Ji Zizhao certainly didn't think it was a coincidence.
For she had come this time specifically to cause trouble.
One had to admit, Grandmother truly spared no expense on that side.
Just looking at Ji Renran's current attire, even the young ladies of the Ji family couldn't compare.
But so what, even if that were the case?
Did they truly believe that by taking Grandmother's money and being favored by her, they could act with impunity?
Then they were truly mistaken.
Grandmother herself had no status to speak of in front of her, let alone these mother and daughter, who held no proper title.
"I thought the young lady was quite eloquent just now, why are you pretending to be mute?" Ji Zizhao lazily turned her head, glancing indifferently at Ji Renran, her dark eyes filled with a detached coolness.
She had thoroughly investigated this mother and daughter, including that worthless son, long ago.
For years, she had remained silent about their existence and ignored Grandmother's favoritism, simply because she didn't want to disrupt the existing harmony.
Regardless of how her father had gotten entangled in such matters, both in front of her and her mother, her father was a good father and a loving husband to his wife.
Ji Zizhao knew clearly that her father did not wish to speak of that side anymore.
Thus, Ji Zizhao had always remained silent about Grandmother's favoritism and aid to that side over the years.
After all, it was her father who owed them.
But, similarly, her mother was also innocent.
If that side were willing to continue to be supported in silence, Ji Zizhao would naturally be willing to let things be.
But if that side harbored any improper intentions, Ji Zizhao would certainly not stand by idly.
From the time Ji Renran could understand things, she had always envied everything Ji Zizhao possessed. She had imagined countless encounters with Ji Zizhao in her mind.
But she had never dreamed that it would be in such a scene as today.
"It is all this commoner's fault. This commoner did not expect Princess Ronghe to grace us with her presence." Ji Renran bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes, as if she had suffered an unimaginable grievance.
Anyone who didn't know would think Ji Zizhao had been extremely harsh to her.
Ji Zizhao, however, was not swayed by this act. "Princess Ronghe is an honor bestowed by the Emperor, not a title to be casually bandied about. You should address me as the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family."
So, the implication was that she wasn't even worthy of addressing Ji Zizhao as Princess Ronghe?
Feeling as though she had been slapped without visible force, Ji Renran's cheeks burned. Yet, she said aggrievedly, "This commoner meant no offense. I merely wished to ask for a beggar's chicken. This commoner did not intend to take advantage; I would certainly pay for it..."
Before Ji Renran could finish speaking, Ji Zizhao called Shui Ling, who was by her side.
"Go and select a few plump beggar's chickens and send them to this young lady's mother. Since this young lady claims it is to honor her mother, charge her the restaurant's price for them. Let us not have this young lady's filial piety devalued because of our kindness."
A few, a few chickens?
Ji Renran was truly distressed.
Their current funds were barely enough to buy one more, how could they afford several?
Ji Renran tried to speak again to stop her, "Eldest Daughter of the Ji family..."
However, Ji Zizhao preempted her, speaking to Shui Ling again, "Go, don't be stingy. Anyway, the chickens we bought are meant for the servants, so pick the best ones for this young lady, and have the restaurant make fresh ones."
The other diners in the surrounding private rooms were all bewildered.
Was the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family's money blown in by the wind?
Otherwise, how could even the servants in the manor afford Eight Treasures Pavilion's signature dish!
And looking at the waiter standing at the door, the waiter thought, "Excuse me, Eldest Daughter of the Ji family, is your manor still in need of odd-jobbers?"
Seeing that Ji Zizhao's words had drawn everyone's attention, Ji Renran could only force herself to swallow the words she was about to say.
If the servants in their manor could afford beggar's chicken, how could she face anyone if she couldn't pay for it later?
Then, looking at Ji Zizhao, she hadn't even looked at her directly the entire time, only giving orders to the maids beside her.
Ji Renran, having lived this long, had never been so utterly humiliated before.
This time, before Ji Zizhao could speak again, Ji Renran hurriedly left the Sky-class private room with Shui Ling and the waiter.
What else could she do by staying?
Did she want to invite further humiliation by being slapped again!
The Sky-class private room was located directly opposite Gu Peilan's private room.
This meant that everything that had just happened inside the private room had been clearly seen by those opposite.
When Gu Peilan saw Ji Zizhao, her heart pounded incessantly.
Thinking about how she had made things difficult for the servants of Marquis Jingting's manor on the first floor, she wondered if Ji Zizhao had come specifically to find trouble.
Ji Zizhao glanced indifferently at Gu Peilan, whose eyes were filled with confusion, and gave her a definitive answer.
Yes.
She had indeed come intentionally to cause trouble.
The people around her were untouchable, even by Grandmother. How dare these mother and daughter?
Because they were shameless?
Gu Peilan's expression turned completely grim.
This damned slut, how dare she come to their door to slap their faces! If not for the wrong timing, she would have rushed forward and scratched that face.
Suppressing the anger in her heart, Gu Peilan forcibly averted her gaze.
As a result, she discovered that the gazes of the other ladies in the private room had also become very mocking.
Some ladies even couldn't help but burst into laughter.
They naturally had to laugh. They didn't know where this mother and daughter got the courage to try and curry favor with the Ji family, only to be personally slapped in the face by the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family.
Look at the generosity of the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family, and then look at this pair of impoverished mother and daughter...
The gap was simply too obvious!
Just then, Shui Ling entered with the waiter.
With the situation having escalated to this point, Shui Ling already knew that her young lady had come to support her. Thinking of the unreasonable behavior of this mother and daughter just now, Shui Ling's expression was naturally not pleasant.
At Shui Ling's signal, ten plump beggar's chickens were placed on the table.
Gu Peilan, "..."
Were they opening a chicken farm?
Shui Ling said with a fake smile, "Madam truly has a filial daughter, who actively debased herself to beg our young lady for a few chickens. Fortunately, it is our young lady today. If it were a man, your daughter's reputation would be ruined for the sake of these mere few chickens."
Ji Renran's face turned pale, but she was unwilling to bicker with a servant.
Gu Peilan frowned and looked at her daughter. Are you crazy? Why do you need so many chickens?
Ji Renran lowered her head. What could she do? Did she have to tell Ji Zizhao that they were not even as good as the servants of the Ji family!
Shui Ling had no time to waste here. After carefully calculating the money, she extended her hand to Gu Peilan, "A total of eight hundred and twenty-five taels of silver. Madam, please."