Free Web NovelChapter 66: Chapter 66: Meeting Him Around the Corner; Who Is the Young Lord’s First Wife?
That single glance was like seeing the brilliant dawn break through a pitch-black night.
The light in his eyes outshone all the surrounding lanterns, so bright it was almost scorching.
What she didn’t know, however, was that this light had flared to life only upon seeing her.
Princess Qingyun said irritably, "Your Maj... Second Brother, this scoundrel bumped into me! He was about to run off without apologizing. It’s a good thing you stopped him."
’I picked a bad day to go out,’ Ji Qingwu thought, pressing a hand to her forehead.
She had run into the Emperor, who was out in disguise and enjoying the lantern festival. Only yesterday in the Diligent Governance Hall, she had managed to displease him. She could only hope that, like Princess Qingyun, he wouldn’t recognize her.
Emperor Wu Su wore a slate-blue long robe of vine-patterned cloud brocade, his hair held by a simple, translucent Southern Branch Jade Crown.
But his commanding presence and the cold, proud aura that seemed powerful enough to swallow mountains and rivers could not be concealed even by sackcloth.
Tonight, Li Yuzong was not with Emperor Wu Su. Instead, a stranger with a grim, somber aura stood behind him.
Since Ji Qingwu and the Princess had bumped into each other, both were technically at fault. But they had the numbers, and a wise person knows not to fight a losing battle.
Keeping her voice low, she apologized first.
"My apologies for being so abrupt."
She took a few steps back and flattened herself against the wall, planning to leave after they had passed.
When she saw they weren’t making a move to leave, Ji Qingwu said, "After you, miss."
Princess Qingyun huffed. Just as she was about to say something, she spotted someone approaching in the distance, carrying a colorful lantern.
She went forward to greet him, saying, "Brother Chengxun! While you were gone, some scoundrel bumped into me. For all I know, he did it on purpose to take advantage of me."
’So now I’m a scoundrel who takes advantage of people,’ Ji Qingwu thought, fighting the inappropriate urge to laugh out loud. ’The Princess isn’t just paranoid; she’s incredibly narcissistic too.’
After soothing her with a few words, Li Chengxun looked toward the person the Princess had pointed out.
He frowned. The person before him was dressed as a man, but their slender neck lacked a prominent Adam’s apple, and their skin was smooth and delicate.
After a few more glances, his eyes widened in recognition. ’It’s her!’
But they were in the Emperor’s presence. Li Chengxun could only force himself to look away and hand the lantern to Qingyun.
He said gently, "Princess, didn’t you want to see the lanterns? I just came from West Street. There are many more beautiful ones over there."
Princess Qingyun turned to Emperor Wu Su, her face full of anticipation.
The Emperor nodded. "Go on. Don’t wander too far." freewebnovёl.ƈom
From the moment Li Chengxun appeared to the moment his and the Princess’s figures disappeared from view, Ji Qingwu never once glanced his way, perfectly treating him as a total stranger.
But this deliberateness was, in a certain person’s eyes, highly suspicious.
Ji Qingwu leaned against the dusty wall. Her azure robes were striking. Although the length was right, her tall, slender frame made them look loose, and the fabric billowed in the wind.
With fair skin, clear eyes that shone like the moon, she looked for all the world like a handsome young gentleman.
Emperor Wu Su took a single step closer.
"Young Master!" A delicate voice called out from nearby.
Ji Qingwu turned her head and saw it was the woman who had tried to drown herself earlier. She had caught up.
Lifting her skirts, the woman trotted over, complaining, "Young Master, how could you just abandon me and leave like that?"
Knowing she couldn’t get away, Ji Qingwu said with a hint of resignation, "Miss, do we even know each other? We are merely strangers who met by chance."
The woman dabbed at her tearless eyes. Fearing ’he’ would run off again, she declared, "How heartless, Young Master! I’m carrying your child."
Ji Qingwu: ...?
Her eyebrows shot up. ’I might be able to treat infertility, but I can’t get someone pregnant just by holding their hand.’
’This woman has some nerve,’ she thought. ’Isn’t she afraid of ruining her own reputation?’
The crowd of onlookers grew. "Isn’t that Mo Lingling, the female servant from Liangxiang Pavilion?" someone asked.
"Liangxiang Pavilion, Three Fragrance Pavilion... what’s the difference? It’s just a brothel."
