Song Momo paid no mind to Madam Xu's gaze. She had been sent by the Fifth Prince, but now that she was serving Ji Renran, she ought to help Ji Renran with strategies.
For servants like them, their own fortunes were tied to their masters' success.
While the Old Madam feared Ji Zizhao, it didn't mean she would be entirely suppressed by Ji Zizhao forever.
Even a cornered rabbit would bite, let alone a usually arrogant Old Madam.
Her grip on the prayer beads tightened, the string nearing its breaking point, ready to scatter.
Suddenly, Ji Zizhao smiled, "Song Momo speaks the truth. It is I, your granddaughter, who should beg for forgiveness, for it was I who delayed.
Song Momo hadn't expected Ji Zizhao to admit fault so quickly. She snorted, "The eldest young lady now knows her mistakes."
Ji Zizhao took Song Momo's words with a smile and turned to the Old Madam, "Your granddaughter was fortunate enough to obtain two lingzhi mushrooms today. Lingzhi is sweet, mild, and enters the heart, spleen, kidney, and lung meridians. It can calm the heart and spirit, and nourish the liver and strengthen the spleen. Since it is a gift for Grandmother, it must be the best. Your granddaughter needed to discern it carefully before daring to present it to you."
As Ji Zizhao finished speaking, Madam He entered with a lingzhi box.
The moment Ji Zizhao opened the lid, everyone in the room gasped.
Within the crimson silk box lay a blackish-brown lingzhi. It was large and beautiful, its flesh thick and lustrous. Even without any candles lit in the room, a faint glow emanated from it.
No one in the room was a physician, but they could all recognize a good item.
Ji Zizhao saw the box being presented to her grandmother and said, "In a few days, I will write a prescription and have someone prepare this lingzhi for Grandmother's medicine. It will surely improve your complexion day by day."
The Old Madam looked at the lingzhi before her in surprise, "For me?"
Ji Zizhao smiled, "Grandmother is often troubled by household matters. It is only right for your granddaughter to show filial piety."
The Old Madam's somber expression gradually cleared like the sky after rain. She quickly instructed Madam Xu to take the lingzhi, and even bent slightly to hold Ji Zizhao's hand, "Good child, rise. I know you work hard in the palace every day. It is the people in the household who are impatient."
Song Momo stood stiffly to the side, her mind filled with grievances but unable to voice them.
The eldest young lady had silenced the Old Madam with a lingzhi. Even if she sold herself, she couldn't compare!
Ji Zizhao smiled and took another box from Madam He, "This lingzhi is not as exceptional as Grandmother's, but it is still of superior quality. Madam Xu, you take care of Grandmother all day with both merit and hardship. No matter how close others are to Grandmother, none can compare to how meticulously Madam Xu cares for her."
Madam Xu was stunned.
Even she received a share?
The Old Madam's smile was so wide her mouth couldn't close. She looked at Madam Xu and said, "Are you not going to accept it quickly?"
Madam Xu was her dowry. For Sister Zhao to value it so much naturally brought her face.
Madam Xu quickly accepted the box, her knees bending, her voice trembling, "This old servant thanks the eldest young lady for her thoughtfulness."
Today, Miss Renran had sent Song Momo to convey a message to the eldest young lady in Madam Xu's stead. She had been worried that the eldest young lady might hold a grudge, as it seemed Miss Renran was not bringing good news.
Unexpectedly, the eldest young lady had actually shown her such favor.
Song Momo looked at the box in Madam Xu's hands, her old face twitching with anger.
The message was from her, and she had personally gone to the eldest young lady's side. Yet, after waiting for half an hour, she hadn't seen anyone, and now Madam Xu was holding a lingzhi...
How else could this be considered a slap in the face!
The madams of each household looked at the scene and breathed a sigh of relief.
Sister Zhao truly had a way with words, always finding means to charm the Old Madam.
As for that Song Momo...
As long as the Old Madam was happy, who cared about her fate?
Gu Peilan watched the glib and adaptable Ji Zizhao, her heart churning.
Couldn't someone just sew Ji Zizhao's mouth shut!
Ji Renran's clenched fingers grew cold, she dared not even look at Song Momo.
It was her suggestion that Song Momo replace Madam Xu to find Ji Zizhao. She had intended to put Ji Zizhao in her place, but it had turned out like this.
The Old Madam was truly happy, her smile never ceasing. Only after Ji Zizhao sat down did she speak again, "I sent for you today because of your sister's matter."
Ji Zizhao glanced at Ji Renran with a subtle hint of a look, "So it's about my sister Renran's affairs."
Ji Renran: "..."
Would it kill her to just acknowledge they were sisters!
The Old Madam was overjoyed and had no time to dwell on Ji Zizhao's literal interpretation. She paused and then said, "Sister Zhao, I imagine you've heard about matters in the palace."
This statement carried a certain weight.
Ji Zizhao glanced at Ji Renran and then at Gu Peilan.
She couldn't claim to know nothing about palace affairs, but she could say she was fully aware.
However, if the grandmother had truly heard about the palace matters, she likely wouldn't be smiling.
After all, the grandmother had such high expectations for Ji Renran.
Yet, listening to the grandmother's words, it seemed she knew something.
"Grandmother, you may not know, but although your granddaughter serves in the palace, the Imperial Hospital is not located within the palace grounds. Furthermore, the palace is extremely tight-lipped with information, and your granddaughter would not dare to inquire further without permission," Ji Zizhao wisely chose not to reveal the truth first.
If Ji Renran and Gu Peilan hadn't told the grandmother the truth, but she had, wouldn't that be like inviting Ji Renran to accuse her of framing her?
Ji Renran watched Ji Zizhao's composed demeanor, her heart tightening.
She had overheard Ji Zizhao speaking to Zuo Xiuhua outside the door that day.
If she thought about it carefully, there didn't seem to be anything amiss.
Perhaps Ji Zizhao had genuinely forgotten her medicine chest in her haste and had pulled Zuo Xiuhua back to retrieve it.
Who knew that the Fifth Prince would happen to stumble upon them.
Everything had happened too suddenly, and the Fifth Prince was adamant that he had been framed.
Ji Renran certainly didn't believe Ji Zizhao had done it. They were around the same age; how could Ji Zizhao be so cunning.
Gu Peilan, not expecting Ji Zizhao to be completely unaware, asked with some disbelief, "Sister Zhao, aren't you working in the palace? Have you truly heard nothing at all?"
Ji Zizhao turned her head towards the sound and looked coolly at Gu Peilan, "The selection of imperial consorts by noble ladies entering the palace is a royal family affair. Who would dare to inquire further? Why does Madam Gu suspect me in this way?"
Gu Peilan: "..."
Why?
What else could it be for!
Naturally, it was because her daughter had met with misfortune in the palace!