Palace attendants arrived swiftly, kneeling as soon as they entered. "Your servant pays his respects to His Majesty, to Noble Consort Xi, and to Princess Wenhui."
Noble Consort Xi, chin held high, appraised the kneeling attendant. "For you to have privately taken Princess Wenhui out of the palace today is a crime punishable by law. If you dare to conceal anything when this consort questions you, I shall not forgive you lightly!"
Before any interrogation, threats were made. What was this about?
Seeing the kneeling attendant tremble, Ji Zizhao sneered inwardly. Noble Consort Xi truly had her ways, always clear in her objectives and leaving no room for error, whether in speech or action.
Noble Consort Xi looked at the cowering attendant. "What Princess Wenhui just said, that you were chased and attacked on your way back, is it true?"
The attendant nodded. "Replying to Noble Consort Xi, it is absolutely true."
"Do you know who those people were targeting? Was it the eldest daughter of the Ji family, or Princess Wenhui?" Noble Consort Xi clearly emphasized Ji Zizhao's name. These servants in the palace were adept at reading expressions. With her obvious hint, this eunuch, to save his life, would surely follow her lead. At that point, Ji Zizhao would bear the grave crime of endangering the princess.
The attendant, hearing this, looked nervously at Ji Zizhao. He understood the implication and knew how to protect himself. But, but…
"I am asking you a question! How dare you stand in a daze before His Majesty!" Noble Consort Xi's voice grew sharper, now invoking the Emperor directly.
The attendant, startled, slipped on his knees and fell flat on the ground. After a long moment, he stammered, "Replying to Noble Consort Xi, the eldest daughter of the Ji family merely accompanied Princess Wenhui to a restaurant in town for a while, and then we were inexplicably attacked. This servant does not know who the attackers were targeting, but I do know that Princess Wenhui revealed her identity during the ordeal, yet it failed to stop them…"
Noble Consort Xi was stunned. She had forgotten to even stop the attendant. She had warned him so clearly; was this attendant mad or foolish to still speak in Ji Zizhao's favor?
Wenhui angrily rebuked, "Bold servant! How dare you spout falsehoods before our father, the Emperor!"
"In a moment of crisis, if it were not for the eldest daughter of the Ji family's assistance, Princess Wenhui would have likely been in grave danger. Why is Princess Wenhui now targeting the eldest daughter of the Ji family so fiercely?" The attendant was terrified, to the point of death, but even in his fear, he spoke the truth. He was a lowly servant, yes, but he understood the principle of repaying a life-saving favor with boundless gratitude.
Wenhui's mind reeled. Her fair face flushed red, then purple. She, who was always proud and aloof, valued her reputation more than her life. If it were to spread that she had repaid a life-saving kindness with malice, how could she continue to live?
Noble Consort Xi's almond eyes widened in fury, clearly also enraged.
Ji Zizhao seized the moment and turned to the Emperor. "Those ferocious ruffians, disregarding the identity of the current princess, wielding deadly weapons, ambushed our carriage, and some even! Attempted to assassinate Princess Wenhui! This minister earnestly implores His Majesty to investigate thoroughly. Allowing such wild criminals to go unpunished would be an injustice to Princess Wenhui! A trampling of royal dignity!"
Emperor Xiaochang's face had long since turned a dark shade of black. When the Jia and Xue families had pounded on his palace doors earlier, he knew this matter was far from a simple disturbance by local thugs. However, as an emperor, he could not arbitrarily interfere in every matter, or chaos would ensue. Emperor Xiaochang understood clearly that Ji Zizhao had gone to town to investigate the day's events and was using Wenhui's predicament to deliberately stir his emotions. But he could not control his burning rage! To threaten his officials was one thing, but now to deliberately attack, knowing Princess Wenhui's status… It was utter disregard for the law! Where did this leave the court's reputation? And where did it leave his own face!!
Seeing the Emperor's displeased expression, Noble Consort Xi turned her eyes and said, "The servant just mentioned that the situation was urgent at the time, and it's likely the villains didn't hear Wenhui. Otherwise, even with a hundred times their courage, they wouldn't dare defy imperial authority."
Upon hearing Noble Consort Xi's words, Emperor Xiaochang's expression finally began to ease slightly.
Ji Zizhao frowned, observing this scene. It was natural for Noble Consort Xi to curry favor with the Emperor by calming his emotions, but strangely, Ji Zizhao detected a hint of protection in her words. Could it be…
Before Ji Zizhao could ponder further, a commotion of footsteps sounded outside the hall. Immediately, wet nurse Dai bustled in, "Reporting to His Majesty, the Empress has summoned the eldest daughter of the Ji family to her palace."
Emperor Xiaochang frowned. "Has something happened?"
"Replying to His Majesty, the eldest daughter of the Zhong family went out with Miss Xue and Miss Xu to the town today. They were unfortunately harassed and beaten by the local ruffians. The eldest daughter of the Zhong family, fearing the Empress's worry, did not mention it. When the Empress saw her just now, the eldest daughter of the Zhong family had already fainted!"
Ji Zizhao looked at wet nurse Dai with confusion. She didn't recall Zhong Xinyi having any obvious external injuries.
Emperor Xiaochang's face, which had just slightly lightened by Noble Consort Xi's words, darkened once more. The eldest daughter of the Zhong family was the Zhong family's sole granddaughter! And the Empress's own niece! In his fury, Emperor Xiaochang swept a teacup from the table to the floor. "First they slap my face, and now they slap the Empress's face. Oh, so when I bring the Empress to the temporary palace for the New Year, I have to return to the capital looking like a swollen pig's head?"
"Investigate! Investigate them thoroughly! I want to see what they are trying to do!" Emperor Xiaochang was truly angered this time, and even the Noble Consort Xi beside him dared not fan herself.
"Reporting to His Majesty, the Fourth Prince's men who attacked Princess Wenhui have all been apprehended. The Fourth Prince is currently outside asking who will be in charge of their disposal." A guard's voice suddenly came from outside the door.
Emperor Xiaochang's chest was aching terribly. He was too lazy to delegate further. "Since Old Fourth's men made the arrest, this matter will be handled by Old Fourth. I want the results in two days at the latest!"
"Yes."
Wenhui watched the dramatic turn of events unfold, kneeling on the ground, unable to recover for a long time. Didn't she come to accuse Ji Zizhao? How did it turn into a discussion about punishing the villains? Wenhui instinctively glanced at Ji Zizhao. Yes, it was Ji Zizhao who had asked the Emperor for a thorough investigation, causing everything to deviate from its original course. But she had initiated the complaint first, and Ji Zizhao had been forced to come… Or was this all Ji Zizhao's calculation from the start?
Wenhui quickly lowered her eyes, dispelling the thought. Impossible. How could Ji Zizhao have planned to this extent? It must all be a coincidence.
At this moment, Ji Zizhao watched the guards retreat, a chill running through her heart. The Emperor had just ordered a strict investigation, and Xie Jinglan's people had already sent word. He must have had people watching the situation from the beginning, enabling him to seize control of the entire affair before the Emperor could appoint someone else. Ji Zizhao genuinely breathed a sigh of relief. She withdrew with the others and, upon leaving the palace, hurried to wet nurse Dai's side, whispering, "Wet nurse Dai, what exactly happened to Xinyi?"