Amidst Zhang Momo’s piercing shriek, Ji Yunsu’s whip rained down like a storm, “crack, crack, crack,” striking the matron’s bloated body relentlessly.
At this moment, the whip seemed to have eyes of its own.
No matter how Zhang Momo rolled on the ground, attempting to evade the lashing whip,
Each strike landed with precise, ruthless accuracy.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Zhang Momo was in so much pain she couldn’t even utter a plea for mercy. Her eyes rolled back, and she fainted dead away on the spot!
Witnessing this, the onlookers collectively gasped, their gazes toward Ji Yunsu now filled with deep apprehension.
Heavens, was this still the timid, cowardly, and unrefined Second Young Miss they had heard about from Zhang Momo?
Judging by the imposing aura radiating from the Second Young Miss, she carried herself with the demeanor of those prestigious noble ladies from prominent families in the capital!
At that moment, Ji Yunsu casually tossed the horsewhip to the ground, turned, and helped her mother and younger brother to their feet.
She couldn’t even be bothered to spare a single glance at the surrounding crowd, directly taking her mother and brother’s hands to lead them back inside to tend to their wounds.
“Second Young Miss, please wait.”
From among the servants, a tall, slender, and neatly dressed elderly matron suddenly called out.
As her words fell, this old matron quickly stepped in front of Ji Yunsu, her expression quite serious, and said,
“Second Young Miss, although Zhang Momo was somewhat disrespectful to Concubine Liu earlier, her intentions were for the sake of you and the Second Young Master’s future.”
“After all, you and the Second Young Master are the Grand Tutor’s flesh and blood who have been living outside the family. It is only right that you return to claim your heritage.”
“Now that you have taught Zhang Momo a lesson, Second Young Miss, shouldn’t you let your anger subside and accompany this old servant to the capital?”
Ji Yunsu raised an eyebrow. This old matron certainly seemed more composed and steady in her actions compared to Zhang Momo.
However, a dog that doesn’t bark often bites more fiercely.
Ji Yunsu’s gaze swept over the old matron, her face, still slightly swollen from the poison, faintly revealing a scrutinizing expression.
Zhao Momo felt somewhat unsettled under Ji Yunsu’s sharp stare and couldn’t help but add,
“Second Young Miss, this old servant notices that Concubine Liu seems to be in poor health. The capital has no shortage of renowned physicians; we could summon them all to the residence to examine Concubine Liu.”
Hearing this, a subtle glint flickered in Ji Yunsu’s clear, almond-shaped eyes.
This old matron certainly had some tricks up her sleeve. To persuade her to take her mother and brother to the capital, she even knew how to play the emotional card.
However, the old matron’s words had provided her with a new line of thought.
The chronic poison affecting her mother and brother was slightly different from her own. Their antidote was still missing one ingredient to be complete.
But this particular herb was quite rare and couldn’t be found in ordinary, small-town apothecaries. If they were in the capital, however, it would be much easier to obtain.
“Su’er, your mother is fine. There’s no need to go to the capital to find a physician.”
At this moment, Liu Rumei, who had been standing quietly by her daughter’s side, turned her slightly weary yet gentle face toward her daughter and spoke with firm resolve.
As she spoke, Liu Rumei directly issued a dismissal to Zhao Momo.
“Matron, go back and tell Ji Xueli that I can forego status and recognition, but my son and daughter cannot be labeled as illegitimate children.”
“Otherwise, even if I have to go to the underworld after death, I will accuse him of abandoning his humble wife and being ungrateful!”
Liu Rumei’s voice was not loud; in fact, due to years of arduous labor raising her children, her speech clearly lacked vigor.
Yet, each word, spoken with calmness, carried immense strength.
Ji Yunsu’s first impression of her mother was that she was gentle and kind-hearted.
For the sake of her children, she had toiled tirelessly for most of her life. As a woman raising children alone, she had endured countless scornful glances from the outside world over the years.
Life had dealt Mother many hardships, yet she faced them with a smile, never complaining about her struggles, and raised her two children with exceptional care.
All of this, Ji Yunsu could glean from the original host’s memories and from her sensible, well-behaved younger brother.
Of course, Ji Yunsu had also personally experienced Liu Rumei’s gentle and virtuous nature.
Liu Rumei’s eyesight was poor, but to ensure her adopted daughter—whose feet were swollen due to toxins—could wear comfortable shoes and suffer less discomfort, she would drag her sickly body through the night, sewing shoes for her.
And now, breaking from her usual submissiveness, she stood firm against the visitors from the Grand Tutor Manor, insisting on reclaiming her and her son’s rightful status.
At this moment, a flicker of surprise inadvertently showed in Zhao Momo’s eyes as she looked at Liu Rumei.
According to reports, Concubine Liu had always been docile and easy to manipulate—who would have thought she had such a resolute side?
Zhao Momo’s eyes darted shrewdly. With Zhang Momo’s earlier misstep as a cautionary tale, Zhao Momo’s attitude toward Concubine Liu was considerably more respectful.
At least, on the surface, it appeared so.
A feigned, kindly smile stretched across Zhao Momo’s wrinkled face as she addressed Concubine Liu.
“Concubine Liu, this matter is beyond this old servant’s authority.”
“Why not bring the Second Young Lady and Second Young Master and follow this old servant back to the capital first?”
“You can raise your concerns directly with the Grand Tutor when you see him?”
Though her words seemed to seek advice, even as she spoke, Zhao Momo was already signaling the servants to bring a cramped, shabby carriage before Liu Rumei and her two children.
Without waiting for Liu Rumei’s response, Zhao Momo respectfully made a “please” gesture and urged with a false smile.
“Concubine Liu, the Madam has ordered this old servant to bring you back to the manor within three days. Please understand the difficulties we servants face and board the carriage quickly.”
As the saying goes, one does not strike a smiling face.
Zhao Momo’s tactic of yielding to gain advantage left little room for criticism.
Liu Rumei, with her kind and gentle nature, could not bear to see others suffer or beg. Watching Zhao Momo’s performance, a complex emotion flickered in her gentle eyes.
Ji Yunsu noticed her mother’s inner conflict and suddenly spoke up.
“This carriage is too cramped. My mother dislikes confined spaces. Come back tomorrow with a more spacious carriage to fetch us.”
Hearing her daughter’s words, a trace of anxiety flashed in Liu Rumei’s eyes. “Su’er, you…”
Ji Yunsu gently patted the back of Liu Rumei’s hand, then turned to Zhao Momo and commanded.
“Oh, and when you come to pick up my mother, brother, and me tomorrow, don’t forget to line the carriage with thick, soft cushions.”
“My mother is in poor health and fears jolting.”
At these words, the feigned, hypocritical smile on Zhao Momo’s wrinkled face began to falter.
Who does this second young lady think she is, to actually push her luck like this?
Though inwardly scornful, on the surface, Zhao Momo put on an apologetic smile and agreed to the request.
After saying, “This old servant will come to fetch you first thing tomorrow morning,” Zhao Momo had the servants carry Zhang Momo, who lay on the ground like a dead dog, and quickly left.
“Sister, why did you agree to that old hag’s demand to go to the capital?!”
“Grand Tutor Ji was the one who abandoned his wife and children—why should we have to go just because he tells us to?”
Ji Wenbo lifted his sallow, childish face, stamped his foot in anger, and stormed back into the house in a huff.
Ji Yunsu turned to Liu Rumei and calmly asked, “Mother, will you blame me for acting on my own?”