"I have carefully examined Miss Zhong's injuries. There is localized bruising and subcutaneous ulceration, which has only been alleviated by extremely potent blood-activating and stasis-dispelling medicine. As far as I know, safflower is the most effective for this purpose, costing one hundred taels per qian. For Miss Zhong's condition, to achieve full recovery, at least half a jin of safflower would be needed as a medicinal component for the stasis-dispelling decoction. Nourishment is also crucial; a hundred-year-old ginseng would be best for replenishing vital energy and essence. At current market prices, a hundred-year-old ginseng root would fetch at least a thousand taels."
Ji Zizhao spoke with conviction, leaving Liang Lanyi feeling a chill down her spine.
What did it mean to need half a jin of safflower, costing a hundred taels per qian?
What did a thousand taels for a hundred-year-old ginseng root signify?
Was this treating an illness or gambling with life itself?!
"Why should I be responsible for these medicinal ingredients? Are all the physicians in the Imperial Hospital dead!" Liang Lanyi was certainly not willing to be the scapegoat.
Ji Zizhao had anticipated this and remained unruffled. "The Imperial Hospital will, of course, meticulously treat Miss Zhong's injuries. However, the events of today were all initiated by Miss Liang. It is likely that news will spread like wildfire within moments. I merely wish to prevent Miss Liang from being stained with the reputation of not daring to take responsibility. Otherwise, when Miss Liang eventually marries, even the Eighth Prince would be implicated by this trivial matter, which is hardly worth it."
Liang Lanyi: "..."
Damn Ji Zizhao, she was more of a bandit than a brigand!
Ji Zizhao was clearly extorting them, but even though Liang Lanyi knew this well, in front of Consort Sun, she had to swallow her anger, lest she openly declare to her future mother-in-law that she cared nothing for her son's reputation and was indifferent to his well-being.
Watching the retreating figures of Ji Zizhao and Zhong Xinyi, Liang Lanyi's heart bled.
To have ten thousand taels of silver wiped out with a single slap, who could withstand that?
Perhaps Ji Zizhao's words were too convincing; even Zhong Xinyi became flustered. "When did my face become so valuable?"
"You are the Empress's niece; your face is not something everyone can strike."
The Empress had indeed punished Consort Sun, but who knew if Consort Sun would twist the truth and distort facts?
After all, no woman in the harem was simple.
However, if Liang Lanyi were to produce the money, it would be different. Given how much Liang Lanyi hated her, she would personally go to the Imperial Hospital to purchase the medicine. This way, everyone would know that it was Liang Lanyi who had struck Zhong Xinyi, and at that point, no matter how eloquent Consort Sun was, she would be unable to turn black into white.
"Zizhao, tell me the truth, is my face really that serious?" Zhong Xinyi, holding her swollen half-face, couldn't help but worry.
"It was just a slap, how could it be serious?"
"But why is my face getting more swollen?"
"Blood stasis obstructs the wound, leading to swelling and numbness. Thus, where there is pain, there is stagnation."
Zhong Xinyi understood. "So the medicine you gave me earlier was actually..."
Ji Zizhao merely smiled without speaking.
Upon observing Liang Lanyi's gait, she had concluded that Zhong Xinyi had not actually collided with Liang Lanyi. However, the damage to the imperial gift was real. To retaliate effectively, Zhong Xinyi needed to appear not only as the victim but also so pitiful that the perpetrator would be silenced.
"I'll prepare a medicinal ointment for you later. Remember to apply it daily," Ji Zizhao said with a smile.
Zhong Xinyi was terrified of disfigurement and repeatedly urged Ji Zizhao not to forget. Even after leaving the courtyard, she kept pointing at her red and swollen half-face and even threatened Ji Zizhao, saying she wouldn't eat if the medicine wasn't applied.
Ji Zizhao truly feared the foolish girl starving herself. Upon returning to her quarters, she first sent someone to inform Xue Yinuo and Xu Meiqing that she was safe, then promptly concocted the ointment and had a palace servant deliver it to Zhong Xinyi.
