Madame Ren and the Old Madame Ren, accompanied by household servants, slowly walked towards Zhaoyuan.
Along the way, every servant they encountered, upon seeing Ji Zizhao, would approach to bow and greet her, no matter the distance, respectfully calling out, "Eldest Young Lady."
Old Madame Ren had always thought the Ji family was merely a general's mansion run by a brute, its upbringing certainly not comparable to other wealthy families in the capital. Now, with the Ji family's collapse, the entire Ji household was being managed by a young girl. She imagined the chaos within.
However, looking at the orderly and courteously humble Ji family servants now, Old Madame Ren recalled the scene of her own servants blocking the Ji family gate and shouting belligerently just moments ago. Even though she herself had ordered and instructed them, her old face burned with shame.
Madame Ren, however, had no time to blush with her mother-in-law. Gazing at the unique scenery within the Ji family mansion, she was mesmerized and reluctant to leave.
They were unaware that while the men of the Ji family indeed dedicated all their efforts to military training, ever since Ji Zizhao came of age, all the renovations and landscaping of the Ji residence had been gradually implemented through Ji Zizhao's persuasion of her mother.
Today, the refinement within the Ji family mansion, though not possessing the grandeur of royalty, was still among the most exceptional in the capital.
Of course, the expenses were all meticulously planned by Ji Zizhao beforehand, and then the Ji family members were tasked with finding contractors for construction. To put it plainly, even the First Madame, Lin Wanyun, was kept in the dark.
Now, looking at Zhaoyuan, it was even more elegant and serene, with an understated power.
Madame Ren couldn't help but feel envious. Wasn't the Ji family supposed to be finished with a useless person in charge? How come it appeared to be more flourishing and comfortable than anyone else?
Old Nanny He disdained the two women from the Ren family, but since they were invited by her young lady, she could not let her young lady lose face. She led them into the main hall with neither subservience nor arrogance, then asked Shuiling to prepare a pot of tea. After that, she respectfully bowed to her young lady and waited in the courtyard.
In the main hall of Zhaoyuan, the aroma of tea filled the air.
Old Madame Ren and Madame Ren nervously picked up their teacups, trying to alleviate their inner unease. Upon looking down, their envy and jealousy intensified.
Huangshan Maofeng!
They even used such fine tea to entertain guests?
Old Madame Ren knew that the Ji family's Eldest Young Lady was indeed not as useless as rumored, but rather difficult to deal with. She coughed and said, "May I ask why the Ji family's Eldest Young Lady has summoned our family into her presence?"
Though anxious to save someone, she was unwilling to beg directly, this Old Madame Ren was indeed skilled at putting on airs.
However, Ji Zizhao had no intention of indulging her. "If Old Madame Ren truly does not know my intentions, then so be it. As the saying goes, it takes two hands to clap. I am very busy and have no time to waste on the ignorant. Old Nanny He, please see them out."
Ji Zizhao stood up, ready to leave.
Old Madame Ren: "..."
What a terrible temper!
Madame Ren quickly stepped forward, hastily blocking her way. "Eldest Young Lady Ji, please do not misunderstand. Our Ren family has always been upright. Therefore, we implore Eldest Young Lady Ji to state your purpose clearly, so that we may have peace of mind."
An upright family could raise such a traitorous person?
It was truly absurd.
Ji Zizhao stopped, her gaze calm and indifferent. "Ren Jun is destined to die."
Madame Ren trembled, unable to believe what she had heard.
Old Madame Ren stood up directly, her voice filled with anger. "How can a mere girl utter such arrogant words and curse my grandson!"
Ji Zizhao calmly raised her eyes, her placid face seeming to glint with biting cold light. "Since Madame Ren wishes for me to speak plainly, I shall tell you the truth. Ren Jun colluded with the Second Prince first! And then plotted against my Ji family with the Second Prince! For his own selfish gain, he watched my Ji family and hundreds of thousands of soldiers perish in a foreign land! If judged by military law, Ren Jun should have been dismembered a thousand times over! What difference is there between such an ungrateful wretch and a treacherous dog servant?"
Old Madame Ren's hands trembled with rage, and she gritted her teeth, saying, "My grandson was forcibly kept by your Ji family since he was young. For all these years..."
"For all these years, my grandfather spared no effort in teaching Ren Jun various skills! My father and uncles treated Ren Jun as family and doted on him! Your Ren family sent Ren Jun to the military camp and then neglected him, only thinking of him as a tool to bring glory to your Ren family! Of the clothes Ren Jun wears, which were not taken from the Ji family by my grandfather, father, or uncles?"
Ji Zizhao interrupted coldly, her gaze fixed directly on Old Madame Ren.
Although her Ji family did not pour in all its resources, they had indeed done their utmost. If Ren Jun had truly stayed by his grandfather's side wholeheartedly, how could he have been bewitched into siding with the Second Prince?
"To put it bluntly, if it weren't for your relentless pressure, expecting Ren Jun to bring glory to your family, Ren Jun would never have landed himself in prison today."
Without provocation, how could there be illness?
Madame Ren listened to Ji Zizhao's words blankly, then suddenly turned to glare furiously at her mother-in-law.
All the hardships and pain her son had endured in the army over the years had become ammunition for her mother-in-law to boast about. During the New Year, to gain face in front of her extended family branches, her mother-in-law had directly declared that Ren Jun would soon be promoted to Major General.
She remembered that her son had said at the time that it was wishful thinking to be promoted to Major General in peacetime. Yet, her mother-in-law ignored it, threatening her son that if he was not promoted to Major General by the New Year, he should never set foot in the Ren family door again.
Over the years, Madame Ren had grown accustomed to her mother-in-law's vanity and exploitation, but she never imagined it would become the death knell for her only son!
Facing her daughter-in-law's angry glare, Old Madame Ren's heart trembled violently.
This Eldest Young Lady Ji truly had remarkable skills. With just a few words, she had created a rift between her daughter-in-law and herself.
Old Madame Ren knew that if they continued to argue, the family's dirty secrets would likely be exposed by her daughter-in-law. Although unwilling to be outmaneuvered by a young girl, she could only soften her tone and say, "I have not come to the Ji family to discuss the reasons for my grandson's imprisonment. The facts are now established. I hope Eldest Young Lady Ji can guide us on how to save him."
Ji Zizhao coldly curled her lips. "Ren Jun assisted the Second Prince in framing the loyal Ji family, single-handedly caused the defeat at Luoyi, and led to the annihilation of hundreds of thousands of soldiers. Does Old Madame Ren think that no matter how benevolent the Emperor is, he would spare such a wicked person? Not only does our Ji family have no intention of helping, but even if we were to help, why would our Ji family risk our lives to save such an ungrateful wretch?"
Old Madame Ren: "..."
What happened to entering the Ji family's door and holding one's head high?
How was it that now she was even more humiliated, stripped bare to the bone!
Did this Eldest Young Lady Ji have knives growing in her mouth!
Madame Ren was terrified and burst into tears. "So, Eldest Young Lady Ji has no intention of saving my son?"
Ji Zizhao calmly picked up her teacup. "Madame Ren seems to have forgotten a very important point. Given the current situation, it is no longer a question of whether Ren Jun lives or dies, but whether the Ren family will be buried along with Ren Jun."