Free Web NovelChapter 167: Chapter 167: Renew an Old Bond? I Choose the Third Path
At first, all of Ji Qingwu’s little tricks were seen through by Wei Ting. Afterward, she could only use her own clumsy methods to chip away at him, bit by bit.
Just when she finally made some headway and earned the right to freely enter and exit his main tent, she discovered she’d targeted the wrong person...
Thinking about it now, on the day Wei Ting returned to court, he had learned her identity from Princess Consort Wei. The very next day, he had so eagerly and ostentatiously announced their former "intimate" relationship to the public.
’What is he up to?’
Although Ji Qingwu didn’t understand, she could sense that something was very wrong.
Seeing the trace of worry between Xiao Wu’s brows, Mrs. Qiao caved. It was all Wei Ting’s fault, through and through. It was he who hadn’t treated her Xiao Wu well.
Mrs. Qiao took Ji Qingwu’s hand, her tone softening as she asked, "Xiao Wu, just give me a straight answer. Do you, or do you not, want to rekindle things with Wei Ting?"
Ji Qingwu no longer felt the urgent sense of a knife at her throat. She squeezed Mrs. Qiao’s hand in return and answered without hesitation, "I don’t."
Back then, she had acted like a heartless lover, disappearing without a trace. How could she know that Wei Ting wasn’t trying to get revenge on her now?
’But this matter... if I don’t want to marry him, is it really up to me?’
If she didn’t want to marry, there was only one solution, though it was hardly a solution at all.
Ji Qingwu silently weighed her two options in her mind: entering the palace, or marrying Wei Ting.
’One is a chasm, the other a bottomless pit. Both promise their own kind of suffering.’
Seeing Xiao Wu with her head lowered, the nape of her neck forming a graceful curve, Mrs. Qiao’s eyes filled with pity. She raised a hand to stroke Ji Qingwu’s back.
A comforting scent of soapbeans drifted over, and Ji Qingwu leaned gently toward Mrs. Qiao.
Her desire to marry had been fading for a while now, and there was one reason in particular...
Even as a mother herself, Ji Qingwu felt embarrassed just thinking about it.
She had finally, after so much difficulty, gained her mother’s affection and care. She wanted to enjoy a few more years of these wonderful days, being cherished at Mrs. Qiao’s side.
Mrs. Qiao stroked her glossy black hair, her gaze warm and serene as it rested upon her.
A mother’s loving heart always worries about the distant future.
"Xiao Wu, I know you must be heartbroken, and that’s why you’re unwilling to marry him. But the Wei Family is powerful and influential, Wei Ting holds real authority, and in the palace, there’s a highly favored Princess Consort Wei."
Listening to Mrs. Qiao’s calm and steady analysis of the situation, Ji Qingwu’s heart began to settle.
"Before the Emperor makes a final decision, I have a plan, but I need your consent."
Hearing there was a third option, Ji Qingwu immediately perked up. She sat up straight, her eyes sparkling.
"I’ll do whatever you say, Mother."
*
It had been some days since Princess Hua Chang returned to Lin’an City.
After catching up to Wei Chi Lianping’s army, she had insisted on marching with him for several more days in order to produce an heir. freeωebnovēl.c૦m
The bumpy roads were one thing, but the lack of this and that... In those few days, Princess Hua Chang experienced hardships she had never known in her entire life.
Of course, someone else had it even worse.
Because the Eldest Princess mentioned one night that she was afraid of mosquitoes, Wei Chi Lianping had to burn mugwort around the carriage. He wandered by the carriage like a lost soul, holding a cattail fan and waving it about.
Furthermore, the Eldest Princess was fastidious about cleanliness and demanded a place to bathe. Where was one to find such a place in this land of yellow dust? Wei Chi Lianping was so worried he sprouted a few white hairs.
During the day, he had to endure all sorts of criticism from Princess Hua Chang, and at night, he had to serve her like a lowly attendant.
For the first time in his life, General Wei Chi had the thought of being briefly separated from his dear Eldest Princess for even a single hour.
