The old madam stuffed Gu Peilan with a stack of banknotes before being helped into the carriage by Xu Momo.
The moment the old madam's carriage departed, Ji Renran opened her eyes.
Gu Peilan smiled as she counted the banknotes, a total of ten thousand taels. "In this case, we can consider this misfortune a blessing in disguise."
Ji Renran looked at her content mother and said, "Mother, why are you satisfied with so little? It's just ten thousand taels. When we return to the Ji family, everything in the Ji family will slowly be ours."
Gu Peilan paused, then nodded. "Don't worry, you acted so well just now. When we go back, the old madam will flay that little slut Ji Zizhao alive."
The old madam was indeed furious.
Even as she sat in the carriage, she couldn't help but gasp for breath.
Having Zhaojie'er wear the same hairpin as Renran, and spreading rumors in the city, were all her arrangements.
Only then would people in the city notice Renran's existence. When the rumors in the city grew rampant, she could use public opinion to acknowledge Gu Peilan's relationship with the Ji family.
This way, even if the eldest branch was unwilling, they would have to agree to let them join the family under public pressure.
Now, no one in the Ji family paid attention to her. Only by bringing those people back could she be valued again.
To put it bluntly, weren't the Ji family members the ones who forced her to do this?
Otherwise, she wouldn't have been so anxious to have those people return to the Ji family.
The more the old madam thought about it, the angrier she became. Upon returning to her mansion, she ordered someone to summon Ji Zizhao.
However, the servant replied, "To the old madam, the eldest young lady went to the main courtyard after she returned."
The old madam's heart tightened.
Why would she come to her courtyard at this hour? Did she find something out and come to confront her?
Thinking this, the old madam's anger surged.
In the past, she had helped conceal that matter because her son had disowned them. Now that her son was gone, was she still afraid of a junior?
The more she thought about it, the more indignant she became. The old madam made up her mind. Since Zhaojie'er dared to come and question her, she might as well break the dam and reveal everything.
The old madam returned to the main courtyard in a fury. As expected, she saw Ji Zizhao sitting in the main hall as soon as she entered.
"What are you doing here so late?" The old madam had made up her mind and her tone was no longer polite.
Ji Zizhao slowly stood up from her chair, her expression unreadable. "Your granddaughter thought there was something to tell Grandmother, so I came over."
Seeing this, the old madam knew this was indeed a confrontation.
If that's the case!
"Zhaojie'er, since you are here, today I will..."
As the old madam spoke, she suddenly smelled a strong aroma.
Immediately after, she saw He Momo leading people into the room and placing a steaming beggar's chicken on the table.
"Reporting to the old madam, this is a beggar's chicken that the eldest young lady specially went out to buy for you this noon. We heard that the old madam has not had a good appetite recently, which has worried the eldest young lady greatly."
The old madam was stunned and looked at Ji Zizhao with disbelief.
Ji Zizhao quickly explained, "Your granddaughter will be going to Luoyi soon and may not be able to serve Grandmother by her side. However, Grandmother has had a comfortable life these years, and your granddaughter truly doesn't know how to please you."
The old madam frowned.
She knew she had never truly paid attention to this granddaughter, let alone confided in her.
But she never expected that Zhaojie'er would still care about her.
At the very least, the beggar's chicken on the table wouldn't lie.
"Originally, I should have bought a few more dishes for Grandmother. But I unexpectedly encountered a unreasonable mother and daughter at the restaurant. They even claimed that the hairpin they were wearing was the one I wore to the palace that day, and even deliberately picked a fight with my maidservant..."
Ji Zizhao said this, seemingly frightened, and took off the hairpin from her head. She trembled slightly. "Actually, before I went to the palace that day, I accidentally broke the hairpin Grandmother gave me. Because I didn't want to disappoint Grandmother, I never dared to mention it. But today, I saw that the hairpin the woman was wearing does bear some resemblance to the one Grandmother gave me..."
If Ji Zizhao had said this in a harsh tone, the old madam would have seen through it without a second thought. Su Dan Xiaoshuo Wang
But now...
Looking at Ji Zizhao trembling slightly before her, smelling the fragrant beggar's chicken, the old madam's mind was filled with Ji Zizhao's kindness.
Ji Zizhao had been unwilling to go out in the past, but she had never done anything truly wrong.
Now that the Ji family was in trouble, she was the first to rush back and even saved her old life...
Thinking again of Gu Peilan's petty and calculating nature, the old madam naturally believed that the incident today was indeed initiated by the other party. Since they couldn't gain an advantage from Zhaojie'er, they came to her to complain.
"If it's broken, it's broken. It's getting late, go back and rest." The old madam, who had intended to confront and tear down the facade, now had no energy left.
Ji Zizhao obediently nodded and had Xu Momo hand the old madam a stack of banknotes.
"Your granddaughter is about to leave. Please accept this money, Grandmother. Please take good care of yourself during my absence."
With that, she turned and left without lingering.
The old madam had been sending money to that side for years. No matter how sweet their words were, they had never returned any of it.
Seeing that the old madam was no longer as stubborn, Xu Momo quickly persuaded her in a low voice, "Old madam, the eldest young lady's temperament is indeed not very warm, but it doesn't mean she doesn't have you in her heart. Now that the eldest young lady is even more filial to you, if that side truly returns, even the most discerning eldest young lady will be heartbroken."
The old madam agreed with a rare nod.
What Xu Momo said was true. Now that Zhaojie'er was managing things, although she was ignored, it was true that she was worry-free.
The old madam sighed, "Let's wait and see."
No matter what, that side was her fallback.
After Ji Zizhao left the main courtyard, she instructed He Momo to first find Lianju and wait for her in the room.
Her show of weakness to her grandmother was merely a prelude to a better counterattack.
Since that side was so insatiable, she would not allow their restless movements to continue.
As He Momo had just left, Ji Ziyan hurried over. "Eldest sister."
Ji Zizhao stopped. "Has the money for Shui Ling been delivered to you?"
Ji Ziyan nodded. It was precisely because it had been delivered that she had come specifically. "I've done a rough calculation. The servants in the mansion don't need that much money for winter clothes, and there will be a lot left over."
"If there's any left, keep it with you for now. You are managing the internal affairs of the Ji family now. It's not good to have no ready cash on hand. If there's a shortage later, it can be replenished at any time. It's almost the end of the year, and the loyal servants in the mansion can also be given red envelopes. This way, those who receive red envelopes next year will be more loyal, and those who don't will work harder."
Ji Zizhao smiled at her overly rigid third sister. "One can be methodical in their work, but not rigid."
Ji Ziyan really wanted to manage a family this way. Indeed, she was still far behind her eldest sister. "Eldest sister, don't worry. I know what to do."
Ji Zizhao smiled and patted her hand. "Take your time, it will get better."