Ji Zizhao understood Empress Zhong's intentions.
Consort Xi was already beyond help.
The current concern was when the Emperor's anger would subside.
It was likely that Consort Xi had vented her remaining fury on Ji Renran, causing Ji Renran to fear a complete loss, losing her reputation without even entering the Fifth Prince's residence. This was the reason she had concealed the palace affairs and misled her grandmother, along with Gu Peilan, into seeking the Yang family's intervention.
If Ji Renran had simply surrendered, Ji Zizhao would not have gotten involved.
However, now that the Yang family was implicated, Ji Zizhao could not stand by idly.
Ji Zizhao remained kneeling, recounting the household's trivial matters.
Empress Zhong: "..."
She had never expected things to be this way!
Empress Zhong had heard of the illegitimate son of the Ji family's eldest branch returning.
Empress Zhong had simply believed that Ji Zizhao was inherently unable to accept the eldest branch's remarried wife.
But she had not expected...
Such a bloody and tragic inner story was intertwined with this!
Empress Zhong felt indignant just hearing about such matters.
"Now, Sister Renran, along with the remarried eldest madam, has concealed the palace affairs and has already sent an invitation to my maternal family. Although I will never be soft-hearted, I fear my maternal family..."
Empress Zhong understood the unspoken words.
As elders, who didn't consider the future prospects of the younger generation?
Ji Zizhao was currently managing the Ji family. Even if the Yang family was unwilling to get involved, they would have to consider Ji Zizhao and help Ji Renran navigate the situation.
"I will certainly not stand by and do nothing. You may return and await news." In Empress Zhong's eyes, Ji Zizhao was the daughter-in-law she had chosen. If she, as a mother-in-law, could not even protect her prospective daughter-in-law, how could she face the prospect of holding her grandchildren?
Ji Zizhao had not expected Empress Zhong to agree so readily; she had prepared more arguments.
Seeing Ji Zizhao's astonishment, Empress Zhong smiled, "You are cherished by the Fourth Prince, and I cannot let you suffer any grievances. Otherwise, what if the Fourth Prince comes to settle the score with me?"
Ji Zizhao: "..."
She felt as if she were being teased.
Empress Zhong's smile deepened as she observed Ji Zizhao's awkwardness. "Go. Since I've promised you, I will handle this matter properly. I am still waiting to toast your wedding with the Fourth Prince, so how can I let these pebbles block your path?"
Ji Zizhao: "..."
Yes, she was indeed being teased.
Ji Zizhao had truly not expected the Empress to have such a side, so openly protective and so inherently biased towards her...
This was something Ji Zizhao had never anticipated.
However, upon reflection...
This feeling was truly wonderful.
In the sleeping quarters, Empress Zhong waited until Ji Zizhao had completely departed before glancing at the screen behind her. "Come out."
A figure in white robes emerged from behind the screen, a graceful and slender silhouette that was a pleasure to behold.
Empress Zhong looked at the person before her and said, "You heard what was just said, didn't you?"
Xie Jinglan had been standing behind the screen; how could he not have heard?
However, he had not expected Ji Zizhao to defend him so earnestly before his mother.
Such genuine sincerity made him almost believe that Ji Zizhao had truly been pursuing him all along.
"Since she has spoken, it is not appropriate for me to delay. However, you must think carefully. She has already been divorced once. If anything goes wrong with this marriage, her reputation will be completely ruined. Such a good girl is not encountered every day. Fourth Prince, you must not let her down."
Empress Zhong's words were light, but her hands under her sleeves were already clenched into fists.
Even she herself had not expected that, as Empress, there would still be matters that made her so anxious.
As Empress Zhong finished speaking, Xie Jinglan lifted his robes and slowly knelt on the ground. "Son understands Mother's painstaking efforts, and I have kept the promise I made to Mother all those years ago, remembering it every day without fail."
Empress Zhong: "..."
Was that it?
Looking at Xie Jinglan, who was no longer speaking, Empress Zhong felt a moment of disappointment.
She had done so much, only for it to end like this...
Looking at the gentle and handsome face not far away, Empress Zhong curled her lips bitterly.
Fine, perhaps...
Just as she was contemplating, she saw Xie Jinglan bow to her, then rise and leave.
Watching his tall, slender back, Empress Zhong's originally disappointed eyes were suddenly covered with a layer of moist red.
When Zhi Nan entered, she saw the Empress alternately crying and laughing, which greatly alarmed her. "Your Majesty, what is wrong? Great joy and sorrow can be detrimental to your health."
Empress Zhong grabbed Zhi Nan's hand, her excitement like that of a child who had received candy. "Zhi Nan, didn't you just see? The Fourth Prince performed the ceremony of mother and son to me, not the ceremony of ruler and subject..."
Zhi Nan was also stunned by these words, but then she smiled and said, "I've told you long ago that the Fourth Prince, though seemingly indifferent, is actually a grateful person. Your Majesty has always been too worried and has become overly anxious."
"From the day that child came to my side, his heart was never truly here. But over the years, his care for Little Seven and his care for me have been evident. I know in my heart that no matter how eloquently I speak, he will not believe me. After all, from the very beginning, what I had with him was a transaction..."
Looking at the Empress in this state, Zhi Nan felt an indescribable ache in her heart.
Empress Zhong seemed to feel she was rambling too much, wiped her moist eyes, and let out a mocking laugh. "Go and inquire what the Emperor is doing."
Since it was something the Fourth Prince liked, she would protect it even if it cost her life.
Only then would her son's calling her "Mother" be meaningful.
Moreover, Empress Zhong genuinely liked Ji Zizhao from the bottom of her heart.
Intelligent, calm, magnanimous, and experienced...
Such a daughter-in-law was enough to make her laugh with joy just thinking about it.
Ji Zizhao was unaware of the Empress's high opinion of her.
After leaving Fengyi Palace, she returned to the Imperial Hospital.
Consort Xi's sudden indisposition required Zou Li to personally attend to her daily.
Although the Emperor was not bedridden, his complexion was not good, and Uncle Zhang Zhong was busy with his recovery.
When Ji Zizhao returned to the Imperial Hospital, she happened to see Jiang Guangcheng and Zou Hansheng discussing something.
Upon seeing Ji Zizhao enter the courtyard, Zou Hansheng's demeanor seemed to have lowered considerably.
"Since you are here to serve in the Imperial Hospital, act like it. Wandering aimlessly around the palace all day, do you truly believe that because the two supervising physicians are busy and have no time to attend to the Imperial Hospital, you can openly be so reckless?" Zou Hansheng's words were not directed at anyone in particular; he often used similar methods to indirectly admonish others in the Imperial Hospital.
Out of respect for him being the son of Physician Zou, even the older imperial physicians in the Imperial Hospital would pretend not to hear.
However, Ji Zizhao never applied the principle of "avoiding trouble" to herself.