Free Web NovelChapter 236: Chapter 236: My Robe is Ruined, You’ll Pay for It
Anju Garden.
Ji Qingwu returned to her home and snuck into Mrs. Qiao’s courtyard like a thief.
Jiu Jiu lived in a bedroom in the east courtyard, while Nanny Li slept in a room on the other side of the small corridor.
On her way over, Ji Qingwu had grabbed a fire starter from the small kitchen. She carefully pushed open the door and lit a candle.
She walked to the window and saw the little girl sleeping soundly, clutching her favorite strip of cloth. Her little mouth smacked softly, a clear sign of what she was dreaming about.
Ji Qingwu tucked in the corner of Jiu Jiu’s blanket, a small smile gracing her own lips.
The door was still open, but the person behind her hadn’t followed her in. Ji Qingwu tilted her head and sat by the bed, waiting for a moment.
There was still no movement. She had no choice but to tiptoe to the door and personally invite the great "Buddha" in.
Under the eaves, Emperor Wu Su stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze colder than the moonlight. Ji Qingwu truly couldn’t understand why his expression had turned so frigid again.
She whispered, her voice barely a breath, "Your Majesty? Come in. Didn’t we agree to come see Jiu Jiu?"
The candlelight from the candlestick she held was reflected in Emperor Wu Su’s pupils, flames seeming to dance in his eyes.
He felt utterly stifled by her thief-like behavior and had to voice his displeasure.
"Am I so shameful that I have to hide and sneak around just to see my own daughter?"
Ji Qingwu clapped a hand over his mouth.
Her eyes went wide. His voice wasn’t quiet at all. If he woke Nanny Li, it would be a disaster.
But she also understood why he was unhappy. It seemed he’d been harboring this much dissatisfaction every time he visited.
Ji Qingwu could understand. Wherever the noble Your Majesty the Emperor went, he was always surrounded by a grand entourage.
Tonight, however, he had followed her through the woods, hidden in corners, and even used the back door to enter the Ji Mansion. She had indeed treated him poorly.
She forced a placating smile and coaxed him in a soft voice.
"Your Majesty, Jiu Jiu is still asleep. I was just worried we might wake her."
’For our daughter’s sake, I’ll just have to endure it.’
Emperor Wu Su endured it, but not completely.
Instead, he vented his frustration on her, biting down on her soft palm.
The sensation of his lips and teeth on her palm was distinct, and Ji Qingwu trembled.
As a result, she lost her grip on the candle in her right hand. It tilted to the side just as a gust of wind blew in from the doorway, fanning the flame right toward him and setting the Emperor’s robe on fire.
Ji Qingwu scrambled to place the candlestick on the windowsill.
But it was too late. The small flame had scorched the kesi silk, burning a little hole in the tail of a dragon embroidered with gold thread.
Ji Qingwu looked at him nervously, awaiting his judgment.
Emperor Wu Su glanced down at the dark hole on his left sleeve and said decisively, "I’ve been burned. You’ll treat it."
’He’s hurt?’
Ji Qingwu quickly took his arm. Her fair cheek brushed against his shoulder as she bent her neck to carefully inspect his "injury."
Through the small hole, she could see his moon-white under-robe. The burn clearly hadn’t reached his skin.
After confirming he was fine, Ji Qingwu felt relieved.
She looked up and said, "It’s just the outer robe that’s slightly damaged. You shouldn’t be hurt."
Emperor Wu Su’s gaze fell on her face as he said, rather childishly, "My robe is ruined. You will compensate me."
Ji Qingwu was speechless.
’He was determined to pin this on me one way or another.’
She suddenly regretted her whim of inviting the Emperor here.
Ji Qingwu had thought seeing Jiu Jiu would improve Emperor Wu Su’s mood, but her plan had backfired.
She ran a hand through her hair in frustration. How was she supposed to compensate him?
This robe was made of precious blue kesi silk. More importantly, the wave-and-cliff pattern and the Golden Dragon medallions were custom-made by the Imperial Household. Where was she supposed to get a robe like that?
