The county magistrate was dumbfounded.
Without the support of Consort Xi, he could only fend for himself. He thought this would allow him to be spared by Ji Zizhao, but instead, it only hastened his journey to the underworld.
The magistrate naturally didn't believe that Ji Zizhao could truly abandon her own sister. But what was terrifying was that no matter how he observed her, Ji Zizhao remained aloof and indifferent.
Such a Ji Zizhao gradually made the magistrate lose his nerve.
As if tired of sitting, Ji Zizhao slowly stood up under the magistrate's gaze. Her eyes drooped, filled with condescending pity. "You feel itchy now because those worms haven't broken out of their cocoons yet. When they hatch and take shape, they will gnaw at your flesh and blood, bite by bite. By then, you won't feel itchy anymore."
Ji Zizhao walked towards the prison cell door. Just as she was about to leave, she paused as if recalling something and added, "Since you've helped me, I'll help you once more. No need to worry about no one collecting your corpse, because you'll soon turn into a pool of blood."
The magistrate felt a dampness between his legs, genuinely having wet himself from fear.
Seeing Ji Zizhao truly leave as she said, the magistrate shouted with all his might, "Guards! Come save me quickly! Ji Zizhao is abusing her authority and abusing her power for personal gain, trying to assassinate me! And, and... the fourth daughter of the Ji family is currently hidden in the cellar of Piaohong Courtyard in the county town!"
The magistrate naturally wouldn't reveal the secret hidden within Ji Zibì. Lacking evidence, his words would only provoke Ji Zizhao's murderous intent. It was better to reveal the location and let others find her. Once Ji Zibì was brought back, he could then identify her.
If he couldn't survive, the Ji family wouldn't fare any better!
Ji Zizhao, who was standing outside the prison cell, her body blocked by the earth wall, finally let out a heavy sigh of relief upon hearing this. She hurried towards the entrance.
Tang Di saw Ji Zizhao approaching and immediately went to meet her. "His Highness Fourth Prince has already taken Huo Nian Gong out to rescue her. Eldest Daughter Ji, you need not worry. This dungeon is full of our people, and what happened today will absolutely not be leaked."
Ji Zizhao nodded. She naturally trusted Xie Jinglan to handle matters.
"Quick, someone save me... save me..."
From the depths of the prison cell, the magistrate's trembling pleas were clearly audible.
Tang Di twitched his lips. "Did the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family really plant... worms in the county magistrate's belly?"
"Of course not. It was just some yam powder mixed with painkillers, with a slightly larger dosage. Ordinary people would naturally feel extremely itchy." Ji Zizhao shook her head. She was just a doctor, and even if she knew poison, it was limited.
Tang Di was speechless.
This was the first time he realized that the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family's skill in deception was just as impressive.
"Have someone splash him with more cold water, the more the better. After about two hours, the itching will subside." The Emperor had entrusted this matter to Xie Jinglan to investigate, but it didn't mean Consort Xi and the Fifth Prince weren't watching from the shadows. Ji Zizhao wished she could just kill the magistrate quickly, but in the face of bigger plans, there was often no room for impulsiveness.
Tang Di quickly had cold water prepared and personally escorted Ji Zizhao out of the dungeon.
Looking at Ji Zizhao's receding back, Tang Di actually wanted to ask what kind of secret the fourth daughter of the Ji family held. But upon hearing the magistrate's continuous screams behind him, he thought better of it.
Living, after all, was quite good.
Ji Zizhao returned to her courtyard, her heart in turmoil.
Piaohong Courtyard. Just by the name, only a fool wouldn't know what kind of place it was.
No wonder the magistrate already knew about the fourth sister's secret. It seemed those people had already examined her.
Ji Zizhao deliberately provoked the magistrate, hoping to find out the fourth sister's whereabouts. But now, the situation didn't seem very optimistic.
She looked out at the dark night sky and could only hope that everything went smoothly for Xie Jinglan.
After an unknown amount of time, sounds finally came from outside the courtyard.
Ji Zizhao quickly got up and rushed out. In the darkness, she saw Xie Jinglan walking towards her with a familiar figure in his arms.
The fourth sister in her memory was now lying weakly in Xie Jinglan's embrace. The cloak wrapped around her concealed her dishevelment, but the unkempt hair exposed made Ji Zizhao's heart clench.
Ji Zibì had managed to maintain a sliver of consciousness. Even after being abused and beaten for so many days, she still bit her tongue to persist. The moment she saw her elder sister, she couldn't tell if it was grievance or heartache, but tears flowed out. "Elder sister..."
With just a faint call, she completely fainted.
Xie Jinglan carried her into the house and gently placed her on the bed. Knowing Ji Zizhao was anxious to examine her injuries, he consciously retreated to the side hall to wait.
Ji Zizhao quickly removed the cloak from Ji Zibì's body, only to be met with a sight of her body covered in injuries!
Ji Zibì's clothes were gone, leaving only a bodice to barely cover her. The underpants were a bloody mess, and the wounds on her body were too numerous to count.
Ji Zizhao quickly turned to get her medicine box. But as she treated the wounds, her wrists trembled uncontrollably, even with gritted teeth.
After an unknown amount of time, she finally finished treating the last wound. She took out her personal undergarments to change for her fourth sister, and then carefully tucked her in before turning and walking out of the inner room.
Looking at Xie Jinglan sitting in the side hall, Ji Zizhao asked with a hoarse voice, "How many people know about this?"
Since Xie Jinglan had brought her back, he already knew about the fourth sister's secret. Ji Zizhao saw no need to hide anything. She now only wanted to know who else knew.
Under the candlelight, Ji Zizhao's pale face made her dark eyes even more prominent.
Xie Jinglan was no stranger to the chilling aura emanating from her eyes. It was the same murderous, fearless demeanor she had when she forced her way into the palace back then.
"I will handle this. You just stay with your fourth sister. If you feel I haven't done a satisfactory job, you can even kill me then," Xie Jinglan said, rising and walking towards her. He raised his hand to caress her pale face.
The warmth from his palm transmitted to Ji Zizhao, finally bringing a hint of warmth back to her eyes. "I won't hurt you."
Just as he wouldn't hurt her.
This trust, without any vows, was still enough to make her believe.
Xie Jinglan smiled and then embraced her.
Wrapped in his familiar scent, Ji Zizhao's trembling body finally calmed down.