The household was in disarray, with no one having slept due to Ji Ruyun’s funeral.
The Old Madam had instructed that the eldest daughter-in-law's funeral must be grand.
Upon hearing this, Ji Zizhao could not help but sneer.
She suspected her grandmother felt guilty.
But the person was already dead; anything done now was merely a comfort for the living.
While Ji Zizhao could disregard the Old Madam’s instructions, others in the household could not.
Ji Ziyan personally took charge of her elder aunt’s funeral arrangements and went to the Jin family to announce the death.
Jin Qianyu, who had long been tired of his wife, harbored no affection for her. In fact, he was more relieved than regretful upon hearing of Ji Ruyun’s death, let alone concerned about any repercussions.
Seeing Jin Qianyu’s indifferent demeanor, Ji Ziyan said no more and turned to leave.
However, before she could even exit the Jin family mansion, she heard that Jin Qianyu had gone to see his favored concubine.
Standing at the entrance of the Jin family residence, looking at the courtyard filled with laughter and merriment, Ji Ziyan felt the coldness of the world.
As Ji Ruyun was a married daughter, she was supposed to be mourned at her husband's home for three days before burial.
However, the Jin family had no intention of bringing Ji Ruyun’s body back. Coincidentally, Ji Zizhao had already arranged for her mother to be buried the next day, so Ji Ziyan had to request the Old Madam's permission to bury her elder aunt alongside her mother.
When the Old Madam heard this news, her heart pounded with anger, her liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys all trembling.
She was astonished by the Jin family’s heartlessness.
But what use was it to curse them? Could she truly force Ji Ruyun's coffin back into the Jin family’s possession?
The Old Madam dared to act but not to gamble.
She feared that if she brought her daughter's coffin inside, the heartless Jin family would immediately throw it out.
With no other choice, the Old Madam could only nod to Ji Ziyan and say, "Do as you suggested."
Ji Ziyan looked at her grandmother, whose hair was now white under the candlelight, and felt not a shred of sympathy.
Her elder aunt was a daughter of the Ji family, and her elder aunt-in-law had also been doted upon by the Yang family. When her grandmother had treated her elder aunt-in-law in such a manner, had she ever considered the feelings of the Yang family?
Indeed, there was no shortage of karma in this world.
The next morning, before dawn broke, the gates of the Ji family residence were opened.
Two coffins were carried out of the Ji family gates one after the other. Ji Zizhao led her two younger sisters, followed by the wives of each branch, with Gu Peilan and Ji Renran at the very end.
The Old Madam, as usual, did not appear, sending only wet nurse Xu to convey that she was unwell.
Upon hearing this, Ji Zizhao inwardly smiled coldly.
Thinking of the past, when her grandmother had doted on her elder aunt, it felt incredibly ironic.
Her grandmother's affection was truly fickle.
Gu Peilan and Ji Renran, looking at the people ahead, felt a sense of relief.
From any perspective, they were outsiders to this funeral. However, as members of the Ji family, they could not truly abstain from attending, lest they be branded as unfeeling.
Fortunately, there were so many people present, allowing the mother and daughter to simply follow behind quietly.
Alas, fantasy is often grand, but reality is a solid hammer blow, striking when one is least prepared.
When everyone arrived at the graveyard, the wives of each branch, knowing that the remains of the Ji family men had been secretly brought back and buried by Ji Zizhao, took the opportunity of this funeral to pay respects to their respective men. Su Dan Novel Network.
Ji Zizhao then ordered her mother's coffin to be buried next to her father's, and she personally knelt to pay her respects.
Ji Ziyan and Ji Zibi, on behalf of the younger generation of the Ji family, knelt before their grandfather's grave and offered incense.
Compared to everyone's busyness, Gu Peilan and Ji Renran, still standing far away, appeared exceptionally awkward.
They had only recently returned to the Ji family and did not have deep emotional ties with the family members. To pay respects now would be to openly brand themselves as insincere.
Gu Peilan stood rooted to the spot, unsure whether to bow or not, thus becoming even more embarrassed.
Suddenly, her arm loosened, and she saw Ji Renran walk forward.
She knelt beside Ji Zizhao, bowed several times heavily to the tombstone before her, her eyes reddened, and she said tearfully, "Father, please rest assured. Now that I have returned, I will stay by my eldest sister's side, share her burdens, and fulfill my filial duty to grandmother in your stead. Father, please rest in peace below; I will never disappoint you."
As she finished speaking, tears streamed down her face.
Ji Renran was not unattractive; she possessed a natural charm that even the other Ji daughters lacked.
Now, kneeling before the grave in such a tearful state, she looked truly pathetic.
However, those present found it impossible to feel pity for her at this scene.
Before Ji Renran could even process her thoughts, she heard Ji Zizhao's voice, calm and unhurried, reach her ears, "Sister Renran's filial piety towards your father is commendable. However, speaking such heartfelt words before grandfather's grave is rather inappropriate and disregards seniority."
Ji Renran looked up in shock, her gaze falling on the name Ji Zhengyong on the tombstone. For a long time, she was unable to recover.
Since childhood, her mother had only told her that her grandfather was a great general and her father was the eldest son of the Ji family. However, she had never paid attention to the specific names of her grandfather and father.
Seeing Ji Renran's visibly confused expression, the Ji family members present would have burst into laughter if not for the solemnity of the occasion.
Ji Renran then looked at Ji Zizhao beside her. Ji Renran clearly remembered Ji Zizhao saying that Ji Ziyan and Ji Zibi would pay respects to the grandfather, while she herself would pay respects to her father.
Could it be...
Ji Zizhao was deliberately toying with her!
Otherwise, how could she have unknowingly knelt before her grandfather's grave?
Ji Zizhao met her gaze with an expression that clearly said, "Yes, I played you." She then continued, "Since Sister Renran has returned to the Ji family, she is now one of us. It would be best to familiarize yourself with the family genealogy and seniority. Losing face here only reflects on Sister Renran; losing face outside would be a disgrace to the entire Ji family."
Ji Renran's face turned pale, her body stiffened. She looked at Ji Zizhao, wanting to speak but unable to find the words to salvage the situation.
However, Ji Zizhao gave her no opportunity, rising directly to offer incense to her uncles.
Ji Renran: "..."
All she could do was cry louder, unable to do or dare to do anything else.
Who knew how many more traps Ji Zizhao had prepared for her.
What could Gu Peilan do but pull her daughter into a hug and cry along with her?
The scene of weeping that seemed to flood the graveyard made it appear as if Ji Zizhao had somehow dug out their mothers' and daughters' hearts.
Ji Zibi watched this scene and felt immensely satisfied.
She, who only cared about climbing the ladder to wealth and status, didn't even know the names of her grandfather and eldest uncle, yet she tried to steal the spotlight.
Bah!
Ji Zizhao looked at Ji Renran kneeling and weeping, her alarm bells ringing.
Compared to Gu Peilan, this Ji Renran was clearly smarter and more adaptable.
In contrast to Ji Renran and Gu Peilan's awkward crying, the empty space before Ji Ruyun's grave was desolate.
Who would have thought that the once glorious eldest daughter-in-law of the Ji family, who had once held absolute sway, would die with no one to mourn her or burn incense for her?