Everyone present listened to these words, filled with both surprise and jealousy.
In Yulin, scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants were ranked in that order, with merchants at the very bottom. Even wealthy merchants held little status. Yet, judging by Madam Jiang's words, the Jiang family seemed to have considerable influence. Otherwise, how could they have arranged for Ji Zizhao of the Ji family to enter the palace for service?
"I was curious back then, how could such a young girl get into the palace so easily? So that's how it was."
"I suspect Madam Jiang must have put in a great deal of effort to help the eldest daughter of the Ji family. Otherwise, how could the eldest daughter of the Ji family be doing so well in the palace now?"
"I heard Her Majesty the Empress values her highly, and I never expected that just as the eldest daughter of the Ji family was starting to do well in the palace, she would repay kindness with ingratitude. It's truly a case of knowing a person's face but not their heart!"
In the private room, the ladies present all spoke up on behalf of the Jiang family, yet in their hearts, they were all looking for an opportunity to curry favor with Madam Jiang.
Considering Ji Zizhao's current progress in the palace, which of these ladies wasn't envious?
Even if they didn't expect the Jiang family to help their daughters enter the palace, if the Jiang family truly possessed such power, their daughters marrying into the Jiang family would be like soaring to the heavens!
"What happened in the past is in the past. My Sheng'er also said that there's no need to dwell on past events. Moreover, if the eldest daughter of the Ji family is doing well in the palace, it's due to her own abilities," Madam Jiang said, pretending to be sad as she dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief.
While she put on an act of magnanimity and kindness, she was inwardly sneering fiercely. Since that Ji Zizhao dared to reject her son, she wouldn't be blamed for being ruthless.
The private room of Xu Ji was not soundproof, and the voices from upstairs had already attracted the attention of the entire tea house.
When Ji Ziyun entered, she happened to overhear everyone in the tea house discussing her elder sister, Ji Zizhao, in such terms.
Ji Ziyun's face turned pale with anger.
A young lady's reputation was incredibly precious. How dare Madam Jiang do such a thing!
Her thoughts raced. She quietly instructed Shui Huan a few words and then strode towards the private room upstairs. Following the sound of Madam Jiang's voice, she reached out and pushed open the door to the room.
"Bang—!"
Everyone in the room turned to look at Ji Ziyun.
Seeing Ji Ziyun's delicate face and youthful appearance, everyone was startled. Could it be that the eldest daughter of the Ji family had heard the commotion and rushed over?
"I wonder which young lady this is, to boldly come forward and introduce herself without an elder accompanying her. Our Jiang family is a prominent household that highly values etiquette and upbringing. If this young lady has no elder with her, please forgive us, but the Jiang family has no time to entertain you." Madam Jiang scrutinized Ji Ziyun with disdain. Having already heard from her son that Ji Zizhao was accompanying him to the imperial residence, she certainly wasn't afraid and didn't believe Ji Zizhao would appear at this time.
The other ladies gradually regained their senses upon hearing this, and their gazes towards Ji Ziyun also took on a hint of contempt.
A person who comes for a marriage proposal without an elder accompanying her, how noble could her status be?
Ji Ziyun had no intention of leaving after coming today. Under everyone's gaze, she stepped into the room and looked at Madam Jiang, retorting, "Since Madam Jiang is here to arrange a marriage proposal for your son, you have invited all willing individuals from the imperial city. Yet, Madam Jiang neither inquires my name nor my purpose for being here, and immediately asks me to leave. I am curious, is this the upbringing of the Jiang family?"
Everyone in the room was taken aback by these words. Seeing how young Ji Ziyun was, they were surprised she dared to speak so boldly.
Madam Jiang's face darkened. "Since it is a marriage proposal, there should be an elder accompanying you. This young lady does not even understand basic etiquette, so how is she qualified to enter my Jiang family's doors?"
Ji Ziyun let out a cold laugh. "Which ear of Madam Jiang heard that I wanted to enter the Jiang family's doors? Could it be that you've told so many lies that you've deceived yourself into hallucinating!"
Those words were truly cutting.
They directly turned Madam Jiang's face the color of a pig's liver.
"If you are not here for a marriage proposal, why are you here before me? To put it plainly, you were rejected by me and cannot back down, so you are here spewing nonsense!" It had been almost two hours since the marriage proposal began. Madam Jiang had only heard words of flattery. Now, being struck down to the bottom by Ji Ziyun, she felt a throbbing headache.
Unfortunately, hitting Madam Jiang was not Ji Ziyun's goal.
Her goal was to strike her dead!
"I am just curious about one thing. Madam Jiang is so adept at lying, without blushing or her heart skipping a beat. It's truly admirable. If you truly have a secret method, I am willing to pay a high price to implore the eldest madam of the Jiang family to impart it to me. In the future, when I encounter disobedient children in other families, I can use it to fool them into obedience."
Everyone, "..."
How could it be that even they seemed to have been insulted?
Madam Jiang was so angry her chest ached. Where did this shrew come from, to be so sharp-tongued!
Under everyone's gaze, Ji Ziyun calmly took a seat on a round stool, looked at Madam Jiang, whose eyes were bulging with anger, and lightly chuckled, smoothing her skirt.
Is this considered sharp-tongued?
Then you truly have no foresight.
If her elder sister were sitting here today, Madam Jiang would likely have been so angry that she would have fainted by now.
"If I recall correctly, the eldest daughter of the Ji family entered the palace for official service after failing the imperial examination three times with a group of candidates."
"If it weren't for my Jiang family spending money to pave the way and pull strings, how could that Ji Zizhao have passed the examination?"
"If her connections were truly strong, why would she need to take the examination repeatedly? From this perspective, the Jiang family is also nothing special."
"Everyone in the imperial city knows that Ji Zizhao of the Ji family is an absolute good-for-nothing! If it weren't for my Jiang family, what would Ji Zizhao amount to!"
Madam Jiang spoke with righteous indignation. In any case, there was no way to verify matters within the palace, and she did not believe that this young girl in front of her possessed any significant abilities.
Ji Ziyun's heart burned with anger as she listened to Madam Jiang's curses against her elder sister, but the smile on her lips grew colder. "Madam Jiang, you slander the eldest daughter of the Ji family so brazenly. Have you asked the Zhong family for their opinion?"
Madam Jiang was stunned, then gave a mocking laugh. "You can't even distinguish between the Ji family and the Zhong family, yet you try to stand up for a good-for-nothing. In my opinion, this young lady should hurry and see a doctor to have her head examined."
The ladies around also began to titter.
Ji Ziyun also smiled, her smile brighter than anyone else's. "You don't even know that the Zhong family has recognized the eldest daughter of the Ji family as their adopted granddaughter, yet you dare to speak nonsense here. Madam Jiang truly doesn't value her own life!"
This statement instantly froze the smiling lips of the ladies who were still chuckling. Even Madam Jiang's eyes widened in surprise.