Transmigrated as the Short-Lived White Moonlight, I Ended Up Happily Ever After With the Female Lead - Chapter 21

“You’re gathering everyone who poisoned someone right in my courtyard?” Ji Yan’an threw down her chopsticks and rushed to the doorway, almost bumping into Ji Tong’an, who was strutting over with a triumphant look.

Ji Tong’an’s face changed when she saw her. In a heartbroken manner, she accused Song Yi: “My sister’s mother was harmed, and now the evidence clearly points to Song Yi. Why does Eldest Sister continue to protect her! Is it because she’s an outsider who merely looks like you that she should be universally protected?”

Ji Tong’an’s words woke Ji Yan’an up from her dream. She had always wondered why Ji Yan’an was the male lead’s ‘white moonlight’ in the original book, while Song Yi was only considered half a substitute. Because… Ji Yan’an was gentle and kind in front of outsiders, her appearance was no less stunning than Song Yi’s, and her family background was so wealthy. In the eyes of the scoundrel Liang Jingcheng, Ji Yan’an was the most perfect one.

Song Yi bears a slight resemblance to Ji Yan’an. It was purely coincidental, and they shared no blood relation. Ji Yongning was willing to take her in back then, and the resemblance was one of the reasons.

Ji Yan’an only realized this today because she had been immersed in Song Yi’s beauty before.

After clearing up all the events, Ji Yan’an looked at Ji Tong’an again, her speech now different from before: “Since you say you have evidence, why don’t we move to the main hall and lay out the evidence you speak of, one by one?”

Ji Yan’an was very familiar with this plot. She just hadn’t realized she was still in the story when she went to the kitchen with Song Yi last night.

The original plot was: the original owner drowned and died, the Ji family was holding a funeral, and Ji Mother was so overwhelmed with grief that the imperial physician prescribed a sedative. At that time, Song Yi was still hated by the entire household, and no one sent her dinner. She could only go to the kitchen herself to cook porridge. No sooner had she left than Ji Tong’an sneaked in and poisoned the medicine meant for Ji Mother.

The next day, Ji Tong’an pushed the blame for both the poisoning and Ji Yan’an’s death onto Song Yi…

After recalling the plot, Ji Yan’an wore a confident smile. She was going to be a hundred times more formidable than the scoundrel male lead in saving Song Yi.

With this thought, the group arrived at Ji Yan’an’s main hall. The cooks Ji Tong’an had gathered were also brought to the door.

Ji Yongning and Ji Mother were not present, Ji Family’s Old Madam was recuperating in their hometown, Songzhou, and Ji Huai was not supposed to enter the inner quarters. Ji Yan’an naturally became the most qualified person in the entire Ji manor to sit at the head seat. She sat down in the main position, supported by Jinxi. The wound on her back had not been medicated yet, and it was vaguely throbbing.

Song Yi stood in the center of the main hall, her back straight with an air of pride. Even with the harsh insults and abuse from the maids and matrons Ji Tong’an brought, she absolutely refused to kneel. Of course, Ji Yan’an wouldn’t let her kneel either.

“All of you maids step back! No matter how lowly Song Yi is, she is still Miss Song of my Ji manor. How dare you servants strike and abuse her? Where does that put my Ji manor?” Ji Yan’an’s aura was fully unleashed. Perhaps it was the power granted by sitting in the main seat, but she was definitely imposing. The maids retreated, trembling with fear, not daring to look at Ji Yan’an more than necessary.

Song Yi slowly raised her head. Her eyes held no darkness, only praise.

Ji Yan’an’s gaze met hers. Seeing the praise and smile in her eyes, Ji Yan’an felt a surge of pride, like being on a stage to receive an award.

Ji Tong’an was startled by this version of Ji Yan’an and was frozen for a good while before she began to speak: “Eldest Sister, you may first ask the Imperial Physician.”

The Imperial Physician stepped forward respectfully, internally unfazed. Poisoning might be shocking in the Ji manor, but in the palace, it was mere child’s play.

