Free Web NovelChapter 221: Chapter 221: Grand Wedding Ceremony, Immortal and Jade-like Beauty
For the past few days, the Empress Dowager had been busy with the Princess’s wedding, completely swamped.
Since she had no time to summon her, Ji Qingwu was happy to enjoy a few days of peace and quiet.
Princess Qingyun personally wrote an invitation, had it delivered to the Ji Mansion, and once again brought up the matter of having Ji Qingwu perform the ritual hair combing for her.
The maid who delivered the letter said, "Fifth Missy, all the other invitations were written by the Honglu Temple. Only yours was personally written by the Princess."
Princess Qingyun wasn’t one to frequently practice her calligraphy. She had wasted more than ten sheets of paper before completing it, then immediately instructed her maid to deliver it.
After reading it, Ji Qingwu thought it over and decided to refuse.
This hair-combing ceremony was just a formality; it wasn’t as if she was actually needed to do the bride’s makeup. However, tradition dictated it should be done by the bride’s new sister-in-law. A lady from the imperial court or Princess Yong would be far more suitable for the role.
If she did it, it would surely attract a great deal of criticism. Why should she invite trouble?
But Qingyun’s words had been so earnest that Ji Qingwu decided on a compromise.
"Go back and report to the Princess that I will attend Her Highness’s wedding ceremony. As for the hair combing, please ask Her Highness to find someone more suitable."
*
Princess Qingyun’s wedding was a major event not just for the Ji Family, but for all of Lin’an.
Early in the morning, Ji Qingwu was woken up by Lan Zhi to have her makeup done.
Gazing at the still-gray sky outside, Ji Qingwu sat on the round stool at her dressing table like a wandering spirit.
"Lan Zhi, it’s not *my* wedding. I don’t need to get up this early to get ready."
"Fifth Missy, when you get married, you’ll have to wake up even earlier. Brides have to be up at the third watch, and it’s already the fifth watch now."
Lan Zhi had already laid out all the necessary cosmetics on the table.
Ji Qingwu’s eyes widened slightly. "The fifth watch? That’s still between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m.! It’s way too early. I’m going back to sleep for a bit."
Lan Zhi quickly grabbed her and pulled her back onto the stool.
"Fifth Missy, the First Madam instructed me to make sure you look absolutely stunning."
Ji Qingwu knew what Mrs. Qiao was thinking.
After all, she and Li Chengxun had once been on the verge of discussing marriage. Now he had become the Empress Dowager’s prized son-in-law, and as members of the Ji Family, they had to make an appearance at the wedding banquet.
When these "acquaintances" met, Mrs. Qiao didn’t want her to lose face.
’It was just that, to her, Li Chengxun was long a distant memory of a past romance—a dark and stormy one at that.’
’In truth, what she feared more about going to the wedding banquet... was running into Wei Ting.’
Since it was a joyous occasion, Ji Qingwu chose a sapphire-blue skirt of shimmering brocade, patterned with crabapple branches and the Ruyi Pattern. It was vibrant without stealing the spotlight.
The color was as deep as sapphire, and because of the shimmering brocade, it had a cool luster that was both brilliant and pure.
The moment Mrs. Qiao saw Xiao Wu, her eyes lit up, and she couldn’t stop praising her.
By the time they arrived at the Princess Mansion by carriage, Princess Qingyun and Li Chengxun had not yet returned from the palace.
According to protocol, the Princess and Prince Consort first had to go to the palace to pay their respects to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. Only then would they leave the palace, accompanied by noble women, and return to the Princess Mansion for the matrimonial bows and the sharing of nuptial cups.
Inside the Princess Mansion, ninety banquet tables were set. All the prominent families of Lin’an City were in attendance.
The members of the Ji Family were seated at the head table. Ji Qingwu had just taken her seat in the women’s section when she felt many eyes on her.
One gaze in particular felt like a thorn in her back.
Ji Qingwu immediately turned her head to scan the crowd, but there were simply too many guests today. She couldn’t tell who the gaze belonged to.
The Eldest Princess and Princess Yong also had to go to the palace first, so they were not present at the moment.
Ji Qingwu was not well acquainted with the other noble young ladies, so she sat quietly at her table, listening to Mrs. Qiao converse with the other madams.
