It was the Fengyi Palace, and seeing the Fourth Prince was nothing unusual.
However, Xie Jingzhou, recalling the furtive conversation between wet nurse Dai and Zhong Xinyi just moments ago, couldn't help but prick up his ears.
Down the alley, Huo Nian Gong stood opposite the Fourth Prince. They seemed to be discussing something in secret.
But their voices were too low for Xie Jingzhou to catch even a single word, despite his strained listening.
The less he could hear, the more curious he became. He simply decided to step out.
Beside the alley was the Chunhua Garden. Even if Xie Jinglan harbored any sinister plots, could he truly abduct him in broad daylight?
As Xie Jingzhou reached the mouth of the alley, he saw Huo Nian Gong leaving in a hurry. Xie Jinglan remained, smiling silently.
That smile was like a thorn, piercing Xie Jingzhou's heart.
He remembered Xie Jinglan smiling like that at Ji Zizhao in the teahouse.
This solidified Xie Jingzhou's conviction that Xie Jinglan's presence here was no mere coincidence.
When Xie Jinglan turned and saw Xie Jingzhou, a flicker of surprise was evident in his dark eyes. Although the surprise vanished in an instant, it did not escape Xie Jingzhou's gaze.
"Why is Fourth Brother here?" Xie Jingzhou approached with a smile, feigning ignorance.
Xie Jinglan's demeanor returned to its usual gentle and indifferent state. "Just passing by."
Xie Jingzhou deliberately glanced behind Xie Jinglan. "I thought I heard Fourth Brother speaking with someone just now."
Xie Jinglan looked at the empty space behind him before turning back to Xie Jingzhou and smiling. "It must be Fifth Brother who misheard."
Xie Jingzhou was speechless.
He was putting on a good act.
Since Xie Jinglan was here, he would continue his pretense. "I heard that Imperial Consort Xi left a portrait of the second daughter of the Zuo family for Fifth Brother. I've also heard that the second daughter of the Zuo family is accomplished in all four arts. I should congratulate Fifth Brother."
Xie Jingzhou did not believe a single word Xie Jinglan said.
"Didn't Mother Consort also leave a portrait of the eldest daughter of the Ji family? Isn't Fourth Brother curious why Ji Zizhao wasn't summoned today?" This Fourth Brother of his was raised by the Empress. How could he not have known when his mother left Ji Zizhao's portrait?
There was no surprise on Xie Jinglan's fair face. Instead, he lowered his eyes and smiled elegantly. "Even if Imperial Consort Xi left Ji Zizhao's portrait, so what? If Ji Zizhao still harbored any feelings for Fifth Brother, she wouldn't have so resolutely begged the Emperor for a divorce back then."
That was a low blow!
Xie Jingzhou's face changed. "What does Fourth Brother mean by that?"
Xie Jinglan glanced at Xie Jingzhou's somewhat pale face and shook his head with a smile.
Xie Jingzhou was curious why Xie Jinglan kept smiling, only to see the person who had been smiling a moment before suddenly let the smile fall from his face, his dark eyes unfathomable.
Xie Jinglan's voice, carrying a chilling gust of wind, entered Xie Jingzhou's ears.
Xie Jingzhou instinctively tensed his entire body, a fierce glint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.
The desolate autumn wind lifted their robes, intertwining in the air.
Xie Jinglan did not look at Xie Jingzhou's expression. As soon as his words fell, he turned and left, decisively and swiftly.
Those who engage in pretense either seek to conceal their brilliance or are simply too clever for their own good.
Clearly, his Fifth Brother was the latter.
Otherwise, with his own hands and feet, his own mind, why would he need Imperial Consort Xi to scheme for him just to find a wife?
Fortunately, those who are too clever for their own good are not entirely without merit.
Ruminating on possibilities was their greatest strength.
Xie Jinglan intended to put this strength to flexible and maximum use.
Thus, the moment Xie Jinglan left, Xie Jingzhou's head was in a turmoil.
