Ji Zizhao watched the master and servant flee with their backs hunched, and smiled before saying, "One last thing. Miss Wang, the dress you're wearing is beautiful, but it's not suitable for you. You have healthy skin, so you'd look better in something more understated."
Wang Jifu, "..."
Healthy skin? She was clearly calling her dark!
This remark struck a chord with everyone.
Previously, people had only thought Wang Jifu's attire was too garish. Hearing Ji Zizhao's words, they looked closer.
The difference was stark. Her exposed hands were several shades darker than her neck and face. How could anyone look like that?
Her face and neck were deathly pale, while her hands were a deep black!
Gu Peilan and Ji Renran also began to feel something was amiss.
From the moment Wang Jifu entered, she hadn't behaved like a young lady from a reputable family. Recalling her conversation with Ji Zizhao, her words were undeniably crude.
Speaking kindly, Wang Jifu was boisterous; speaking harshly, she was ignorant and uncultured!
Gu Peilan couldn't help but suspect that Wang Jifu was not truly a lady from the Tong family at all. The thought that the Tong family intended to foist such a woman upon her son made her heart churn with unease.
Although Ji Renran was also displeased with the Tong family's actions, she personally rose to see off the Tong family's wet nurse and Wang Jifu, secretly slipping the wet nurse a large purse. She paid little attention to Wang Jifu herself.
No matter how the Tong family was, they were still closer to her than Ji Zizhao.
Ji Renran certainly wouldn't distance herself from the Tong family just because of Ji Zizhao's few words.
The old madam, of course, had not expected the Tong family to do such a thing. She wearily waved her hand, dismissing everyone.
Ji Zizhao observed that her grandmother, despite her displeasure, did not speak harshly of the Tong family, clearly wishing to avoid a complete rupture.
Ji Zizhao understood that since the Tong family had sent Wang Jifu, they might send others.
Therefore, to completely sever the Tong family's idea of sending people to the Ji family, merely provoking Gu Peilan was far from enough.
In essence, the key was to make the Tong family suffer.
Returning to Zhaoyuan, Ji Zizhao had Shuiling summon Zhang Ji.
Zhang Ji arrived quickly, respectfully greeting her, "Greetings to the Eldest Miss."
Ji Zizhao gestured for Zhang Ji to rise, "There is a matter that requires Uncle Ji's personal attention."
Zhang Ji was now less of a guard for the Ji family and more of Ji Zizhao's subordinate. He felt both guilty and awed by the Eldest Miss. He naturally had no complaints about her requests. Su Dan Xiaoshuo.
However, after carefully listening to the Eldest Miss's instructions, even the experienced Zhang Ji's expression grew slightly awkward. But since the Eldest Miss had not made a mistake and he had not misunderstood, he accepted the order despite his inner reservations.
Meanwhile, the Tong family's wet nurse escorted Wang Jifu back to the Tong residence.
Before the wet nurse could even formulate a report for the old madam, she heard a clamor from the entrance.
The Tong family's wet nurse rushed to investigate. Upon seeing the women crowding the entrance of the Tong residence, dressed provocatively and heavily made up, she nearly fainted.
Had they stumbled upon a brothel?
Where else would such disreputable women come from?
The Tong family's wet nurse truly dared not intervene and directly invited the Tong family's old madam out.
These courtesans had no intention of causing trouble. Upon seeing the Tong family's old madam, they knelt and pleaded to see Miss Jifu of the Tong family. Some even knelt at the entrance of the Tong residence, begging that Miss Jifu of the Tong family would show mercy and allow them to marry into the Ji family alongside her.
The Tong family's old madam's face turned ashen. For their Tong family to marry into the Ji family and bring these prostitutes into the house was unthinkable. If word of this spread, the Tong family's reputation would be ruined.
In a fit of rage, the Tong family's old madam ordered the women to be driven away.
However, these prostitutes cried out to the heavens, proclaiming their fleeting romances with the young master of the Ji family.
It was only then that the Tong family's old madam realized that Ji Zongyou of the Ji family was also a scoundrel. After returning to the Ji family for such a short time, he had already entangled himself with these disreputable women. And Gu Peilan dared to call him a promising young man?
Bah!
The Tong family's old madam couldn't comprehend why these prostitutes dared to cause such a scene at their home.
The Tong family's old madam, almost suffering a stroke from anger, was unaware that a mere half-hour earlier, Zhang Ji had quietly visited the pleasure district and spread rumors. He announced that the concubine to be wed to the young master of the Ji family from the Tong family was kind-hearted and virtuous. To serve the future young master of the Ji family well, she was willing to spend a large sum to redeem women who had had fleeting romances with the young master of the Ji family, allowing them to find a new life and join her in serving the young master of the Ji family.
The women trapped in the pleasure district yearned for freedom. Upon hearing this news, the entire pleasure district erupted.
These women from the pleasure district dared not provoke the Tong family, but for their own futures, they would dare to do what they feared.
Thus, the spectacular scene of prostitutes blocking the gate unfolded.
The Tong family's old madam couldn't quite grasp the situation, but she could investigate.
Moreover, Ji Zizhao had specifically instructed Zhang Ji to leave her name attached to the message, and soon, the Tong family's old madam learned who was behind this entire affair.
The Tong family's wet nurse, who was reporting the day's events to the old madam, broke out in a cold sweat.
The Eldest Miss of the Ji family sought revenge overnight?
Truly remarkable skill!
The Tong family's old madam's face darkened, "Miss Fu's birth mother was a servant. From the moment Miss Fu was born, the second son never even looked at her, sending her to the countryside. We thought she was still a descendant of the Tong family, and it would be better to bring her back and use her than to abandon her. But who knew she would be so useless."
The Tong family's wet nurse said in a low voice, "On the way back, I asked Miss Jifu. She said that when she was in the countryside, she made a living growing medicinal herbs. It's all the fault of that Eldest Miss of the Ji family being too cunning; the medicinal herbs she provided were uncommon ones."
"The Ji family girl has skills, but that just proves Gu Peilan is useless. If Gu Peilan had been a little more assertive, how could a young girl dare to speak? Now, Gu Peilan's son is the only male heir of the Ji family." The Tong family's old madam naturally blamed Gu Peilan. If Gu Peilan hadn't been so incompetent, how would Ji Zizhao dare to have prostitutes block the Tong family's gate?
The Tong family's wet nurse thought of the heavy purse in her arms and then said, "The Fifth Prince asked the old madam and the old master to take care of Gu Peilan, actually for Miss Renran's sake. With Miss Renran's intelligence, her future is limitless."
The Tong family's old madam nodded at these words.
It was indeed the Fifth Prince who had personally brought Gu Peilan and her daughter to their doorstep, asking the Tong family for their covert assistance.
Considering Ji Renran's past deference to the Fifth Prince and the Fifth Prince's care for Ji Renran, the Tong family's old madam could not afford to cut off all ties now. Let alone if Ji Renran truly became the Fifth Prince's person and turned against the Tong family, it would be difficult to explain to the Fifth Prince himself.
"Go see if the old master has returned."
"Yes."