Free Web NovelChapter 208: Chapter 208: Taking Advantage of My Doting, You’ve Grown Increasingly Reckless
Ji Qingwu wanted to gauge Emperor Wu Su’s expression to plan her next move, but he caught her in the act.
Seeing him staring at her head, she reached up in confusion and touched the cloth bundle on her hair.
’It hasn’t come loose. It’s wrapped tightly. My appearance is fine.’
But Emperor Wu Su’s brow furrowed even deeper, his face filled with displeasure.
Tao Wanxin’s kneeling body trembled more violently. Ji Qingwu said softly, "Your Majesty, Princess Yong is pregnant."
Hearing her speak, the corners of Emperor Wu Su’s mouth turned down.
Ji Qingwu quickly lowered her head again, leaving only the small, gray cloth bundle visible on top.
After a long moment, the Emperor finally spoke, but it was to ask, "How long has Prince Yong been kneeling at the hall entrance?"
Li Yuzong took a few steps forward and replied respectfully, "Since the morning court session ended. It has been four hours."
Hearing that Prince Yong had been kneeling for so long, Tao Wanxin, who didn’t know how he had angered Emperor Wu Su, assumed it had something to do with her.
She said anxiously, "Your Majesty, I know I am at fault and do not dare to presume to hold the title of Princess Consort any longer. I beg Your Majesty not to blame the Prince."
The little color that had just returned to Tao Wanxin’s face drained away, leaving it deathly pale. The gray cloth of her dress began to darken with moisture, clearly soaked with the sweat of her terror.
Ji Qingwu had to ensure the safety of the child in Princess Yong’s womb, so she could only raise her head again, her bright eyes shimmering with unshed tears as she blinked up at the stone-faced Emperor.
Emperor Wu Su received the plea in her eyes but was the first to look away.
Ji Qingwu’s gaze remained fixed on him.
She wasn’t sure if she’d misheard, but it seemed she heard him sigh.
A cold, deep voice came from above.
"Mrs. Tao."
Tao Wanxin lifted her head in alarm.
"These past few days, Prince Yong has grown increasingly brazen."
Emperor Wu Su continued, "I did not summon you to punish you. It is because Prince Yong openly provoked Wei Ting at court today and fought with him. He now refuses to admit his wrongdoing. I can give you a chance to make amends."
’It isn’t to punish me, but because of Prince Yong’s brawl.’
With things laid so bare, Tao Wanxin understood the Emperor’s intention and immediately said, "I understand! I will go at once to persuade Prince Yong to admit his fault and apologize to General Wei. I kowtow in thanks for Your Majesty’s immense grace."
Emperor Wu Su waved his hand, and Tao Wanxin hastily rose and exited the hall.
He then said, "Li Yuzong, go watch at the entrance."
In a short moment, only two people were left in the vast Diligent Governance Hall.
Ji Qingwu first turned to look at the entrance, discovering that as Li Yuzong left, he had pulled the hall doors partway shut, preventing anyone outside from seeing in.
Her courage immediately swelled. She walked straight up the few steps and came to a stop before Emperor Wu Su.
With unconcealed amusement in her eyes, Ji Qingwu said, "I am in awe of Your Majesty’s brilliant decision."
Emperor Wu Su merely glanced at her before turning his head away, his gaze falling on the paperweight on his desk.
"What was so brilliant about it?" he asked.
On the way here, Ji Qingwu hadn’t been sure how the Emperor would handle Princess Yong.
She had thought the Emperor, like the Empress Dowager, would want to strip Tao Wanxin of her title as Princess Consort and choose another for Prince Yong who was of equal social standing.
But now, it seemed the Emperor had no intention of implicating or blaming Princess Yong.
Ji Qingwu smiled with genuine sincerity. "Your Majesty may seem cold on the outside, but you are warm-hearted. You couldn’t bear to see Prince Yong lose the one he loves."
Hearing her soft, sweet voice, even Emperor Wu Su’s ears felt a little lighter.
Only then did he properly look at her, his tone deep as he said, "That is not what I couldn’t bear."
