What else could it be?
It was, of course, the joke from the main courtyard!
Who could have imagined that the Old Madam would detain Ji Zongyou in the main courtyard for a full seven days.
During this time, no matter how Gu Peilan pleaded and cried, the Old Madam did not even hesitate for a moment.
As for Ji Zongyou, it was rumored that he had already offended everyone in the main courtyard. Now, with the Old Madam's decree, those in the main courtyard had turned Ji Zongyou, who had been living a life of ease and luxury in the main courtyard, into a prisoner.
A few days ago, Nanny Xu had also sold off all the maids who had been involved with Ji Zongyou.
Now that the household was quiet, how could the ladies not be relieved?
They could even eat a few more bowls of rice!
Second Madam Yu Fenglan's eyes crinkled with laughter, "This morning, when we sisters-in-law went to pay our respects to the Old Madam, she was able to sit up by herself. Although her speech wasn't as strong as before, it was much better. I had initially thought that Nanny Xu had acted on her own initiative, but now it seems the Old Madam has truly hardened her heart and won't let him go."
When her son was so young, he had died in battle. At that time, she had wept day and night, but the Old Madam hadn't even furrowed her brow. Seeing that the Old Madam was treating Ji Zongyou with the same harshness, she felt much more balanced.
Third Madam Yin Wenying was somewhat disappointed, "However, at noon, Ji Zongyou was sent out of the main courtyard."
Fourth Madam Xiao Jingshu lowered her voice upon hearing this, "Don't worry, I've already inquired. I heard that Ji Zongyou truly fell ill, which is why the Old Madam sent him out."
Second Madam Yu Fenglan and Third Madam Yin Wenying were both stunned, "Is that true or not?"
"How could this be false? I even sent people to investigate carefully. They said that when Ji Zongyou was sent out, his lower body was rotting, and he stank all over. Even the servants who escorted Ji Zongyou out of the main courtyard vomited several times from the smell." As Fourth Madam Xiao Jingshu finished speaking, she awkwardly glanced at Ji Zizhao, having been so happy that she'd forgotten that Sister Zhao was a young lady.
Second Madam Yu Fenglan and Third Madam Yin Wenying, mindful of Ji Zizhao beside them, could only try their best to stifle their laughter.
But the more they held back, the more they wanted to laugh. How could they not be happy?
Ji Zizhao watched the schadenfreude on her aunts' faces and did not say that everything was within her calculations.
She hadn't expected time to pass so quickly; seven days had flown by.
However, with Ji Zongyou's current condition, he probably wouldn't have the energy to cause trouble for the Ji family anymore. As for Gu Peilan, she had already been driven to distraction by Ji Zongyou's affairs, so she likely wouldn't have the time to bother others in the household.
After lingering for a moment longer in Lanyuan, Ji Zizhao finally rose to leave.
As she walked towards Zhaoyuan, she happened to pass by Gu Peilan's courtyard.
Ji Zizhao had set fire to Heluyuan earlier, so Ji Zongyou had to be temporarily sent to Gu Peilan's courtyard.
At this moment, the servants in the courtyard were busy inside tending to Ji Zongyou, while Gu Peilan herself had gone out to find a doctor for him.
Unfortunately, Ji Zongyou's reputation was so foul that it could stink for ten li. No doctor was willing to come to their doorstep.
Gu Peilan, who had been running around all day, sat in the carriage, her legs feeling as heavy as lead, and wept with worry. Su Dan Novel Network
But as she cried, she suddenly remembered that Ji Zizhao knew medicine.
Her son was Ji Zizhao's half-brother. Even if he wasn't her own flesh and blood, he was as good as one.
In the end, he was still the seed of Ji Zizhao's father. Why wouldn't Ji Zizhao treat him?
With this thought, upon returning to the Ji household, Gu Peilan went directly to Zhaoyuan.
Ji Zizhao, who was in her room reading a letter from her fourth sister, heard of Gu Peilan's arrival. Not wanting to be embroiled in gossip with such a person, she had Shuiling bring her in.
As soon as Gu Peilan entered, she grabbed Ji Zizhao and tried to pull her outside, "Sister Zhao, quickly come with me to see your brother."
Ji Zizhao stood her ground, forcefully pulling her hand from Gu Peilan's tight grip. "If the current Madam has something to say, please speak slowly."
The phrase "current Madam" immediately created a distance between them.
Gu Peilan mentally cursed Ji Zizhao for her cold-bloodedness, but tears streamed down her face. "Your brother fainted in the main courtyard today and still hasn't woken up. As his elder sister, how can you not come and see him?"
This was an attempt to use seniority to pressure her.
However, Ji Zizhao was not swayed. "Although we are siblings, we must still maintain propriety. One is unmarried, and the other is unmarried. Those who know will say it's sibling affection, but those who don't might accuse us of violating ethics."
Gu Peilan was displeased to hear this. "Zongyou has never been married, but I've heard that Sister Zhao has already been married once. Now, I'm even willing to disregard Zongyou's reputation. What does Sister Zhao have to care about?"
Shuiling, standing by, wanted to lash out upon hearing this.
This was clearly slandering her lady's reputation!
Jian Qiu saw the restless Shuiling and quickly shook her head.
Now was not the time for them to speak. If it got out, people would say their lady was not taught properly.
"If the current Madam says so, then I should indeed go and take a look." Ji Zizhao said calmly, showing no signs of anger.
Gu Peilan was overjoyed to hear this.
But before she could even smile, Ji Zizhao's next words plunged her into despair.
"It's no problem for me to go and see him personally, but unfortunately, I currently hold an official position. Although I can only treat officials below the fifth rank, if I recall correctly, my brother Zongyou does not seem to hold any official title. If that's the case, it's still best to avoid suspicion. The Emperor's decree is difficult to disobey; I hope the current Madam can understand."
Gu Peilan looked at Ji Zizhao's composed demeanor and wished she could slap her to the ground.
"Sister Zhao, he is your own brother. Are you truly going to refuse to help him?" Gu Peilan, unwilling to give up, still wanted to appeal to kinship.
Seeing this, Ji Zizhao directly used the Emperor to crush her. "If you want me to go, I can, but if the Emperor blames me, I hope the current Madam will bear the responsibility."
Gu Peilan: "..."
How could she bear it?
Her life?
How could this Ji Zizhao be so cold-blooded as to not even want to help her own brother!
Gu Peilan cursed inwardly, her gaze towards Ji Zizhao growing increasingly sharp and mean.
Jian Qiu inadvertently stepped forward, shielding her lady behind her. "It's getting late, and my lady has to get up early to go to the palace tomorrow. Young Master Zongyou likely needs someone to look after him through the night."
Instead of glaring at my lady here, you might as well go back and care for your son who's about to rot to death.
Gu Peilan knew there was no hope with Ji Zizhao. She couldn't stand there any longer to embarrass herself and become a laughingstock for Ji Zizhao. Gritting her teeth, she stormed out of the room.