Mingyue’s slap caught everyone off guard, even Ji Shiyou was a little surprised.
He hadn’t expected Mingyue to be the type who acted first and spoke later. However, he admired her for it; this was his woman, Ji Shiyou’s woman.
He Ling covered her face, stunned. Was this woman crazy? She’d said she’d hit him, and she did.
She came from a humble background and had a fiery temper, but since coming to the Ji family, she had been enduring everything, afraid of being criticized for being vulgar.
Did Mingyue not care about these things at all? Would people laugh at her, saying she wasn’t worthy of the Ji family’s prestige?
Ji Shigong was furious. This wasn’t just hitting He Ling; it was slapping his face.
Seeing Mingyue walk downstairs as if nothing had happened after the slap, he was about to make a move.
"Hmm?"
Ji Shiyou walked in front of him, looking at him coldly.
If he dared to touch a single hair on Mingyue’s head, he wouldn’t mind crippling his half-brother’s limbs first.
Then he wouldn’t be able to jump around if he couldn’t get out of bed, right?
He felt a sense of danger emanating from Ji Shiyou.
Ji Shigong forced himself to calm down, suppressing the impulse in his heart, and dared not make any move.
"Control your woman!"
Ji Shiyou whispered a warning into Ji Shigong’s ear before catching up with Mingyue.
He asked her to support him, as the act had to be complete. He was a weak patient now.
But being protected felt good. Mingyue had been quite protective of her husband just now, Ji Shiyou thought.
"Are you even a man? Your wife got hit, and you didn't even dare to make a sound."
He Ling was very disappointed with Ji Shigong’s cowardly display and shouted angrily.
"What are you shouting about? No manners, how can you speak to your husband like that?"
Zhao Xinning walked out of the room and pulled Ji Shigong and He Ling into her own.
"The old man is at home, what are you two arguing about? You'll just make her hate us more.
Others haven't done anything, and you're already fighting amongst yourselves? You have no sense of the situation.
My son knows when to bend and when to stand tall, enduring humiliation. What do you know? You just blabber nonsense."
As soon as they entered the room, Zhao Xinning, who had been looking dignified, immediately changed her expression.
She gave He Ling a disdainful look and spoke sarcastically. Although she came from the entertainment industry,
and had been kept as a mistress, she still looked down on He Ling, who came from a similar background.
Even though their situations were similar, they were not on the same level. She considered herself nobler than He Ling.
"Mom! That bumpkin hit me, and Shigong didn't even help me. Look at him.
He's still playing on his phone, not caring about me at all. That bumpkin said we are country bumpkins.
She said all our assets combined couldn't buy the hem of her sleeve. She even included you in that.
It's not just me who's lost face, it's our whole family. Can you tolerate this?"
He Ling knew how Zhao Xinning viewed her but didn't care.
So what if she looked down on her? She was still helpless against her and couldn't get rid of her.
Since Ji Shigong was useless, she would instigate Zhao Xinning to deal with Mingyue and get revenge for her.
"She's not wrong, we really can't afford that dress."
Ji Shigong ignored the mother and daughter, looking at his phone and saying softly.
He had searched online just now and was shocked by the dress Mingyue was wearing.
He then realized that the seemingly rustic, coarse cloth dress was the work of the world-renowned fashion designer Kevin. It was a one-of-a-kind piece.
Kevin, who advocated for nature, had personally raised silkworms, spun the silk, wove the fabric, designed, and hand-sewn this piece.
It took three years to complete, and it was auctioned off overseas to a mysterious buyer for 150 million US dollars.
It was indeed something they could not afford. However, he believed Mingyue was bragging.
How could a woman bought to ward off bad luck have such an expensive dress?
Normally, this dress transcended the category of clothing and was considered a work of art.
Even if one bought it, they would keep it for collection rather than wear it. Who would brazenly wear it?
If it got damaged or dirty, wouldn't they be heartbroken? Even a loose thread would be worth the price of a luxury car.
"Perhaps that short-lived ghost bought it for her. It's so infuriating.
