Ji Zizhao suddenly raised her head, looking at the handsome face before her.
The uneasy premonition in her heart grew stronger.
If the Emperor truly knew something, what awaited Xie Jinglan?
Estrangement?
Or eternal damnation?!
A hand, calloused and gentle, caressed Ji Zizhao’s face.
When Ji Zizhao came back to her senses, she saw Xie Jinglan smiling at her, saying, "Don't worry, I will find a way to investigate this matter myself."
Ji Zizhao nodded. Although she and Xie Jinglan were to be married soon, she did not wish to interfere too much in his affairs. Everyone had a secret they didn't want touched; she had hers, and so did he. Since he chose to respect her, she would not selfishly intrude upon his secrets.
Tang Di and Huo Niangong returned after a fight and witnessed this explosive scene.
Seeing their Prince embrace the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family, Tang Di's excited eyes nearly fell to his feet. In the blink of an eye, had they kissed?
The sound of their footsteps startled Ji Zizhao. She immediately struggled to break free from Xie Jinglan's embrace, saying, "It's getting late, this minister will take her leave."
Xie Jinglan did not expose the blush on Ji Zizhao's face, smiling and saying, "Alright."
At this moment, Wen Hui, who was hidden in the shadows, watched Ji Zizhao hurry away. Then, she looked at Xie Jinglan's dark eyes, filled with tenderness, and even the cold wind blowing on her face did not feel so chilling.
She had coincidentally learned that day that Xie Jinglan was involved in this matter to help Ji Zizhao's sister. Of course, she didn't believe that a mere Prince could go to such lengths for a woman as insignificant as a stray dog. Yet, as she rushed to confront him, she saw what had just happened.
In Wen Hui's memory, Xie Jinglan was timid and self-conscious, never daring to even voice his feelings, let alone achieve anything significant. Otherwise, she would not have left home years ago, fearing that if the Empress noticed Xie Jinglan's affection, she would instigate the Emperor to marry her off to him.
But after years apart, upon her return, she found that everything had changed.
How could such a self-conscious and timid person become so gentle, so mature and refined?
Looking again in the direction Ji Zizhao had left, a layer of jealousy, imperceptible even to herself, clouded Wen Hui's eyes.
Xie Jinglan returned to his room and told Huo Niangong and Tang Di about what Ji Zizhao had said. These two had followed him through thick and thin, so there was nothing to hide.
Tang Di pondered, "Perhaps I could go and investigate first?"
Xie Jinglan shook his head. "My father has always distrusted me, and has become even more suspicious lately. Although the truth of the Tonglin battle remains unknown, since my father does not wish for me to know, I must pretend ignorance."
Huo Niangong inquired, "How does Your Highness plan to proceed?"
"Since my father wishes for me to remain ignorant, the best course of action now is to avoid suspicion. Coincidentally, you two can return to the imperial city to help me deliver a letter, and then attend to what needs to be done," Xie Jinglan said, placing Ji Zizhao's letter on his desk.
Huo Niangong and Tang Di felt a strange sinking in their hearts upon hearing this.
They understood clearly that if this matter was mere rumor, then their current act of avoiding suspicion by leaving would be a foolproof plan. However, if the Emperor had indeed obtained some evidence and was therefore concealing the Tonglin battle from their Prince, then their return might very well be to prepare their own funeral arrangements in advance.
The two walked out of the room in silence. The night was deep in the courtyard.
Tang Di took a deep breath and said to Huo Niangong, "Do you also think this matter is directed at our Prince?"
Huo Niangong continued walking, his gaze fixed on the path ahead. "Even if it is, so what?"
Tang Di raised an eyebrow. "That's quite a statement. Do you know how to resolve it?"
"At worst, it's death." Huo Niangong showed no particular reaction. For people like them, having decided to follow their Prince, they had long ceased to consider their own lives.
Tang Di...
Others worried about how to escape when in trouble, yet you're thinking about how to die...
How inauspicious!
"However, I do believe our Prince will be safe."
Huo Niangong turned to look at Tang Di, his face filled with confusion.
Tang Di rubbed his swollen lip, which had been punched by Huo Niangong just moments ago. "They call you a blockhead, and you truly have no brains. Since the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family appeared, haven't you noticed a change in our Prince? Before, his eyes were always lifeless. When did they gain light?"
Tang Di did not wish to recall the first few years they followed their Prince.
To speak of ill omens, their Prince was truly no different from a dead man.
If not for the Empress insisting on keeping their Prince by her side, and the Seventh Prince inexplicably clinging to him every day, he doubted their Prince would have even lived to his coming-of-age ceremony.
After all, for all these years, that side had never intended to let their Prince off the hook.
"That's why I say, we're all worrying for nothing. Our Prince has always been a man of his word. Since he promised to marry the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family, he will not easily let go. Even if this matter is truly directed at our Prince, our Prince... will definitely find a way to turn misfortune into fortune."
This time, Huo Niangong did not object.
Even he had to admit the significance of the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family in their Prince's heart.
Xie Jinglan, standing by the window, listened to their conversation, his slender fingers unconsciously stroking his chin. Had he truly changed so much?
At the same time, a piece of skin as thin as a cicada's wing, worn away, curled up at the corner of his chin.
The next morning, Tang Di and Huo Niangong departed the temporary palace as ordered.
Since their Prince had instructed them to avoid suspicion, they had to do so openly. From the entrance of the temporary palace to the town, even the newly appointed county magistrate knew that the Fourth Prince's men were returning to the imperial city on official business.
Soon, the news spread throughout the temporary palace.
Emperor Xiaochang, who was having his breakfast, silently put down his chopsticks. After a long pause, he inquired, "Do you know why the Fourth Prince sent men back to the imperial city?"
Feng Gu lowered his head and replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, they said they were helping the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family send a letter to report her safety."
Emperor Xiaochang nodded. After all, they were soon to be married, and helping now was understandable. However, his face remained without a smile. "Have someone continue to monitor the movements of the other Princes, especially the Fourth Prince. Report any slightest disturbance to me immediately."
"Yes."
Feng Gu respectfully exited. Only after reaching the courtyard gate did he let out a deep sigh. So many years had passed, yet the Emperor still refused to trust the Fourth Prince.
The temporary palace in January still held a strong atmosphere of the New Year celebrations.
During this time, Consort Xi proactively visited the Empress and suggested a simple gathering of the palace consorts on the third day, as a way to bring good fortune to the Empress.
When Ji Zizhao heard this, her heart tightened even further.
If Consort Xi truly knew something, she would not stir up trouble at the temporary palace at this time and risk incurring the Emperor's displeasure.
And if Consort Xi did not know, it meant that the Fifth Prince was also unaware.
If even her favored son was not privy to any information, it was likely that the Emperor was about to make a significant move.