Ji Zizhao had never seen Xu Meiqing so flustered since she had known her. She quickly supported her. "What happened? Tell me carefully."
Xu Meiqing's hands trembled as she held Ji Zizhao's. After panting for a while, she said urgently, "It, it's Xinyi. When she was riding a horse, she seemed to have hit someone. Now that person is making a fuss, attracting a lot of attention."
Ji Zizhao's heart skipped a beat. If she had really hit someone, it was no small matter. She hurriedly asked Xu Meiqing to lead the way, taking Xue Yinuo with her to the scene of the accident.
Along the way, Ji Zizhao asked as she walked, "Do you know who she hit?"
Xu Meiqing shook her head. "Judging by her attire, she's not ordinary, but her face is unfamiliar."
"Her age?"
"About our age."
Ji Zizhao frowned, pondering her words carefully.
Most of the female attendants accompanying them were betrothed to princes, but if she had indeed been to the palace, why wouldn't Xu Meiqing know her?
Furthermore, even if she hadn't been to the palace, the imperial city was vast, but how could families of high standing not know each other? Even if this woman was not betrothed to a prince, as long as she was a young lady from the imperial city, Xu Meiqing would have recognized her.
And if she was neither betrothed to a prince nor a young lady from the imperial city, who would have the audacity to travel with the imperial carriage to the temporary palace for the winter hunt?
Bypassing a bend, the view opened up.
Even within the temporary palace, the constructed roads were wide and smooth enough.
Not far ahead, Zhong Xinyi could be vaguely seen holding her horse and speaking to a young woman. Many people stood on either side, watching in silence.
The moment Ji Zizhao saw Zhong Xinyi, she couldn't help but quicken her pace. However, before she could reach Zhong Xinyi, she saw the woman standing in front of Zhong Xinyi suddenly raise her arm.
"Slap—!"
The crisp sound instantly exploded on the wide bluestone road.
Everyone was stunned by the scene. Even Xu Meiqing and Xue Yinuo were somewhat dumbfounded.
Zhong Xinyi was the niece of the current Empress. How could an outsider dare to lay a hand on her?
As everyone was stunned, they heard the woman who had struck speak in a shrill, nasal voice, "My hairpin was personally bestowed by the late Empress Dowager! If you hadn't been riding your horse recklessly in the temporary palace, how could you have broken my hairpin! Do you think you can just break something bestowed by the late Empress Dowager as you please?"
Zhong Xinyi, holding half her face, was about to retort angrily, but upon hearing that she had broken something belonging to the late Empress Dowager, she was so shocked that she opened her mouth wide and forgot to make a sound.
Xu Meiqing and Xue Yinuo exchanged glances, their hearts filled with trepidation.
The Emperor was filial. The late Empress Dowager had been extremely noble during her lifetime.
After the late Empress Dowager passed away, she became an indelible pain in the Emperor's heart.
Now, hearing that a memento of the late Empress Dowager had been damaged, who wouldn't feel their scalp tingle?
If the Emperor were to investigate, even the Empress might not be able to bear the consequences!
"Since it was something bestowed by the late Empress Dowager, the young lady should have kept it well. Displaying it so ostentatiously in public, did you not consider the possibility of an accident, damaging the sentiment of the late Empress Dowager when she gifted it to you?" Ji Zizhao strode forward and subtly blocked Zhong Xinyi behind her.
Xu Meiqing and Xue Yinuo reacted belatedly and also followed.
The woman was clearly choked by her words and frowned as she sized up Ji Zizhao.
As soon as Zhong Xinyi saw Ji Zizhao, she seemed to come back to life and quickly whispered, "I didn't hit her. She fell in front of my horse herself."
Hearing this, the woman immediately cried out shrilly, "So many people here saw you hit me! Are you going to deny it now just because you say so? Why don't you ask everyone here if anyone can testify for you!"
The people around remained silent.
The incident happened so suddenly that none of them had seen it clearly.
But now that the matter involved the late Empress Dowager, who dared to speak rashly?
Xu Meiqing hadn't seen clearly either. She only saw the woman fall to the ground when Zhong Xinyi rode past. As for how she fell, she didn't have time to see.
But now, seeing that no one was helping Zhong Xinyi testify, even if she hadn't seen clearly, she could not stand idly by.
However!
Just as Xu Meiqing was about to speak, she saw Ji Zizhao shake her head at her.
It was no secret that Xu Meiqing was close to Zhong Xinyi. Even if she came forward to testify, it would prove nothing.
Zhong Xinyi had not yet been extricated from trouble. If another person were to be implicated, it would not be worth it.
"Since you have nothing to say, why don't you quickly come with me to ask the Empress to judge this matter?" The woman glanced at the silent crowd and looked triumphantly at Zhong Xinyi.
Xu Meiqing, "..."
Xue Yinuo, "..."
It was truly perplexing.
Everyone in the temporary palace knew that Zhong Xinyi was the Empress's niece. Did this woman have no heart or brain to take herself to the Empress to deliver herself on a platter?
Ji Zizhao's frown deepened.
Everyone knew this fact. This woman could not possibly not know it.
But knowing the Empress's relationship with Zhong Xinyi, why was she causing such a scene?
"May I ask the young lady's surname and given name?" Ji Zizhao asked calmly.
"What do you want?" The woman stared at Ji Zizhao warily.
"Since we are going to ask the Empress to judge this matter, we must first inquire about the young lady's name so that we can quickly have someone report it to the Empress truthfully. Or does the young lady think that anyone can see the Empress?"
Now that the matter had escalated to this extent, even if Ji Zizhao intended to intervene, it would be impossible.
Otherwise, if the matter truly spread, the Empress would be accused of favoritism and malfeasance.
Since she could not stop it, it was better to first ascertain the woman's name and give the Empress a heads-up.
"My surname is Liang, and my given name is Lanyi. Are you satisfied?" The woman raised her eyebrows and looked at Ji Zizhao.
Ji Zizhao nodded slightly, took a step back with Zhong Xinyi, and made a gesture of invitation to the woman.
Liang Lanyi looked at Ji Zizhao's humble demeanor and snorted disdainfully, "You are just a petty official, not even as good as an ant. It's good that you are sensible."
"You..." Xue Yinuo's fists itched.
Ji Zizhao quickly blocked Xue Yinuo and smiled at Liang Lanyi, "Miss Liang, you are right. Please."
Hearing Ji Zizhao's concession, Liang Lanyi didn't even bother to respond this time and strode ahead towards the Empress's temporary palace.
Ji Zizhao turned to look at Xue Yinuo and Xu Meiqing. "The fewer people involved in this matter, the better. You two go back first."
"But..." Xue Yinuo and Xu Meiqing looked at Zhong Xinyi with concern.
Zhong Xinyi held Ji Zizhao's hand and forced a smile. "With Zizhao here, don't worry, everything will be fine."
Seeing this, Xue Yinuo and Xu Meiqing said no more and could only leave first.
Ji Zizhao held Zhong Xinyi's hand and walked behind, asking softly, "Do you know which ministers in the court have the surname Liang?"
Zhong Xinyi, "..."
She had never even seen the court. Where would she know the surnames of everyone?
"There are three ministers in the court with the surname Liang. One is the Minister of Guanglu Temple, one is the Salt Commissioner of Liangzhou, and the third is the Prefect of Dan Province. Coincidentally, my father has some acquaintances with the Minister of Guanglu Temple and the Salt Commissioner of Liangzhou. As far as I know, the daughters of those two officials are already married."
This voice...
Ji Zizhao turned her head and saw a woman dressed plainly emerge from the crowd.