Ji Zizhao lowered her eyes slightly and said truthfully, "The Empress Dowager's complexion was flushed, her qi was weak and unstable. Even though her condition had improved, a slight breathlessness still accompanied her words. Moreover, it would take at least the time of one incense stick to walk from Renshou Palace to the palace gate. Even if the Empress Dowager had people watching at the palace gate, it would be impossible for the messages to be relayed back and forth in time for Aunt Jianqiu to arrive and rescue this subject's daughter so promptly."
The Empress Dowager looked at the young girl kneeling before her with a sincere expression, her own emotions complex.
She was gratified by Ji Zizhao's clear sense of right and wrong, and even more impressed by her intelligence, courage, and resourcefulness. Such a person, even if all the men of the Ji family were gone, would likely prevent the Ji family from suffering any significant losses.
Zhengyong, you truly raised a remarkable granddaughter.
However, these thoughts quickly receded from her mind. The Empress Dowager personally helped Ji Zizhao to her feet and asked, "Do you also know why this empress has come forward to protect you?"
Ji Zizhao's heart tightened.
The Empress Dowager gazed at Ji Zizhao's profound eyes, already having an answer in mind, yet she spoke it aloud, "This empress saved you because I hope you will agree to one thing. Are you willing?"
Ji Zizhao's fingertips grew cold. The answer was on the tip of her tongue, but she could not voice it.
While the Empress Dowager certainly held affection for Ji Zizhao's grandfather, it was a sentiment of remembrance rather than obsession. Therefore, the Empress Dowager could allow her grandfather to marry and have children, a prosperous family, while she herself steadily ascended to become the Empress, and then the Empress Dowager of Yulin.
Ji Zizhao could not deny that the Empress Dowager cared about the feelings she had for her grandfather in the past.
But these feelings could never make the Empress Dowager lose her inherent rationality.
Today, her brilliance was gradually becoming evident, even the Emperor had noticed. How could she possibly escape the Empress Dowager's discerning eyes?
Therefore...
What the Empress Dowager wanted her to do could only be one thing.
Indeed, as Ji Zizhao's thoughts settled, the smile on the Empress Dowager's face vanished.
She clasped Ji Zizhao's fair hands, her brows conveying an unshakeable majesty and nobility. "I want you to promise that no matter what the Emperor does to the Ji family, the Ji family shall never rebel against the imperial power of Yulin!"
For all these years, she could not forget the valiant man who once wielded his sword on the battlefield. But her birth had already determined that many things could not be controlled by her own will.
Just as now, she would selfishly ask Ji Zizhao to promise her that she would not rebel against Yulin's empire, no matter how cruel and heinous the selfish imperial family's actions might be towards the Ji family.
Because she was Xie Sangshi!
Therefore, even in death, she would protect this empire for the Xie family!!
Ji Zizhao lowered her eyes slightly, unsurprised by what she had expected.
She simply replied in a calm and clear voice, "Empress Dowager, you exaggerate. This subject does not possess such ability."
"No, you do!" The Empress Dowager's hands trembled from the force of her grip, her bloodshot eyes fixed on the beautiful face before her.
If anyone else heard these words, they would surely think she had gone mad.
But only the Empress Dowager knew that every word she spoke was not a jest. The day she gave Ji Zizhao a life-saving token, she thought Ji Zizhao would merely use it to appeal to the Emperor's past affections and let the Ji family off the hook. Yet Ji Zizhao had not done so from the beginning!
She incited the hearts of the people, resisting imperial power!
She secretly investigated, gathering evidence!
She even designed a trap for the Second Prince, making him stand like a fool at the palace gate, exposing his arrogance to all the common people!
With such step-by-step planning and meticulous calculation, how could the Empress Dowager not be shocked?
And how could she not be afraid!!
People often say that heroes emerge from youth, but that is due to their own dullness.
Heroes do indeed often emerge from the young, but there is no distinction between male and female.
Especially...
The daughters of the Ji family!
