"That was too close, who would have thought something like this could happen in the palace!"
"Fortunately, it was a close call. It's just a shame for Fourth Brother to have faced such a calamity out of the blue."
"It's good that no vital parts were injured..."
The princes gathered around chimed in, each speaking their mind, while Xie Jingzhou also looked at Xie Jinglan with a worried expression.
No matter how intense their private rivalries were, with the Emperor lying inside, they had to at least put on a show of concern.
Xie Jinglan, standing in the center, kept his head bowed in silence, blood dripping from his gaunt profile.
As if sensing something, he suddenly lifted his head and looked towards Ji Zizhao. He then saw Ji Zizhao, her face pale, watching him from the hastily bustling outer hall.
At the same time, the gazes of the other princes also fell upon Ji Zizhao.
Xie Jinglan looked at her face, so pale it seemed almost transparent, and his heart sank. Just as he was contemplating how to appear less severely injured, he saw Ji Zizhao, expressionless, approaching with her medicine chest. Under the watchful eyes of the princes, she took his arm and prepared to lead him away.
Xie Jinglan: "..."
She was truly worried.
"Even though Fourth Brother has been betrothed, he is still within the palace, and one should avoid such impropriety. Moreover, Fourth Brother has not yet married. It is perhaps against the rules for the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family to treat him in this manner. I believe it would be more appropriate to wait for the imperial physicians from the inner chambers to emerge and then have them examine Fourth Brother's injuries," a piercing voice rang out from behind them. Ji Zizhao knew who it was without turning around.
Indeed, when she turned, she saw Xie Jingzhou smiling with feigned goodwill.
He truly looked like a kind-hearted man who was considering her best interests.
But Ji Zizhao knew that Xie Jingzhou was deliberately trying to stall for time.
"His Highness the Fifth Prince also stated that this minister has been betrothed by the Emperor. The Emperor's golden words are irrevocable, and no matter when the marriage takes place, this matter is now unchangeable."
At these words, the smile on Xie Jingzhou's face almost faltered.
Everyone present knew that Ji Zizhao had once been engaged to him. To openly show such devotion to her current fiancé in front of her former fiancé, what was she trying to achieve?
This was not just a public humiliation; it was a deliberate act to trample on his dignity.
"Eldest Daughter of the Ji family, you have gone too far. His Highness the Fifth Prince was merely considering your well-being. After all, there is a distinction between men and women..." The Eighth Prince spoke unhurriedly, attempting to mediate.
Ji Zizhao hadn't expected the Eighth Prince to step in as a peacemaker, but surprise aside, her words wouldn't change. "Since this minister serves in the Imperial Academy, I must uphold the dignity of the official robes I wear. As far as I know, Inspector Zhang has been attending to the Empress's well-being, and Inspector Zou has been assisting Consort Xi with her health. If we were to follow His Highness the Eighth Prince's logic, wouldn't their actions also be improper and unsuitable?"
The Eighth Prince: "..."
Why had he bothered to speak?
He shouldn't have opened his mouth!
"Why all this commotion?" Empress Zhong emerged, supported by Nanny Dai. Her phoenix eyes swept over the faces of everyone present, the familiar warmth replaced by an unyielding seriousness.
"Your subject greets Mother Empress..."
The princes collectively bowed, none daring to disregard the Empress's authority.
Empress Zhong ignored the other princes and fixed her gaze on Ji Zizhao, saying sternly, "To perform one's duties in one's position, does the Fourth Prince Consort not understand this basic principle? Hurry and take the Fourth Prince to the side hall for treatment. If his injuries are truly delayed, no one can bear the responsibility."
The Empress mentioned "Fourth Prince Consort" and not "you," clearly reminding all the princes.
Ji Zizhao understood that the Empress was covering for her. After quickly offering an apology, she helped Xie Jinglan towards a nearby side hall.
Xie Jinglan leaned against Ji Zizhao as they walked. He went to the side hall as the Empress had instructed, and walked as quickly as Ji Zizhao did, embodying the ultimate image of a clingy husband who was also under his wife's thumb.
The other princes: "..."
Xie Jingzhou watched their retreating figures, his teeth gritted.
Despite their noble status as princes, weren't they all raised with constant anxiety? Hadn't they all been through scrapes and falls? Weren't all princes brought up this way? Why was their less favored Fourth Brother worthy of such special attention?
They couldn't even wait a moment!
The Imperial Palace was not like other sleeping quarters in the harem. Even a small side hall required traversing a rear courtyard to reach. Ji Zizhao supported Xie Jinglan, stopping and starting, and it took nearly fifteen minutes before they stepped inside.
Ji Zizhao helped Xie Jinglan sit on a Louhan bed. She then turned to instruct the palace servants in the courtyard to prepare hot water and soft cloths, before personally untying his blood-soaked clothes.
There were no wounds on his face, but the back of his head had been struck by a hard object, leaving a gash several inches long. He had bled profusely, but fortunately, the wound was not deep. After simple suturing and a period of rest, he would be fine.
However, his body bore more serious injuries, especially the stab wound on his chest, which extended from his collarbone to his waist. The flesh around the wound had already opened, revealing a mess of white bone and red tissue.
Ji Zizhao took a deep breath, threading a needle and stitching the wound, stitch by stitch. Finally, she sprinkled medicinal powder and bandaged it with clean white cloth. By the time she finished, half an hour had already passed.
The palace servants near the imperial presence were exceptionally astute. By the time Ji Zizhao looked up, the courtyard was deserted. All the palace servants had hidden themselves away to avoid impropriety, leaving the courtyard in silence.
"During this period, you cannot exert any force, not even the slightest. It is best to sleep in a completely flat position and be sure not to get the wound wet. I have already written the prescription for internal consumption. In a while, have Tang Di or Huo Nian Gong go directly to the four major medical halls to collect the medicine," Ji Zizhao instructed softly, handing him the prescription.
Xie Jinglan held her hand and did not let go, his voice very low, "The Fourth Prince's martial arts are known to be the weakest among all the princes."
Therefore, even if a saber had been aimed directly at him in the Taihe Hall just now, he could not have dodged.
"What exactly happened?" Ji Zizhao asked in a low voice.
"Just now in the Taihe Hall, an inconspicuous palace servant presented Father Emperor with a tiger-head banner. Father Emperor was furious and was about to question the servant about where he obtained it. Unexpectedly, the servant suddenly drew a broad saber from his sleeve and charged directly at me."
Xie Jinglan spoke calmly, but Ji Zizhao could not remain calm!
A "du" was the largest flag in the army, also known as a flag head, typically used by emperors when they went on campaign to boost morale.
Ji Zizhao remembered her grandfather saying that the symbols carried by emperors of different countries when they went on campaign varied. Yu Lin used the sun and moon, while other countries used fierce beasts or birds of prey.
And the tiger-head banner represented...
The Western Rong!