CMWKSD -Chapter 156 Climbing into Bed

Jiu Yue glanced at Ji Weizhou and Ji Xiaoya.

But the two of them remained silent.

Logically and emotionally, if anyone should speak up for Li Xiaocao, it should be the siblings.

Yet neither said a word.

Ji Weizhou had seen through Li Xiaocao’s true nature; life following him would be mediocre at best.

But following Jiu Yue—though her temperament was strong, pressing down on them like a mountain—meant a future of endless wealth and honor.

People always act out of self-interest, avoiding harm and seeking benefit. As for Li Xiaocao, the moment she signed the severance agreement and abandoned them, the siblings had already stopped harboring any unrealistic hopes for their mother.

Jiu Yue stood up, and immediately, those eating at the table put down their bowls one after another.

Su Ruo’s eyes welled up instantly with tears.

Only Ji Dahai lowered his head and comforted her; the rest chose to look away.

Tears?

Tears were the most useless thing—Jiu Yue had understood that from childhood.

Ji Zhouye got up, and the maid serving nearby cautiously peeked at him.

The men of the Ji family, to be honest, were all very good-looking.

Especially Ji Zhouye and Ji Wanqiao—they were now at the age to get married.

Now that Ji Dahu and Shen Mei had arrived, it was time to consider their marriages.

Jiu Yue didn’t care about all that; she only wanted to know who the two would marry. Investigating a bit and bringing someone suitable into the family was no problem.

Of course, it was better if the person had some talent; otherwise, how could they serve as her “beast of burden”?

No one outside was as useful as one’s own family.

Even back home, the three Ji brothers didn’t dare slack off, though they still had two years before taking the imperial examinations.

Time, however, flies quickly.

At night, Jiu Yue and Ji Yiqing had just lain down when Ji Yiqing’s hand slowly moved to Jiu Yue’s waist.

Suddenly, from outside the courtyard came a heart-wrenching scream:

“Second Sister-in-law!”

Good heavens! If Jiu Yue herself hadn’t heard it, she would have thought the Second Sister-in-law was dead—who could make such a wailing sound?

Ji Yiqing, for once, got a little angry and clicked his tongue, patting Jiu Yue to calm her: “I’ll go check.”

Jiu Yue was already getting up: “I’ll go see…”

Before she could finish, Ji Zhouye let out another piercing cry: “Second Sister-in-law! Help!”

Jiu Yue angrily threw on her outer robe. “Help my big head, indeed!”

Still, her curiosity got the better of her.

Ji Zhouye’s cries made Jiu Yue think he’d been forced into some unsavory situation.

Listening to him made her laugh—this was entertainment!

Ji Yiqing helped Jiu Yue tie her robe properly. Only once she was ready did he follow her out, tugging his inner garment and draping his outer robe as he went.

As soon as they stepped out, they saw everyone from the surrounding courtyards had come out.

Shao Qing had already brought Ji Zhouye to the main hall.

Seeing the situation clearly, Shao Qing quickly gathered all the Ji family servants.

The Ji household was now large and full of new people. Jiu Yue had been at the palace and had only just returned. This incident was perfect—it would establish Jiu Yue’s authority.

No one in the courtyard would think themselves higher than the masters just because they were used to city luxury.

Even the few young guards were gathered into the main courtyard.

When Jiu Yue arrived and saw so many people, she glanced at Shao Qing and thought: This guy’s a top-tier assistant, with a million-yuan salary, no less!

For the first time, Jiu Yue felt, “Ah, now I’m truly part of a wealthy family.”

Shao Qing ran up quickly: “Mistress.”

Jiu Yue nodded: “What happened?”

She kept walking, and in the center of the courtyard, she saw a young girl kneeling.

She looked about fifteen or sixteen, delicate and pretty, but her clothes were messy.

Her hair was loose, and there seemed to be some faint marks on her neck.

At the sight of Jiu Yue, she covered her mouth with her hands, blinked, and big tears fell.

Her crying was almost artistic.

Jiu Yue raised an eyebrow and looked at Ji Zhouye: “What did you do this time?”

Ji Zhouye nearly cried, his face red: “Second Sister-in-law, you’ve got to stand up for me! I didn’t do anything!”

Jiu Yue lifted her chin: “Then this…”

Ji Zhouye hugged himself tightly: “I really don’t know! I was reading in the study, and this woman just came in with a bowl of white fungus dessert. I said I don’t eat sweets at night, and then… then she just…”

Ji Zhouye struggled to explain, almost at a loss for words.

Jiu Yue listened, exasperated: “She… did what?”

“Waaah!” Ji Zhouye screamed and wailed: “She started taking off her clothes and tried to touch me! Second Sister-in-law, she definitely has a scheme! Why take off her clothes and touch me?!”

As he spoke, Ji Zhouye remembered the woman with syphilis at the Wan Hua Brothel who had been overly attentive to him.

He shivered and moved closer to Jiu Yue.

Ji Yiqing frowned and glared at Ji Zhouye with dark eyes.

The weight of his gaze made Ji Zhouye freeze in place, hugging himself pitifully.

Single men have no rights.

No one cares, no one loves them.

“Se… Second Sister-in-law, do you think she’s… you know… that kind of person? That’s why she lunged at me like a wolf, trying to infect me, then the whole family, wiping out the Ji clan?!”

The more Ji Zhouye thought, the more convinced he became.

Now, any overly attentive, forward woman, he assumed, had a sinister scheme—a grand scheme!

Pfft!

Ji Chaomian and Ji Yiqing burst out laughing.

Jiu Yue reflected briefly on her past actions at the Wan Hua Brothel—maybe she had overreacted.

This was clearly just a maid trying to seduce Ji Zhouye.

The young maid looked at Jiu Yue, slightly raising her head, her big round eyes glistening as she looked at… Ji Yiqing…

“Second Young Master… I didn’t! I was just thinking Third Young Master must have been tired reading at night, so I made white fungus and lotus seed soup for him. I didn’t expect… didn’t expect Third Young Master would…”

Ji Zhouye was so angry he could hardly speak, shouting: “I didn’t! I didn’t! I really didn’t touch her! Second Sister-in-law, you’ve got to believe me!”

He seemed genuinely afraid Jiu Yue might strike him, sending him to the palace to become a eunuch—after all, she could do that.

The maid saw Ji Zhouye deny it, and with the rest of the Ji family just staring coldly, she made a desperate dash to the corner, muttering that she’d prove her innocence with her life.

Several servants rushed forward to stop her, but Jiu Yue’s cold gaze swept over them.

Suddenly, everyone froze in place.

Shao Qing stood beside Jiu Yue: “Go die! Mistress will prove your innocence, buy the finest coffin for you to be buried gloriously, and give your family enough money to live.”

The young maid stopped in her tracks, as if finally understanding something.

She looked at the mistress she had long ignored—Jiu Yue, only a few years older than her.