Dai Momo left swiftly and returned just as quickly. In just a moment, she brought Ji Zizhao and the others into the main hall.
As soon as she entered, Liang Lanyi threw herself before the Empress, weeping and lamenting, "Your subject's daughter was walking peacefully on the road today, but unexpectedly suffered undeserved disaster. Even the hairpin gifted by the late Empress Dowager was broken! I beg Your Majesty to do justice for this subject's daughter!"
Empress Zhong had learned of Liang Lanyi's identity from Dai Momo, but she did not know what had truly happened. Hearing Liang Lanyi's words, she could only look towards Zhong Xinyi.
The result of this one glance startled Empress Zhong.
What was with her face?
Why was it so swollen and red!
Zhong Xinyi met her aunt's gaze and quickly knelt on the ground.
But before she could speak, Liang Lanyi, her eyes red, looked over and said, "I know Miss Zhong is Your Majesty's own niece, but even so, Miss Zhong cannot be so lawless in the temporary palace! Afterward, not only was there no apology, but you even colluded with a villain in an attempt to distort the truth!"
Zhong Xinyi had indeed galloped her horse in the temporary palace, and Ji Zizhao had indeed stood by Zhong Xinyi's side. The events were as they were, but as told by Liang Lanyi, they became quite ambiguous.
If one only listened to these words, they might think Zhong Xinyi and Ji Zizhao had done something unforgivable.
Zhong Xinyi was no stranger to quarrels with the noble ladies of the imperial city, but disputes always required some basis in truth. Now, facing Liang Lanyi's bitter accusations, she felt her anger burning all the way to her hair roots.
Who was being lawless? Who was the villain? Those who knew understood I rode a horse in the temporary palace; those who didn't might think I dug up your ancestral grave!
"Cough..." Ji Zizhao, at a timely moment, covered her face with a handkerchief and coughed.
Zhong Xinyi, instantly brought back to her senses, stiffened. Remembering Ji Zizhao's instructions from moments ago, she suppressed her surging anger and said to the Empress, her head bowed, "It is my fault. I was impulsive and forgot the rules. I should not have galloped recklessly in the palace. I am willing to accept any punishment from my aunt."
Zhong Xinyi already had half her face red and swollen. Now, coupled with her wronged appearance as she admitted fault, she truly looked pitiful and hard to scold.
Liang Lanyi clearly had not expected Zhong Xinyi to admit her mistake so readily. Gritting her teeth, she said, "Miss Zhong's disregard for rules, can it be dismissed with just a single word of apology?"
Zhong Xinyi's temper flared again. What, do you expect me to pay with my life too?
Ji Zizhao, "Cough..."
Zhong Xinyi, "..."
"Miss Liang is correct. Everything that happened today is my fault. It was indeed wrong of me to be so presumptuous and alarm Miss Liang. Since Miss Liang is unwilling to accept my apology, I wonder what I must do to atone for today's events?"
Zhong Xinyi was, after all, a daughter meticulously educated by the Zhong family. Even if she wasn't particularly brilliant, she understood such schemes and manipulations.
Facing Zhong Xinyi's sudden move, Liang Lanyi's face turned pale with astonishment.
How Empress Zhong punished Zhong Xinyi was Empress Zhong's business; she just needed to watch the show. But how could she, a nobody, presume to suggest how Zhong Xinyi should be punished?
"Miss Zhong is Your Majesty's own niece. How can someone like me, from a humble family, presume to comment? If today's matter did not involve others, how would I dare to pursue it? It's just that the hairpin gifted by the late Empress Dowager is too precious. If this matter spreads and the Emperor blames me, how can I bear it?"
These words, in essence, pushed even the Empress to the brink.
Zhong Xinyi, the niece of the Empress, had broken a gift from the late Empress Dowager. If the Empress did not punish her severely, once the news spread, the Emperor might even vent his anger on the Empress.
Ji Zizhao quietly observed Liang Lanyi, her gaze gradually chilling.
She was indeed quick-witted, not only understanding the principle of killing with a borrowed knife but also intending to force the Empress to wield the blade.
Empress Zhong naturally understood Liang Lanyi's intentions, but for a mere young girl to disrupt her composure was rather wishful thinking.
However, before Empress Zhong could speak, Ji Zizhao's mind raced. She quickly bowed to the Empress and said, "I briefly glimpsed the hairpin just now. It seems it was not severely damaged. If we find skilled craftsmen in the palace to repair it, it should not be a problem."
Empress Zhong frowned slightly.
At this moment, discussing repairs might not lessen Zhong Xinyi's punishment.
If anyone else had said this, Empress Zhong would have dismissed it with disdain.
But Ji Zizhao...
"Dai Momo, bring the hairpin here for me to examine."
Dai Momo nodded and quickly walked to Liang Lanyi's side, taking the hairpin that had broken into two halves.
Empress Zhong picked it up and examined it closely before her eyes. Suddenly, she smiled.
She had been wondering why the daughter of a mere prefect would dare to cause trouble before her. It turned out she had received guidance from a master.
Ji Zizhao knew that the Empress had seen through the deception.
The prefect of Dan Province held a fifth-rank position and was not allowed to enter the palace without being summoned.
Even if this prefect of Dan Province were fortunate enough to be summoned to the palace, it would not be his daughter's place to accompany him.
Ji Zizhao estimated Liang Lanyi's age to be similar to her own, but in her memory, she had never heard of the prefect of Dan Province achieving any merits that would allow the Emperor to permit his family members to enter the palace for a banquet.
If they didn't even have the opportunity to enter the palace, how could they possess a gift from the late Empress Dowager?
However, Ji Zizhao was not well-versed in palace artifacts and could not make a rash judgment, so she could only rely on the Empress's help.
This was also why Ji Zizhao had not stopped Liang Lanyi from escalating the matter to this point.
Seeing the Empress's uncertain expression, Liang Lanyi lost her nerve. She quickly kowtowed and said, "If Miss Zhong had not recklessly galloped her horse and collided with this subject's daughter, the gift from the late Empress Dowager would not have been damaged. This subject only begs Your Majesty to grant her justice!"
Ji Zizhao spoke unhurriedly, "Miss Zhong's galloping was indeed wrong, but Miss Zhong never collided with Miss Liang. Why does Miss Liang so slander Miss Zhong?"
Liang Lanyi turned and glared at Ji Zizhao, "Miss Zhong's reckless galloping in the temporary palace was witnessed by all. The fact that she knocked me to the ground is indisputable! Who are you to dare to confuse right and wrong before Her Majesty the Empress!"
"If, as Miss Liang claims, Miss Zhong galloped recklessly in the temporary palace, then a galloping horse possesses immense force. If one were unfortunately struck by a horse, the injury would range from a sprain or bruise at best, to a fracture at worst. Yet, Miss Liang walked all the way here with steady steps and a brisk pace, showing no signs of being hit by a horse."
"You're spouting nonsense!"
"This humble servant is untalented, serving as a clerk in the Imperial Academy. Although my position is not high, I have passed rigorous examinations and have been personally appointed by the Emperor. If Miss Liang does not believe my words, you may summon any imperial physician to examine me, and it will be clear whether Miss Liang was indeed hit by a horse."
Liang Lanyi was dumbfounded.
Zhong Xinyi was stunned.
What kind of divine intervention was this?!