The elder master of the Tong family, holding back his breath, looked at the Fourth Prince and said, "Even I, your humble servant, was unaware of such matters. I did not expect Your Highness to be so clearly informed."
This statement clearly implied that the Fourth Prince was involved with Ji Zizhao in an improper way.
Which woman in the imperial city did not care about her reputation? Ji Zizhao was already divorced, and if she were now to be associated with a reputation of ambiguous relations with the Fourth Prince, how would she ever face anyone again!
Xue Yongnian's fists clenched, his veins bulging with anger.
resorting to personal attacks when unable to win an argument?
Tong Guolin, are you unable to play fair!
The elder master of the Tong family paid no mind to Xue Yongnian's glare, looking at the Fourth Prince with a half-smile.
Since you intend to support a divorced woman, you must be prepared to suffer the same shame.
Xie Jinglan calmly glanced at the elder master of the Tong family. "When the eldest daughter of the Ji family was willing to go to the Xue residence to treat General Xue, Master Tong was present. You should recall that the eldest daughter of the Ji family is an extremely important benefactor to me."
The elder master of the Tong family was stunned. He choked, almost suffocating, unable to catch his breath.
The other ministers, hearing these words, looked at the elder master of the Tong family with even more critical eyes.
It was only natural for the Fourth Prince to assist his benefactor. Master Tong, feigning ignorance when he knew the truth, deliberately tarnished the reputations of the eldest daughter of the Ji family and the Fourth Prince. Was his intent not too malicious?
What else could the elder master of the Tong family say? He could only leave in disgrace, with nothing more to say.
Soon, the news spread.
Emperor Xiaochang, who was in the Imperial Study reviewing memorials, paused his hand holding the brush as he listened to Feng Gu's report.
He had not expected this matter to have such hidden depths.
Although he did not wish for the Ji family to pass down their title for generations, since there were reasons behind it, he could only temporarily set it aside.
Otherwise, if this matter spread, would the citizens of the imperial city not say that he, the Emperor, was unjust?
With no further action from the Emperor, the elder master of the Tong family became even more enraged. Upon returning to his mansion, he saw Gu Peilan's family having dinner with his wife and daughter. This only fueled his anger.
"After doing such things at the Ji family's, you still have the audacity to sit here and eat?" The elder master of the Tong family truly couldn't comprehend why the Fifth Prince would get involved with such people.
Ji Renran had only learned the truth from her mother yesterday. But even if her brother had done something wrong, he was still her brother. Seeing the elder master of the Tong family with a darkened expression, she could only look pleadingly at the elder madam of the Tong family.
During this time, Ji Renran had been very accommodating to the elder madam of the Tong family. Now, instinctively, she spoke in her defense, "Why does my lord need to be so angry? Ultimately, we still don't know why the eldest daughter of the Ji family insisted on making such a fuss over a mere servant."
Seeing this, Gu Peilan also quickly stood up and said with a smile, "Now that we have no standing in the Ji family, Ji Zizhao naturally seizes upon trivial matters to torment us mother and daughter."
Nowadays, Gu Peilan presented herself as Tong Peilan to the outside world. Since Ji Zizhao disdained her, she naturally disdained the entire Tong family as well.
The elder master of the Tong family's face darkened further.
"To put it all boils down to the fact that I am not yet the legitimate heir of the Marquis's mansion. The day I become the heir, why would Ji Zizhao, that little slut, be so arrogant! I will make her beg me to return then!" Ji Zongyou slammed his chopsticks onto the table, his eyes gleaming with malice.
These words struck a chord with the elder master of the Tong family.
The elder master of the Tong family naturally wished to witness Ji Zizhao on her knees begging.
Originally, he had intended to use this incident to have the Ji family's hereditary title abolished, thereby gaining favor with the Fifth Prince.
After all, the Fifth Prince did not wish for the Ji family to prosper.
But now, with the Fourth Prince's interference, the Emperor had no longer taken action.
However, upon reflection, Ji Zongyou was now his grandson. If he truly inherited the title and served the Fifth Prince, it would bring honor to him and give him more confidence.
