Sir Song, do you want to pledge yourself to me?

Ji Nuan predicted that Ji He's matter wouldn't be resolved so easily. Her aunt's unwillingness to suffer loss and her love of taking advantage meant there would definitely be more trouble. Sure enough, the matchmaker had just arrived that morning with her men to break off the engagement, and in the afternoon, her aunt arrived angrily.

"Ji Nuan, come out!" The aunt-in-law and her two daughters-in-law slammed the door loudly. The sound was sharp and piercing, attracting several neighbors to look in.

Ji Nuan opened the door, her expression calm and her eyes indifferent. She asked in a distant tone, "Aunt, what are you doing?"

When the aunt heard this, her face darkened even more. She glared at Ji Nuan with her small eyes, her finger almost poking at the tip of Ji Nuan's nose: "Stop pretending to be innocent here! You bitch, you damned thing! If it weren't for you, how could our Ji He be rejected!"

Ji Nuanwen frowned slightly. What she disliked most was her aunt's unreasonable behavior and her foul mouth. If she wasn't an elder, she would have given her a slap in the face.

Ji Nuan glanced at the people watching the excitement around her, and said patiently in a calm but forceful tone, "Aunt, don't you know why Ji He was rejected? If you don't know, I can ask everyone for you. Don't put all the blame on me!"

The aunt's eyes flickered twice, and then she said confidently, "Bullying you? If I hadn't followed you up the mountain, how could this have happened? Tell me, are you jealous of my Xiao He's good life and deliberately doing something bad behind her back?"

Ji Nuan listened to her aunt's groundless accusations, took a deep breath, and tried to keep her tone calm. "Aunt, Ji He is my cousin. It would be a great honor for me if she could marry well. As for accusing me of harming her, that's really incomprehensible. I went up the mountain to collect herbs, and it was Ji He's decision to follow me. I never forced her. She and Zhang Qinghu are responsible for what they did. It has nothing to do with me."

Ji Nuan looked at her meaningfully and continued, "If you really think I harmed Ji He, then you can find evidence to prove it. However, before you have evidence, please don't arbitrarily frame me. I, Ji Nuan, act openly and honestly, unlike some people who like to do shameful things."

After Ji Nuan finished talking, the onlookers couldn't help but think of the scene they saw on the mountain that day, and everyone had different expressions.

The eldest aunt's lips trembled with anger, and she pinched her two useless daughters-in-law beside her.

The eldest daughter-in-law, who was used to being bullied in her husband's family, shrank back, took a step forward bravely, and said in a low voice: "It's your fault that my sister-in-law's good marriage has been canceled! Anyway, we don't care, you must compensate us for the betrothal gifts that the matchmaker took away." This was what the mother-in-law had discussed with them at home, and Ji Nuan had to compensate their family with some money.

"Yes, it's all your fault. Hurry up and give us the money!" Seeing this, the second daughter-in-law hurriedly echoed, as if she was just trying to make up the numbers, and there was not much confidence in her voice.

It turned out that they were planning to extort money, how despicable! The onlookers immediately cast contemptuous glances at them, pointing and talking about them.

"Heh, you finally told me your purpose." Ji Nuan sneered, his tone full of disdain.

Far from feeling ashamed, the auntie shouted confidently, "What's wrong with asking for some compensation? Xiao He is in such a state now, and who knows what will happen in the future. All this is because of you. Shouldn't you compensate her?"

"That's right, Ji He should be compensated!" The second sister-in-law suddenly parted the crowd and walked over to Ji Nuan. With a sarcastic smile on her face, she said, "Since Zhang Qinghu ruined Ji He's marriage and caused the matchmaker to take away the betrothal gifts, he should naturally take responsibility to the end, marry Ji He, and make up the betrothal gifts. In this way, won't your family suffer any losses?"

Someone in the crowd couldn't help but burst out laughing first, and then the laughter spread through the crowd like ripples, and everyone was amused by this sudden humor.