“A few days ago, Third Madam came to me for several prescriptions to treat a cold. She had been taking them well, but collapsed last night after taking the medicine. I rushed over and, after examining the medicinal residue, found an extra toxic ingredient. Yet, I had inspected those herbs just before the decoction last night,” the Imperial Physician spoke clearly and methodically. This was precisely the outcome Ji Tong’an wanted. Naturally, she didn’t have the means to bribe the Imperial Physician; since the physician was speaking the truth, she wasn’t afraid of Ji Yan’an’s rebuttal.

Ji Yan’an was not foolish enough to argue with the Imperial Physician. She rested her hand on her chin, watching Ji Tong’an’s smugness below.

“Last night, it was Song Yi and I who went to the kitchen together. I wonder if Third Sister will try to pin the blame on me,” Ji Yan’an said calmly. Knowing the plot was a golden advantage not to be underestimated.

Ji Tong’an seemed to have anticipated her response. She gracefully knelt, a look of resolve on her face: “If Eldest Sister truly did such a thing, Tong’an must pursue the matter to the end. After all, the Madam is Tong’an’s birth mother!”

These words were a perfect display of filial piety, enough to move anyone to tears. But it failed to move Ji Yan’an in the slightest.

Ji Yan’an casually picked up a cup of tea, gently blew off the foam, and took a small sip to moisten her throat: “Neither Song Yi nor I did such a thing. Do you believe it?”

“I trust Eldest Sister’s innocence, but I do not trust Song Yi,” Ji Tong’an pressed on relentlessly, making Le Yan anxious for Song Yi. She kept glancing towards the door, hoping for the quick return of Ji Yongning and Ji Mother.

The sky was bright and sunny, and the ice and snow in the courtyard had begun to melt. The sunlight poured into the room, shining on Ji Yan’an’s skirt, where the golden threads sparkled, making her radiant and captivating.

Song Yi stood below, watching Ji Yan’an and Ji Tong’an argue. Suddenly, all sound around her vanished. Ji Yan’an was speaking with her mouth open, yet no sound came out. Everything seemed to slow down in Song Yi’s eyes.

“My good sister married into the Ji manor, not so an orphan could come here and poison people.” A sharp, mean voice broke Song Yi’s trance, causing Ji Yan’an and Ji Tong’an, who were arguing, to stop.

Upon closer inquiry about the newcomers, Jinxi quickly ran over and whispered into Ji Yan’an’s ear: “Miss, this is bad. General Lin’s Sixth Madam and Miss Lin have both arrived.”

These two names hit Ji Yan’an like a thunderclap. This scene wasn’t in the original book!

While she was panicking, they walked in from the courtyard. One was adorned with so many golden hairpins she looked like she wanted to wear them all, and the other was dressed sparsely and lightly despite the icy weather. Any respectable person could tell at a glance that these two were not proper young ladies of noble families.

Yet, the newcomers were arrogant, afraid others wouldn’t know they were from General Lin’s manor. The badge symbolizing their identity was conspicuously hanging from their waist.

“Madam is well,” Ji Tong’an was overjoyed, and immediately turned around to salute Wu Shiyuan, without a hint of the arrogance she displayed on the back mountain that day.

Song Yi stood silently to the side, her head bowed deeply, much like she was on Ji Yan’an’s birthday.

Ji Yan’an clenched her fists in anger, but had no choice but to pretend to be obedient in front of her elders. Even if her status was high, she had already offended the Grand Imperial Concubine and Consort Liu. She really could not afford to offend Wu Shiyuan further.

This Wu Shiyuan was merely a minor character in the original work. After Ji Yan’an politely gave up the main seat, the panic in her heart gradually subsided.

“They are just a concubine and a concubine’s daughter. I am the legitimate Eldest Miss of the magnificent Ji manor, a child favored even by the Empress Dowager’s Old Ancestor. What do I have to fear!” Ji Yan’an chanted silently to herself, hoping to gain some sense of security.