"Ji Zizhao, I know you are intelligent and cunning. I also know that like your grandfather, once you set your mind to something, you will stop at nothing, even if it means breaking your head or defying everything. This dying old woman cannot fight you, nor does she have time to contend with you. But if I wish it, I can drag everyone in the Ji family down to hell with me! At that time, who can you save? How many can you save?"
The tenderness in the Empress Dowager's eyes had long since vanished, replaced by a chilling murderous intent.
Jianqiu was already kneeling on the ground, pleading repeatedly, "Empress Dowager, please quell your anger, Empress Dowager, please quell your anger..."
Ji Zizhao felt a chill run through her body under the Empress Dowager's ruthless gaze.
She knew that the Empress Dowager's words were no joke.
How could a woman who had commanded influence in the harem for decades be an ordinary person?
She harbored hatred for the imperial family, but her hatred had not yet reached the point of overturning the world. Suppressing the turmoil in her heart, Ji Zizhao broke free from the Empress Dowager's grip and bowed deeply again to the Empress Dowager, "Empress Dowager above, today Ji Zizhao swears to the heavens, no matter what the imperial family does to the Ji family in the future, the Ji family will only defend themselves and will never rebel! If there is even half a lie, Ji Zizhao is willing to die without a whole corpse! To be exposed in the wilderness! To be struck by lightning!"
The Empress Dowager did not expect Ji Zizhao to agree so readily. She felt both relief and sorrow. "This empress is tired. Jianqiu, escort the eldest daughter of the Ji family out of the palace."
Jianqiu quickly rose to obey.
Ji Zizhao stood up and bent her knees slightly, "In my grandfather's study, there is a treasured scroll of a woman's portrait. The woman in the painting has delicate features, dignified and elegant. My grandfather often sat in his study gazing at the portrait in contemplation. This subject does not know the woman in the portrait. This subject merely remembers that in a corner of the painting, the name 'Sang Shujun' was written."
The Empress Dowager trembled all over, tears streaming down her face.
So, he still remembered her.
So, the reason she agreed not to rebel was not because of the deafening threat, but simply because she had agreed to the plea of a woman deeply loved by her grandfather...
Ji Zizhao followed Jianqiu towards the palace gate.
Jianqiu hesitated several times, wanting to speak but stopping herself.
"Aunt Jianqiu, if you have something to say, please speak directly."
Jianqiu was grateful for Ji Zizhao's gentle heart. "Eldest Daughter of the Ji family, please forgive my servant's presumption. The Empress Dowager also has her own difficulties. I hope the eldest daughter of the Ji family will not hold a grudge."
Ji Zizhao smiled faintly, answering a question with a non-answer. "The Empress Dowager has experienced great joy and great sorrow. She feels physically fatigued. Aunt Jianqiu, please remember to have the Empress Dowager drink chrysanthemum tea brewed with goji berries before bed. This is an excellent medicine for regulating liver qi and relieving depression... We are almost at the palace gate. Aunt Jianqiu, please stop here."
Jianqiu's heart trembled, and her eyes became hot.
Even now, the eldest daughter of the Ji family was still concerned about the Empress Dowager's health, showing that she did not hold any grudges against the Empress Dowager. Such a magnanimous heart and broad mind were truly admirable.
Ji Zizhao walked out of the palace gate alone. The bustling crowd that had been at the palace gate had long since dispersed.
Standing before the spacious palace gate, Ji Zizhao gazed into the distance for a long time before stepping forward.
The Second Prince had been defeated, but the Fifth Prince remained. Under the Emperor's suspicion, it would not be easy for the Ji family to rise again. The female members of the Ji family needed support, and the sisters in the family had not yet learned to stand on their own.
The road ahead was still long.
"Ji Zizhao, stop right there!"
Suddenly, a group of people approached with imposing momentum.
Ji Zizhao stopped and looked at them calmly. She saw that the leader was the Grand Tutor's wife from the Zhao family and Madam Sun, accompanied by their retainers and servants, forming a tight encirclement around her.