Free Web NovelChapter 169: Chapter 169: Congratulations! An Unexpected Meeting
Fearing Princess Hua Chang would see through her, Ji Qingwu hastily lowered her gaze.
’So Emperor Wu Su is also troubled by this matter,’ she thought.
’Does this mean my place in his heart can almost be weighed against the military power in Wei Ting’s hands, leaving him unable to make a choice? Is that why he’s so conflicted?’
’But he wants me to be the one to refuse this marriage.’
’It would be better for him, and for me, that way.’
Ji Qingwu asked, "Eldest Princess, are you here because of Wei Ting’s proposal to marry me in court?"
Seeing how frankly she spoke, Princess Hua Chang thought that perhaps, contrary to the rumors, the Ji Family’s Fifth Missy was not so deeply in love with Wei Ting after all.
She shook her head and said bluntly, "Matters of the heart are the most difficult to understand. I can’t even figure out my own, so how would I have the mind to meddle in yours?"
Princess Hua Chang’s gaze sharpened, and her words slowed. "I came for another matter."
The first half of her sentence resonated with Ji Qingwu’s own recent feelings, and she couldn’t help but nod. But then she heard that Princess Hua Chang had come specifically to find her for something else.
She asked in confusion, "Eldest Princess, what is it that I can help you with?"
A fair wrist was extended before her, the dark green veins like branches on a canvas of pure white jade.
Princess Hua Chang said casually, "Take a look for me. See if there’s anything wrong with my body."
When Ji Qingwu had first entered, she had already observed the Eldest Princess’s complexion, noting that her skin was even rosier and more radiant than usual.
She called a maid at the door to bring a scented handkerchief, then gently laid her hand on the princess’s wrist. As she carefully took the pulse, the emotions in her eyes shifted, first from confusion, then to astonishment.
Ji Qingwu had taken the Eldest Princess’s pulse for routine check-ups many times before and was extremely familiar with it.
In the past, her pulse had always been neither floating nor deep, neither fast nor slow.
But now, the sensation beneath her fingers was smooth, strong, and rolling.
The Sea of Blood was abundant, a sign that the fetal essence was gradually strengthening.
Princess Hua Chang’s breathing became much lighter.
Ji Qingwu looked up, meeting a pair of eyes as brilliant as colored glass, and pressed her lips together.
’If I recall correctly, the Prince Consort has been taking abortion medicine. The Eldest Princess furiously went after him... I don’t even know when she returned.’
Because of this, Ji Qingwu dared not show any joy, instead saying with forced composure, "Your Highness is with child."
Hearing the diagnosis, Princess Hua Chang’s movements remained graceful as ever. She withdrew her hand and replied just as calmly, "Is that so."
Ji Qingwu had treated hundreds, if not thousands, of women seeking to conceive. Their reactions to learning they were pregnant were invariably elation, tears of joy, or even bewilderment—like her own elder sister, Ji Qingrong.
Those were all normal reactions. But Princess Hua Chang was so calm, as if she wasn’t looking forward to this child’s arrival, which made Ji Qingwu uneasy.
So, she tested the waters, "Shall I prescribe some medicine to calm your nerves and nourish the pregnancy, Your Highness?" ƒrēewebnovel.com
Princess Hua Chang averted her gaze, looking at a pomegranate-patterned plum vase on a shelf opposite her.
She nodded. "Very well."
Although Ji Qingwu was ninety percent certain about this faint pregnancy pulse, the gestation period was still very short.
"Your Highness is in the very early stages of pregnancy. Even I dare not say it’s definite. I will come to take your pulse again in a few days."
Princess Hua Chang gave a quiet nod, her words growing fewer.
Ji Qingwu quickly instructed a maid outside to bring a brush and paper, and began writing a prescription.
As she wrote with swift strokes, the reality seemed to finally sink in for Princess Hua Chang. Her lips curved into a slightly stiff smile, and her hand couldn’t resist drifting to her lower abdomen.