When she occasionally heard them mention her, she would offer a cooperative smile.
’After all, these noblewomen could all be future clients at my clinic; I have to salvage my reputation somewhat.’
After sitting for a while longer, people from Duke Zhongyong’s Mansion arrived.
Ji Qingrong, having married, was now the Heir’s wife of the Marquis Mansion and had to sit with Grand Dowager Cui.
Lu Juan was surrounded by his colleagues the moment he entered. After Grand Dowager Cui and Ji Qingrong were seated, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law simply turned away from each other, saying nothing.
Her sister-in-law, Feng Shuang, would occasionally say something, to which Grand Dowager Cui would give a brief reply.
Over on her side, Ji Qingwu’s face was growing stiff from smiling. She frequently glanced in her elder sister’s direction.
She couldn’t help but say, "Mother, Eldest Sister is here. I’d like to go over and see her."
Mrs. Qiao was happy to see the two sisters getting along well. She smiled and said, "You haven’t seen Qingrong in a long time. Go on."
Ji Qingwu stood up and walked toward her elder sister. Along the way, many eyes once again fell upon the sapphire-blue figure.
Ji Qingrong rubbed her eyes and asked, "And you are?"
Seeing her pretend not to recognize her, Ji Qingwu’s eyes twinkled as she said playfully, "They say pregnancy brain lasts for three years. Eldest Sister, are you starting to get muddled already?"
"That voice sounds so familiar."
Ji Qingrong covered her mouth with a handkerchief and laughed. "So this Immortal Concubine before me is actually my fifth sister. We haven’t seen each other in over a month. Did you concoct some kind of miracle elixir, little sister? Such ethereal beauty... I hardly dare to look directly at you."
Grand Dowager Cui also shot a sideways glance.
She could tell at a glance that this Ji Wu’s appearance was even more elegant and refined than the last time she had seen her at Ninghua Hall.
Feng Shuang also added a word of praise, but was immediately silenced by a glare from Grand Dowager Cui and didn’t dare say more.
’A daughter of the Ji Family is sought by a hundred others,’ Grand Dowager Cui had also heard the talk at court.
’What’s so great about Ji Qingwu?’ Grand Dowager Cui thought to herself. ’She’s just a natural-born seductress.’ Then she turned her head away in disdain and started chatting with the woman next to her.
The two sisters pretended not to notice Grand Dowager Cui’s displeasure.
Ji Qingwu smiled brilliantly. "The way I see it, Eldest Sister is the one who is peerlessly radiant."
Ji Qingrong touched her own face, her eyes smiling.
"Are you praising your own medical skills, Fifth Sister? I’ve been using the prescription you gave me, and even with the pregnancy, I don’t feel tired. In fact, I feel more energetic than ever."
Ji Qingwu sat down next to her elder sister and told her about her plans to open a clinic. The more Ji Qingrong listened, the brighter her eyes became, and she declared that she wanted to give birth there.
Grand Dowager Cui’s back was to them, but she heard everything the two sisters said.
She turned around, her face grim. "The dignified Heir’s wife, running off to give birth outside the home? Is that proper?!"
In front of so many guests, Ji Qingrong didn’t want to argue with her mother-in-law and put Lu Juan in a difficult position.
She continued to play deaf, pretending she hadn’t heard.
Grand Dowager Cui pointed to Feng Shuang beside her. "When your second sister-in-law gave birth, she just had a midwife come to the house. And isn’t little Song hale and healthy now?"
Feng Shuang nodded in agreement. "Qingrong, if you give birth at home, you’ll be in a familiar environment with your own servants. It’s much more comfortable."
Grand Dowager Cui added, "Your second sister-in-law had a difficult birth and started hemorrhaging. If it weren’t for the experienced midwife, she might have lost her life."
Before Ji Qingrong could speak, Ji Qingwu nodded. "Childbirth has always been a walk through the Ghost Gate for women. It’s putting one’s life on the line. Nothing is more important than the safety of the mother and child."
It was rare for her to say something Grand Dowager Cui agreed with. The grand dowager scowled and retorted, "If you know that, then don’t encourage your sister to act so recklessly."
