Zou Hansheng's grip tightened on the roll of names.
Seeing his son being challenged, Zou Li hurried over, "The Imperial Hospital has always operated with strict protocols. If everyone were as casual as Imperial Physician Zhang, wouldn't that lead to chaos? If the Emperor investigates, can Imperial Physician Zhang bear the responsibility?"
Zhang Shuzhong chuckled at his words, "Time seems to have flown by. It appears Imperial Physician Zou has forgotten the human life incident that occurred in the palace. I recall Imperial Physician Zou knelt before the Emperor, kowtowing incessantly. Back then, why didn't Imperial Physician Zou explain to the Emperor that he was acting according to protocol?" SuDan Novel Network
"You..."
"Oh, I remember now. Imperial Physician Zou was so terrified back then that he couldn't even speak."
Zou Li, "..."
If looks could kill, he would have wished to send Zhang Shuzhong straight into his coffin!
Zhang Shuzhong paid no mind to Zou Li's murderous glare, appearing refreshed and invigorated.
It was understandable; after verbally sparring with the son, he moved on to the father. It was only natural he would feel elated!
The entire Imperial Hospital was as quiet as a chicken. Everyone watched the two imperial physicians duel, not daring to breathe.
Zou Hansheng was so enraged he could barely breathe, yet he remained silent. Even his father had been rendered speechless; what more could he say if he spoke up?
Seeing that everyone had quieted down, Zhang Shuzhong not only turned and left himself but also took Ji Zizhao with him.
Since Ji Zizhao had been specifically responsible for the Empress's pulse readings in the temporary palace, she only needed to hand over her duties to Zhang Shuzhong. Even if Zou Li wanted to find fault, he wouldn't have an opening.
Jiang Guang Sheng stood in the crowd, watching Ji Zizhao's receding back. Her brow furrowed. She was only favored by Imperial Physician Zhang because of her connection to the Fourth Prince. Such a snobbish woman truly didn't deserve his affection.
Ji Zizhao followed Zhang Shuzhong into the room and handed him the pulse records she had prepared. "This is the Empress's pulse record from the temporary palace. If Master feels it's unclear, I can write a more detailed one."
Zhang Shuzhong took the records, tossed them onto the table without looking at them. If he couldn't trust his own disciple, there was no one else in the world he could trust.
"I had already sensed that something was amiss in the palace. Now that the Emperor has returned so urgently, after serving in the palace for so long, I have never seen the Emperor in such a hurry. I fear something big is about to happen in the palace."
Zhang Shuzhong had seen his fair share of storms over the years in the palace, but the current atmosphere was truly bizarre. Even he had to be vigilant in his daily life.
"If you have nothing else, you should leave the palace as soon as possible. You have performed well caring for the Empress in the temporary palace, and I have already requested leave for you. It's not too late to return to the palace in ten days."
This Emperor reminded Zhang Shuzhong of decades ago.
At that time, the atmosphere in the palace seemed similar.
The Emperor's wrath could lead to a million casualties.
No matter how angry the Emperor might be, he wouldn't slaughter everyone in the palace, but the bloodshed of that year had become a nightmare for all who survived.
As a master, he cared for his disciple and naturally didn't want Ji Zizhao to be implicated.
Ji Zizhao hadn't expected her master to have already prepared a fallback for her. She had intended to ask for the reasons, but seeing the heavy expression on her master's face, the words died on her lips.
As Ji Zizhao left the palace, the imperial study was brightly lit.
Dozens of carriages were parked at the palace gate, bearing the insignia of high-ranking ministers.
Ji Zibi had been waiting in a carriage outside the palace gate. Seeing her elder sister emerge, she quickly got out. "Eldest Sister, did something happen in the palace?"
Ji Zizhao shook her head. The situation had escalated to such an extent that even she couldn't guess what had happened. Seeing her fourth sister's worried expression, she said softly, "It has nothing to do with us. Let's go back to the manor."
Ji Zibi nodded, "Alright."
At the entrance of the Ji manor, several madams were already waiting.
By rights, Ji Zizhao, being a junior, shouldn't have kept her elders waiting. But Ji Zizhao was the matriarch of the Ji family. Except for the Old Madam, no one, not even Gu Peilan, dared to be absent from the welcoming party at the gate.
Seeing the carriage stop at the foot of the steps, the madams were overjoyed. "Sister Zhao is finally back!"
Ji Zizhao, holding her fourth sister's hand, alighted from the carriage and courteously addressed her aunts, "Thank you for waiting here, Aunties."
The madams quickly smiled and replied, "For Sister Zhao to travel with His Majesty is a great honor, a matter of bringing glory to the Ji family. What is a little wait for us?"
"Thank you, Sister Zhao, for looking after my unruly daughter while you were away. This kindness is noted by your Fourth Aunt. If you ever need anything, just ask." Fourth Madam Xiao Jingshu said this while also casting a sidelong glance at her wayward daughter who had run off without a word. She'd deal with her when they returned to their courtyard.
Ji Zibi, "..."
Glaring before even entering the door. Truly a mother.
Gu Peilan stood aside, coldly observing Ji Zizhao's pleasantries with the other madams. She sneered inwardly. Her daughter had also traveled with His Majesty, yet no one had asked about her. What were these people so pleased about? They were just accompanying servants, how could they compare to her daughter?
Her daughter, after all, was aligned with the Third Prince!
Ji Zizhao could feel Gu Peilan's cold gaze. However, she had no intention of being cordial with Gu Peilan. After exchanging a few more pleasantries with her aunts, she entered the manor with everyone. She first paid her respects to her grandmother before returning to her own courtyard.
The people in Zhaoyuan had received advance notice and had been busy since morning.
As Ji Zizhao entered the courtyard, Nanny He walked over. "Miss, please go inside and rest. Shuiling has already gone to heat water. You can have a good bath to relieve your fatigue later."
Ji Zizhao smiled and nodded. As she stepped inside, Jianqiu came forward to help her change clothes and unbraid her hair.
"Aunt Jianqiu, do you know if there was a human life incident in the palace back then?" Ji Zizhao closed her eyes, enjoying Jianqiu's massage, but her mind was on the conversation between her master and Zou Li in the Imperial Hospital.
Zou Li, relying on Consort Xi, would not easily back down.
However, her master's words had clearly struck Zou Li's sore spot.
It was strange that so many years had passed, and it was difficult to verify anything, yet Zou Li was clearly afraid. Thus, the only possibility was that her master could sense the current unease in the palace, and it was directly related to the human life incident caused by Zou Li back then.
The Emperor's fury meant everyone was in a state of panic.
It was likely that Zou Li had also sensed this, hence his obvious guilt, fearing he might get burned. He was afraid that people would connect the current atmosphere in the palace with what happened back then.