In the courtyard of Fengyi Palace, Baihe quickly dismissed the other palace servants when she saw the Fourth Prince arrive.
As Ji Zizhao stepped out of the sleeping quarters, she saw a deep courtyard. Beneath a plum blossom tree, a figure in white robes stood with his hands clasped behind his back.
The owner of the white robes stood with his back to Ji Zizhao. His tall, slender figure seemed even more desolate standing alone under the tree. A cool breeze swept over, scattering the nearly faded plum blossoms from the branches and lifting the snow-white hem of his robes against the wind. From afar, he possessed an elegant and transcendent air, far removed from worldly concerns.
Such a pure and innocent exterior, could it truly conceal all cunning and machinations?
Ji Zizhao had always believed that the Fifth Prince was hidden deeply enough, but compared to the man before her, the Fifth Prince was truly insignificant.
As if sensing he was being watched from behind, Xie Jinglan suddenly turned, his robe swirling slightly.
His dark eyes were both distant and cold, as if they could repel anyone within a thousand miles in an instant. But the moment he saw Ji Zizhao, a hint of doting affection flickered in his eyes, and he smiled, "Did you finish speaking with Mother?"
Ji Zizhao walked over, carrying the medicine box. "Empress Consort has been a bit troubled lately, but it's nothing serious. I've already prescribed a calming tonic and given it to Lady Dai."
Xie Jinglan nodded and reached out to take the medicine box from Ji Zizhao's hand. Ji Zizhao quickly dodged, but to her surprise, her hand was captured in his long, slender fingers.
Ji Zizhao had no choice but to let go. She said, "There's no need to trouble Your Highness."
"It's your husband," Xie Jinglan corrected.
Ji Zizhao, "..."
Honestly, in broad daylight, could you have some decorum?
Xie Jinglan raised an eyebrow. "Even though we haven't officially married, you are already the Fourth Prince's consort, personally decreed by His Majesty. Today, all the other consorts can enter the palace for the banquet. I'm merely helping my own wife carry her things, what's the harm?"
Ji Zizhao knew that he was telling her that with him by her side, she no longer needed to be so cautious and guarded. This man always spoke in the most placid tone, yet uttered words of warmth that were impossible to refuse. "We are not yet married, and this is the Imperial Palace. It's best to avoid any impropriety."
Caution is the parent of safety; this was a lesson taught to her by the men of the Ji family at the cost of their lives.
Xie Jinglan's lips curled slightly. Sometimes, he found her thoughts out of sync with the world, harboring novel theories he had never heard of. But at other times, her cautiousness and traditional views made him feel helpless and pained.
Without this carefulness and adherence to tradition, she would likely have perished along with her family long ago.
He subtly distanced himself from her by a few steps before smiling again and saying, "Let's go."
Ji Zizhao knew that this man, who appeared gentle and placid, was actually quite cunning. The palace was truly not the place for prolonged discussions, so she followed Xie Jinglan out of Fengyi Palace.
Today was a farewell banquet personally hosted by the Emperor, and the palace staff dared not be negligent. Ji Zizhao followed Xie Jinglan out of Fengyi Palace towards the Imperial Hospital. Palace servants could be seen everywhere along the path.
"Your servant greets the Fourth Prince, greetings to the Fourth Prince's consort."
"This servant has seen Your Highness the Fourth Prince, the Fourth Prince's consort..."
Along the way, the greetings from the palace servants were incessant.
The journey to the Imperial Hospital, which normally took only half an hour, had now taken an entire hour without arrival...
Another group of palace servants approached to pay their respects. Xie Jinglan deliberately stepped forward a few paces and stood beside Ji Zizhao. The medicine box he carried was even more conspicuous; only a blind person would not see it.
Faced with the gossip-filled glances from the palace servants, Ji Zizhao would have been truly foolish not to understand Xie Jinglan's intentions.
"There's really no need. I'm already on duty in the palace," Ji Zizhao said softly.
Xie Jinglan smiled faintly, his deep eyes, like a scattering of stars, glinting with a hint of mockery. "You haven't lived in the palace, how would you know that the people here are accustomed to bowing to the powerful and stepping on the weak? Although I am a prince not favored by His Majesty, I am, after all, a son of the dragon adopted by Mother Consort. Even if you are on duty in the palace, you are the legitimate Fourth Prince's consort."
A prince who was not favored by the Emperor from childhood and had no maternal family to support him, his years in the palace can only be imagined.
Ji Zizhao had not interacted with Xie Jinglan at that time and could not have imagined his circumstances and hardships. But now, he stood openly by her side, showing her his importance and affection, clearly not wanting her to experience the same bitterness he had.
Just as Xie Jinglan said, no matter how unfavored, he was still a prince, and she was the consort cherished by the Fourth Prince. Even if she was on duty in the palace, she was by no means someone anyone could slight.
Ji Zizhao looked up at the tall figure beside her, her heart filled with warmth.
"You knew about Aunt Zhi'nan's matter long ago, didn't you?"
Ji Zizhao knew that nothing in the palace could be hidden from him.
As expected, Xie Jinglan nodded.
"I knew before Mother Consort did."
Ji Zizhao, "..."
That's too early!
Xie Jinglan took in Ji Zizhao's expression of indigestion and smiled gently, "What did Mother Consort say?"
Ji Zizhao thought for a moment and then repeated what Empress Consort had just said. "Empress Consort's feelings for Aunt Zhi'nan are very deep, and she's still sending people to search for Aunt Zhi'nan secretly."
Xie Jinglan, however, said, "A person who is already dead, what use is there in finding her?"
Ji Zizhao froze.
What did he mean by that?
Xie Jinglan paused and then continued, "Ten days before the departure to the imperial villa, someone in the palace discovered a corpse in the dry well of the Cold Palace. Subsequent investigation confirmed it was Zhi'nan, who was by Mother Consort's side. Her death was tragic. I have already instructed Tang Di to secretly transport the body out of the palace and bury it in an open space."
Xie Jinglan spoke with remarkable calmness, but Ji Zizhao listened with a pounding heart.
She had actually suspected that Zhi'nan might be dead, but hearing the result still made her heart beat violently.
Furthermore, Zhi'nan's body was discovered by palace servants within the palace. Xie Jinglan not only managed to suppress all the news but also to covertly remove the body from the palace...
This demonstrated the precision and brilliance of his methods!
"Zhi'nan was Mother Consort's dowry, and like Lady Dai, she has been by Mother Consort's side for decades. If someone is gone, they can be searched for, and even if they are never found, the search will continue forever."
Ji Zizhao understood that Xie Jinglan did not want Empress Consort to lose all hope.
Despair is worse than death.
People living always need something to look forward to.
"Was it discovered who was responsible?"
Xie Jinglan shook his head and took a sachet from his sleeve, placing it into Ji Zizhao's hand. "Nian Gong found this from Zhi'nan. You are most familiar with medicinal materials. If you find any clues, have someone inform me at any time."
Ji Zizhao nodded and put away the sachet. Seeing that the Imperial Hospital was just ahead, she took the medicine box from Xie Jinglan and turned towards the courtyard of the Imperial Hospital.
Xie Jinglan stood in place, silently watching her receding figure.
Without uttering a single word of farewell, he had already conveyed more than a thousand words.