The matter of Ji Zizhao applying for the Imperial Academy had indeed caused unrest in the imperial court.
After the morning court, various officials sneakily slipped into the residences of the princes, discussing all night how to drag Ji Zizhao down.
On the second day of court, a group of officials held back their strength, waiting to persuade the Emperor with all their might.
Unexpectedly, the Emperor directly brought out the last will of Emperor Gaozu.
Years ago, because the Ji family had contributed to pacifying Yulin, Emperor Gaozu had specially decreed that women of the Ji family could hold official positions.
Most importantly…
The imperial decree did not specify whether they should serve as civil officials or military generals.
Faced with Emperor Gaozu's will, the imperial court, which had been lively for several days, fell into a sudden silence.
The officials who had planned to exhaust their efforts were so shocked that their mouths hung open, with no time to speak.
But even if they recovered, what then? Emperor Gaozu's will was more significant than the previous Emperor's will. Resisting the previous Emperor's will might at most cost one's head, but defying Emperor Gaozu's will…
That was a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of kin!
Who would be so desperate as to lead their entire family to their deaths?
Under the crushing weight of Emperor Gaozu's will, a hundred or so officials felt their eyes blur.
Their faces were as ugly as their postures had been straight when they entered the court.
Xie Jingqi originally intended to ask his fourth brother to intercede with their father for Ji Zizhao. However, before he could even see his father, he heard that Ji Zizhao had already achieved victory.
Xie Jingqi, "…"
Happiness came too suddenly, catching him quite off guard.
"Fourth brother, when did Father become so enlightened?" It wasn't that Xie Jingqi looked down on the Emperor, but in his impression, the Emperor had always been a stubborn and suspicious old fogey.
Now that the Emperor had granted Ji Zizhao permission to apply for the Imperial Academy, Xie Jingqi felt as though the sun had risen in the west today.
Xie Jinglan, considering his father's suspicious nature, chuckled softly, "Do you think Father truly wanted this?"
The Emperor certainly did not!
No one knew how dark Emperor Xiaochang's expression was when he brought out Emperor Gaozu's will.
Although it was not a big deal for Ji Zizhao to study at the Imperial Academy, even if she excelled as a physician, she would still be under his watchful eye. He was not afraid that Ji Zizhao would do anything to revive the Ji family.
But it was improper for a woman to be an official in the palace instead of staying home to await marriage and raise children.
It was utterly improper!
But Emperor Xiaochang, no matter how unwilling, had no choice. Back then, Ji Zizhao, in front of civil and military officials, palace ladies, and harem concubines, personally resigned her title of County Princess and begged to have the hereditary status of the Ji family abolished. Now, Ji Zizhao merely wished to seek a position in the palace, and moreover, she was applying based on her own merit. If he, the Son of Heaven, were to obstruct her, would he still have any face to lose?
What goes around comes around.
Even an emperor was no exception.
Ji Zixiu, who had already returned to the military camp, was so startled upon hearing that the Emperor had even brought out Emperor Gaozu's will for her elder sister that the whip fell from her hand.
Although she was in disbelief, she had every reason to suspect…
That the person her elder sister had mentioned yesterday as her protector was the Emperor himself!
In fact, Ji Zixiu's guess was correct. Ji Zizhao's trump card was the Emperor.
Ji Zizhao would not forgive the man who had personally driven the men of the Ji family to utter ruin.
But she was not fighting alone now. Countless innocent people were tied to her. If she were to truly avenge the men of the Ji family, her beloved family members would be buried with her.
Ji Zizhao was not afraid of death, but paying such a price for revenge was not worth it.
Of course, even if Ji Zizhao could not take revenge, she should still use him when the opportunity arose, to sharpen her blade.
Many times, when revenge cannot resolve all grievances, using the other party to maximize one's own interests is the true meaning of slowly grinding meat with a dull knife.
It was like treating an illness. Not all illnesses could be perfectly cured.
But it was not impossible to achieve a stalemate with other ailments.
"Miss, the Tong family has sent a post," Shui Ling said as she entered, lifting the curtain, while Jian Qiu was helping Ji Zizhao remove her hairpins.
Ji Zizhao looked at Jian Qiu behind her through the bronze mirror.
Jian Qiu understood her intentions, put down her work, took the post, and read it before smiling, "The Tong family is inviting Miss to a flower-viewing banquet they are hosting in a few days. This reason is quite fitting."
Currently, Gu Peilan and her entourage were trapped at the Tong family's residence. For the Tong family to send an invitation at this time clearly meant they were looking for an opportunity to make Ji Zizhao agree to Gu Peilan and the others' return.
Whenever Ji Zizhao thought of Ji Zongyou, she wished she could chop him into eight pieces and feed him to the dogs. Naturally, she would not fall for such an obvious trap. "Reply to the Tong family, saying I am unable to get away due to other matters. However, there's no need to reply too hastily. Since they have prepared so meticulously, we should give them some time to buffer."
Jian Qiu instantly understood her lady's meaning. "Miss is right, this servant knows what to do."
Back in the palace, Jian Qiu had witnessed no shortage of scheming among the concubines.
But she had to admit that when it came to slapping faces and causing humiliation, even all the palace concubines combined could not match her lady alone.
It had to be said that her lady either did not act, or when she did, it was a fatal blow.
After sending out the invitation, the Tong family's old madam sat in the mansion, waiting for news. She even sent people to guard the gate, and upon hearing that someone from the Ji family was knocking, they were strictly forbidden to open the door.
As long as Ji Zizhao was not given the opportunity to refuse, she would have to show up at the flower-viewing banquet.
Gu Peilan, seeing that the Tong family's old madam's expression had softened, smiled and said, "Even if Ji Zizhao were to truly apply for the Imperial Academy, it's a far-fetched matter. With her current status, how dare she refuse the Tong family's invitation?"
The Tong family's old madam found this statement pleasing to hear. "She still has some self-awareness."
Ji Renran, seeing the Tong family's old madam beaming with joy, also felt pleased.
Since meeting the Fifth Prince, the Tong family's attitude had noticeably improved. Now they were actively paving the way for her, her mother, and her brother, so they could openly return to the Ji family.
With this, she only needed to wait for Ji Zizhao to show up in a few days.
For several days, the Tong family was busy preparing for the flower-viewing banquet.
Although it was intended to ensnare Ji Zizhao, the Tong family was, after all, a prominent family in the imperial city. The Tong family's old madam simply sent invitations to some close acquaintances and young ladies, using it as an opportunity to maintain relationships.
Ji Renran also prepared meticulously, having prepared several sets of clothes for the day.
The Fifth Prince cared for her, so naturally, she had to work for the Fifth Prince. As long as she could win over the connections in the imperial city, she would continue to be valued by the Fifth Prince.