Tang Di, who had been staking out the Ji family's residence with the Seventh Prince, finally managed to explain Luo Hong's visit to the Ji family to the Seventh Prince. Just then, Luo Hong emerged with a contingent from Fengtian Prefecture.
Seeing this, Tang Di continued to feign emotion, "Your Highness, the Emperor decreed a divorce. Is that something the eldest daughter of the Ji family could control? Yet, the Fifth Prince has inexplicably taken out all his anger on her. Seeing Luo Hong's arrogant demeanor, one can only imagine how terribly the eldest daughter of the Ji family is being bullied."
Xie Jingqi, who was being easily swayed, asked, "How do you know so clearly why Luo Hong came to the Ji family to cause trouble?"
Tang Di, with a poker face, replied, "It's not important where the news came from. What matters is that the Fifth Prince is utterly excessive. The eldest daughter of the Ji family is clearly a victim of the divorce, yet she's now being used as an outlet for the Fifth Prince's anger. I wonder how the eldest daughter of the Ji family is doing now. What if she feels like she has no way out..."
"As long as I'm around, it's not his place to be arrogant, Xie Jingzhou!" Xie Jingqi patted his chest, turned, and jumped into the carriage, heading straight for the imperial palace.
It was true that Xie Jingqi looked down on Ji Zizhao, but he had never considered harming her.
Moreover, now that Ji Zizhao was divorced from Xie Jingzhou, he found her slightly more palatable.
Besides, anything that could embarrass Xie Jingzhou was something Xie Jingqi always readily took on.
The people blocking the Ji family's entrance were soon divided into two groups.
While Xie Jingqi swaggered into the palace, Luo Hong returned to the Fifth Prince's residence.
Facing Xie Jingzhou, who was alone, playing chess and awaiting news, Luo Hong could only report truthfully, "Ji Zizhao is too cunning. She used a civet cat to distract everyone's attention!"
Xie Jingzhou's attention was not on the cat. "Are you certain that Qingzhu has no injuries?"
Luo Hong nodded affirmatively. "This servant is certain."
Sa Meng, kneeling nearby, quickly interjected, "Your Highness, please investigate. This subordinate is certain that Qingzhu must have sustained severe injuries!"
Luo Hong frowned. "This servant saw with her own eyes that Qingzhu has no marks on her body!"
Sa Meng also stated, "The injuries on Qingzhu were inflicted by this subordinate personally. I know exactly where they are!"
The two, each trying to prove their innocence, knelt before Xie Jingzhou.
Xie Jingzhou remained silent for a long moment before saying, "What you are both saying is true."
Sa Meng and Luo Hong were both startled.
Today, in the palace, Xie Jingzhou had been inexplicably irritable and short-tempered, and he couldn't find the reason for Yongmei's failure.
Now, it seemed obvious.
That Ji Zizhao not only knew martial arts but also understood medicine.
Ultimately, he had underestimated that woman.
Luo Hong and Sa Meng exchanged glances before reacting, "Your Highness, aren't you angry?"
Xie Jingzhou looked at the chessboard before him, his dark eyes as sinister as a scorpion's. "Since I've gotten the answer I wanted, why should I be angry?"
Today's test was merely to resolve the doubts in his heart.
The road ahead was still long. Both he and Ji Zizhao had to proceed slowly.
Only by knowing oneself and the enemy could one emerge victorious in every battle.
Xie Jingzhou casually placed a white piece on the board. "Regarding the matter of going to Luoyi, has Father decreed?"
Sa Meng organized the intelligence he had gathered and replied, "Reporting to Your Highness, news from the palace this morning indicates that Consort Xi is still trying to persuade His Majesty."
Xie Jingzhou frowned irritably.
The defeat at Luoyi had escalated to this point, and he had gained his father's high regard.
Although the Tenth Prince becoming a hostage or Ji Zizhao entering into a political marriage was a foregone conclusion, once the matter was settled, his father would surely be overjoyed. Correspondingly, the person handling this matter would gain significant favor in his father's eyes.
To put it plainly, this trip to Luoyi was a piece of cake.
Today, Xie Jingzhou had almost exposed himself before the Emperor. Although the Emperor said nothing afterward, Xie Jingzhou knew that the best way to regain his father's favor was to atone for his mistakes.
However, before Xie Jingzhou could devise a plan, he was nearly knocked unconscious by a sudden piece of news.
Just moments ago, the selection of the envoy to Luoyi had been claimed by the Seventh Prince.
Xie Jingzhou stood up abruptly and overturned the chessboard, startling Sa Meng and Luo Hong into holding their breath.
"Someone! Prepare the carriage!" Xie Jingzhou strode towards the exit.
This time, he truly couldn't sit still.
However, as Xie Jingzhou reached the mansion gate, he was stopped by the guards at the entrance.
"Reporting to Third Prince, an imperial oral decree just arrived from the palace, ordering the Third Prince to confine himself within the residence to reflect on his mistakes. Without His Majesty's permission, you are not to step outside the mansion."
Xie Jingzhou: "..."
If he didn't have a strong heart, he would have fainted long ago.
Yet, the guards at the gate, looking at the Fifth Prince's purple face, remained completely unmoved.
These guards, like those in other princes' residences, ostensibly protected the princes' safety, but ultimately, their loyalty lay only with the Emperor.
And just as the Fifth Prince was completely unable to retaliate after being struck by a double blow, Tang Di returned to the Fourth Prince's residence.
Xie Jinglan, who was reviewing accounts, heard Tang Di's report and gave a low hum, not even lifting his eyelids.
It was as he expected; there was nothing to be surprised about.
The next morning, the news of the Fifth Prince being confined spread through the streets and alleys.
Ji Zizhao rose with the rooster as usual. After stretching and practicing martial arts in the courtyard for half an hour, she saw Shui Ling approaching with breakfast.
Upon seeing her mistress, Shui Ling, beaming like a flower, excitedly recounted the news of the Fifth Prince's confinement. She expressed her relief that the Seventh Prince, rather than the cunning and deceitful Fifth Prince, would accompany her mistress to Luoyi.
Ji Zizhao was uncharacterently surprised by this news.
Yesterday, when she sent someone to inform the Fourth Prince, Ji Zizhao had indeed hoped to escalate the matter.
However, she only intended to warn the Fifth Prince.
Although the Fifth Prince had provoked the conflict last night, he was, after all, the Emperor's son and would naturally be favored.
The fact that the Seventh Prince went to complain to the Emperor meant that the Fifth Prince would naturally suffer the consequences.
After all, it was known throughout the imperial city that the Emperor doted on the Seventh Prince the most.
However, the Seventh Prince's complaint had also exposed his impulsive and restless flaws, making training for his upcoming expedition the best choice.
And by chance, there was now an opportunity in Luoyi...
Although she didn't know how the Fourth Prince managed to persuade the Seventh Prince to step forward on behalf of the Ji family and seek an audience with the Emperor, this move, which killed two birds with one stone, even Ji Zizhao had to admire.
The news of the Seventh Prince accompanying the expedition to Luoyi stirred considerable waves in the imperial city.
It was said that Consort Xi was so enraged that she took to her bed, but she was still unable to change the Emperor's mind.
Seeing this, the other princes, however unwilling, had to accept their fate.
If even Consort Xi, who was on par with Empress Zhong, couldn't secure what she wanted, then they shouldn't entertain any further thoughts.