In the guest courtyard, Xie Jingzhou had already received the news sent by Empress Xi's people.
As a result, his entire demeanor was gloomy.
Luohong brought over a freshly brewed cup of tea and softly consoled him, "When the Empress Dowager was alive, she didn't seem very close to Your Highness. Now that she's gone, Your Highness should try to let it go."
Upon hearing this, Xie Jingzhou raised his eyes and said with a half-smile, "Do you think I'm sad?"
Luohong was slightly stunned.
"That old hag always doted on Xie Jingqi the most. If it weren't for that old hag's favoritism over the years, he wouldn't have been adopted to Empress Zhong's care along with Fourth Brother. He's clearly a motherless child, yet he still managed to get ahead of me. Now that the Empress Dowager is dead, if anyone should be heartbroken, it should be Xie Jingqi."
Towards the Empress Dowager, Xie Jingzhou felt nothing but genuine distance and dislike.
In recent years, Xie Jingqi's temperament had become increasingly lawless. At first, the Emperor would reprimand him a few times. Later, under the Empress Dowager's protection, even the Emperor had been subtly influenced to favor Xie Jingqi.
Was it simply because Xie Jingqi's wayward nature meant he had no ambition for power?
But weren't all princes living for the struggle for power?
It was precisely for this reason that he had followed his mother's wishes and feigned weakness and timidity, enduring mockery until now.
Yet, in the Emperor's heart, he was still inferior to Xie Jingqi.
Now that the person who doted on Xie Jingqi the most was dead, why would he be sad?
Xie Jingzhou calmly calculated, "The Empress Dowager's funeral requires civil and military officials to see her off at the city gates. Four days from now will undoubtedly be the time when other parts of Yulin are least guarded."
It was also the best opportunity to act against Ren Jun again.
However, a catalyst was still missing, a catalyst to send Ji Zizhao away.
When Ren Jun's family discovered that Ren Jun had died at the Dali Temple, and if the Minister of Dali Temple could not be found, they would definitely go to Ji Zizhao first. If Ji Zizhao, as in the previous case of seeking justice for the Ji family, escalated the matter, the Emperor would likely investigate the cause of Ren Jun's death even more severely.
But if Ren Jun's family did not contact Ji Zizhao immediately, and he were to have the Dali Temple send news to the Emperor beforehand, claiming that Ren Jun committed suicide out of guilt, as long as the Emperor believed it and made a decision, even if Ji Zizhao was suspicious, she would not dare to defy the Emperor's judgment.
In Yulin, defying the Emperor's decree was a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of a family.
"Is the Fifth Prince here?" outside the door, Yongmei's voice suddenly rang out.
The calculations in Xie Jingzhou's eyes instantly disappeared. By the time Luohong opened the door, he had reverted to his docile and easy-to-talk-to persona, that of a good-for-nothing. "Why is Yongmei here so late? Is there something you need?"
Yongmei smiled as she approached the Fifth Prince, thinking of her relationship with him, and even dispensed with the formality of kneeling. "Your Highness, you may not know, but Miss has already agreed to the imperial palace's invitation and will enter the palace in four days to attend the Empress Dowager's funeral. Since Miss is willing to enter the palace, it surely means she has acknowledged her status as the Fifth Prince's secondary consort."
For Xie Jingzhou, who was plotting for an opportunity, this was great news.
Once Ji Zizhao entered the palace, she would be completely confined within its walls. Ren's family, no matter how capable, would not be able to enter the palace.
Seeing the Fifth Prince smile, Yongmei's heart filled with even more joy. "I fear Miss will soon return to the Fifth Prince's mansion with Your Highness. This servant hopes Your Highness will not forget what you promised me."
Xie Jingzhou looked at Yongmei, who seemed to be lost in thought, and nodded, "You are already mine, and I will not mistreat you."
At the same time, Qingzhu delivered the news to Ji Zizhao's ears.
As expected, Ji Zizhao smiled.
In recent days, with the assistance from the Fourth Prince's side, the Fifth Prince had completely believed the illusion that Ren Jun was still alive.
Since he had fallen for it, the Fifth Prince would inevitably try to get rid of Ren Jun. Thus, she would give him an opportunity to act, allowing the Fifth Prince to stop worrying day and night. Suzhou Novel Network
"I will enter the palace in four days. You are to lie low near the Dali Temple. When you see the person sent to kill Ren Jun, there's no need to be overly polite, but ensure they can escape alive. Your task is simply to leave behind evidence."
Given the Fifth Prince's cunning, if he were truly killed, he might even be framed.
"After this subordinate completes the task, how can I meet with Miss in the palace?" Qingzhu had entered the palace once with the old general and knew how strictly guarded it was.
Ji Zizhao was silent for a moment, then suddenly remembered someone. "You only need to go to the palace gate and look for someone holding my waist token."
Who said she had no one in the palace?
It was just that everyone else was unaware.
The Empress Dowager's funeral was of great importance to the royal family.
If it weren't for the constant pressure from the Turks occupying Luoyi and threatening Yulin, it would have been impossible to conclude the funeral so hastily in just four days.
Upon learning that Ji Zizhao had received an invitation from the palace, the female members of the Ji family flocked to Zhaoyuan, bringing their most cherished possessions as gifts.
This trip to the palace was no trivial matter, and they naturally could not afford to bring shame to the Ji family's reputation.
Ji Zizhao looked at the pile of red, green, gold, and silver jewelry and clothing on the soft couch, feeling helpless. However, to avoid hurting her aunts' feelings, she first instructed Granny He to pack them all away, intending to return them after she left the palace.
"Miss, the item you asked me to make is finally ready," Shuiling hurried in and placed a long box and a dress on the desk in front of Ji Zizhao.
Ji Zizhao put down her brush and opened the box. Inside, a hairpin lay quietly.
This hairpin appeared ordinary, but it was cleverly designed. Unlike the hairpin in the portrait Ji Zizhao had drawn for Shuiling, this one had a jade bead added to the top. She then unfolded the dress and saw that it indeed resembled the drawing, yet was subtly different.
It had to be said that these two items arrived at the perfect time.
Ji Zizhao called Granny He over and handed her the dress. "No matter what, Granny must add something detachable to this dress. When those things are on the dress, it will look one way, but once they are removed, it will return to its current appearance."
Granny He, whose seamstresses were almost finished with the clothes she had commissioned, finally realized that Miss had no intention of wearing them. She looked closely at the dress, which seemed familiar, and suddenly slapped her forehead. "This, this dress isn't... Could it be that Miss intends to wear it to the palace that day..."
Ji Zizhao nodded. "Whether the Emperor will grant my wish that day will depend on it."
Granny He did not understand the meaning of Miss's words, but since it was Miss's command, she would not let Miss down. "Miss, please rest assured. This old servant will go out immediately to find someone to help."
"Is the Eldest Daughter here?" Before Granny He could even leave, Granny Xu arrived.
Ji Zizhao put away the hairpin and then had Shuiling usher Granny Xu in.
Granny Xu was not one for pleasantries and directly handed over the box she was holding. "The Old Madam was overjoyed to hear that the Eldest Daughter was going to the palace, she couldn't stop smiling. However, the Old Madam has been unwell recently and could not possibly summon the Eldest Daughter. Thus, she has busied herself with sending me to bring you something to uphold your status."
Ji Zizhao smiled and nodded. She took the box from Granny Xu and opened it, her smile deepening, but her heart grew cold, devoid of any warmth.