Before the Zhao family mansion, Ji Ziyan, disheveled and unkempt, looked at Qingzhu, who blocked her from behind, her pupils trembling in disbelief. "You, are you someone by Eldest Sister's side?"
Qingzhu stood like a mountain, steadily protecting Ji Ziyan. "Your subordinate Qingzhu, under the young lady's orders, is to ensure the safety of the Third Miss."
Ji Ziyan trembled all over again, tears spilling from her eyes.
It was truly Eldest Sister!
Hearing the conversation between Ji Ziyan and Qingzhu, Madam Zhao realized the situation was dire. Before she could formulate a plan, a chillingly cold voice echoed from the bottom of the steps.
"Even the guards of my Ji family's General's Mansion are called uncivilized peasants. The Zhao family truly has an immense presence!"
Looking at Ji Zizhao and Third Madam Yin Wenying standing at the foot of the steps, Madam Zhao's hands began to sweat.
Zhao Liang had not expected things to turn out this way. Feeling guilty, he weakly called out, "Mother-in-law..."
If Third Madam Yin Wenying had still possessed some reason while sitting in the carriage, being further away, then seeing her daughter's fresh and old wounds now, all reason had vanished.
"Don't call me Mother-in-law. I do not have a heartless son-in-law like you!"
Third Madam Yin Wenying rushed to Ji Ziyan's side and pulled her daughter into a hug. "It is my fault, Ziyan. It is all my fault. We will go home. Mother will take you home. We can still live well even if we leave the Zhao family."
Ji Ziyan, filled with grievances, instantly broke down, burying her head in her mother's embrace and crying hysterically.
Madam Zhao was displeased upon hearing this. "Leave the Zhao family? Has the Third Madam of the Ji family thought this through? Once you leave the Zhao family, Ji Ziyan will be a divorced woman cast out from her husband's home! At that time, everyone in the Imperial City will know that your Ji family has a daughter who has been divorced!"
In Yulin, where customs were conservative, women's status was pitifully low and bound by principles of propriety.
There had been women in the Imperial City who were divorced by their husbands. They either took their own lives to prove their innocence or lived out their days in reclusion, unable to remarry.
The world's harsh judgment left no room for divorced women.
It was precisely this that emboldened the husband's family's arrogance.
Madam Zhao's words struck Third Madam Yin Wenying's vulnerability.
Ji Ziyan knew her mother had endured humiliation for a lifetime. Though reluctant, she suppressed her sobs and said, "Mother, there is no need to be troubled. I will beg the Zhao family to take me in. As your daughter, I will not let Mother lose face, nor will I let the Ji family become a laughingstock in Sheng Imperial City because of me."
Third Madam Yin Wenying, tears streaming down her face, did not loosen her grip on her daughter. "What nonsense are you saying? Even if it is shameful, how can Mother bear to see you die in vain at the Zhao family?"
Ji Ziyan could not believe that such insightful words would come from her mother. She was stunned for a moment before looking towards her Eldest Sister at the foot of the steps.
When she saw her Eldest Sister standing calmly not far away, she could no longer hold back her tears.
It was Eldest Sister...
Eldest Sister must have persuaded Mother!
Madam Zhao gritted her teeth and continued to threaten. "Our Zhao family is not afraid of your Ji family facing imminent disaster. Yet, your Ji family is ungrateful. Since that is the case, tomorrow my son will deliver the divorce letter to Fengtian Prefecture! By then, your Ji family will have to endure the pointing fingers and mocking laughter of the Imperial City's populace until death!"
"Divorce letter? Madam Zhao, you may be overthinking things." Ji Zizhao ascended the steps slowly, her expression ashen, her gaze glacial. In the flickering light of the Zhao family's lanterns, she appeared dignified and serene.
It must be said that the previous banquet had left a deep shadow on Madam Zhao regarding this eldest daughter of the Ji family. Seeing Ji Zizhao standing before her now, she instinctively took a step back. Sudancao.com
Forcing herself to calm down, Madam Zhao spoke again. "What does the eldest daughter of the Ji family mean by that?"
"The daughters of the Ji family are born into a military household. Even the Emperor has decreed that Ji family daughters are permitted to practice martial arts and join the army. Years ago, your Zhao family approached us multiple times to propose marriage. My Third Aunt was moved by your Zhao family's sincerity and agreed to this union. Little did we know that your Zhao family had faces of men but hearts of beasts! Scoundrels in fine clothes! For years you have inflicted physical harm upon my Third Sister! Intimidated and threatened her! Scarred her! Murdered her child! You have committed all sorts of vile and wicked deeds, losing all conscience. Now you intend to divorce my Ji family's daughter in return. Who exactly has given the Zhao family such audacity!"
Ji Zizhao's words were sharp and resonant. "Or has the Zhao family become lawless and decided to bestow honor upon yourselves?"
Madam Zhao was pushed back three steps by her retort, her anger boiling. "Your Ji family is fabricating falsehoods and framing us!"
Ji Zizhao raised an eyebrow and beckoned towards the carriage in the distance.
Soon, Shuiling helped Shuicuan to come forward.
Upon seeing Shuicuan, it wasn't just Madam Zhao, but even Zhao Liang, who was stunned.
Ji Zizhao pointed at Shuicuan. "Does Madam Zhao see the witness clearly now?"
Madam Zhao's heart tightened.
Ji Zizhao paused and continued, "The imperial physician personally diagnosed that my Third Sister's unborn child tragically died five days before the Zhao family's birthday banquet. This is the physical evidence. Alternatively, perhaps if we were to bring out the servants who attended the eldest young master and my third sister's quarters one by one and subject them to severe questioning, lying continuously would be punished with ten strokes, and those who spoke falsehoods would be beaten to death on the spot! In the face of life and death, everyone will fear for themselves, and many will be willing to speak the truth."
The servants at the entrance of the Zhao family were so terrified by these words that they wet their pants.
Remembering Ziqiao, who had been carried back by Qingyu during the day, some timid servants frantically begged for mercy. "Eldest Miss Ji, spare us! We are merely gatekeepers and know nothing else!"
"Just now, we saw the eldest young master forcibly drag the eldest mistress onto the steps and pull her hair, making her kneel before Madam to humbly receive instruction. But we had no idea why!"
"We did hear rumors in the manor before that the eldest young master would get drunk and curse and scold the eldest mistress. A few times, he even secretly found a doctor to examine the eldest mistress's injuries. But we did not serve in the eldest young master's courtyard, so we truly do not know the specifics!"
Before any interrogation could take place, chaos had erupted at the Zhao family entrance.
Zhao Liang had long since collapsed onto the ground in fear, not daring to move.
Madam Zhao was covered in a cold sweat, her head pounding.
Just as she was about to stop the servants from speaking further, she heard Ji Zizhao say again, "I trouble the Prefect of Fengtian, who has been standing in the shadows for so long, to come out."
Madam Zhao: "..."
Zhao Liang: "..."
A rustling sound.
A series of disorderly footsteps echoed.
Indeed, the Prefect of Fengtian, with dark circles under his eyes, emerged from the shadows with his constables.