Ji Zizhao arrived at the Ji family residence by carriage and, upon entering, heard noisy shouts from within the mansion.
As she passed through the decorative gate and entered the inner courtyard, Ji Zizhao stopped.
Fubao, who was following, listened for a moment and then said, "The sound seems to be coming from the main courtyard."
Just then, Jian Qiu hurried over and blocked Ji Zizhao's path.
"Miss has worked hard all day and should return to her courtyard to rest. The meal has been prepared."
Seeing Jian Qiu's conflicted expression, Ji Zizhao nodded and said, "Alright."
There were two paths from the inner courtyard to the back courtyards, one for the masters and one for the servants.
However, Jian Qiu deliberately led Ji Zizhao down the servants' path.
Ji Zizhao clearly understood that Jian Qiu was doing this intentionally but asked nothing.
Jian Qiu, who had been prepared to be questioned by her young lady and was surprised when no questions came, felt an indescribable relief. With an intelligent master, one dared to act boldly in any situation.
The group turned into Zhaoyuan, where Shuiling and Nanny He, who had been impatiently waiting, hurried to meet them.
Nanny He was the first to ask Jian Qiu, "Did you encounter them?"
Jian Qiu smiled and replied, "No, we deliberately took a detour. I suppose they didn't expect us to."
Shuiling's praise was generous, "As expected, Aunt Jian Qiu has a plan."
Ji Zizhao: "..."
She recognized the words, but couldn't understand a single sentence.
Qingzhu and Lianju were inexplicably relieved to see their young lady return safely.
It wasn't until Ji Zizhao was eating that Shuiling said, "Miss, something has happened in the main courtyard!"
Considering it had been some time since Gu Peilan and her party returned.
Since Ji Zongyou had returned under the guise of attending to the Old Madam, he had to stay in the main courtyard as long as the Old Madam's illness persisted.
Gu Peilan had previously sent Madam Xu to relay a message, hoping to make her son's stay in the main courtyard more comfortable. However, she had been met with a soft refusal from Ji Zizhao.
Distressed for her son and afraid he might give up, Gu Peilan could only continue to send maids to the main courtyard.
Over time, the main courtyard became unbearable.
Even the air was thick and foul.
The wives from other courtyards, who used to visit the Old Madam in the main courtyard every morning, now kept their distance.
They could tolerate the stifling heat, but the strange smell that occasionally permeated the courtyard was unbearable.
A few days prior, the Second Madam, Yu Fenglan, had vomited directly upon smelling it while paying respects to the Old Madam.
The other madams were also left feeling dizzy by the fumes, so they collectively went to the Old Madam and wept.
"Old Madam, it is not that your daughters-in-law are unfilial, but we truly cannot bear the smell in your courtyard. If we continue to inhale it, we fear we will depart this world prematurely even before you recover."
As a result, the madams from the various courtyards stopped venturing into the main courtyard.
This made Ji Zongyou even more unrestrained.
Ji Zizhao was eating when she heard this.
Nanny He, concerned for her young lady, glared at Shuiling and said, "Miss is still a maiden, why are you saying all this?"
Shuiling quickly covered her mouth, her eyes darting around before she released her hand and added, "However, the main courtyard has been quiet these past few days. I heard that Young Master Zongyou hasn't done those disgusting things for several days, and it's also rumored that Young Master Zongyou has been claiming to be unwell for consecutive days."
Ji Zizhao was not surprised that Ji Zongyou was unwell.
Or rather, this was precisely what she had been waiting for.
Otherwise, the fire she had set in her grandmother's courtyard some time ago would have been in vain.
She hadn't expected the effect to be so remarkably good.
Ji Zongyou, accustomed to arrogance, had been somewhat restrained in the main courtyard out of consideration for the Old Madam.
Now that the Old Madam was ill and Ji Zongyou was enveloped in the stifling heat every day, his temper had only worsened.
Which servant in the main courtyard had not been beaten by Ji Zongyou?
Having offended everyone so thoroughly, it was no surprise that even if he were to die in the main courtyard, no one would care.
Servants are also human. Even if they are dependent on others, they still have hearts.
Frankly, if you treat us poorly, do you expect us to care about your life or death?
That's a rather shameless dream you're having.
"The newly appointed First Madam has been arguing with Madam Xu in the main courtyard for days. However, Madam Xu stated that to have the main courtyard release the person, the eldest daughter's approval is required. Thus, later this evening, it was heard that Miss Renran personally waited on the path Miss will take to return to her courtyard. Aunt Jian Qiu was worried that Miss would be ambushed, so she went ahead to escort you."
Shuiling couldn't understand why the newly appointed First Madam was in such a hurry yet didn't come herself, but instead had Miss Renran quietly block Miss's path back to her courtyard.
Ji Zizhao understood perfectly and sneered, "The newly appointed First Madam is, after all, an elder. How could she lower herself to beg for mercy from a junior like me?"
Therefore, Gu Peilan had Ji Renran act stealthily.
What did Ji Renran intend to do by blocking her path back to her courtyard so quietly at this time?
Naturally, she intended to play the victim, feign distress, and then employ a moralistic condemnation.
If Ji Zizhao refused, the entire mansion would likely know of her ruthlessness and viciousness.
Footsteps sounded from outside the door. Shuiling, who had just stepped out, hurried back in. "Miss, Miss Renran has arrived. She's waiting in the courtyard."
Ji Zizhao calmly picked up the teacup handed to her by Jian Qiu, knowing very well that Ji Renran's visit at this time was likely due to hearing news of her return.
Ji Renran, though appearing pure and delicate like a fragile white flower, was in reality more troublesome and cunning than Gu Peilan.
Her visit at this moment suggested she was plotting something.
"Go and invite Madam Xu over. Say that I am concerned about my grandmother's health." If Ji Renran wanted to scheme against her, she would see if she would give Ji Renran the opportunity.
"Yes." Shuiling quickly turned and ran out.
Inside the room, Ji Zizhao steadily sipped her flower tea.
In the courtyard, Ji Renran stood silently, enduring the biting northwest wind.
Ji Renran was certainly unwilling to face Ji Zizhao, but under her mother's threats and enticements, she had no choice.
Ji Renran despised her brother's idleness and even wished she didn't have such a brother.
But she also understood that if her brother faltered, she would be the one to be dragged down.
Ji Renran certainly didn't want to be burdened by her brother after marrying the Fifth Prince, but her brother had ruined all the connections she had painstakingly built in the main courtyard. Now, if she wanted her brother to leave the main courtyard first, she had to confront Ji Zizhao.
She hadn't expected Ji Zizhao to return to her courtyard discreetly. If she hadn't heard the news in time, she would have waited foolishly on the path.
Thinking this, Ji Renran's eyes began to redden.
She was enraged.
However, Ji Renran was not flustered. Since she dared to stand there, she was prepared.
As soon as Ji Zizhao came out, she would cry to her. If Ji Zizhao refused to release the person, she would simply faint, and then the Tong family would spread news of Ji Zizhao suppressing her siblings…
At that time, she would simply be enjoying a comfortable life in her own courtyard, and there would be plenty of people to condemn Ji Zizhao as heartless.
As long as she remained confined to her courtyard, the curses against Ji Zizhao in the city would not diminish.
By then, even if Ji Zizhao wanted to apologize and release her brother from the main courtyard, her reputation would already be ruined!
As Ji Renran was contemplating this, she heard footsteps behind her.
"Please wait a moment, I will go and deliver the message." Shuiling brought the person to the entrance and then went into the room first.
Ji Renran glanced sideways, and her heart skipped a beat.
Madam Xu?!