The news of the Emperor's renewed order for a thorough investigation quickly spread throughout the temporary palace.
To everyone's surprise, the Fifth Prince, who was supposed to be "recovering from injuries," voluntarily petitioned the Emperor to accompany the Fourth Prince in overseeing the investigation, offering to share the burden. The Emperor, pleased with the Fifth Prince's filial piety, agreed to have both the Fourth and Fifth Princes jointly conduct the review.
This sudden development stunned the officials in the temporary palace.
Although it was the Fifth Prince's self-recommendation, the key point was that the Emperor agreed so readily?
This was enough to show the Emperor's changed attitude towards the Fifth Prince.
The Fifth Prince, who had always been timid and hesitant, suddenly became a favored and valued figure by the Emperor. While everyone was astonished, they had to re-evaluate this Fifth Prince.
Consequently, everyone began to worry for the Fourth Prince.
He was already a prince not favored by the Emperor, and now that he had finally secured a task that could get him noticed by the Emperor, the Fifth Prince had once again intervened.
But who would have thought that Xie Jinglan, whom everyone believed would struggle immensely to even get a sliver of the pie from the Fifth Prince, was now sitting calmly opposite Ji Zizhao.
Under the candlelight, his white robe was pristine and radiant.
Ji Zizhao looked at Xie Jinglan, who was opposite her, and said, "I fear it won't be long before rumors spread in the temporary palace that the Fourth Prince has lost heart and voluntarily ceded ground to the Fifth Prince."
As if he had nothing else to do, Xie Jinglan picked up the medicine chest Ji Zizhao had placed nearby. He opened it gently and, while examining the various bottles and jars inside, replied, "The Fifth Prince's current condition is quite delicate; one must be neither too harsh nor too lenient. It's better to avoid suspicion. Besides, Tang Di is keeping an eye on things."
Ji Zizhao was impressed.
If a normal person had their limelight shared, they would likely pursue aggressively to reclaim it.
But Xie Jinglan was even more meticulous and cautious, preferring to appear to take a step back on the surface rather than giving anyone an opportunity to seize upon.
After all, given the Fifth Prince's insidious cunning, who knew if he might feign unconsciousness to frame Xie Jinglan?
However, Ji Zizhao was not surprised when she heard this news.
The Fifth Prince was ruthless and skilled at deception, like a venomous snake coiled in the dark, ready to strike. Once given an opportunity, he would undoubtedly open his maw greedily and devour his hard-won victory.
But Ji Zizhao was puzzled. The Fifth Prince had gone to such lengths, even enduring physical pain to make the Emperor feel guilty. He should have maintained the pretense for longer to deepen the Emperor's remorse.
Did the Fifth Prince truly not know that deeper remorse would lead to greater favor from the Emperor?
It was highly doubtful.
Just then, Huo Nian'gong entered without a sound. "Master."
If Ji Zizhao had merely been impressed moments ago, seeing Huo Nian'gong now made her even more so.
He placed Tang Di in the open to play a strategic game with the Fifth Prince, thereby lulling the Fifth Prince into complacency, while having Huo Nian'gong secretly investigate and gather irrefutable evidence. He himself, free from any immediate burden, kept a distance to avoid suspicion...
Ji Zizhao turned to look at the nonchalant man again, genuinely marveling at what this person ate to grow up to be so full of stratagems.
Xie Jinglan continued to fiddle with the bottles and jars in front of him, not looking up. "Speak."
Huo Nian'gong reported truthfully, "Your subordinate has just ascertained that the magistrate of the town's yamen is surnamed Liang."
Ji Zizhao frowned slightly.
Xie Jinglan seemed to perceive her doubt and explained, "Everyone knows that Noble Consort Xi's maternal family is surnamed Diao, but they forget that Noble Consort Xi's birth mother was surnamed Liang."
