The Emperor and the princes falling into the water was no trivial matter.
Those in front of the imperial court were immediately ordered to investigate.
This investigation, however, revealed something alarming: a deep scratch was found at the bottom of the sunken pleasure boat.
This was precisely what caused a large amount of lake water to flood the boat, leading to its sinking.
Emperor Xiaochang was furious upon hearing this and dispatched more men to pursue the matter.
Soon, all the palace attendants who had been serving in the Hundred Flower Garden that day were arrested and subjected to severe interrogation.
It was during this examination that something astonishing was uncovered.
Xirong assassins had infiltrated the imperial palace of Yulin!
The assassin, disguised as a young eunuch in the palace, had tampered with the pleasure boat in order to leave Yulin without a leader.
To put it bluntly, their intention was not only to kill the Emperor but to eradicate all the princes as well.
The methods were extremely sinister!
As soon as this news spread, the entire main city trembled.
The ministers understood that the Emperor, having endured Xirong's aggression time and again, had clearly intended to abandon Tonglin.
Although it was embarrassing to see their territory carved up, they had at least managed to minimize casualties.
After all, the previous battle of Luoyi had severely depleted Yulin's financial and military strength.
But now, things were different. What were the Xirong people doing by infiltrating the imperial palace?
This was a clear attempt to wipe out the Yulin royal family in one fell swoop!
The enraged Emperor Xiaochang directly overturned the desk in front of him and summoned all the ministers to the palace that night to discuss the matter.
However, the ministers standing in the imperial study, facing Emperor Xiaochang's tirade, all wore bitter expressions and refused to speak.
What could they say? Would they say they had lived long enough?
Back then, Yulin had lost so many lives fighting just one Turkic tribe. Now, with elders at home and children to care for, heading to Tonglin would be like walking to their deaths!
The most terrifying thing was that they would fight bravely on the front lines, only to be stabbed in the back by their own people.
To be frank, the previous cautionary tale of the Ji family's complete annihilation was still vivid in their minds. No one wanted to be the second Ji family.
After venting his anger, Emperor Xiaochang slumped onto the dragon throne and looked at the dejected court officials with a complex expression.
It was at this moment that he finally understood what Yulin had lost with the Ji family.
What he had lost with Ji Zhengyong.
The imperial study was brightly lit.
Faced with the Emperor's fury, the entire imperial palace was in a state of panic.
The members of the Imperial Hospital left for outside the palace in silence only after the investigation concluded.
Ji Zizhao followed behind them, her gaze deep.
On a secluded path outside the palace, a carriage was parked quietly.
Tang Di stood by the carriage, anxiously looking around. He saw the eldest daughter of the Ji family walking out of the palace gates.
As he pondered how to call her over discreetly, he saw Ji Zizhao slowing her pace.
Only after the imperial physicians in front had boarded their respective carriages did Ji Zizhao walk towards him.
Tang Di: "..."
It was hard not to be impressed.
Look at the eldest daughter of the Ji family, she was truly intelligent, not needing a single extra word.
Actually, Ji Zizhao had not expected the Fourth Prince's carriage to be parked outside the palace gates.
However, she was not someone who liked to drag things out. She had originally planned to find an opportunity to clarify the misunderstanding with the Fourth Prince. Since she had encountered him now, she would naturally not shy away.
"Eldest sister Ji," a familiar voice suddenly sounded from behind.
Ji Zizhao stopped and saw Jiang Guangcheng hurrying over.
Under the moonlight, Ji Zizhao, dressed in her official uniform, was neat and sharp. The exquisite features of her face were bathed in a layer of shimmering silver light by the clear moonlight, making her elegant and refined to the point of being unapproachable.
Jiang Guangcheng's heart skipped a beat. He tried to steady his breathing and said, "It's getting late. Would you like me to escort Eldest sister Ji home?"
Ji Zizhao naturally refused, "My carriage is not far. I dare not trouble Second brother Jiang."
Jiang Guangcheng was slightly disappointed, but quickly added, "Regarding the matter of cooperation on medicinal herbs that Eldest sister Ji proposed last time, do you still remember it?"
Ji Zizhao certainly did not forget. "Is there a problem?"
Jiang Guangcheng smiled and said, "It's not a big deal. I've just thought of a few issues these past few days. Coincidentally, we're both finishing work today, so I thought we could discuss them in detail."
Speaking of serious matters, Ji Zizhao would naturally not be careless. "If that's the case, I'll have to trouble Second brother Jiang to escort me."
The smile on Jiang Guangcheng's face became even gentler. "Eldest sister Ji is too kind. It's my duty."
Although he was escorting her, Jiang Guangcheng still boarded his own carriage and carefully instructed the coachman to follow closely behind the Ji family's carriage. Even though he was eager to win the beauty's heart, some rules and courtesies could not be broken.
Before getting into the carriage, Ji Zizhao inadvertently glanced towards a distant corner.
That inconspicuous carriage was still parked there quietly.
Ji Zizhao then withdrew her gaze and bent down to enter the carriage.
Although she wanted to clarify things with the Fourth Prince, it was not urgent.
Even though Jiang Guangcheng was full of goodwill towards her, she could not use her own certainty to let Jiang Guangcheng know too much.
Once word got out that she was meeting the Fourth Prince in secret late at night.
Neither she nor the Fourth Prince would benefit.
Especially after knowing what the Fourth Prince had done for her, she was even more unwilling to implicate him.
This subconscious act of protection was something even Ji Zizhao herself did not realize.
Tang Di watched the two of them leave together from not far away, completely bewildered.
Being intercepted at the last moment, was there no law?
Walking back to his own carriage, Tang Di's voice was so angry it was distorted. "Your Highness, Eldest sister Ji has left."
Before Xie Jinglan could speak, he heard Huo Nian Gong chuckle from the side, "A fool who can't even keep someone."
Tang Di: "..."
Are you bullying me because I can't beat you!
A sound of footsteps suddenly came from the palace gates.
Tang Di and Huo Nian Gong instinctively became defensive. They saw several imperial physicians walk out of the palace gates together.
"I really didn't expect that Court Physician Zou would be having a wedding at this time."
"What nonsense are you talking about? Court Physician Zou hasn't said anything about it himself. I'm afraid it's just a rumor."
"You don't know. My wife and Court Physician Zou's wife are close friends. My wife personally heard from Mrs. Zou that the Zou family is going to take Eldest sister Ji as a bride, although it's said to be as a concubine."
The other imperial physicians, upon hearing this, felt that Ji Zizhao was getting off easy. "Eldest sister Ji is a divorced woman. Being a concubine in the Zou family is her good fortune."
Tang Di: "..."
He felt that tonight's gossip was a bit too much, leaving him more bewildered than ever.
In the dark carriage, Xie Jinglan sat leaning against the soft couch.
Thinking of what the imperial physicians had just said, he curled his lips, as if smiling.
But the dark aura that emanated from his smile cast a chill over the entire night.