Wei Yi’s repeated calls of “Shu’er” made Madam Wei beam with joy.

Her son had never been so affected when meeting a young lady before.

Yes, affected!

Master Wei spoke up to stop him. “Alright, alright, Yi’er, don’t frighten Yinshu.”

Wei Yi didn’t listen. He continued pulling on Ji Yinshu’s sleeve, starting to shake it while saying, “Shu’er, Shu’er, what a lovely name! I just love calling you Shu’er.”

With this shaking, Ji Yinshu suddenly raised her hand to press on her shoulder, her brow furrowing.

It hurt a little.

Seeing her sudden reaction, Wei Yi looked alarmed. “Shu’er, what’s wrong?”

Madam Wei at the side also showed worried concern and quickly asked, “What’s wrong? Did Yi’er just hurt you?”

With that, she sternly rebuked Wei Yi. “You boy, did you just pull on Yinshu’s hand too hard and hurt her?”

Wei Yi looked very innocent and hastily waved his hands. “No, I was very gentle, really.”

“It has nothing to do with Young Master Wei. It’s Yinshu’s own poor health. Perhaps the weather is too cold and old ailments have flared up again.” Ji Yinshu said.

Ji Yinshu lowered her eyes, bit her lip, her face showing pain. Her body also swayed slightly, and her feet weakly shuffled back two small steps.

This startled everyone!

“Yinshu, what’s wrong?” Old Madam Ji asked.

“Grandmother, Yinshu… is fine.” Ji Yinshu answered very carefully, her body shrinking back even more.

Old Madam Ji continued, “The weather is cold. You must take extra care, wear more layers of clothing, and properly nurse your health. Don’t get sick. Your father and I have already discussed with your Uncle Wei and Aunt Wei—once the first month passes, the seventh day of the third month will be an auspicious day.”

The implication was clear—the seventh day of the third month would be the wedding day!

Seeing that she could barely stand steady, what Old Madam Ji cared about was still her marriage.

Ji Yinshu nodded. “Yes, I will listen to Grandmother and Father in everything.”

Old Madam Ji and Ji Shuhan didn’t care about her ailment, but Madam Wei was different!

This was her future daughter-in-law!

Her concern grew deeper. She stepped forward and grasped Ji Yinshu’s hand. “Yinshu, you must nurse your health properly. When I return to the residence later, I’ll have someone send over some tonics and fabrics. Take good care of your health and make yourself several more outfits. Don’t worry about other matters.”

“Thank you, Aunt Wei.”

Ji Yinshu lowered her head and curtsied.

It was precisely this movement that allowed Madam Wei to suddenly catch sight of the bloodstain on her back.

“This…” Madam Wei was shocked. She quickly walked around to Ji Yinshu’s back and cried out in alarm, “Yinshu, your back… why is it bleeding?”

On Ji Yinshu’s back, fresh blood had stained her clothing. Because she was wearing an elegant pale yellow outfit, the blood seeping onto it was very conspicuous and glaring!

Could it be that the whip wounds had reopened?

But with Bai Yunchang’s medicine, the wounds on Ji Yinshu’s back should have mostly healed already.

Why was it bleeding again now?

When Wei Yi saw this, his eyes trembled, his brow furrowed into a knot. He became completely flustered, stamping his feet in place with worry. “Shu’er… did I just… did I really hurt you just now? I didn’t mean to. Don’t be angry. Does it still hurt? Hit me—it’s my fault.”

He almost seemed about to cry!

Ji Yinshu shook her head. “It’s not Young Master Wei’s fault. Yinshu’s back just sustained a minor injury. It’s nothing serious.”

“A minor injury?” Master Wei raised an eyebrow, stood up and walked over, his expression stern.

“Tell us, how did you injure your back? How could it be so severe? Who did this to you? Tell us, and I will seek justice for you.”

“Uncle Wei, I…”

“You need not be afraid. Just speak. Though you haven’t yet entered the Wei family’s gates, I already consider you my daughter-in-law and half a daughter.”

How touching!

But as Master Wei spoke these words, Ji Shuhan’s expression had already turned very unpleasant. One hand resting on his knee clenched into a fist.

Ji Yinshu raised her eyes, meeting Ji Shuhan’s gaze directly. She pressed her lips together and answered Master Wei in a small voice.

“It was Yinshu’s own lack of understanding. I angered Father. The family rules are strict—since I made a mistake, it was only right that Father disciplined me with the whip.”

Her tone was gentle and soft, sounding as if she was protecting him, but in reality, she was filing a complaint!

Clever!

In an instant, several pairs of eyes all turned toward Ji Shuhan in unison.

Madam Wei and Master Wei’s eyes blazed with anger, though they suppressed it.

“Master Ji, is this true?” Master Wei’s tone carried more weight, no longer polite and courteous.

You dare to beat my daughter-in-law—where does that leave my face?

Ji Shuhan’s expression was poor. He glared at Ji Yinshu, then turned with an awkward smile. “My daughter was disobedient and hurt someone in the residence, so I had to…”

Before he could finish, Wei Yi straightened his back and stepped forward to argue. “You’re lying! Shu’er would never hurt anyone! She even taught me to write and gave me a handkerchief. She scared me, but she didn’t kill me. You’re lying—Shu’er wouldn’t hurt anyone.”

He shook his head desperately to prove he was telling the truth!

The others listening didn’t quite understand. What writing? What handkerchief? What killing or not killing?

What was all this about!

Madam Wei pulled Wei Yi aside and said, “Don’t make trouble. Look at Yinshu—she can barely stand. Quickly escort her back to her quarters and take good care of her.”

Son, Mother can only help you this far for now. The rest is up to your own efforts!

“Oh.” Wei Yi nodded and walked to Ji Yinshu’s side, carefully supporting her hand. “Shu’er, let me take you back, alright? You can rest on the bed and drink some medicine, then you’ll feel better. That’s what I do when I’m sick too.”

Ji Yinshu murmured an acknowledgment, placing her hand on Wei Yi’s wrist. With difficulty, she performed a curtsy before being helped by Wei Yi to slowly leave the main hall!

Once they had left, Master Wei let out a stifled sigh. On his forehead, a horizontal crease formed into the character “川.”

He looked at Ji Shuhan and said, “Master Ji, you’re being far too harsh. No matter what, even if Yinshu hurt someone, you shouldn’t have beaten her so severely with a whip! After all, she’s a young lady—how could she endure such a whipping?”

Ji Shuhan’s mouth twitched, not knowing how to respond.

Madam Wei also harbored anger in her heart and huffed. “That’s right, Master Ji. Don’t forget—Yinshu will sooner or later become a member of our Wei household. Even if you don’t consider Buddha’s face, you should consider the monk’s face! Although Yinshu is from a concubine, our Wei family doesn’t mind at all. Master Ji and Old Madam Ji, however, should show more consideration.”

The way she said it made it sound as if Ji Yinshu was actually the Wei family’s own daughter.

Madam Wei’s words carried deep implications—quite masterful.

Ji Shuhan could only hastily explain. “Yinshu is my daughter too! When I strike the child’s body, the pain is in my heart! The various reasons—it’s difficult to explain clearly in a moment.”

How could it be difficult to explain?

Clearly he was at a loss for words, not knowing how to justify himself!