The Emperor has ordered a thorough investigation into the defeat at Luoyi, and the news has spread throughout the city.
The Second Prince's fall from grace has become the talk of the town.
The Sun and Zhao families, who were waiting in their mansions to witness the Ji family's downfall, never imagined in their wildest dreams that they would become the laughingstock themselves instead of seeing the Ji family become one.
Sun Yunxiao and the Grand Tutor of the Zhao family, who had secretly aligned themselves with the Second Prince, could not believe that with irrefutable evidence pointing to the Ji family's guilt, and the Second Prince merely going to deliver a final blow to the surviving female members of the Ji family, the Ji family was instead exonerated, and the Second Prince himself became the final blow?
Upon hearing the news, Sun Yunxiao and the Grand Tutor of the Zhao family felt their blood pressure skyrocket.
Sun Yunxiao, in particular, could not catch his breath and fainted on the spot.
The Madam of the Sun family and the Madam of the Zhao family could no longer sit still. After much deliberation, they both cornered Ji Zizhao.
"Ji Zizhao! How dare you! Not only did you dare to incite the public, but you also framed a current prince! What is your ultimate goal?" Madam Sun berated her furiously.
The Madam of the Grand Tutor of the Zhao family, having already clashed with Ji Zizhao, knew she would gain nothing by confronting her directly. She decided to cast aside all pretense and sobbed, prostrating herself on the ground. "Eldest Daughter of the Ji family, how could you do such a thing! The Second Prince is the Emperor's son, how can you betray him like this? How will you face the deceased men of the Ji family? My Zhao family and the Ji family are related by marriage, Eldest Daughter of the Ji family, even for the sake of Ji Ziyan, you cannot go to such extremes!"
Ji Zizhao watched coldly as the two madams, one playing the aggrieved and the other the furious, blocked her path.
Although Madam Sun's words were harsh and unpleasant, they felt more genuine. Unlike Madam Zhao, who feigned ignorance while knowing the truth. Her own third sister had been so mistreated that she lost her child, and yet she had the audacity to speak of kinship and their families' marital ties.
The young servants behind the two women stirred restlessly, their hands clenched around their short clubs and brooms.
Ji Zizhao knew well that if these two had come to her, they would not leave satisfied.
She quickly fumbled for a medicine bottle in her sleeve, her index finger unconsciously loosening the stopper.
At that moment, the atmosphere grew tense, on the verge of erupting.
"Tread, tread, tread... tread, tread, tread..."
Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves approached from afar.
A carriage stopped abruptly outside the crowd.
The young man driving the carriage leaped down, his face impassive, and pushed aside the servants crowding the road.
Madam Zhao and Madam Sun exchanged a silent glance as they looked at the stern-faced man.
He looked familiar, but they couldn't recall where they had seen him.
The man, as if not noticing Madam Zhao and Madam Sun, walked directly towards Ji Zizhao.
Seeing this, Madam Sun and Madam Zhao rejoiced inwardly.
Could it be someone come for revenge?
Looking at the man, he was clearly no easy opponent. Such a tall and robust man could likely send Ji Zizhao to the ground with a single punch.
"Please, Eldest Daughter of the Ji family, come with me," the man said, stopping before Ji Zizhao, his demeanor still as cold as ever.
Ji Zizhao glanced at the waist token on his person and understood his identity.
Although she hadn't expected to meet him here, since he was willing to help her, she had no desire to waste any more time here.
Madam Sun and Madam Zhao, seeing Ji Zizhao about to leave, were outraged.
They signaled to the servants behind them, and within moments, the path before Ji Zizhao and the man was blocked.
Madam Sun spoke first, "I am the wife of the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief, and this is the wife of the Grand Tutor Zhao. We have important matters to discuss with the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family today. Who are you, to dare to take her away so casually? If you truly have something to discuss with her, perhaps you can state it here."
If it was something good, they certainly wouldn't let Ji Zizhao have it so easily.
If it was something bad, they wanted to witness firsthand how Ji Zizhao would be beaten to a pulp.