As their eyes met, Ji Qingwu immediately broke into an even more radiant smile. Even dressed in coarse cloth, her natural beauty and grace could not be concealed.
But Emperor Wu Su snapped irritably, "What in the world are you wearing?"
Ji Qingwu looked down at herself. The clothes she wore were reasonably well-fitting and proper. Back in her medical hall in Nanchu, she had worn far cruder garments. At least this fabric wasn’t scratchy.
"Your Majesty, these are the clothes all the Palace Attendants in Anle Hall wear. Princess Yong is wearing them, too."
Emperor Wu Su said, "Why are you always running off to that Anle Hall? Is that a place someone like you should be going?"
Ji Qingwu adopted an apologetic attitude, gently explaining, "I didn’t mean to break the palace rules. It’s just that Prince Yong came to me for help, saying the Princess Consort’s diagnosis was not good."
Sensing her cautiousness, Emperor Wu Su interrupted, "There is no place in the palace you cannot go."
His words stunned Ji Qingwu. "Your Majesty means...?"
This time, Emperor Wu Su let out a long, genuine sigh.
"Anle Hall is where Palace Attendants who have made mistakes are sent. All sorts of people are in there. A filthy place like that is no place for you."
Ji Qingwu understood. Her face began to grow warm as she said softly, "So Your Majesty was worried about my safety."
"It’s not just your safety. There are too many filthy corners in this world, and I do not wish for you to see them."
What Emperor Wu Su didn’t say was that he was even more unwilling for Ji Qingwu, after seeing such a place, to grow more fearful of the palace. He worried she would become even more averse to this Phoenix Palace.
Ji Qingwu looked back at him, a subtle but firm light in her eyes.
"But you can’t avoid them just by staying away."
Emperor Wu Su crooked a finger at her. Ji Qingwu stepped closer until they were within arm’s reach.
"Lower your head," he commanded.
Ji Qingwu obediently bent her neck, her gaze falling on his lap.
The next instant, the gray cloth was ripped from Ji Qingwu’s head, and a full head of dark, silky hair cascaded down.
A few strands of hair slid over Emperor Wu Su’s Dragon Robe.
Ji Qingwu straightened up, exclaiming in surprise, "Your Majesty!"
Emperor Wu Su’s long fingers held the gray cloth. Without a single glance, he ruthlessly tossed it into a nearby brazier filled with incense ash.
’Ji Qingwu had absolutely no idea how this piece of cloth had offended His Majesty the Emperor.’
Her eyes widened as she watched it land in the incense ash, becoming even grayer and dustier.
Emperor Wu Su had found it an eyesore from the moment Ji Qingwu entered the hall.
"Your Majesty, why did you throw away my headscarf?" Ji Qingwu asked, pouting.
Emperor Wu Su said, "What kind of headscarf is that? Dressed like that, you only make me think of a nun in a temple."
Ji Qingwu gathered her long hair behind her back and said, "The palace maids in Anle Hall have to wrap up their hair to make it easier to work."
Even with the cloth gone, Emperor Wu Su was still not satisfied.
He reached out, intending to grab the belt made of several braided red cords tied above her trousers.
Ji Qingwu quickly covered it with both hands, saying in a fluster, "Your Majesty, there’s nothing wrong with this belt! A normal outfit requires a belt."
Emperor Wu Su said impatiently, "Hurry up and take those clothes off. They’re bad luck."
’If I take them off, what will I have to change into?’
Ji Qingwu absolutely refused to take them off, backing away while clutching her waistband.
"They’re just clothes. If Your Majesty doesn’t like them and finds them an eyesore, I’ll leave right now."
Hearing her say she would leave, Emperor Wu Su’s expression darkened further.
He stood up, his tall frame closing in on her step by step. He lowered his gaze, his voice flat.
"Ah Wu, you’ve grown more and more reckless, relying on my favor for you. You even dare to go to a place like that."
Ji Qingwu couldn’t help but retreat, saying, "But didn’t Your Majesty just say there’s no place in the palace I cannot go?"
Emperor Wu Su backed her into a corner.
