Ji Youcheng hadn’t heard the previous words; he only caught the last sentence upon his return. This momentary agitation explained his current state.
Zhao Fei, struggling as Ji Youcheng gripped him, hastily stammered, "Thir-Third Young Master, plea-please calm down! Let me explain slowly."
Zhu Xiuxiu asked directly, "Have Mother and Second Brother returned? Has Eighth Brother returned?"
Ji Youcheng, anxious about his gold at that moment, completely ignored Zhu Xiuxiu’s questions.
His gaze remained fixed on Zhao Fei.
Zhao Fei, unnerved by the stare, quickly said, "Seventh Young Master asked me to deliver a message to Third Young Mistress. He suspects Second Young Master’s and Third Young Master’s boxes are at the Li Family’s Gambling House."
"The Li Family’s Gambling House! The Li Family, they sure have some nerve!"
Gritting his teeth, Ji Youcheng released Zhao Fei and started to walk out.
Seeing this, Zhu Xiuxiu suddenly sensed something was amiss and hurriedly chased after him.
"Stop right there!"
Ji Youcheng, who had just run out of the Courtyard, was stopped by Zhu Xiuxiu. He looked murderous. Though he had stopped physically, his mind was already racing, figuring out how to tear the Li Family members limb from limb and then seize their business empire.
"You can’t go out now!" Zhu Xiuxiu said as she caught up to Ji Youcheng.
Hearing this, Ji Youcheng turned his head to look at her. "What do you mean by that?"
"It’s not that you cannot go out, but rather, you cannot go to the Li Family’s Gambling House."
When Zhu Xiuxiu said this, Ji Youcheng gave her a puzzled look.
"Seventh Brother asked me to disguise myself as a man and take the Qiankun Sleeve. He must want me to bring something back secretly.
He also arranged for Eighth Brother to go to the Palace to request an imperial decree, to bring the Imperial Guard or the Inner Guard to surround the Li Family’s Gambling House. This shows he has a plan.
You are not part of his plan, so you cannot go. Otherwise, if we, not knowing his plan, accidentally disrupt it, the loss would outweigh the gain."
"So Seventh Brother has other arrangements. I didn’t expect that." Ji Youcheng stood rooted to the spot, carefully mulling over Zhu Xiuxiu’s words.
"Eighth Brother was worried about unforeseen problems, so after we moved Mother and Second Brother down the mountain, he returned to Qixia Temple. He said General Dugu wasn’t there, so he had to go back and keep an eye on things. As for the Palace..."
Hearing this, Zhu Xiuxiu thought for a moment and said, "It seems Sixth Brother is handling matters for His Majesty. You should find Sixth Brother and ask if he can directly enter the Palace to request an audience. I’ll go to the Li Family’s Gambling House first!"
After Zhu Xiuxiu finished speaking, she turned and went to disguise herself.
Ji Youcheng stood dumbfounded, watching Zhu Xiuxiu’s retreating figure and murmured to himself, "So, you’re not entirely brainless after all!"
When Ji Youcheng found Ji Youlin, the latter had just finished examining Ji Youran and was emerging from the room. Old Madam Ji asked with a worried expression.
"Well? Did you find out what’s wrong with your Second Brother?"
Ji Youlin shook his head.
"I can’t tell. Since Suisui said before that it’s still an issue with his soul, then only Second Sister-in-law and Eldest Brother might be able to see something!
Please don’t worry for now. Go back to your room and rest!"
Hearing this, Old Madam Ji sighed and said.
"Your Second Sister-in-law was poisoned with Soft Tendon Powder. Your Third Sister-in-law carried her all the way back. We still haven’t found the Antidote!
How can we possibly trouble her now!"
Upon hearing Old Madam Ji’s words, Ji Youlin said.
"Actually, I have a few packets of the Antidote for Soft Tendon Powder in my room. I’ll go get them and take them to Second Sister-in-law."
With that, he turned to leave, but Ji Youcheng’s voice came from behind, "Sixth Brother, wait! I have something to ask you!"
"Third Brother! What is it?"
Ji Youlin and Old Madam Ji both stopped and looked towards Ji Youcheng, waiting for him to speak.