This scene, it's no exaggeration to say it stunned everyone present.
That was the Grand Eunuch, how could he suddenly be all smiles?
Observing the surprised looks of those around him, Eunuch Qi immediately showed his displeasure. "His Majesty personally summoned the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family to attend the Empress Dowager's funeral. Aunt Jianqiu is also waiting in Shouren Palace. If the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family is delayed in attending the funeral, who would dare bear the Emperor's wrath?"
Aunt Jianqiu!
Wasn't that the Empress Dowager's most trusted aunt?
One thunderclap after another struck, leaving everyone utterly stunned.
Looking at Grand Eunuch Qi, who now stood proudly before them with an arrogant expression, everyone instinctively made way.
And Eunuch Qi, who moments ago had been none too pleased with anyone, now turned to Ji Zizhao with a smile. "Eldest Daughter of the Ji family, please come in."
The crowd...
The favoritism was too obvious.
Ji Zizhao still smiled calmly, showing no surprise throughout the entire ordeal.
Eunuch Qi noticed this and inwardly praised her. Look at the demeanor of the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family, truly worthy of being the head of the Ji family.
Unmoved by favor or disgrace, calm and composed.
Just looking at her was pleasing to the eye.
As Eunuch Qi was about to step forward, his foot nearly landed on the third old madam who was kneeling on the ground.
Eunuch Qi frowned. "Whose family member is this so undisciplined? If you must kneel, go to the side and do so, don't block the way here."
The third old madam finally snapped out of her daze and quickly stood up, smiling. "I, I am Zhaojie's grand-aunt."
The second old madam quickly added, "I, I am too. We entered the palace with Zhaojie this time."
Eunuch Qi looked at the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family behind him, confused.
Logically, one shouldn't bring so many people into the palace. Moreover, today was the day of the Empress Dowager's funeral, and bringing so many family members was rather inappropriate. However, Eunuch Qi felt that the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family was not someone who would act so irresponsibly.
Ji Zizhao did not answer Eunuch Qi's doubts. She merely looked at Lianju beside her and instructed, "You guard the carriage and wait for me outside the palace. Yongmei will accompany me in alone."
Lianju nodded and turned towards the carriage.
Seeing this, Eunuch Qi understood everything.
It was clear that these troublesome branches of the family wanted to use the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family's name to gain entry and benefit. Although most aristocratic families had some disreputable branches, Eunuch Qi had never seen such shamelessness.
The Ji family had only recently had their name cleared, and these branches of the Ji family were already restless, wanting to snatch a share of the spoils, without any consideration for the reputation of the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family.
Eunuch Qi, shrewd as he was, didn't need Ji Zizhao to speak. Before entering the palace gate, he informed the guard captain at the entrance, "His Majesty has only permitted the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family to enter the palace to attend the Empress Dowager's funeral. All other unrelated individuals are to be expelled. Do not disrupt the order of the palace."
The guard captain dared not slacken in his obedience to Grand Eunuch Qi's orders. He personally led his men to stop the two old madams of the Ji family who were attempting to sneak into the palace.
The third old madam panicked, shouting at Ji Zizhao, who had already entered the palace gate, "Zhaojie, wait for us! We haven't gone in yet!"
The second old madam put on a stern face and said to the guard captain, "We are all members of the Ji family. How dare you bar us from entering! In terms of status, even Zhaojie must kneel and greet us!"
The guard captain and the guards at the palace gate naturally disdained arguing with two old madams. However, the young eunuchs who had just escorted Ji Zizhao into the palace gate were now idly waiting.
"Has old age affected your hearing? Didn't you hear our Grand Eunuch say that His Majesty only allowed the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family to enter the palace?"
"These collateral branches are becoming increasingly shameless. They didn't offer any help when the Ji family was in trouble, but now that the Ji family is safe, they shamelessly come to leech off benefits."
"This is the palace gate. If you continue to make such a scene, you'll all be arrested and thrown into prison!"
