Emperor Xiaochang's expression was more than just displeased.
Even though it was his own son, the extent of his depravity made even the Emperor find it difficult to watch.
More importantly, this fifth son had always been timid and weak, never even raising his voice. Yet, he was capable of such an act now...
Had he not truly understood his son enough?
How could the Fifth Prince Xie Jingzhou not sense his father's suspicion? He immediately flung away Yongmei from his embrace and crawled to his father's feet, weeping, "Father, your son, in order to win Zi Zhao's favor, did not hesitate to reside in the Ji family. Yet, I never expected Zi Zhao to remain indifferent to me. That day, I was simply in a bad mood and drank too much, and that's when... that's when I committed such a foolish act!"
The fact that the Fifth Prince was temporarily residing in the Ji family was common knowledge throughout the city.
Now, with Xie Jingzhou offering such an excuse to absolve himself, it was within reason.
However, although Emperor Xiaochang's suspicion had diminished, he no longer possessed the complete lack of vigilance towards his son that he had before.
The Fifth Prince Xie Jingzhou understood that his father still harbored doubts about him.
But for now, this was all he could do. Fortunately, his father had no concrete evidence. Therefore, as long as he could find a way to revert to being the meek son he once was, it would be fine.
The Fourth Prince Xie Jinglan watched this scene unfold, his gaze filled with a subtle complexity.
Even if it were true that his fifth brother had orchestrated a scheme to frame the eldest daughter of the Ji family, how was it that the maidservant beside the eldest daughter of the Ji family had so cleverly substituted herself in her place?
The answer was, of course, simple: it was all the work of the eldest daughter of the Ji family.
One had to admit that this eldest daughter of the Ji family always acted in ways that were astonishing and moved the heavens and spirits.
Since she had long seen through her fifth brother's intentions, it would have been sufficient to confront him directly. Given the fifth prince's desire to maintain his image of weakness, he would naturally agree to the eldest daughter of the Ji family's request.
But this eldest daughter of the Ji family refused.
She insisted on creating such a spectacle, turning the fifth prince into a complete clown.
What's more!
It was through this incident that the seed of suspicion had been sown in their father's heart towards the fifth prince.
Although there was no hard evidence, once a seed of doubt is planted, it will always eventually sprout.
With things having escalated to this point, even the Fourth Prince Xie Jinglan felt fortunate to have secured the eldest daughter of the Ji family's favor in advance.
"Father, your son knows his mistake, your son truly knows his mistake..." The Fifth Prince Xie Jingzhou remained kneeling on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.
Or rather, at this moment, he had no other way to alleviate his inner turmoil than by crying.
He truly could not comprehend why Yongmei was lying there instead of Ji Zizhao.
Everything had seemed so seamless...
"Cry, cry, cry! All you know is to cry! Look at yourself, what kind of state are you in now!" Emperor Xiaochang was plagued by a splitting headache from the fifth prince's incessant weeping.
Although he was thoroughly disgusted with this fifth prince now, no matter how degenerate his son was, he was still his flesh and blood.
What else could Emperor Xiaochang do?
Naturally, he would try to minimize the damage, find a way to get Ji Zizhao to relent, and allow this Yongmei to be a concubine for his son.
Fortunately, Ji Zizhao was already a bride of their royal family. It was likely that Ji Zizhao herself would not wish for the family shame to be aired publicly.
"Dong dong dong... Dong dong dong..."
The rapid drumming sound suddenly erupted from the direction of the palace gate.
Emperor Xiaochang, who was already suffering from a severe headache, nearly exploded on the spot.
It truly was a case of bad luck piling up. Before one matter was settled, another erupted immediately.
One could only imagine what the drumming at the palace gates signified.
It was, of course, the "Wen Deng Drum"!
Normally, when the Wen Deng Drum was sounded, the Emperor would not have to personally investigate.
However, today was the Empress Dowager's funeral, and the people of the city were still gathered before the palace gates to mourn her. If the Wen Deng Drum were sounded, and the Emperor did not appear, how would the populace perceive him?
"You stay here and wait. I will deal with your matters later!" Emperor Xiaochang pinched his furrowed brow and, accompanied by a host of palace attendants and princes, turned to leave Shouren Palace.
Soon, Shouren Palace, vast and silent, was left with only the Fifth Prince.
And also...
Yongmei and the young eunuch, who were groaning ceaselessly on the ground.
Xie Jingzhou was truly furious. He slapped the young eunuch across the face.
The eunuch's face immediately swelled up, and he cried out, begging for mercy, "Your Highness, spare me..."
In truth, the young eunuch had regained consciousness the moment the guards had burst in.
However, faced with the Emperor's wrath and so many princes, he did not know how to explain or respond, so he lay on the ground feigning death.
Xie Jingzhou gritted his teeth and asked, "Why was it Yongmei?"
The young eunuch was startled by the question, "Your servant also does not know why it was not the eldest daughter of the Ji family. When your servant entered the room, there was only a woman who had taken medicine lying on the bed..."
Although Xie Jingzhou did not reside in the palace, there were still people within the palace who were loyal to him and willing to do his bidding.
Just like the young eunuch before him, who had served him since he was young and was now serving in his mother's chambers. Such a person, if caught, would have to be seeking death to dare betray him.
But if the problem did not lie with the palace attendants, where else could it be?
While Yongmei was indeed infatuated with him, even if she were given a hundred times the courage, she would not dare be so audacious!
Suddenly, Xie Jingzhou thought of a crucial point.
Only Yongmei had accompanied Ji Zizhao into the palace this time. Yet, from beginning to end, he had never seen Ji Zizhao.
"Is Your Highness looking for me?" A familiar voice sounded casually from behind him.
Xie Jingzhou was startled and snapped back to attention. He saw Ji Zizhao standing not far away, looking at him with a smile.
This Ji Zizhao was someone Xie Jingzhou dreamt of possessing.
Because ever since he had known Ji Zizhao, he had never seen her smile.
But for some reason, though the smile on Ji Zizhao's face was beautiful, it was more eerie than anything else.
Yongmei was still on the ground, affected by the medicine. He was kneeling on the ground with tear streaks on his face, yet Ji Zizhao was smiling calmly without asking a single question...
Could it be!
Had Ji Zizhao already discovered everything?!
Ji Zizhao looked at the shifting gaze of the Fifth Prince, smiled lightly, and took a few more steps closer. She whispered to him, "Your Highness's thoughts are partly right and partly wrong. You are right that I have learned the entirety of the matter. You are wrong in that you do not know that all of this originated from me."
Xie Jingzhou's face changed drastically, his heart pounding violently, "Zi Zhao, what... what do you mean by that?"
"Besides Your Highness's confidantes, only you and I are left here. What is the point of Your Highness continuing to put on such an act? It would be better to have a good talk with me. Perhaps today's matter can still be salvaged."
Ji Zizhao was not here to watch Xie Jingzhou continue to play the victim and feign pity.
She wanted to completely strip away the disguise from his face and then trample him underfoot!