He had been foolish. How had he not considered this from the beginning?
Once he had figured things out, the elder master of the Tong family's expression softened. "We have received news from the imperial post station that the Seventh Prince and his party will arrive in the imperial city in a few days. The Emperor will surely reward them, and your good days are coming soon."
Gu Peilan and Ji Renran were both relieved to hear this.
As long as Ji Zongyou became the heir, it would be the time for their mother and daughter to hold their heads high.
Ji Zongyou's eyes burned with resentment. No one hated Ji Zizhao more than he did now, but he also understood very well that no matter how much he hated her, he had to wait until the hereditary title was passed down.
At that time, he would surely make that slut Ji Zizhao taste his power.
While the Tong and Ji families had not yet settled their disputes, news of the Fourth Prince bravely intervening for the eldest daughter of the Ji family followed. Although the Fourth Prince had explicitly stated that the eldest daughter of the Ji family was his benefactor, the way this benefactor was repaid was truly exhilarating.
The dignified Fourth Prince had, for the eldest daughter of the Ji family, directly cornered Master Tong in the palace and thoroughly humiliated him...
The heroic rescues depicted in opera were nothing compared to this!
The madams from various households came to Zhaoyuan daily to inquire about the Fourth Prince. They had seen him when he came to the Ji family for a memorial service, and he had indeed appeared distinguished.
Ji Ziyan and Ji Zibi were also happy for their elder sister. In any case, the Fourth Prince was far better than the Fifth Prince.
Ji Zizhao: "..."
She was truly vexed.
She hadn't expected the Fourth Prince's spies to be so formidable, with nothing escaping his notice.
Although she knew the Fourth Prince's actions were intended to build momentum, wasn't this momentum a bit excessive?
However, the Fourth Prince seemed entirely unfazed, continuing to send Tang Di with fruits and fresh vegetables daily.
Ji Renran, who was flattering the elder madam of the Tong family at the Tong residence, was stunned for a long time when she heard this news. What kind of luck had Ji Zizhao stumbled upon?
How could she be so fortunate!
She had lost the Fifth Prince, and now the Fourth Prince had appeared.
Gu Peilan, seeing Ji Renran's gloomy expression, quickly comforted her, "You don't need to overthink it. Once your brother inherits the title, you will be a legitimate county princess without the Emperor's official conferment. Then, you and the Fifth Prince will be a match made in heaven."
Although Ji Renran knew her mother's words were correct, in order to make the Fifth Prince see through Ji Zizhao's fickle nature, she wrote a letter that afternoon and asked Song Mama to find a way to send it out.
Xie Jingzhou, who was returning to the imperial city with the main contingent, received Ji Renran's letter and was utterly bewildered.
Fourth Brother was interested in Ji Zizhao?
How could that be!
If one considered it carefully, the Fourth Prince was not favored by the Emperor, and Ji Zizhao was divorced. These two together would have no future. Xie Jingzhou should have been happy.
But no matter how he tried to reassure himself, Xie Jingzhou couldn't smile.
Although he had no marital relations with Ji Zizhao, they did have the name of husband and wife. Even after their divorce, Ji Zizhao, as a divorced woman, should have lived out her life alone. Yet now, not only was Ji Zizhao embarking on a new chapter, but she might even become his Imperial Sister-in-law...
Xie Jingzhou felt as if a green hat was metaphorically appearing on his head.
The thought of the Fourth Prince snatching Ji Zizhao, and the thought of him having to address Ji Zizhao as Fourth Imperial Sister-in-law in the future, made Xie Jingzhou order the contingent to quicken their pace back to the city the next day.
No matter what, he absolutely could not let Ji Zizhao marry his Fourth Brother!
Xie Jingqi watched Xie Jingzhou's hurried pace, as if he wished he could sprout wings and fly back to the main city. He couldn't understand what had gotten into him. However, thanks to Xie Jingzhou, Xie Jingqi found himself sitting in the Emperor's Imperial Study a day before his scheduled return.