Ji Cheng stared at Ji Zhelan and was trying to grasp the reason he came to the palace. He never came here in years then what's his reason to come and meet him all of a sudden?
Ji ZHelna is not as innocent as he looks. He needs to be careful with him because his one wrong step can make things worse. Even though Ji Zhelan and his mother left the palace after Wen Xu forced them to leave, Ji Zhelan's maternal grandfather whose territory is now under Ji Dynasty took both of them in.
That territory was taken by Ji Cheng's father in a war and that's how he took Ji Zhelan's mother as his concubine. Even though the territory is now under the Ji Dynasty, Ji Zhelan's grandfather, Zhi Xue Leng still heads that area and just needs to show his loyalty to the Emperor by giving yearly grants, funds and horses and military assistance whenever asked.