Free Web NovelChapter 238: Chapter 238: Longing, Day and Night, Grand Scholar Jiujiu
When Wei Liru looked up again, her eyes were filled with indignation.
She shook her head. "No, brother. You haven’t seen the way the Emperor’s gaze lingers on her."
Wei Liru had always paid close attention to Emperor Wu Su’s every move. She’d noticed the difference long ago.
"I just can’t accept it. I’ve been by the Emperor’s side for so many years. I worked my way up from a Noble Lady to become the most influential favored concubine in the imperial harem."
"If Ji Qingwu had never appeared, I would have been just one step away from the throne of the Empress."
It seemed like just one step, but in reality, it was an uncrossable chasm.
Wei Ting said levelly, "Liru, without the Wei Family backing you, do you really think you could have climbed so high?"
His words were a reality check for Wei Liru, reminding her of her original reason for entering the palace.
Her elder brother joined the army while she entered the palace as a concubine. Working in concert, they had pulled the declining Wei Family back into the ranks of the great aristocratic houses.
But people’s hearts are fickle, and what she wanted had changed.
Wei Liru said, "Brother, I know you proposed marriage to Ji Wu at court. You did that to help me, right?"
"Brother, please think of something else. Can’t you stop Ji Qingwu from entering the palace?"
This proud, haughty sister of his rarely pleaded with anyone so humbly.
Wei Ting’s gaze fell on two sparrows in the treetops. They were happily preening each other’s feathers.
When Mr. Wei and Mrs. Wei died by self-immolation in a suicide pact, Wei Liru was still young. And while her grandmother and great-aunts helped raise her, she had always been attached to her big brother.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that Wei Ting had raised Wei Liru himself.
With such a protective older brother, he indulged her every whim. He never refused her anything she wanted.
But getting everything she wanted so easily had made Wei Liru far too proud.
Wei Ting spoke. "She is not your rival. It’s not her fault that the Emperor’s heart doesn’t belong to you."
Wei Liru’s brows knitted together. "But without her, the Emperor’s heart would be impartial."
Then, she realized something was wrong.
"Brother, why are you defending Ji Wu?"
She demanded loudly, "Your heart has been swayed too, hasn’t it!"
The two sparrows in the treetops were startled by the sudden, sharp voice and flew away.
Wei Ting watched the small birds flutter away, one eventually heading east, the other west.
A smile still touched the corners of his lips, and his voice remained gentle.
"Liru, you’ve misunderstood something. The thought of marrying her crossed my mind because, ultimately, it’s what I wanted. I’m not so much of a scoundrel that I would trade a woman’s future for my own gain."
Wei Liru’s beautiful eyes filled with horror.
"Brother, what are you saying...?"
’It wasn’t supposed to be like this. He was supposed to be doing all this to secure my position in the palace.’
In the gentlest of tones, Wei Ting said the words that made Wei Liru tremble from head to toe.
"My affairs with her require no explanation to anyone. But I will tell you this: I had no intention of marrying her just to be a decoration."
Wei Ting added, as if deeply troubled, "Unfortunately, she was unwilling. I’ll just have to think of another way."
Wei Liru stared at him as if petrified, biting her lip so hard it turned white.
Wei Ting turned away. "If possible, I hope the next time you see her, you’ll be able to call her Sister-in-law."
*
Ji Qingwu was woken up in the morning by the little girl.
When Jiu Jiu opened her eyes to find her mother sleeping right beside her, she couldn’t have been happier.
Her chubby little body rolled over and snuggled right into her mother’s arms.
Not yet fully awake, Ji Qingwu subconsciously put a hand on the little one squirming all over her.
"Be good, now. Let’s sleep a little longer. Just a little while."
She kept her eyes shut, really not wanting to open them. She’d only gotten four hours of sleep since she got back.
Ji Qingwu desperately wanted to continue her rendezvous with the Duke of Zhou, but once a child is awake, they start chattering away.
The little one chirped in her ear like a nonstop chatterbox.
She gave the little troublemaker’s bottom a playful pat and finally fluttered her eyes open.
Jiu Jiu beamed, her face adorable. "When did Mama get here?"
Ji Qingwu’s voice was still laced with sleep.
"Last night."
Jiu Jiu snuggled her face into her mother’s shoulder. "Did Mama only come after I was asleep?"
Ji Qingwu stroked the back of her head. "That’s right."
Jiu Jiu said, "Mama must have missed Jiu Jiu so much she couldn’t sleep, so she came over in the middle of the night. Right?"
Feeling a pang of guilt, Ji Qingwu nodded.
’Last night, the Emperor had dragged her up to the roof. To keep him from making a fuss, she’d used the little girl as an emergency excuse.’
’Couldn’t sleep. Missed Jiu Jiu. Taken individually, both statements were true.’
Jiu Jiu immediately planted several enthusiastic, smacking kisses on her.
Hearing the noise, Nanny Li came in and was surprised to see Ji Qingwu sitting up in bed.
"Fifth Missy, when did you arrive?"
Yesterday, Nanny Li had returned first with Mrs. Qiao. A Maid had delivered a message saying that Princess Qingyun wanted to keep Fifth Missy for a chat.
Just as Ji Qingwu was about to speak, Jiu Jiu stood on the bed with her hands on her hips and recited in a scholarly tone, "Mama was ’tossing and turning, in waking and in sleep, she yearned.’"
Nanny Li asked, "What does that mean, Little Missy?"
Jiu Jiu said proudly, "Nanny, it means Mama missed me so much at night that she couldn’t sleep, so she couldn’t resist coming to find me."
Playing along, Nanny Li’s face lit up with understanding. "Oh, so that’s what it means."
Ji Qingwu slipped a pale lilac short jacket onto Jiu Jiu, watching her with a smile.
Nanny Li continued with an admiring expression, "Little Missy is so learned! This old servant thinks you’re no less brilliant than one of the great scholars."
The little girl lifted her chin, letting her mama fasten the button at her collar.
Once she was dressed, Ji Qingwu patted Jiu Jiu’s little arm.
She smiled and said, "Alright, my great Scholar Jiu, go get washed up. After breakfast, Master Mei Yin will be here for your lesson."
Hearing that it was her favorite Master Mei, Jiu Jiu’s short little legs carried her happily as she hopped off the bed.
Recently, Mrs. Qiao and Ji Qingwu had discussed finding something the little girl was passionate about, hoping she could master one of the Six Arts.
Mrs. Qiao had hired all sorts of teachers. In addition to her studies at the Upper Study Room, Jiu Jiu now had daily lessons at home.
To their surprise, the little girl wasn’t the least bit resistant. One day she’d be riding a pony, the next she’d be painting flowers and birds—she was interested in everything.
With Nanny Li there, Ji Qingwu had breakfast with Jiu Jiu before returning to Wutong Garden.
She had meant to catch up on her sleep, but after lying down, she found herself just staring at the canopy of the gauze bed curtains, unable to drift off.
’Emperor Wu Su had been drunk and rather difficult last night, but she had managed to sound out his intentions. If entering the palace was inevitable, she needed to start planning now. She couldn’t keep dragging her feet.’
’Living one day at a time was not a sustainable plan.’
Ji Qingwu did a kip-up, sitting bolt upright.
"Lan Zhi, come with me to the clinic."
But before she could even leave Wutong Garden, a little eunuch rushed in.
"Fifth Miss Ji!"
