That night, someone collapsed in front of the woodshed and was quickly stuffed into a sack and taken away. This happened repeatedly until the next morning.
"Madam, something terrible has happened! Master... he's gone missing!"
Early in the morning, Xiao Liu rushed to the main courtyard gate to report to Ji Meiniang.
Xiang Wan stayed with Ji Meiniang that evening and did not return to her own courtyard. Therefore, when she came out with Ji Meiniang, Xiao Liu was stunned by their sight.
"Your master is alright. Quickly prepare tea and writing materials; guests will be arriving soon," Ji Meiniang said calmly.
"But..." Xiao Liu hesitated. As his personal servant, he didn't even know where his master had gone. The mistress's instructions were important, but finding his master was equally important.
"Sixth Brother, stop dawdling. When the guests arrive, Father will naturally appear. If you don't go soon, you'll be punished by having to run errands later," Xiang Wan urged.
"Yes, sir, I'll be right there, I'll be right there."
After sending Xiao Liu away, Xiang Wan had breakfast with Ji Meiniang, changed into more formal clothes, and gracefully went to the front hall.
The weather is nice today. Clouds drift slowly across the sky, leaving behind a patch of azure blue, as if wiped clean with water.
At Xiang Wan's request, all the servants in the mansion changed into clean, simple clothes. Yuan Xiqing and Cao Ruwan also arrived at the front hall early.
Before a cup of tea could be brewed, a servant came to report that Uncle Ji had arrived. Then, the five elders of the Cao family and a clerk from the Fengquan City government in charge of documents arrived and were invited to the front hall, where they were each seated and served tea.
Ji Pengyu had been back in the capital for almost two months, but his job assignment was still pending, and he was getting restless at home. Just then, Ji Meiniang invited him over, specifically inviting him alone. He didn't understand why, but how could he refuse his sister's invitation?
Upon arriving, he discovered that his sister had invited others besides him. Sensing the tense atmosphere, Ji Pengyu made a decision. His sister was outnumbered and vulnerable; he couldn't let her suffer.
Ji Meiniang remained calm and composed. After exchanging pleasantries with everyone, she would occasionally glance towards the door.
The crowd was puzzled, but no one asked further. Not long after, Du Wei and Physician Sun were invited in, seated, and served tea.
Now that everyone had arrived, Ji Meiniang rose, bowed to the crowd, and said, "I have invited you all here today to bear witness for me. In my life, I, Ji Meiniang, have owed Cao Xinqian nothing. I have been filial to my parents, raised my children, and managed the household frugally; my conscience is clear as day. Yet Cao Xinqian has betrayed me, humiliated me, deceived and hurt me, and even broken his vow to abandon me. I have reflected on my actions; in all these years, I have only had one daughter, Xiang Wan, and have not given birth to a son. I have felt ashamed before the Cao family and our ancestors, which is why I accepted Concubine Yuan into the family to continue the Cao lineage. But recently, I have realized that I was wrong, terribly wrong. It is Cao Xinqian who, from the very beginning, deprived me of the hope of giving birth to a son. To cut off a woman's chance to bear children is like cutting off her path in life; this enmity is irreconcilable! Therefore, I have invited you all here today to stand up for me and sever all ties with Cao Xinqian, never to have anything to do with him again!"
"What?!"
The crowd gasped in shock, and Ji Pengyu, enraged, slammed his fist on the square table, nearly shattering it. He never imagined that his own sister, who had so wholeheartedly married Cao Xinqian, would end up like this! In this era, infertility was tantamount to murder! If he hadn't returned, would his sister have been tormented to death by that beast?
"Uncle, don't be in a hurry, please let Mother finish speaking!"
Xiang Wan quickly pulled Ji Pengyu to sit down, afraid that he might ruin things in a moment of impulsiveness.
The clan elders who came to the Cao family had received favors from Ji Meiniang when she and Cao Xinqian returned to their hometown to pay respects to their ancestors, so they did not immediately object. They only asked, "Ji, do you have any evidence for what you are saying?"
Ji Meiniang said, "If there were no evidence, Meiniang wouldn't have invited everyone here today. Someone, please bring the master up!"
Awakened by a cup of tea being splashed on him, Cao Xinqian was seething with anger. The moment he was summoned, all he saw was Ji Meiniang's indifferent face, and he was instantly enraged. "Ji Meiniang, what tricks are you playing now? If you dare treat me like this again, get back to the Ji family!"
"Cao Xinqian, you beast!"
Ji Pengyu jumped up from his chair and punched Cao Xinqian in the nose. He was about to hit him again when the others stopped him.
"Ji Pengyu, how dare you assault an official of the imperial court? Believe me or not, I'll throw you in jail!" Cao Xinqian covered his nose, his face full of resentment.
"I don't think an official like you will last long. If you're going to go to jail, you'll be taken down with you!"
Jin Pengyu was about to strike again when he was stopped by his servants.
Knowing from the outset that this situation would occur, those summoned to the front hall to serve were all strong and healthy servants.
Ji Meiniang's eyes were red; she had never felt so safe with her older brother's protection as she did now.
After being punched, Cao Xinqian realized what was happening and saw a lot of people in the front hall. He immediately suppressed his displeasure and bowed to everyone, saying, "Elders, everyone, have you come to my Cao residence today for some business?"
Everyone's lips twitched; they had never seen a wife so eager to sever ties, while the person involved looked completely bewildered.
Ji Meiniang didn't give him a chance to ask, and directly said to Physician Sun and Du Wei, "Meiniang has something in her hand, please examine it carefully."
The powder came from both the spot where Wang Ma had dumped it and herbs found in Er Fu's house. The two of them each took a portion, carefully examined it, and then exchanged them for further inspection.
Upon seeing this, Cao Xinqian's expression changed.
"Ji Meiniang, where did you get all this junk?"
Ji Meiniang remained silent, quietly awaiting the results from Physician Sun and Du Wei.
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