Chapter 382: Not Enough to Relieve Hatred, the Ji Family Should Have Fallen Apart Long Ago

"If it weren’t for Ah Wu."

At the sound of this intimate address, Ji Qingwu’s long lashes finally stopped trembling. She stared back into his deep, dark eyes.

Zhao Mingyan said mockingly, "The Ji Family should have been broken up long ago."

The moment he finished speaking, all eyes shot to Ji Qingwu’s face, shocked by the meaning behind the Emperor’s words.

Old Mrs. Ji was especially stunned, her eyes bulging in disbelief.

"What... what does that mean..."

The Ji father and sons also stared at Ji Qingwu without blinking.

The tension coiling within Ji Qingwu completely unraveled. Any further pretense, any more explanations, would be useless.

’This moment came far sooner than I had imagined.’

A sense of reckless abandon washed over Ji Qingwu.

She nodded at Old Mrs. Ji, her voice crisp.

"That’s right. It’s just as you’re thinking, Grandmother."

Old Madam Ji instantly felt as if a hand were squeezing her throat, making it hard to breathe. Her body went limp, and she fell back onto the bedding.

But she refused to give up. "Your Majesty, but... but... even if it has nothing to do with her, Chang Yan shouldn’t have died so miserably..."

Zhao Mingyan’s cold gaze fell upon Old Mrs. Ji, silencing her before she could say another word.

"There are some things I have no need to explain to you, but since you remain so fixated, Old Madam, I might as well make things clear."

"Ji Changyan could die a thousand times, and it would still not be enough. I would still not be satisfied!"

Old Madam Ji’s heart trembled. ’So I’ve been wrong all along.’

’The one who wanted my grandson dead was the Emperor.’

Zhao Mingyan’s lips curled into a cold smile. "Old Madam, if you wish to be buried with your grandson, I will not stop you. At your age, it could even be considered a joyous funeral, couldn’t it?"

’A joyous funeral... He wants to kill Old Mrs. Ji...’

At these words, the members of the Ji Family scrambled to their feet and fell to their knees.

They cried out in unison, "Your Majesty, please quell your anger!"

This time, Old Mrs. Ji was completely sobered.

’Even if the Emperor seemed amicable when he first entered, it wasn’t for my sake. The Empress Dowager in the palace has already fallen; what face do I have left to speak of?’

’The Emperor came here for Qingwu, and I, fool that I am, ran right into his line of fire.’

’I was wrong about so many things. The Emperor has truly been captivated by Qingwu.’

To save her own life, even though she was dizzy and weak, Old Mrs. Ji forced herself to climb down from the bed and prostrate herself on the floor at its foot.

Zhao Mingyan sat perfectly still, unconcerned with who was kneeling on the floor. To him, receiving such obeisance was only natural.

But Ji Qingwu could not remain seated while her father, mother, and older brother were all kneeling.

However, she was a step too slow in getting up, and there was little space left for her on the floor.

The positioning was awkward. If she knelt now, she would have to kneel right beside the Emperor’s boots.

’I could probably squeeze in next to Mrs. Qiao,’ Ji Qingwu mused.

Just as she bent her knees, the toe of one of the Golden Dragon Court Boots moved, pressing against her calf and stopping her.

The rest of the Ji Family kept their heads bowed to the floor, waiting nervously for their judgment.

Ji Qingwu gave the Emperor’s thigh a push, shifting him slightly. Her knees descended, but they didn’t meet the hard flagstones.

Ji Qingwu glanced down and saw she was now kneeling directly on top of his foot. She quickly pulled her skirt over it to hide it.

Her tone was respectful, but her eyes were wide and bright as she glared at him.

"Your Majesty, please quell your anger."

Zhao Mingyan looked back at her. "I am not angry with you. What are you doing kneeling? Get up."

The implication was that the rest of the Ji Family had to remain kneeling.

’Why am I even kneeling? This whole charade is so embarrassing,’ Ji Qingwu thought.

