“Go on,” Ji Yueming curled up her lips.
“Mm!” The little maid’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she ran to wait under a tree near the courtyard gate. Ji Yueming glanced at the gradually kindling fire, then leisurely turned and walked away.
Ye Yunyue didn’t want to cause trouble, but did Ji Yueming? What if the man in the gatehouse wasn’t Third Brother but another man? Whether it was to burn these adulterers alive with a torch or to call people to catch them in the act, it would all be good.
But the man inside was Third Brother…
If she played the hero, Third Brother and Second Aunt would surely hate her in the future. The family would also blame her for lacking discretion and punish her. And if she directly exposed them, the elders at home, considering Third Brother and Fifth Uncle’s face, might suppress the matter.
She didn’t want to burn Ji Xuanke to death, nor did she want to blatantly be the one to expose them. So she set a fire. It had been snowing continuously for the past few days; the snow on the eaves and ground hadn’t melted yet, so the fire wouldn’t spread. But eventually, a servant would see the thick smoke and come to put out the fire. At that time, there would be no need for her to call for people; a large group would witness the rendezvous of the two with their own eyes.
Tonight was New Year’s Eve, and there were fireworks and firecrackers everywhere; it wasn’t unusual for a fire to start. No one would suspect someone had deliberately set it. As for the locked door? By then, everyone would be furious, cursing the shameless adulterers, and no one would care who locked the door.
Happy.
Ji Yueming was almost ready to sing a ditty.
At the front courtyard stage.
Ji Xinglan usually didn’t have many playmates, but today she was happily playing with the Zhao family’s children. Exhausted and thirsty, she ran to Ji Wujing, stood on tiptoes to reach for the water on the table.
Ji Wujing glanced at her and handed her the cup.
The little girl was overjoyed, drinking the entire cup of water in one gulp. She placed the cup back on the table, tilted her little head, and looked at the empty chair beside Ji Wujing, asking softly, “Where did she go?”
Ji Wujing looked at the empty seat, frowning. Before he could speak, a distant servant shouted about a fire.
Ji Wujing placed his hand on the wheelchair armrest, looked back at the direction of the billowing smoke, and suddenly smiled.
“Why is there a fire? During the New Year, can we put out the fire?” The Ild Madam hurriedly got up, and the whole family followed.
The mansion had many wooden buildings, and although it wasn’t easy to start a big fire in this weather, there was still concern.
Ji Xinglou craned his neck to look and couldn’t help wanting to run over. Ji Xinglan quickly grabbed his hand. Ji Xinglou slapped her hand, angrily saying, “Go find your nanny! I want to put out the fire!”
Ji Xinglan was scared pale, holding Ji Xinglou’s hand tightly without letting go. She whispered, “It’s dangerous, Brother, don’t go!”
Ji Xinglou widened his eyes at her. Ji Xinglan pouted but still didn’t let go, whispering again, “It’s really dangerous, Brother…”
Before she could finish speaking, Ji Wujing lifted the small body. Ji Xinglan sat dazedly on Ji Wujing’s lap, turning her head to look at him blankly. This was the first time her father had held her.
“I’m going to watch the play with your brother. If you’re scared, let Nanny Lin stay with you,” Ji Wujing said.
Ji Xinglan blinked and shook her head vigorously. “As long as Daddy is here, Lanlan won’t be scared!”
Ji Wujing smiled and wheeled forward.
Ji Xinglan loved being held by her father, but she didn’t want him to work so hard. She shifted a little and stubbornly said, “Lanlan can walk by herself, no need for Daddy to carry me!”
Ji Wujing put her down.
As they moved forward, Ji Xinglou, who was running and jumping ahead, looked back at his sister struggling in the dark. Complaining about the trouble, he still went back, reluctantly taking her hand.
Ji Wujing observed Ji Xinglou’s small actions, thoughtfully.
Ji Wujing leisurely wheeled himself, following the two children, arriving almost last. By the time he got there, the fire had already been put out, though thick smoke still billowed, looking quite frightening.
In the crowd, Ye Yunyue’s eyes showed surprise. Ji Yueming had actually set the fire directly? When she met Ji Yueming’s gaze, she immediately put on a look of panic and fear. Ji Yueming smiled slightly, giving her a reassuring glance.
“Is there anyone inside? I saw Old Zhang who lives here up front.”
“Didn’t I hear a woman crying?”
A servant, holding a wooden beam, struggled to break the latch, causing the door to shake. One of the doors crashed down, revealing the scene inside the gatehouse.
Gu Jianli was curled up on the ground, hugging her knees and crying softly.
When the door was broken open, she looked up, the moonlight illuminating her tear-streaked face. Her eyes were full of sorrow, and she looked as beautiful as a painting, tears enhancing her delicate beauty. Blood trickled from her white jade neck, staining her tea-colored short jacket, adding a tragic touch. As she raised her head, everyone was momentarily breathless, stunned by her beauty.
Gu Jianli stumbled up, lifting her skirt and running out of the debris, her pomegranate red skirt fluttering. She rushed into Ji Wujing’s arms, clutching his clothes tightly, her voice trembling with sobs, “Fifth Master, save me! Someone tried to kill me!”
Ji Wujing was taken aback, then he wrapped his arms around her, patting her lightly trembling back, and glanced at the wound on her neck. He smiled and said, “Save you, save you. Who dares bully you?”
