After Ji Zizhao bid farewell to her mother and the others, she followed a faint scent of blood into the inner chamber.
Inside the room, Qing Zhu stood leaning by the window.
She bore dozens of wounds, her right hand, hanging limply at her side, was already ripped open.
Ji Zizhao wasted no words, quickly asking Shui Ling to bring her medicine box. She then settled Qing Zhu onto the couch and meticulously began to tend to her various wounds, both deep and shallow.
Qing Zhu lowered her gaze slightly, her voice hoarse with pain and tinged with remorse, "This subordinate is incompetent."
Although her lady had instructed her merely to obtain the evidence, Qing Zhu could not bear to let Sa Meng, the very person who had wronged the male heirs of the Ji family, escape so easily.
"If we're talking about incompetence, am I not the same?" Ji Zizhao offered a wry smile, her hands never ceasing their work.
She knew with certainty that the Fifth Prince was the true culprit, yet she could only watch as he roamed free.
Was she truly going to accept this?
Qing Zhu quickly interjected, "This subordinate did not mean it that way."
Ji Zizhao spread Qing Zhu's right hand open, meticulously stitching the flesh with a needle. Her dark eyes, reflecting the blood, were filled with immense hatred yet possessed an unusual calmness. "For him to bear the lives of all the male heirs of our Ji family on his own, even if there were an opportunity to kill him, it would be too easy for him."
One life for six, that was hardly a fair exchange.
Ji Zizhao was actually fortunate.
Fortunate that she currently lacked concrete proof, and even more fortunate that the Fifth Prince had taken the initiative to kill Ren Jun first.
This way, she could continue to play the game with him.
As long as she was present, he would never reach the pinnacle.
The road was still long.
Taking it slowly would lead to greater speed.
Within the burning inferno of her indignant rage, Qing Zhu gradually calmed down.
Even Lian Ju, who was guarding the window outside, slowly settled her breathing.
In the past, their lady had always been their pillar of strength. As long as their lady was there, even the most difficult paths would be flattened into a smooth plain.
Granny He entered from outside the door.
Already aware that Qing Zhu had returned injured, she was not surprised. She merely frowned with concern before stepping up to her lady and whispering, "My lady, this is a letter from the palace."
Ji Zizhao nodded. After finishing her treatment of Qing Zhu's wounds, she took the letter.
The letter had no signature and no closing. Upon opening it, the contents went straight to the point.
Today, after Ji Zizhao had left Shou Ren Palace, the Emperor had secretly ordered the execution of that young eunuch.
Yong Mei, seemingly frightened into clarity, quickly kowtowed and begged for mercy, proclaiming herself to be a person of the Fifth Prince, and that he would surely come to save her...
However, in the end, Yong Mei was also quietly thrown into the cold well of the Forbidden City.
Throughout the entire ordeal, the palace staff had not seen the Fifth Prince.
Only after Yong Mei had died in the well did the news arrive that the Fifth Prince had already left the palace.
Granny He, seeing her lady's pale complexion, asked with concern, "Did something happen?"
Ji Zizhao threw the letter in her hand into the nearby candle holder. "Yong Mei was caught in the palace today consorting with a palace servant. The Emperor caught her in the act, and she has now been secretly executed."
Qing Zhu, who had been resting against the couch, finally showed a slight relaxation in her heavy expression upon hearing this.
Even if the Fifth Prince couldn't be killed, someone who betrayed her like that deserved to die long ago.
Ji Zizhao was not surprised by Yong Mei's death.
If she were to return to the Fifth Prince's mansion, Yong Mei, as part of her dowry, would naturally become the Fifth Prince's concubine.
But now she was free. What status would Yong Mei have to move to the Fifth Prince's side?
The royal family valued face above all else.
The Emperor would never allow the royal family to become a laughingstock because of the Fifth Prince, all for the sake of a servant.
Furthermore, now that she and the Fifth Prince had completely fallen out, Yong Mei was useless to the Fifth Prince.
How could someone as insidious and cunning as the Fifth Prince possibly keep Yong Mei around?
"Tomorrow, go to Yong Mei's family early in the morning. Take plenty of silver with you. If they ask about Yong Mei, do not tell them the truth."
Those who were sold into service in wealthy households were all from impoverished families.
Even if Yong Mei met a karmic end, her family members were innocent.
Granny He, seeing her lady's complex expression, nodded without further inquiry. She then continued, "Earlier, this old servant sent Xin Lan to the First Madam's Cloud Court. Now that a personal maid position for my lady is vacant, does my lady require this old servant to choose another for you?"
"No need. I already have a suitable candidate."
Soon, Jian Qiu would be released from the palace, and she would be just the right person to take Xin Lan's place.
Granny He said no more and turned to walk out the door, only to collide headfirst with Shui Ling, who was rushing in.
Shui Ling steadied Granny He, not even taking the time to check if she had bumped herself anywhere, before anxiously looking at Ji Zizhao and exclaiming, "My lady, Miss Luo Hong, from the Fifth Prince's retinue, has arrived with the Prefect of Feng Tian and many yamen runners! They claim the Fifth Prince's mansion was just attacked by assassins, and the Fifth Prince was so frightened he fell unconscious! Miss Luo Hong pursued the assassins all the way and personally saw them enter our Ji family residence!"
Ji Zizhao lowered her gaze slightly.
The princes of Yu Lin all resided on Lion Street. Not only were there soldiers patrolling the street from end to end, but each prince's mansion was also equipped with dozens of guards. Who, tired of living, would dare to assassinate a prince?
Moreover, the Fifth Prince had always presented himself as weak, incompetent, and easygoing. How could he have easily made such an enemy?
"Miss Luo Hong insists she personally saw the assassins enter the Ji family and never come out. They are now intending to search the Ji family with the Feng Tian Prefecture officials. Apart from the Old Madam, who has already retired for the night, all other madams and young ladies have been alerted," Shui Ling said, stomping her feet anxiously.
Ji Zizhao knew that the so-called "personally saw" was merely an accusation without basis.
She suspected the Fifth Prince, unable to swallow his pride, was trying to bite back now.
Her gaze darkened, but her mind was already made up.
"Lian Ju, hasten to the Fourth Prince's mansion. There's no need for many words. Simply convey this news to the Fourth Prince."
Lian Ju, outside the window, silently accepted the command. With a swift movement, she leaped towards the courtyard wall.
Qing Zhu knew that the Fifth Prince was surely coming for her and quickly got up, saying, "Perhaps this subordinate should leave first to avoid suspicion."
Ji Zizhao, however, stopped Qing Zhu. "Since he is coming for you, if you are not in the residence, it will only give them more grounds to suspect your guilt."
"If this subordinate stays, won't it be like admitting guilt?"
Sa Meng had fought her. He would certainly know where she was injured.
If the Fifth Prince's side were to use this as evidence, who could say for sure?
Ji Zizhao, however, replied, "What can be seen is evidence. But what if it cannot be seen?"