Yi Ye Bao Fu

Chapter 188 The Disordered Fifth Prince

Everyone in Shouren Palace could not believe what they had heard.

The Emperor's reason for allowing Princess Yun'an to accompany him to Luoyi was obvious.

The nomadic Turkic barbarians were cruel and merciless. It was said that boys there grew up drinking raw blood and eating raw meat from a young age. As daughters of Xiliang, who would willingly jump into that fiery pit of the Turkic tribes?

Yet, inexplicably…

The Eldest Daughter of the Ji family had jumped.

And it seemed she had done so willingly.

Could it be that the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family was unaware of the dangers in Turkestan?

The men of the Ji family had fought back and forth with the Turks for years. How could Ji Zizhao not understand the ferocity of the Turkic tribes?

It was precisely because she knew that she would bravely throw herself into danger.

Emperor Xiaochang narrowed his eyes slightly, his expression unreadable. "Ji Zizhao, do you understand the significance of going to Turkestan?"

Ji Zizhao's expression remained unchanged. "Your subject understands."

Currently, although the Ji family was a marquisate, it was merely an empty shell.

In this complex imperial city, anyone could step on the Ji family.

Ji Zizhao certainly had ways to deal with such matters and was not afraid. However, there were still unmarried sisters in the manor.

If the Ji family could not stand tall, the marriage prospects of the sisters would inevitably decline.

But if she were to accompany the Tenth Prince to Turkestan this time, it would be different. Even if the Emperor considered the face of the Turkic side, he would have to bestow the title of Princess upon her.

Furthermore, the bones of the Ji family men were still in Luoyi. She had to find them and bring them back for proper burial.

Of course, these were her inner thoughts, but she could not voice them as such.

"The Ji family has served on battlefields for generations, for the country and the people. Even though the Ji family's fortunes have declined, and all its men have died in Luoyi, as a daughter of the Ji family, I have a responsibility to continue to assist Your Majesty. Only with the stability of the nation can the court be clear. Ji Zizhao, having been taught by my grandfather since childhood, dares not forget that when the country is in peril, everyone has a duty. Ji Zizhao, though a weak woman, is willing to offer a humble contribution to Your Majesty, hoping only that Your Majesty will not disdain Ji Zizhao's meager strength."

The eunuch kneeling on the ground was speechless.

Weak woman? Where?

Although this speech contained a hint of unspoken doubt, it still astonished the important figures in Shouren Palace once more.

Looking at the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family kneeling on the ground, she appeared righteous and upright.

Emperor Xiaochang was speechless.

Indeed, there was a reason why Ji Zizhao had managed to lead the broken Ji family to this point.

Listen to her eloquent words, and look at her sincere expression…

Even if Emperor Xiaochang suspected that these words were more flattery directed at him, he accepted it willingly.

Who did not enjoy hearing pleasant words?

This flattery felt so good!

"Ji Zizhao, I ask you one more time, do you truly have no regrets?" Emperor Xiaochang still hesitated about letting Ji Zizhao go to Turkestan.

After all, if he agreed, his son would have to divorce her.

The dignity of the royal family could not be lost.

Ji Zizhao replied calmly, "Before my sovereign, your subject dares not speak falsely."

Her tone of voice was strikingly similar to that of the serious and stern Ji Zhengyong back then…

Emperor Xiaochang was slightly moved. In a daze, even Ji Zizhao kneeling before him seemed familiar.

Especially the dress she wore, it was so familiar…

Suddenly, Emperor Xiaochang's heart trembled.

The name that had long been buried in the depths of his heart echoed in his mind.

Xinrou…

Emperor Xiaochang did not know why he saw the figure of his beloved woman in Ji Zizhao, but the more he looked, the more alike she seemed.

Not to mention the clothes, which bore five to six parts of resemblance, even the hairpins on her head looked remarkably similar…

Emperor Xiaochang also wondered why he hadn't felt this way just moments ago.