The young ladies and madams of official families who were still lining up at the palace gate no longer dared to laugh at Ji Zizhao, but this did not prevent them from continuing to laugh at the Ji family's collateral branches.
The madam who had been chatting with the third old madam moments ago had already disappeared somewhere.
The two old madams of the Ji family were so ridiculed by the eunuchs that their faces turned red. Looking at the faces of those around them who were eagerly watching the spectacle, they felt their old faces burn with shame and pain.
Lianju, walking towards the carriage, continued to move forward until she stopped in front of the commoners who had followed them all the way. "As you have seen, the Ji family's collateral branches have no relation to our Ji family's Marquisate. You may seek justice in any way you wish. Our young lady has decreed that the Ji family's Marquisate will not interfere in the affairs of the Ji family's collateral branches."
The commoners, who were on the verge of despair, heard these words and were all grateful for the openness of the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family. While thanking Lianju, they rushed towards the two old madams of the Ji family not far away.
Now that the Ji family's Marquisate had made their position so clear, what did they have to fear?
The two old madams still standing at the gate looked at the approaching commoners, their legs stiffening and feeling heavy. They watched the commoners seeking justice come closer and closer, so terrified that they even forgot to run.
Ji Zizhao walked with Grand Eunuch Qi towards Shouren Palace and said softly, "Thank you for your help just now, Grand Eunuch Qi. Ji Zizhao is immensely grateful."
Eunuch Qi quickly bowed. "Eldest Daughter of the Ji family, you flatter this servant. The conduct of the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family is something this servant has always admired. It is my honor to be of service to the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family. Henceforth, as long as the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family enters the palace, this servant will surely attend to you diligently."
Ji Zizhao took out a few bank notes from her怀 and handed them to Eunuch Qi.
Eunuch Qi initially wanted to refuse, but then he considered that the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family was not someone who would use money to coerce others into doing things, so he accepted them, adding another point in his mind for the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family's pleasant demeanor.
Jianqiu had been waiting at the entrance of Shouren Palace early on. Seeing the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family approach from afar, she quickly went to greet her.
Upon seeing Aunt Jianqiu arrive, Eunuch Qi bowed to Ji Zizhao and left.
Jianqiu walked forward a few steps to meet Ji Zizhao and bent her knees. "This servant greets the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family."
Ji Zizhao saw that Jianqiu's face was pale and reached out to help her up, sincerely consoling her. "The Empress Dowager has passed away. Please, Aunt Jianqiu, try to bear with your grief. Life goes on, and time continues to flow. Only by looking forward can Aunt Jianqiu live up to the Empress Dowager's care and arrangements for you."
Jianqiu's eyes turned red, but she still managed to suppress her grief and offer a bitter smile. "Eldest Daughter of the Ji family, you speak the truth. This servant will surely live well. Only then can I wholeheartedly serve the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family and not betray the Empress Dowager's instructions to me before her passing."
Ji Zizhao did not refuse Jianqiu's overtures of goodwill.
Those who had managed to survive in the imperial palace until now were all astute individuals, especially someone like Jianqiu, who had served the Empress Dowager. She was meticulous and reliable.
The Empress Dowager had indeed threatened her before her death, but she could not forget her promise to the Empress Dowager to take good care of Jianqiu.
Before entering the inner chamber, Ji Zizhao left Yongmei outside and, accompanied by Jianqiu, crossed the threshold alone.
As the Empress Dowager's coffin had already been transported to the Imperial Front, Shouren Palace respectfully displayed the ceremonial robes the Empress Dowager had worn in life.
Ji Zizhao silently offered three sticks of incense to the ceremonial robes before Jianqiu led her to a side hall to rest.
"Eldest Daughter of the Ji family, please sit here and wait for a moment. At the exact hour of Chen, His Majesty will personally escort the Empress Dowager's coffin out of the palace accompanied by all the officials. Someone from the Imperial Front will send word later, and then the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family may proceed to the palace gate."
