Ji Zizhao, who had been discussing matters with Jiang Guang Sheng, was oblivious to the gossip swirling behind her.
By the time she finally returned to the Ji family, it was nearing the end of the You hour.
Shui Ling accompanied her mistress into the courtyard. Recalling Jiang Guang Sheng’s demeanor, she suspected he harbored designs on her young lady. However, seeing that her mistress seemed unconcerned, she held her tongue.
Just then, a wet nurse approached, "Your old servant greets the eldest daughter."
Ji Zizhao surveyed the wet nurse before her. If she remembered correctly, this wet nurse belonged to Ji Ren Ran’s retinue. "Wet nurse Zhang, it is so late, is there something you need?"
Wet nurse Song, with a beaming smile, replied, "Of course, it's good news. The new principal wife requests the eldest daughter's presence for a chat."
Ji Zizhao doubted Gu Pei Lan had any good intentions. "It is getting late. I have to be on duty at the palace tomorrow. If there is anything, it can wait until another day."
With that, she turned and walked away with Shui Ling.
Wet nurse Song was taken aback by Ji Zizhao's firm refusal. However, she was not worried. After all, the items had already been sent to Zhaoyuan. Even if the eldest daughter could evade this for a while, she could not evade it forever.
When Ji Zizhao did not see Wet nurse Song pursuing her, her heart sank.
Since there was no relentless pursuit, she feared they intended to lie in wait.
Could something have happened at Zhaoyuan?
With this thought, Ji Zizhao quickened her pace.
Shui Ling, seeing her mistress's grim expression, also feared something had happened and hurried to keep pace.
But by the time they finally reached the courtyard, Shui Ling was stunned into silence.
The moderately sized courtyard was filled with all sorts of items.
Upon closer inspection, fish were leaping in basins, chickens and ducks roamed freely, and four types of fruit, four colors of candy, along with gift boxes, were neatly arranged. Rice and white sugar were also placed nearby.
Shui Ling, frozen in place, grew more and more horrified as she looked. Though she had never eaten pork, she had seen pigs run.
When she was at the Grand Tutor’s residence, she had witnessed such items being delivered several times. Although the items then were more numerous and exquisite than those now displayed in Zhaoyuan, the basic components matched her memories.
"M-Mistress, these are betrothal gifts!" Shui Ling exclaimed, her voice trembling as she pointed at the items in the courtyard.
Jian Qiu and Wet nurse He, who were tidying up the items in the courtyard, heard the commotion and hurried over.
Both of them wore furrowed brows, clearly troubled.
Ji Zizhao surveyed the items in the courtyard, her voice growing cold, "What is going on?"
Wet nurse He was furious, her words laced with gnashing teeth, "Just now, someone delivered these items to our courtyard and left without a word. Later, I sent someone to inquire and learned that the new principal wife has arranged a marriage for you. And now, these are the betrothal gifts!"
Jian Qiu frowned and said, "The betrothal gifts in our Yulin are always presented with clear intentions. Although the person who delivered the items said nothing, these gifts do not appear to be for a marriage to a wife."
Shui Ling was startled, "If not for a wife, then for what?"
Jian Qiu sighed, "A concubine."
Given the Ji family's standing, even if it was not as prosperous as before, they would never be so disrespected.
Therefore, the person sending these items was clearly intending to marry her into their family as a concubine.
Upon hearing this, Shui Ling’s heart nearly exploded with anger, "This is simply too much! Our mistress is pure and upright, how can others trample on her like this!"
Wet nurse He quickly covered Shui Ling's mouth, "My dear child, please speak softly. I heard that family is currently in the new principal wife's courtyard. If others overhear this and assume we have agreed to this marriage, how will our young lady ever show her face again!"
"At this hour, the new principal wife keeping them in her courtyard clearly indicates her intention to finalize this matter. If our young lady directly falls out with the new principal wife, she may be slandered," Jian Qiu sighed repeatedly.
Normally, since the new principal wife was the principal wife of the Ji family and a member of the eldest branch, she was considered the young lady's mother. Although the young lady had never addressed her as such, rules were rules.
It was natural for a stepmother to arrange a marriage for her stepdaughter, and no one could object.
The problem lay precisely here. If their young lady truly fell out with the new principal wife over this matter, others would only say that the young lady was ungrateful, and no one would fault the new principal wife.
If the young lady were merely an ordinary lady of refinement, it would be fine. The young lady was not one to care about gossip.
But unfortunately, the young lady was currently serving in the Imperial Hospital. If any rumors spread, it would not only affect the young lady's reputation but also her future career!
Yet, if the young lady agreed, she would have to begrudgingly become a concubine!
Jian Qiu truly hadn't expected the new principal wife to be so insidious.
Ji Zizhao looked at everyone in the courtyard with worried expressions and let out a bitter laugh.
"Once I marry out, I will no longer be able to involve myself in the Ji family's affairs. Furthermore, the gift money the new principal wife received is likely enough to settle her own son, and if she meets someone agreeable, perhaps even enough to cover her daughter's dowry." Su Dan Novel Network.
Gu Pei Lan's calculations this time were indeed shrewd, having planned everything meticulously.
Shui Ling thought her mistress had gone mad, "Mistress, at a time like this, how can you still laugh?"
Ji Zizhao was angry, but her reason remained clear, "Qing Zhu."
Qing Zhu, who had been standing by, walked over, "Mistress."
Ji Zizhao stepped forward and whispered her instructions, "Go to the Four Great Medical Halls now and retrieve something for me..."
Qing Zhu listened carefully, and as soon as Ji Zizhao finished speaking, she leaped over the courtyard wall and departed.
Faced with such an unconventional mistress, even the usually calm Wet nurse He was bewildered, "Mistress, what exactly are you trying to do?"
"Since they have sent betrothal gifts, I must prepare a dowry to make it official."
A... dowry?
Her words stunned everyone in the courtyard.
"Help me wash up and change. Since they have arrived, I should go and meet them personally," Ji Zizhao instructed Jian Qiu, and then strode into the room. She was also curious, which noble family in the capital had the leisure to want to marry her as a concubine.
Such a mistress left everyone without a sense of direction.
Even the usually composed Wet nurse He couldn't help but look at Shui Ling and ask, "What is the mistress trying to do?"
Shui Ling: "..."
The mistress might go mad!
Ji Zizhao removed her official robes and changed into a rather casual beige long skirt.
Her raven hair, like a black spring, was coiled into a bun, a jade hairpin loosely inserted. Paired with a pair of emerald gourd earrings, the long pendants dangled, swaying gently with her movements.
Accompanied by Jian Qiu and Wet nurse He, Ji Zizhao exited Zhaoyuan and headed towards the new principal wife's courtyard.
Upon entering the courtyard, she heard the sounds of laughter and merriment emanating from within.
Ji Zizhao paused and quietly instructed the two behind her, "If anyone causes trouble later, do not worry about maintaining appearances. They dare to bully us on our doorstep, and if we still treat them with courtesy, we will be seen as weak."
Wet nurse He felt something was amiss upon hearing this.
She could see that the mistress was clearly here to stir up trouble.
But hadn't the mistress just said she was preparing a dowry?
Jian Qiu believed that since the mistress had spoken, she must have made a decision and replied crisply, "Mistress, rest assured."