Returning to the Ji residence, Ji Yunshu was naturally somewhat tired. After changing into clean clothes and shoes, she sat by the brazier rubbing her temples, her face weary.

“Miss, aren’t you going to rest?” Luan’er asked, puzzled.

She shook her head and drank another cup of tea, as if waiting for something.

Sure enough, a young servant from the front courtyard came running over, saying, “Third Miss, the master is waiting for you in the front hall. He wants you to come quickly.”

Ji Yunshu acknowledged with a simple “mm.”

Ji Shuhan had always detested her touching those corpses. Today, she had brazenly done so right in front of him. For Ji Shuhan, who regarded the family’s reputation as his life’s pride, how could he not flay her alive!

When she reached the front hall, her vicious father was waiting there. As soon as he saw her arrive, his originally angry gaze instantly transformed into turbulent waves, glaring at her malevolently.

Just like a wolf!

“You wretched creature, kneel down.”

Ji Shuhan barked sharply, so angry his teeth were clenched.

Ji Yunshu’s nature had never inclined toward argument. She viewed everything with detachment, so she obediently knelt down.

“The Ji family has been a prestigious clan for generations, never lacking in civil and military worthy officials, yet we produced a wretched creature like you who touches those unclean things, corrupting our family traditions and utterly disgracing the Ji family name.”

Ji Yunshu kept her head lowered, saying nothing.

What Ji Shuhan hated most was precisely this bland, insipid nature of hers that made people both angry and anxious.

“The Wei family has come to propose marriage several times already. I’ve agreed. Once this New Year passes, I’ll marry you off to the Wei family to prevent you from further disgracing the Ji family name.”

As the saying goes, a daughter married off is like water spilled—once Ji Yunshu married into the Wei residence, she would be a Wei family person. Whether or not she dealt with those corpses would have nothing to do with his Ji family. If there was disgrace, it would be the Wei family’s.

This fine calculation, Ji Shuhan had probably been making for quite some time.

However…

Ji Yunshu’s body trembled slightly, showing some surprise.

The Wei family’s young master had been afflicted with illness since childhood and was a foolish simpleton—everyone in Jinjiang City knew this! Who didn’t know!

“Father, you know the Wei family young master’s condition. If your daughter marries over there, wouldn’t that be…”

Ji Shuhan slapped the table, cutting off her words.

“Since ancient times, marriages have been by matchmaker’s word and parents’ command. This matter is settled. It’s not for you to refuse. The Wei family is also descended from a military household, a distinguished family. That they would take an interest in you is your good fortune.”

These words made Ji Yunshu forcibly swallow back the three words “living widowhood.”

She raised those almond-shaped eyes, flickering with a trace of stubbornness.

“Your daughter is unwilling to marry into the Wei family. I would rather remain alone until old age.”

“You wretched creature, is that something a daughter should say? Although the Wei family’s young master is simple-minded, he is the only heir in the family. If you marry over, naturally you won’t suffer much grievance. Moreover, the Wei family has always had business dealings with our Ji family. How can this be ruined in your hands? You must marry whether you want to or not.”

“Father…”

Ji Shuhan’s face turned red with fury. “Tonight you’ll be punished to kneel here all night and think this through properly. If you dare disobey again, I’ll take your life and consider that I never had a daughter like you.”

With a wave of his sleeve, he left.

If this were in modern times, this would be a commercial marriage alliance.

At the end of the day, in her father’s eyes, Ji Yunshu was nothing more than a chess piece.

No, more accurately speaking, all four young ladies in the residence were chess pieces in his hands.

The eldest daughter, Ji Muqing, was being cultivated like a future crown princess. It was said that Ji Shuhan had pulled many strings, and next year he would send Ji Muqing to the capital.

The second daughter, Ji Wanxin, had been in poor health since childhood, yet had long ago been promised to the son of the Ministry of Rites’ Minister in the capital. In two years, she too would be sent to the capital.

And the fourth daughter, Ji Lingzhi, though still young at only eight years old, had also been promised to someone when Ji Shuhan and Old Madam Ji went to the capital on business some years ago. The other party was none other than the nephew of Prince Zhao.

Only she, Ji Yunshu, had been promised to a foolish simpleton.

The disparity was truly enormous!

She pulled her jacket tighter around herself and exhaled a puff of cold air.

Marriage was one thing, a commercial alliance was another, but to marry a foolish simpleton—she was utterly unwilling.

Yet Ji Shuhan’s word was law. He would tie her up and drag her to the Wei residence if necessary.

It seemed she couldn’t stay in the Ji family much longer…