Yang Yufang gave her an encouraging look, supporting her to speak. It was then that she looked towards the old man again, hesitantly saying, "Ruoqian asked me to..."
Ji Ruoqian's face turned pale with nervousness. Seeing that Ji Anning was about to speak out, she, in a rush, interrupted Ji Anning, "Ji Anning, if you dare to spout nonsense, see if I don't..."
Before she could finish her threat, the old man's sharp gaze swept towards her, "Did I allow you to speak?"
Ji Ruoqian trembled slightly, quickly shutting her mouth. She lowered her head, feeling both hatred and anxiety, twisting her fingers around the hem of her dress.
The old man cast his gaze downward, unemotionally observing every move of Ji Anning.
At that moment, Ji Anning resumed speaking, "Ruoqian asked me to do her summer homework. I've been busy recently and didn't finish it; she was unhappy about it."
Her tattling was quite "subtle."
"Ji Anning, you are talking nonsense. How could our Ruoqian ever ask you to do her summer homework? You should know your place, as a child bride-to-be in the Ji Family, unaware of her own status."
Suddenly, another middle-aged woman burst out from the dining room, pointing at Ji Anning and cursing loudly and angrily.
This was Ji Ruoqian's mother, Lin Yanqin, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Ji Family.
She cursed as she angrily approached her, readying herself as if to hit someone.
The words were harsh, especially in front of so many people.
Ji Anning shrank her neck, her mouth slightly open, tears glistening in her eyes, fearfully hiding behind her mother-in-law.
"Enough, get away from me!"
The old man suddenly exploded in rage, shouting loudly, making everyone's heart tremble.
Lin Yanqin, who was rushing over to hit Ji Anning, also dared not continue her actions.
The atmosphere became oppressively silent, and everyone cautiously watched the old man.
Waiting for him to mete out consequences.
Ji Zhengdao's face was stern as his gaze swept from Ji Anning and settled on Ji Ruoqian, he spoke in a deep voice, "Before school starts, copy one hundred ancient poems for me."
His tone brooked no argument.
Without giving Ji Ruoqian a chance to argue, his sharp gaze swept over everyone, giving a cold warning, "If I find out anyone is doing it for her, she might as well not attend school anymore."
After speaking, he snorted coldly and turned back into the dining room.
Knowing that the old man was angry, Lin Yanqin didn't care about anything else and quickly followed him.
"Grandpa..." Ji Ruoqian watched Ji Zhengdao's angrily retreating figure, biting her lip, feeling resentful but not daring to speak out.
All she could do was wring her fingers and stomp her foot.
Once the old man had entered the dining room, she turned around, pointing viciously at Ji Anning, "Ji Anning, you're really good at playing the innocent. You're truly shameless. We'll see about this later."
She threatened Ji Anning through clenched teeth, then, feeling wronged, she stomped her foot, turned around, and entered the dining room.
When everyone had left, Yang Yufang bent down, checking Ji Anning's knees sympathetically, "Anning, does it hurt?"