Xie Jinglan’s gaze was cool as he looked at Ji Zizhao’s delicate face, still smiling faintly, "So eager to send me away?"
"Xie! Jing! Lan!" Ji Zizhao called his name word by word.
Was it her who wanted to drive him away?
No.
It was because that was the only way out presented to him!
The Emperor had agreed to let Xie Jinglan go to Tonglin, and no matter which path Xie Jinglan chose, he would ultimately lose. Only by leaving quietly could he truly preserve his life.
Seeing that she was truly angry, Xie Jinglan chuckled and shook his head, "Easier said than done, but if I really leave like this, have you thought about what you will do?"
She had already divorced the Fifth Prince, and if he were to disappear forever, how would she live the rest of her life?
Was she truly destined to live as a widow for a lifetime?
"Even if you return, what will change?" Ji Zizhao looked at the man before her, unsure if her heart ached or was warmed. Even at this moment, he was still concerned about whether she would become a widow.
Xie Jinglan gave a self-deprecating smile, "What you say seems to have some sense."
"So if you leave, don't come back. Don't worry about the palace; I will do my best to take care of the Empress. Moreover, when the Seventh Prince returns, the Empress will not be alone. Even without you, I will continue to support the Seventh Prince from the shadows..."
Before she could finish speaking, Xie Jinglan embraced her tightly.
This girl could care for everyone. Anyone she acknowledged, she would wholeheartedly consider for. It was the same for the Empress, the Seventh Prince, and the Ji family. Yet, she never once considered herself.
Such a person was truly rare in this world.
Rare enough to be heartbreaking.
Ji Zizhao could feel the arms around her tightening, so much so that her breathing became labored. It was as if he wanted to embed her into his heart before letting go. Her eyes stung fiercely, and no matter how hard she blinked, she couldn't control the encroaching blurriness.
A tear fell onto Xie Jinglan’s neck, causing his heart to ache as if pierced.
Ji Zizhao took a deep breath and said softly, "Nothing is more important than being alive."
This was a lesson she learned when she lost all the men of the Ji family.
As long as one was alive, they would always have a chance to meet again.
Even if...
One never wanted to see them again, one still had to live.
Xie Jinglan loosened his arms and saw the deep mist in her dark eyes.
He wanted to raise his hand and wipe away the mist, but he clenched his fist.
He could not stay, just as she could not leave with him.
Because no matter how far behind them, too many lives were entangled.
Xie Jinglan’s clenched fingers loosened again, and he gently caressed her fair cheek, "I truly wish I could knock you unconscious and take you away, even if you resented me for the rest of your life."
Ji Zizhao remained silent for a long time, then a tearful smile broke through.
She knew he wouldn't.
This man, in fact, understood the importance of the bigger picture even better than she did.
Seeing her smile, Xie Jinglan also offered a faint smile.
Suddenly, the sound of a watchman's drum echoed from outside.
Ji Zizhao’s heart jolted.
It was midnight.
Xie Jinglan, not wanting to delay his departure from the city, decisively stood up. Ji Zizhao followed him closely to the door. Just as Xie Jinglan was about to step out, he suddenly turned back and embraced her once more.
"Take care of yourself."
With that, he turned and left.
Xie Jinglan was already very familiar with Ji Zizhao's courtyard and soon disappeared within its walls.
Ji Zizhao stood at the doorway, gazing at the courtyard wall where Xie Jinglan had vanished, unable to regain her senses for a long time.
After an unknown amount of time, Mo Hen walked up to Ji Zizhao, "It's late and cold, Miss. You should go inside."
Ji Zizhao came back to herself and nodded, "It is time to go back."
He was gone, so he was gone.
Since she could not stop him, what use was her reluctance?
Some feelings were enough as long as they were remembered in the heart.
She was still the Ji Zizhao who bore her burdens and moved forward, just as before.
A quarter past midnight, the procession heading to Tonglin departed from the city gates precisely on time.
The streets were deserted, but in the shadows, countless people were likely sleepless tonight.
Fearing she wouldn't be able to sleep, Ji Zizhao applied silver needles to herself, forcing herself into slumber. She didn't have time to indulge in melancholy now. Xie Jinglan was gone, but there were still many things she needed to do.
The first thing was to settle accounts with the Eighth Prince.
Whether this matter was orchestrated by Xie Jingzhou and the Eighth Prince together, or if the Eighth Prince, in his bid to ally with Xie Jingzhou, intended to use Xie Jinglan as a stepping stone, since the Eighth Prince had revealed himself, Ji Zizhao certainly had no intention of letting him off the hook.
If one wanted to plot against her man, they should be prepared to pay the price.
The next morning, Ji Zizhao summoned Mo Hen. "Go and keep an eye on the Eighth Prince's residence. Collect any information you can, the sooner the better."
Even the smallest piece of information could be a lethal weapon if utilized properly.
Mo Hen had overheard the conversation between his young lady and the Fourth Prince last night. He now felt great disdain for the Eighth Prince and, after receiving his orders, turned and left.
The news of the Fourth Prince traveling to Tonglin with imperial physicians gradually spread throughout the entire imperial city as the sun rose higher.
The Fourth Prince was already not highly regarded by the Emperor, and now, by going to Tonglin, in the eyes of the common people, he was merely cannon fodder sent by the Emperor.
Xie Jingzhou had already suffered a setback in this matter and would not miss this opportunity for revenge. He immediately had Luohong spread rumors, directing all the controversy towards Ji Zizhao.
Soon, rumors began to circulate in the imperial city that the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family was too arrogant, had refused a concubine position in the Fifth Prince's household, and insisted on a divorce, only to now become a widow for the Fourth Prince...
In an instant, public opinion in the imperial city was in an uproar.
Upon hearing the news, Madam Jiang could no longer stay idle in her residence. She immediately gathered a group of ladies from the imperial city and publicly condemned Ji Zizhao for her failed attempt to climb the social ladder, which had instead led to her own downfall.
By the time the Ji family learned of this, rumors were already flying everywhere in the imperial city.
The madams of each branch, angered, were all speaking up for Ji Zizhao when paying their respects to the Old Madam.
However, Gu Peilan smiled and said, "If you ask me, it's true that Miss Zhao doesn't have the fortune to enjoy bliss. The Fifth Prince is better, even as a concubine, it's still better than being a widow."
The madams of each branch: "..."
Listen to this! Was this even human language?!
However, the Old Madam remained silent, and the madams of each branch dared not act presumptuously in front of the Old Madam. Even though they were seething with anger, they had to suppress it.
"If she likes to talk, let her talk. She can only gain satisfaction from her tongue now." When Ji Zizhao heard about this, she merely smiled faintly. Her grandmother had always been the kind of person who sought advantage and avoided harm.
Furthermore, Xie Jinglan's departure was an undeniable fact.
She didn't even need to think to know who was behind the spreading of malicious rumors.
If she were to step forward and argue, she would fall right into their trap.
To put it bluntly, wasn't this all aimed at provoking her into revealing something with her words?
They were underestimating her too much.
Ji Zizhao's reclusiveness certainly did not slow down the spread of rumors in the city, but just as the public was engrossed in the gossip, another piece of news descended from the heavens, stunning everyone.
The Empress herself had sent someone to the Ji family to invite the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family into the palace!