The carriage of Noble Consort Xi was right behind Empress Zhong's. It was Noble Consort Xi, who was dozing in her carriage, who was completely sleepless due to the Empress's extravagant antics.
The Empress, being the Emperor's consort, could do as she pleased without the Emperor seeing. However, in front of others, her actions were visible to everyone except the Emperor.
Noble Consort Xi's charming face turned black with anger, her hands trembling uncontrollably as she gripped her teacup.
She knew very well that the Empress was deliberately retaliating for her recommendation of Zou Li during the winter hunt.
But the infuriating part was the clear distinction between genders.
While the Empress could openly invite Ji Zizhao into her carriage, Noble Consort Xi could not publicly summon Zou Li to her side.
Seeing Noble Consort Xi's distressed expression, Madam Zhang quickly and softly advised, "For years, the Empress has been unable to bear to see Your Ladyship's good fortune. Why must Your Ladyship concern yourself with the Empress?"
Noble Consort Xi was infuriated to the point of almost dying, and it was not easy to placate her. "Go, summon Zuo Xiuhua to my presence."
If the Empress enjoyed playing special games, she would certainly oblige.
Madam Zhang had no choice but to stop the carriage and go to call for the person.
Soon, Zuo Xiuhua boarded Noble Consort Xi's carriage.
Seeing this, the other consorts followed suit.
In just half an incense stick's time, all the pre-selected imperial sons' consorts had gathered beside their future mothers-in-law.
Facing such a bold move, Ji Renran was utterly stunned…
It was true that she was the Fifth Prince's chosen concubine, but compared to the legitimate imperial consorts, she was insignificant.
Now, Noble Consort Xi specifically summoning Zuo Xiuhua was undoubtedly a slap in her face.
Earlier, an unmentioned pre-selected imperial son's consort felt unwell and required a physician. The carriage carrying the physicians, needing to rush ahead, happened to pass by Ji Renran's carriage. Through the window blown open by the wind, all the physicians saw Ji Renran sitting alone and forlorn in her carriage.
Ji Renran: "..."
She wished she could find a hole to burrow into!
Her current humiliation was as great as her earlier prestige at the palace gates!
Ji Zizhao, who was chatting with Empress Zhong, heard the commotion behind her and did not even tremble as she poured tea.
Even though she was the pre-selected Fourth Prince's consort, it was inappropriate to be publicly acknowledged before the Seventh Prince returned to the capital.
However, Zuo Xiuhua was different. Everyone knew she was the future Fifth Prince's consort.
Compared to the current Zuo Xiuhua, Ji Zizhao was merely a minister serving the imperial family and high officials.
Noble Consort Xi's actions were clearly meant to provoke her.
If she lost her composure, she would surely anger the Empress, creating a rift between them.
Noble Consort Xi was indeed Noble Consort Xi; her indirect methods of destruction were endless.
Therefore, Ji Zizhao could not and would not be angry.
Having inexplicably transmigrated and experienced family upheaval, there was nothing left that could make her lose her composure.
"Your Majesty, please have some tea." Ji Zizhao offered the teacup to the Empress. Her slender, jade-like fingers gently clasped the saucer, her fair palm held steadily in mid-air, both firm and calm.
Empress Zhong nodded with satisfaction, took a sip of tea, and then said, "What do you think of Xin Yi's character?"
Ji Zizhao blinked, clearly not following the Empress's erratic train of thought.
Empress Zhong added, "If she were to marry the Seventh Prince, do you think it would be suitable?"
"Xin Yi is lively and simple, yet possesses the unyielding pride of the Zhong family in her bones. I have heard that Xin Yi has been proficient in qin, go, calligraphy, and painting since childhood. Ji Zizhao feels inadequate, believing Xin Yi to be beyond the reach of the young men in the imperial city." In front of the Empress, Ji Zizhao naturally spoke the truth, but she deliberately avoided mentioning the Seventh Prince.
Currently, the Seventh Prince was vying for the position of crown prince, and it was not her place to comment on his marital affairs publicly.
Empress Zhong favored Ji Zizhao's cautious and thoughtful demeanor. However, since she had brought it up, she had no intention of hiding anything further. "Xin Yi is indeed as outstanding as you say. She has endured countless hardships since childhood for these qualities, but her excellence is far from enough to become the Seventh Prince's consort."
