The warmth in the main courtyard did not diminish, and everyone was sincerely wishing Ji Zizhao well.
Ji Zizhao smiled and nodded, humbly accepting everyone's blessings, though she wasn't as surprised as they might have expected.
After all, she had already known about this matter. What she felt now was more of a puzzle.
The Empress had said that the Emperor would only issue the decree for marriage after the Seventh Prince returned. While the Empress could not speak for the Emperor, she had been by his side the longest. Others might misjudge the Emperor's intentions, but the Empress certainly wouldn't.
Moreover, it was rumored that the Seventh Prince was still seriously injured in Tonglin. How could the Emperor have the mood to busy himself with the marriages of other princes?
As Ji Zizhao pondered her thoughts, her attention gradually waned from the congratulatory voices around her. This behavior, in Gu Peilan's eyes, was blatant showmanship and boasting!
Ji Renran's expression was completely blank; she was clearly stimulated and suppressed her emotions, returning to her own courtyard with tears streaming down her face.
She was genuinely jealous, angry, and helpless.
Only now did Ji Renran understand why the Empress had repeatedly asked Ji Zizhao for her pulse at the temporary palace. She had been foolish not to see the signs.
Upon hearing the news, Nanny Song was also too shocked to speak.
They were both daughters of the Ji family, yet look at Ji family's eldest daughter. Even with the status of a divorced woman, she could become the primary consort of the Fourth Prince. But then look at the young lady Renran she followed; despite all her efforts, she had only managed to become a concubine…
Comparing people really made one want to die!
In the room, Gu Peilan looked at her daughter, who was weeping profusely, and felt extremely agitated. She wanted to comfort her, but her words came out as a series of accusations: "You accompanied her to the temporary palace for so long, and you didn't notice any clues?"
Ji Renran bit her lip and finally replied hoarsely after a long pause, "Ji Zizhao was kept by the Empress as soon as she arrived at the temporary palace. How would I know?"
"Aren't you a concubine to the Fifth Prince? Did Concubine Xi reveal anything to you?" Gu Peilan was about to explode with anger. The thought of everyone congratulating Ji Zizhao just now made her feel like she wouldn't be able to eat for days.
The mention of Concubine Xi made Ji Renran's tears flow even more profusely.
"I am indeed a concubine to the Fifth Prince, but Concubine Xi clearly favors Zuo Xiuhua. She is the primary consort of the Fifth Prince! To put it bluntly, it's because I don't have as powerful a family background as she does. Her father is the current Prime Minister!"
Gu Peilan's vision swam black at her daughter's outburst. But thinking of her son, who was still living outside, she could only endure and say, "Who told you the Ji family refused to let us in back then? Later, you saw it yourself. Even after Lin Wanyun died, Ji Zizhao didn't let me go?"
Ji Renran thought of Ji Zizhao and wished she could rush over and fight her to the death right now.
But she couldn't, nor did she dare.
In the past, Ji Zizhao was the matriarch of the Ji family. If she wanted to live in the mansion, she had to be subservient. She originally thought that once she married out, even if it was just as a concubine, she would be benefiting from the prince and could finally stand a little straighter in front of Ji Zizhao. But now, Ji Zizhao had become the primary consort of the Fourth Prince.
Thinking that she would still have to be deferential to Ji Zizhao when they met in the future, Ji Renran felt her life was hopeless.
Gu Peilan was also deeply worried. Ji Zizhao's status was truly soaring. Perhaps she could have contended with Ji Zizhao before, but in the future, she feared she wouldn't even have the qualification to stand before Ji Zizhao.
It was suffocating to think about!
The imperial decrees descended quickly, one after another. In almost the entire afternoon, all the pre-determined residences received the imperial decrees of betrothal.
Among those Ji Zizhao knew, besides Zuo Xiuhua, the primary consort of the Fifth Prince, the daughter of the Director of the Imperial Observatory had already been betrothed to the Eighth Prince. Xu Meiqing was betrothed to the Sixth Prince, and the Seventh Prince's primary consort was Xing Jiqiu.
As for the consorts of the other princes, they were also famous young ladies from the imperial city, though Ji Zizhao did not remember their names.
However, the ministers, who had been eagerly awaiting this, could not smile as they looked at the imperial decrees in their hands. Was this a betrothal or a bulk purchase?
But what shocked everyone the most was the choice of the Seventh Prince's primary consort.
Back then, everyone believed that the Seventh Prince's marriage would be an internal affair, and it would undoubtedly be Zhong Xinyi. At the temporary palace, most people had already considered Zhong Xinyi as the Seventh Prince's primary consort. Yet now they were told that the Seventh Prince's primary consort was someone else?
The Xing family was indeed rooted in the imperial city, but Xing Jiqiu's father was far away as the Inspector of Jiujiang.
He held the rank of third-grade official and commanded all the military power of Jiujiang.
By marrying Xing Jiqiu, the Seventh Prince would gain the unconditional support of Jiujiang.
It wasn't that no one had wanted to keep portraits of the daughters of local inspectors back then, but seeing that the Empress had not done so, no one dared to be the first to act.
As a result…
Their heads were buzzing.
Everyone who had been outmaneuvered by the Empress could only weep and acknowledge that the old ginger was the spiciest.
Just as some rejoiced and others worried, Ji Zizhao thought more and more that something was amiss. With the Seventh Prince's return date uncertain, the Empress, given her temperament, would absolutely not be so impatient as to announce the candidate for the Seventh Prince's primary consort prematurely.
What unknown event had occurred in the palace?
With a heart full of doubts, Ji Zizhao felt restless. She decided to have Shuiling change her clothes and board the carriage heading for the Fourth Prince's residence.
The imperial decree of betrothal had been issued. Although the wedding had not yet taken place, with Ji Zizhao's current status, she did not need to hide her movements even when visiting the Fourth Prince's residence.
However, what Ji Zizhao did not expect was to see the Fifth Prince when she alighted from the carriage!
With the Emperor's sudden decree of betrothal, all the princes had a share in it. Xie Jingzhou, to show his care for his brothers and their brotherly affection, naturally had to visit each residence to offer congratulations.
After the princes of eligible age married, the competition for the throne would reach a fever pitch. At this time, Xie Jingzhou certainly wished to win over more hearts.
Seeing Ji Zizhao suddenly alight from the carriage, Xie Jingzhou was also taken aback.
However, he quickly revealed a benevolent smile and said, "Is the Ji family's eldest daughter here to see Fourth Brother? Coincidentally, I'm also here to congratulate Fourth Brother. Shall we go together?"
Looking at Xie Jingzhou's hypocritical demeanor, Ji Zizhao felt sick to her stomach.
She had a previous engagement with Xie Jingzhou. Even though they had divorced later, they should still maintain some distance to avoid gossip. Yet now, Xie Jingzhou, knowing full well that she had been betrothed, wanted to walk hand in hand with her in front of Xie Jinglan as if nothing had happened…
What was he trying to do?
Ji Zizhao sneered inwardly. She feared that as soon as she entered the Fourth Prince's residence with Xie Jingzhou, rumors would spread throughout the imperial city that the Fourth Prince's primary consort was unchaste and that after her divorce, she was openly flirting with the Fifth Prince in front of the Fourth Prince.
Indeed, Xie Jingzhou was still as cunning and treacherous as ever, never missing an opportunity to scheme!