Ji Zibi didn't finish her words, but they were clear enough.
Eldest sister wanted to assist the Seventh Prince!
Throughout history, the imperial court was not without its bloodshed, and it was not uncommon for ministers to secretly choose sides.
Yet, the Ji family, for a hundred years, had remained neutral, never vying for any merit in aiding the emperor.
Ji Zixiu quickly covered her fourth sister's mouth, "Do you want to die? How can you say such things so casually?"
Ji Zibi's eyes widened; she herself was quite startled by what she had just said.
She hadn't experienced other dynasties, but in the current era, the Empress was childless, and there was no crown prince. Which prince wasn't eyeing the throne covetously?
The existence of a crown prince could, at times, suppress the restless ambitions of others by his very status.
However, without one, every prince would try their luck.
Although the competition for the crown prince hadn't reached its peak, just thinking about it was enough to envision a bloody storm.
"I don't have much interest in such matters, but I believe in Eldest Sister. If this is truly Eldest Sister's decision, then I have nothing to say. Besides, I don't think the Seventh Prince is inferior to any other prince." Ji Zixiu had already come to terms with it.
The Ji family's foundation was unstable. It was natural for Eldest Sister to want to take a stand to solidify the family's position.
Moreover, Ji Zixiu didn't know about other princes, but she was certain the Seventh Prince would not let the Ji family down.
The most important thing!
The Seventh Prince had a good relationship with the Fourth Prince.
And who was the Fourth Prince?
Naturally, he was her future brother-in-law.
Ji Zibi didn't know her second sister's thoughts, but her second sister was right about one thing: she also believed in Eldest Sister.
Therefore, if this was Eldest Sister's decision, she would have no complaints.
Ji Zibi could not reveal her connection to the Four Great Medical Halls, so she couldn't stay long. That evening, under Ji Zixiu's escort, she left the county town.
Fortunately, at that moment, everyone had been summoned to the mountains by the Seventh Prince, so no one paid any attention to Ji Zibi.
The people of the county town initially didn't believe that the imperial court would treat them so kindly. Only when they saw the medicinal herbs, seedlings, and doctors arriving in the county town did the people believe that what they saw and heard was true.
Just then, the Fourth Prince sent Huo Nian Gong to spread the news that this was the Seventh Prince's proposal in every county town. Soon, the county town was abuzz with talk.
For a time, the Seventh Prince was hailed as the savior of the county town's people.
Chen Gang seized the opportunity and, following the shopkeeper's instructions in the letter, began recruiting people to manage the medicinal fields.
Not only could they earn money, but they could also take over the medicinal fields personally cultivated by the hero in the letter. Applicants poured in.
Soon, the major and minor affairs of the Luoyi Medical Hall began to take shape.
And it was through the diligent labor of the Seventh Prince, who had dragged the Fifth Prince to build houses and farm on the mountain, that the day of their return to the imperial city was within reach. When Emperor Xiaochang received the news, the Seventh Prince and his entourage had already decided to arrive at the imperial city before the Dragon Boat Festival.
With the current fervent public sentiment and high spirits in Luoyi County, Emperor Xiaochang was naturally pleased and overjoyed. He specifically issued a decree to hold a banquet in the palace on the Dragon Boat Festival to celebrate with the people and welcome his sons.
Ji Zizhao heard the news precisely when she received a letter sent by someone from the Fourth Prince's estate.
It wasn't entirely a letter from the Fourth Prince, as it was actually written by the Seventh Prince to the Fourth Prince.
Given the Seventh Prince's carefree nature, he truly couldn't write a proper letter.
However, despite the few words on the page, Ji Zizhao could tell that the Seventh Prince had gained a lot of mature experience and insights from his recent handling of the cold epidemic in Luoyi County.
Only after reading the last word did Ji Zizhao light a candle and toss the letter into it.
One had to admit that the Fourth Prince had truly put in the effort.
Although Ji Zizhao still didn't understand why the Fourth Prince was so dedicated to assisting the Seventh Prince, the Fourth Prince's intentions were undoubtedly pure. Otherwise, he wouldn't have sent the letter to her. It was clearly his wish for her to know that the Seventh Prince was indeed a person with potential.
Ji Zizhao suddenly felt that the Seventh Prince was more like a father than the Emperor.
And she, who hadn't yet had children, was more like someone who had become a mother unexpectedly.
At the thought of her father and mother, Ji Zizhao instinctively frowned. Why was she thinking about such messy things?
When Ji Ziyan entered, she saw her eldest sister sitting by the table, lost in thought, with a warm smile on her face. "Who is Eldest Sister thinking about that makes her so gentle?"
As Ji Zizhao returned to her senses, the expression on her face had already returned to normal. "Just some trivial matters. Why have you come at this hour?"
Ji Ziyan sat down and sighed, placing an account book in front of her eldest sister.
Ji Zizhao opened it and flipped through it, her brow furrowing. "Why have the household expenses been so high recently?"
Ji Ziyan sighed helplessly. "Grandmother spoke with me a few days ago, saying that the remarried First Madam is, after all, the head of the main branch of the household and cannot be neglected indefinitely. So, she handed over the authority of household management to the remarried First Madam."
Since Grandmother had spoken, she found it difficult to refuse. Moreover, Grandmother had always held half of the Ji family's household management rights. Now that Grandmother had given up her rights, it was not her place as a junior to comment.
"It seems someone complained to Grandmother." Ji Zizhao casually flipped through the account book, her lips chilling. If it weren't for someone seeking it, how could Grandmother, who had just lost her daughter, have thought of this?
Ji Ziyan understood her eldest sister's meaning. "Since it was Grandmother's wish, I didn't say much. I just didn't expect that when I went to the accounting office to check the accounts today, more than half of the money was missing."
That was more than half a month's expenses for the mansion. She wondered what it was used for.
"Are there any developments from Grandmother's side?"
Ji Ziyan shook her head.
Ji Zizhao thought for a moment before saying, "In that case, you don't need to make a fuss. When the household runs out of money, have the steward take the account book and go to Grandmother."
The lack of movement from Grandmother's side might mean that Gu Peilan had already spoken to Grandmother.
If that were the case, when her third sister arrived at this time, she would surely be labeled as petty and unable to tolerate Gu Peilan and her daughter by Grandmother.
Of course, if Grandmother was unaware, then things would become interesting when the steward took the account book to Grandmother.
Grandmother brought her back, and Grandmother handed over the household management. At that time, whatever the deficit in silver, Grandmother would naturally have to pay it out of her own pocket.
Ji Ziyan nodded. "Eldest Sister is truly thoughtful."
"The household is not what it used to be. In the past, no matter how much fuss there was, we were not distracted. But now, those who stand with Grandmother are, from the beginning, of a different heart than ours. When something happens, we can no longer look at the surface; we must think deeper to be more prudent."
Ji Ziyan listened to her eldest sister's words, her heart feeling heavy.
She just wanted this family to be well; why was it so difficult?
Suddenly, voices could be heard from the courtyard.
Soon, Shuiling lifted the curtain and entered. She first curtsied to the third young lady, then looked at her mistress and said, "Miss, Granny Xu from the main courtyard is here. She says the remarried First Madam's maternal niece has come to visit as a guest, and the Old Madam requests that you go to the main courtyard immediately."