Chapter 4, all matters are unfavorable

Upon entering the main gate, Ji Yingying first arrived at the front yard of Ji Yaoting's residence, holding the still warm brown sugar cake and calling out: "Brother, I am back! I brought you brown sugar cake."

She suddenly remembered something, quickly left the room, and rushed back to her own room

Indeed, everything is going poorly

I do not need you to thank me. As long as you truly regard me as your master, that is enough. Ji Yingying glanced at Ling'er and saw that she was bowing her head and acting as if she had not heard, which filled her with anger

Ji Yingying angrily returned to the courtyard and went to the side room to see Xiang'er

She opened the drawer and couldn't help but shout: "Mother, is this really necessary? Can't you just let me play with it? At the very least, you could turn it into silver for me? I saved up my private stash for more than half a year to get this!"

Ji Yingying is quite happy, and Ji added: "Once I finish embroidering a roll, I will have someone deliver it to Master Wuyou. It remains the same: you will be allowed to go out only when you have finished embroidering ten rolls."

Every time they heard the sound of the bamboo board frying meat, Ji Yingying and Ji Yaoting both gasped in pain as if they had a toothache

With a glance from Granny Ji, a palm-width bamboo board was swung, creating a whooshing sound as it came crashing down with a series of sharp cracks

Madam, Xiang'er has already taken her medicine. " Ling'er stood up from beside the bed

With a wave of her hand, Granny Ji signaled for two maidservants to come over with a hemp rope to bind the person.

Understood, I won't speak of it. Brother. " Ji Yingying tugged at her elder brother's sleeve, swaying it back and forth, her gaze darting towards the main house, and she said ambiguously, "You should pay a visit to the Zhao family."

"The courtyard is locked; I will only go out when the ten volumes of scriptures are finished being embroidered." Ji announced the punishment for Ji Yingying. After a day of turmoil, she was also weary. She instructed Ji Fu to invite a doctor to prescribe ointment for the young maids and helped Li Momo to her feet.

Just as she bypassed the honeysuckle trellis, Ji Yingying was startled

The daughter is sixteen years old, beautiful and graceful, and soon she will be proposed to and married. The Ji family cannot bear to ruin her life. But why is she so disobedient? The Ji family looks at Ji Yingying's shameless demeanor and feels an overwhelming anger.

If it were just Ji Yingying making a mistake, the Ji family could still take out the feather duster inserted in the green porcelain vase to deal with it. However, when it comes to their only son, that is the root of the Ji family's existence, and she is reluctant to lift a finger. But today is about establishing authority. She is not at home, and for a moment, Ji Mama did not keep an eye on things, allowing that group of little rascals to let Ji Yingying into the dyeing workshop and even let her make pigments and dye things. If the Ji family does not take action, it is hard to ensure that they will not be taken advantage of. All the silk workshops of Shu Hong Si are dyed. She is not at home, and for a moment, Ji Mama did not keep an eye on things, allowing that group of little rascals to let Ji Yingying into the dyeing workshop and even let her make pigments and dye things. If the Ji family does not take action, it is hard to ensure that they will not be taken advantage of. All the silk workshops of Shu Hong Si are dyed. Who knows, one day a thief might emerge from within the family, stealing the dye, and then others might discover the Ji family's secret formula.

She lifted the thin blanket covering Xiang'er’s back to take a look at the injury: "Rest assured, madam is reluctant to spend money, and she is quite measured in her actions. The beating was not severe. A few days of rest will suffice"

Ji Yingying walked briskly to the bookshelf and flipped through several books, so enraged that she threw the books forcefully onto the floor. All her carefully prepared dye plant specimens were ruined

"My lady, thank you, Xiang'er!" Not being sold means I can continue to serve by your side, and I won't have to endure the harshness of the seasons washing silk and doing rough work in the river. Xiang'er, filled with excitement, repeatedly bumped her head against the pillow to show her gratitude to Ji Yingying.

Bang! Ji fiercely slammed the table and shouted, "Kneel under the eaves!"

