Ji Ruojun’s face darkened to a point of emitting light, glaring at Ji Zizhao almost through clenched teeth, "Ji Zizhao, how dare you insult me!"
Ji Zizhao's expression remained unchanged, her voice calm, "I respect you as my father's sister and willingly address you as Aunt. However, my respect is not a reason for you to act lawlessly within the Ji family. My maternal uncle traveled thousands of miles to mourn for the Ji family, which was already the utmost of kindness. Yet, Aunt, you are here making unreasonable demands. If I didn't still call you Aunt, it wouldn't be excessive to have you thrown out of the Ji family gate."
Ji Ruojun, "..."
So I should thank you then?
"Ji Zizhao, you are truly something else. Do you think holding the authority means you can do whatever you please? Let me tell you, if the Ji family wasn't in decline, do you think Mother would have really given you the authority? To put it bluntly, you are just a son who serves as a shield for the Ji family!"
Ji Ruojun was truly enraged. No one had ever treated her this way since she was young!
People only speak without thinking when they are in pain.
Ji Zizhao looked at Ji Ruojun's contorted features from pain. Instead of getting angry, she felt a sense of relief.
She was never one to back down or be a pushover.
Ji Ruojun's throat was hoarse from shouting, yet Ji Zizhao showed no reaction. In a fit of rage, she suddenly stood up and lunged towards Ji Zizhao.
Yang Lang quickly stood up as well, rushing forward to shield his niece behind him.
Ji Ruojun had already realized her mistake when Yang Lang stepped in front of her, but the palm she had raised still landed with a fierce blow.
Her fingernails, adorned with armor, were as sharp as knives, leaving several bloody scratches on Yang Lang's face.
Despite Yang Lang's utmost effort to endure, his body trembled in pain.
A cold wind swept through Ji Zizhao's dark eyes as she spoke in a deep voice, "Lianju."
Lianju, who had been guarding the door, responded and entered, grabbing Ji Ruojun's wrist.
Her strong fingers were like iron clamps, making Ji Ruojun's face turn pale with pain. "What do you think you're doing? Let go of me! Ji Zizhao, I'm telling you, this is my home, and it's not your place to order me around!"
Ji Zizhao's eyes were as deep as still water, "See Aunt out of the manor."
Ji Ruojun, "..."
So...
Does this mean she's not being expelled from the courtyard, but from the Ji family altogether?!
Ji Ruojun stared with disbelief, her chest aching from anger, "Ji Zizhao, you dare!"
Ji Zizhao smiled, but her eyes held a chilling intensity, "Aunt also said that regardless of the reason, the Ji family's seal is currently in my hands. According to seniority, even Aunt should bow and greet me. So, what is there that I dare not do?"
Ji Ruojun, "..."
So you're saying I'm fat and you're puffing up your chest?
Ji Zizhao no longer looked at Ji Ruojun. Instead, she took out a small porcelain bottle she carried from her sleeve, pouring all the powder into her palm. She tiptoed to tend to her uncle's wounds.
Lianju, meanwhile, was dragging Ji Ruojun out.
The eldest aunt, who had always been high and mighty in the Ji family, was now being dragged out like a drowned dog. Even witnessing this scene, the servants in the courtyard couldn't believe their eyes.
Looking at the disheveled Ji Ruojun, the servants couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction.
They had all been troubled by Ji Ruojun numerous times before. Now that the wicked had met their comeuppance, they were all silently giving Ji Zizhao a thumbs-up in their hearts.
Young lady, well done!
"What is going on here! Is this an act of rebellion?" a deep, stern voice suddenly rang out from the doorway.
Under Jin Xueyan's support, the Old Madam entered with a booming voice.
Ji Ruojun, full of grievances, saw her mother and immediately cried out, "Mother, save me! Ji Zizhao has gone mad! She's driving me out of the Ji family and forbidding me from ever stepping foot in the Ji family's gate again!"
Yang Lang frowned and turned, knowing Ji Ruojun was exaggerating. He opened his mouth to explain to his niece.
However, Ji Zizhao held her uncle's wrist and gently shook her head.
If one wants to condemn, it's easy to find a pretext.
Grandmother has always been biased towards Aunt, so what Aunt says is irrelevant.
The Old Madam looked in shock at her daughter being dragged on the ground, her chest trembling with anger. She raised her cane and brought it down towards Ji Zizhao, "Ji Zizhao, kneel down!"
Seeing this, Lianju wanted to intervene.
Ji Zizhao gave her a look, forcing Lianju to stop in her tracks.
A thousand classics emphasize filial piety and righteousness, as Grandfather often taught her.
If she dared to defy Grandmother today, where would that leave Grandfather, who had already passed away!
The cane carved from dragon-subduing wood fell heavily on Ji Zizhao's shoulder, it was weighty and substantial.
Jin Xueyan, who had been supporting her mother, saw this and, along with Ji Ruojun, revealed triumphant smiles.
Yang Lang looked at his niece who stoically took the weight of the several-pound cane and felt heartbroken.
The Yang family had agreed to the marriage with the Ji family because his father admired the integrity of the old master of the Ji family and knew that under such a father's teachings, his son would not be bad.
But how could Yang Lang have imagined that the Old Madam of the Ji family was so biased and unreasonable!
The thought of his sister and niece living such a life of subservience in the future made his heart ache even more!
"I implore the Old Madam of the Ji family to desist. I will immediately write to my father and request him to petition the Emperor for... clemency for the Heir of the Marquis of Xuanping." The last few words were spoken through gritted teeth by Yang Lang. For a scholar, such underhanded tactics were a deep humiliation.
Hearing this, Ji Ruojun hurried to her mother's side, "Mother, quickly stop!"
The Old Madam looked at her impatient daughter and shook her head, seemingly with resignation but more with affection, "I knew you were in a hurry."
As she spoke, the cane pressing on Ji Zizhao's shoulder finally fell to the ground.
Jin Xueyan raised an eyebrow and snorted at Ji Zizhao, "You've really gotten off easy."
The Old Madam smiled and stroked Jin Xueyan's head, "Compared to your father's safety, others are naturally insignificant."
Jin Xueyan smiled fawningly and hugged the Old Madam's waist, "I knew Grandmother loved me the most."
This harmonious scene, however, was incredibly jarring to Lianju.
They were both daughters of the family, yet the elder young lady had worked tirelessly for the Ji family, supporting it to this day, but she received no praise and not even basic fairness. But then look at that selfish and unreasonable mother and daughter, who could make the Old Madam so obviously biased...
Where was justice!
Ji Zizhao's expression remained calm in the face of the Old Madam's bias.
She knew her grandmother had reached her limit.
The incident with the silver hairpin last time must have kept the Old Madam on edge and restless.
Wasn't this display of authority by her grandmother today also a test for Ji Zizhao?
If Ji Zizhao truly understood the meaning behind the silver hairpin, she would undoubtedly use it to threaten and resist.
Thinking this, the Old Madam pressed down even harder on the cane in her hand.
She wanted to see how much Ji Zizhao knew!