Ji Zizhao's gaze was ice-cold. "Second Aunt, please recuperate. I will go to the military camp myself."
Second Madam Yu Fenglan quickly grabbed Ji Zizhao's skirt. "Zhaojie, can I go with you?"
Although Second Aunt should be focusing on her recovery at this moment, she likely wouldn't feel at ease without personally seeing her second daughter safe.
Moreover, Ji Zizhao understood that Second Aunt had other intentions for this trip.
"Qingzhu, Shuiling, carefully help Second Aunt onto the carriage."
Qingzhu didn't need any help and directly carried Second Madam Yu Fenglan on her back.
Shuiling carefully supported Second Madam's lower back and hurried towards the gate.
First Madam Lin Wanyun looked at Ji Zizhao, her voice filled with worry. "Comfort your Second Aunt well. Even if you want to dissuade Sister Xiu from joining the army, you must speak to her kindly. Do not scold or hit her in front of everyone."
"Don't worry, Mother."
Ji Zizhao had already guessed Second Aunt's thoughts.
However, she had never given Second Aunt the opportunity to voice them.
First Madam Lin Wanyun watched until Ji Zizhao had boarded the carriage before turning and heading towards the main courtyard.
The recent events had already alerted the Old Madam, so she needed to go and explain and appease her.
From the Ji family to the military camp, it would take another half an hour's journey after leaving the city.
Ji Zizhao looked at Second Madam Yu Fenglan, whose face was pale but couldn't hide her anxiety, and said softly, "Second Sister will be heartbroken to see you so frail."
Upon thinking of her wild daughter, Second Madam Yu Fenglan was so angry she gasped. "How could she care about me? All she does is anger me. If she truly cared about me, why would she do such a thing?"
"Second Aunt misunderstands Second Sister. As the elder sister, I cannot stand by and listen," Ji Zizhao said with a faint smile. "Second Sister has a bad temper, that's true, but she genuinely cares and worries about Second Aunt. Otherwise, why would she have been so obedient all these years and not joined the army?"
Second Madam Yu Fenglan was stunned.
She remembered, of course, that joining the army had been her daughter's lifelong dream.
Ji Zizhao paused and added, "If Second Aunt wants to blame someone, blame me. I instigated Second Sister to join the army, and I was the one who told her to keep it from Second Aunt. Second Sister even came to me crying yesterday. I fear Second Aunt's anger would be a lesser concern than her own health if she knew the truth."
Second Madam Yu Fenglan knitted her brows, her tone growing cold. "Zhaojie, how could you indulge her in such recklessness!"
Ji Zizhao lowered her gaze slightly, offering no further explanation.
Second Madam Yu Fenglan's anger surged, and harsh words began to spill out. "Zhaojie, I know you are determined and even your elder sister-in-law cannot control you. But Zixiu is different from you. She is meant to marry a good man. If she ends up like you, divorced, I won't have the same patience as your elder sister-in-law!"
These words were not excessively harsh but carried significant weight.
Whether it was Ji Zizhao's divorce or First Madam Lin Wanyun's tacit approval, who was truly willing?
Did they really want Ji Zizhao to marry the murderer of the Ji family, and for First Madam to clap her hands in approval?
Qingzhu and Shuiling, who were sitting outside the carriage, heard these words and their faces darkened.
However, Ji Zizhao inside the carriage remained calm, showing no signs of anger.
Second Madam Yu Fenglan seemed to realize she had spoken too harshly, but thinking that Ji Zixiu's actions that day were all due to Ji Zizhao's indulgence, she refused to apologize. Soudan Novels Net
An awkward silence suddenly fell within the carriage.
Ji Zizhao handed a cup of tea to Second Madam Yu Fenglan, breaking the silence.
"I know Second Aunt is angry, and I understand that in your eyes, I am an anomaly, perhaps Second Sister is too, which is why we are misunderstood. But have you ever considered if what you believe is best for Second Sister is truly what's good for her?"
Second Madam Yu Fenglan looked at the teacup before her, her gaze gradually focusing.
She suddenly remembered how many times Ji Zixiu had spoken of her desire to join the army when she was young.
There was even a time when she had gone on a hunger strike to join the army.
And then, she gradually realized that she hadn't heard Ji Zixiu clamoring to join the army for some time.
Oh, Second Madam Yu Fenglan remembered. It was when she had fallen ill. At that time, Zixiu's father was fighting on the frontier, and she had been bedridden for a full half-year. It was Zixiu who stayed by her side.
After that, Ji Zixiu never mentioned joining the army again.
Seeing that Second Madam Yu Fenglan was wavering, Ji Zizhao delivered another blow. "Third Sister never intended to marry into the Zhao family either, yet she still obeyed her parents' wishes."
Second Madam Yu Fenglan was suddenly reminded of the tragic state of Yanjié when she returned.
Even Yanjié, who was a sensible person, had ended up in such a plight. If her own daughter found an unhappy marriage, then...
Would life be bearable?
Second Madam Yu Fenglan dared not think further.
Ji Zizhao quietly sipped her tea, remaining silent.
Second Aunt had vented her anger and had had her outburst.
Now that she had calmed down, she would naturally be able to understand many things she hadn't understood before.
At the same time, the carriage finally stopped outside the military camp.
By now, the new recruits' competitions had already begun in the camp.
The young men who had come to join the army were full of vigor and excitement for such fierce competition.
As another round of matches concluded, a camp official holding a list shouted again, "Ji Zixiu! Cao Yan!"
A thunderous cheer erupted from the crowd.
One was the younger brother of the Princess of Yun'an.
The other was the only female soldier among this batch of recruits, the second daughter of the Ji family.
Everyone watched with anticipation.
Ji Zixiu drew a whip from her waist. The sharp and heavy nine-section whip drew a groove in the ground.
Clad in a white robe, her dark hair tied high, she was stunningly beautiful and unapproachable.
The moment Cao Yan saw the whip in Ji Zixiu's hand, his legs trembled. He quickly turned to the camp official and shouted, "I, I report! Ji Zixiu, she, she ran away from home without permission!"
The crowd erupted in commotion.
However, the new recruits present could understand.
Even though their esteemed ancestor had granted the Ji family special privileges for women to join the army, women were still women.
Not to mention that in Yulin, there had been no precedent for women joining the army for years. In the future, in the barracks, they would have to eat, drink, and live with everyone. In the long run, who would dare to marry such a woman?
While they understood, the camp official raised his hand and halted the competition.
Seeing the official's raised arm, Cao Yan breathed a sigh of relief.
The camp official then turned to Ji Zixiu and questioned loudly, "Ji Zixiu, is what Cao Yan said true?"
Joining the army was not a trivial matter; one had to sign a waiver of liability for death. Without parental consent, the military could not accept them.
Especially from a noble household like the Ji family.
Ji Zixiu didn't know how Cao Yan had found out she had run away secretly, but seeing that she was on the verge of entering the military, how could she give up? "I..."
But before she could finish speaking, she saw the Princess of Yun'an gently lift the carriage curtain.