Ji Zizhao stayed in Fengyi Palace for a short while before rising to take her leave.
Empress Zhong watched Ji Zizhao's retreating figure, an unspeakable mix of bitterness and heartache filling her. The departure of the Fourth Prince had already left her feeling weary. Without his support from behind, the Seventh Prince, given his temperament, might not reach the very top. However, Ji Zizhao's words had just rekindled her hope.
The Fourth Prince was gone, but she, the Empress, remained, and so did Ji Zizhao, her daughter-in-law.
The road was still long, and there was plenty of time. If they didn't fight for it, who knew what the outcome would be?
After seeing Ji Zizhao off, Mama Dai returned to the Empress's side and said, "Your Majesty has not doted on the Fourth Prince's Consort in vain. It's a pity about the Fourth Prince's Consort..."
Empress Zhong sighed, "She is a good one. Although the Fourth Prince had no choice but to fail her, I am still here. Even without the Fourth Prince, I will not stand by and watch her be bullied by those with ulterior motives."
Mama Dai nodded, "Your Majesty speaks the truth."
Empress Zhong composed herself. "Ultimately, I also played a part in the Eighth Prince's marriage. In the next few days, find an opportunity to invite the Eighth Prince's Consort to the palace for a visit."
Mama Dai's heart skipped a beat.
How could the Empress summon the Eighth Prince's Consort to the palace for no reason?
This surely meant she was about to make a move.
Empress Zhong was certainly going to act. Those shameless individuals had driven away her son. If she continued to live peacefully in Fengyi Palace, wouldn't she truly become a mere decoration?
Not only was Ji Zizhao unwilling to let this go, but if she couldn't take a piece of flesh from those people, she wouldn't let it go either!
Empress Zhong's methods were, of course, far more intricate than simply inviting the Eighth Prince's Consort for a visit.
Not long after Ji Zizhao left the palace, the gifts from Empress Zhong also arrived.
It must be said, this wasn't the first time Empress Zhong had sent gifts to Ji Zizhao. But compared to previous occasions, the items this time were so valuable that they stunned the curious onlookers.
From clothing to jewelry, to precious medicinal herbs and property deeds, everything was included.
The commoners watched with eager eyes, silently counting in their hearts...
As they counted, they became even more astonished!
This was clearly the bride price a mother-in-law gave to her daughter-in-law on her first day of marriage!
So...
Regardless of whether the Fourth Prince was alive or dead, the Empress had acknowledged Ji Zizhao as her daughter-in-law?
With the Empress's backing from now on, who would dare to underestimate Ji Zizhao?
Those who were listening to Madam Jiang scolding Ji Zizhao and eagerly awaiting her downfall...
What were they waiting for?
To see how much Empress favored Ji Zizhao?
Or to see how much gold and jewels Ji Zizhao had received?
Wouldn't it be more pleasant to live a peaceful and comfortable life? Why were they so foolish as to insist on watching Ji Zizhao's troubles, only to be utterly shocked instead?
Empress Zhong's act of sending the bride price in advance shattered the rumors instigated by Xie Jingzhou.
Marriage was about glory and status. Even if the Fourth Prince was absent, the eldest daughter of the Ji family still had the Empress's cherished favor. Just this fact alone, wasn't it better than being a concubine to the Fifth Prince?
Or perhaps Consort Xi could wield such a generous hand as Empress Zhong?
Consort Xi, "... "
Sitting in her palace, she was involuntarily dragged into trouble!
Unable to swallow her pride, Consort Xi went directly to the Emperor.
She couldn't argue with the Empress, but the Emperor could.
Emperor Xiaochang was naturally displeased upon hearing this. Setting aside his suspicions about the Fourth Prince's identity, the fact that the Empress had sent out the bride price before any of the princes had officially married was so contrary to protocol. How could she, as the Empress, do such a thing?
His anger grew with his thoughts. Emperor Xiaochang put down his work and headed to Fengyi Palace to reprimand her.
Empress Zhong looked at the Emperor, who arrived in a furious rage. Not only was she not afraid, but she appeared perfectly calm.
Reprimand her?
How dare you, you old scoundrel, say such a thing!
My inability to bear children was an indelible pain. After raising two sons, they were both sent to Tonglin at your command. Now, the Seventh Prince lies in the Tonglin barracks, his life uncertain. The Fourth Prince was sent away by you. I finally found a wife for the Fourth Prince, and I'm afraid she'll run away, so I poured my heart into appeasing her. What wrong have I done?
Emperor Xiaochang, "... "
He hadn't said a single word since entering the room...
Empress Zhong paid no heed to his silence, continuing to speak and cry, her hoarse voice echoing through the palace.
As a father, you don't help me share the burden of appeasing my daughter-in-law with money, yet you come to reprimand me?
Where is your face!
If you like sending people away so much, why don't you send me to Tonglin too?
In fact, Emperor Xiaochang had been married to Empress Zhong for decades.
In the blink of an eye, there had been stormy times, anxious days, and future prosperity...
But no matter what happened, Empress Zhong had always been as calm as water, silently accompanying him by his side.
Therefore, Empress Zhong's demeanor today had truly frightened Emperor Xiaochang.
However, it was precisely due to Empress Zhong's reaction that Emperor Xiaochang's suspicions gradually subsided. Empress Zhong had merely raised the Fourth and Seventh Princes as if they were her own. Even if the Fourth Prince's identity had issues, wasn't Empress Zhong innocent?
Thinking this, Emperor Xiaochang's anger dissipated.
Seeing the suspicion in the Emperor's eyes finally vanish, Empress Zhong inwardly breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
In extraordinary times, one must be preserved if possible.
As for others, it would be as Ji Zizhao suggested: to remain still and wait for the enemy's move.
Whether it was the Zhong family or the Xue family, even if the Emperor harbored suspicions, he couldn't accuse them based solely on suspicion.
Ji Zizhao was right. Three days after Xie Jinglan left the main city, Xue Yongnian was marginalized by the Emperor in court. As for the Zhong family, because the elder General Zhong was still in Tonglin, they fared slightly better than Xue Yongnian.
The court was a place where one acted based on rumors. With the Emperor's subtle attitude towards Xue Yongnian, and the Fourth Prince being sent to Tonglin, those officials who had intended to side with the Fourth Prince hesitated once more.
Xie Jingzhou, of course, would not miss this opportunity. While these officials were still wavering, he offered extremely tempting conditions, drawing them over to his side.
"My father said that the Fifth Prince's influence in the court has now become the highest, with praise for the Fifth Prince heard everywhere. Although the Emperor has not expressed his stance, if this continues, it will lead to unpredictable consequences." Xue Yinuo sat on the soft couch in Ji Zizhao's room, her face filled with worry.
Ji Zizhao smiled upon hearing this.
Xue Yinuo was startled, holding her breath. "Zizhao, are you alright? If you feel upset, just say it. You, you don't look very strong, but my shoulders are quite sturdy."
Had this person been driven to madness by the Fourth Prince's departure to Tonglin? Su Dan novel network
Ji Zizhao smiled and shook her head. "Go back and tell General Xue that no matter how many officials the Fifth Prince has won over now, he will have to spit them all out for me before long!"
Wanting to take advantage of the situation to kick someone while they are down?
They should first see if they have the skill to do so!