The Empress Dowager's funeral was a solemn affair, and the palace was hushed, with no one daring to make a sound.
At this time, however, a scandal erupted…
The Seventh Prince, Xie Jingqi, looked at his fourth brother in shock, his expression speaking volumes.
Had that good-for-nothing from the Ji family gone mad?
The Fourth Prince, Xie Jinglan, lowered his gaze slightly, his long eyelashes concealing the thoughts in his eyes.
The other princes were equally stunned, unable to recover.
Looking at the Emperor Xiaochang's face, it had turned completely grim.
He knew full well that Ji Zizhao harbored resentment towards the Ji family's affairs, so even though Ji Zizhao had deliberately delayed her return to the Fifth Prince's mansion, he had turned a blind eye.
But the undeniable fact remained that the Ji family was dead. He had already bestowed the honors they deserved. Yet, Ji Zizhao dared to act so outrageously on the day of the Empress Dowager's funeral…
"Well done, Ji family!"
Emperor Yongchang slammed his hand on the low table beside him, overturning the tea.
Feng Gu, kneeling on the ground, wished he could vanish into the earth. What audacity did that eldest daughter of the Ji family have?
Emperor Yongchang could feel a surge of anger just imagining the scene at Shouren Palace. "Guards! Prepare my carriage to Shouren Palace!"
Feng Gu dared not delay and quickly followed Emperor Yongchang out of Longhua Hall.
The princes exchanged glances and followed close behind.
The Fifth Prince, Xie Jingzhou, moved the fastest, practically jogging to Emperor Xiaochang's side, pleading, "Father, please calm your wrath. It is all my fault. I failed to keep a proper eye on Zizhao. I beg your father to forgive Zizhao. I promise to discipline her strictly in the future."
Emperor Xiaochang almost choked upon hearing this.
"What is so good about a woman who is so immodest and disgraceful?" How could he have such a useless and cowardly son?
"When I married Zizhao, I personally promised her the position of Crown Princess. However, due to the incident in Luoyi, I mistakenly blamed the Ji family and demoted Zizhao to a concubine. I was already indebted to her. Even if she has done such a thing, how can I abandon her?"
The Fifth Prince's words left the other princes feeling choked.
If such an immodest woman were to marry into their royal family, where would their dignity lie?
The Seventh Prince, Xie Jingqi, gritted his teeth in anger.
But before he could utter a sound, his arm was gripped tightly by a hand.
The Seventh Prince, Xie Jingqi, looked at his fourth brother in surprise. The Fourth Prince, however, gently shook his head at him.
If anyone understood Ji Zizhao's character, it was he.
Let alone a woman who disdained the position of Fifth Prince Consort, she would never have done something like this with anyone in the palace. Even if Ji Zizhao had truly done it, with her intellect and schemes, how could she have been so easily discovered?
And then there was the Fifth Prince's face, filled with forgiveness…
The answer was already clear.
The Fourth Prince, Xie Jinglan, lowered his voice and said, "The officials are all in the front hall. At this moment, there is no one else in Shouren Palace except the palace staff. Think carefully about the reasons why the eldest daughter of the Ji family would act this way."
The Seventh Prince, Xie Jingqi, was astonished.
What reason could a woman have for such a shameless act? Naturally, it was…
No, that wasn't right.
Everyone in the imperial city knew that eunuchs were… physically incapable. A woman seeking an affair either did so for personal gratification or for vanity. But Ji Zizhao's apparent paramour did not possess either of those.
Seeing that the Seventh Prince had figured it out, the Fourth Prince, Xie Jinglan, said in a low voice, "Actions have reasons. If the reason doesn't hold up, then the matter can be traced."
The Seventh Prince, Xie Jingqi, seemed to understand something, yet also not quite.
Emperor Xiaochang was angry at his useless son, but he was also more relieved.
The imperial princes were born into a world of power struggles and vying for supremacy, and many had even harmed their siblings for the throne. While this fifth son was indeed incompetent, he was at least pure of heart.
The Fifth Prince, Xie Jingzhou, saw his father's expression gradually soften, and a hint of joy flickered in his eyes.
A eunuch could not possibly do anything to Ji Zizhao.
But as long as his father believed him to be a kind person, that was enough.
As for Ji Zizhao, who was being ridiculed by everyone, she would have no path to redemption. At that time, if he were to sincerely accept her anew, she would surely be grateful and assist him.
"One cannot say that. Besides eunuchs, who else could be at Shouren Palace? The Ji family's good… eldest daughter, unless her brain was kicked by a door, how could she possibly stoop to someone who is… incapable? Or is my Fifth Brother truly so useless that he is worse than a eunuch?"
The Seventh Prince, Xie Jingqi, accustomed to the Emperor's favor, always spoke without restraint.
As a result, when he said this, not only did the other princes find nothing wrong with it, but they secretly mocked the Fifth Prince. Even Emperor Xiaochang's slightly softened gaze instantly flared with disgust.
He glared impatiently at the Fifth Prince beside him. "Look at your own conduct. You are worse than a eunuch, yet you dare to cry to me. You have utterly disgraced the royal family!"
Xie Jingzhou: "..."
He had been hit hard.
Everyone followed Emperor Xiaochang to Shouren Palace.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, they heard the sounds of decadent music coming from the nearby sleeping quarters.
The anger that had been building in Emperor Xiaochang's chest finally erupted. "Guards! Throw those two shameless people out!"
Feng Gu dared not delay and quickly led the guards into the sleeping quarters.
Xie Jingzhou knew that any opportunity to curry favor with his father was now impossible, but he still had to put on a show for Ji Zizhao.
After all, he wanted Ji Zizhao's allegiance, not her death.
"Father, Father, please calm your wrath. I believe Zizhao must have had some unspeakable difficulty. Blame me, Father, for I am useless and did not accompany Zizhao well." Xie Jingzhou knelt without hesitation, truly abandoning any semblance of princely dignity.
Emperor Xiaochang frowned deeply, no longer willing to waste his breath on this useless son.
Feng Gu's actions were swift. In the blink of an eye, he emerged from the sleeping quarters with the guards.
The princes stared with curiosity at the two disheveled individuals in the guards' hands. However, as the two drew closer, the princes' eyes widened even further.
The Fourth Prince, Xie Jinglan, as he looked at the approaching figures, saw his lingering worries completely vanish.
He knew it. The eldest daughter of the Ji family was not so easily framed.
The unsuspecting Fifth Prince, hearing the approaching footsteps behind him, continued to cry with heartfelt sincerity. "Father, I beg you, please be merciful. I promise to discipline Zizhao properly in the future. I only beg that Father does not punish her."
Xie Jingzhou naturally had to cry.
He had to perform convincingly to put on a show for Ji Zizhao.
However, for some reason, through his tear-blurred vision, he suddenly felt that his father's expression was rather strange.
But before Xie Jingzhou could ponder this further, he heard two dull thuds beside him.
With anticipation, Xie Jingzhou slightly turned his head, intending to witness Ji Zizhao's deep gratitude towards him. But upon seeing the two figures huddled on the ground, he froze completely.
Yong…
Yongmei?!