The process of review for crimes committed by high-ranking officials and nobles in Yu Lin was exceptionally cumbersome.
Many of these officials and nobles would use this period to bribe their way through, ultimately facing no consequences.
Ji Zizhao naturally understood that her second aunt's accusation alone was insufficient to make Princess Yun An pay the price she deserved, which was why she was here now.
"Princess Yun An is quite clever. It's precisely because of this that she could orchestrate the act of faking her death and fleeing her marriage," Ji Zizhao said with a light smile, as if discussing everyday matters.
Princess Yun An studied Ji Zizhao carefully for a long while. Seeing that Ji Zizhao was not here to settle accounts, she also began to smile.
"So, Ji Zizhao, you can't defeat me!" Princess Yun An, assuming Ji Zizhao was helpless against her, said triumphantly, "But Ji Zizhao, you should probably thank me. If it weren't for me, how else would you have become a royal castaway, and how else would you have had the chance to serve those Turkic people?"
Ji Zizhao nodded. "That is indeed true."
If Princess Yun An had not caused such a scene, she would not have been able to travel to Luoyi so smoothly.
Princess Yun An did not grasp the meaning behind Ji Zizhao's words. Seeing that Ji Zizhao showed no anger, she became even bolder.
However, just as she was about to continue speaking to provoke Ji Zizhao, a roar suddenly erupted from outside the carriage.
Princess Yun An immediately recognized the voice as her brother's and hurriedly lifted the carriage curtain to look outside.
She saw that Cao Yan had been beaten beyond recognition by Ji Zixiu on the training grounds of the military camp.
Even three of his teeth had been knocked out!
Princess Yun An, who had been full of pride moments ago, was now completely dumbfounded.
During a new recruit's spar, as long as either party voluntarily surrendered, the match could be terminated.
Why had her brother not called for surrender?
Cao Yan, enduring Princess Yun An's stunned gaze, felt like crying.
He had wanted to call out for surrender, but the problem was he had no opportunity!
Ji Zixiu was like a mad dog, relentlessly pursuing him, leaving him no chance to speak.
Ji Zixiu certainly wouldn't give Cao Yan an opportunity.
Don't think she had forgotten the insults Cao Yan had hurled at the Ji family while they were queuing earlier.
Seeing Cao Yan lying on the ground, spitting blood with every gasp, Ji Zixiu finally felt satisfied with her beating.
The camp official then loudly declared, "New recruit spar, Ji family, Ji Zixiu wins!"
Upon hearing this, the new recruits erupted in cheers.
They had never imagined that Ji Zixiu's whip skills were so formidable.
Many present were martial artists, yet they admitted they could not compare to Ji Zixiu.
For a young woman to wield a whip with such mastery, it was evident how much hardship she had endured since childhood.
So, this was how the Ji family raised their daughters.
No wonder the century-old Ji family had never produced any failures, and no wonder the Ji family had become the guardian deity of Yu Lin.
The Ji family…
Truly deserved their reputation!!
Amidst the waves of cheers from the new recruits, Cao Yan glared fiercely at Princess Yun An.
Princess Yun An felt guilty under her brother's gaze.
She had accompanied her brother this time under the orders of their parents to look after the family's only son.
Just now, Cao Yan had been unable to call for surrender, but if Princess Yun An had shouted surrender on his behalf, the camp official would have shown some respect and stopped the match.
Now, her brother had been beaten into a pulp before her eyes.
How was she supposed to explain this to her parents when she returned home!
Suddenly, Princess Yun An seemed to recall something and turned to look at Ji Zizhao, who remained calm and composed.
"You did this on purpose." Princess Yun An stared at Ji Zizhao, finally understanding her motive for seeking her out.
Ji Zizhao had deliberately distracted her, thus causing her brother to be beaten!
Ji Zizhao continued to smile. "Princess Yun An's reaction seems a bit slow, but it doesn't matter. It is precisely because of people like you, Princess Yun An, who consider themselves intelligent and stand in front, that I can achieve my goals."
Princess Yun An, "..."
Why did her face suddenly feel so painful!
Others slapped faces directly, but Ji Zizhao's "face-slapping" was not about physical blows, but more like plucking hair.
It truly hurt!
"Princess Yun An's upbringing seems to be lacking. Otherwise, why would she not understand the meaning of self-awareness? No matter how I climbed up, I am now in the same position as Princess Yun An. If Princess Yun An is willing to let bygones be bygones, I will gladly spare you. If Princess Yun An insists on a fight to the death... I am always willing to accompany you to the very end."
Ji Zizhao was still smiling, but her voice had become eerily cold, like a drawn sword.
Her brother on the training grounds had been beaten into a deformed state. The thought of returning to the manor and facing her parents' reprimand, all stemming from Ji Zizhao's schemes…
How could Princess Yun An not be afraid!
Seeing Princess Yun An trembling like a sieve, Ji Zizhao finally stood up and got out of the carriage.
As Princess Yun An watched Ji Zizhao's retreating back, she felt a sense of relief and then broke down into tears.
Scheming between women was not unheard of, but at most, it involved backstabbing and two-faced behavior. But someone like Ji Zizhao, who wielded a great saber and charged forward directly, who wouldn't be afraid?
Since there were still many procedures for the new recruits to go through after entering the camp, Ji Zizhao left first with Second Madam Yu Fenglan.
Mother Xu, who had been waiting at the manor entrance, hurried forward to greet them upon seeing the eldest young lady and the second madam return.
Only after Second Madam Yu Fenglan had departed did Mother Xu softly say, "Eldest Young Lady, the Old Madam requests your presence."
Ji Zizhao nodded and followed Mother Xu towards the main courtyard.
As they neared the courtyard, Mother Xu added, "Eldest Young Lady, the Old Madam is still concerned about the Second Young Lady enlisting in the army without permission. Please be careful. Also… the eldest aunt is here."
With that, she lifted the heavy curtain for Ji Zizhao.
Before entering, Ji Zizhao called Qingzhu to her side and instructed, "Go to the storerooms of the Four Great Medical Halls and fetch a ginseng."
Qingzhu nodded and turned to leave.
Inside the room, the Old Madam's expression was extremely grim.
Upon seeing Ji Zizhao enter, the Old Madam let out a soft harrumph, "The people in the manor are becoming increasingly undisciplined."
Ji Rujun, sitting beside the Old Madam, said meaningfully, "When Father was still alive, our manor was not like this. All major and minor matters in the manor had to be approved by Mother. But look now… everyone seems to have their own ideas, I wonder who they learned it from."
As she spoke the last sentence, she couldn't resist shooting a glare at Ji Zizhao.
Ji Rujun's difficult life in the Jin family was due to the lack of support from her maternal family.
Of course, Ji Rujun dared not vent her anger on her mother, so naturally, she found Ji Zizhao displeasing in every way.
And when she thought about how the servant of that concubine had caused trouble last time, and the Ji family hadn't sent anyone to support her, she wished she could tear Ji Zizhao apart for relief.
The First Madam, Lin Wanyun, sitting to the side, worried inwardly.
It was clear that the eldest aunt had come with ill intentions.