But some feelings were so real that he had to believe them.

Could it be…

That Xinrou had manifested herself to protect this child?

Emperor Xiaochang's heart instantly softened.

"Since you are so determined, you may return and prepare."

Seeing the Emperor relent, Ji Zizhao knelt again and kowtowed heavily. "Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your boundless grace."

Xie Jingzhou was speechless.

What about the royal dignity he had spoken of?

With a single word from the Emperor, Ji Zizhao was completely no longer a member of the royal family.

Ji Zizhao, now free, slowly stood up and, with full self-awareness, departed first.

However, as she turned, she glanced at the Fifth Prince with a smile full of deep meaning.

It was a smile of mockery, of ridicule, and perhaps of pity for something…

Although the divorce had relieved Xie Jingzhou, watching Ji Zizhao rise and leave so nonchalantly made him inexplicably furious.

Today, he had been thoroughly trampled by Ji Zizhao.

Yet, facing Ji Zizhao's meaningful smile, Xie Jingzhou found himself unable to fathom its true meaning.

However, the Emperor's word was final. Since they were divorced, Xie Jingzhou would no longer dwell on it.

He quickly scrambled to his feet and tearfully approached the Emperor. "It is my fault for causing Your Majesty worry. It is all my fault…"

Emperor Xiaochang's head ached from the Fifth Prince's crying. "The matter has come to this, and there is no use in discussing it further."

Xie Jingzhou wiped his tears, putting on a look of wanting to share his father's worries. "I did not expect the Ren family to be so difficult. Ren Jun's collusion with the Second Prince is a fact. If Your Majesty is unwilling to intervene, I am willing to act on your behalf."

Emperor Xiaochang found these words somewhat sensible, but he sighed deeply. "Ren Jun's case has been concluded. Just now, Ren Jun's family struck the Weng Deng drum, claiming that Ren Jun committed suicide in the Dali Temple, having confessed to all his crimes in a last testament."

Xie Jingzhou was stunned.

Suddenly, everything felt chaotic.

If Ren Jun was dead, it meant that Sa Meng had succeeded.

But why did the Ren family dare to strike the Weng Deng drum themselves, instead of waiting for the Minister of the Dali Temple to investigate?

"It is said that he had been dead for seven or eight days in the Dali Temple prison when he was discovered," Emperor Xiaochang said calmly. Those who entered the Dali Temple prison were either death row inmates or exiles, and the jailers would not have taken meticulous care of them.

However, Xie Jingzhou could not remain calm!

If he had truly been dead for seven or eight days, it meant that Sa Meng had succeeded the first time!

He suddenly recalled what Ji Zizhao had said before. Xie Jingzhou understood everything now.

Ren Jun had died long ago, but Ji Zizhao had managed to conceal it. She had then lured his men into a trap, deliberately found evidence from Sa Meng, and then had the Ren family strike the Weng Deng drum at a specific time to announce his death…

So, Ji Zizhao had been playing him for a fool all along!

And what was worse, he had been completely fooled!!

So…

Ji Zizhao's smile just now was indeed mocking his foolishness, laughing at his ignorance, and pitying him, the loser.

Now he finally understood why his men at the palace gate had not stopped the Ren family from striking the Weng Deng drum.

They had come to announce a death, so his men naturally would not obstruct them.

Xie Jingzhou's mind was in turmoil.

Xie Jingzhou was completely losing his composure.

Ji Zizhao, you are ruthless!

Ji Zizhao was indeed ruthless. Otherwise, she would have been the one trampled underfoot and controlled today.

Upon leaving the imperial palace, Lian Ju rushed forward. "Miss."

Ji Zizhao nodded wearily, then took out a sachet from her embrace. "Find a deserted place and burn this. Remember to cover your mouth and nose, and do not inhale its scent, or it will affect your mind, making you agitated and restless."

Lian Ju nodded and carefully tucked the item away before tightening the reins of the horse.