Re-embroidering life

At noon, the sun was blazing, and the courtyard of the main house in Ji's mansion was silent. This was the largest and most imposing courtyard in Ji's mansion, with pavilions and towers scattered in an orderly manner, and many servants shuttled around in it, busy and orderly.

Shui Qinghua walked towards the main room, brushing the flowers and willows. After a few days of recuperation, she was almost fully recovered, and her steps were light and she did not seem to be struggling.

Tan Meixue's maid saw Shui Qinghua from afar and hurried out to stand in front of her.

"Third Madam, the Eldest Master and the Eldest Madam are taking a nap. Why don't you come back later?" The maid bowed her head slightly, her tone respectful but with an obvious intention of stopping them.

Shui Qinghua's cold voice questioned, "I have been sick for so many days, but my sister-in-law has never come to see me. Is she heartless or guilty?"

After saying that, Shui Qinghua reached out and pushed away the maid's arm that was blocking her and walked straight in.

"Third Madam!" the maid shouted and hurriedly trotted after her.

Shui Qinghua walked quickly, her skirt fluttering in the wind. She walked through the empty courtyard without hesitation and stepped into the main room.

Ji Zixuan appeared in front of her with a solemn expression. His eyes were stern and his brows were slightly furrowed. "Nonsense! How dare you trespass into your brother and sister-in-law's yard!"

Shui Qinghua lowered her head slightly and said slowly, "It was indeed my fault for coming in without invitation. I apologize here. But if I hadn't barged in, how could I have met my sister-in-law?"

Tan Meixue stood aside, looking a little embarrassed, and said in an awkward manner, "What are you talking about? I didn't go to visit you because I was worried about disturbing your recovery."

Shui Qinghua didn't want to get entangled with her over trivial matters: "I came here today just to ask my sister-in-law one question: What did my husband and I do to offend my sister-in-law that made you work with outsiders to harm us again and again? That time at Yunshui Pavilion, you deliberately got Zimo drunk and almost killed him; a few days ago, you betrayed me, causing me to be killed by a traitor and my life was hanging by a thread! Are you the mistress of the Ji family, or a killer sent by outsiders?"

Every word Shui Qinghua said was heart-piercing, and her eyes were full of questioning and anger.

Tan Meixue's face was pale, her eyes were rolling around, as if she was thinking of a countermeasure. Ji Zixuan frowned coldly, his face full of disbelief: "Third sister-in-law, don't say anything nonsense. You accuse my eldest sister-in-law, do you have any evidence?" After all, he has been an official for many years, and his tone is mixed with authority, rushing towards Shui Qinghua. The atmosphere in the room suddenly became tense, as if a storm is coming.

Shui Qinghua looked calm and said slowly: "The eldest lady of the Tang family admitted it herself, does this count as evidence? Brother, was this done only by the eldest sister-in-law, or were you also involved?" Shui Qinghua stared at Ji Zixuan with a scrutinizing look.

"How dare you!" Ji Zixuan was furious, veins popping out on his forehead. "Zimo is my brother, how could I harm him?"

"Okay, since Zimo is your biological brother and he was killed by your wife, how will you deal with him?" Shui Qinghua continued to ask.

Ji Zixuan was obviously stumped by the question. Hesitation and confusion flashed in his eyes, and he was unable to answer for a while.

Tan Meixue burst into tears, holding onto Ji Zixuan's sleeves tightly with both hands. "Master, you have to make the decision for me. My sister-in-law has ridden on my eldest sister-in-law and peed and shit on her. Does the Ji family still have rules?" Her tears flowed like a flood, and her face was full of resentment.

"Shut up!" Ji Zixuan shouted weakly, his face full of frustration.

Shui Qinghua watched the interaction between the couple, slowly raised the corners of her mouth, revealing a meaningful smile. "Sister-in-law, please step aside. I have something to say to my brother alone." Shui Qinghua's tone was firm and would not tolerate rejection.

"What do you want to say?" Tan Meixue had an instinctive fear of Shui Qinghua, and her eyes were full of anxiety.

Ji Zixuan also frowned in disapproval and said, "There is nothing that cannot be said to others. Is there anything that cannot be said in person?"

"Are you sure? There are some things I believe you don't want your sister-in-law to hear." Shui Qinghua smiled with a hint of mystery.

Tan Meixue looked at Ji Zixuan with curiosity and suspicion.

Ji Zixuan's face was gloomy, but he still ordered Tan Meixue to leave. Tan Meixue reluctantly left the room and closed the door gently.

"You can say whatever you want to say now." Ji Zixuan crossed his arms, with a vigilant look in his eyes.

Shui Qinghua raised her chin slightly and said slowly, "What kind of person is elder brother? How can he not see through the little tricks of elder sister-in-law when he is trusted by His Majesty and entrusted with important tasks? The elder sister-in-law can run rampant in the backyard and harm the third room many times without any consequences. In the final analysis, it is because elder brother has been protecting and indulging her. Zimo told me that you once taught him a trick, that is, if the skin is gone, where will the hair be attached. I agree with that. So, I will not talk to elder sister-in-law, but to you."

Ji Zixuan's face turned pale and blue, and he was filled with anger. He said, "You!" But he found that he could not refute a single word.

He rarely showed some weakness, lowered his eyes slightly, and said with a bit of helplessness and blame: "She is the eldest sister-in-law after all, and the eldest sister-in-law is like a mother. As the younger sister-in-law, you should be more tolerant and forgiving. You are good in everything, but you are too strong-willed!"

Shui Qinghua sneered, not disguising her sarcasm: "Brother, you can't let me and Zimo pay for you just because you owe sister-in-law. We don't owe sister-in-law anything!" Shui Qinghua's words were like a sharp blade, stabbing Ji Zixuan and causing him pain.

Ji Zixuan stood up suddenly, his face full of anger: "What did you say? How dare you?" His body trembled slightly, obviously angered by Shui Qinghua's words.

Shui Qinghua did not show any weakness, and looked straight at Ji Zixuan: "I have never understood why my eldest brother, who is smart, decisive, and scheming, would marry someone as shallow and stupid as my eldest sister-in-law? Later, after learning about my eldest brother's past, I suddenly realized it. Because my eldest brother is a person with too many secrets. Only someone who worships you, loves you wholeheartedly, and is simple and shallow, will not discover your secrets, and can allow you to have a trace of peace in the midst of the turbulent situation."

"This is a matter between you and your wife. How you dote on your eldest sister-in-law has nothing to do with us. However, you clearly know that your eldest sister-in-law has always regarded the third wife as a thorn in her side, but you turned a blind eye to it. Why is that? I can only speculate that it is because you owe her something, but I don't know what you owe her. It wasn't until I went to Jiangnan and met a Mr. Hai by chance that Mr. Hai said something to me, which gave me a terrible guess..."

There was a loud "clang" and the teacup in Ji Zixuan's hand suddenly fell to the ground, splashing the tea everywhere. He seemed to be completely unaware of the hot tea, his face was as pale as a piece of paper, and his body was shaking violently, like a dead leaf swaying in the bleak autumn wind.