The common people of Tonglin were suffering, the Seventh Prince was severely wounded—all these were the work of Xirong.
At such a sensitive time of war between the two nations, Xirong brazenly sent assassins into the imperial palace, publicly presenting Xirong's tiger-head banner at the farewell banquet personally hosted by the Emperor. This was no longer a simple act of provocation.
It was a blatant act of contempt!
No wonder the Emperor was so enraged. If news of this incident were to spread, wouldn't the royal family of Yulin become a laughingstock among other nations? How could the people continue to believe in the authority of the royal family!
But was the matter truly that simple?
Ji Zizhao didn't think so.
In times of war between nations, not a single soldier or grain could be wasted.
For Xirong to go to such lengths to send assassins to the Yulin imperial palace, if their sole purpose was merely to enrage the Emperor, it would be a case of making a mountain out of a molehill. Those who could occupy that throne were all tempered through hardship and could not be blinded by anger, thus falling into the enemy's trap.
"I understand him well; he never does anything without purpose," Xie Jinglan said, referring to the current Emperor of Xirong.
Ji Zizhao suddenly asked, "Do you still remember the matter of the old General Zhong's personal letter?"
Xie Jinglan nodded. "I fear this is the same situation."
If what Ji Zizhao had previously spoken were mere speculation, then with Xie Jinglan's affirmation, everything was proven.
Xirong might not act without purpose, but that didn't mean others wouldn't act under the guise of Xirong.
This incident, which appeared to be a provocation by Xirong, was in fact orchestrated by someone intending to use Xirong's name to frame Xie Jinglan for everything!
The Emperor already harbored suspicions about Xie Jinglan's identity, and now there was the matter of Xirong assassins. Moreover, the assassin ignored everyone else in Taihe Hall, focusing their attack solely on Xie Jinglan…
This was clearly designed to make the Emperor suspect that everything that happened today was a play staged by Xie Jinglan himself, aimed at helping Xirong disrupt Yulin and, more importantly, to clear himself of being a Xirong national!
"This person not only wants to drag you down but also wants to delay the imperial physicians from reaching Tonglin!" Ji Zizhao's hand, resting on the medicine chest, bulged with veins.
The Seventh Prince was now deeply poisoned, and any delay meant an increase in his danger.
The incident that erupted today could not only make the Emperor suspect Xie Jinglan but could also cost the Seventh Prince his life!
Killing two birds with one stone, a truly brilliant plan.
Excellent.
Truly excellent.
"You need not concern yourself with matters in the palace. If you can leave, do so quickly. Leave the rest to me," Xie Jinglan said, looking at Ji Zizhao.
Ji Zizhao nodded. Let alone that she was not yet married, even if she had entered the Fourth Prince's residence, her word in the palace was of little weight. At this moment, it was better to keep a low profile and protect herself than to forcefully intervene and give others leverage.
Moreover, the Seventh Prince's situation required careful planning.
Ji Zizhao was never one to resign herself to fate.
When Ji Zizhao and Xie Jinglan returned to the main hall from the side hall, the Emperor had already retired for the night.
As Ji Zizhao had predicted, although the Emperor had not canceled the dispatch of imperial physicians to Tonglin, with such a major incident occurring in the palace, even Zhang Shuzhong could not make the decision to leave on his own accord.
Ji Zizhao knew that the Emperor held a special affection for the Seventh Prince, but this special affection could not defy the larger picture.
In the face of the greater scheme, familial affection counted for nothing.
The Emperor was shaken, the Empress remained to attend to him, and Zhang Shuzhong and Zou Li, the two chief imperial physicians, remained by his side, ready to be summoned at any moment. As for all those who had attended the farewell banquet, they were all confined to the palace, even the princes.
The uproar clearly indicated that the Emperor intended to thoroughly investigate the matter.
When Ji Zizhao left the palace, even the palace gates were under strict guard.
Jian Qiu and the others noticed their mistress's grim expression upon her return, and everyone in the courtyard dared not even breathe too loudly. Granny He had dismissed most of the servants early on, leaving only Mo Hen and Xue Ying to keep watch for the night.
Inside the room, Ji Zizhao looked at the food on the table with no appetite.
The person who orchestrated today's events was very clever. They likely foresaw Xie Jinglan's covert support for the Seventh Prince's ascension. Thus, they exploited the Emperor's suspicion of Xie Jinglan to delay the Seventh Prince's recovery.
Even if the Seventh Prince survived the delay, what use would it be if the Emperor were to discover that Xie Jinglan was a Xirong hostage?
Xie Jinglan and the Seventh Prince were both raised under the Empress's care. If Xie Jinglan met misfortune, how could the Seventh Prince escape unscathed?
Just as the Emperor could favor one due to his affection for another, he could also bring misfortune upon others due to association.
By then, even the Empress might be utterly dejected.
Such insidious cunning—apart from Xie Jingzhou, Ji Zizhao truly could not think of anyone else.
However, Ji Zizhao had no time to dwell on the extent of the storm brewing in the palace. Her most pressing concern now was to find a way to save the Seventh Prince's life first.
If he were to lose his life, then what future would there be?
Fortunately, the medicinal herbs were all prepared. What was now missing was someone who could discreetly deliver the herbs. Mo Hen and Xue Ying were out of the question; for this task, they needed a stranger.
As Ji Zizhao was contemplating this, she heard a commotion in the courtyard. Su Dan Novel Network.
She got up to check and saw Tao Hua, who had just landed, being chased and beaten by Mo Hen and Xue Ying.
Ji Zizhao watched Tao Hua's agile movements and suddenly her eyes lit up. Others might not be able to, but Tao Hua could. With his skills, delivering the medicinal herbs to Tonglin without anyone noticing would not be a difficult task.
Then, Tao Hua, who was being chased, saw Ji Zizhao looking at him with shining eyes and beckoning him inside.
Tao Hua: "..."
He felt as though a lamb had walked into a tiger's den.
Brought into the room by Mo Hen and Xue Ying, Tao Hua immediately drank a large gulp of water.
Ji Zizhao looked at Tao Hua and asked, "Are you here to kill me again?"
Tao Hua put down his teacup but shook his head. "Not killing anymore."
Ji Zizhao was startled.
She had originally thought it would be easier if Tao Hua had come to kill her.
This answer was completely unexpected.
Tao Hua looked at Ji Zizhao with an unutterable expression, and after a long while, he said, "Mu Man is dead."
Ji Zizhao: "..."
She truly had not expected this.
"Do you know who did it?"
"I heard it was an enemy seeking revenge, and the weapon used was very similar to Xirong's crescent scythe." Tao Hua was also frustrated. He hadn't even finished his task when the client died. Now, rumors were circulating that he had delayed too long, causing Mu Man to be killed by his enemies. He figured he wouldn't be able to make a living out in the world anymore.
Thinking thus, Tao Hua's gaze towards Ji Zizhao became even more unutterable.
"I plan to leave this place. Anyway, I have enough money. We'll meet again in the Jianghu," Tao Hua said. Facing the only person he couldn't kill, Tao Hua admitted it was difficult not to be conflicted, but since he couldn't kill her, it was better to face it calmly.
"Or you could choose to stay," Ji Zizhao offered.
"Stay for what?"
"I'll keep you."
Tao Hua: "..."
Is this woman insane?