"Eldest Daughter Zhong actually..." Granny Dai was about to speak, but then stopped.
Ji Zizhao followed Granny Dai's gaze and saw the palace servant who had just spoken up for her.
"Your servant thanks Eldest Daughter Ji for saving my life." The palace servant waited at the courtyard entrance, hoping to express his gratitude to Ji Zizhao. He feared that if he missed this chance today, he might never have another.
Ji Zizhao gestured for him to rise and speak, "I saved you, and you saved me. We are even now."
The palace servant knelt on the ground and said, "How can that be the same? My mother always said that a life-saving grace is greater than heaven. Besides, I only spoke the truth in front of His Majesty. My mother said that if a person dares not to speak the truth in this world, it would be better to be dead than alive."
Ji Zizhao smiled upon hearing this and looked at Granny Dai beside her, asking, "Granny Dai, is there a way to transfer this palace servant to the Empress's sleeping quarters?"
Granny Dai was taken aback.
The palace servant had spoken up for Ji Zizhao today, naturally offending Consort Xi. Under normal circumstances, this palace servant owed Eldest Daughter Ji a life-saving grace, and he himself had only said the truth…
Looking down on the humble and stepping on the fallen, masters using servants was a common occurrence.
In the entire imperial palace, how many people had used servants and then abandoned them?
Granny Dai, also a servant herself, understood the hardship and helplessness of being a servant.
But what was Eldest Daughter Ji trying to do now?
She was clearly trying to save this palace servant!
The palace servant also did not expect this and quickly kowtowed, "Eldest Daughter Ji, you need not waste your energy on this servant. Since I dared to speak for Eldest Daughter Ji, I was prepared for any consequences."
"What about your mother?"
The palace servant froze.
"If something were to happen to you in this temporary palace, what would happen to your mother? I don't want your mother chasing after me for her son later. I heard that palace servants in the temporary palace can leave after the age of twenty-five. You look to be around that age. Endure a few more years, and then you can go out and be with your mother."
Ji Zizhao was teasing, but the palace servant's eyes reddened.
After a long while, he bowed heavily to Ji Zizhao three times, "Eldest Daughter Ji, I will never forget your great kindness. I wish Eldest Daughter Ji smooth sailing, health, and happiness."
Among the palace servants, except for those who served the Emperor and Empress, the rest were illiterate.
Yet, these words, lacking any deep learning, surpassed any eloquent discourse.
"This matter still requires Granny Dai's trouble." Ji Zizhao looked at Granny Dai beside her again.
Granny Dai's eyes were full of goodwill. She found Eldest Daughter Ji even more pleasing to the eye. Although she was being asked to do a favor, she showed no displeasure, but readily agreed, "This is a small matter, this old servant knows a way. Eldest Daughter Ji, please rest assured, I will personally speak to the steward of the temporary palace shortly to arrange the transfer."
Ji Zizhao nodded, her mind on Zhong Xinyi, she dared not delay. She asked the palace servant to return and pack his belongings carefully and await news, then left the courtyard with Granny Dai.
Once the surrounding people had dispersed, Ji Zizhao asked again, "Granny Dai, Xinyi, she..."
Granny Dai did not want to hide it, but she did not know how to say it, "We are about to reach the Empress's sleeping quarters. Eldest Daughter Ji, you can see for yourself."
Hearing this, Ji Zizhao quickened her pace.
In the Empress's sleeping quarters, all the palace servants had been sent away. As soon as Ji Zizhao entered, she saw Empress Zhong sitting on a soft couch, and…
Zhong Xinyi, with her face swollen like a pig's head!
Upon closer inspection, Zhong Xinyi's face was not only swollen, but her eyes were also bruised red and bloodshot.
Ji Zizhao was so anxious that she neglected to even bow to the Empress and rushed over to inquire, "What happened?"
Empress Zhong did not fuss about the formalities and merely sighed as she looked at Zhong Xinyi, "Ask her yourself."
Seeing that Zhong Xinyi was so badly injured, Ji Zizhao had no time to ask further. Fortunately, her medicine box was kept with the Empress. She quickly opened it and began to treat Zhong Xinyi's injuries.
Zhong Xinyi's voice was hoarse, "Zizhao, I'm fine. I know what I'm doing."
Ji Zizhao: "..."
So, you beat yourself up to this state?
"If His Majesty is to investigate this matter thoroughly, it must strike at His Majesty's pain point. I had intended to send word to the Xue family, asking their daughter to appear even more severely injured. That way, even if His Majesty considered General Xue's merits, he could not afford to take this matter lightly."
Empress Zhong sighed heavily again. Who would have thought that before she could send someone to deliver the message, Zhong Xinyi would start self-harming? She banged her head against pillars, punched her own eyes, using every extreme method.
As her own niece, how could Empress Zhong not feel heartache?
But Empress Zhong understood even more clearly Zhong Xinyi's purpose in doing so.
Ji Zizhao's heart was a mix of emotions, she couldn't describe how she felt.
The Empress was using Zhong Xinyi's injuries to ensure that the Emperor would intervene and investigate thoroughly, even if only for the sake of face. This was a brilliant and ingenious tactic.
However, Ji Zizhao truly had no mind to admire the Empress's prowess at this moment. Looking at Zhong Xinyi before her, her vision blurred further.
Ji Zizhao forcefully swallowed the lump in her throat and carefully and gently treated Zhong Xinyi's injuries.
Zhong Xinyi noticed Ji Zizhao's trembling hands and said softly, "I'm fine, Zizhao. You don't need to worry about me."
"You are simply being reckless!" Ji Zizhao suddenly berated. The force with which she must have hit her head was evident, and her eyes, with their bloodshot irises, were particularly disturbing. If not treated properly, she might suffer from it for life.
Zhong Xinyi was stunned by the scolding, her eyes also turned red. After a long while, she said hoarsely again, "Zizhao, I just wanted to help you do something. I didn't want you to bear all of this alone. Oh, right..."
Zhong Xinyi seemed to remember something and reached into her robes, rummaging around.
Soon, a small paper packet appeared in her palm.
Zhong Xinyi carefully opened the small paper packet as if it were a treasure. Instantly, the scent of plum blossoms filled the air.
Ji Zizhao's pupils trembled. Inside was a packet full of plum blossom candies.
However, by this time, the plum blossom candies were already broken beyond recognition, their original shapes no longer visible.
Zhong Xinyi sighed in disappointment, "I clearly protected them so carefully in my arms, how did they still break..."
Granny Dai: "..."
At such a time, she was still concerned about a few candies?
Empress Zhong: "..."
How could the Zhong family have produced such an unreliable person.
Ji Zizhao, however, embraced Zhong Xinyi tightly. Tears, silently streaming down her face, fell onto Zhong Xinyi's hair.
Feeling the warmth conveyed by Ji Zizhao, Zhong Xinyi also started to cry. She picked up a small piece of plum blossom candy and put it into Ji Zizhao's mouth, "Is it sweet?"
Ji Zizhao nodded, tears in her eyes, "Sweet."
Hearing this, Zhong Xinyi broke into a smile through her tears, "If it's sweet, eat more. That way you'll have the strength to seek justice for all of us and bring our fourth sister back safely."
"Okay." Ji Zizhao nodded heavily.
Empress Zhong watched this scene, feeling both comfort and sorrow.