The two elder madams glanced at the persistent crowd of commoners still lingering nearby, their faces a mixture of anger and anxiety.
The Third Elder Madam, possessing a temperament akin to the Third Elder Master’s, was quick to temper. She immediately fixed her gaze on Ji Zizhao, her tone accusatory, “You are, after all, the one in charge of the Ji family. How can you be so spineless!”
Seizing the opportunity, the Second Elder Madam chimed in, “Sister Zhao, it’s not for me, your grand-aunt, to say, but your outing today represents the Ji family’s reputation. If you remain silent like this, how will others view our Ji family in the future?”
“Just now, it was ‘us,’ but when it came to benefits, it became ‘we’.”
Even Yong Mei, hearing such shameless words, felt a surge of indignation.
However, Ji Zizhao considered their words with great seriousness. “My two grand-aunts speak with reason.”
Upon hearing this, the two elder madams’ hearts leaped with joy.
As long as they quickly followed Ji Zizhao into the palace, the commoners who had been harassing them daily would no longer dare to pester them. Otherwise, those commoners would simply dismiss them as boasting, continually using the Ji family’s name to prop themselves up.
Under the expectant gazes of the two elder madams, Ji Zizhao actually moved her feet. But instead of stepping forward, she took a step back.
The two elder madams were speechless.
“Since my two grand-aunts are so indignant, why don’t you two take the lead and resolve the matter?” If you can’t stand it, then find a solution yourself. Don’t just talk the talk, it’s rather tiresome.
The two elder madams first looked at the elegantly dressed young ladies and madams of official families standing ahead, then at the guards with swords at their waists standing before the palace gate. Were they expected to argue with the young ladies and madams of official families, or to confront the guards?
But whether arguing or fighting, they were no match for them!
Ji Zizhao stood coolly to the side, with an expression of detached indifference.
The Third Elder Madam, looking at Ji Zizhao’s nonchalant demeanor, felt her chest constrict with anger.
The Second Elder Madam quickly tugged at the Third Elder Madam’s sleeve, “Let’s endure it for now. It will be fine once we are inside the palace.”
Just then, a madam familiar to the Third Elder Madam walked over with her daughter.
The Third Elder Madam seized the opportunity to strike up a conversation with the madam, her words laced with sarcasm and disdain towards Ji Zizhao, “Oh my, Madam Sun, how can our Ji family compare to the Sun family? The Ji family is not what it used to be. My elder sister-in-law is also muddled, and she’s appointed someone so incompetent to hold the authority seal. Now it’s truly dire; not only do I have to humble myself, but we are all dragged down and unable to hold our heads high.”
The Third Elder Madam’s words drew the attention of other young ladies and madams from official families in the vicinity.
Those who already had no acquaintance with Ji Zizhao now stood aside, all the more eager to watch the spectacle.
What Ji family’s person in charge? She was nothing but a joke. Even her own family was undermining her. If it were them, they would have long since burst into tears and fled home, never to stand here and be humiliated further.
Yong Mei, unable to bear it any longer, moved to argue. These two elder madams were truly going too far.
However, Ji Zizhao said coldly, “If you go, don’t come back.”
“But, Miss…”
“Knowing you are dealing with shrewish women, you still want to engage in verbal sparring. Knowing you are dealing with brutes, you still wish to reason with them. In the end, people won’t mock the shrew or the brute, but will scorn you for being no different from them, wallowing in the same mire.”
While Lian Ju could understand these words, Yong Mei was completely bewildered.
In Yong Mei’s opinion, their young lady was simply incompetent. To put it bluntly, she could only rely on the Fifth Prince’s deep affection for her. When facing others, she completely lost her fiery spirit.
The scene at the palace gate attracted the attention of palace personnel.
An eunuch, clad in a dark blue brocade robe, approached accompanied by several young eunuchs. “How dare you make such a commotion outside the palace gates?”
Most eunuchs held very low status within the palace. However, as this eunuch approached from afar, even the captain of the guards at the palace gate bowed and smiled obsequiously.
“Great Eunuch Qi, you are unaware, but the Ji family members were making quite a disturbance,” the guard captain whispered.
The young ladies and madams of official families who were queuing at the gate, even if reluctant to enter the palace, revealed expressions of respect and fawning as soon as they saw the blue-capped hat on the eunuch’s head.
While the status of eunuchs within the palace was low, not all of them were.
Take Great Eunuch Qi here, for example. He served personally by the Emperor’s side. In terms of official rank alone, he held an not-to-be-underestimated third-rank title.
Only the Grand Eunuch of the Inner Court, wearing a red-capped hat, ranked above him.
Such a person commanded respect from even the imperial consorts within the palace.
Upon hearing it was the Ji family, Eunuch Qi couldn’t help but glance curiously towards the outside of the palace gate. When he spotted that solitary, slender figure, he couldn’t help but freeze.
Then…
Under the gaze of countless eyes, Eunuch Qi, with his entourage, strode out of the palace gate.
The two elder madams, startled, quickly tugged at the Third Elder Madam’s sleeve, “Hurry and shut your mouth.”
The Third Elder Madam, seeing the Great Eunuch heading straight for them, also broke out in a cold sweat. She hadn’t said much, had she? How did she manage to attract the Great Eunuch?
Overwhelmed by fear, seeing Eunuch Qi indeed approaching, the Third Elder Madam felt her legs weaken. She lost her footing and collapsed onto the ground.
The young ladies and madams of official families around them looked even more curiously towards the rear.
They couldn’t fathom what the people within the palace were thinking, to have sent an invitation to such a family. And now, before even entering the palace, they were being reprimanded by a Great Eunuch. They would likely never dare to show their faces in public again.
“Eldest Daughter of the Ji family?”
Under the countless pairs of eyes at the palace gate, Great Eunuch Qi called out first.
Ji Zizhao inclined her head slightly.
Great Eunuch Qi immediately beamed, “Your servant was initially wondering how to find the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family amongst so many people. I didn’t expect to spot her at a glance. But then again, with the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family’s appearance, it would be difficult not to notice her.”
The two elder madams were speechless.
The crowd was also speechless.
Looking at the beaming smile on Great Eunuch Qi’s face, it felt as if they were dreaming.
Ji Zizhao smiled faintly, showing proper courtesy. “You jest, Eunuch.”
Hearing this, Great Eunuch Qi truly turned to scan the crowd. However, he sincerely believed that the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family was the most beautiful.
But none of that mattered now. What was important was to escort her safely inside. “Please, Eldest Daughter of the Ji family, accompany your servant inside.”
As Eunuch Qi spoke, he led the way.
The young eunuchs following behind were observant and cleverly surrounded Ji Zizhao, clearing a path for her.