Ji Zizhao followed Empress Zhong out of Qinghua Palace and headed towards Fengyi Palace.
Along the way, Ji Zizhao endured her discomfort and did not ask to be excused. If the Empress had merely intended to help her out of a tight spot, she could have let her leave as soon as they were out of Qinghua Palace. While Consort Xi could suppress the news of her summoning Ji Zizhao, her influence did not extend to matters within Fengyi Palace. Thus, it would not be long before the news of Ji Zizhao being summoned to Fengyi Palace by Empress Zhong spread throughout the imperial palace. The reason Ji Zizhao was called to Fengyi Palace was, naturally, to be intercepted from Consort Xi's Qinghua Palace. In this imperial palace, Consort Xi was on equal footing with Empress Zhong, but she dared not openly cross Empress Zhong. Therefore, even if Consort Xi wanted to cause trouble for Ji Zizhao in the future, she could no longer summon her directly from the Imperial Academy. "Oh, the person the Empress has invited to Fengyi Palace, whom you boss around all day, how do you regard the Empress?" Consort Xi, being intelligent, would naturally not give anyone the handle to accuse her of disrespecting the Empress. Ji Zizhao knew that the Empress was building her prestige for her, and she certainly could not be ungrateful and leave prematurely. A play, after all, is only complete when it has finished. Empress Zhong, seeing Ji Zizhao's pale face and her silent, submissive following, was in good spirits. Not only was she intelligent, but she was also reassuring. It was not in vain that she had helped build her prestige. Upon arriving at Fengyi Palace, Ji Zizhao followed Zhi Nan to the side hall. While the Empress changed her clothes, Ji Zizhao quickly administered acupuncture and circulated her qi. Just as her complexion began to regain some color, she saw the Empress enter. Ji Zizhao quickly retracted her needles, stood up, and paid her respects, "Your subject greets Her Majesty the Empress." "You do not need to be so reserved in my presence. Sit," Empress Zhong had indeed seen Ji Zizhao withdraw her needles moments ago, but she did not question it. She simply sat on the couch and signaled Zhi Nan to bring a chair. Ji Zizhao quickly expressed her gratitude and sat on the chair with her hands clasped in front of her abdomen. "The name of the eldest daughter of the Ji family is now whispered throughout the Imperial City. I have also heard of you from the mouths of the fourth and seventh princes. It is a pity that last time you attended the imperial banquet, it was but a fleeting glimpse. I did not expect that today, thanks to Consort Xi's interference, I would finally be able to speak with you properly." These words greatly flattered Ji Zizhao. However, before the Empress, Ji Zizhao dared not accept them, "Your Majesty speaks too highly. Your subject has only met the Seventh Prince and the Fourth Prince a few times, and nothing more. This is the grace and blessing of His Majesty and Your Majesty, and it is also my honor." Empress Zhong was not foolish. If it were truly as Ji Zizhao described, why would her two sons care so much? What she did not expect was that Ji Zizhao would be so humble. She not only avoided mentioning her acquaintance with the seventh and fourth princes but seemed eager to distance herself. Very good, she is someone who understands how to advance and retreat. Empress Zhong chuckled softly and then said, "Eldest Daughter of the Ji family, there is no need to be so terrified. I am merely curious as to who it is that could become the Fourth Prince's benefactor, and who he constantly remembers." Ji Zizhao guessed that the Empress likely did not know about her collaboration with the Fourth Prince. If that were the case, she certainly could not let the Empress see anything. Therefore, upon hearing these words, Ji Zizhao quickly feigned panic and knelt on the ground, "How could your subject dare to consider herself the Fourth Prince's benefactor? It was merely that on that day, General Xue was gravely ill, and your subject did her best. The Fourth Prince said that His Majesty is frugal and loves his people, is magnanimous and ambitious, governs diligently, and promotes the worthy and reforms. Although the Fourth Prince is not even one-tenth as capable as His Majesty, he cannot, because of himself, lose the royal demeanor and tarnish His Majesty's reputation. Thus, he called himself my benefactor externally, but in reality, he did not wish to owe me a favor, and therefore often extended small helps to me. Your Majesty, please forgive me, it is all your subject's fault." In one sentence, she completely absolved the Fourth Prince. Even the so-called benefactor was rephrased as the Fourth Prince doing so because he did not want to owe a favor. This meant that the Fourth Prince did not wish to acknowledge Ji Zizhao as his benefactor, but he had no choice. As a member of the royal family, he could not lose face for the royal family, so he had always extended his help to Ji Zizhao. If His Majesty heard these words, he would likely be overjoyed. Who would not be pleased by flattery? However, upon hearing these words, Empress Zhong's impression of Ji Zizhao became even more favorable. She had not yet become involved with the Fourth Prince, and in her words, she was constantly considering his well-being. If they were to become family in the future, Empress Zhong felt reassured just thinking about it. If such a person were to truly follow the Fourth Prince, she could close her eyes in peace even in death. Ji Zizhao had no prior dealings with the Empress. The first time she heard of the Empress was from the former Empress Dowager. However, Ji Zizhao remembered that the former Empress Dowager had said that the Empress was a good person. Since she was a good person, Ji Zizhao intended to treat her with sincerity. If she were too calculating, it might instead arouse the Empress's displeasure. Furthermore, the Empress was the mother of the Fourth and Seventh Princes. Even if they were not her biological sons, she had raised them from childhood. Ji Zizhao felt she must show this respect. Empress Zhong signaled Ji Zizhao to rise and took the opportunity to examine her carefully. Her skin was as white as snow, her features exquisite, and her eyes, in particular, were like a pool of clear water, limpid and bright. In this imperial palace, Empress Zhong saw the most beautiful women. Although Ji Zizhao was not as charming and alluring as most women, she possessed a natural elegance and nobility in her gaze. Such beauty was grand and unrestrained, making anyone who looked at her feel comfortable. The Fourth Prince had suffered hardship since he was young. If he were truly to have such a woman by his side, it would indeed be a blessing. Seeing Ji Zizhao sit back on the chair, Empress Zhong continued, "Speaking of which, the princes of marriageable age will soon be wed. Originally, I intended to betroth you to the Fourth Prince, but to my surprise, he sternly refused. I was displeased and left your portrait in Qinghua Palace, hoping to provoke him." Ji Zizhao: "..." To do such a sneaky thing, and to speak of it so openly to the person involved, was that really appropriate? "The Fourth Prince and the Seventh Prince were both raised by me since they were young, and naturally, I wish them well. Although you were divorced from the Fifth Prince, not even entering the doors is not an insurmountable matter. Moreover, the Ji family has been a military family for a hundred years, and the daughters of the Ji family are certainly qualified to be imperial consorts." Empress Zhong chattered on, like a mother angered by her unruly son. "The Seventh Prince is like a runaway horse, and he is not in a hurry. But the Fourth Prince cannot wait. My decision to betroth you to the Fourth Prince was after careful consideration, but surprisingly, the Fourth Prince did not appreciate it." Hearing these words, Ji Zizhao began to feel uneasy. She had merely come to the Empress's palace to build her prestige, but how did the conversation veer off course and head towards marriage uncontrollably?