After Princess Hua Chang returned to Lin’an, she spent a long time recuperating with a weary and languid air. She didn’t even leave her room for two days.
If not for the rumors from the morning court session reaching her ears, Princess Hua Chang would have been prepared to lie about for a few more days.
In a pavilion in a corner of the Imperial Garden.
Princess Hua Chang, dressed in a white silk blouse embroidered with orchids, sat in the pavilion. A maid stood behind her, fanning her.
For some reason, she had become even more sensitive to the heat these days.
Emperor Wu Su stood in a corner of the pavilion, gazing out at the surface of Taiye Lake, his eyes on the water rippled by a gentle breeze.
The two of them admired the shimmering lake light. Half a cup of tea’s time passed this way, with neither of them speaking.
Princess Hua Chang grew tired of sitting. She stood up and said in a cool tone, "Your Majesty, I’m leaving."
Emperor Wu Su just gave a low "mhm" in response, not even turning to glance at her.
It seemed to be the norm for their interactions.
Princess Hua Chang had only taken a few steps when she heard a deep voice call out from behind her, "Elder Sister."
She stopped, turned to gaze at him, and waited for the Emperor to speak.
Emperor Wu Su didn’t move. He remained with his back to her, his gaze fixed on the lake. His figure was tall and straight, his back never having bent for any matter.
A flicker of emotion crossed Princess Hua Chang’s eyes. His back exuded a deep melancholy, as if hiding a beast about to break free from its cage, held back only by what little reason remained.
She had never seen this full-blooded brother of hers reveal such an unbearable state with just his back.
But the next moment, she suddenly heard the Emperor let out a soft chuckle.
She followed the Emperor’s line of sight and saw a delicate pink lotus flower, set against a backdrop of overlapping lotus leaves, tenderly unfurling its petals.
Just then, the turquoise water was disturbed. A golden carp suddenly leaped from the lake, broke the surface to nibble a lotus petal, then dove back into the water and swam merrily away.
The scene of the fish playing with the lotus was elegant and lively.
Princess Hua Chang raised an eyebrow and also praised it, "How interesting."
Emperor Wu Su’s mood improved. When he turned around, the anxiety between his brows was gone.
"Elder Sister, go back and get some rest."
Princess Hua Chang nodded and left. Around a corner, she unexpectedly ran into Prince Yong.
Prince Yong looked even more sullen than the Emperor. He said dejectedly, "Greetings, Elder Sister."
’What is wrong with every single one of them?’
Although Princess Hua Chang was suspicious, she had no desire to meddle in others’ affairs. After giving a cool response, she prepared to leave.
But Prince Yong called out to her from behind, "Elder Sister." The scene was somewhat similar to the one moments before.
Princess Hua Chang’s gaze fell on the palace building at the corner. It must be Anle Hall, where wrongdoers were punished.
Although it was called Anle, meaning "Peace and Happiness," one could only find peace and happiness in dreams. During the day, there was an endless amount of work to be done.
Prince Yong took a few steps forward, his voice pleading, "Elder Sister, can you help me?"
Princess Hua Chang had rarely seen the usually cynical Prince Yong wear such a nearly fragile expression.
"What happened?"
She was unaware of the events that had taken place in the palace while she was away chasing her Prince Consort. She hadn’t inquired about them after her return, so she still didn’t know that Princess Yong had been locked up in Anle Hall.
"Elder Sister, please help me plead with Imperial Brother. Let Wanyin out."
She was puzzled. "Princess Yong?"
Prince Yong said bitterly, "Elder Sister, I heard from the drudges inside that Wanyin isn’t eating or sleeping well. She’s pregnant. If anything were to happen to her, what would I do?"
After hearing him explain the whole story, Princess Hua Chang said flatly, "Serves you right."
Emperor Wu Su had always known how to handle Prince Yong. What could drive Prince Yong crazier with worry than imprisoning Princess Yong in the palace?
It was their own fault for provoking someone they shouldn’t have.
「In the carriage on the way back.」
Princess Hua Chang thought back to the Emperor’s childhood.