Standing at the door in a stalemate wasn’t a solution. The main thing was to coax him inside first.
Ji Qingwu adopted a proper attitude and said, "I’ll compensate you. I’ll go buy one as soon as the tailor shop opens tomorrow morning. Can Your Majesty please come inside first?"
"Make me a new one."
Emperor Wu Su laid out his condition. "But only if you make it yourself."
’This was just too much.’ Her needlework was nowhere near good enough to be presented to the Emperor to wear.
But Ji Qingwu still agreed. "Fine, fine, fine, I’ll make it. Please, Your Majesty, come in."
As they walked inside, Ji Qingwu carefully held the candlestick, keeping a wide berth from Emperor Wu Su, terrified of causing another accident.
’And end up having to replace his pants and shoes, too.’
Emperor Wu Su’s gaze followed her darkly.
Once inside the bedroom, Ji Qingwu placed the candlestick on a round table to the side.
Only when the distance between them returned to a few feet did the darkness in his eyes recede slightly.
Ji Qingwu let out a long sigh of relief.
’Too close is bad, and too far is bad. Nothing works.’
’This one who was still awake was hard to please.’
The little girl shifted into a new sleeping position, her little bottom sticking up in the air and the soft flesh of her face squished against the pillow.
Ji Qingwu gently pinched Jiu Jiu’s chubby cheek.
She invited him in a soft voice, "It feels wonderful. Your Majesty should give it a try."
’I can only sacrifice my little girl’s face for now to please His Majesty.’
Ji Qingwu raised her shapely eyebrows at him. Emperor Wu Su mimicked her and reached out his hand.
Then, he pinched Ji Qingwu’s cheek.
"Feels nice."
His calloused hand was a bit rough against her face, making it ache slightly.
But Ji Qingwu’s eyes crinkled into a smile.
Because his deep voice finally held a trace of amusement.
*
The Wei Estate.
Madam Wei brought a dead-drunk Wei Ting home. A servant boy at the gate said something.
The old madam asked in surprise, "When did she get back?"
The servant boy replied, "This evening, just before the palace gates were locked."
Wei Ting’s ears twitched.
He asked, "Who’s back?"
Nanny Cao helped the old madam down from the carriage using a mounting stool.
Once Madam Wei was steady on her feet, she turned back and said, "You and your sharp ears. You can even hear things when you’re drunk. The princess consort has come home from the palace."
Wei Ting’s eyes had been hazy, but they snapped open when he heard those two words. Clutching the thousand-year-old orchid to his chest, he jumped straight down from the carriage.
He grinned and said, "Liru’s home?"
Madam Wei glared at him in disapproval. "Don’t call her Liru. Watch your address. It’s Princess Wei."
Wei Ting retorted drunkenly, "Do we really have to be so formal in our own home? Even if she’s married, she’s still part of the Wei Family."
Madam Wei frowned and her eyes widened. "Are you drunk out of your mind? How dare you say such a thing!"
Madam Wei had heard about the recent disputes at court.
Ever since Wei Ting returned from the Northern Border, he hadn’t had a moment of peace. First, he asked to marry Ji Wu, then he provoked Prince Yong, and tonight he even dared to clash with the Emperor.
When a ruler and his subject grow apart, haven’t there been enough precedents of the hounds being boiled after the hunt is over?
It wasn’t that Madam Wei wasn’t worried, but she chose to trust her grandson. Wei Ting had always had his own way of doing things since he was a child. She would not interfere in matters of the court, nor would she comment on them.
Wei Ting clutched the thousand-year-old orchid and continued walking inside.
The old madam watched Wei Ting carrying a clay flowerpot as if it were a priceless treasure. He looked nothing like the dashing, handsome General he was supposed to be.
Madam Wei had a strong urge to take her cane and whack him with it again.
Then she saw that the direction he was heading after entering the gate was toward the courtyard where Wei Liru had lived before she was married.
She barked, "You, stop right there!"
