The two people in the room were already in a sorry state.
Ji Ru Jun was truly enraged. After scratching five bloody marks on Gu Pei Lan's face, she was still not appeased. She declared, "That little slut Ji Zi Zhao is hateful, but she's infinitely smarter than you. Even if you and your mother die of anger, you'll never be Ji Zi Zhao's match. I'm going to tell Ji Zi Zhao the truth right now, and you just wait to die!"
Ji Ru Jun's furious scolding jolted Ji Ren Ran back to her senses.
Regardless of whether the current situation was orchestrated by Ji Zi Zhao, she could not afford to remain idle.
Gu Pei Lan clung tightly to Ji Ru Jun. She had gone to great lengths to establish herself in the Ji family and absolutely refused to be driven out.
Seeing Ji Ru Jun striding towards the door, Gu Pei Lan gritted her teeth and pulled her back.
Ji Ru Jun, not expecting Gu Pei Lan to dare disrespect her, became even more enraged. She raised her hand to slap Gu Pei Lan again. Seizing the opportunity, Gu Pei Lan grabbed Ji Ru Jun's hand, and the two women began to wrestle.
They tumbled from the doorway all the way back into the room.
"Great Aunt, you were also involved in Lin Wan Yun's death back then. How can you just wash your hands of it!"
"What does it have to do with me! I only helped you arrange the meeting, and you were the ones who killed her. I merely sat by and watched the whole time. Even if I told Mother the truth, Mother would definitely..."
The words abruptly stopped. Pushed onto a chair, Ji Ru Jun's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared intently at Gu Pei Lan.
Gu Pei Lan froze, not understanding what was happening, when she saw gushes of blood pouring from Ji Ru Jun's chest!
Gu Pei Lan was startled and quickly released her grip.
Ji Ru Jun's lips trembled. She was in so much pain that she had no strength left. She extended her blood-stained hand towards Gu Pei Lan, seemingly seeking help.
Only then did Gu Pei Lan see that a sharp pair of scissors had pierced Ji Ru Jun's chest!
Gu Pei Lan, having regained her composure, turned to leave.
Ji Ren Ran grabbed her mother's arm, "Where are you going, Mother?"
Gu Pei Lan's face was pale, appearing even more terrifying in the candlelight. "Don't you see Great Aunt is injured? Hurry and call for a doctor!"
Gu Pei Lan was truly terrified.
They already carried the burden of Lin Wan Yun's death. If anything happened to Ji Ru Jun, they would truly have no place in the Ji family.
Ji Ren Ran also trembled, but she was calmer than Gu Pei Lan. "No one knows how those scissors ended up on the chair. Mother didn't do it intentionally. If anyone is to blame, it's Great Aunt's own carelessness. What does it have to do with Mother?"
A hint of hesitation flashed in Gu Pei Lan's eyes. "That's true, but..."
Ji Ren Ran tightened her grip on her mother's arm. "Don't you think this is Heaven helping us?"
Gu Pei Lan shivered and instinctively looked at Ji Ru Jun on the chair.
With the heavy loss of blood, Ji Ru Jun could no longer hear Gu Pei Lan and Ji Ren Ran's words.
However, seeing the mother and daughter standing there, Ji Ru Jun knew that she could not count on them for help.
Ji Ru Jun never imagined that this mother and daughter were so venomous.
But upon closer thought, Ji Ru Jun understood.
Since they dared to kill Lin Wan Yun, how could they pity her?
In the end, she was the foolish one.
She thought she could benefit from the Ji family by using this mother and daughter, but instead, greed had led to her downfall.
At that moment, Ji Ru Jun truly regretted her actions. She finally understood what a foolish mistake she had made, but what good was knowing now? There was no turning back...
Blood flowed down Ji Ru Jun's rapidly chilling body.
Gu Pei Lan and Ji Ren Ran held their breath until Ji Ru Jun completely lost her life, only then did they exhale in relief.
However, looking at Ji Ru Jun's lifeless eyes as she sat in the chair, Gu Pei Lan's hands and feet turned cold. "She's dead, she's really dead. Wh-what do we do next..."
Ji Ren Ran was also scared looking at the dead person before her, her hands trembling uncontrollably as she held her mother's. "Mother, calm down. The dead cannot be brought back to life. We should not miss the opportunity Heaven has given us. If we get through this, infinite glory and wealth await us!"
The words "glory and wealth" gradually steadied Gu Pei Lan's mind.
Her daughter was right; she had returned to the Ji family to achieve greatness. "Mother was foolish. You quickly go to the Old Madam. I will handle things here."
Having spoken, before Ji Ren Ran could even exit, Gu Pei Lan, suppressing her fear, rushed towards Ji Ru Jun's corpse.
"Great Aunt, why were you so impulsive and desperate! We could have talked things through. How can you leave us like this, how are we supposed to live on..."
With her mother's wails echoing behind her, Ji Ren Ran turned and fled out the door.
No one saw the slight upward curve of her lips, flashing with a sinister, hook-like glint.
As Ji Ren Ran's departure shook the door, the entire Ji family was awakened from darkness.
Soon, the candlelight in the main courtyard was lit.
The news that Great Aunt had met with an accident quickly spread throughout the Ji family.
Ji Zi Zhao awoke from her shallow slumber and sat up, looking out the window.
Candles were lit in one courtyard after another, lanterns hung, and from afar, the estate was ablaze with light.
Shui Ling, who had been keeping watch outside, heard movement from the inner room and quickly lifted the curtain to enter.
Her face was pale, and she looked at her young lady, hesitant to speak.
Ji Zi Zhao glanced up at Shui Ling, "Just tell me the truth."
Shui Ling tightened her grip on the lantern handle and, after a long pause, said, "News just came from the main courtyard that Great Aunt has had an accident. It, it was due to Miss's coercion..."
Shui Ling couldn't understand why the woman had suddenly decided to end her life.
Now, her own young lady would become a sinner for eternity!
Facing Shui Ling's worry, Ji Zi Zhao remained remarkably calm. "Go and fetch Uncle Ji."
Shui Ling nodded and ran off.
A quarter of an hour later, when Zhang Ji arrived in a hurry, Ji Zi Zhao had already dressed and was sitting in the front hall.
Before Zhang Ji could even greet her, Ji Zi Zhao spoke first, "Were there any abnormalities in the manor today?"
Zhang Ji thought for a moment, understanding what his young lady was asking. "No strangers delivered messages into the manor today, but Madam Song, who accompanies Miss Ren Ran, did go out for a while."
Shui Ling whispered from the side, "Miss doesn't know, but Madam Song returned with Miss Ren Ran. She said she has served Miss Ren Ran since she was little, as her wet nurse's attendant."
Ji Zi Zhao was silent for a while before her lips curved into a smile. "This is becoming more and more interesting."