Free Web NovelChapter 245: Chapter 245: He Likes the Well-Behaved and Clever, Like Me
Mrs. Qiao dismissed the servants and pulled Xiao Wu to sit down.
Ji Qingwu sat beside her, her expression calm as she said, "Mother, I know what you’re worried about."
Mrs. Qiao’s hand gripped the armrest of her chair. She shook her head and said, "Xiao Wu, I’m afraid you’re thinking too simply."
"This time, the Empress Dowager means to have you stay in the palace for a long while. She says she’ll let you come back after the Emperor’s Longevity Festival, but there’s no guarantee she won’t find some other excuse to keep you from returning home."
How could Ji Qingwu not understand?
’By then,’ she thought, ’it won’t just be the Empress Dowager who refuses to let me go home.’
Mrs. Qiao had been mentally preparing for this. Since Xiao Wu was now involved with the Emperor, and the Empress Dowager in the palace knew about it, she understood that Xiao Wu would have to enter the palace sooner or later.
But she had always hoped that day would come much later.
Seeing Mrs. Qiao sigh, Ji Qingwu comforted her, "But some things are destined to be unavoidable. We can only face them."
To Mrs. Qiao, Xiao Wu would always be her child who never grew up, the one who needed her protection.
The scene of Xiao Wu kneeling on the ground to thank her for her protection on the day she returned home was still as vivid as if it were happening right now.
Mrs. Qiao didn’t want her to go to the palace because the Empress Dowager’s intentions were all too obvious. She only wanted Xiao Wu to live a peaceful and stable life, but she could find no way to stop it.
Mrs. Qiao knew that once Xiao Wu was in the palace, protecting her would be harder than reaching for the heavens. Her face was etched with worry.
But Xiao Wu was acting even calmer than her own mother, gazing at her with a gentle expression.
Ji Qingwu said softly, "Mother, do you remember our first time entering the palace? What did you say to me after we left Cining Palace?"
Mrs. Qiao nodded. Of course, she remembered. It was precisely the reason the Qiao Family had managed to stand strong through several dynasties.
Ji Qingwu extended a fair, delicate index finger and, mimicking her mother’s gesture from that day, pointed to the sky.
"Mother, who owns Phoenix Palace? Who owns this world? We must all act according to the Emperor’s will."
Ji Qingwu’s gaze fell upon the green jade ring at her waist.
"If the Emperor’s will falls upon me, it might not necessarily be a disaster."
Mrs. Qiao was speechless. It was difficult enough for an ordinary woman to win her husband’s wholehearted devotion, let alone to scheme for the heart of an Emperor. ’Xiao Wu’s thinking is still too naive.’
"The palace is full of wolves and tigers, and you have the disposition of a little kitten."
Ji Qingwu stood up, her jade pendants tinkling. She walked to Mrs. Qiao’s side and took her mother’s hand.
Feeling the coldness of Mrs. Qiao’s palm, Ji Qingwu squeezed it tighter before speaking. "Mother, your worry is clouding your judgment. Haven’t you noticed something is off?"
Mrs. Qiao thought for a long moment before saying, "This... It’s the Emperor who wants you to enter the palace."
Her gaze dropped to the flagstones on the floor as she mused, "That’s right. The Emperor dislikes any Miss Ji entering the palace as a concubine, but this time he didn’t stop the Empress Dowager. You could even say he let it happen. It’s because the Emperor has changed his mind."
Emperor Wu Su had actually relented on the matter of a Ji Family woman entering the palace. It seemed the Emperor had taken a genuine interest in Xiao Wu.
Ji Qingwu nodded. "Perhaps the Emperor gets tired of watching a pack of wolves and tigers fight amongst themselves every day."
She propped her chin on one hand and winked at Mrs. Qiao.
"So he decided he wants someone who is clever and well-behaved, intelligent and gracious, and also understanding—someone like your daughter, for example."
Seeing her shamelessly praise herself with such a lively expression, Mrs. Qiao’s mood lightened considerably. The tense line of her lips finally relaxed.
At the same time, Mrs. Qiao noticed a shimmering light in her youngest daughter’s eyes. There wasn’t the slightest trace of reluctance within them.
’This... She’s fallen in love.’
