Ji Zizhao had become the adopted grandson of the Zhong family?
When did this happen? I hadn't heard about it...
Gradually, the ladies present recalled that, yes, before the New Year, the Zhong family had indeed invited many influential figures from the imperial city. However, such prestigious events were not the kind of occasions they could attend. At the time, they had been curious why a mere family dinner needed to be so grand.
Now it seemed...
It wasn't a family dinner at all, but the Zhong family's formal introduction of a relative!
Ji Ziyun observed the expressions of those present, paused, and added, "Just yesterday, two confidantes of the Fourth Prince arrived in the main city and personally went to the Ji family to deliver a letter of peace to the eldest daughter of the Ji family. If the ladies present do not believe me, you may personally go to the Ji family to verify."
At these words, everyone couldn't help but gasp in unison!
No matter how disfavored the Fourth Prince was, he was still the Emperor's son. Furthermore, he had been raised alongside the Seventh Prince under the Empress's care, treated as her own.
The ladies thought further: the Empress's maternal family was the Zhong family. What did the Fourth Prince's current emphasis on the eldest daughter of the Ji family signify?
It signified that the person who valued the eldest daughter of the Ji family the most was the Empress!
At this, the ladies present began to panic. Their gazes towards Mrs. Jiang were filled with unspoken resentment. If the Empress truly held them accountable for this matter, none of them would fare well.
Mrs. Jiang's expression was beyond description; it had already turned exceedingly grim.
Just then, the door to the private room was pushed open.
Immediately, a line of waiters filed in, placing tray after tray of pastries on the table.
The pastries from Xu Ji were renowned throughout the imperial city. Especially the ones now laid out, each one a signature item from Xu Ji. These small pastries alone cost one tael of silver each. Now, they were being brought in by the plateful. Some ladies from less affluent families felt their hearts ache with distress just looking at them.
"Who ordered this?" Mrs. Jiang called out in a panic. Her Jiang family had money, but with pressure from the elderly matriarch and the master at home, her monthly allowance was limited.
Ji Ziyun smiled at Mrs. Jiang, "It's just a few plates of pastries, and they can make Madam Jiang so flustered. I am truly curious, how did Madam Jiang have the heart to pave the way for the eldest daughter of the Ji family to enter the palace? Did Madam Jiang not consider that if the eldest daughter of the Ji family were to discard them once their purpose was served, what would happen?"
Mrs. Jiang: "..."
The ladies around them listened to these words and felt something was amiss.
For merchants like them, every cent was hard-earned. How could they spend it without thinking? Mrs. Jiang was neither foolish nor dull. If she had truly resigned herself to paving the way for the eldest daughter of the Ji family, why wouldn't she have had her son marry her beforehand?
After all, merchants never conducted losing businesses.
Moreover, when marrying a daughter-in-law, families hoped for a virtuous one. If she were truly finding a bride for her son, they would wish to keep the daughter-in-law confined to the inner court to honor her in-laws and care for her husband and children. How could they proactively send her out into the world?
Mrs. Jiang, bearing the weight of everyone's gaze, felt her head grow heavy, unable to lift it.
She had originally planned to elevate her son's status by stepping on Ji Zizhao. This way, she could also tarnish Ji Zizhao's reputation. Then, on the day Ji Zizhao married, she would have no choice but to obediently find the Jiang family and become a concubine.
But fantasies were always grand, while reality struck her chest with blow after blow.
"How dare you meddle in the affairs of my Jiang family! Who are you!" Mrs. Jiang glared at Ji Ziyun, her eyes spitting fire. If it weren't for her, everything should have gone smoothly today.
Ji Ziyun smiled faintly, "Ji Ziyun."
The third daughter of the Ji family?!
Everyone stared, dumbfounded.
If that were the case, then everything Mrs. Jiang had said was fabricated?
Mrs. Jiang's heart leaped, and she fell completely silent.
How, how could this be...
Ji Ziyun's smile remained, "Coincidentally, I have plenty of time today. If Madam Jiang still wishes to argue, I am ready to accompany you at any time."
Mrs. Jiang: "..."
She just wanted Ji Ziyun to leave quickly!
Looking at the silent Mrs. Jiang, the other ladies understood everything.
Some of the more hot-tempered ladies, after bowing to Ji Ziyun, directly stormed out of the room. Such a deceitful in-law, they could not afford to associate with.
Mrs. Jiang watched as the ladies in the room dwindled. Her heart spasmed severely. The imperial city was neither vast nor small. If this matter truly spread, how could her son ever find a wife!
Seeing that no one else was left in the private room, Mrs. Jiang quickly approached Ji Ziyun, "I was blinded by my own greed today. This matter has nothing to do with my Sheng'er. I implore the third daughter of the Ji family to show mercy, otherwise, my son's marriage will truly be ruined..."
This Mrs. Jiang, her face full of grievance and pitiable helplessness, no longer possessed any of her previous arrogance.
If it were in the past, when she was still in the Zhao family, Ji Ziyun might have truly forgiven Mrs. Jiang, because at that time, she was already accustomed to enduring and appeasing.
But now, Ji Ziyun felt no pity for Mrs. Jiang at all. "If I hadn't arrived in time today, it would likely be a completely different scene. I fear that by then, no matter how Jiading's reputation was tarnished, Madam Jiang would not have shown mercy to Jiading, would she?"
These words undoubtedly struck a chord with Mrs. Jiang.
"Do not do unto others what you would not have them do unto you. Madam Jiang is, after all, a merchant of the imperial city. You should understand this simple principle," Ji Ziyun slowly stood up, bowed with neither humility nor arrogance, and departed.
Mrs. Jiang stared at Ji Ziyun's retreating back, her eyes filled with venom. She hadn't expected that even after admitting her mistake, Ji Ziyun still wouldn't let her off. As expected, just like Ji Zizhao, they were both bitches who deserved a beating!
Shui Huan, who had been waiting by the entrance, saw her young lady emerge and quickly walked over to support her. "My lady, you were amazing. When those ladies came out, they thoroughly shamed Mrs. Jiang. The Jiang family's reputation is now completely ruined."
Ji Ziyun lowered her voice, "Have the other matters I entrusted to you been handled?"
"My lady, please rest assured. Your maid has already spent money to make arrangements with everyone at Xu Ji. Soon, today's events will spread throughout the city, and then it will be a dream for Mrs. Jiang to try and slander my eldest lady again." To foster good relations, Shui Huan had not only spent all the money her lady had given her in advance but had also used her own savings. However, she didn't mind; working for the eldest lady, she wouldn't flinch even if it meant sacrificing her own life.