“I went back to get my clothes, and someone jumped out from the dark, holding a dagger to my neck, forcing me into the gatehouse. I wanted to call for help, but he cut me with the knife. I was so scared… He pushed me into the gatehouse and locked the door. Then… then the fire started! Someone wanted to burn me alive!” She cried, her sobs trembling, yet every word was clear.
Ji Yueming was stunned.
“Fifth Aunt…” She took a step forward, about to speak. Ye Yunyue quietly pulled her back. Ji Yueming paused, quickly calming down. She steadied herself and changed her words, “It’s terrible that someone wanted to kill you! Fifth Aunt, did you see who it was?”
“He was behind me, with his face covered, so I couldn’t see him,” Gu Jianli said, gazing at the moon with a sorrowful smile. “But what difference does it make who it was? Many people want me dead anyway.”
She slowly turned her head, her tear-filled eyes scanning each person present, her expression somber.
The old madam sensed something amiss and exchanged a glance with the old master. The old master cleared his throat and finally spoke, “It’s the New Year’s Eve. It’s fortunate nothing serious happened in the end. As for who harbored ill intentions, we will certainly find out!”
Ji Wujing spoke slowly, “Yes, Father is the most capable. He will surely find out within three days.”
Suddenly, he smiled, a mix of playful and sinister. “If we don’t find out, I’ll just kill all the suspicious men in the manor. Bang—just like that… tsk.”
He pointed to the fireworks just dispersing in the night sky, squinting his eyes and licking his lips bloodthirstily.
On this New Year’s Eve night, with firecrackers sounding in the distance, everyone present felt a chill down their spines.
Gu Jianli’s eyes flickered with fear.
The old madam, steeling herself, said, “Fifth son, you should take Jianli back. Her neck wound needs proper treatment.”
“Alright. Then you all have a good New Year and make sure to catch the culprit,” Ji Wujing lazily turned his wheelchair and added, “Xinglou, hold your sister’s hand tightly.”
Ji Xinglou responded heavily, only to find Ji Xinglan crying out of fear. He rolled his eyes.
Gu Jianli hurriedly stood up, lowering her gaze, and pushed Ji Wujing’s wheelchair.
She didn’t dare look back at the small wardrobe in the gatehouse. Not even a glance.
In the cramped wardrobe, Ji Xuanke hid uncomfortably. His eyes were vacant, listening to Gu Jianli’s sobs outside, the pain in his heart turning numb.
Gu Jianli’s words echoed in his ears repeatedly. For the first time in seventeen years, he realized his own failure and incompetence. She had gently spoken of his youth, urging him to strive for a better future. Seventeen—was that young? Yet she was only fifteen. And at seventeen, his fifth uncle had already joined Xuanjing Sect, becoming its formidable leader at eighteen.
Ji Xuanke slowly closed his eyes.
This farce should end.
He suddenly stopped blaming anyone, only blaming his own incompetence. If he had the power to protect his family and command respect, none of this would have happened.
His empty gaze gradually focused. His fingers touched the snow-white jade button, hiding all his deep emotions for the time being.
Gu Jianli returned to her courtyard. Jixia, holding back tears, quickly found medicine and carefully treated Gu Jianli’s wounds. Her heart ached, trembling with pain, and she bit her lip hard to keep from crying.
Nanny Lin was chattering on the side, “You must take good care of it, don’t let it scar!”
Gu Jianli said, “Nanny Lin, you take them back to the rear courtyard first, don’t scare the children.”
Ji Xinglan rummaged through her little bag at her waist and found a piece of candy. She climbed onto the stool and then put the candy into Gu Jianli’s mouth. She smiled with her eyes curved, “Eat the candy, and it won’t hurt!”
Gu Jianli had been calm, but as the sweetness of the candy spread in her mouth, she suddenly felt a lump in her throat and her eyes heated up. She gently hugged Ji Xinglan, saying, “Mm, it doesn’t hurt, not at all. Lanlan, be good and go to sleep, okay?”
“Okay!”
Nanny Lin picked up Ji Xinglan and led Ji Xinglou out.
Ji Wujing crossed his long legs, lazily leaning back in his chair. He smiled at Gu Jianli and said, “Gu Jianli, do you remember what I used to do?”
An executioner for the Xuanjing Sect.
Gu Jianli’s heart skipped a beat.
“I was playing with daggers when I was younger than Xinglou.” Ji Wujing flicked his sleeve, sweeping a bowl off the table, shattering it on the ground. He picked up a shard and played with it in his hand. “The wound on your neck was caused by a bowl, specifically a shard from this part of the bowl.”
Ji Wujing raised his eyelids and pointed at her with his finger, saying, “You lied to me.”
Gu Jianli was startled and stood up. She tried to remain calm and said, “Jixia, you go out first.”
Jixia was frightened, worried about Gu Jianli, but she obediently left.
“I hate being lied to,” Ji Wujing said in a hoarse voice.
But when she threw herself into his arms, he could reluctantly forgive her deception—so Ji Wujing thought.
Gu Jianli gathered her courage, “Fifth Master, I have something to tell you…”
Ji Wujing recalled the feeling of her rushing into his arms, opened his arms with a playful smile, and said, “Hug first, then talk.”