What did Fourth Brother mean just now?
If he didn't have concrete evidence, how could he dare to say those words?
But this plan, his mother's flawless arrangement, where did it go wrong?
Xie Jingzhou already felt his mind was overloaded. As if on cue, he saw a faint yellow light shimmering where Xie Jinglan had been standing.
When he looked closer, his eyelids twitched heavily.
His mother's hairpin!
Xie Jingzhou was dumbfounded.
He felt like he could have cracked open right there!
Jiang Guangsheng, standing by the window, clenched his fists beneath his sleeves.
He was standing here today because he didn't want Ji Zizhao to be misled by the Fourth Prince. But the situation now seemed different from what he knew.
Thinking again of the conversation between the Fourth and Fifth Princes...
He abruptly turned and left the room, hurrying towards the Imperial Hospital.
At the same time, Ji Zizhao, who had just returned to the Imperial Hospital, received a summons from a young palace maid.
The tone was the same, the reason the same.
Wet nurse Dai had been trying to save her just now, and this young palace maid was trying to harm her.
But Ji Zizhao had no choice but to comply, and to do so quickly.
Faced with Ji Zizhao's compliant cooperation, even the leading palace maid was stunned.
Having been in the palace for so long, she had never seen anyone so willingly walk into a trap.
Ji Zizhao returned to the Imperial Hospital without hearing any commotion.
It was clear that things on the Fourth Prince's end were proceeding smoothly.
If so, Ji Zizhao naturally had to cooperate.
Only by luring Zuo Xiuhua away in advance could today's drama reach its climax.
Zuo Xiuhua, shivering with cold by the door, instinctively looked at Ji Zizhao beside the palace maid as someone approached. Her heart sank.
She hadn't seen clearly from a distance this morning.
Now, as Ji Zizhao's face gradually became clearer, even Zuo Xiuhua felt inadequate.
She had seen many beautiful young ladies in the capital, but weren't they all adorned with cosmetics, fine clothes, and jewelry?
This Ji Zizhao was truly blessed with natural beauty.
"Since the eldest daughter of the Ji family is here, hurry inside. Someone from Imperial Consort Xi's side has come to urge you several times. If Miss Renran of the Ji family is truly late for the selection, and Imperial Consort Xi is displeased, the eldest daughter of the Ji family will not be able to bear the consequences." Looking at such a face, Zuo Xiuhua couldn't even muster the pretense of politeness.
Thinking that she would have to compete for favor with such a person in the future, she wished she could push Ji Zizhao into that door herself.
Ji Zizhao sized up Zuo Xiuhua. So this was the daughter-in-law that Imperial Consort Xi had meticulously chosen.
She had heard her family background was quite good, but whether her intelligence was sufficient would only be known after a test.
"My own sister sprained her ankle, and I didn't want Second Daughter Zuo to worry. I didn't realize that Sister Renran was so close to Second Daughter Zuo. I heard that earlier, Second Daughter Zuo even spoke up for Sister Renran."
Zuo Xiuhua's expression changed slightly at these words. "We are both young ladies participating in the selection, so mutual assistance is only natural. Shouldn't the eldest daughter of the Ji family be more concerned about her own sister's injury?"
After all, she was favored by Imperial Consort Xi, and she possessed some skill in distorting the truth.
Ji Zizhao saw through it but chose not to expose it. "Second Daughter Zuo is right."
Seeing that Ji Zizhao had finally relented, Zuo Xiuhua quickly made way, leading Ji Zizhao towards the door.
As Ji Zizhao drew closer to the door, Zuo Xiuhua's excited heart pounded.
As long as Ji Zizhao went in, she would secure her position as the Fifth Prince's consort!
"Oh dear!"
Ji Zizhao's sudden exclamation startled Zuo Xiuhua, who was immersed in joy.
"What is it?"
Ji Zizhao looked at Zuo Xiuhua in a panic. "It's ruined!"
Zuo Xiuhua felt her legs go weak. "What's ruined?"