Lin Wanyun lingered in Zhaoyuan for a while longer before rising to leave.
In the courtyard, Yong Mei, who had been weeping in secret, rushed forward upon seeing the First Madam.
Recalling their recent conversation, Lin Wanyun asked in a low voice, "Are you sure the Fifth Prince still thinks of Zhao'er?"
Yong Mei nodded hastily, "Absolutely certain. Otherwise, why would the Fifth Prince give his personal jade pendant to young lady?"
The Ji family, in their current state, was essentially meat on a chopping block for the imperial court.
The Emperor had not yet dealt with the Ji family because he lacked concrete evidence.
Once the Second Prince returned to the capital with the military dispatch, the Emperor would undoubtedly hold the Ji family accountable. Su Dan Novel Network.
Lin Wanyun's gaze darkened slightly.
She had overheard the Old Madam's intention to sacrifice Zhao'er to bear the blame when she paid her respects the other day.
Now that her husband was dead, how could she stand by and watch her only daughter suffer?
"Yong Mei, continue to maintain contact with the Fifth Prince's side. Also, mention that when I have free time, I will personally pay a visit. After all, we are family, and it wouldn't be good if we became distant." The Fifth Prince's residence was Zhao'er's only way out. Since Zhao'er was unwilling, she, as her mother, would swallow her pride if necessary to secure Zhao'er's position as a secondary consort.
Yong Mei was overjoyed to have the First Madam's support. "First Madam, please rest assured, this servant will convey your words to the Fifth Prince."
Even the First Madam was so pleased. Why was her young lady so reluctant to go to the Fifth Prince's residence?
As Miss Luo Hong had said, her young lady was indeed ungrateful for her good fortune.
By the window, Ji Zizhao observed everything, an icy aura emanating from her.
The Fifth Prince indeed possessed remarkable skill to so easily sway the heart of her maid.
Her mother, now solely focused on keeping her away from the Ji family and avoiding punishment, was likely falling into the Fifth Prince's trap.
She needed to find a way to extricate her mother from this war without bloodshed.
Qing Zhu entered from outside, standing silently beside her young lady.
Ji Zizhao continued to gaze out the window, softly inquiring, "How did the matter proceed?"
Qing Zhu replied in a low voice, "Everything went smoothly."
Ji Zizhao looked at Yong Mei, who was secretly rejoicing in the courtyard, and a silent smile touched her lips.
It had been almost half a month since Lian Ju left. She should have arrived in Luoyi by now, but to return safely with the goods would take at least the same amount of time.
Therefore, she had to do her utmost to delay the unfolding of events before Lian Ju's return.
Rumors in the imperial capital intensified.
The news of the Sun family's young master abusing his power gradually subsided, only to be replaced by reports of assassins attacking the city.
It was rumored that many citizens in the capital had already seen the assassins.
Clad in black, they scaled rooftops and traversed walls with silent movements, appearing and disappearing like the wind.
As the rumors spread and grew, the entire imperial capital was shrouded in a terrifying gloom.
Citizens hurried home early each day, locking their doors, fearing they might bring trouble upon themselves.
Considering the recent intrusion of an assassin even into the imperial palace, which led the Fourth and Seventh Princes to investigate throughout the night, the populace became even more fearful.
Terror, like a rapidly growing totem, gradually took root and spread throughout everyone's hearts.
The Prefect of Fengtian had no choice but to lead his constables on patrols through the capital's streets all night, to no avail.
Meanwhile, the bewildered citizens, constantly living in fear, gradually came to a realization.
When the men of the Ji family were still alive, had such incidents ever occurred in the capital?
It was for this reason that the citizens couldn't help but recall the Ji family, a house of loyalty and valor, and the Ji men who had protected the nation!
Amidst the people's sorrow and remembrance, the Sun family's young master, long forgotten in a corner, was once again earnestly remembered and genuinely despised.
The Sun family's heavily cursed gates, having just repaired a hole, were now riddled with further damage.
Sun Tang was so terrified that he didn't dare to leave his residence, spending his days trembling within its walls.
Sun Yunxiao could no longer remain seated. He had initially believed the matter would subside with time, but it had ultimately spiraled in the worst possible direction.
If the citizens of the capital were allowed to continue spreading rumors unchecked, no one knew what the final outcome would be.
That evening, Sun Yunxiao, restless with anxiety, finally crept out the back door of the Sun residence.
Shortly thereafter, a carriage stopped at the rear entrance of the Fifth Prince's mansion.
Under Luo Hong's guidance, Sun Yunxiao was led to the Fifth Prince's study.
Xie Jingzhou, the Fifth Prince, who had been resting with his eyes closed on a soft couch, opened his eyes at the sound. His dark eyes were as cold as frost. "What are you doing here at this hour? Don't you think you're already attracting enough attention in the capital?"
"Before the Second Prince returns to the capital, this subject dares not act rashly. Now that rumors are rampant throughout the city, this subject is truly uneasy and has dared to seek an audience with Your Highness, hoping you will show me a path forward." Sun Yunxiao knelt on the ground, not daring to meet Xie Jingzhou's gaze.
From the moment the Second Prince arrived in Luoyi, the Sun family, the Second Prince, and the Fifth Prince were all tied together like grasshoppers on a rope.
Sun Yunxiao did not dare to hope for shared glory or hardship, but he knew that the Fifth Prince could not possibly allow him to be exposed at this juncture. Otherwise, not only would the hidden truth of Luoyi be revealed, but even the true cause of death for the Ji family men would be difficult to conceal!
Xie Jingzhou narrowed his eyes slightly. "What exactly happened between your son and the Ji family?"
Sun Yunxiao dared not lie and recounted the events at Fengtian Prefecture truthfully.
He had also played a part in the Ji family's demise, and his guilty conscience was evident.
Sun Yunxiao feared that with the furor of public opinion, the common people would associate the Sun family with the Ji family.
Xie Jingzhou remained silent, his deep eyes growing colder.
It was that Ji Zizhao again…
"You may return for now. I will handle the rest."
As long as his second elder brother arrived in the capital with the military dispatch, the Ji family would have no chance of recovery.
It was merely Ji Zizhao; whether she was truly foolish or feigning incompetence, she was not to be feared.
The next morning, as Ji Zizhao was practicing martial arts in the courtyard, she saw Nanny He approach with Zhang Ji.
"Eldest Miss, yesterday, Yu Zishi, the Deputy Censor, left the Sun residence and entered the Fifth Prince's mansion a quarter of an hour later," Zhang Ji reported in a low voice, standing beside Ji Zizhao.
In the sunlight, Ji Zizhao's body radiated coldness.
The Second Prince was the overall commander of Yu Lin's campaign in Luoyi. If Sun Tang had become the messenger for the Luoyi military dispatch without Sun Yunxiao's instigation, it would be impossible.
And Sun Yunxiao had secretly sought an audience with the Fifth Prince before the Second Prince's return to the capital…
Ji Zizhao knew the Fifth Prince to be a vulture who preyed on the weak, but she hadn't expected him to be entangled with Luoyi.
A surging hatred, like a searing fire, consumed Ji Zizhao's heart. Clenching her sweat-drenched fists, she wished she could flay alive everyone connected to Luoyi right now.
Yong Mei ran over at this moment, her face beaming with smiles and anticipation. "Miss, someone from the Fifth Prince's mansion has arrived!"