"Sister, I didn't mention the matter of dyeing those few vats of silk. Fortunately, only the two of us know about it," Ji Yaoting said softly as he followed Ji Yingying out of the main house

Ji did not see her in the room, and Ji Momo perfectly acted as her eyes. With a loud shout, Ji Yingying reflexively turned sharply on her tiptoes. It was unavoidable to not go see her mother.

"Yes, madam!" Aunt Ji received the order and called for the rough servant women to start working in the courtyard

The main door was wide open, and from a distance, one could see the familiar blue lotus-patterned garment on the Eight Immortals table in the hall; that was the outfit my mother wore this morning. The nearby red garment, needless to say, surely belonged to my elder brother

She instinctively raised a finger to Xiang'er, signaling her to be quiet. The two of them stealthily made their way along the base of the wall towards the courtyard.

But then she thought to herself, what do I have to feel guilty about? I went early in the morning to offer incense and make a wish; I haven't done anything wrong, and I have even done good deeds.

The son is filial and obedient, but his understanding is significantly inferior to that of his daughter. However, he is the one who will inherit the family business, and the Ji family has no other choice. She does not expect the Huandye Dye House to flourish under her son's management or to produce better silk. As long as Ji Yaoting can remember the Ji family's secret formula and preserve this family business, that is sufficient. Unless Ji Yingying remains unmarried and chooses to live her life as a single woman, the Ji family will undoubtedly pass the secret formula to her without reservation.

Is that so? That's wonderful. Ji's spirit was indeed lifted.

The young maidens knew that crying out would result in harsher punishment, so they stuffed their mouths with handkerchiefs

Ji Yaoting was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. He advised softly, "Yingying, this man is like fishing. If you use too much bait, he will eat it all and won't bite. Let's be a bit more reserved, shall we?"

Ji Yingying and Xiang'er exchanged a look of surprise and suspicion. What happened? Did the color of the washed silk get ruined? Or did it get tangled into a mess while washing?

Eleven maidservants knelt in the courtyard outside the main house. Granny Ji stood imposing under the eaves, holding a pestle. The coarse servant women of the household stood honestly to the side.

The ore she secretly picked up was completely cleared away to avoid her mother discovering it among the various potted plants. Even the poinsettia used for communication with Zhao Xiuyuan was taken away.

"How ruthless! Everything is cleaned up so thoroughly!" Ji Yingying looked at the empty room, her anger causing her to grind her molars.

Ji Yingying pushed open her elder brother's door, and exclaimed, "Where has he gone? Could it be that he has gone to the dye house again?" She placed two pots on the table and entered the moon gate in the backyard with Xiang'er.

Ji Yingying quickly got up from the ground and shouted to her mother: "Mother, Master Wuyou from the Zhulin Temple said that if I embroider the sutras and take them to the Buddha to recite, I can bring them home to bless our descendants! I will take the scroll I have finished to the temple to ask Master Wuyou to recite the sutras."

"Wait!" When Ji Yingying saw her mother erupting at Xiang'er, she realized that her visit to the dye shop to fetch dye had been discovered. She quickly knelt down on the ground and began to admit her mistake, "Mother, I was wrong. I will never go to the dye shop again. It has nothing to do with Xiang'er. She was sold into our family when she was six years old; please have pity on her. I will listen to you, I swear I will not set foot in the dye shop again! I beg you, Mother!"

Little tigress! Whoever marries you must be a fool! Ji Yaoting rubbed his chest and responded with a hum and a murmur

After Ji finished speaking, he turned and entered the inner room. Infuriated, Ji Yingying stamped her foot fiercely and turned to leave

