In the main hall, the old madam looked at Jian Qiu and Fu Bao for a long time without speaking.
One was the most favored aunt by the former Empress Dowager's side, and the other was the personal eunuch by the Second Prince's side...
How wonderful it would be if these two could come and help her grandson!
However, though she thought this, the old madam was not foolish enough to ask Ji Zizhao for people.
Who would dare disobey the Empress Dowager's imperial decree and the Empress's verbal order?
Jian Qiu, being so shrewd, immediately saw the flicker in the old madam's eyes. As soon as they left the main courtyard, she took the initiative to say, "Princess Ronghe, rest assured, this servant has no other intentions towards you."
Fu Bao also quickly pledged, "Sister Jian Qiu is right, this servant will also do my best to serve Princess Ronghe."
Ji Zizhao looked at the two people following her and smiled, "Trust those you employ, and do not employ those you doubt. Since you have come to me, we are now a family. However, from now on, please do not mention the title of princess, and just call me Miss like everyone else."
Princess Ronghe, perhaps for others, was an unparalleled honor.
But for Ji Zizhao, this title was merely a transaction.
A transaction used for divorce.
Jian Qiu and Fu Bao nodded in agreement.
However, thinking of the attitude of the Tong family's old madam today, Jian Qiu hesitated to speak again.
Ji Zizhao directly said, "Just say what you want to say."
"Second Mistress caused such embarrassment to the Tong family today. Although the Tong family's old madam brought out that wet nurse, it may not be without the intention of warning and making things difficult for Miss, but it was still too calm."
The Tong family was a prestigious and influential noble clan in the imperial city. How could they be so easy to deal with?
Although the Ji family had now been posthumously honored as a Marquisate, an empty marquisate was not enough to make the Tong family wary.
She truly was the steward aunt by the former Empress Dowager's side, with sharp eyes and a keen mind.
However, unlike Jian Qiu's confusion, Ji Zizhao was fully aware.
The Tong family and Gu Peilan were now tied together by the Fifth Prince. Even though Gu Peilan was only related to the Tong family by marriage, as long as Ji Zongyou became the heir of the Ji family's marquisate, the Tong family would surely benefit.
The Tong family's old madam not tearing her face today was clearly leaving an escape route for Gu Peilan's mother and daughter.
Or, it could be said, that Gu Peilan's mother and daughter, along with Ji Zongyou, were able to stay so peacefully in the Tong family, only waiting to return triumphantly after obtaining the noble title.
At that time, with Ji Zongyou rising to prominence, Gu Peilan's mother and daughter would ascend with him.
Grandmother's current desire to avoid conflict certainly stemmed from the same idea.
However, these were just mere thoughts.
When Ji Zizhao agreed to use the Fourth Prince to build her momentum and assess the Imperial Academy, she had already made her plans.
Upon returning to Zhaoyuan, everyone in the courtyard happened to be present.
Ji Zizhao introduced Jian Qiu and Fu Bao to everyone, and then handed them over to Nanny He.
Nanny He dared not slight those who came from the palace. She delegated the management of the rough servants in the courtyard and the communication with the servants in the mansion to Fu Bao, and then invited Jian Qiu to attend to the lady's daily needs together.
Jian Qiu's purpose in leaving the palace was to take good care of Ji Zizhao. Hearing Nanny He's arrangement, she quickly nodded in agreement.
Fu Bao also got started very quickly. After all, he had gained experience by following the Second Prince in the imperial palace and the Prince's residence. Within half an afternoon, he had gotten along well with all the servants and maids in the mansion.
Jian Qiu, in the same amount of time, understood and became familiar with the lady's preferences and taboos.
Nanny He was surprised by Jian Qiu and Fu Bao's dedication. That evening, she instructed the small kitchen to prepare several extra dishes, and everyone gathered to welcome Jian Qiu and Fu Bao.
It wasn't until the hour of Hai that everyone gradually returned to their rooms to sleep.
Lian Ju stood under the eaves of the steps, silently guarding the courtyard.
Inside the room, candlelight flickered.
Ji Zizhao was reading the letter sent by Chen Gang.
The medical hall and pharmacy in Yixian Town had already opened. Although the common people, who cultivated and farmed their own land, understood the value of medicinal herbs, the number of patients who truly went to the medical hall to see a doctor was still very small.
The investment in the medical halls and pharmacies in Luoyi County was not large, but as there were no immediate profits, the court already had the intention of transferring the medical halls and pharmacies.
Ji Zizhao read Chen Gang's letter, not surprised at all.
A nation needed money for many things to sustain itself, and would not hang itself on one tree.
However, the court's transfer of the medical halls and pharmacies was a good opportunity for Ji Zizhao.
As long as she could achieve results after taking over the pharmacies and medical halls, the court would definitely continue to open medical halls and pharmacies in other places, and she could continue to secretly let the four major medical halls come forward to cultivate medicinal fields everywhere.
In this way, the people would benefit, and she would profit.
Throughout history, princes vying for the throne fought with power and measured wealth.
The Ji family now had no power or influence. If they also lacked money, they would eventually become discarded pieces.
At that time, let alone merits for assisting the dragon, the Ji family might be reduced to their original state.
"Knock, knock, knock..." The door of the outer room was suddenly knocked.
Ji Zizhao tensed her whole body instantly.
The people in the courtyard were accustomed to reporting and passing messages. How could they knock on the door?
She threw Chen Gang's letter into the candlestick and stood up to walk to the window, quietly looking out. She saw that Lian Ju, who was supposed to be guarding the courtyard, was now tilting her head and leaning to the side.
Although she appeared to be napping, Ji Zizhao knew that this person was likely already unconscious.
Someone who could enter the Ji family and sneak into Zhaoyuan so silently, and even Lian Ju was powerless to resist...
Besides that person, Ji Zizhao truly could not think of anyone else.
Composing herself, she walked to the door and gently opened it.
The night was deep, and the moonlight was just right.
A white robe reflected the moonlight, so pure and untainted that it was refreshing.
Ji Zizhao followed the hem of the robe, swayed by the cool breeze, and indeed saw the spiritual and gentle face she had expected.
Deep dark eyes, a lazy smile, and a beauty so elegant that one could not help but look away.
As the cool breeze blew, a faint smell of blood drifted into her nostrils. Ji Zizhao instinctively frowned and was about to ask, when a shadow came rushing towards her.
The Fourth Prince, who had been standing at the door, stumbled towards him!
Ji Zizhao then noticed how terrifyingly pale his face was, his lips even covered in a layer of white mist.
The next moment, the Fourth Prince crashed into her.
Ji Zizhao instinctively supported his body from under his armpits, and a biting coldness instantly spread from his body into hers, chilling her to the bone and making her tremble uncontrollably.
His face, resting on Ji Zizhao's shoulder, was as calm as if devoid of life, his faint breath making her heart panic.
Ji Zizhao hurriedly dragged him into the room and walked towards her bed.
Fortunately, she had been practicing grappling all along. Otherwise, not only would she have been unable to lift the Fourth Prince, who was a head taller than her, onto the bed, but she might have been flattened to the ground the moment he fell.