Despite how upright and incorruptible their grandfather and father, and even their uncles, had been in the imperial court, anyone who had ever stood in the way of others would inevitably make enemies.
Now that the Ji family had no men left, who could guarantee that no one else would come to bully them?
Ji Zizhao knew that if she were to act today, she had to make a stunning debut.
Only then could she make those who coveted the Ji family understand that they were not the pushovers they imagined.
“Granny He, take action!”
Granny He had originally been a dowry maid to the First Madam, Lin Wanyun. Through years of hard work in the Ji family, she had achieved her current position. She detested the arrogant behavior of servants like the one before her. Without hesitation, she led the maids behind her forward.
We are all servants working diligently for our masters, so why are you acting so superior to me?
The maid retreated in fear, but she was no match for Granny He’s strength. In just a few moves, she was pinned to the ground.
“How dare you, dare you… Ahhh!”
The maid’s piercing screams echoed in the courtyard.
In the past, the other madams would have long since distanced themselves.
But now, due to their trust in Ji Zizhao, they were all eagerly urging their own maids to help. The Ji family was no longer a disgraced family, and Sister Zhao was their head of household. To provoke Sister Zhao in front of them was no different than courting death!
In short, if they could strip her clothes, they would. If not, they would scratch and claw. Either way, they wouldn’t let this slut who dared to provoke them get away with it.
The First Madam, Lin Wanyun, looked at the maid pinned to the ground and walked hesitantly to Ji Zizhao’s side. “Although this is going too far, we shouldn’t be too ruthless. Otherwise, what will become of your aunt in the Jin family later?”
The fact that the Lin family dared to send someone to provoke them today was enough to prove that Ji Ruyun’s position was already precarious.
Ji Zizhao knew that her mother was protecting her aunt out of familial affection, but unfortunately, her aunt had never treated the Ji family as kin.
“Even if Aunt is not favored, the Jin family still gave her the position of First Madam. If Aunt hadn’t turned a blind eye, how would the Lin family dare to be so arrogant and come to provoke us?” Ji Zizhao’s dark eyes were cold, and she was completely disappointed in her selfish aunt.
She suspected that Ji Ruyun wasn’t unaware, but was deliberately instigating the Lin family to cause trouble.
Because only then would the Ji family learn of her precarious position in the Jin family.
In essence, Ji Ruyun was using this incident to force the Ji family to help her regain her footing in the Jin family.
The First Madam, Lin Wanyun, felt a chill run down her spine.
This sister-in-law of hers was selfish, but she never expected her to do something so heinous.
Today was the day of the Ji family men’s funeral procession. Not only did she fail to attend the funeral herself, but she was solely focused on her own schemes. How could the upright and incorruptible Ji family have produced such a self-serving individual…
Ji Zizhao was not surprised at all.
Their grandmother had doted on her aunt the most and had likely molded her into a second version of herself.
In the front courtyard, after a thorough scuffle, the maid was left with only her undergarments.
The maid, having grown up by the side of the Third Young Lady of the Lin family, was considered quite capable. However, now lying on the Ji family’s courtyard, she was so terrified that she didn’t even dare to lift her head.
Young ladies from official families valued etiquette and would only make secret moves even when in conflict. What kind of direct scuffle was this?
This eldest young lady of the Ji family was too fierce; it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she ate people without spitting out the bones.
A pair of white cloth shoes, stained with some dirt, appeared in her sight.
The maid trembled and looked up, only to meet Ji Zizhao’s bottomless black eyes.
Ji Zizhao took a stack of banknotes from Shuiling, who handed them to her, and threw them in front of the maid. “These silver notes are compensation from our Ji family for the losses incurred by your Lin family. It’s best to stop here today. If your Lin family still wishes to cause trouble, our Ji family will accompany you to the end at any time.”
The maid, without a second thought, grabbed the banknotes and fled the Ji family without looking back.
The female members of the Ji family felt pained by the stack of banknotes, which amounted to several hundred taels. They felt it would have been better to buy steamed buns to feed dogs than to give it to a girl from the Lin family.
However, since the banknotes had been given, the female members of the Ji family couldn’t say much more. They had been busy all day and were tired and exhausted, lacking the strength and appetite to even fill their stomachs. They supported each other and headed towards the back courtyard.
The First Madam, Lin Wanyun, praised her daughter’s actions. “This way, even if the Lin family is displeased, they won’t be able to cause further trouble. You’ve also been busy all this time, quickly go back and rest. I’ll go check on the Old Madam.”
The First Madam, Lin Wanyun, mistakenly believed that Ji Zizhao was simply spending money to avert disaster.
However, Shuiling, who had been by her young lady’s side for several days, didn’t believe it. Her young lady’s methods always ensured that she left no profit unturned. It was impossible to take advantage of her young lady.
Ji Zizhao certainly wouldn’t let the Lin family have it easy.
Or rather, she had no intention of letting anyone who wanted to prey on the Ji family off the hook.
After watching her mother head to the main courtyard, Ji Zizhao instructed Qingzhu, “Go and invite Uncle Gang over.”
Qingzhu nodded and turned to leave.
Ji Zizhao, meanwhile, led her entourage towards Zhaoyuan.
As they passed by the woodshed, Xinlan proactively came forward to pay her respects. “Young Lady.”
Ji Zizhao glanced indifferently in the direction of the woodshed. “Has Luohong been here recently?”
Xinlan shook her head. “No, I’ve been watching this place the entire time.”
Ji Zizhao thought that Xinlan would not be eating well if she stayed in the woodshed. She then said to Granny He beside her, “Starting today, let the small kitchen in the courtyard prepare meals separately for Xinlan. The weather is getting colder, make more meat dishes.”
Granny He nodded in agreement.
Xinlan’s heart ached upon hearing this. She felt more guilt than joy.
Only after the young lady had walked far away did Xinlan dejectedly walk back to the entrance of the woodshed. “Yongmei, don’t let me lie to the young lady again in the future. You should also be obedient. The young lady treats us so well; you won’t find another master like her even with a lantern.”
Yongmei, who was sitting inside the woodshed, curled her lips in disdain, but readily agreed, “I didn’t let you tell the young lady that Miss Luohong had been here because I was afraid the young lady would punish you too? Don’t worry, after I get out of here, I will surely serve the young lady well.”
Xinlan outside the door finally breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
How could the simple-minded Xinlan know that Yongmei, currently inside the woodshed, was greedily caressing her body again and again, because it bore the marks of the Fifth Prince?