Ji Zizhao sighed and called Hong Mama over, "After the Fifth Prince leaves, arrange for Xin Lan to go to Mother's courtyard."
The path ahead was already precarious, and she feared the future would be even more perilous.
Xin Lan had served her as mistress and servant, so placing her with her mother wouldn't be mistreating her.
Hong Mama knew her young lady made her own decisions. After a moment of silence, she asked, "And Yong Mei…"
Ji Zizhao's gaze became completely devoid of light, "Yong Mei… naturally has a better destination."
Hong Mama’s heart trembled, but she dared not speak further.
"We'll discuss everything after the Fifth Prince departs. For now, continue as usual. Remember not to let anyone notice anything amiss, especially regarding Yong Mei. Hong Mama, please continue to have the small kitchen send meals to Xin Lan." They had come this far, and a few more steps wouldn't make a difference.
Although Ji Zizhao now wished she could kill Yong Mei with her own hands to vent her anger, she would not alert the enemy for Yong Mei's sake.
The news of Ren Jun's failed suicide attempt at Dali Temple quickly reached Emperor Xiaochang.
However, Emperor Xiaochang was currently overwhelmed by the defeat at Luoyi and had no energy to deeply investigate the responsibilities of the Dali Temple Minister. Fortunately, the man hadn't died, so Emperor Xiaochang simply punished him with a month's salary and let the matter drop.
More than half a year had passed since the battle of Luoyi, yet the Tujue still occupied Luoyi and refused to leave.
This time, the Tujue envoy arrived at the imperial city with a letter of reconciliation from General Muman of Tujue. Although it was called reconciliation, the demands were outrageous and pressed further with each clause. Not only did it require Yulin to cede Luoyi to the Tujue, but it also demanded Yulin send someone to Tujue to symbolize a hundred years of peace.
Emperor Xiaochang knew that the so-called journey to Tujue was just a pleasant way of putting things.
In plain terms, it was to send a prince as a hostage or a princess for marriage.
Most Tujue princes were not yet adults, so a marriage alliance would either mean becoming a concubine to the Khagan of Tujue, or possibly a concubine to General Muman, who had achieved merit in this war for Tujue.
However, the Khagan of Tujue was already over sixty, and even General Muman was past fifty!
Emperor Xiaochang was troubled by this, and everyone in the imperial palace was filled with anxiety.
The princes and princesses in the palace were accustomed to luxury and comfort; none wished to go to Tujue to be oppressed and bullied.
Just as the palace was in turmoil, dire news followed.
The Empress Dowager passed away in Shou Ren Palace.
Instantly, the imperial palace was completely shrouded in a thick gloom.
With the Empress Dowager's passing, people in all cities of Yulin mourned, especially in the imperial city, the capital. The next day, all businesses hung striking white sashes on their doors.
Ji Zizhao learned of this news just as she woke up. After hearing what Shui Ling brought, she sat silently for a long time before the huanghuali wood dressing table.
The Empress Dowager's health had indeed been declining day by day, but she shouldn't have passed away so quickly.
Clearly, someone did not want the Empress Dowager to live any longer.
But who could be so impatient to get rid of the Empress Dowager, and why would the Empress Dowager willingly shield them to the point of death?
Initially, Ji Zizhao suspected the Emperor.
But at the palace gate that day, when she mentioned the innocence of the men of the Ji family and her grandfather's loyalty to the Emperor, she clearly saw remorse in the Emperor's eyes.
Therefore, although the Emperor feared the Ji family, he had not yet reached such a level of madness.
But if not the Emperor, not the Empress Dowager's own son, then who could it be?
Someone who could make the Empress Dowager willing to conceal them, even at the cost of her life.
"Miss, this is an invitation sent by someone from the palace." Hong Mama lifted the curtain and entered, handing her a gilded invitation.
Ji Zizhao opened it and skimmed through. It was filled with mere formalities. In the past, given the Ji family's status, the female members would not have been qualified to enter the palace. Now, even though the Ji family was under scrutiny, only she was invited.
"I'll have to trouble you with the attire, Mama." Hong Mama, an old servant of the Ji family, was most knowledgeable about what was appropriate for different occasions.
"Miss, rest assured. This old servant will certainly not let Miss be outshone by others… I seem to recall the First Madam sent some fabric last year for Miss's birthday. That fabric was too plain; I think it should be just right for this occasion…" Hong Mama was a woman of action. As she spoke, she had already left the room to start making arrangements.
Ji Zizhao closed the invitation and called Shui Ling over again, "Inform Xin Lan that I have received an invitation from the palace to attend the Empress Dowager's funeral. It's best if Yong Mei overhears it, but not too clearly."
"Miss, rest assured, your servant knows what to do." Shui Ling pondered her young lady's words and then left.
Ji Zizhao got up and walked to the window, giving Qing Zhu a look.
Shui Ling did not immediately go to Xin Lan. Instead, she deliberately waited until evening, when she went to the main courtyard to get the young lady's dinner, and intentionally passed by the woodshed.
To be sure she remembered her young lady's instructions, she deliberately pretended to chat with Xin Lan in a way that Yong Mei shouldn't hear too much. She called Xin Lan aside and, as if casually, let slip the news of her young lady's invitation to the palace.
Yong Mei, overhearing this vaguely from the woodshed, was burning with curiosity. She knew very well that if she wanted to see the Fifth Prince openly, she had to bring him news about her young lady.
As soon as Shui Ling left, Yong Mei impatiently asked Xin Lan, "What was that dead girl saying to you just now?"
Xin Lan thought it wasn't a secret and whispered, "Someone from the palace sent an invitation to our young lady today, asking her to go to the palace in four days to mourn the Empress Dowager."
Upon hearing this, Yong Mei couldn't tell if she was happy or jealous. "At this time, to have Miss attend the mourning ceremony clearly shows she is being treated as royalty. Yet, Miss hasn't even completed the ceremonial prostration for her wedding with the Fifth Prince."
Xin Lan looked suspiciously at Yong Mei, whose face was not happy in the woodshed. "Miss is being recognized by the royal family; we should be happy. As for the prostration, it's not too late to complete it after Miss goes to the Fifth Prince's manor."
Yong Mei quickly suppressed her displeasure and nodded with a fake smile, "Sister Xin Lan thinks things through very thoroughly. I just don't know if the Fifth Prince knows about this. Perhaps Sister Xin Lan could let me go and tell the Fifth Prince? That way, he can look after Miss when she goes to the palace."
Xin Lan had never been to the imperial palace, but just imagining it made her feel it must be a terrifying place. If her young lady had no one to look after her, wouldn't that be bad?
"Then you must come back quickly, do you understand?"
"I understand, don't worry."
As soon as Yong Mei thought of seeing the Fifth Prince, she became radiant.