She quickly replied, "It is said that today was originally the day when the eldest son of the Ji family was adopted by his late uncle. Duke Ji invited the clan leader and clan members of the Ji family. Unexpectedly, just as the adoption ceremony began, Duke Ji suddenly vomited blood and collapsed. Afterwards, the Duke's Mansion invited the imperial physician to treat him..."
Xiao Wu continued, "Perhaps because there were too many people present, and the Duke's Mansion had invited several imperial physicians in succession, the news quickly spread. Now the whole capital is talking about the Duke of Ji not making it through the day."
Su Li was surprised. Ji Tingyou was actually going to be adopted by Pei Ji's biological father?
However, now was not the time to think about these things. She immediately ordered: "Xiao Wu, have Xiao Ye go to the palace gate and wait for Pei Ji immediately. As soon as Pei Ji leaves the palace, have him rush to the Duke of Ji's Mansion."
If Duke Ji really couldn't survive today as the rumors said, she would have to let Pei Ji go see him. He had already lost the chance to see his biological father, and if he was to be separated from his grandfather without even recognizing him, he would probably feel regretful.
He added, "Also, have the third son prepare the horses. We will go to the Duke of Ji's mansion now."
"I'll go right away!" Seeing Su Li so anxious, Xiao Wu, who didn't know what was going on, hurried out of the house to inform Xiao Sanzi and Xiao Ye.
Soon, the carriage was ready. Su Li took Xiao Wu on the carriage and headed directly to the Duke of Ji's Mansion.
In the carriage, Su Li asked, "Xiao Wu, are there any rumors about who poisoned Duke Ji?"
Xiao Wu quickly replied, "It's said that the remnants of some feudal lord were seeking revenge. The person who poisoned him was caught on the spot and later committed suicide."
Remnants of the feudal lords?
Su Li frowned. She knew about the remnants of the vassal kings.
The Great Jin Dynasty had only one vassal king with a fiefdom, and he was a vassal king of a different surname.
Twenty-five years ago, Emperor Jing was worried that the power of the princes was too great and would endanger the country, so he intended to reduce the power of the princes, and Duke Ji was appointed to do this.
Unexpectedly, during the process of reducing the power of the vassal states, the Duke of Ji discovered that the vassal king of a different surname was using his own furnace to make money and weapons, with the intention of rebelling.
Emperor Jing was furious and immediately appointed Duke Ji to go to the fiefdom to capture the vassal kings of different surnames and other rebels on the charge of treason. The vassal kings had considerable power, so many people escaped during the capture process.
In the original novel, twenty-four years ago, the people who ambushed and killed Duke Ji on the outskirts of the capital were the remnants of the vassal kings who were under the banner of revenge. Pei Ji's biological father also died while trying to save Duke Ji.
If the people who ambushed and killed Duke Ji's mansion back then were the remnants of the vassal kings, she had no reason to doubt it, but when it came to poisoning Duke Ji this time, her first reaction was that it was Prince Ji or his concubine Liu Furong who did it.
There is no other reason. Not to mention that in the original work, there has been no so-called revenge of the remnants of the vassal kings since the incident in the 24th year, the timing of this poisoning is just too coincidental.
It happened just before the ceremony of Ji Tingyou's adoption into Ji Jingsheng's name. This was clearly an attempt to prevent Ji Tingyou from being adopted.
As long as Ji Tingyou's adoption is completed, it means that he can skip the position of Prince Ji and directly become the Prince, becoming the next Duke after Duke Ji.
This undoubtedly directly affected the interests of Prince Ji.
Given Prince Ji's feelings for Ji Tingyou, she didn't believe he could tolerate Ji Tingyou bypassing him and taking the throne of Prince.
Then what's so strange about poisoning the Duke of Ji in the name of the remnants of the vassal kings to prevent the adoption ceremony?
But if it was really as she guessed, Prince Ji was too vicious. However, he even allowed Liu Furong to kill his own son, so what was so strange about him killing his own father?
Of course, this was just her guess, and rumors could not be fully trusted. She decided to go to the Duke of Ji's Mansion to understand the situation clearly before drawing any conclusions.
"Ma'am, we're here."
Xiao Sanzi's voice was heard outside the carriage, and then the carriage stopped.
Just as Su Li got off the carriage, Pei Ji also arrived from another direction.
When she got off the carriage and didn't see Xiao Ye with him, she knew that Pei Ji must have heard the news in the palace and rushed over as soon as he left the palace, while Xiao Ye should have just arrived at the palace gate at this time.
Pei Ji's face didn't look very good, and he was a little surprised to see Su Li.
"Ali."
Su Li nodded and said, "Let's go see the Duke first."
The two of them said nothing more and went up the stairs together. The guards at the door had received instructions from the Duke earlier, and when they saw that it was Pei Ji, they did not stop them and let them in directly.
Pei Ji had been to the Duke's Mansion before, and as soon as he entered the door, he took Su Li straight to the main courtyard.
In the main courtyard at this time.
Ji Tingyou knelt in front of the bed, staring blankly at Duke Ji who repeatedly woke up and fell into a coma, tears streaming down his face.
Behind him stood Prince Ji and Ji Tingxuan, both with sad faces.
Liu Furong, who was standing aside, covered her mouth with a handkerchief, looking sad, but the corners of her mouth curved slightly when no one was watching, and a hint of pride flashed across her eyes. She felt very happy in her heart: this biased old thing was finally going to die.
As for that bastard Ji Tingyou, she looked at him with resentment. It wouldn't be long before she sent him down to reunite with his old man! From now on, let's see who dares to steal Xuan'er's things!
On the other side of the room, the white-haired Lady of the Duke asked again with pleading eyes, "Doctor Liu, is there no other way?"
Doctor Liu sighed, "Madam, the Duke's poison has been basically cured. The rest depends on him. However, the Duke has no will to live. Heart disease needs to be treated with heart medicine. If the Duke can cure his heart disease, he will naturally be able to get through this. If not... I can't do anything. The most important thing right now is to inspire him to want to live..."
Having said what he needed to say, he shook his head and said no more.
Heart disease...
The Duke's wife stumbled and fell into the armchair, looking at her husband lying on the bed with a slightly dazed look.
Ever since Sheng'er died saving him 24 years ago, he has been suffering from a heartache. Now, the remnants of the vassal kings have poisoned him again, which will only make him remember Sheng'er's death more clearly. How can he untie the knot in his heart?
Unless her Sheng'er can come back, but is that possible? Her Sheng'er will never come back.
The Duke's wife sighed and tears flowed silently.
"Aunt..." Xu Rouning held her hand and started crying too.
"Sheng'er..."
At this time, Duke Ji woke up again on the bed, but his consciousness was not very clear. He mumbled something incoherently: "Sheng'er..."
"grandfather……"
Ji Tingyou choked up and called out, "Grandfather, please wake up. Look at me. I am Tingyou. Even without your uncle, I still have you. In the future, Tingyou will be filial to you. Grandfather, don't you love Tingyou the most? Please don't abandon me, wuwuwu..."
However, Duke Ji acted as if he hadn't heard anything and continued to talk to himself: "Sheng'er, it's Daddy who has implicated you. It's Daddy who is sorry..."
Ji Jingxu's face was tense, and jealousy flashed in his eyes: As expected, this old man will always have Ji Jingsheng in his heart, and only him forever! Damn it, he deserves to die! Die quickly, and this Duke's Mansion will be his!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
