Ji Renran, watching Ji Zizhao with a look of victory, wanted to grind her teeth to powder.
She knew she should have refused Ji Zizhao outright.
Even more so, she should have watched Ji Zizhao leave in disappointment with smug satisfaction.
But reason told her that Ji Zizhao was right. Her mother's finances were tight, and her grandmother was utterly disappointed in her. If she missed this opportunity, she would truly marry with nothing.
But to agree to Ji Zizhao like this, how could Ji Renran swallow this bitter pill?
Seeing Ji Zizhao already standing up, Ji Renran gritted her teeth and said, "If Father knew in the netherworld, would he be sad and disappointed to see Eldest Sister's cold and heartless demeanor today?"
Ji Zizhao's steps paused, but she did not turn back. "If Father truly cared about Sister Renran, why would Sister Renran have to wait until after Father's passing to enter the family?"
Ji Renran: "..."
She really wanted to sew Ji Zizhao's mouth shut!
Listening to the sound of Ji Zizhao's departing footsteps, Ji Renran wearily closed her eyes again.
If Ji Zizhao hadn't spoken those words in the main hall today, Ji Renran could have comforted herself by saying she was just unlucky.
But now, Ji Renran had no chance to struggle.
Because Ji Zizhao had clearly told her that her current predicament was because she had lost.
Or rather, not just her, but even Noble Consort Xi and the Fifth Prince had lost to Ji Zizhao.
Otherwise, Ji Zizhao would be the one in the most miserable state now, not her!
Slowly opening her eyes, Ji Renran looked towards the window lattice not far away, her eyes filled with hatred and unwillingness.
Fortunately, even though she had lost, she had still married the Fifth Prince.
But look at Ji Zizhao, she was still just an abandoned woman with the title of divorced.
Thinking this, Ji Renran's heart felt a little better.
Because she knew that as long as she held onto the Fifth Prince, there would come a day when she could trample on Ji Zizhao.
Slowly, Ji Renran's gaze swept across the room, finally settling on the bed curtains hanging beside her.
Half an hour later, Gu Peilan, who was still fanning the flames in the main courtyard, heard the news that her daughter had hanged herself.
Gu Peilan was so startled when she heard the news that she couldn't move. After a long while, she rushed to Ji Renran's courtyard with Madam Song.
In the room, Ji Renran lay weakly on the bed, a clear red bruise visible on her fair neck.
"Old Madam is almost unable to hold on and will have to agree. Why are you causing trouble at this time?" Gu Peilan, still preoccupied with Ji Zongyou, had no intention of sitting down.
Ji Renran looked at her mother's blatant favoritism, and the last shred of guilt in her heart completely vanished.
"I know I've disgraced Mother, and I have no face to live in this world anymore..."
Gu Peilan looked at her weeping daughter. While she felt some pity, it was mostly blame. "What's the use of knowing you were wrong now? If you were the principal consort of the Fifth Prince, not just his concubine, do you think Old Madam would dare to treat your brother like this?"
Ji Renran's heart was cold, but her face was pitifully tearful. "I know it's all my fault, I was bad, and I've implicated Mother and Brother..."
"What's the use of knowing now? I told you long ago to maintain a good relationship with the Fifth Prince, even having a closer relationship beforehand was acceptable. As long as the deed is done, the Fifth Prince will naturally remember you, but you insisted on not listening to me..."
Gu Peilan was filled with anger whenever she thought of her daughter's actions. If she had listened to her back then, where would all these troubles be?
Gu Peilan paused, about to say more, when Madam Song suddenly entered.
Seeing Madam Song's hesitant expression, Gu Peilan eyed her suspiciously.
Ji Renran looked at Madam Song and said, "Mother is not an outsider. Madam Song, just say what you have to say."
Madam Song nodded and said, "Just now, the Fifth Prince sent someone with a message, asking Miss Renran not to overthink things. The matter of status is set by the Emperor, and the Fifth Prince has no power to change it. But the Fifth Prince said that as long as Miss Renran marries him, he will never let her suffer."
"Did the Fifth Prince really say that?" Before Ji Renran could speak, Gu Peilan asked anxiously.
Madam Song retorted to Gu Peilan, "I am a person by the Fifth Prince's side. Does the remarried First Madam not even trust me?"
Gu Peilan quickly smiled and said, "Of course, I trust you. Madam Song, you must have worked hard to deliver this message. Please, sit down and rest."
Ji Renran looked at her mother, who just moments ago was complaining to her, but now was fawning over Madam Song. Her hands, hidden beneath the quilt, clenched tightly.
Gu Peilan, unaware of Ji Renran's change, turned to her again. "It seems the Fifth Prince still cares about you. That's for the best. I'll go to the main courtyard now and tell Old Madam about this. Let's see if Old Madam dares to chase your brother away."
"Mother, this matter cannot be made public," Ji Renran quickly grabbed Gu Peilan's hand.
Gu Peilan was stunned.
Ji Renran paused and then continued, "No matter how much the Fifth Prince cares about me, there is still a principal consort above me. If Mother uses the Fifth Prince's name to cause trouble again, it might trouble him."
Gu Peilan frowned upon hearing this. "Are we just going to let your brother be swept out of the Ji family?"
"It's not impossible for Brother to leave the Ji family for now. Then I can blame Ji Zizhao. After I marry, I will have the Fifth Prince step in. At that time, not only will Brother be able to return to the Ji family, but Mother will also have dignity."
"But your brother..."
"Mother, we must consider the bigger picture. Once we have the Fifth Prince's support in the future, Mother will no longer have to live under the watchful eyes of others in this manor. Both Ji Zizhao and Grandmother will have to show Mother respect. Even for the sake of the future, it's worth letting Brother move out now."
Ji Renran understood her mother. As long as it involved profit, her mother would hesitate.
As expected, the firmness in Gu Peilan's eyes began to waver.
Seeing this, Ji Renran added, "Mother, don't worry. When I marry into the Fifth Prince's manor and prosper, I will certainly not let Mother and Brother live a hard life."
Ji Renran spoke with great conviction, yet Gu Peilan still felt conflicted.
But when she thought of how she could hold her head high in front of that little vixen Ji Zizhao in the future, Gu Peilan couldn't help but be tempted.
Besides, they hadn't lived outside the manor before. The courtyard they used to live in was still there.
And wasn't it not just her son moving out now, but Zou Siyan too?
The Zou family certainly wouldn't let their daughter suffer. In that case, her son wouldn't have to worry about food and drink.
Thinking this, Gu Peilan finally nodded. "Let's do it this way."
Gu Peilan figured that her son would need many things to prepare for moving out. After comforting Ji Renran a few more times, she left.
Madam Song waited until Gu Peilan had left the courtyard before saying softly, "Miss Renran, is it really okay to deceive the remarried First Madam like this? If..."
Ji Renran directly interrupted with a cold face. "Madam Song, you should understand that only when I am well can you be well."
Ji Zizhao had not uttered a single vulgar word the entire day, yet every word had ground her into the dirt.
Just thinking about the scene just now made her want to vomit.
Ji Renran wanted to know that to repay this humiliation to Ji Zizhao, she had to become stronger.
Therefore...
Right now, she was living only for herself.