Gu Peilan naturally did not believe her daughter's words.
She had been in the imperial city all these years, but apart from the old madam, she had had no dealings with the Ji family.
Furthermore, Ji Zizhao had never left home since she was a child, so how could she possibly know about their existence?
"Today's incident is just our bad luck. Don't overthink it. When we get home, think carefully about how Ji Zizhao, that little vixen, was dressed. Tomorrow, I'll ask the old madam for money and make you new clothes that look just like that little vixen's attire."
Now that her own daughter was wearing the same jade hairpin as the eldest daughter of the Ji family, the news had already spread. More and more people would pay attention to her daughter in the future.
The more her daughter resembled Ji Zizhao, the more the common people in the city would be convinced that her daughter was Ji Zizhao's sister.
Ji Renran nodded reluctantly, "Daughter understands."
Although she was unwilling to live under Ji Zizhao's shadow forever, if she wanted to return to the Ji family, she could only endure it.
Gu Peilan got up and walked to the window. Seeing that the figures of those ladies could no longer be seen at the entrance of the restaurant, she then took Ji Renran to go downstairs to settle the bill.
She had originally thought that the remaining food and drinks would only cost a little over a hundred taels, but she did not expect the shopkeeper to finish calculating the abacus and then present five fingers, "A total of five hundred and seven taels. Guests can round it up to five hundred taels."
Gu Peilan, "..."
Were the food and drinks made of gold!
Ji Renran was also surprised that this meal had cost so much silver. For a moment, she was stunned.
Gu Peilan's eyes darted around, and she quickly took off the jade hairpin from Ji Renran's hair. "We were in a hurry to go out today and didn't bring much cash. How about we pawn this hairpin here first and redeem it later?"
Ji Renran's hairpin was made of white jade and intricately carved; it was indeed valuable.
The shopkeeper remembered the recent rumors in the city. Knowing that this hairpin was the same as the one worn by the eldest daughter of the Ji family, he was afraid that this mother and daughter really had a connection with the Ji family, so he nodded, "In that case..."
However, before the shopkeeper could finish speaking, he saw that the guests from the Heavenly Room were also coming downstairs.
And the person walking in front was precisely Ji Zizhao.
At this moment, she was leaning on her mother's arm, walking steadily towards the counter, followed by a young girl named Shuiling carrying dozens of beggar's chickens. Her ten fingers were full, a truly spectacular sight.
As soon as the shopkeeper saw Ji Zizhao, his entire face lit up like a flower. "Did the Rongsheng Princess enjoy her meal?"
Ji Zizhao corrected him, "Shopkeeper, please still call me the eldest daughter of the Ji family."
Seeing that Ji Zizhao was not arrogant, the shopkeeper became even more enthusiastic. "The eldest daughter of the Ji family spent a total of two thousand three hundred and twenty-seven taels. Let's round it up for you, and the remaining cents will be considered a treat from our humble establishment."
Ji Zizhao had already given the silver notes to her mother. At this moment, she naturally looked at her mother.
No matter how much she disliked spending money, Madam Lin Wanyun could not ask for credit. She stepped forward and took out a silver note from her embrace, "A total of two thousand three hundred and fifty taels. The excess is a tip."
Even though Baobaozhai was the most expensive in the imperial city, the shopkeeper had never seen anyone give a tip of tens of taels.
Gu Peilan and Ji Renran stood aside in silence, wishing that Ji Zizhao would leave quickly, the sooner the better.
Ji Zizhao did indeed leave. However, as she passed the counter, she happened to adjust the jade hairpin in her hair.
Shuiling quickly asked, "Is the young lady's hairpin loose again?"
Ji Zizhao nodded, "I'm afraid it must have been bumped somewhere when we went to the palace to attend the Empress Dowager's funeral last time."
Shuiling then said, "After we escort the young lady back to the mansion, this servant will go out and have it repaired for the young lady."
Madam Lin Wanyun also said, "It indeed needs to be repaired. One cannot be careless with items that have been to the palace."
Ji Zizhao nodded and followed her mother out of Baobaozhai.
The remaining people looked at each other in dismay within Baobaozhai.
Just now, the eldest daughter of the Ji family had said that the hairpin she wore was the one that had been to the palace. Looking at the hairpin currently placed on the counter...
Let alone being the same, even being similar was a stretch.
Ji Renran was dumbfounded.
Gu Peilan felt as if a thunderbolt had struck her directly on the crown of her head.
How could they be different?
The old madam had clearly said it was foolproof.
The shopkeeper also realized what was happening and quickly pushed the hairpin away from him. "Customers, I apologize, but this establishment does not offer credit."
The shopkeeper's face still held a smile, but the contempt in his eyes was exceptionally evident.
He suspected that this pair of mother and daughter had spread the rumors in the city, otherwise, why would everyone insist that the hairpin was the same as the one worn by the eldest daughter of the Ji family?
Truly, one cannot judge a book by its cover. Despite having such a beautiful face, she was engaged in disgraceful acts.
Gu Peilan had no other choice but to leave her daughter there and rush back home to get money.
Ji Renran finally cried, cried out of desperation.
She never imagined that the hairpin Ji Zizhao wore had nothing to do with the one on her head. It was all her fault for believing the old madam too much and not checking carefully. But now it was too late to say anything.
Feeling the gazes of the surrounding diners from all directions, it was like thorns piercing her back.
Ji Renran wished she could find a hole to crawl into.
Fortunately, Gu Peilan returned quickly, and within half an hour, she had pulled Ji Renran out of Baobaozhai.
Sitting in the carriage, Ji Renran wailed, holding her head. In her entire life, she had never been so embarrassed.
Gu Peilan was also seething with anger, trembling with rage. "Renran, don't be afraid. I will definitely seek justice for you in this matter!"
However, this so-called justice, Gu Peilan naturally dared not confront Ji Zizhao directly. Instead, she found the old madam that evening.
The old madam was also surprised to hear that the hairpin worn by Zhaojie'er was different from Ji Renran's.
Gu Peilan said even more righteously, "The servants of the Ji family have no eyes and are arrogant. I only said a few words, and the eldest daughter of the Ji family, along with Madam, cornered us mother and daughter at the restaurant and humiliated us in front of everyone. Renran is thin-skinned by nature, how could she bear it? She fell ill upon returning."
The old madam looked at Ji Renran, who was lying on the bed with a pale face, and felt extremely distressed. Her face also darkened. "I will definitely question Zhaojie'er about this matter."
One was her granddaughter, whom she had doted on and watched grow up, and the other was her granddaughter, whom she had ignored.
The old madam's favoritism was clear.
Ji Renran, lying on the bed, seemed to sense that the old madam was about to leave. She choked back tears with her eyes closed and said, "Grandmother, don't go. Renran cannot bear to part with Grandmother. Renran wants to filial to Grandmother in a dignified way. After I get married, I will also bring honor to Grandmother and make Grandmother proud..."
Hearing this, the old madam's heart ached and she became even angrier.
It was Renran who truly cared about her! Unlike Zhaojie'er, who had become wild and increasingly disregarded her.