Ji Zizhao turned her gaze sideways at the sound, spotting Jin Xueyan, the daughter of Ji Ruyun, seated in another carriage. Jin Xueyan was also looking at her through the carriage window, her gaze filled with provocation.
Ji Zizhao didn't have a strong impression of this Jin Xueyan.
Or rather, she hadn't even bothered to pay attention to Ji Ruyun, let alone Jin Xueyan, who was younger.
Jin Xueyan frowned, looking at Ji Zizhao, her disgust evident.
She was indeed a daughter of the Xuanping Marquis’s manor, but the manor prioritized sons over daughters, and she wasn't highly favored. Fortunately, she used to have the Ji family to rely on. However, now the person in charge of the Ji family had become a good-for-nothing, and she, by extension, couldn't hold her head up.
To put it bluntly, it was all this good-for-nothing's fault!
"A good-for-nothing dares to take charge of the Ji family, Ji Zizhao, you are truly shameless! Mud is mud, no matter how you plaster it, it's destined to fall off the wall!" Jin Xueyan sneered, her voice laced with biting sarcasm.
Ji Zizhao's gaze was calm. She hadn't expected Jin Xueyan to harbor such animosity towards her.
However, it was good timing. She could use Jin Xueyan to test the Zhao family's attitude.
Seeing Ji Zizhao's silence, Jin Xueyan pressed her advantage against what she perceived as a soft target. "I heard the Fifth Prince is eagerly waiting for you to marry him. Although the entire capital now knows you've been demoted to a side consort, with your abilities, even side consort might be too generous. If you had any sense, you'd marry him quickly before the Fifth Prince changes his mind. Don't be foolish and drag the entire Ji family down with you. The men of the Ji family who have passed on would surely rise from their coffins in anger!"
Qing Zhu's eyes turned cold, her fingers gripping the hilt of her sword until her fingertips turned white.
Ji Zizhao, lost in her calculations, did not get angry. "My affairs don't require Xueyan cousin's worry. Instead... if Xueyan cousin delays any further, you might miss the time for the Zhao family's birthday banquet. Isn't Xueyan cousin almost of age next year? I heard you haven't been engaged yet."
Her words, neither soft nor hard, struck Jin Xueyan right in the heart.
The Xuanping Marquis's manor had always had a good relationship with Grand Tutor Zhao's residence. Ji Ruyun and Madam Zhao were sworn sisters.
Jin Xueyan was able to attend the birthday celebration today entirely because her mother wanted her to seize the opportunity to socialize more.
Everyone of importance in the capital was at the Zhao residence today. If she could catch the eye of a young master, that would be wonderful.
However, leaving now made Jin Xueyan reluctant. Seeing Ji Zizhao made her furious.
Ji Zizhao, however, first instructed Qing Zhu, "We will follow behind Xueyan cousin. We must not steal Xueyan cousin's spotlight. Also... Qing Zhu, remove our carriage's plaque and hang it on Xueyan cousin's carriage. Today, Xueyan cousin is looking for a future husband, and our Ji family should support her."
Qing Zhu suppressed her anger and, following Ji Zizhao's instructions, removed the carriage plaque.
When the Ji family's plaque was hung on her carriage, Jin Xueyan felt incredibly proud.
She was merely a daughter of the Xuanping Marquis's manor. The plaque she carried didn't carry as much weight as the plaque of the person in charge of the Ji family.
"Elder Sister Zhao, you must keep close behind my carriage," Jin Xueyan said, a smirk playing on her lips. She lowered the carriage curtain, signaling the servant to continue driving, feeling an unspeakable joy and pride.
Indeed, a good-for-nothing was just a good-for-nothing. A little scare and she handed over the plaque.
The thought of arriving at the Zhao residence and everyone's astonished gazes as she alighted from the carriage bearing the Ji family's person-in-charge's plaque made Jin Xueyan chuckle secretly.
At this moment, Jin Xueyan had no idea that from the moment the Ji family's plaque was hung on her carriage, she had been completely sold out by Ji Zizhao, down to the last bone.
News of the Ji family's person-in-charge's arrival had reached the Zhao residence a quarter of an hour ago.
Madam Zhao sat in the main hall, her expression grim, especially when she heard the word "Ji family." She tightened her grip on her handkerchief.
"Have the second and third concubines take people to wait at the manor gates," Madam Zhao instructed her head maid, Sun Momo.
Sun Momo bowed and left the main hall.
Zhao Xiuying, the second daughter of the Zhao family, frowned. "The person in charge of the Ji family is here to congratulate Father on his birthday. If Mother sends some concubines to put pressure on the Ji family, aren't you afraid of displeasing them?"
Madam Zhao snorted disdainfully. "A mere good-for-nothing. Even if they sprout feathers, they still can't be a peacock."
The more incompetent a person was, the more they needed to be intimidated into obedience.
Thinking of the half-dead person lying in the back courtyard, Madam Zhao's mind was in a turmoil. "Where is your brother? I haven't seen him at all."
Zhao Xiuying's face flushed inexplicably. "The distinguished guests have already arrived. Brother must be personally accompanying them."
Madam Zhao knew her daughter's thoughts but didn't reveal them. "You should also hurry to the back courtyard. The young ladies visiting today are all prominent figures in the capital. You must not neglect them."
Zhao Xiuying nodded and took her leave.
Madam Zhao watched from the courtyard as the two concubines, along with Sun Momo, headed towards the main entrance. She then called over the maidservant by her side. "Has everything been prepared?"
"Madam, please rest assured. Zi Qiao has already made all the arrangements."
Madam Zhao took a deep breath and silently looked in the direction of the entrance.
Today's matter absolutely could not fail!
At the Zhao residence's entrance, guests were already numerous.
The two concubines of the Zhao family were not daughters of reputable families. Their attire was heavily made-up and ostentatious. As soon as they stood at the manor entrance, they attracted the attention of many guests.
However, the two Zhao concubines ignored everyone else, their eyes fixed on the direction of the street. When the carriage bearing the Ji family's plaque came into view, the two exchanged a knowing smile.
"I never imagined that someone who is the subject of gossip in the capital would dare to be so ostentatious. Are they so thick-skinned that they don't care, or do they simply not know how embarrassing they are?"
"To me, they are simply shameless. Otherwise, why would they dare to take on everything? To be frank, they only got this position because they were the tallest among the short ones."
The two Zhao concubines circled the carriage with the Ji family's plaque.
"It's not scary to be shameless, but it's scary to not know your own worth. If it were me, I would have found a hole to hide in. Unlike them, whose skin is as thick as a city wall, they can still sit comfortably in the carriage at this hour."
"In such hot weather, aren't they afraid of heatstroke? They should get out of the carriage quickly. If they get heatstroke and start vomiting, won't it be even more embarrassing?"
Inside the carriage, Jin Xueyan was stunned by the insults.
Why were they being cursed from the moment they arrived?
Had the Zhao family gone mad?!