Pulling herself together, Ji Yunxi slept soundly that night.
Chunyuan tiptoed into the room and drew back the bed curtain.
"Miss."
Ji Yunxi was still a bit groggy. She sat up and looked at Chunyuan blankly. "What's up?"
"Miss, Ji Yuyan is making a scene in the main hall. Do you want to go and have a look? This servant noticed that Eldest Young Master is having a hard time dealing with her."
Chunyuan was a servant born into the Ji family and had been with Ji Yunxi since she could remember.
Chunyuan had never thought highly of Ji Yuyan. She enjoyed Ji Yunxi's favor but then plotted against her.
She was truly the type who would bite the hand that fed her.
Fortunately, Ji Yunxi was now wide awake. Chunyuan couldn't wait for her to go and see Ji Yuyan's disgrace.
Ji Yunxi was now fully awake, but she wasn't in a hurry. She slowly got up, put on her mourning clothes properly, and then headed towards the main hall.
Ji Yunxi's courtyard was located deep inside. As soon as she stepped out, she was in front of Ji Yunyi's courtyard.
Coincidentally, Ji Yunyi was just coming out. Seeing his sister, he asked, "Yunxi, where are you going?"
"Second Brother, Ji Yuyan is making a scene in the main hall. I don't know why, so I'm going to take a look."
Ji Yunyi frowned. There had been so many things to deal with in recent days that he was already exhausted. Now, upon hearing that Ji Yuyan was causing a ruckus in the main hall, he was immediately filled with anger.
"What does she want? During the mourning period, she repeatedly smeared your reputation. I haven't even settled the score with her yet, but she has the nerve to come to us first?!"
Fuming, Ji Yunyi strode forward, and Ji Yunxi quickly followed.
In the main hall.
Ji Yuyan was sobbing and sitting beside Ji Yuchen, tugging at his arm.
"Big Brother, can you bring my mother back?"
Hearing this, Ji Yuchen frowned deeply but said nothing.
Ji Yuyan knew the people in the Ji family well. Ji Yuchen was the most gentle and easy - going. As long as he nodded, not only could she bring her mother back, but she could also drive a wedge between the siblings. It was a perfect plan.
"Big Brother, Father sent my mother to the villa all those years ago. She has been punished for so long. Now that Father is gone, my mother doesn't have many years left. Please, Big Brother, fulfill my filial piety..."
When it came to filial piety, Ji Yuchen thought of the various branches of the Ji family who had been coming to ask for favors these days. Some of them had even mentioned Ji Yuyan's mother, Qiao Shi.
After all, she was a concubine on the family register and had a daughter like Ji Yuyan. If Ji Yuchen flat - out refused, he would surely be criticized.
But Ji Yuchen was holding firm. Deep down, he didn't want to let his enemy back into the house.
Seeing that Ji Yuchen didn't answer, Ji Yuyan grew anxious. She had come specifically to corner him.
But if Ji Yuchen didn't say yes and Ji Yunxi showed up, she might not get what she wanted.
Growing more and more anxious, Ji Yuyan cried and wailed, "Big Brother! It's fine that I haven't been favored by Father in recent years, and Second Brother always mocks me. I've done nothing wrong. I'm just a daughter whose mother has suffered. Please, Big Brother, grant my wish!"
Ji Yuchen was in a bind. Just then, Ji Yunxi and Ji Yunyi arrived, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He immediately looked at Ji Yunxi, as if asking for her opinion.
Ji Yunyi was straightforward. Seeing Ji Yuchen's hesitation, he got angry at once. "Why are you looking at Yunxi like that! What right does Ji Yuyan have to make such a request? She even has the nerve to ask such a question!"
As he spoke, Ji Yunyi was about to step forward and throw Ji Yuyan out.
When Ji Yuyan saw them, she felt a pang of unease. They were not to be trifled with.
Before, with Ji Yunxi's affection for her, bringing Qiao Shi back would have been as easy as asking. But now, for some reason, Ji Yunxi seemed to be targeting her, and things were not going to be so simple.
"Ji Yuchen, look at Yunxi. She lost her mother at a young age, and you still want to bring back the culprit? Are you being fair to our mother?!"
Ji Yunyi's scolding made Ji Yuchen blush. As the eldest brother, he was always expected to take good care of those around him.
This had made him the kind of person who was always in a dilemma.
Ji Yunyi was right. Qiao Shi had committed a heinous crime. How could he forgive her?
Even if the emperor ordered it, he would never agree.
Seeing that Ji Yuchen was completely swayed, all her previous crying and fussing had been in vain. Ji Yuyan was extremely anxious and quickly stood up to block Ji Yunyi.
"Second Brother, she is my mother and also your elder!"
Ji Yunyi sneered, "I am the legitimate son of the prime minister's mansion. My mother comes from a noble family. Since when has a concubine who was driven out dared to claim to be my elder?"
Ji Yuyan was taken aback. She knew the rules in the inner chambers of the official families in the capital well. In the end, her mother was not really an elder in front of the three Ji siblings.
Ji Yuyan was at a loss for words. Having no other choice, she could only cry and sniffle.
"I just... I just miss my mother so much. Now that Father is gone, I feel like an orphan. You three siblings can still support each other, but what about me? Big Brother is busy, Second Brother doesn't want to see me, and even Sister doesn't like me..."
Saying this made it seem to outsiders that the three of them were isolating Ji Yuyan.
Ji Yunxi sneered, "So what do you want? Father's first seven - day mourning period hasn't even passed, and you're already shouting about bringing back the person Father drove out. I don't see any sign of your filial piety."
"Moreover, there are so many things to do in the Ji Mansion right now. I wouldn't dare to bother Big Brother and Second Brother with my own matters. But you, what? Should we just ignore Father and stay with you every day?"
Ji Yuyan's little schemes were thoroughly refuted.
"I... I didn't mean that. I just thought Big Brother and Second Brother were working hard..."
"Big Brother and Second Brother are indeed working hard. Have you ever cared about them? In the past few days, it was the princess who sent meals every day. I didn't see you go and ask about their well - being. Instead, you've caused a lot of trouble."
Ji Yuyan paused and immediately retorted, "When did I cause trouble?!"
"Didn't the princess punish you that day?" Ji Yunxi reminded her, "If you've forgotten, let me remind you. The princess said that your mother's status is low. If you want to continue being a member of the Ji Mansion, you can no longer call her 'mother' but only 'Qiao Shi'. Have you forgotten all that?"
Hearing this, Ji Yuyan's eyes turned red with anger. She finally understood that Ji Yunyi would never allow her to bring her mother back, and Ji Yunxi just wanted to humiliate her!
"Everyone in the capital knows that Sister is on good terms with the princess. Who knows who came up with that rule!"
Unable to refute, Ji Yuyan could only lash out.
Ji Yunxi didn't expect Ji Yuyan to be so shameless. She looked at her with cold eyes. "Ji Yuyan, your mother and I have a sworn enmity. If you were truly filial, you should move to the western suburbs and live with her, taking care of her daily life. Instead of scheming to bring a criminal back into the mansion when everyone is busy."
Getting closer to Ji Yuyan, Ji Yunxi reached out and pinched her face. "I didn't report her to the authorities for Father's sake. Besides, she is already seriously ill. Suffering like this is the most painful. Do you think I'm going to let her off?"
"Don't push your luck."