Madam Jiang initially sought to have Ji Ziyun cornered out of impulse, without much thought. However, afterward, she felt no fear. The capital was teeming with gamblers drifting in the streets; even if the matter had fallen upon her, she would have found it impossible to investigate.
Yet, when the same incident befell Ji Zizhao, why was it so different?
Not only were there witnesses, but there was also physical evidence…
Madam Jiang naturally could not allow Ji Zizhao to report the matter to the authorities.
But as Madam Jiang began to voice her objections, everyone in the main hall gradually understood what was happening.
If the matter truly had nothing to do with the Jiang family, why would Madam Jiang so vehemently prevent reporting it to the authorities?
Furthermore, seeing Madam Jiang’s guilty yet stubborn demeanor, everyone’s minds were made up.
“Truly eye-opening, to think that the guilty party could be so brazen in accusing the innocent.”
“Second sister-in-law, you don’t understand. Some people are simply shameless.”
“Fortunately, Sister Zhao investigated those who committed the assault and brought justice to the Ji family and Sister Yun. Otherwise, if everyone were like some people, believing rumors at the drop of a hat, our Ji family would never be able to clear our name, even if we jumped into the Yellow River.”
The ladies of the Ji family finally found an opportunity. They spoke one after another, their words striking Madam Jiang’s aged face, even implicating the Old Madam Tong.
Why should the Tong family get involved in this mess?
Serves them right!
Old Madam Tong had never felt so disgraced in her life, wishing she could faint on the spot!
Jiang Guangsheng's expression was also exceedingly unpleasant. He knew his mother had promised to find a way to fulfill his wishes, but he had truly not expected her to resort to such methods.
Not only did she elevate him by trampling on Ji Zizhao’s reputation, but after being caught red-handed by the Ji family’s third daughter, she remained unrepentant and instead colluded with street ruffians and gamblers to block the Ji family’s third daughter’s carriage…
However, when he looked up at Ji Zizhao, it was impossible to deny the resentment he felt.
If the Ji family’s third daughter was indeed someone his mother had hired, then the person now striking his mother must be from the Ji family. Although his mother was in the wrong, Ji Zizhao held an official position in the palace. If the matter escalated to the authorities, neither family would gain anything.
Therefore…
From the moment Ji Zizhao decided to have someone retaliate against his mother in kind, she had no intention of reporting it to the authorities!
“Eldest sister of the Ji family, how could you frighten my mother like this? My mother is elderly and prone to confusion. Even if she made a mistake, as a junior, the Ji family’s eldest daughter should still show respect for her elders.” Jiang Guangsheng looked at Ji Zizhao with a gaze full of disappointment. He never knew that the upbringing of a century-old prominent family would be inferior to that of a mere merchant household like his.
Ji Zizhao naturally could not report the matter to the authorities.
Her current presence in the palace was to better assist the Seventh Prince in ascending the throne. If she were to be expelled from the palace by Consort Xi’s faction due to this incident, the loss would outweigh the gain.
This was why Ji Zizhao had orchestrated this series of events, with the aim of forcing Madam Jiang to confess voluntarily.
Now, facing Jiang Guangsheng’s questioning, Ji Zizhao felt no embarrassment at being exposed. Instead, she sneered, “The Ji family respects elders who shed blood and sacrifice their lives for the well-being of the people of Da Yu! The Ji family honors the elderly who stand in the imperial court, are incorruptible and upright, and dedicate their lives to the nation of Da Yu!”
Ji Zizhao cast a cold glance at Madam Jiang, her clear, dark eyes unable to conceal her contempt. She further mocked, “An elder who cannot distinguish right from wrong, who wantonly spreads rumors and incites public opinion, such an elder is not someone our Ji family can honor or respect. If the Jiang family has any objections, our Ji family would not mind making this matter known throughout the city, and perhaps seek the opinions of the citizens of the capital.”
Ji Zizhao would not actually report the matter to the authorities, but when it came to tormenting the Jiang family, she had countless methods at her disposal.
“Eldest sister of the Ji family, you hold an official post, how can you be so unreasonable!” Jiang Guangsheng couldn’t understand. His mother had made a mistake, but the Ji family’s third daughter was unharmed.
Why was Ji Zizhao so determined to fixate on his mother!
“Who told you that I am here to dispense justice today?”
“Then you…”
“I am simply here to vent my anger for my third sister.”
Jiang Guangsheng’s face turned green from the retort, and he remained speechless for a long time.
He knew Ji Zizhao was sharp-tongued, but he never imagined that one day he would experience it firsthand.
Madam Jiang’s eyes widened as she listened.
So…
Ji Zizhao had no intention of reporting the matter to the authorities?
So…
Ji Zizhao had been bluffing her from the very beginning!
Fortunately, Madam Jiang did not have heart disease, or she would have been so enraged that she would have convulsed on the spot.
This damned Ji Zizhao, where did she acquire so many schemes and tricks!
“Madam Jiang came here to cause trouble first, and now she is obstructing the internal affairs of our Ji family. Does the Jiang family believe that our Ji family, with our widowed grandmother and orphaned women, is easy to bully?” The Old Madam struck the ground heavily with her cane, showing an unusual assertiveness.
“Old Madam, this matter seems to be a misunderstanding.” Gu Peilan quickly interjected.
She had some friction with the Tong family, but would it bring her glory if the Tong family lost face in front of the Ji family?
Moreover, the Jiang family was a renowned merchant house in the capital, and she naturally sought to curry favor with them.
The Old Madam frowned, “As the remarried eldest wife of the Ji family, your duty is to protect the Ji family’s reputation and safeguard all its members. Look at yourself, what sort of behavior is this!”
“Old Madam…”
“Silence!”
Gu Peilan was stunned by the reprimand, her face turning a mixture of green and white.
Ji Zizhao looked at Gu Peilan’s failure in her scheme to steal a chicken, only to end up losing the rice, and scoffed coldly.
Grandmother indeed favored her own interests, but Gu Peilan was mistaken this time. Grandmother was, after all, the Old Madam of the Ji family. If she truly tolerated the Jiang and Tong families colluding to humiliate the Ji family, Grandmother herself would likely lose face along with the Ji family.
For Grandmother, external possessions were indeed tempting, but her own reputation was paramount.
“Our Sister Yun is so young, how could you bear to inflict such a cruel blow! What kind of scoundrels and ruffians are those gamblers loitering in the market street? If Han Xian hadn’t encountered them that day, who knows what our Sister Yun would have suffered!” The Third Madam, Yin Wenying, was almost driven mad. She stood up and walked towards Madam Jiang.
Madam Jiang took a step back under questioning, her neck stiffened as she said, “If we are to speak of this matter in detail, it was the Ji family’s third daughter who was impolite first. I merely wanted to teach her a lesson. Moreover, she is unharmed now. If it really comes down to it, our Jiang family will compensate with some silver.”
To be so defiant when in the wrong?
The ladies of the Ji family listened in astonishment, completely unable to imagine that these words could come from a normal person.
The Third Madam, Yin Wenying, had never met such a unreasonable person. Unable to contain herself, she raised her hand and slapped her.
“Slap—!” A swift, accurate, and fierce slap landed on Madam Jiang’s face.
Madam Jiang was stunned into a daze.