family's home is not allowed. Is Xiu Jie'er trying to exterminate us completely!"
These words clearly smeared Ji Zixiu's reputation.
The women of the imperial city had always been tightly bound by doctrines and rules. The higher the family's status, the more they valued a daughter's conduct.
Books like "The Admonitions for Women," "The House of Women," and "The Virtuous Women's Records" were practically memorized by heart.
Now, with Gu Peilan's words, Ji Zixiu was being accused of disrespecting elders and insubordination.
Such a vile reputation was something even a young lady of the highest status in the imperial city could not bear, let alone Ji Zixiu, who was currently serving in the military.
If this matter were to spread, not only would Ji Zixiu find it difficult to marry, but she might even be unable to maintain her position in the army.
How could someone who was disrespectful and unfilial to their own relatives command the respect of others!
Gu Peilan's words were not intended to argue with Ji Zixiu, but rather to make Ji Zixiu retreat.
In a few days, her daughter was scheduled to enter the palace for an imperial banquet, and she could not afford to be injured at this time.
However, as Gu Peilan was immersed in her calculations, she saw Ji Zixiu, her hair bristling with anger, raise her hand holding the Dragon Phoenix Whip and point furiously at Gu Peilan, "If I cannot cleanse the Ji family's reputation today, I will be unworthy of the accusation you have leveled against me!"
Gu Peilan, "..."
Wait, why was this not going as planned?
She had spoken so harshly. If it were someone else, they would have long since tried to de-escalate the situation and leave. Why was it not working on Ji Zixiu?
"Second Sister, please do not act rashly. In a few days, I will be entering the palace for a banquet. If I were truly injured by your hand, those who know would understand it as a minor friction between sisters. But those who don't might believe you are deliberately defying the Emperor and refusing to obey the imperial decree for me to enter the palace!" Ji Renran's eyes were red, maintaining her air of pitiable vulnerability that demanded everyone's sympathy.
However, her words were far from subtle.
Disobeying an imperial decree was a capital offense!
Even the Tong family's matriarch felt a jolt in her heart hearing such a charge.
This Ji Renran, who appeared so gentle and weak, was unexpectedly ruthless in her actions.
Ji Zixiu was not foolish and could certainly sense the hidden murderous intent in her words.
But she had no intention of backing down today!
"Don't worry, even if I die, I'll drag you down to hell with me!" Ji Zixiu said, suddenly whipping her whip towards Ji Renran.
Seeing the whip, as thick as an arm and as agile as a snake, cutting through the air, Ji Renran's face lost all color from fright.
Gu Peilan would naturally not allow her daughter to be injured at this time. She quickly embraced Ji Renran and shouted at the top of her lungs, "The Second Young Lady Ji is trying to kill someone! The Second Young Lady Ji is trying to harm her sister!"
Ji Zixiu, however, stared intently at Ji Renran, completely ignoring Gu Peilan's words.
The Tong family's matriarch gripped the hand of the accompanying wet nurse, her heart leaping into her throat.
As long as this whip landed, the Second Young Lady Ji would be definitively guilty of insubordination and rebellion. If the charge of defying an imperial decree were added, she would surely be doomed!
The fact that the Ji family had a daughter serving in the army was already a major concern for the Fifth Prince. If Ji Zixiu could be eliminated on this occasion, it would be a welcome development.
As long as the Ji family was no longer connected to the military, what kind of storm could Ji Zizhao stir up?
To put it plainly, she would be left with nothing.
"Ji Zixiu, stop!"
At the critical moment, a clear, cold voice suddenly echoed from afar.
Ji Zixiu recognized whose voice it was. It was precisely because of this that, despite her heart still burning with unreleased rage, she gritted her teeth, flicked her arm, and retracted the whip that was mere inches from Ji Renran.
Simultaneously, a carriage stopped outside the Tong family mansion.
As the carriage door opened, Ji Zizhao, supported by Shui Ling, stepped down from the carriage.
Her brows were clear and cold, her expression indifferent, her steps light, her skirt swaying slightly. Her slender waist was straight and unyielding.
This was the first time the Tong family's matriarch had seen this eldest daughter of the Ji family, and she couldn't help but feel a shiver.
She was beautiful, but her beauty was too cold and sharp.
Especially her calm, unwavering black eyes, unfathomably deep and inscrutable.
"Eldest Sister," Ji Zixiu walked to her elder sister's side and greeted her softly, her docile demeanor a stark contrast to her earlier aggressive posture.
Gu Peilan, holding Ji Renran, was filled with unquenchable rage.
This was at the Tong family's residence, not the Ji family's. Ji Zizhao should not expect to gloss over this matter.
If there was no satisfactory explanation for today's events, she would not let it go!
Her eyes, fixed on Ji Zizhao, seemed as if they could pierce two holes through her.
Ji Zizhao took the crumpled invitation from Ji Zixiu's hand, turned, and personally handed it to the wet nurse assisting the Tong family's matriarch.
Perhaps it was Ji Zizhao's overwhelming aura, but the wet nurse inexplicably accepted it.
Then, Ji Zizhao took Ji Zixiu's hand and walked directly towards her carriage, "Let's go."
Gu Peilan, "..."
Go, go?
Just like that, they were leaving!