"You country bumpkin! The female servants of Liangxiang Pavilion are no ordinary prostitutes. You can’t see her just by throwing Silver around. She has to give you her approval before you’re allowed into her chambers."
...
’I can’t believe this woman is a famous figure in Lin’an City.’ With the crowd’s chatter growing more intense, they were quickly becoming the center of attention.
Ji Qingwu looked at Mo Lingling and said, "Let’s find somewhere quiet to talk."
’This woman came at just the right time. Since Emperor Wu Su and his group aren’t leaving, I can use her as an excuse to leave first.’
She took Mo Lingling by the hand and started to lead her away.
"Not so fast," the man beside the Emperor commanded, his voice chilling.
Ji Qingwu felt the woman’s hand go cold and stiff in her grasp. ’They must know each other,’ she realized.
She took the opportunity to feel for the woman’s pulse, pressing her fingers to her wrist for a few seconds. Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. ’She’s definitely pregnant. She wasn’t lying about that part.’
As if frightened, Mo Lingling shrank behind Ji Qingwu.
The man’s expression grew even more sinister. "There’s a private room available in the teahouse right here," he said.
Ji Qingwu met his gaze, keeping Mo Lingling protectively behind her. "No, no, that’s not necessary," she said, trying to refuse. "Such an elegant place isn’t suitable for a rough fellow like me. We’ll just go..."
"Bump into my little sister and then try to flee?"
Without thinking, Ji Qingwu retorted, "What about it? Want to bump into me to even the score?"
Only after the words were out did she realize who had spoken.
She whipped her head around and met Emperor Wu Su’s eyes. A faint, unreadable smile played on his lips.
Ji Qingwu immediately ducked her head, pressing her lips together to stop herself from saying anything else foolish. She rubbed her ear in a transparent attempt to cover her embarrassment.
A round wooden table stood in the teahouse’s private room.
Emperor Wu Su took his seat first, positioning himself directly opposite the door. Mo Lingling still clung to Ji Qingwu, as if finding her presence more reassuring.
"Everyone, be seated."
’Standing around talking is going to make my back hurt,’ Ji Qingwu thought, pulling the person beside her down into a seat.
Emperor Wu Su shot a sideways glance at the man behind him. "Ming Feng."
Seeing how close Mo Lingling was to the fair-faced young man, Duan Mingfeng, Vice Envoy of the Imperial City Department, narrowed his slender eyes and sat down.
A server quickly brought tea and the teahouse’s signature pastries. He seemed about to say a few words of introduction, but seeing that each person’s expression was more grim than the last...
"Please enjoy, esteemed guests." With that, he quickly scurried away.
Emperor Wu Su lifted his teacup, sniffed it, and set it back down with a look of disdain. "What’s the story with you two?" he asked nonchalantly.
Ji Qingwu cleared her throat, keeping her voice low. "I just happened upon this young lady by the river. It was a chance meeting, nothing more." fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
Mo Lingling, however, told a different story.
"It was love at first sight for me," she declared. "And this Young Master saved my life."
"Do you look down on me because I’m from a brothel, Young Master? I can buy my freedom from Liangxiang Pavilion. I’ll stay home to be a devoted wife and mother, I’ll cook and clean for you."
Ji Qingwu waved her hands dismissively. "Miss, it was nothing, really. Besides, I’m already a married man. I couldn’t possibly wrong you."
"You mean that woman in the yellow dress? I didn’t think she was a good match for you, Young Master."
’She must be talking about Lan Zhi,’ Qingwu thought. ’And it’s true, she can’t compare to Mo Lingling’s stunning beauty.’
Seeing how persistent the girl was, Ji Qingwu started spinning a tale.
"The woman you saw was just one of my beautiful concubines. To be perfectly honest, I also have a primary wife at home."
’So he already has wives and concubines?’ Mo Lingling frowned. "And your primary wife... how does she compare to me?"
At Liangxiang Pavilion, she was used to being the center of attention, with everyone fawning over her. It was rare for her to be rejected time and time again.
Today, she had waited for that other man, but he never came, leaving her heartbroken and frustrated. Now this Young Master was doing the same. Mo Lingling stubbornly demanded an answer.
Ji Qingwu pictured her ideal "primary wife" in her mind’s eye.
"She is of noble birth, with a majestic and graceful bearing. She is skilled in both scholarly pursuits and martial arts, and a masterful manager of the household."
Hearing this description, Emperor Wu Su raised an eyebrow and took a sip of his tea.
