What did it mean?
It naturally meant to provoke you.
Ji Zizhao knew very well that Ji Renran had never truly believed she was ignorant of the events in the palace that day.
That was why she was causing such a stir, one incident after another.
Her aim was to insist that Ji Zizhao had framed her, and then use that as leverage to get the Yang family to pave the way for her.
Ji Renran eyed Ji Zizhao suspiciously, her heart in turmoil.
She had been restless these past few days, always feeling that Ji Zizhao must know something.
Otherwise, why would Ji Zizhao have said those words outside the door that day?
Now that the Fifth Prince showed no signs of activity, Ji Renran naturally felt anxious.
So, she could only try to find a breakthrough from Ji Zizhao. If Ji Zizhao really knew something and let it slip, that would be best.
This way, when the Yang family arrived, she would have a greater chance of making them serve her with all their might.
"My sister is dull-witted, and I don't quite understand what Elder Sister is saying." Ji Renran lowered her head, looking humble and eager to learn. She appeared quite obedient, yet there was an unspoken sense of brazenness about her, like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water.
Ji Zizhao could see that Ji Renran was indirectly provoking her.
"Since leaving the palace, Sister Renran has been very busy, sending invitations to my maternal family on your own accord, and visiting Grandmother every day. I thought Sister Renran had already made preparations to marry into the Fifth Prince's manor. It seems I misunderstood. If that is the case, Sister Renran should be more low-key. Otherwise, if you end up not marrying the Fifth Prince, how will you handle the aftermath?"
Ji Renran, who had been intently waiting for Ji Zizhao to make a mistake, almost choked to death on the spot.
Her face turned ashen, and it took Ji Renran a long while to say, "The portrait was left by Imperial Consort Xi herself. Elder Sister knows this. How can Elder Sister be so suspicious of me now?"
Ji Zizhao smiled and said, "Since Sister Renran is so sure, why should you care what I say?"
Ji Renran: "..."
So, in the end, it was she who was in the wrong?
Seeing that Ji Zizhao was not budging, Ji Renran could only grudgingly shut her mouth, fearing that if she continued to probe, she would end up trapping herself.
When Ji Renran stopped speaking, Ji Zizhao also fell silent.
If you don't speak, I won't speak.
If you speak, I will retort until you are silenced.
In any case, Ji Zizhao had no intention of indulging Ji Renran from the beginning.
Ji Renran was furious but could not show it. She could only clench her teeth. By the time she reached the main courtyard, her face had regained some of its usual composure.
This charade today was the result of a night's discussion between her and her mother.
She wanted to see if Ji Zizhao could still hold back.
The charcoal brazier in the main hall had already been lit, and the Old Madam was seated on the soft couch.
However, the wives from each branch were frozen through. Even though the temperature in the main hall was gradually increasing, they were still trembling violently.
As Ji Zizhao and Ji Renran entered, they saw Gu Peilan talking to the Old Madam. The Old Madam frowned slightly, and the faces of the wives from each branch clearly lacked smiles.
Gu Peilan heard the footsteps and hurried to Ji Zizhao's side, taking her arm. "Sister Zhao, you've arrived at the right time. I was just discussing with the Old Madam that after Renran marries the Fifth Prince, we will connect Renran's courtyard with Zongyou's courtyard. Zongyou cannot have children, but there are many daughters in the manor. Later, if we adopt a few for Zongyou, their courtyards will be too small to accommodate them."
The wives from each branch, whose limbs had been frozen stiff, felt their blood instantly flowing freely upon hearing this.
They were all enraged, how could they not feel warm?!
All the wives present were mothers themselves. Who didn't know that giving birth was like walking through the gates of hell?
Now, the remarried First Madam, with just a few words, wanted to snatch away their daughters' children. Was this something a decent person would do?
The Old Madam's expression was indifferent, as if it were none of her business.
After all, they were all children of the manor. If they were adopted, it would be even better, at least they would have the surname Ji instead of an outsider's surname.
Gu Peilan seemed oblivious to the murderous glares of the surrounding wives. She simply looked at Ji Zizhao and smiled, "I originally wanted to find Sister Zhao to discuss this yesterday, but Sister Zhao declined. This matter is indeed important, so I thought I would call everyone here today to discuss it. What do you think, Sister Zhao?"
Not only was she acting wickedly herself, but she also intended to drag Ji Zizhao down with her.
These words clearly told the other wives that the reason they had suffered from the cold this morning was all Ji Zizhao's fault.
Seeing the wives from each branch heaving with emotion, a hint of a smile already bloomed in Ji Renran's eyes.
Ji Zizhao had always doted on the other younger sisters in the manor, so how could she stand by and watch their children be snatched away?
At this point, no matter how deep Ji Zizhao's composure, she would have to lose her temper.
"I actually think the remarried First Madam is right. Brother Zongyou is, after all, the only male heir of our family. It is not good for him to be without children. It is thoughtful of the remarried First Madam to consider this. I was negligent." Ji Zizhao not only did not pull away from Gu Peilan's hand but even actively held Gu Peilan's arm.
Gu Peilan: "..."
Why did she want to push her away so badly?
Ji Renran was also stunned.
Ji Zizhao actually agreed?
How could Ji Zizhao agree!
Of course, Ji Zizhao agreed, because it was simply impossible to implement.
Gu Peilan was causing trouble now entirely because she was relying on Ji Renran becoming the Fifth Prince's consort.
But as far as Ji Zizhao knew, Ji Renran becoming the Fifth Prince's consort was entirely impossible.
Once the lie was exposed, everything Gu Peilan was saying now would become impossible and empty talk.
Since it was empty talk, why should Ji Zizhao waste her breath arguing?
Yu Fenglan and Yin Wenying, upon hearing this, clearly became restless, feeling that Sister Zhao had gone mad.
Xiao Jingshu, always calm, shook her head at her two sisters-in-law, signaling them not to act rashly.
Since Sister Zhao said so, there must be a reason.
Yu Fenglan and Yin Wenying thought carefully and calmed down.
Yes, they had experienced so much with Sister Zhao; what else could they not trust her with?
Ji Zizhao, seeing her aunts remain silent out of the corner of her eye, knew they had believed her. Her heart was filled with emotion, but she smiled and continued, "There are quite a few sisters in the manor. Even if we adopt one child each in the future, that would be four children. Simply connecting Sister Renran's courtyard is not enough. I say we should continue to expand towards the east, so there will be enough space."
This time, it was Ji Renran and Yu Fenglan who thought Ji Zizhao had gone mad.
Otherwise, why was she talking nonsense in broad daylight?
The Old Madam frowned upon hearing that the expansion would continue eastward.
The east was in the direction of her courtyard.
Given her current relationship with Ji Zongyou, the Old Madam was somewhat displeased with Ji Zongyou's courtyard being adjacent to the main courtyard.
But before the Old Madam could speak, a servant from the gate rushed into the courtyard.
"Old Madam, someone has arrived from the palace! They say it's an imperial decree from His Majesty, specifically instructing the remarried First Madam and Miss Renran to come out and receive the decree!"
In the main hall, everyone was stunned.
Only Ji Zizhao curved her lips, revealing a faint smile.
She hadn't expected the news to arrive so coincidentally.
This could truly be considered striking while the iron was hot.