Ji Qingwu was pondering a particular medicinal herb, tapping her chin with the end of her brush. When she glanced up, her eyes met the Eldest Princess’s.
Both of them simultaneously recalled all the previous pulse readings. Now, their efforts had finally borne fruit.
The corners of their mouths turned up at the same time, their eyes shining.
Ji Qingwu could now be certain of the Eldest Princess’s true feelings. She let her voice ring out joyfully, "Congratulations, Your Highness!"
Then she added with a smiling wink, "And congratulations to the Prince Consort!"
Seeing her charming and lively expression, Princess Hua Chang finally couldn’t hold back and broke into a laugh.
A short while later, Ji Qingwu personally saw Princess Hua Chang to her carriage. She then leaned against the window, her face upturned as she earnestly listed many precautions.
Ji Qingwu’s instructions were extremely detailed.
"Your Highness is still in the early months, so you shouldn’t be experiencing signs of morning sickness yet. You can eat whatever you crave for now, as long as you avoid ’cold’ foods."
Princess Hua Chang suppressed a helpless smile. "I understand. You should go back inside now."
She suddenly felt that this feeling of being connected to someone was quite wonderful.
Whether it was the one in her belly, related by blood, or the one standing at the gates of the Ji Mansion, gazing at her with such sincerity.
After seeing Princess Hua Chang off, Ji Qingwu went to Anju Garden first, but couldn’t find Mrs. Qiao.
She asked the maid, Chunhua, and learned that Mrs. Qiao had gone to Old Madam Ji’s courtyard to attend to her during her meal.
Ji Qingwu returned to Wutong Garden first, planning to go over later.
The weeping willows swayed gracefully, and the woman’s figure was as slender as a willow branch. She walked with a light gait along the stone path under the shade of the trees.
Recently, Old Madam Ji’s health had improved, thanks in no small part to Mrs. Qiao’s dedicated care.
Ji Qingwu realized she had previously thought of marriage too simply. She had been desperate to escape one cage, wanting to be free from the constraints of Old Madam Ji and the Empress Dowager.
But she had forgotten that a woman’s life after marriage was not the least bit easy. She would have to serve her in-laws and elders and take care of the entire family. She knew she didn’t possess Mrs. Qiao’s sharp skills and capabilities.
At this thought, Ji Qingwu became even more determined. She had to make good use of the idea Mrs. Qiao had given her.
She pushed open the main gate of Wutong Garden and walked along the main path toward the house.
After just a few steps, she froze. Out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw someone standing under the Wutong tree by the entrance.
She backed up a few steps.
Ji Qingwu whipped her head around.
A man in a long, light-cyan brocade robe embroidered with silver thread stood under the Wutong tree, his narrow eyes glinting.
"Doctor." It was his old way of addressing her.
Ji Qingwu stood a short distance away, looked at him, and said, "...General Wei."
Who else could it be but Wei Ting, the man standing under the tree, his eyes sweeping over her from head to toe.
When she saw him at the entrance of the Diligent Governance Hall yesterday, she had managed to remain calm. But a day later, Ji Qingwu couldn’t help but feel a sense of vigilance.
No matter how noble and upstanding Wei Ting might have been in the past, his strange actions—publicly proposing to her in court and claiming the child—spoke otherwise.
’It means he is no longer the man he once was.’
Ji Qingwu glanced around.
Wei Ting had suddenly appeared in the Ji Mansion and even managed to enter the inner courtyards. It was obvious he had come uninvited.
Fortunately, it was broad daylight, and her courtyard was quiet with no one around.
However, Lan Zhi and her other young maids were nowhere to be seen.
Ji Qingwu spoke first, doing her best to keep her tone normal as she asked, "General Wei, may I ask where my maids are?"
A smile touched Wei Ting’s lips, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
"Instead of asking why I’m here, the Doctor is more concerned about her maids?"