This was the Empress Dowager's personal attendant, handling every detail with order and method.
Ji Zizhao thought that Qingzhu should have arrived at the Dali Temple by now. She took off the token from her waist and handed it to Jianqiu. "Later, my person will come to the palace gate to find me. However, I am inconvenienced to move around in the palace now, so I must trouble Aunt Jianqiu with this matter."
Jianqiu looked at the token before her. How could she not understand that this was Ji Zizhao's test and trust in her? If she couldn't handle this small matter properly, she would have no face to accompany the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family out of the palace in the future. "Eldest Daughter of the Ji family, please rest assured, this servant will not fail your expectations."
Jianqiu carefully took the token, tucked it into her sleeve, and then ordered the palace servants to serve tea to the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family before hurrying out of Shouren Palace.
Those who had come to attend the Empress Dowager's funeral were, after entering the palace, led by designated palace servants to their respective chambers to be settled, and they would collectively bow when the Empress Dowager's coffin was brought to the palace gate. Only Ji Zizhao was special; Jianqiu had specifically instructed Eunuch Qi to send someone to meet her.
Now, in the vast Shouren Palace, apart from the busy palace servants, no one else could be seen.
"Thump, thump... thump, thump..."
A series of hurried footsteps suddenly sounded from afar and approached.
Ji Zizhao looked in the direction of the sound and saw a child, about half a person's height, stumbling in.
Although the child was young, he was handsome and delicate, especially his snow-white skin that seemed to glow, making him look like a little rice dumpling from afar.
The child didn't even glance at Ji Zizhao. He bypassed the side hall and entered the main hall.
Upon seeing the ceremonial robes displayed on the couch, he couldn't help but kneel on the ground and sobbed softly. "Your grandson is unfilial. I didn't get to see my Imperial Grandmother one last time. Today, your grandson skipped class to pay respects to his Imperial Grandmother. I wish you a safe journey, Imperial Grandmother. If you miss your grandson, you must come to my dreams to visit."
As the child spoke, he kowtowed three times to the ceremonial robes and then remained kneeling in place.
Tears streamed down his dark, round eyes, and his young, tender face was full of reluctance to part with the Empress Dowager.
Sitting in the side hall, Ji Zizhao watched from a distance and already understood the identity of this little dumpling.
The address "Imperial Grandmother" indicated his status as a prince.
Most of the princes in the palace were adults, with only one prince who was just about five years old.
Ji Zizhao had heard her grandfather mention that this prince's birth mother was a palace maid who, one night, took advantage of the Emperor's drunkenness and climbed onto the dragon bed. Although she was banished from the Imperial Front afterward, it was discovered not long later that she was carrying the imperial offspring.
It was precisely because of this that the palace maid was conferred the title of "Dapeng."
However, even a palace maid who became a mistress was not highly regarded, especially since the Emperor had no affection for her, only deep disgust. After the prince was born, he had someone take the prince away.
Three months after the prince was taken away, the palace maid went mad.
If Ji Zizhao guessed correctly, that prince should be ranked tenth.
Indeed, just as Ji Zizhao's thoughts surfaced, another wet nurse hurried in. Seeing the prince, she exclaimed, "Tenth Prince, how could you come here unauthorized? If His Majesty finds out, he will punish you severely again."
The tenth prince pouted aggrievedly. "I just wanted to see my Imperial Grandmother off for the last time."
The wet nurse frowned and yanked him up.
Yanked him?
Ji Zizhao, sitting in the side hall, frowned.
Even if a prince was not favored, he shouldn't be yanked around like that, should he?
The wet nurse in the main hall didn't notice anything amiss. After all, everyone in the palace was busy with the Empress Dowager's funeral, so who would pay attention to this place?
Thinking thus, the wet nurse bent down and whispered a few words into the Tenth Prince's ear.
Immediately after, the Tenth Prince, who had been fine moments ago, suddenly turned pale and collapsed straight onto the ground!