In the same pavilion, Emperor Xiaochang was surrounded by people.
Looking at the other princes, there was only Ji Zizhao.
Normally, an official like her wouldn't have the right to take the pulse of princes, but special circumstances called for special treatment.
If it were any other official, the princes wouldn't have thought much of it, but with Ji Zizhao standing there, their gazes became very peculiar.
The fact that Ji Zizhao became the Fifth Prince's concubine immediately after their divorce was already known throughout the city.
And the fact that Ji Zizhao was the Fourth Prince's benefactor was also no secret.
Therefore, who Ji Zizhao would attend to first was a rather difficult question.
One was a former husband from whom she had been divorced, and the other was someone who constantly referred to her as his benefactor...
Whichever prince Ji Zizhao chose to attend to first would be seen as an insult to the other. Su Dan Fiction Network.
The throne had not yet been established, and the princes were all wary of each other.
To put it bluntly, they had all done their share of backstabbing, and now that they had such an opportunity to witness a spectacle, they were all eager to see which prince would be put in an awkward position.
This unspoken understanding was so palpable that even the rather oblivious Xie Jingqi sensed it.
Xie Jingqi's eyes widened as he looked at Ji Zizhao, his eager expression clearly conveying, "Ji Zizhao, we have a life-or-death friendship. The person sitting next to me is my own fourth brother. You can't possibly embarrass my fourth brother at this moment."
Ji Zizhao: "..."
Truly raised by the Empress, her protective demeanor was exactly like the Empress's.
In fact, for Ji Zizhao, there was no need to choose at all.
So, without even thinking, she took a step towards the Fourth Prince.
At the same time, a dull thud sounded, "Bang—!"
Everyone turned to look, and saw that the Fifth Prince, who had been curled up in the corner, had fainted onto the ground.
Ji Zizhao looked at the Fifth Prince lying on the ground, and a chill of revulsion surged through her.
Did they really take her for a three-year-old child?
He fainted now, not earlier or later, but precisely at this moment.
This was clearly an attempt to force her hand and make her treat him first!
The Fifth Prince was indeed such a cunning and treacherous person, resorting to threats and intimidation at the slightest provocation. He had done the same to the Ji family men in the past, and now he wanted to force her to comply obediently.
Thinking of her grandfather, father, and uncles who had met their end in the wilderness, Ji Zizhao felt no doubt that she was not mistaken.
The commotion here caught Zou Hansheng's attention.
The imperial physicians surrounding the Emperor were all senior ones, and newcomers like him had no opportunity to get close.
Seeing the incident here, Zou Hansheng could not let Ji Zizhao have a chance to shine. He hurried over to inquire, "What has happened here?"
His tone was accusatory, as if Ji Zizhao had struck the Fifth Prince unconscious.
Ji Zizhao was not angry; instead, she explained softly, "Your humble servant does not know why the Fifth Prince fainted inexplicably. Fortunately, Imperial Physician Zou arrived in time."
Seeing Ji Zizhao step aside voluntarily, Zou Hansheng was quite pleased and immediately went to examine the Fifth Prince himself.
Ji Zizhao, as a matter of course, walked to the Fourth Prince's side, knelt down, and took out a pulse pillow from her medical kit.
Her cool fingertips rested on his still slightly damp wrist. Although neither of their body temperatures was high, as her fingers pressed against his skin, a warmth flowed into each of them.
Xie Jinglan looked at Ji Zizhao kneeling before him, still somewhat surprised.
Given her apparent dislike for him recently, it was a miracle she wasn't chasing him with a knife.
Ji Zizhao knew the Fourth Prince was watching her, but she instinctively avoided his gaze.
She couldn't explain why...
She just felt a little guilty.
He had meant well, but she had misunderstood him.
Just then, other officials from the Imperial Hospital arrived.
As the officials poured in, the pavilion became crowded.
Seeing that there were quite a few people entering, Xie Jinglan reached out to pull Ji Zizhao forward.
Ji Zizhao, who was taking his pulse, instantly tensed up and instinctively dodged her shoulder, avoiding his well-defined hand.
Seeing Jiang Guangsheng enter the pavilion with the other officials, Ji Zizhao took the opportunity to rise and asked Jiang Guangsheng to attend to the Seventh Prince first.
Jiang Guangsheng had come precisely to examine the princes, so when he heard Ji Zizhao's request, he readily agreed.
Xie Jingqi, looking at the familiar young man kneeling before him, quietly tugged at his fourth brother's sleeve.
It's him! It's him! It's him!
The young man who called Ji Zizhao "brother and sister"!!
Xie Jinglan, whose arm was still raised in mid-air, had no time to pay attention to his younger brother. Seeing Ji Zizhao kneel before him again, he chuckled softly, "When did I become so terrifying?"
Ji Zizhao also realized her reaction had been too extreme. She looked up, intending to explain, but her eyes met his calm, placid gaze.
The corners of his eyes, raised slightly, seemed to carry the spring breeze of March, and his gentle gaze flowed like starlight.
Almost instantly, Ji Zizhao lowered her head again and said softly, "Your humble servant dares not trouble Your Highness."
Xie Jinglan frowned slightly, sighing almost imperceptibly, a hint of helplessness in his expression.
He hadn't been around her much lately, so why was she becoming more and more resistant to him?
As Xie Jinglan pondered how he had offended her again, he heard Ji Zizhao say almost inaudibly, "Thank you."
Xie Jinglan froze, feeling as if he had misheard something.
Ji Zizhao disliked the feeling of owing someone something. Saying it now made her feel much lighter.
However, with so many people around and so much gossip, it was difficult for her to explain things clearly.
But if Ji Zizhao didn't make things clear, Xie Jinglan would have to guess.
From childhood, no matter the person or the situation, Xie Jinglan had grown accustomed to analyzing and guessing, which was how he had managed to live cautiously in the precarious palace.
Yet now, faced with Ji Zizhao's "thank you," he truly didn't know where it came from.
However, Xie Jinglan dared not show his confusion, for fear of pushing away the woman who had finally been willing to approach him.
Xie Jinglan: "..."
For the first time, he found being thanked to be a chilling experience.
The pavilion was chaotic, and others did not notice the exchange between Ji Zizhao and Xie Jinglan.
However, Jiang Guangsheng, who was taking the Seventh Prince's pulse, could not possibly have missed it.
Listening to the conversation between the Fourth Prince and Ji Zizhao, his heart sank, and the fingers pressing on the Seventh Prince's pulse involuntarily tightened.
Xie Jingqi: "..."
Oh, this young man has quite a strong grip!
Meanwhile, Xie Jingzhou, who had been eavesdropping with his ears pricked, heard every word.
Xie Jingzhou, who had kept his eyes closed, felt his heart grow cold with anger.
He had intended to force Ji Zizhao to bow her head, but instead, he had put himself in a position where he couldn't even open his eyes.
Yet, even without opening his eyes, he could imagine Ji Zizhao's gentle, shy tone when speaking to his fourth brother...
That slut Ji Zizhao, showing off their affection right in front of him!
As expected, there was something going on between Ji Zizhao and his fourth brother!!
Zou Hansheng, who was examining the Fifth Prince, felt the pulse under his fingers to be deep and strong, throbbing and beating.
Zou Hansheng: "..."
What kind of dream was the unconscious Fifth Prince having to get so angry?
His pulse was practically leaping out of his wrist!