Ji Yingying was raised under strict family discipline. The Ji family did not neglect her; rather, they allowed for some leniency. When she turned around, she saw Xiang'er already bound and gagged, looking at her with tear-filled eyes. Just a quarter of an hour ago, the two of them were happily munching on red sugar cakes. Ji Yingying could not bear to watch Xiang'er being taken away to be sold. She heavily bowed her head to the Ji family. Her head struck the stone floor, and instantly, her vision was filled with golden spots, and tears of pain welled up. Just a quarter of an hour ago, the two of them were happily munching on red sugar cakes. Ji Yingying could not bear to watch Xiang'er being taken away to be sold. She heavily bowed her head to the Ji family. Her head struck the stone floor, and instantly, her vision was filled with golden spots, and tears of pain welled up. It was not a pretense; she cried sincerely: "Mother, please let Xiang'er be my maid. The two of us can honestly work together on embroidery in the courtyard. From now on, I truly will not enter our family's dyeing workshop again. I know that our family's secret formula must not be passed on to daughters-in-law from other families. I have never dyed with Shu red silk or Huanhua silk, not even once. If you don't believe me, you can ask my elder brother." I know that our family's secret formula must not be passed on to daughters-in-law from other families. I have never dyed with Shu red silk or Huanhua silk, not even once. If you don't believe me, you can ask my elder brother.

Ji Yingying sulkily lay on the table, picked up a pen, and began to scribble on the paper. In just a few strokes, she drew a caterpillar: "It's all your fault, you black crow!"

"Another vow? Do you think making a vow is as casual as having a meal? One today, another tomorrow. Ji Yingying, if I don't teach you a lesson today, you probably won't remember this!" Ji's flour and noodles were as cold as frost, without a trace of a smile.

By the time the small maid was finished, Ji Yingying had not escaped either

Upon reaching this point, Ji did not allow his children to rise and directly commanded: "The silk-washing maid shall receive ten strokes. Xiang'er shall receive an additional ten strokes. Next time, let me know who dares to violate the rules of the dyeing workshop; they need not be sold, but shall be directly beaten to death. After Xiang'er finishes, she shall go to the courtyard to attend to the lady, and once her injuries are healed, she will serve alongside Ling'er. You two shall kneel here and watch. Ji Momo, carry out the punishment."

The small scale for weighing, the small knife for cutting, the small stone mortar for grinding medicine, and the brush for mixing pigments have all disappeared. They were all specially ordered for her by her elder brother. Each item is exquisitely crafted and delicate. The scale's beam is even carved from ivory. It truly breaks her heart

"Mother, what is it again? I just got back and haven't done anything! Why do I have to kneel again?" Ji Yingying pouted, feeling displeased.

Today, Ji Yingying was just told by Yang Jingyuan that she was being too forward, and now she hears her elder brother advising her to be more reserved. Angered, she elbowed Ji Yaoting in the chest and raised her eyebrows, saying: "Who told you to go meet Brother Xiuyuan? I asked you to find out what happened with the Zhao family today! If he wants to talk to you, you are not to respond, do you hear me? Your sister is being reserved, hm!"

Ji pointed at her, his finger trembling repeatedly, and suddenly shifted to the side, pointing at Xiang'er, who stood at the door with her head down and did not dare to enter, saying: "Take her out and sell her"

Hearing the crisp sound of his forehead hitting the ground, Ji Yaoting's heart trembled. His sister's fair forehead was visibly bruising, and he felt a genuine pain. He lifted his garment and knelt down before the Ji family: "Mother, our family's secret recipe has been passed down orally for generations. I have never spoken a word about it. My sister is sensible; she has never asked me about it. It was I who brought her into the dyeing workshop; this matter is my fault. If you wish to punish someone, punish me. As long as you are appeased, feel free to hit me with the rod as many times as you like, I will endure it."

Ji Yingying walked into the main room with a smile: "Mother, I bought a few red sugar pot covers on my way back. They are still warm, please have a taste. I will pour you some tea!"

Xiang'er was so frightened that her legs went weak and she knelt down, crying: "Madam, please show mercy and do not sell me! I bow to you!"

Linger's contract was held in her mother's hand, and Ji Yingying knew that her anger was truly unfounded. With Ling'er acting as a little spy, it was even inconvenient for her to speak, so Ji Yingying sent her to the kitchen to serve dinner

Madam, the young lady has returned