After the incident with Consort Sun, the people in the temporary palace dared not slight Ji Zizhao, respectfully accepting the medicine and hastily leaving the courtyard.
Outside the Empress's sleeping quarters, the blurred figures of Consort Sun and Liang Lanyi kneeling could be seen.
As Ji Zizhao delivered the ointment to Zhong Xinyi, the day's events had completely spread through the temporary palace.
Perhaps believing the Empress was truly enraged, Emperor Xiaochang arrived at the Empress's residence later that evening.
Consort Sun's heart fluttered with both shame and joy as she watched the Emperor stride into the room. If the Emperor was here, she had a chance!
Empress Zhong, who was reclining on a soft couch with her eyes closed, feigned not hearing the Emperor's footsteps, clearly intending to make her concubine beg for her. Did he expect her to rise and pay her respects?
Hmph!
As if!
Emperor Xiaochang: "..."
"Is the Empress feeling unwell?" Emperor Xiaochang sat down beside the Empress.
"When did Your Majesty arrive?" Empress Zhong, as if startled, hastily opened her eyes and prepared to rise and pay her respects.
Emperor Xiaochang held the Empress's hand. "We are an old couple; what need is there for such formality? I have heard that someone has displeased the Empress again today?"
Empress Zhong scoffed inwardly. As expected, he had come to intercede for his concubine.
"Your Majesty exaggerates. It is merely some trivial matter. It is just that poor child Xinyi, perhaps she was mistaken for the future Seventh Prince Consort and became the target of jealousy, only to be slandered and schemed against. Fortunately, Ji Zizhao was by her side today, otherwise, who knows what would have happened..."
When Empress Zhong had presented Zhong Xinyi's portrait, she had privately sought the Emperor's permission to personally arrange her niece's marriage. The Emperor had been somewhat surprised at the time, not expecting the Empress to betroth her to the Seventh Prince.
Therefore, hearing the Empress speak thus, Emperor Xiaochang understood everything unspoken.
He suspected someone was using this incident to test the Empress's stance and, from there, deduce whether Zhong Xinyi was a suitable candidate for the Seventh Prince. After all, harming a future prince's consort would be punished far more severely than merely slandering the Empress's niece.
Empress Zhong sighed faintly. "What happened today was sudden, and even Ji Zizhao was dragged through the mud. Fortunately, Ji Zizhao has a calm disposition and great tolerance. If it were another young lady, being cursed like a dog, who knows how much she would cry."
Emperor Xiaochang's brow furrowed upon hearing this.
Ji Zizhao was the intended Fourth Prince Consort; this fact was not widely publicized, so it was understandable that others might be unaware. However, the mere thought of his future daughter-in-law being insulted as a dog made Emperor Xiaochang's expression darken.
Ji Zizhao was destined to marry into the imperial family. If she was considered a dog, what did that make him, her father-in-law? An old dog?
"Truly audacious!" Emperor Xiaochang's face turned black.
Empress Zhong demurely lowered her gaze and sighed in helplessness. "Initially, Consort Sun had chosen the daughter of the Director of the Imperial Observatory. I had met that child; she was a demure young lady, gentle and kind. I don't know what Consort Sun was thinking, to suddenly choose such a person... Alas, ultimately, I am not the Eighth Prince's biological mother. If Consort Sun truly favors that Liang family girl, I can only ask Your Majesty for your approval."
Emperor Xiaochang looked at the Empress with a shifting expression. The thought of having someone who spoke so vulgarly among his future daughters-in-law was a picture he dared not even imagine.
"I will handle this matter as I see fit. The Empress need not worry."
"If that is the case, this concubine will naturally obey Your Majesty's command." Watching the Emperor storm away, Empress Zhong, who had been melancholic, quickly took out her handkerchief and wiped her reddened eyes.
Dare to cause trouble on my territory?
You'll lose more than just skin, even if you don't die!