The others watching the scene should have understood even if they were fools.
It was simply that Wen Hui was too deeply in love with the Fourth Prince, to the point where she spent all day lamenting to the palace maids in her chambers. Perhaps the palace maids, wanting to stand up for Wen Hui, secretly altered the Fourth Prince's background, intending to take revenge on the Fourth Prince who had abandoned her. Unexpectedly, the Eighth Prince overheard it.
That the Fourth Prince had admired Wen Hui since childhood was known to the older palace staff. Later, when Wen Hui left and the Fourth Prince fell out of favor, no one brought it up again.
But now, with Wen Hui weeping so, everyone remembered the scenes of the Fourth Prince clinging to Wen Hui in the past.
Two people who were once in love had ended up parting ways…
Gradually, everyone’s gazes fell upon Ji Zizhao.
After all, if it weren't for Ji Zizhao, Wen Hui might have ended up with the Fourth Prince on her return this time, and none of the subsequent events would have occurred.
Consort Sun sneered, "Some people are like omens of misfortune, bringing bad luck wherever they go. The Ji family's plight back then might have been due to being plagued by this bad omen."
These words were quite harsh.
But the current Ji Zizhao had no time to pay attention to Consort Sun. She was simply looking at Wen Hui coldly.
Xie Jinglan was indeed not the Fourth Prince of Yu Lin. Therefore, no matter how much the Emperor suspected and suppressed him over the years, neither the Empress nor Xie Jinglan harbored any resentment.
After all, the Emperor was not wrong.
From the Emperor's perspective, allowing a hostage to mingle among his own sons was essentially inviting a wolf into the fold. If the Emperor had not been a wise and benevolent ruler, no matter how well Xie Jinglan disguised himself, he would not have been allowed to live.
Ji Zizhao had never felt that the Emperor had done anything wrong. Sudancx.com
Or rather, if Xie Jinglan had truly done anything detrimental to Yu Lin, she would absolutely not allow him to remain in Yu Lin, even without anyone else acting.
But the reality was that despite being a hostage from Xirong, Xie Jinglan had never done anything to betray Yu Lin.
He had always been acutely aware of his identity. Therefore, he never contended for anything in Yu Lin. He was also grateful for the Empress's nurturing, and for the brotherhood with the Seventh Prince. Thus, he had exhausted all his efforts to repay their kindness and pave the way for the Seventh Prince's ascent to the throne.
One cannot choose their origins.
Perhaps Xie Jinglan's initial living under the guise of the Fourth Prince was out of necessity. But now, he had chosen Yu Lin with his life, rather than returning to Xirong.
What wrong had such a Xie Jinglan committed?
He simply wanted to choose his own life. What was wrong with that!
Ji Zizhao never aspired to secure wealth and power for Xie Jinglan, or to see him reach the pinnacle of authority. She merely wanted him to have a place to belong, nothing more.
If Xie Jinglan were to betray Yu Lin in the future, she, Ji Zizhao, would personally execute him. It would not be the turn of others to scheme maliciously for their own benefit.
Since Wen Hui, with the mindset of destroying what she could not have, had schemed against Xie Jinglan to the core, then she should not blame Ji Zizhao for stepping on Wen Hui to help Xie Jinglan gain an identity and a peaceful life.
"Hmm?"
Ji Zizhao suppressed the coldness in her heart and suddenly uttered in confusion.
Everyone was startled by Ji Zizhao's sudden exclamation. At this moment, wouldn't a normal person show their innocence, or at least explain that they had no intention of snatching the Fourth Prince away? Yet, Ji Zizhao just said "Hmm?"
"So it turns out everything was just a rumor spread by a servant," Ji Zizhao said, looking at the palace maid.
Wen Hui turned to look at Ji Zizhao, seemingly explaining yet also pleading, "I know Fourth Imperial Aunt has grievances, but this palace maid had no ill intentions. She just wanted to help me. In the end, it's all my fault. If Fourth Imperial Aunt wants to blame someone, blame me…"
Even at this point, she hadn't forgotten to establish a persona of kindness for herself.
Seeing this, the surrounding people felt genuine pity, wondering what the Fourth Prince was thinking, to reject the princess adopted by the Emperor and instead favor Ji Zizhao, who insisted on appearing in public places within the palace.
Ji Zizhao, like everyone else, showed an admiring gaze, but what she said was quite different, "Princess Wen Hui's kindness truly impresses me, but there is one thing I do not understand. Since everything was done by this palace maid, how did Princess Wen Hui know? This palace maid has not said a word from beginning to end. Where is the evidence?"
"She herself told me she knew she was wrong. I was planning to personally plead with the Empress Mother today, but she secretly sewed her own mouth shut. By the time I knew, it was already like this," Wen Hui said, her eyes still full of concern as she looked at the palace maid beside her.
Ji Zizhao said calmly, "If that's the case, Princess Wen Hui also heard only one side of the story and immediately identified the culprit. I know Princess Wen Hui does not understand how to handle cases, but everything requires reason and evidence. Now, simply making empty accusations, Princess Wen Hui has identified the culprit. Isn't that too hasty?"
Consort Sun watched Ji Zizhao speak eloquently, her heart burning with hatred.
But no matter how much it burned, she had to endure it.
If Ji Zizhao were merely a minor official in the Imperial Academy, she would naturally not have the standing to speak here. But unfortunately, even though she referred to herself as "this minister" repeatedly, she was already the de facto Fourth Prince Consort, possessing enough confidence to question, let alone inquire.
Wen Hui looked at Ji Zizhao with red eyes, "Does Fourth Imperial Aunt think I would falsely accuse the palace maid by my side?"
Ji Zizhao's expression remained unchanged, "Only with reason and evidence can it be considered conclusive. Otherwise, how can one convince the masses?"
Wen Hui: "..."
Can someone please have Ji Zizhao expelled!
The chamber suddenly fell silent.
Everyone watched Ji Zizhao and Wen Hui face off, and in their hearts, they all felt Ji Zizhao was truly detestable, not only monopolizing the Fourth Prince but now swaggering in front of Wen Hui.
However, Ji Zizhao's status as Fourth Prince Consort was granted by the Emperor, and even the consorts present dared not casually interfere.
Noble Consort Xi suddenly spoke, "Is it not simple to obtain evidence? Mama Zhang, personally escort this person to the Department of Punishment and convey my order for the Department of Punishment to investigate overnight!"
"Yes!" Mama Zhang immediately walked towards the palace maid.
Ji Zizhao, of course, could not let Noble Consort Xi take the person away. But before she could speak, she heard a loud voice from outside.
"His Majesty has arrived! The Empress has arrived!"
As the voices fell, Emperor Xiaochang and Empress Zhong entered.
Empress Zhong glanced at Mama Zhang, who had already approached the palace maid, then turned towards Noble Consort Xi, "You haven't even entered the hall yet, and I could hear Noble Consort Xi's voice. Who has angered Noble Consort Xi to the point where she disregards the occasion and is so furious here at Wen Hui's place?"
These words clearly implied that Noble Consort Xi had such a temper that she couldn't even distinguish the occasion.