When Ji Zizhao received the carriage sent by Her Majesty the Empress, she felt an indescribable warmth and shock. With Xie Jinglan and the Seventh Prince still not back at the palace, the Empress must have been the most worried. She hadn't expected that after hearing the rumors, the Empress would choose to help her instead of questioning her alongside everyone else.
Ji Zizhao knew her calmness might earn her criticism, but she didn't care. Time would eventually dispel the rumors, and besides, she was focused on preparing for Xie Jinglan's return, with no energy to spare for other matters.
She never imagined that Her Majesty the Empress would proactively step in to quell the situation for her.
Looking at the carriage sent by the Empress, Ji Zizhao felt a pang of guilt for troubling Her Majesty during this time. However, she did not go to Fengyi Palace to express her gratitude specially.
Since the rumors originated from within the palace, it was clear that the person who wished her ill was also within the palace. If she were to visit Fengyi Palace now, she might inadvertently drag Her Majesty into the same mire.
The carriage sent by Empress Zhong was indeed timely. But facing a carriage bearing the mark of the Imperial Household Department and personally dispatched by Her Majesty the Empress, who would dare to lay a hand on it?
Yet, the rumors within the imperial city could not be dispersed in a short span of time. No matter how rampant the gossip became, everyone could only watch helplessly as Ji Zizhao entered the palace safely and left it calmly every day.
It was infuriating.
Despite their disapproval, they were powerless.
The weather gradually turned cooler, and the days grew shorter.
This time, Ji Zizhao was late in organizing the medicinal herbs in her medicine chest. Just as she was about to sleep, she heard movement at the door.
Even the slightest sound made Ji Zizhao's eyes snap open instantly.
Soon, Mo Hen's voice sounded from outside the door, "Miss, Taohua is back."
Ji Zizhao's drowsiness vanished in an instant. She quickly got up, put on her clothes, and walked out. Ever since she knew Xie Jinglan would be returning to the city, she had been sleeping fully clothed these past few days.
"Creak..." the door opened. Ji Zizhao looked out through the hazy moonlight and saw Taohua standing at the bottom of the steps outside the door.
Exhausted from his long journey, Taohua's clothes were wrinkled. However, understanding Ji Zizhao's greatest concern, he quickly said, "I slipped in quietly behind the main group. The Seventh Prince should have sent the Fourth Prince into the palace by now."
Ji Zizhao's heart skipped a beat. She quickly ordered, "Fetch my medicine chest! Have Fu Bao prepare the carriage!"
Mo Hen hurried into the room and handed the medicine chest to Ji Zizhao. Clutching the medicine chest, Ji Zizhao, against the cool night breeze, hurried towards the back gate.
Fu Bao, waiting at the back gate, saw his young lady emerge, cool and composed. He was so nervous he couldn't speak. In his memory, his young lady was always calmly in control of the situation. Seeing her now, holding the medicine chest and trembling, was something he had never witnessed before.
Fu Bao knew that no one was more worried about the Fourth Prince than his young lady, yet no one believed her.
Taohua, of course, could not enter the palace. Before he could slip away, he heard Ji Zizhao say, "There's still a distance from the Ji family to the imperial palace. Tell me about Xie Jinglan's condition."
Taohua...
Without even a chance to struggle, he was pulled into the carriage.
Fu Bao, not daring to delay, tightened the reins and headed straight for the imperial palace.
Inside the carriage, Taohua looked at Ji Zizhao and said, "He was knocked unconscious by an arrow that pierced his chest. It's been quite some time since he fell into a coma."
Ji Zizhao continued to ask, "Do you know the exact location?"
Taohua thought for a moment. "When the incident happened, your man enlisted me to secretly protect the Seventh Prince. It wasn't until the Seventh Prince returned victoriously that everyone learned of the Fourth Prince's mishap. I couldn't show myself, so I only caught a glimpse from afar. It seemed to be around the left side of his chest."
There were many organs on the left side of the chest, including the left lung, left bronchus, heart, esophagus, and stomach. Yet, Xie Jinglan had been able to breathe steadily during his coma, suggesting the arrow had avoided his lungs and bronchi.
With this thought, Ji Zizhao opened her medicine chest, took out the needle pack, and rearranged the silver needles in the order she needed. She then re-examined the pre-prepared medicinal herbs.
"Normally, knowing your man is unconscious, shouldn't you be more distraught? At least shed a tear or two?" Taohua looked at Ji Zizhao meticulously organizing her things and truly couldn't understand.
Looking at Ji Zizhao's current expression, one might think it was someone else's husband who was in a coma.
Ji Zizhao, however, said, "Do crying and being nervous help?"
Taohua faltered, "Is that the question?"
Ji Zizhao's dark eyes deepened, and she said faintly, "Since crying and nervousness solve nothing, doing those things unnecessarily will only complicate the current problem."
Taohua...
He felt like he should say something, but words failed him.
Having traveled extensively, Taohua understood some basic medical practices. Looking at Ji Zizhao's medicine chest now, though he didn't recognize many of the herbs, the way they were arranged clearly indicated they had been meticulously organized repeatedly beforehand.
He knew Ji Zizhao was the calmest person, but he hadn't expected her to be so exceptionally calm.
Looking at Ji Zizhao again, Taohua could only feel admiration.
Perhaps, this was why Ji Zizhao always made those around her feel secure.
Ever-calm, ever-composed, and to an astonishing degree of resilience.
As the carriage arrived at the palace gates, Taohua naturally had to slip away. Ji Zizhao, carrying her medicine chest, entered the palace.
The Fourth Prince, returning unconscious, was directly sent to the Emperor by the Seventh Prince. The reason was simple: the Emperor's chambers were closest to the Imperial Hospital. Emperor Xiaochang had now ascertained the truth behind the rumors. Though somewhat displeased, he tacitly allowed the Fourth Prince to remain.
Such a major event was bound to alert many people.
Empress Zhong rushed over immediately. The other concubines in the harem, to show their concern, also followed. In addition, all the physicians on duty were present, awaiting summons. By the time Ji Zizhao arrived, the courtyard was already densely packed with people.
The crowd in the courtyard naturally saw Ji Zizhao enter. However, their gazes were somewhat ambiguous. After all, the rumors of the Fourth Prince's Consort being cold, unfeeling, and heartless were still circulating. Seeing Ji Zizhao at this moment, it was hard not to feel a sense of unease.
Before the Fourth Prince returned, she was eating well, living well, and in good spirits.
Rushing over now, was it not just a pretense?