The hall suddenly fell silent.
Those who had been clinking glasses and feasting moments ago now held their breath under Emperor Xiaochang's troubled frown.
Emperor Xiaochang, lost in thought, felt a growing unease. Just as he was about to dispatch someone to investigate outside the city, a leisurely reprimanding voice came from the side.
"Seventh Brother, how can you be so inconsiderate? You know that Second Brother and Fifth Brother are close, yet you chose this moment to embarrass Fifth Brother."
Everyone turned to look, and saw the Fourth Prince, Xie Jinglan, calmly set down his teacup and gently admonish the Seventh Prince.
Emperor Xiaochang frowned, swallowing the words he was about to speak. He then looked at the Fifth Prince kneeling before him and asked with an inscrutable expression, "You are very close to Second Brother?"
Those who could sit in these chairs had all experienced fratricidal struggles. Emperor Xiaochang naturally understood what it meant for the princes to prematurely court allies and form factions. He was in his prime, were his sons already impatient to seize power? Thinking further, it meant they were hoping for his death!
Xie Jingzhou trembled, his face pale and choked, "Your Majesty, please do not be angry. Your son merely feels something is amiss. Otherwise, why would Second Brother not have returned yet?"
Xie Jinglan had already anticipated the Fifth Prince's attempt to cover up. He smiled slightly and rose, saying, "Second Brother has not returned, and as his siblings, we are naturally worried. However, the battle in Luoyi was fierce. Second Brother must be busy organizing the troops and attending to the remains of the Ji family's men. It is inevitable that there would be delays on the road."
"I, I just feel that Second Brother has been delayed for too long."
"I have never meticulously calculated the time of Second Brother's return. I did not expect Fifth Brother to remember it so clearly. Or perhaps it is because Fifth Brother and Second Brother are close, and Second Brother privately conveyed some news to Fifth Brother? Otherwise, why would Fifth Brother be so fixated on the time of Second Brother's return?"
Concern was acceptable, but to be so concerned that one nitpicked the time? Who would believe they were not close in private? Xie Jinglan's tone was neither hurried nor slow, sounding gentle but his words were sharp as knives, leaving Xie Jingzhou afraid to respond.
Under the bright lights of the hall, Xie Jingzhou's face truly turned pale this time. Emperor Xiaochang's gaze, which had been fixed on his fifth son, grew even deeper.
Xie Jingzhou, kneeling on the ground, shivered like a sieve. He wished he could tear Xie Jinglan's mouth apart.
Ji Zizhao watched the Fourth Prince, who remained composed with a gentle expression, with both admiration and apprehension. She knew that the Fourth Prince was not as harmless as he appeared, but she had not expected him to be so unfathomable. In just a few words, he had managed to utterly defeat the Fifth Prince.
Ji Zizhao's clenched fist unconsciously loosened. Suppressing the shock in her heart, she continued to observe coldly.
"I must say, the Second Prince's prolonged absence after the Battle of Luoyi is indeed unsettling. It is understandable that Fifth Prince is concerned," Sun Yunxiao slowly rose and bowed to the Emperor. Then, he paused and added, "I presume if it were not for the Ji family dragging their feet, the Second Prince would certainly have been able to return to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday."
Grand Tutor Zhao heard this and stood up, saying jokingly, "Minister Sun is exaggerating. No one wanted the defeat at Luoyi. Although the envoy has explained the reasons for the defeat, whether it is the Ji family's responsibility must await the final decision of the military dispatches. Otherwise, would we not be acting irresponsibly, as if grabbing any random person from the Ji family to be their leader?"
Sun Yunxiao and Grand Tutor Zhao's coordinated efforts not only skillfully extricated the Fifth Prince but also directly targeted the Ji family.
Those seated nearby heard this and some also rose to voice their agreement.
The anger in Ji Zizhao's heart was ignited simultaneously. Looking at the hypocritical faces of those individuals, she could not and had never intended to tolerate it.
She slowly rose and, without evasion, faced those who were trampling on the Ji family. Her dark eyes fixed on Sun Yunxiao like torches. "It is an undeniable fact that all the men of the Ji family perished in Luoyi. Minister Sun, instead of investigating the reasons for the Battle of Luoyi, you so readily declare that the Ji family was the cause of the setback. I am curious, what exactly did you witness in the Battle of Luoyi, Minister Sun, or are you speaking nonsense based on pure imagination?"
Sun Yunxiao's face darkened. He had never expected Ji Zizhao to dare to speak up. "The Ji family truly has no one in charge anymore. Even a concubine's refuse dares to stand here and spew arrogant words, questioning an imperial official?"
Ji Zizhao's expression remained unchanged, her demeanor neither humble nor overbearing. "Minister Sun's upbringing seems to only allow him to be so assertive towards a young woman like me. But it is understandable. Minister Sun has served in officialdom for many years but has never once conquered a battlefield. Yet, every time the Ji family wins a victory, Minister Sun rushes to visit overnight, only to be able to exaggerate the brutal battles the next day in court, to show how concerned he is about the war. If Minister Sun can even do such a thing for credit, then it seems the Sun family's upbringing is not much better."
When the Ji family won, they eagerly fawned and stole the Ji family's honor. Now that the Ji family was in decline, they allied themselves with the Fifth Prince and trampled on the Ji family at will. This behavior was truly unsightly.
Sun Yunxiao's old face darkened further, his chest heaving with anger as he stood there.
Grand Tutor Zhao gritted his teeth and pointed at Ji Zizhao, "What do you think you are! What right do you have to speak here!"
Ji Zizhao turned her cold gaze to Grand Tutor Zhao, "Grand Tutor Zhao, do you also wish to discuss what constitutes proper upbringing with me? However, I recall that a few days ago, at the entrance of the Zhao family, I made myself clear enough. If Grand Tutor Zhao did not hear clearly, he can go to the Fengtian Prefecture prison and ask young Master Zhao. I believe young Master Zhao, whose insides have likely been scraped clean by prison food, would be more lucid than Grand Tutor Zhao."
Grand Tutor Zhao: "..."
Damn Ji Zizhao, can you not mention his son's affairs!
Ji Zizhao curled her lips silently.
Naturally, she would not.
If you can trample on the Ji family's wounds and rub salt in them, then do not expect me to let go of the opportunity to tear open your scars.
Do not speak of yielding.
That word is never suitable for scoundrels like you.
The princes sitting on the side all turned their gazes to Ji Zizhao.
Curiosity, shock, confusion... all were present.
They had seen many young ladies of official families, but never had one like the eldest daughter of the Ji family dare to retort so fiercely, so logically, and even drive two high-ranking officials to doubt themselves...
They had truly never heard of, nor seen, such a thing.
The hall, for a moment, became deathly silent.
Emperor Xiaochang leaned slightly to the side, seemingly casually observing Ji Zizhao, "Eldest Daughter Ji has a sharp tongue. So forceful and eloquent, even I cannot help but notice."
With this simple sentence, the deathly silent hall suddenly became agitated.
Seeing the Emperor's face, which showed no discernible emotion and was unpredictable, everyone quickly rose and knelt on the ground, respectfully and fearfully proclaiming, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger..."