Ji Zizhao was still stunned.
If not for the fact that she had personally handed the Empress her tea, she would have thought the Empress had drunk fake wine.
"There is no need for such surprise. You are well aware of what the path Little Seven is taking now means. Although Xin Yi is excellent, if that day were to come, she would not be able to prioritize the greater good. If only she could learn your decisive ruthlessness."
Ji Zizhao: "..."
Now, all she could do was listen.
Empress Zhong smiled and continued, "I have high hopes for Old Seven, so I naturally wish for the next Empress to still bear the surname Zhong. However, the more I desire this, the more others will oppose it. If it comes down to a choice between the two, I will naturally protect Old Seven."
Ji Zizhao's heart skipped a beat, and a cold sweat broke out on her back.
Zhong Xinyi had mentioned that she was forced to learn qin, go, calligraphy, and painting since childhood, which was the Empress's will.
Therefore, not only the Zhong family, but everyone in the palace, even the entire imperial city, thought they had seen through the Empress's intentions.
But everyone had forgotten one thing: what they thought they saw was merely what the Empress wanted them to see.
In reality, this was merely the Empress's smokescreen.
When the Seventh Prince was living aimlessly in his youth, the Empress released the news of her favor towards Zhong Xinyi, making everyone believe that Zhong Xinyi was the candidate for the position of Empress. That way, on the day Zhong Xinyi married the Seventh Prince, even if the Seventh Prince relied on Zhong Xinyi being the chosen candidate for the Empress position, no one would dare to look down on him.
And once the Seventh Prince rose to prominence, if Zhong Xinyi were to marry him then, it would directly expose the Empress's ambition.
No one was speaking now because everyone was waiting for the Emperor's imperial decree of marriage.
When that time came, if Zhong Xinyi truly married the Seventh Prince, many people would undoubtedly whisper to the Emperor.
The Emperor doted on the Seventh Prince, but affection and what one sought were two different concepts.
As long as the Emperor was disappointed with the Empress and wary of the Seventh Prince, other princes would have an opportunity.
The Empress had long since calculated this. She adopted a strategy of waiting for her move, letting everyone wait to catch her in the act. While these people were subconsciously letting down their guard, the Empress had already replaced her candidate for the Seventh Prince's consort.
"Your Majesty is brilliant." This statement was not flattery, but Ji Zizhao's heartfelt admiration.
Indeed, the older the ginger, the spicier it is.
Empress Zhong smiled and said, "The consort I have chosen for Old Seven has also come to the temporary palace. With your intelligence and wit, why don't you guess who it is?"
Ji Zizhao knew that the Empress was telling her all this because she truly considered her family. However, there were dozens of young ladies accompanying them on the winter hunt, so how long would it take her to guess?
Empress Zhong, seeing Ji Zizhao frowning, smiled happily like a child.
Noble Consort Xi, hearing the Empress's laughter, became even more furious.
It seemed that Ji Zizhao had not only not thrown a tantrum at the Empress, but had instead coaxed the Empress into a state of bliss.
She hadn't expected that Ji Zizhao could actually endure!
Zuo Xiuhua said softly, "Why must Your Ladyship get angry over such trivial matters? Everyone is currently focused on the Empress's niece. As soon as the Emperor's imperial decree of marriage is issued, the Empress will surely have something to answer for."
Noble Consort Xi smiled coldly. "Do you really think the Empress would be so foolish as to leave such an obvious loophole for people to exploit? Marrying her cultivated niece to her adopted son, does the Empress not know the principle of 'a tall tree attracts the wind'?"
Zuo Xiuhua's face turned pale, and she quickly knelt on the ground. "Your Ladyship's reprimand is correct."
Noble Consort Xi did not blame Zuo Xiuhua but turned to Madam Zhang and asked, "How is the matter I asked you to handle?"
Madam Zhang quickly replied, "Replying to Your Ladyship, the person is already on their way."
Upon hearing this, Noble Consort Xi nodded with satisfaction.
The Empress's attempt to win over Ji Zizhao as her daughter-in-law was merely to find a capable assistant in the Imperial Academy.
As long as she could find a way to break off Ji Zizhao's engagement with the Fourth Prince, how long could the Empress's plan succeed?