Mrs. Qiao sighed. "Xiao Wu."
Ji Qingwu looked at her steadily and said, "Mother, I want to try."
*
「Cining Palace.」
The Empress Dowager had just woken up and had immediately ordered Fanghua to the Ji Mansion.
At this moment, she was in the small garden outside, looking at the lovebirds sent over by Princess Qingyun.
She had been feeling a bit listless these past few days, not yet having recovered her spirits after marrying off her beloved daughter.
Shixi stood behind her holding a bowl of birdseed and said, "Empress Dowager, the birds’ feathers are so vibrant. It’s a cheerful sight."
The Empress Dowager took a few seeds and teased the birds with them.
She sighed. "This Dowager only has one daughter. After sending her off from the palace in marriage two days ago, I finally understand what a huge difference there is between the feeling of marrying off a daughter and welcoming a new bride."
Shixi consoled her, "A Princess’s marriage is different from that of a common family. She is still a member of the Imperial Family, not just a Li Family’s wife. If the Empress Dowager wishes to see the Princess, you can do so whenever you please."
"Besides, Princess Qingyun specially found these birds to amuse you. She wants these parrots to take her place in keeping you happy."
The lovebirds’ feathers were vibrant and splendid. The Empress Dowager said, "Qingyun has always loved bright colors, ever since she was little. It’s the same with her choice of a Prince Consort."
In all of Lin’an City, based on looks alone, one truly couldn’t find anyone more handsome than Li Chengxun.
"However, that Li Chengxun is a talented man, and more importantly, Qingyun can handle him. This Dowager thinks it’s an excellent match. But why is Ming Hong still less sensible than his imperial sister? The Tao family has already fallen, yet he still treats that Mrs. Tao like a precious treasure."
Thinking of the events from a few days ago, the Empress Dowager felt a surge of disappointment.
"On the morning of Qingyun’s wedding, This Dowager merely made Mrs. Tao stand for a while to learn some etiquette, and he acted like a fighting cock. I can’t even be bothered to scold him anymore."
The Empress Dowager was criticizing Prince Yong, but she was the only one allowed to say such things.
Shixi didn’t dare to respond and could only stand by her side with a placating smile.
After speaking of her own son and daughter, the Empress Dowager’s thoughts turned to her niece.
Her expression turned pleased as she said, "Speaking of which, This Dowager underestimated Qingwu before."
The Empress Dowager used a finger, adorned with a nail guard, to poke the little head of a parrot in the wide-barred cage. The parrot flapped its wings and flew to another perch.
"When will Fanghua be back?"
Shixi replied, "To answer the Empress Dowager, a little eunuch just came to report that they have already entered the palace gates and will arrive at Cining Palace shortly."
The Empress Dowager placed the birdseed in her hand back into the box and said, "Let’s go. We’ll head back as well."
Ji Qingwu hadn’t come to Cining Palace many times, but none of those visits had been for anything good. She let out a soft breath. Fanghua noticed, slowed her steps, and walked over to her side.
She whispered, "Fifth Missy, if there’s anything you can’t handle, you can always..."
Ji Qingwu gave a knowing smile and said, "I’ll make sure to extricate myself cleanly."
This wasn’t exactly what the Emperor had instructed Fanghua to say, but it was close enough.
What Emperor Wu Su had actually said was that she could always call for reinforcements. And at present, Ji Qingwu had quite a few reinforcements she could call upon.
Fanghua led the two of them into the hall to be seated. The Empress Dowager arrived at the entrance just then, and her eyes immediately fell on the two young women inside.
With these two vibrant young nieces sitting together, the Empress Dowager couldn’t help but make a comparison in her mind.
Ji Qingyuan was wearing a rouge-red pleated skirt, her chin held slightly high. Her beauty was still top-tier in the Imperial City.
But both the Empress Dowager’s and Shixi’s gazes were drawn to the person beside her.
Dressed in a light green embroidered short jacket with a round collar and a jade-green straight-hemmed lotus-leaf skirt, Ji Qingwu sat upright, effortlessly capturing their attention.
Such a fresh and natural aura was a rare sight in the palace. The Empress Dowager had to admit that the Emperor had excellent taste.
