Ji Zizhao walked quickly with Consort Xi towards the Emperor's sleeping quarters, her heart filled with apprehension.
Along the way, Consort Xi nearly fainted several times, forcing Ji Zizhao and the other young ladies to stop and wait patiently.
Consort Xi's temporary palace was not far from the Emperor's, but with the repeated stops, by the time they arrived, the Emperor's palace was already crowded.
In the brightly lit courtyard, ministers and princes had formed a triple layer of onlookers.
Ji Zizhao's gaze swept across the crowd and she suddenly spotted a familiar figure, only for it to disappear into the throng moments later.
Upon seeing Consort Xi, everyone bowed and greeted her, "Greetings, Noble Consort Xi."
Consort Xi looked at them, her eyes welling up with tears again.
The young ladies following behind saw this and had to stop once more.
Granny Dai, standing on the steps, heard the commotion and hurried to Ji Zizhao's side, "Her Majesty the Empress instructed that the eldest daughter of the Ji family should be brought in quickly upon arrival."
Since the Empress personally requested her, Consort Xi naturally could not obstruct the way. Ji Zizhao paid her respects to Consort Xi and then followed Granny Dai towards the main entrance.
Consort Xi, whether genuinely dizzy or angered by the Empress's intervention, swayed precariously after only a few steps.
Granny Dai noticed this and let out a soft hum, "Our Consort Xi was never this frail before."
Ji Zizhao knew very well that Consort Xi was feigning, "Consort Xi hosted a banquet today, and everyone was kept here until now. Had they not heard of the incident, they would likely still not have dispersed."
Granny Dai was sharp enough to grasp the meaning behind Ji Zizhao's words.
Which of the masters in the palace lived a life of pampered luxury? Who among the accompanying young ladies or the prospective imperial consorts had such influence to warrant a noble consort's willing company at such a time?
Frankly, it was a deliberate delay.
However, with so many people present, Granny Dai could only lower her voice and say, "Her Majesty the Empress is already inside."
This clearly conveyed to Ji Zizhao that with the Empress present, there was no need to worry.
Ji Zizhao nodded and stepped across the threshold with Granny Dai.
Upon entering, she saw Empress Zhong and the Emperor seated not far away.
In the lamplight, the Emperor's face was pale with a hint of green. The imperial yellow robe was stained with splotches of blood, but his breathing was even, and his eyes were clear, suggesting he was not severely injured.
Ji Zizhao had not expected this scene at all.
A eunuch had reported an incident during the hunt, and the current commotion indicated it could only be the Emperor.
Suppressing her multitude of thoughts, Ji Zizhao approached the imperial couple and paid her respects, "Your subject greets His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress."
Emperor Xiaochang glanced at Zou Li and the other imperial physicians busy in the inner chambers, then at the late-arriving Ji Zizhao. The sharpness and displeasure in his eyes were evident.
"I heard that the eldest daughter of the Ji family was invited by Consort Xi to admire the snow today with other young ladies. This is for the best; after all, they are just young girls. If they were to witness something they shouldn't have, they might have nightmares," Empress Zhong signaled Ji Zizhao to rise.
This seemingly casual remark had, in fact, extricated Ji Zizhao from trouble.
Empress Zhong was practically telling the Emperor outright that the reason for the delay was his favored consort detaining the girls. If he wished to settle accounts, he should find his consort, and not vent his anger on the Empress's future daughter-in-law.
Emperor Xiaochang was about to reprimand her when the Empress's words effectively silenced him. After a long pause, he frowned and said, "Zou Li has been inside with his men for quite some time. Since you are late, stay by the Empress's side and do not cause trouble by going in."
Ji Zizhao frowned slightly and instinctively opened her mouth, "Your subject..."
Empress Zhong interrupted, "Since His Majesty has spoken, you shall remain by my side. The Fifth Prince was injured while saving His Majesty, and all the imperial physicians are with the Fifth Prince. You wouldn't be of much help there. It would be better if you took my pulse; I've been feeling a tightness in my chest..."
This statement carried significant weight.
The Fifth Prince was seriously injured saving the Emperor...
It was likely that the severe injury was a pretense, and the true intention was to gain merit in the Emperor's eyes.
As the Empress mentioned, Zou Li was currently treating the Fifth Prince's injuries, and Zou Li was Consort Xi's man. To garner the Emperor's sympathy and attention, the injury would naturally be exaggerated.
Therefore, Consort Xi's snow-viewing banquet and her refusal to let the group leave were all to prevent her from exposing the Fifth Prince's ruse of self-inflicted harm!
Ji Zizhao felt that Consort Xi had overestimated her character.
While compassion for patients was a given, if the Fifth Prince were truly severely injured before her, she would be the first to grab a large knife and chop him to pieces to feed the dogs.
Granny Zhang hurried in, "Your Majesty, Consort Xi, upon hearing that the Fifth Prince is gravely injured, has fainted!"
Hearing this, Emperor Xiaochang immediately stood up, his gaze instinctively falling on Ji Zizhao. Seeing that Ji Zizhao was taking the Empress's pulse, he then called out an imperial physician from inside, "If Consort Xi suffers any harm, you shall answer to me with your head!"
"Yes, your subject obeys." The imperial physician scurried out.
Emperor Xiaochang stared in the direction of the door, unable to regain his composure for a long time.
Ji Zizhao's fingers on the Empress's wrist clearly felt a strong throb beneath her fingertips.
It was a clear sign of anger.
Ji Zizhao lowered her gaze slightly, her mind racing.
The Empress had likely anticipated Consort Xi's fainting, which was why she had feigned discomfort earlier, thereby preventing the Emperor from sending her to Consort Xi's side.
Such astuteness and meticulous calculation were indeed characteristic of the Empress she knew.
With the Empress's cunning, she must have suspected that everything today was a charade. While Ji Zizhao was indeed a subordinate physician, as a disciple of Magistrate Zhang, she was not without the ability to question and refute Zou Li.
Did the Empress not want to expose the Fifth Prince's hypocritical facade?
The answer was yes.
Yet, the Empress had kept her outside, clearly condoning the entire situation.
This could only mean that the Empress knew that the Fifth Prince's injury was beyond her ability to refute or question.
Ji Zizhao's heart tightened, and she subconsciously glanced towards the inner chambers.
Who was it that made the Empress believe they were beyond her contention?
Just then, Zou Li emerged from inside and knelt down, saying, "Reporting to His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress, the Fifth Prince's heart has been damaged, and he has lost a lot of blood. Although his breathing is stable, he remains unconscious."
Emperor Xiaochang's heart skipped a beat, "Do we know when he will awaken?"
Zou Li lowered his head, "Replying to His Majesty, Princess Wenhui said that it is difficult to make a definitive judgment at this time."
Ji Zizhao couldn't help but frown.
Princess Wenhui?!
"Father, please rest assured, your son will do everything possible to treat his Fifth Brother," Prince Huangli's voice carried a hint of exhaustion as a slender figure emerged from the inner chambers.