The eunuch listened to these words in shock.
He was just a palace attendant, but he did serve before the Emperor.
When they came to deliver the Emperor's message, weren't all their households fawning over them and treating them with utmost respect?
Yet, looking at this new wife of the Ji family, it was a blatant, naked threat!
As the eunuch sized up Gu Peilan, he felt no disgust, but a genuine sense of pity.
No wonder she had only been a second wife for so long. No wonder the Ji family, with its mistress, had to rely on the eldest daughter, a junior, to support them. With such a mistress in charge, wouldn't she run the Ji family into the ground, leaving nothing behind?
"Since the new wife of the Ji family insists on me being explicit, then I shall waste some time. While the Emperor's oral decree is not as precious as an imperial edict, it still requires the recipient to be present."
Gu Peilan quickly explained, "My daughter heard it was the Emperor's oral decree and fainted from excitement..."
The eunuch glanced at Jian Qiu beside him, "May I know where Miss Ji Renran is currently?"
Jian Qiu softly replied, "She is in the main courtyard with the Old Madam."
The eunuch nodded, "It's alright even if she fainted, as long as she is present. I trouble Aunt Jian Qiu to lead the way."
Gu Peilan's mouth opened, clearly wanting to say more.
However, the eunuch gave her no chance to speak, "Originally, I could have turned a blind eye and delivered the Emperor's oral decree in front of the Ji family's new wife. But I did not expect the Ji family's new wife to be someone who prefers to follow procedures. Since that is the case, I dare not be negligent. If this matter were to be brought before the Emperor, I would not be able to explain myself clearly."
Gu Peilan, "..."
In the end, it became her fault!
Seeing the eunuch continue on his way with Jian Qiu, Gu Peilan could only grit her teeth and follow.
Along the way, Gu Peilan racked her brains, trying all sorts of methods to keep the eunuch there.
But the eunuch who delivered the decree was resolute in his path towards the main courtyard, as if nothing in the world could make him turn back.
Upon finally reaching the main courtyard, the eunuch raised his voice and shouted, "By imperial oral decree, in consideration of the Seventh Prince still fighting abroad for the nation! All imperial consorts-to-be, though already designated, shall be postponed! When the Seventh Prince returns triumphantly, the Ministry of Rites shall arrange the grand weddings!"
The Old Madam, who was sitting in the main hall, felt some disappointment upon hearing this.
She had not expected it to be a decree to postpone the wedding.
However, the Old Madam was quick to comfort herself. After all, it was a postponement for all princes, not just the Ji family...
Just as the Old Madam was comforting herself, she heard the eunuch pause and then continue, "Although Miss Ji Renran's impropriety in the palace previously involved the Fifth Prince, the Emperor, in his benevolence and consideration for the Ji family's years of service to Yulin, hereby grants Miss Ji Renran permission to marry the Fifth Prince as a concubine. Two months after the Fifth Prince's wedding, Madam Ji Ren will be permitted to proceed to the Fifth Prince's mansion on her own!"
The Old Madam, "..."
W-what did that mean?
The wives from various branches in the main hall found the news quite shocking.
So, all of Ji Renran's showing off had only resulted in her becoming a concubine to the Fifth Prince?
Even though Gu Peilan already understood what was happening, upon hearing the eunuch's words, her vision darkened and her legs felt weak.
A concubine...
Just a concubine!!
Ji Renran, who was still feigning death in Ji Zizhao's embrace, could feel the gazes fixed on her from all directions, even with her eyes closed.
At this moment, Ji Renran truly wished she had fainted and stayed that way!
The Emperor's oral decree had already been issued, meaning this matter was settled.
Let alone her grandmother absolutely not implicating the Yang family over a concubine of the Fifth Prince, even if her grandmother were to speak up, the Emperor's decision was final, and no one could change it!
Ji Renran's face was burning, but her heart was cold.
Because she knew clearly that she could only be a mere concubine to the Fifth Prince.
A concubine who couldn't even enter the imperial genealogy, and whose children wouldn't call her mother...
"H-how could it be like this..." The Old Madam's speech was somewhat unclear, seemingly due to the great shock.
Seeing the Old Madam too agitated, Madam Xu hurried to offer some words of comfort, but when she turned back, she saw the Old Madam had already slumped to the side and fainted on the chaise lounge. Su Dan Novel Network
"Old Madam?"
"The Old Madam has f-fainted!"
At this moment, the main hall descended into chaos.
Ji Zizhao, along with the wives from the various branches, quickly helped their grandmother into the inner room.
Gu Peilan took the opportunity to quickly call Song Mammy and, together with Ji Renran, fled the main courtyard.
After waiting for a long time in the inner room, the others did not see Gu Peilan enter. Yin Wenying sent someone to inquire and only then learned that Gu Peilan had left with Ji Renran a while ago.
Yu Fenglan rolled her eyes in anger, "What kind of people are these, running away quickly from the mess they created!"
Xiao Jingshu sighed, "Second Sister-in-law, please speak softly. Don't agitate the Old Madam further."
Yu Fenglan turned to look at the Old Madam on the bed, her heart full of resentment. She initially wanted to say that such a biased person deserved to be agitated, but thinking that this was still her husband's mother, she lowered her voice and said, "After all this fuss, she's just a concubine. I don't know what she was so proud of."
"The Fifth Prince has always been at odds with our Ji family. Last time it was Sister Zhao, and this time it's..."
"At odds? I think she's just shameless. Didn't you hear what the palace people said? They said that Sister Ran's impropriety in the palace almost implicated the Fifth Prince..."
The Old Madam, half-conscious and half-awake, could actually hear the conversations around her.
It was precisely because of this that the Old Madam, who had just regained some calm, was once again stimulated into convulsions.
She hadn't expected Renran to be so bold. Having caused trouble in the palace, she had actually planned to conceal it and even tried to trick her into inviting the Yang family over...
Was she planning to turn the tables?
Thinking further that she had been led by the nose by Gu Peilan and Ji Renran for several days, the Old Madam's chest felt heavy and blocked.
"Ugh—!"
A腥甜 and hot sensation surged up her throat.
A mouthful of fresh blood splattered onto the ground.
This terrified everyone in the inner room. Even Yu Fenglan, who was still complaining, fell silent.
Ji Zizhao, however, remained calm. She withdrew her hand from her grandmother's wrist and looked at Madam Xu, "It's just anger overwhelming her. Send someone to Zhaoyuan to retrieve the green small porcelain bottle from under the second layer of my medicine chest. She should dissolve one pill under Grandmother's tongue three times a day."
Madam Xu nodded quickly and personally went to Zhaoyuan.
Ji Zizhao then, citing the Old Madam's need for quiet, asked the aunts to leave the inner room.
When people are troubled, the more they want quiet, the more they fear it.
Because quiet not only calms the mind but also allows one to dwell on things.
Of course, Ji Zizhao hoped her grandmother would dwell on things.
Only then would it be worth her sacrificing her pride to beg the Empress for help.