"You know you've offended me, yet what makes you think you can seek my forgiveness?" Ji Zizhao chuckled upon hearing his words.
Sun Lu was speechless.
Ji Zizhao paused before adding, "Or do you believe that seeking forgiveness is merely a matter of flapping your lips? If that's the case, then your sincerity is rather superficial."
Sun Lu had initially intended to force Ji Zizhao to swallow her pride and make peace.
But who would have thought that Ji Zizhao would counterattack so fiercely?
And she did so with open eyes.
Although others didn't know what had transpired between Ji Zizhao and Sun Lu, Ji Zizhao was right. Since Sun Lu had offended the eldest young lady of the Ji family, he had to show genuine sincerity. Otherwise, why should she forgive him?
Ever since arriving in the imperial city, Sun Lu had relied on his silver tongue to navigate the bustling metropolis. Now, however, he was rendered utterly speechless by Ji Zizhao's retorts.
Gazing at Ji Zizhao's calm and composed demeanor, Sun Lu's face turned ashen!
Beside them, Zhong Shaowen, witnessing Sun Lu being thoroughly shredded by Ji Zizhao's comprehensive and multi-angled barrage, suddenly felt a sense of balance. He recalled how Ji Zizhao had treated him with equal ferocity when they first met. At the time, he had harbored some lingering resentment, but seeing Sun Lu now, he felt completely at ease.
Compared to Sun Lu's current predicament, his past self had been far more fortunate.
"Ji Zizhao, I warn you not to push it too far! If you hadn't sent me an invitation, why would I have come? Or is your purpose in inviting me to embarrass me!" Xue Xiaochun burst out, protectively shielding Sun Lu behind her like a mother hen guarding her chicks.
Xue Yinuo, observing Xue Xiaochun's indiscriminate behavior, felt completely drained and no longer wanted to struggle.
Truly, she wished Ji Zizhao would just finish her off with her words.
"Since Miss Xue Xiaochun has spoken, I shall let this matter drop," Ji Zizhao declared, unusually magnanimous. With that, she turned and walked away, giving no one a chance to react.
Xue Yinuo, however, had no idea that Ji Zizhao would be so magnanimous. She found it completely unacceptable. "Actually, you don't need to show any mercy to Xue Xiaochun out of consideration for me."
Ji Zizhao nodded. "Are you sure?"
Xue Yinuo affirmed, "What is said cannot be taken back."
Ji Zizhao responded with an "Oh," and said, "Then you can just wait and watch the show."
Xue Yinuo was…
You haven't even made a move, what am I supposed to watch?
Seeing Ji Zizhao walk into the corridor and find a sheltered spot to sit, Xue Yinuo reluctantly followed and joined her. Bored, she looked around, and as she did, she began to notice something amiss.
It seemed Xue Xiaochun was being lectured by Sun Lu. Otherwise, why were her eyes red?
And looking at Sun Lu…
He seemed to be ostracized.
Ji Zizhao smiled and said, "Be more confident, drop the 'seemed.'"
In this era, a man's reputation was paramount.
Regardless of how men conducted themselves within their households, they always strove to maintain their dignity in public.
But what had everyone just witnessed?
They had seen a man, who should have been a pillar of strength, needing a woman's protection!
In an instant, all of Sun Lu's accumulated goodwill evaporated.
And what was the most unbearable thing for Sun Lu?
Naturally, it was the realization that all his past efforts to curry favor had been in vain.
With no outlet for his resentment, Sun Lu naturally unleashed his anger onto Xue Xiaochun.
And for Xue Xiaochun, who could wound her most deeply with her words?
Naturally, it was Sun Lu.
Xue Yinuo was stunned.
Watching the chain of events unfold in the courtyard, her eyes widened like bells in sheer disbelief.
This was even possible?
Fortunately, Xue Yinuo wasn't completely foolish. After regaining her senses, she looked at Ji Zizhao and said, "Zizhao, I really like your surprise."
She knew that if Ji Zizhao hadn't been helping her vent her anger, she wouldn't have gone to such lengths.
Ji Zizhao smiled. "Already moved?"
Xue Yinuo…
What else would she be?
Just then, Zhong Xinyi walked over and said to Ji Zizhao, "The person you're looking for has arrived. I've brought them in through the back door."
Ji Zizhao hadn't expected them to arrive so quickly. She asked Zhong Xinyi carefully, "Do you have a private place here? Preferably somewhere suitable for two people to hide and talk."
Zhong Xinyi thought for a moment and pointed to a spot not far away. "Go around this garden, and there's a rockery. However, it's not exactly quiet. You'll be passing by there on your way to the main hall to perform the tea ceremony later."
Ji Zizhao nodded. "Then I'll trouble you to lead them around the courtyard entrance and then escort them near the rockery."
Zhong Xinyi smiled. "We're family now, aren't we? There's no need to talk about trouble."
After watching Zhong Xinyi leave, Ji Zizhao sat back down with Xue Yinuo.
Xue Yinuo was…
Utterly confused.
She had no idea what Ji Zizhao was planning.
Ji Zizhao surveyed the young ladies in the courtyard, and then, as if nothing was amiss, she started a casual conversation with Xue Yinuo. "With such a lively gathering today, I didn't expect the second young lady of the Zuo family to be absent."
It wasn't that Ji Zizhao wanted to bring it up, but looking around, most of the young ladies who had entered the palace for the selection were present, yet she saw no one from the Zuo family.
Xue Yinuo replied, "It's normal for her not to be here. Ever since we left the palace that day, Zuo Xiuhua hasn't shown her face in the imperial city. Given how flamboyant her personality used to be, I wonder what's happened."
Ji Zizhao mused that perhaps it wasn't that Zuo Xiuhua wasn't appearing, but that she *couldn't* appear.
Although she hadn't interacted much with Consort Xi, she could tell that Consort Xi was an extremely controlling person.
It was likely that the fifth prince's lifelong timid demeanor was a product of Consort Xi's machinations.
After all, no matter how deep the fifth prince's schemes, he couldn't have been acting from childhood.
Consort Xi keeping Zuo Xiuhua out of sight now was likely to prevent her from accidentally revealing what happened that day. And secondly… it was probably a show of force.
Ultimately, people like Consort Xi naturally preferred obedient daughters-in-law who followed their every command.
However, Ji Zizhao thought that with Zuo Xiuhua's personality, she was not one to be submissive.
Being suppressed so severely by Consort Xi now would undoubtedly lead to a backlash.
Of course, Zuo Xiuhua wouldn't dare to openly defy Consort Xi at this moment.
As the saying goes, one picks on the softest target.
It was highly likely that once Ji Renran married into the family, Zuo Xiuhua would unleash her pent-up fury on Ji Renran.
The thought of Ji Renran's difficult future brought a smile to Ji Zizhao's face.
Just then, Sun Lu, who had been in the courtyard, suddenly changed his expression.
Not long after, Sun Lu seized an opportunity when no one in the courtyard was paying attention and walked out.
Seeing this, Ji Zizhao smirked silently.
As Xue Yinuo pondered what Ji Zizhao was smiling about, she saw Ji Zizhao remove a bracelet from her wrist and toss it into the snow pile behind her. Then, she nonchalantly met Xue Yinuo's gaze and smiled.
Subsequently, Xue Yinuo saw Ji Zizhao stand up and exclaim, with a hint of panic, "My bracelet is missing."
Xue Yinuo…
Are people in the city this… playful?