At this time, Ji's mother and eldest sister-in-law heard about the quarrel at home and hurried back. When Ji's mother arrived, she said to the crowd, "What are you all doing gathered at my door? If there's nothing to do, please go home and do your own things."

Now that the master had spoken, it was no time for anyone to linger. The crowd gradually dispersed, leaving only the two branches of the Ji family facing each other.

"Xiaomei..." The aunt was about to speak, but was interrupted by Ji's mother. She said meaningfully, "Sister-in-law, don't forget that what scholars value most is reputation. Ji Hai is about to take the exam, so we must be careful not to let him get tainted by anything."

"You..." The eldest aunt was speechless for a moment. Her greatest achievement was her youngest son Ji Hai, who had passed the examination for a student. But now he was being bullied by the sister-in-law from the second room. She was so angry that her fingers were shaking. She pointed at Ji's mother for a long time without saying a word. Finally, she could only throw her sleeves and turn away cursing.

As the main force withdrew, the two cousins who had originally come to help also lost their confidence. They looked at each other and left in shame behind their aunt.

"He is no match for our mother, and he always wants to provoke us." The second sister-in-law raised her chin proudly, her face filled with the joy of victory.

Ji Nuan couldn't help but feel amused when she saw her second sister-in-law's appearance. In her eyes, her second sister-in-law was just a teenage woman. If she were in her world, she would probably still be a child who hadn't graduated yet.

"Yes, it's been decades, and she's still the same, without any improvement." Ji's mother also agreed with a smile, obviously not taking what happened just now to heart.

The Song Dynasty residence in Kaiyun Prefecture.

Inside the Song residence in Kaiyun Prefecture, Cui Jingrang leisurely fiddled with the chessboard, a meaningful smile on his face. He whispered, "Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, have you found out who saved your life?"

Song Jinbai glanced at Song Shan clumsily bandaging his wound, not even close to Miss Ji's, and frowned in disdain. He looked up at Cui Jingrang and said with a hint of teasing, "Brother, if you really feel like you have too much free time, why not go help Song Zhu?"

Cui Jingrang smiled softly upon hearing this, then dropped the chess piece in his hand and said helplessly, "Come on, let Song Zhu continue investigating. I've been filling in for you for a few days now and I'm exhausted. It's my turn to rest."

After Song Jinbai tidied his clothes, he turned his attention to the situation of the guard who had been rescued from the previous incident with him. He asked, "How is Song Huai now? Is he awake?"

Upon hearing this, Song Shan immediately replied respectfully, "Your Excellency, Song Huai hasn't woken up yet. However, Shopkeeper Song has sent some new medicine, and his external injuries have improved. However, the doctor hasn't found a solution to the blood clot in his head yet."

"Find the best doctor in the city to treat him." Song Jinbai gave the order seriously. These guards grew up with him and were as close as brothers. Now they were seriously injured and unconscious in order to protect him. Naturally, he could not sit idly by.

Upon hearing this, Song Shan immediately responded, "Yes! I'll arrange it right away. I thank you on behalf of Song Huai."

After Song Shan left, only Song Jinbai and Cui Jingrang were left in the room. Cui Jingrang then spoke up, "Shopkeeper Song recently sent over some new medicines, including a kind of hemostatic powder. He said it's quite effective in treating external injuries."

Upon hearing this, Song Jinbai immediately understood Cui Jingrang's intention and asked, "Are you planning to send this hemostatic powder to the north?"

Cui Jingrang nodded and explained in detail: "When Song Huai was rescued, his wound had already become severely festered and he had a high fever that wouldn't go away. His condition was extremely critical. The doctor had to take extreme measures and scrape away the dead flesh. The doctor used the hemostatic powder that Shopkeeper Song had sent him. Unexpectedly, the hemostatic powder was incredibly effective. It not only quickly stopped the bleeding but also promoted wound healing. Song Huai's condition began to improve."

After hearing this, Song Jinbai nodded in agreement. He directed his order outside, "Song Bai, send someone to tell Shopkeeper Song to prepare a batch of hemostatic powder."

"Yes, sir!" Someone outside the door responded and immediately arranged for someone to convey the message.