Empress Zhong rose, supported by wet nurse Dai. She seemed to recall something. "Right, have there been any developments from Fourth Prince?"
"Just after I sent Consort Sun away, I ran into someone gathering information. They said he's already on his way back and should arrive in a few days..."
"Returning in a few days? That's fast. I said this trip to the temporary palace wouldn't be peaceful, and it seems I was right."
"Could Your Majesty be worrying too much? Fourth Prince has always been law-abiding and wouldn't attract anyone's enmity."
"Fourth Prince has been too lenient with those people all these years, which has emboldened them. Fourth Prince is astute and wouldn't easily make enemies, but wet nurse, don't forget, Seventh Prince is still in Tonglin."
"Does Your Majesty mean... this incident is aimed at Seventh Prince?"
Empress Zhong snorted, her dark eyes glinting with coldness in the candlelight.
Although Fourth Prince and Seventh Prince were adopted, in others' eyes, they were no different from biological sons.
For years, Fourth Prince had supported Seventh Prince from the shadows. People only saw Seventh Prince as a dissolute individual. Now that Prince Dai Guan was nearing adulthood, Fourth Prince was gradually bringing Seventh Prince into the spotlight.
Though Fourth Prince was always steady, his close relationship with Seventh Prince was known to all.
If Fourth Prince were to suffer a setback, even if he couldn't fundamentally bring down Seventh Prince, he could at least distract him.
It takes more than one cold day for the river to freeze solid.
"To ruin Fourth Prince's engagement, she would resort to such despicable means. Her efforts are truly commendable, yet she doesn't realize that the Fourth Prince of today is no longer the lovesick romantic he once was." Empress Zhong knew exactly who it was, possessing the capability to learn about Fourth Prince's engagement to Ji Zizhao and to orchestrate such an event, even with her eyes closed.
Wet nurse Dai sighed with concern at the Empress's meticulous planning. "Your Majesty worries so much. You should have told Miss Ji of the Ji family earlier. With Miss Ji's temperament, she would surely understand, and no matter how turbulent the outside storms, she would advance and retreat with Fourth Prince!"
"Absolutely not!"
As if from excessive anxiety, Empress Zhong's voice broke.
She tightly grasped wet nurse Dai's hand and looked into her eyes, emphasizing each word, "The more people who know, the greater the danger. If the events of that year truly leak out, let alone Fourth Prince or Seventh Prince, even I... would not escape the executioner's blade outside the Meridian Gate!"
Wet nurse Dai trembled and immediately closed her mouth.
A heavy silence fell upon the sleeping quarters.
Ji Zizhao, who was seeing Xing Jiqiu off outside the courtyard, thought she faintly heard the Empress's voice.
She subconsciously stopped and looked back towards the temporary palace behind her. Indeed, she could no longer hear any sound.
Xing Jiqiu asked curiously, "Is something amiss?"
Ji Zizhao listened intently again, then turned back and smiled, "No, I must have misheard."
At that moment, some passing palace maids walked over. Upon seeing Ji Zizhao, they hurried over, bowed, and said, "We thought it was Miss Ji from afar, and it truly is. The weather is cold and the roads are slippery. Miss Ji should return to rest soon."
Ji Zizhao smiled and nodded at the maids before accompanying Xing Jiqiu towards the courtyard gate.
Xing Jiqiu had already witnessed Ji Zizhao's good rapport with the Empress, and was surprised to see her have such a good relationship with the palace maids. However, she felt it was unnecessary. A master is a master, and a servant is a servant. Even a servant of the Empress was not someone a master should actively try to get closer to.
Ji Zizhao saw through Xing Jiqiu's thoughts at a glance and didn't explain. She simply stood at the courtyard entrance and gently cautioned, "It is indeed getting late. Miss Xing, please be careful on your way back."
Xing Jiqiu nodded. "I understand. Miss Ji, you should go back."
As the Emperor had not yet officially married, matters of status were difficult to clarify.
After Ji Zizhao left, Xing Jiqiu looked again towards the Empress's temporary palace in the distance.
She truly couldn't see anything extraordinary about Ji Zizhao, attributing it solely to the Empress's favoritism. However, she believed it was only a matter of time. Once she married Seventh Prince, she would surely make the Empress value her just as much.
For several days, the Emperor led the princes into the forest for hunting, with bountiful harvests each day.
The remaining ladies gathered in twos and threes, passing the time day after day, and quietly observing the predicament of Consort Sun.
The marriage arrangements for Eighth Prince had caused Consort Sun immense trouble.
She had offended the Liang family and also created a rift with the Director of the Imperial Observatory. Truly, she was in a no-win situation, and even Eighth Prince was so angry that he hadn't visited Consort Sun for many days.
It was heard that Consort Xi finally interceded with the Emperor, who then relented and agreed to allow Liang Lanyi to become Eighth Prince's concubine. This matter seemed to be resolved, as the Liang family would not dare to defy Consort Xi. However, this did not mean the Liang family could forgive Consort Sun.
Their good daughter, who was supposed to be Eighth Prince's consort, was now merely a concubine.
Who could swallow such an insult?
As for the Director of the Imperial Observatory, he treated Consort Sun with utter coldness.
Consort Sun: "..."
She suddenly felt life was not worth living.
When Ji Zizhao heard that Consort Xi had interceded for Consort Sun, she let out a cold laugh.
Having seen Zuo Xiuhua in the crowd that day, Ji Zizhao already suspected it was not a coincidence. Now, her guess was further confirmed. Consort Sun had indeed relied on Consort Xi to dare send people to test the Empress.
If that was the case, was Eighth Prince also aligning himself with Fifth Prince?
Considering the Empress's instructions from a few days prior, Ji Zizhao knew she had to be more careful. For the past few days, she had either been in her room poring over medical texts or drying herbs. Unless summoned by Zou Li, she remained in her room, keeping to herself.
With only three days left until the New Year, heavy snow suddenly fell.
After a night of heavy snowfall, the entire temporary palace was coated in a blinding white.
The Emperor, unable to stay idle at the temporary palace, led the princes into the forest the next day when the weather cleared.
Meanwhile, Consort Xi, who had been silent for many days, suddenly sent invitations to the ladies at the temporary palace, inviting everyone to her temporary palace to enjoy the snow scenery.
Ji Zizhao smiled when she received the invitation.
Consort Xi's actions were too hasty, sending an invitation as soon as it snowed.
She suspected that enjoying the snow was merely a pretext; she likely had other ulterior motives.