Jian Qiu acted swiftly. In less than an hour, she arrived with a retinue of workers.
The Old Madam, who had just settled back into her main courtyard, felt a moment of relief before noticing the crowd. Upon inquiry, she learned that Jian Qiu was acting on Ji Zizhao's orders to begin expanding Ji Zongyou's courtyard.
If Ji Renran had truly become the Fifth Prince's consort, the Old Madam might have accepted the expansion of Ji Zongyou's courtyard. But now, with Ji Renran merely an unfavored concubine, how could the Old Madam possibly agree?
The recent commotion from Ji Zongyou's courtyard had reached her ears repeatedly. Hearing about it from others was bad enough, but the thought of Ji Zongyou extending his courtyard right up to her own, forcing her to endure his daily curses, made the Old Madam sleepless.
However, she had initially agreed to Ji Zongyou's request for expansion. To renege now...
The Old Madam refused to be accused of going back on her word by her juniors.
After much deliberation, the Old Madam decided to take drastic action: she ordered Ji Zongyou to leave and establish his own household.
"The Old Madam's idea is excellent. Young Master Zongyou is already married and established; it is indeed fitting for him to start his own household to truly embody the spirit of a Ji family man. My lady naturally respects the Old Madam's decision. However, one wonders about Young Master Zongyou's own wishes…"
Jian Qiu's words effectively silenced the Old Madam.
Everyone knew of the Old Madam's favoritism towards Ji Zongyou. Now, even the usually overlooked Ji Zizhao respected the Old Madam's choice, while the favored Ji Zongyou appeared to defy her wishes. If this were to spread, the Old Madam would lose face.
The Old Madam could not allow such a situation. She immediately dispatched Nanny Xu to accompany Jian Qiu and the hired workers to Ji Zongyou's courtyard, issuing a direct order for Ji Zongyou to move out of the Ji family residence promptly.
This left not only Ji Zongyou stunned but also Zou Siyan dumbfounded!
Having married a cripple, her life was already difficult enough. If she were forced to leave the Ji family, what would she rely on to survive?
Yet, Nanny Xu paid no heed to Zou Siyan's plight and ordered the workers to begin.
Knowing that reasoning with Nanny Xu was futile, Zou Siyan pushed Ji Zongyou towards the main courtyard.
Chaos erupted in Ji Zongyou's courtyard.
The Old Madam's main courtyard was also in disarray.
When Ji Ziyun arrived at Zhaoyuan, she found her elder sister diligently drying medicinal herbs in the courtyard.
The winter sunlight fell upon her, warm and gentle. Her serene demeanor radiated a sense of peace that was comforting to behold.
"Nowadays, it seems only Big Sister's place in this Ji family offers any true tranquility," Ji Ziyun remarked with a wry smile.
Ji Zizhao, fiddling with the herbs, said softly, her head bowed, "Have our aunts been alerted?"
"Such a commotion in Grandmother's courtyard would naturally alert everyone. When I came to Big Sister's place, I happened to meet Mother, who mentioned that Second Aunt's courtyard has prepared fruits and pastries…"
The thought of her mother, Second Aunt, and Fourth Uncle gathering to watch the spectacle gave Ji Ziyun a headache.
Ji Zizhao, however, smiled faintly. "A rare spectacle. It's not a bad thing to watch it like a play."
"Big Sister still has the mood for jokes. Before I came, I heard that Zou Siyan was planning to send for her family to come and argue their case. I thought, although Zou Siyan is from the Zou family, the matter occurred within the Ji family. Furthermore, the current Ji family cannot directly contend with the Zou family. If the Zou family were to come knocking, Grandmother might backtrack and compromise."
To outsiders, Ji Zongyou being ordered out of the mansion by his grandmother might seem like a coincidence.
But Ji Ziyun knew it was all part of her elder sister's meticulously laid plans.
From the very beginning, when her elder sister instructed her to send word to the grandmother with gossip, she had already begun her calculations.
Whether Ji Zongyou and Ji Renran left or not was of little consequence to Ji Ziyun.
But as long as her elder sister wanted them gone, Ji Ziyun would support her.
Without questioning the reasons or causes, she always stood by her elder sister's side.
"You handled this matter beautifully," Ji Zizhao praised Ji Ziyun's decision without reservation.
Her third sister was becoming increasingly thoughtful and steady.
Once Ji Zizhao married into the Fourth Prince's manor, she would be at ease knowing her household was managed by her third sister.
However, after the praise, Ji Zizhao's brow furrowed. "Is the remarried First Madam also in the main courtyard?"
Ji Ziyun looked surprised. "How did Big Sister know?"
"As soon as Zou Siyan heard Grandmother ordering Ji Zongyou to establish his own household, she rushed to the main courtyard to argue with Grandmother. This proves she never considered involving her own family in resolving the matter. The only person capable of turning a family affair into one between two families is the remarried First Madam."
Ji Zizhao knew that Gu Peilan certainly did not wish for her precious son to suffer outside.
But since the deed was done, there was no turning back for Gu Peilan.
Ji Zizhao brushed the dust off her hands and slowly stood up. "Tell the gatekeepers to remain vigilant. Anyone attempting to relay information to the Zou family or obstruct further will be dealt with according to family law if they persist."
"But the people in Zou Siyan's courtyard are all from the Zou family's dowry," Ji Ziyun worried that if blood were shed, the Zou family would not let it go.
"A married daughter is like spilled water. If the Zou family doesn't understand this simple logic, they've lived in vain. Furthermore, if the Zou family were to arrive today and claim this as a matter between two families, it would be understandable. But as long as no Zou family member is present, closing the doors means it remains a Ji family affair."
"Big Sister is truly formidable. I understand."
Ji Zizhao patted her shoulder, her gaze softening. "It's not about being formidable, but being decisive. Many things are not absolutely right or wrong; it depends on your understanding and perspective."
Ji Ziyun nodded. Seeing her elder sister about to leave, she quickly asked, "Big Sister is going to see the remarried First Madam?"
Ji Zizhao continued walking without stopping, shaking her head in negation.
Whenever Ji Zongyou was involved, Gu Peilan became a madwoman.
Ji Zizhao had no time to reason with a madwoman.
Fortunately, there was someone who possessed some reason, even some selfish motives.
Compared to the commotion in the main courtyard, Ji Renran's courtyard was as silent as if it didn't exist.
In broad daylight, the servants in the courtyard were brazenly slacking off.
After all, their mistress was merely a minor concubine, lacking even status in the Fifth Prince's manor. What could they, her servants, hope to gain by following her to prosperity? In this cold weather, it was better to be somewhere warm.
When Ji Zizhao entered the courtyard, not a soul was visible in the vast space.
The contrast with the grandeur of Ji Renran's courtyard when she had first returned to the manor was stark.