"Do you like it?"
Xie Jinglan hadn't considered it, but Ji Zizhao's appearance at the Xue residence that day had indeed shaken him.
For years, apart from his seventh brother and his mother, no one had treated him kindly.
And Ji Zizhao had rushed over that day, clearly to save him from a predicament.
Xie Jinglan looked up at the sky above, his eyes filled with an uncertain mood.
This fourth brother was too hollow; even Xie Jingqi felt a pang of panic. "Fourth Brother, don't worry. Ji Zizhao might be formidable, but she doesn't eat people."
Don't make it sound like you're going to your death; it scares me.
As Xie Jinglan withdrew his gaze, a calm returned to his eyes. "Even if you were thick-skinned enough to want me to support you and your sons and grandsons, I doubt your sons and grandsons would be as shameless as you. Moreover, your future fourth sister-in-law probably couldn't endure you bringing a string of little radishes to gnaw on."
Xie Jingqi wanted to jump up. Why was it about him again?
But on second thought, Fourth Brother's words seemed to make sense.
If it were anyone else acting as his fourth sister-in-law, it would be fine, but Ji Zizhao...
He still felt a sense of lingering fear.
After all, the shadow cast in Luoyi back then was quite profound.
"When you find a proper job, then you can worry about your fourth brother. It won't be too late," Xie Jinglan delivered another blow to his brother's chest before leaving with a flourish.
Xie Jingqi, "..."
To play matchmaker only to be attacked and scorned, he truly was...
However, to make him give up just like that was entirely impossible.
It was just finding a job; was he afraid of that?
For his fourth brother's happiness, he would go all out!
The seventh prince, who was swept away like a gust of wind towards the imperial study, had no idea he had once again fallen into a trap set by the fourth prince.
Emperor Xiaochang, who was already suffering from a headache due to the pile of memorials in the imperial study, saw his most troublesome son roll in.
"What do you want this time?" Emperor Xiaochang felt a chill from his son's gaze, which seemed to carry a sense of resignation.
"Father, if you grant me one condition, I will agree to go to the General's Office," Xie Jingqi stated directly.
Emperor Xiaochang, "..."
No one knew what the seventh prince said to the Emperor, but after the seventh prince left, the Emperor summoned the commander of the General's Office.
Soon, news spread throughout the palace that the seventh prince would be taking up a post at the General's Office.
In Consort Xi's chambers, Consort Xi's face was already dark. Upon hearing this news, her expression grew even more grim.
Both had a hand in establishing medical clinics and pharmacies in Luoyi. The seventh prince was now heavily relied upon by the Emperor upon his return, yet her son had yet to be summoned by the Emperor.
Xie Jingzhou's expression was also not very pleasant. "Mother, have you found any results regarding the matter I asked you to investigate?"
Consort Xi frowned, a headache forming. "Since Xue Yongnian's matter is in the past, why must you bring it up again? The most important thing now is how to increase your standing in your father's heart."
Xie Jingzhou knew that since Mother said this, she hadn't found out who had made the move.
With so many princes, it was indeed difficult to find the mastermind. But Mother always acted this way; even if she handled things poorly or made a mistake, she never bowed her head.
"The seventh brother has the fourth brother's support. I heard that the fourth brother and Ji Zizhao have become entangled again. If the fourth brother truly marries Ji Zizhao, with Ji Zizhao's intelligence, it would be like adding wings to the seventh brother," Xie Jingzhou inexplicably voiced his inner resentment.
Consort Xi's brow furrowed even tighter upon hearing this. "At this point, you're still concerned with matters of love and romance! No matter how capable Ji Zizhao is, she's just a woman. What power can she possibly have!"
Xie Jingzhou sneered. "Ji Zizhao could force me to divorce her without anyone noticing, could get the Emperor to bestow upon her the title of County Princess, and could keep Mother completely on guard even now. This is her capability."
Consort Xi's face turned ashen with anger. "You are becoming more and more useless!"
Xie Jingzhou's heart was in turmoil, so he simply left with a flick of his sleeve.
The governess by Consort Xi's side, seeing the situation, could only console her. "The Emperor sent the seventh prince to the General's Office, so the fifth prince is naturally displeased. My Lady, please do not be angry with His Highness."
Consort Xi caressed her throbbing chest. "Look at him just now; he was only thinking about one woman."
Consort Xi certainly didn't think it was her son's fault. In the end, it was all Ji Zizhao's doing. Even after the divorce, she still harbored intentions of seducing her son.
Just then, a palace servant delivered the guest list for the banquet in the palace.
Consort Xi looked at Ji Zizhao's name on the list, her gaze turning cold. After a moment's thought, she said to the governess by her side, "Since Ji Zizhao has rendered meritorious service in Luoyi this time, it would be inappropriate to neglect her. I heard her younger sister has returned, so let's take this opportunity to give Ji Zizhao's sister a chance to shine."
The governess pondered in her heart, everyone in the imperial city knew that the eldest daughter of the Ji family did not get along with her younger sister who had recently joined the family.
Judging by her Ladyship's intention now, she wanted to elevate the sister to embarrass the eldest daughter of the Ji family.
However, since it was her Ladyship's wish, the governess quickly went to the Ministry of Rites to give instructions.
Soon, Fengyi Palace also received the banquet guest list.
Upon seeing Ji Renran's name added next to Ji Zizhao's, Empress Zhong let out a cold laugh.
To elevate one and suppress another, it truly took effort for Consort Xi to scheme so elaborately.
Clasping the list in her hand, Empress Zhong said to Zhi Nan, "I recall a palace maid who wanted to leave the palace before?"
Zhi Nan quickly nodded. "Yes, and there was also a young eunuch."
Empress Zhong waved her hand. "Approved."
Entering the palace depended on the etiquette and rules of the ladies in the imperial city. As long as there were people from the palace to teach them, anyone without disabled limbs or a dull mind could be taught well.
That evening, the list of guests for the imperial banquet spread throughout the imperial city.
This was a piece of incredibly good news for Gu Peilan and her daughter, who were currently living under the Tong family's roof.
Especially for Ji Renran, who was so overjoyed upon hearing that her name was added by Consort Xi that she was almost in tears.
Gu Peilan held her daughter's hand and cautioned, "You must not take this entry into the palace lightly. Fortunately, I have already made arrangements for matters outside. Now that you have this opportunity to enter the palace, we have a double layer of security. On the day of entering the palace, it will depend on you. No matter what, you must strive to secure the hereditary succession for your elder brother."
Ji Renran nodded vigorously. "Mother, rest assured, your daughter will not disappoint you."
Upon receiving the news, the Old Madam of the Tong family also rushed to offer congratulations and even declared that she would cover Ji Renran's attire and jewelry for the day she entered the palace.
Gu Peilan and Ji Renran were so happy their mouths were almost unable to close.
However, before the mother and daughter could finish their laughter, a young servant from the gatehouse ran in, sweating profusely. "Old Madam, bad news! The imperial invitation has arrived."
The Old Madam of the Tong family frowned. "An imperial invitation is good news."
The servant swallowed and continued, "But, but the person delivering the invitation is, is the second daughter of the Ji family!"