Gu Peilan looked at Shui Ling's astonished expression and sighed helplessly as she walked to the woman's side, "I told you not to wear this jade hairpin when you go out. Since Princess Rong He has worn it, if we wear it again, we'll be accused of deliberately imitating her."
During this period, the people in the imperial city had already heard the rumors. Seeing the jade hairpin on the woman's hair and Shui Ling's shock, they couldn't help but wonder if she was truly their sister.
Ji Renran, feeling extremely wronged, clutched her mother's arm, "But this jade hairpin was personally given by Madam Ji. I didn't expect such trouble to arise."
She then looked at Shui Ling and took the initiative to speak again, "If Princess Rong He has indeed worn this jade hairpin, I will take it off when we return. That way, no one will say I resemble Princess Rong He anymore."
"Miss, please don't misunderstand. You bear no resemblance to my young lady." In Shui Ling's heart, her young lady was unique, and no one else could tarnish her image.
Ji Renran seemed to have suffered an unbearable grievance, her eyes reddening, "I know it's all my fault. I truly didn't know Princess Rong He also had this jade hairpin. I'll take it off right now, I'll take it off immediately..."
As Ji Renran spoke, she actually reached up to her hair to try and remove it.
However, although there was only one jade hairpin on her head, she couldn't remove it no matter how hard she tried. After fumbling for a long time, she ended up messing up her hair.
A beauty in tears was inherently pitiable, and with her disheveled hair now, how could anyone not feel heartache?
Gu Peilan cried out in distress, "How can the people of your Jingting Marquis Manor bully people like this! My daughter has already said that this jade hairpin was a gift from Madam Ji. Just because Princess Rong He also has one, you are being so aggressive. Do you people of Jingting Marquis truly want to drive my daughter to her death?"
Ji Renran quickly held her mother's hand, saying pleadingly, "Mother, please don't say anymore. Princess Rong He is not someone we can afford to provoke. It's best if we remain unknown and dependent on others, just like before."
The information conveyed in these words was rather significant and clearly intended to sow doubt.
What did they mean by being unknown and dependent on others...
Could this young girl truly be Princess Rong He's illegitimate sister?!
Shui Ling was so infuriated that she wanted to argue with this shameless mother and daughter again. However, the shop assistants at Babaozhai, feeling sympathetic towards the seemingly delicate women, unceremoniously escorted Shui Ling out.
The beggar's chicken, which had been cherished like a treasure, fell to the ground again. Shui Ling was heartbroken. She carefully picked up the chicken and gently blew on it repeatedly, but the dust on it was still clearly visible.
Returning to the Ji family covered in dust, Shui Ling quietly hid the beggar's chicken in her room. It was impossible to give it to her young lady now that it was dusty. She secretly vowed to let the matter rest and not cause her young lady any further distress.
As it turned out, when Ji Zizhao sat in the outer hall, Shui Ling couldn't help but burst into tears.
Ji Zizhao, who had just picked up her chopsticks, was startled. She then noticed Shui Ling's dusty state, "What's wrong?"
Shui Ling bit her lip tightly, not wanting to speak.
Seeing that Shui Ling truly didn't want to talk, Ji Zizhao didn't press further.
She lost her appetite looking at the food on the table. She simply called Lian Ju over to inquire about what had happened, while she went to check on Qing Zhu's injuries.
Qing Zhu's injuries were originally severe. To deceive others last time, she had to heavily cover the wounds. Although Qing Zhu herself didn't feel anything significant, Ji Zizhao directly ordered her to rest well and not to get out of bed for seven days.
"Miss."
As Ji Zizhao emerged from Qing Zhu's room, she saw Lian Ju approaching.
Unlike Shui Ling, Lian Ju would not hide anything from her young lady when asked to investigate.
Naturally, Ji Zizhao learned about what had happened to Shui Ling at Babaozhai.
"I heard that the woman who resembles Miss comes from a wealthy family, and her mother often socializes with prominent ladies in the imperial city. Today, that very lady is hosting a small gathering for ladies from the imperial city at Babaozhai."
Ji Zizhao had been preparing to travel to Luoyi during this time and had been neglecting news from the city. She hadn't expected anyone to try and take advantage of this period.
When her grandmother had sent that jade hairpin, Ji Zizhao had already guessed her grandmother's intentions.
Originally, Ji Zizhao thought her grandmother would at least wait until she left. She hadn't expected her grandmother to be so impatient, unwilling to even wait for her departure.
Ji Zizhao suppressed the chill in her heart and quietly instructed, "Make a reservation at Babaozhai."
Lian Ju nodded and turned to leave Zhaoyuan.
Ji Zizhao returned to her room and called Shui Ling to her side.
As she fastened the jade hairpin she had worn when going to the palace, she looked at Shui Ling behind her in the mirror, "The weather is nice today. I plan to take a walk with Mother. Wipe your tears and come with us."
Shui Ling, whose eyes were swollen from crying, looked at the still overcast sky outside the window...
It was truly baffling.
Yu Lin had very strict requirements for unmarried young ladies. Not only were they not allowed to go out on a daily basis, but even when attending gatherings or visiting other residences, they were only allowed to sit in the carriage once they left the house and were absolutely forbidden from wandering on the streets.
Although Madam Lin Wanyun was pleased with her daughter's company, she had to be mindful of her daughter's reputation. Even when they left the manor, she kept her daughter seated in the carriage, only looking out at the bustling streets through the narrow carriage window.
"Why don't we go back? We can still talk at home." Madam Lin Wanyun looked at her daughter.
Ji Zizhao smiled and replied, "Since we're out, there's no reason to go back. It's lunchtime, so we'll eat before returning."
Madam Lin Wanyun thought that restaurants usually had private rooms, so it wouldn't be an issue.
Shui Ling, following beside the carriage, felt a tightening in her heart.
Soon after, the carriage stopped outside Babaozhai.
Shui Ling looked at the plaque of Babaozhai, her heart clenching even tighter.
Could it be that Miss had heard something?
Just as Shui Ling was contemplating whether to leave, she saw Miss disembarking the carriage with Madam.
Recalling her previous encounter here, Shui Ling absolutely didn't want her young lady to become a laughingstock. "Miss, why don't we go somewhere else to eat?"
Ji Zizhao comforted her, "I've heard the dishes here are very distinctive. Since we're out, we should try them."
Shui Ling: "..."
Why did it feel like Miss wasn't talking about eating, but about fighting?
In fact, Shui Ling wasn't wrong. Ji Zizhao had come to fight.
Those who had wronged her, insulted her name, and expected to get away with it?
How could that be possible.