Outside the carriage, stood Madam Dai, an attendant of the Empress. "The journey is bumpy, and the Empress suddenly feels unwell. She has specially sent this old servant to summon the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family to accompany and treat her."
Those by the Empress's side were not to be underestimated by the imperial physicians in the carriage.
However, the head of the Imperial Academy of Medicine was still sitting in the carriage, yet he was specifically asking for Ji Zizhao's treatment, which was rather…
Unconsciously, all eyes in the carriage fell on Zou Li.
Zou Li knew very well that having sided with Consort Xi, he had not expected to be favored by the Empress again. Yet, for the Empress to openly disregard him so much, it was hard for him to maintain his composure.
"The Empress's health is not to be ignored. It would be more appropriate for Chief Physician Zou to personally examine the Empress," Zou Hansheng decisively recommended his father.
If Ji Zizhao were to be summoned by the Empress so overtly, where would he and his father save face in the future?
Thinking this, Zou Hansheng looked at Ji Zizhao, who was sitting at the very back, "I believe the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family also wishes for the Empress to recover quickly, right?"
This statement was quite cunning.
After all, Zou Li held the position of Chief Physician, while Ji Zizhao was merely a minor clerk.
Regardless of whether the Empress had indeed summoned Ji Zizhao, if Ji Zizhao dared to nod now, it would be considered presumptuous and disrespectful of the Empress's health.
And if Ji Zizhao refused?
She would likely be accused of disobeying the Empress's imperial decree.
Madam Dai frowned upon hearing this.
This was a difficult question even for her to answer.
Ji Zizhao, however, simply smiled faintly, "Everything is at the Empress's discretion."
Almost instantly, Madam Dai's eyes lit up.
Why hadn't she thought of this!
As expected, the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family was intelligent. It was no wonder the Empress had instructed her to simply summon the person and not to worry too much about other matters. Perhaps the Empress had already known that the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family would handle the situation with ease.
Madam Dai, smiling with dignity, looked at Zou Hansheng, "Is Imperial Physician Zou making decisions for the Empress?"
Zou Hansheng: "..."
Of course, he dared not!
Seeing that Zou Hansheng had fallen silent, Madam Dai then turned to Ji Zizhao and said, "Eldest Daughter of the Ji family, please come, do not keep the Empress waiting anxiously."
Ji Zizhao nodded and got up to walk down from the carriage.
Zou Hansheng watched Ji Zizhao's solitary departing figure, wanting to speak again in disbelief, but Zou Li held his arm.
Ji Zizhao's seemingly simple words had, in fact, returned the decision-making power to the Empress.
The Empress was the mistress of the Six Palaces. Even Consort Xi, who was favored, dared not confront her directly. How could they, mere subjects, dare to make a fuss before the Empress?
As soon as Ji Zizhao stepped out of the carriage, she immediately felt countless eyes on her.
After all, it was a special summons from the Empress, a windfall that made everyone's eyes gleam with envy.
Ji Zizhao remained calm and collected, carrying her medicine box and serenely boarding the Empress's carriage.
The Empress's carriage had clearly been specially modified. Its interior was spacious and comfortably furnished. Even in the biting cold of winter, the carriage remained as warm as summer.
Upon seeing the Empress, Ji Zizhao dutifully knelt down, "This minister thanks the Empress for her concern."
Empress Zhong raised an eyebrow, "You seem to know my health is fine."
Ji Zizhao said, "The Empress indeed has a trace of fatigue in her eyes, but her complexion remains rosy. It is likely due to waking too early and insufficient sleep. Although the Empress's health is precious, she is not one to make a fuss over trivial matters. Yet, she has specially summoned this minister through Madam Dai, so there must be only one reason."
Empress Zhong smiled as she looked at Ji Zizhao, "What reason?"
"The Empress does not wish for this minister to be wronged."
Although there were many female attendants accompanying them, even Ji Renran, who was already betrothed as a concubine to the Fifth Prince, had her own carriage. Yet, she, in the capacity of a minister, had to cram into a narrow carriage with all the imperial physicians.
Upon hearing this, Empress Zhong's smile grew even warmer.
Although she had taken the initiative to show kindness, Ji Zizhao's grateful demeanor was truly endearing.
People are not afraid of giving; what matters is whether the recipient is worth it. Su Dan Novel Net.
Empress Zhong reached out and pulled Ji Zizhao to sit beside her, then smiled and said, "If you wish to thank anyone today, thank Fourth Highness."
Ji Zizhao was stunned.
"It was Fourth Highness who requested before we departed that I summon you to my carriage. Zou Li is Consort Xi's man. Traveling under his watchful eye, though he dares not openly trouble you, it must have been tiring to endure in silence all this way."
As Empress Zhong finished speaking, a gust of cold wind blew open the carriage window.
The cold wind poured into the carriage, stinging the face, but Ji Zizhao felt no chill. Instead, a warmth spread through her heart, warming her limbs.
Seeing the carriage window rattling in the cold wind, Ji Zizhao quickly reached out to close it. Just then, Xie Jinglan, who was riding ahead of the princes, instinctively looked back.
His dark eyes, sunken like the depths of water, seemed even more profound in the cold wind. His white robe complemented the distant snowy landscape.
A young man on a steed, though not as spirited as one in flamboyant attire, was as graceful as an immortal, possessing profound elegance.
Their eyes met, and Ji Zizhao's heart skipped a beat.
Xie Jinglan smiled faintly and then withdrew his gaze, continuing forward.
Inside the carriage, Empress Zhong watched this scene and said softly, "Your marriage to Fourth Highness was exchanged by Seventh Highness for his meritorious service in Luoyi. Although it is a foregone conclusion, Seventh Highness is currently in Tonglin, and you know the situation in Tonglin is unsettled. So, you can only be inconvenienced for now."
Exchanging meritorious service for a marriage was a first for Seventh Highness.
Once people knew the reason, how could others not be envious and jealous?
With Seventh Highness still in Tonglin, who knew if someone with a grudge might make some subtle move in secret?
The Emperor himself was also worried about this, which was why after an understanding with the Empress, it had never been made public.
Without public announcement, the marriage between Ji Zizhao and Xie Jinglan remained an unspoken secret within the palace. Once revealed, both the Emperor and the Empress would have to provide a reasonable explanation to everyone.
After all, Ji Zizhao had not participated in the selection of consorts.
Emperor Xiaochang had privately discussed with Empress Zhong when Seventh Highness would safely return to the capital, and then Ji Zizhao's marriage to the Fourth Prince would be announced along with those of the other princes.
"This minister does not feel inconvenienced at all. It is merely my fault for causing the Empress so much worry." Ji Zizhao truly felt no inconvenience, nor had she ever thought of relying on the status of a prince's consort to gain prestige. Whether she had a title or not made little difference to her.
Empress Zhong looked at Ji Zizhao's sensible demeanor and felt great pity.
She wondered how much hardship this child had endured in shouldering the Ji family's responsibilities to possess such a strong and steady character.
"Don't worry. Even if your status cannot be made public for now, I will absolutely not let you be wronged. Consort Xi can bring Zou Li along by relying on the Emperor's favor; I can summon you to my side by relying on my status as Empress."
She dotes on her imperial physician lackeys, and I dote on my future daughter-in-law.
Neither interferes with the other; it is perfectly fine.
Ji Zizhao: "..."
As the mother of the nation, is it really appropriate to be so vindictive?