Ji Zizhao's gaze turned cold. "No wonder Noble Consort Xi tried so hard to suppress this matter in front of the Emperor today. It's also taxing for the Fifth Prince to get up at this time. It turns out they have guilty consciences."
Xie Jinglan looked at her and said, "The more cautious Noble Consort Xi becomes, the more unusual this matter is."
Ji Zizhao's heart grew heavy.
She had no interest in guessing what Noble Consort Xi and the Fifth Prince were trying to conceal, nor did she want to know what unspeakable deeds the magistrate surnamed Liang had committed under Noble Consort Xi's patronage. All she wanted now was to safely bring her Fourth Sister back to her side.
Throughout her journey, how much trust her sisters had placed in her!
If she couldn't even protect her Fourth Sister, how could she be their Eldest Sister!
What's more!!
Her Fourth Sister was different from others. If something were to happen to her...
The Ji family might also face utter ruin!
"What are your plans next?" Ji Zizhao asked, looking at Xie Jinglan.
Xie Jinglan, however, was looking at the bottles and jars in front of him, asking an unrelated question. "What are these used for?"
Ji Zizhao: "..."
Was this the time to change the subject?
Xie Jinglan saw the urgency in Ji Zizhao's eyes and smiled, but remained silent.
Ji Zizhao waited for a long while, and seeing that he was still staring at her medicine bottles, she casually replied, "That's for treating common colds."
Xie Jinglan nodded with satisfaction and then said, "The Fifth Prince's hasty rise to intervene clearly shows he wants to stall for time to tip off the yamen. I fear that when I go to investigate at the yamen tomorrow, it won't go smoothly."
Ji Zizhao knew full well that the Fifth Prince's interference was intended to tie Xie Jinglan's hands. However, what Xie Jinglan found difficult, she might not.
"To make the yamen yield, one must first find evidence. If the culprits are caught red-handed, let alone the Fifth Prince, even Noble Consort Xi's intervention will be futile. When do you plan to go to the yamen tomorrow?" Only by knowing the time could she prepare adequately.
Xie Jinglan again looked at the other medicine bottles, lost in thought.
Ji Zizhao: "..."
She felt that this man was sometimes incredibly irritating!
"Those are for treating abrasions and promoting blood circulation."
Xie Jinglan raised his eyebrows knowingly and continued with Ji Zizhao's previous question, "The earliest would be tomorrow morning's Chen hour."
"I need to borrow someone from you."
"Alright." This time, Xie Jinglan answered readily.
"Then I'll head to town now to make preparations." Although it was still early, Ji Zizhao didn't want to remain idle. She had already lost all the men in her family; she absolutely could not let her Fourth Sister get into trouble.
Xie Jinglan suddenly stood up as well. "You can go to town if you wish, but the tasks that need to be done must be completed first."
Ji Zizhao blinked, pondering what tasks remained, when she saw Xie Jinglan circle behind her.
Slightly leaning in, he rested his sharp chin on her shoulder, his warm breath, carrying his distinctive scent, fanning into her ear. "Do you want to do it yourself, or shall I help you?"
Ji Zizhao: "?"
Xie Jinglan's pleasant voice flowed again. "Take off your clothes." Su Dan Novel Network
If anyone else had said this, Ji Zizhao would have likely thrown a punch. But facing Xie Jinglan, she felt she could keep up with his unpredictable thoughts. "My injuries are not serious."
Hearing this, Xie Jinglan sighed as if in exasperation. "That's why I said, I'll have to do it myself."
Ji Zizhao's heart tensed. She instinctively wanted to get up, but before she could, she felt a dull pain in the back of her neck.
Before her consciousness completely succumbed, Ji Zizhao finally understood why he had asked about those medicinal herbs. It turned out he had already prepared to use them on her...
Ji Zizhao's body grew heavier and heavier, eventually sinking into a warm embrace.
Amidst the flickering candlelight, Xie Jinglan picked up the person in his arms by the waist and walked towards the bed on the inner side.