"Your Majesty."

Ji Qingwu called out softly again.

Zhao Mingyan looked at her, his expression softening slightly.

"Ah Wu has done no wrong and may rise. But the others’ faults are not so small."

Seeing his expression, Ji Qingwu knew the matter wouldn’t be dropped so easily, so she didn’t press him further.

But she didn’t get up either. With her parents kneeling, how could she sit comfortably in a chair?

Zhao Mingyan said, "Let’s let bygones be bygones. But since we’re on the subject, let’s talk about how Ji Changyan developed the gall to assassinate an Imperial Censor. How was such a heartless and audacious wolf raised?"

"If you were to rank the profligate sons of the Capital City’s noble families, Ji Changyan would surely be in the top three. Bullying merchants, dominating the markets... I have received more than a dozen memorials reporting his misdeeds."

"You are the ones who indulged him, bit by bit."

Shame appeared on Ji Bo Lian’s face.

His second brother, Ji Xuwen, had died young due to poor health, leaving behind a widow and an orphan. Because of this, he had been much more lenient in raising the children of the second branch. His mother also favored them, so he simply turned a blind eye. Later, he took an official post outside the capital and had even less control over the matter.

Recalling the past, Ji Bo Lian said in a pained voice, "It is all my fault."

Mrs. Qiao had also tried to discipline the boy, but she was met with resentment from her mother-in-law and sister-in-law. Eventually, she gave up. She lowered her head and sighed.

Tears streamed endlessly from Old Madam Ji’s eyes. Of everyone in the Ji Family, she had doted on Ji Changyan the most and had also been the most indulgent. But now, it was too late to regret spoiling her grandson.

The oppressive atmosphere was suffocating.

Even Ji Qingwu felt a little breathless. Seizing the opportunity while no one dared to look up, she unexpectedly nudged his fingers with her chin.

Zhao Mingyan lowered his eyes. Ji Qingwu said in a soft, slow voice, "When I first returned home, Grandmother warned me that the entire Ji Family prospers as one and suffers as one. I’m certain everyone understands this principle."

Old Mrs. Ji closed her eyes, tears streaming from their corners. Hearing those words from Qingwu’s lips was the greatest irony of all.

Ji Qingwu had no desire to protect Old Madam Ji; she just didn’t want the people who had been good to her to suffer as well.

"Your Majesty, we know we were wrong."

Zhao Mingyan took the chance to hook a finger under her chin. He knew what she was thinking, but he had no intention of indulging her.

Instead, he said, "You know you were wrong? I haven’t even mentioned your greatest mistake."

Ji Qingwu paused, wondering what earth-shattering words the Emperor would utter next.

Zhao Mingyan raised an eyebrow. "Why has no one asked me what this greatest mistake is?"

Old Madam Ji was weeping, and sweat beaded on everyone else’s foreheads. Who would dare to ask?

It was left to Ji Qingwu to ask. "...What is it?"

Zhao Mingyan nodded in satisfaction, withdrew his hand, and continued, "Weren’t you the one who wanted to know what happened, Old Madam?"

Old Mrs. Ji, prostrated on the floor, shook her head repeatedly. She was old, and kneeling was taking its toll. She only hoped this interrogation would end soon.

Zhao Mingyan’s voice was deep and cold. "That afternoon, Ah Wu was drugged by Ji Changyan, knocked unconscious, and taken from the estate. Not one of you knew."

"The fine grandson you raised, Old Madam, turned his wicked intentions on his own sister. Not only did he tie her up, but he also didn’t hesitate to use a deadly poison on her, all to save his own life."

Old Madam Ji’s hands, propped on the floor, were trembling. Her entire body shook uncontrollably.

’So this was the truth I was so desperate to find.’

The Emperor’s voice continued from above, the fury hidden within it as dangerous as molten magma churning beneath a calm surface.

"If anything had happened to Ah Wu, not a single one of you could have afforded to pay the price!"