It must be. That's the Ji Corporation's money, which is also our money. I feel so heartbroken."
Looking at the picture of the dress on his phone, which was identical to the one Mingyue was wearing,
He Ling felt her heart bleeding. At the same time, she was filled with jealousy.
They were both Ji family granddaughters, so why was Mingyue's dress worth over a hundred million US dollars?
The Ji family's money didn't all belong to Ji Shiyou. This was using their money to please that bumpkin Mingyue.
She still refused to believe that Mingyue had the ability to buy that dress herself.
"Enough. Who cares about the dress? She won't have an easy time during the tea ceremony later.
Let's see how I'll handle her then. No matter what, she's still a junior in front of me."
Zhao Xinning sneered. Ever since Mingyue was supposed to perform the tea ceremony, she had been preparing to make things difficult for her.
That's why she had changed and put on makeup, appearing as the mistress of the house.
She was determined to avenge the slap. The Ji family was a prestigious clan with strict rules.
As a mother-in-law, it was acceptable to make things difficult for a newly married daughter-in-law during the tea ceremony.
As long as it wasn't too outrageous, even Old Madam Ji wouldn't say anything.
Knowing Zhao Xinning's plan, He Ling and Ji Shigong also eagerly anticipated the upcoming drama.
Following Zhao Xinning, the three of them left the room and went to the living room.
Ji Dechun, who had been out all night, had also returned. He sat on the sofa, reeking of alcohol and looking exhausted.
Ji Shiyou and Mingyue were sitting opposite him. Seeing the three of them approach, neither of them looked up.
"Master, Eldest Young Master, Second Young Master, Eldest Young Mistress, Second Young Mistress! m..oΓg
The venue for the tea ceremony is ready. Old Madam requests you all to proceed to the flower hall."
At this moment, the butler entered, bowed to everyone, and addressed them by name.
"Butler, are you blind, or are you deliberately pretending not to see me?"
Hearing that the butler had not mentioned her, Zhao Xinning’s expression turned awkward, and she snapped at the butler.
"Madam, this old servant dares not. This old servant is merely relaying a message. Old Madam gave these instructions."
The butler quickly explained, but there was no trace of fear on his face. He had been the butler of the Ji family for sixty years.
He had served three generations. The Ji family treated him like family, and he didn't care about Zhao Xinning, a mistress who had usurped her position.
"Apologize to Grandpa Sun. Although Grandpa Sun is the butler, he is also an adopted brother to the Master.
In the Ji family, he is your elder. Even Father calls him Uncle Sun.
Who do you think you are, daring to scold Grandpa Sun? Apologize!"
Ji Shiyou, sitting beside them, looked up at Zhao Xinning and said coldly.
Mingyue was surprised by his action. Didn't Ji Shiyou avoid Ji Shigong and his mother like the plague?
Why was he standing up for the butler? But then she understood.
Ji Shiyou was likely the type of person who would risk his life for those close to him. Her opinion of Ji Shiyou’s character improved.
"Alright, Xinning, you shouldn't speak to Uncle Sun like that.
It's just a tea ceremony, let's go together. Hurry up, don't keep Mother waiting."
Ji Dechun, who had been pretending to sleep on the sofa, spoke up to smooth things over. He had been out all night and was exhausted.
He just wanted the tea ceremony to be over quickly so he could go back to his room to catch up on sleep. He got up and pulled Zhao Xinning towards the flower hall.
Ji Shigong and He Ling quickly followed. Mingyue helped Ji Shiyou up and walked to the butler.
"Grandpa Sun, you've been wronged."
Mingyue said to the butler. To maintain the act, her current identity was Ji Shiyou's wife.
She had to show respect to those Ji Shiyou cared about, so as not to arouse suspicion.
Besides, Butler Sun looked to be in his seventies or eighties. It was normal for her to show concern for an elder.
"Thank you, Eldest Young Mistress, for your concern. Hurry along, there's good news."
The old butler, with his white hair and beard, smiled at Mingyue, his eyes filled with satisfaction. Then, he winked at Ji Shiyou.