As the imperial physicians arrived, everyone was naturally required to leave for the time being.
With the Emperor's departure, everyone else also filed out of Wenhui's chambers, while the palace maids were temporarily taken away for questioning by the Emperor.
Ji Zizhao returned to Fengyi Palace with the Empress. As soon as they entered, Empress Zhong dismissed everyone in the chambers.
Once no one else was left in the palace, Empress Zhong spoke with a worried expression, "Wenhui fainting at this time will make further investigation difficult. The Emperor cannot keep her under his direct custody forever; eventually, she will have to be handed over to the Ministry of Punishments."
While she was under the Emperor's watch, it was one thing, but once sent to the Ministry of Punishments, it would be much easier for those with intentions to act.
Today, Consort Xi spoke on Wenhui's behalf, but who knew if she would secretly send someone to the Ministry of Punishments to eliminate that palace maid? If that palace maid died there, the matter of the Fourth Prince would forever be an unresolved knot in the Emperor's heart.
"I suspect Wenhui dared to faint precisely because she calculated that Consort Xi would continue to help her afterward." Empress Zhong never imagined that Wenhui herself was involved in this matter.
Ji Zizhao knew that the secret could no longer be kept, so she told the Empress everything she had found, "Now that Wenhui has caused such a commotion, it is to clear her own name and, secondly, to cut off the Fourth Prince's retreat."
Even the most composed person, Empress Zhong, was almost infuriated by these words!
"How dare Wenhui do this!"
The original Fourth Prince had doted on Wenhui like a treasure. It was Wenhui herself who was unwilling to marry a prince with no future and even left the country because of it. Now that she had returned and regretted it, but her Fourth Prince did not agree, did she intend to destroy him as well?
Empress Zhong had always thought Wenhui was merely heartless, but now it seemed she was utterly venomous!
"The Fourth Prince is indeed not the Emperor's son, but I have always seen how he has lived all these years. Growing up under the Emperor's neglect and suspicion, he was a prince in name, but in reality, even the palace servants looked down on him. Yet, he never complained..."
Empress Zhong sighed, tears already streaming down her face uncontrollably.
"I once asked him if he felt any resentment, but he told me that this was the path he chose and he blamed no one. He only wished to see the Seventh Prince ascend the throne while I was still alive, so that my Seventh and I could live in peace..."
Empress Zhong understood the Emperor's suspicion and coldness, and she also knew that the Fourth Prince's identity was too awkward. At times, Empress Zhong wished the Fourth Prince was more ambitious, so she wouldn't have to be so conflicted. But the Fourth Prince had never done anything out of line.
Even towards the Emperor, the Fourth Prince harbored gratitude.
How could Empress Zhong not feel heartache for such a person?
Regardless of his identity, he was her son!
Ji Zizhao understood that with Xie Jinglan's intelligence and depth, if he wanted to, the person currently in the spotlight would definitely not be the Seventh Prince. He himself had given up the path of the victor becoming king, willingly staying in the background, just wanting to live as an ordinary person.
"Princess Wenhui possesses some cleverness, but it is only limited to minor cleverness." Ji Zizhao composed herself. It was precisely because of this that she had to fight for a way out for Xie Jinglan.
Empress Zhong, however, said, "Although Wenhui is not the Emperor's biological daughter, her family made indelible contributions to Yulin. Many of the elders in the court today personally witnessed how Wenhui's family sacrificed for Yulin. The Emperor conferred the title of princess upon Wenhui back then, primarily to appease the court."
Now that Wenhui had fainted, as long as there was a delay, the Emperor would not be able to press Wenhui further. Therefore, the final outcome would be to send the palace maid to the Ministry of Punishments for investigation.
Ji Zizhao narrowed her eyes slightly, "In the face of evidence, Princess Wenhui will have to come back to life even if she is dead."
As the two were speaking in the chambers, Granny Dai cautiously entered, "Reporting to the Empress, Bai He has brought members of the Wei family to seek an audience."
Empress Zhong paused, "The Wei family?"
The maternal family of the Eighth Prince's consort?
"Your Majesty, you may not know, but the palace maid framed by Princess Wenhui today is a domestic slave from the Wei family. Earlier, I asked Aunt Bai He to go out and invite the Wei family. Although it's a bit late, thankfully they have arrived."
Empress Zhong frowned, "Even if the Wei family intervenes, it will be difficult to clear the palace maid's suspicion..."
A hint of sharpness flickered in Ji Zizhao's eyes, "Princess Wenhui intended to make the palace maid a scapegoat, even sewing up her mouth, to make people mistakenly believe the palace maid was guilty and hiding something. However, Princess Wenhui was also afraid that the palace maid might break free and reveal the truth, so she chose a domestic slave from the Wei family."
"What do you mean?"
"That palace maid is actually mute."
If the Wei family did not send someone to the palace to explain, no one would know. But as soon as the Wei family brought the matter before the Emperor, Wenhui's lie would be exposed.
Empress Zhong had not expected such a turn of events. No wonder Ji Zizhao had kept telling her to call the Emperor over. "Without delay, I will personally take the Wei family to see the Emperor."
Ji Zizhao, however, said, "It is not advisable for Your Majesty to be involved in this matter."
Empress Zhong was stunned, then belatedly realized. With Wenhui having just caused trouble, if she were to take the Wei family to see the Emperor, given the Emperor's suspicion, he would certainly become suspicious.
Looking at Ji Zizhao again, Empress Zhong smiled, "Are you thinking of..."
Ji Zizhao smiled back and nodded, "Nothing can escape Your Majesty's notice."
Empress Zhong understood immediately and called Granny Dai to her side, instructing her carefully. Granny Dai listened with a pounding heart, and although she broke out in a cold sweat, thinking of the Fourth Prince's life and death, she quickly proceeded to act according to the Empress's instructions.
Soon, Madam Wei was discreetly escorted back to the palace gates.
This time, the person Madam Wei was arranging to see was not the Empress, nor the Fourth Prince's consort, but Princess Wenhui. The reason was simple: the Wei family's domestic slave was gravely ill in bed. Before she died, she wished to see her granddaughter who had entered the palace to serve. Madam Wei, with a benevolent heart, specially came to the palace to find her.
Under normal circumstances, when encountering such a situation, the masters in the palace would be merciful and allow the servants attending them to leave the palace to see their family for the last time. However, Wenhui was currently in a coma, and coupled with the palace maid's mishap, it meant that the people in the palace could only send the message to the Emperor.
Emperor Xiaochang, filled with anger, heard of the Wei family's arrival and directly ordered Feng Gu to bring them in. He wanted to ask the Wei family himself how they raised their servants!
Never did he expect that Madam Wei's words would immediately leave the enraged Emperor Xiaochang stunned on the spot!