Chapter 391: I’ll Take the Blame

Ji Qingwu’s expression tensed at the mention of Ninghua Hall.

"How is my eldest sister?"

Feng Shuang scoffed. "It’s just childbirth. What woman doesn’t go through this? Her screaming is giving me a headache."

Ji Qingwu gripped the horse whip in her hand tighter.

Her eyes were like ice as she repeated the question. "My eldest sister. What is her condition right now?"

Feng Shuang, thinking she had the upper hand, said casually, "Oh, that’s right. Fifth Missy has given birth before, too. It must have been much harder for you, wasn’t it? Out in the countryside, with no doctors or midwives. You had to rely on yourself, I imagine."

Ji Qingwu narrowed her eyes.

Feng Shuang beamed. "But your sister is different from you. She’s been pampered since childhood. After marrying into the Marquis Mansion, she became even more precious and delicate, needing everything to be a cut above the rest just to be content. During her pregnancy, she ate only the finest foods the mansion had to offer. And look where it’s gotten her."

"The baby is too big. She’s been in labor for a day and a night, and still can’t deliver."

In the next instant, her expression changed.

"I had a difficult labor when I gave birth to Song, and I still got through it all by myself!"

Feng Shuang’s face twisted with resentment as she recalled hemorrhaging in the delivery room, nearly dying.

"Your eldest sister has had such a charmed life. The food she eats, the clothes she wears, the husband she married... all first-class in the Imperial City. She’s never known a day of hardship."

Feng Shuang was thrilled. Ji Qingrong was finally about to suffer.

"So, I suggest you don’t worry. Just go rest in your room and wait for the ’good news’ about your eldest sister."

Seeing the four maids move to drag her away, Ji Qingwu shook them off.

"You lunatic! What is this self-righteous nonsense you’re spouting!"

Feng Shuang, who had been about to turn back to her room to sleep, tilted her head and said scornfully, "Fifth Missy, you should be calling me ’Second Sister-in-law’ by rights. You truly have no manners or respect for your elders. Then again, I suppose it suits your station."

Ji Qingwu’s actions would show her that in her eyes, there were no manners or hierarchy.

And if there were, it was Feng Shuang who was the lowly one.

With the sound of a leather whip cracking through the air, Ji Qingwu raised her arm and struck Feng Shuang across the back, instantly shredding the outer gauze of her robe.

The force of the blow from behind was so great that there was no time to react.

Feng Shuang pitched forward, slamming hard onto the corridor steps. It looked as if she had landed face-first.

Ji Qingwu had held back.

But even at sixty or seventy percent, the force that could take down a burly guard with a single lash was more than any woman of the inner court could endure.

Blood trickled from Feng Shuang’s mouth as she grimaced in agony.

She snarled, "You! You little bitch! This is rebellion! How dare you strike me? Seize her! Grab her right now!"

Hearing that she still had the energy to curse, Ji Qingwu swung her arm wide and brought the whip down on her lower back again.

This time, the woman who had been spewing curses just a moment before was whipped into unconsciousness.

Ji Qingwu cracked the whip in the air a few times, and the maids watched her, hesitating.

"The Second Madam has lost her senses, but have you all lost yours as well? When the Princely Heir returns and learns how you’ve treated my eldest sister, what do you think he will do?"

"If you want to live, get out of my way!"

Those words were more effective than any threat.

Lu Juan commanded immense authority within the Marquis Mansion. The mere mention of his name was enough to frighten away these indecisive servants.

Ji Qingwu hurried toward Ji Qingrong’s courtyard. Deciding she was moving too slowly, she knotted the hem of her skirt, lifted it, and broke into a run.

As expected, the entrance to Ninghua Hall’s courtyard was also guarded.

Ji Qingwu brandished her whip menacingly. This time, the guards at the gate didn’t try to stop her. Instead, they led her to the main building.

The area outside was brightly lit. A chair had been placed beneath the window, where Madam Cui sat with her eyes closed, feigning sleep as she rested her forehead on her hand.

An old servant woman leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Grand Dowager, the Ji Family’s Fifth Missy is here."

Madam Cui didn’t open her eyes. She just frowned and said, "I knew that troublemaker would show up."

Standing at the doorway, Ji Qingwu could smell the metallic tang of blood wafting out from the room, but there was no sound of movement.

Ji Qingwu’s heart began to race. She reached to push the door open, but the moment her hand touched the handle, two large, brawny servant women yanked her aside.

"What do you think you’re doing?"

Madam Cui opened her eyes, taking in Ji Qingwu’s uncivilized appearance, her skirt still hitched up.

She began with a sneer. "You truly are an eye-opener."

"Are you here because you’re worried about your sister? Do you think you’re the only one in all of Lin’an with medical skills? I have already summoned experienced doctors and midwives. It’s her own constitution that’s poor. She’s so weak, she can’t even handle something as simple as childbirth."

Ji Qingwu ignored Madam Cui’s words, her sharp gaze fixed on the hands gripping her arms.

"I’ll give you one chance. Let go."

Madam Cui’s voice was shrill. "Ji Qingwu, have you forgotten where you are? This is the Marquis Mansion of the Lu family! It is not a place for you to run wild!"

"You call this running wild?" Ji Qingwu retorted.

She raised her voice slightly, calling into the darkness, "Si Hai, I’ll leave them to you. Tie them all up and throw them out of the courtyard."

The words had barely left her lips when a lean, black-clad figure appeared as if from the sky itself, spiraling down to the ground. He wore a silver metal mask.

The crowd cried out in alarm.

Because this was the inner courtyard—and right outside the delivery room—the Marquis Mansion’s pages and enforcers were not present.

Using a Hidden Guard of Si Hai’s caliber to deal with these women was like using an ox-cleaver to kill a chicken.

He effortlessly neutralized the two brawny servants, and with a flick of his wrist, a rope flew out, ensnaring them. He tied the knot, lifted them up, and tossed them aside.

Si Hai was brimming with inexhaustible strength. Hidden in the shadows, he had been listening for some time, his anger growing.

But he had not heard Miss Ji call for him, so he could only continue to wait.

A Hidden Guard was forbidden from revealing himself or acting on his own accord unless his master’s life was in danger.

Madam Cui retreated, shielded by her personal attendant. She never expected an expert to appear out of thin air.

She seethed with rage. "Ji Wu! You’ve gone too far! Bringing an outside man into the Marquis Mansion and starting a fight... You are utterly lawless!"

Ji Qingwu had already pushed open the door. Hearing the outburst, she glanced back over her shoulder.

Coldly, she said, "The heavens over the Marquis Mansion... Did you truly believe you were the one holding them up, Grand Dowager? Well, tonight is the perfect time for a change in the weather."

Madam Cui raged, "I will go to the palace! I will report your every word and deed today to Your Majesty!"

"Be my guest," Ji Qingwu said.

She turned her head. "Si Hai, treat everyone the same. No need to be polite with the Grand Dowager. Tie them all up and throw them out."

Si Hai nodded vigorously. "Rest assured, Miss Ji!"

Madam Cui postured, crying, "You dare?! I am the Emperor’s maternal aunt!"

"If anything happens, the blame is mine. Do as you wish," Ji Qingwu said.

With that, Si Hai’s movements became even swifter as he headed straight for the corner where Madam Cui was cowering.

With that said, Ji Qingwu closed the door to the room.

The air inside was foul and stuffy.

In the side hall, an old, white-haired doctor sat on a chair, his face a mask of worry.