Emperor Xiaochang glared at Princess Shuowen, who was trembling all over, "Is what Tenth Prince just said true?"
Princess Shuowen shivered and refused to admit it, biting her lip, "Father, believe your daughter, how could I do such a thing?"
Emperor Xiaochang remained silent.
Although he trusted Shuowen more, with Ji Zizhao present, he did not want to be seen as biased by an outsider.
Princess Shuowen quickly scrambled to the Tenth Prince's side, her face full of sorrow, and coaxed, "Tenth brother, I am your elder sister. How can you slander me like this for an outsider? When I rushed over, I really saw her disrespect you with my own eyes!"
Nanny Song also quickly knelt on the ground and said, "Princess Shuowen is right. If the princess had not arrived in time to stop her, who knows what rebellious things she would have done to the Tenth Prince!"
Seeing that his fairy sister was being misunderstood, the Tenth Prince quickly said, "You are talking nonsense..."
Nanny Song said again, "At that time, His Highness the Tenth Prince was unconscious, how would you know the truth?"
The Tenth Prince was full of grievance. As he was about to say something more, he was stopped by a look from Emperor Xiaochang.
The other palace servants also knelt down one after another, all pleading for Princess Shuowen. They kept calling Ji Zizhao disrespectful and malicious, pinning all the blame on her.
Ji Zizhao realized that since Princess Shuowen had failed to use the Tenth Prince as a shield, she had turned her attention to her, pouring all the dirt onto her to divert the Emperor's attention and conceal her own extremely despicable intentions.
Royalty, indeed, had no inherent kindness.
The moment Emperor Xiaochang saw Ji Zizhao, he was reminded of his disgraced son. Although the fault lay with the Second Prince, he was still his own flesh and blood, and he could not look favorably upon Ji Zizhao.
"Ji Zizhao, how dare you! Now that you are caught red-handed, what do you have to say for yourself!"
Ji Zizhao certainly had something to say.
Otherwise, wouldn't others benefit for nothing?
However, just as she was about to gather her skirt and kneel on the ground, she saw the Seventh Prince stride in at a great pace, accompanied by a trembling imperial physician.
"Your humble subject pays his respects to Father."
Emperor Xiaochang frowned, "What are you doing here?"
Xie Jingqi lowered his eyes, "Your humble subject heard that His Highness the Tenth Prince was not feeling well, so he personally invited an imperial physician." Saying this, he kicked the imperial physician's backside, "What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and examine him!"
The imperial physician stumbled from the kick but dared not speak. He quickly knelt beside the Tenth Prince and began to examine him carefully.
This Seventh Prince was a bully in the palace. He had been spoiled by the princes since he was young, to the point where even the imperial consorts in the harem trembled at the sight of him.
What could the imperial physician say except endure the pain?
What else could he dare to say!
Princess Shuowen stared in disbelief at the imperial physician examining her Tenth brother, her mind reeling. Why would her Seventh brother suddenly appear? And why was this imperial physician here?
However, no matter how much Princess Shuowen tried to escape reality, reality still delivered a heavy blow.
A moment later, the imperial physician withdrew his hand and turned to face the Emperor, bowing his head. "Reporting to Your Majesty, His Highness the Tenth Prince indeed suffered a heart ailment just now. Fortunately, it was dealt with promptly, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable."
The Tenth Prince nodded enthusiastically, "Your humble subject was not lying. It was the fairy sister who saved your humble subject."
Emperor Xiaochang looked up at Ji Zizhao in the distance, "I have never heard that the eldest daughter of the Ji family understands medicine."
Ji Zizhao truly gathered her skirt and knelt on the ground. "If my guess is correct, Your Highness the Tenth Prince must frequently experience palpitations, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Moreover, during moments of great joy or sorrow, there would be a constricting sensation in the throat and neck, and even numbness and pain in the left limbs."
The Tenth Prince's heart condition had long been an open secret in the palace. Therefore, as soon as Ji Zizhao spoke, it was not only the Tenth Prince and the Emperor who were surprised, but even the Seventh Prince was stunned.
This was exactly right!
How could she be so miraculous!
Emperor Xiaochang looked at the Seventh Prince, whose mouth was wide open, with suspicion and disdain. Clearly, you were the one who brought the imperial physician to help her, so why are you so surprised now?
Seventh Prince: "..."
Father, you have truly misunderstood your humble subject...
"I never expected that the eldest daughter of the Ji family also understands medicine," Emperor Xiaochang's expression was uncertain, his emotions unreadable.
Ji Zizhao replied honestly, "It's just a small area of research."
Emperor Xiaochang: "..."
Quite unpretentious.
"So, you can cure it?"
The imperial physician's eyes widened as he looked at this eldest daughter of the Ji family. The Tenth Prince's illness had been present since he was in the womb. Although the Tenth Prince had not been favored over the years, it was not as if the imperial physicians in the palace had not diligently diagnosed him. Yet, years had passed, and the Tenth Prince's condition had shown no improvement whatsoever.
Ji Zizhao could understand the imperial physician's shock.
After all, in this era, congenital heart disease was no different from a terminal illness.
Of course, Ji Zizhao could cure it.
However, seeing Emperor Xiaochang's unhopeful eyes, she shook her head against her will, "Your humble subject is incapable."
The Tenth Prince had always been unfavored. The fact that he had lived to this age was entirely due to the Emperor's neglect and indifference.
Normally, no one would waste time scheming against a prince whom the Emperor did not care about.
Even so, Princess Shuowen had set her sights on the Tenth Prince.
If the news of the Tenth Prince's recovery spread, she did not know what else the Tenth Prince would have to face.
Ji Zizhao did not like feminine benevolence, but she would never harm the innocent.
At least for now, the Tenth Prince's illness was not enough to consume his life.
Others who heard that the Tenth Prince could not be cured showed varying degrees of mockery on their faces.
The imperial physician kneeling beside the Tenth Prince also showed a hint of mockery.
However, he was mocking all those who had shown mockery towards Ji Zizhao.
It had taken the imperial physicians in the palace almost several years to thoroughly understand the Tenth Prince's condition, yet look at Miss Ji, who could encompass it in a single statement.
How could such a person claim not to be able to treat it?
Emperor Xiaochang had not expected a young lady who had never even stepped out of her house to possess any astonishing medical skills. At the moment, he just wanted to finish dealing with the mess before him and leave. "Shuowen, do you have anything else to say?"
Princess Shuowen's face was full of tears, whether from fear or grievance, she said, "Your humble subject absolutely refuses to marry into the Tuyuhun. I would rather die!"
Emperor Xiaochang's expression turned grim, "Absurd! Alliance is a matter of national importance, how can you throw a childish tantrum?"
At this critical moment, the Tenth Prince spoke in a childish voice, "Father, your humble subject is willing to go to Tuyuhun in place of my elder sister."
Emperor Xiaochang was stunned for a moment, "Do you know why you are going to Tuyuhun?"
"As a hostage," the Tenth Prince said, lifting his small face, his expression unchanged, "but if my going can make Father feel relieved, and make my elder sister happy, then your humble subject is willing to go."
Emperor Xiaochang was stunned again. When he looked at the Tenth Prince again, there was finally a trace of affection in his eyes.
He never expected that at this critical juncture, this least favored son would be the one who thought of him the most.
Everyone was stunned by the Tenth Prince's decision.
Only Ji Zizhao, who was calmly watching this scene, felt a surge of emotion.
This Tenth Prince was indeed intelligent.