The man frowned, looking at the two madams of the Zhao and Sun families, hesitating to speak.
At the same moment, a melodious male voice, like a flowing stream, suddenly rang out from not far away. "Madam of the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief, Madam of the Grand Tutor Zhao... you two truly possess great authority."
This, this voice...
Madam Sun and Madam Zhao turned around. After the servants behind them all retreated, they saw the curtain of the carriage being lifted by a hand with well-defined knuckles, and the face revealed within was none other than the current Fourth Prince!
Now, Madam Sun and Madam Zhao finally understood who was associated with the person standing beside Ji Zizhao.
"Your subject, Sun Wang Shi, your subject, Zhao An Shi, pays respects to His Highness the Fourth Prince."
Xie Jinglan, from the carriage, looked at the two kneeling figures and smiled faintly, his expression calm. "I was just about to visit the Ji family to pay respects to the heroic spirits of the Ji family, and thought I would give the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family a ride. I did not expect to have to report this matter to my father before explaining it to you two ladies."
The two kneeling women trembled, their expressions frozen in fear. "Your Highness the Fourth Prince speaks too highly of us. We... we did not expect Your Highness the Fourth Prince to arrive..."
This was true. The Emperor had many sons, but they rarely appeared publicly in the city. Especially this Fourth Prince, who was known for his extreme discretion. It was said that very few people in the imperial city had ever seen his face. The last time they had seen the Fourth Prince was at the Emperor's birthday banquet a few years ago.
How could Madam Sun and Madam Zhao have imagined that they would be so unlucky?
Xie Jinglan nodded slightly, his gaze falling on the man beside Ji Zizhao. "Nian Gong, let's go."
Huo Nian Gong silently acknowledged the order and walked ahead, clearing the path for Ji Zizhao.
Madam Sun and Madam Zhao, lying on the ground, gnashed their teeth in hatred. Why was this wretch so fortunate? They were both facing the Fourth Prince, but he was standing while they had to kneel.
As the two women seethed with indignation, Ji Zizhao had already reached the carriage. Before Huo Nian Gong could offer his hand to help her, the carriage door was pushed open from the inside. The slender, beautiful hand that had lifted the curtain earlier reached out from the door.
The snow-white wide sleeves draped over the back of the hand, creating a beautiful contrast with the fair skin. The subtle dark embroidery of bamboo under the sunlight showcased the exquisite clothing and the noble status of the wearer.
Madam Zhao and Madam Sun, who had been grinding their teeth in anger, now felt their teeth shatter.
That was a current prince! Even if the Fourth Prince was the most unremarkable among all the princes, a starving camel is still larger than a horse. What commoner could have the honor of being helped by a prince?
Ji Zizhao's calm gaze swept over the two kneeling women. "Do the two madams feel indignant?"
Madam Zhao: "..."
Madam Sun: "..."
It would be a miracle if they weren't!
"Originally, it would have taken the Emperor some time to verify the Second Prince's strategists in the court. However, with the disturbance caused by the two madams, everyone will now know that the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief and the Grand Tutor Zhao have a close relationship with the Second Prince. Instead of glaring at each other, the two madams would be better off returning quickly to pack their husbands' belongings. I heard that the prisons of the Dali Temple are not a pleasant place to be."
Fools always stumble upon their own obstacles.
This was why Ji Zizhao did not argue.
Wasting time with people like them was the most foolish thing in the world.
Madam Sun and Madam Zhao were both stunned.
So, had they lifted a stone only to drop it on their own feet?
Ji Zizhao, having no desire to linger, turned around and stepped onto the carriage, ignoring the outstretched hand.
However, before she could dodge, the hand had already grasped her slender wrist.
Ji Zizhao felt helpless. Looking at the handsome and reserved man inside the carriage, who was like a youth from a secluded valley, she said softly, "Thank you for the ride, Your Highness the Fourth Prince."
He held her wrist, his eyes, as dark as the abyss, revealing a faint, ungraspable smile. His voice was low and gentle. "Good."