Zou Hansheng was quick to react. After a moment's pause, he said, "I didn't expect the eldest daughter of the Ji family to be so sensible. It's understandable; there aren't many women in this imperial city who show themselves so publicly like her."
Zou Hansheng's words were polite enough, but the sneer that played on his lips was glaringly obvious.
His remark was clearly insinuating that Ji Zizhao was promiscuous and a flirt.
Once he said that, everyone present understood.
Especially these young masters from wealthy families, who frequented pleasure houses and were accustomed to women throwing themselves at them.
"I didn't realize the eldest daughter of the Ji family had such preferences."
"We're bored today anyway. If the eldest daughter of the Ji family is willing to keep us company, it wouldn't be a bad thing."
"I knew it, beauties are always more appealing when they're spirited."
Such lewd and indecent words made the physicians standing nearby blush with embarrassment.
Jiang Guangcheng was furious and stiffened, about to charge forward.
However, he was blocked by someone beside him. "They are willing participants. Why would the second young master of the Jiang family seek humiliation?"
Jiang Guangcheng gritted his teeth and said, "The eldest daughter of the Ji family is by no means a frivolous person! How can you let those people be so disrespectful!"
"They are already standing with those wealthy young masters. Second young master of the Jiang family, don't deceive yourself any longer."
The physicians dared not speak carelessly. As they were talking, Ji Zizhao had already walked with the group of wealthy young masters to the stone table.
Ji Zizhao looked at the pebbles picked up by Zou family servants and took the initiative to say, "Just throwing pebbles is too boring. Shall we play something else?"
The group of wealthy young masters showed no signs of refusal.
When a beauty offered to join them, what they played was of little consequence.
"Eldest daughter of the Ji family, you decide," Zou Hansheng said. However, in his heart, he detested Ji Zizhao even more. How could such a woman of questionable character compare to him?
If his father weren't busy attending to guests, he would have loved to have his father witness Ji Zizhao's indecent behavior firsthand.
Ji Zizhao clearly saw the disgust in Zou Hansheng's eyes but paid it no mind. Instead, she called a young servant of the Zou family to her side and whispered a few instructions.
As the Zou family servant listened, his face turned pale, and he subconsciously glanced at his young master.
Zou Hansheng would not back down in front of Ji Zizhao and immediately said, "Do as the eldest daughter of the Ji family wishes."
What significant trouble could an shameless and vulgar woman stir up?
The Zou family servant dared not disobey and hurriedly ran off.
The wealthy young masters looked at Ji Zizhao standing before them, their expressions growing increasingly lewd.
Some were even secretly discussing whether they should take Ji Zizhao away that night.
Just as these wealthy young masters were engaged in heated discussion, their expressions suddenly changed.
They saw the servant who had left return, carrying a pile of long, thin objects and running over, sweating profusely.
When everyone looked closer, arrows? Arrows!
What was going on!
Zou Hansheng was also stunned. "What does the eldest daughter of the Ji family mean by this?"
Ji Zizhao picked out an arrow from the servant's arms. Her slender fingers caressed the sharp arrowhead. "Naturally, we're going to play with them. What, does the eldest young master of the Zou family have any objections?"
Zou Hansheng: "..."
He had plenty of objections!
Fighting and bickering was one thing, but if someone were actually killed, the Zou family would have to bear the responsibility.
Human life was at stake. Let alone his upcoming appointment to the palace, even if he were idle, he would not dare to cause a death so carelessly!
The wealthy young masters around were also dumbfounded.
In the imperial city, under the very nose of the emperor, if a life were truly lost, how could they fare any better?
By now, Zou Hansheng finally realized that Ji Zizhao had come to crash the party. "My Zou family kindly invited the eldest daughter of the Ji family as a guest, yet she is so discouraging. It truly makes me appreciate the upbringing of the Ji family."
Ji Zizhao raised an eyebrow and asked doubtfully, "I kindly wanted to integrate into the circle of friends of the eldest young master of the Zou family, yet it was the eldest young master of the Zou family who kept stopping me from playing freely. Now you say I have poor upbringing. I suppose I am indeed ignorant, as I have never heard of the upbringing of the Zou family."
Zou Hansheng: "..."
Let you play freely?
You mean let you cause a death!
"Eldest daughter of the Ji family, this is no fun if you cause trouble like this. No wonder you can't even tolerate your own younger siblings. You are truly narrow-minded," said the eldest young master of the Zhong family, who was also the elder brother of the eldest daughter of the Zhong family, Zhong Xinyi.
Ji Zizhao glanced in his direction and, after a long while, said, "May I ask who you are?"
Eldest young master of the Zhong family: "..."
Is this Ji Zizhao possessed?
Zou Hansheng spoke again, "This is the eldest young master of the Zhong family, Zhong Shaowen."
If it were someone from the Zhong family, Ji Zizhao wouldn't be surprised.
Ji Renran was close to the eldest daughter of the Zhong family, so it was natural for Zhong Shaowen to know some things.
However, Ji Zizhao had no interest in discussing family matters with a stranger.
Ignoring Zhong Shaowen, Ji Zizhao looked at the crowd again and said coolly, "I was honored by the Zou family's invitation and came with sincerity. I did not expect you all to be such cowards. Since that is the case, let's not play this game."
In essence, it was their fault for not being able to play, not hers?
Play?
Was this how one played?
Who played like this!
But no one dared to say that now. If the eldest daughter of the Ji family found another loophole and started throwing arrows like pebbles again, it would truly be life-threatening.
Zou Hansheng was also frightened and quickly had a servant take the little beggar out of the garden.
In just a moment, the lively courtyard fell silent.
The wealthy young masters, who had been the most boisterous, were as if doused with a basin of cold water from head to toe.
Truly, they were chilled to the bone, disheartened!
Ji Zizhao, on the other hand, acted as if nothing had happened and walked directly towards the pavilion.
After all the fuss, she was truly hot and thirsty.
Jiang Guangcheng watched this scene with great satisfaction and a sense of vindication.
Reasoning with these arrogant wealthy young masters about human lives was simply a waste of breath.
Therefore, Ji Zizhao took a more drastic approach, delivering a fatal blow.
The physicians who had been surrounding Jiang Guangcheng gradually dispersed.
At this point, they naturally knew they had misunderstood.
The eldest daughter of the Ji family was clearly saving them from trouble, yet they had thought so despicably of her.
Just thinking about what they had said and done...
Their faces burned with shame.
Suddenly, some commotion was heard from the entrance of the rear garden, breaking the awkward silence in the courtyard.
Ji Zizhao looked towards the source of the sound and saw two more figures walking into the courtyard.
In the sunlight, the two figures glided gracefully, radiant and pleasant to behold.
Ji Zizhao looked at the two figures, her lips curving into a silent smile.
She hadn't expected to see familiar faces.