Free Web NovelChapter 92: Chapter 92: I Haven’t Even Made a Mistake, and Your Majesty Is Already Thinking of Punishment
Ji Qingwu had long since picked up on the desperate plea in Mo Lingling’s eyes.
Ji Qingwu squeezed Emperor Wu Su’s hand, which was holding hers, and cut in, "We should get going. Otherwise, Jiu Jiu will get anxious and start to cry."
Astonishment flashed in Duan Mingfeng’s eyes.
He had never seen anyone dare to interrupt the Emperor, and he inwardly admired Fifth Miss Ji’s boldness.
The Ji Qingwu of the past would never have dared. Trembling and cowering before Emperor Wu Su—that was her true nature.
But these last few times, Emperor Wu Su had reined in his temper around her, always speaking in a soft and gentle tone. Even though he had left Wutong Garden without a word last time, he still hadn’t taken his anger out on her.
’A woman will only grow more spoiled the more she’s doted upon.’
So Ji Qingwu figured she could occasionally act spoiled, banking on his favor. The present moment was a perfect opportunity to test that theory.
Emperor Wu Su watched her fair, smooth hand take the initiative to grasp his. His brow furrowed slightly. ’Again... all for someone else’s sake.’
The Emperor’s handsome, jade-like face darkened.
Duan Mingfeng prepared to drop to his knees and plead for mercy, while Mo Lingling’s face instantly turned deathly pale.
Ji Qingwu’s heart was pounding like a drum, but this time, the need to protect someone else placed a heavy weight on her shoulders, making her much bolder.
Her five slender fingers deftly slipped between his, shifting their grip into an intimate one, with their fingers intertwined.
Ji Qingwu looked up into his eyes and gave his hand an appeasing little shake.
She said in a soft, placating voice, "Please let Mr. Duan escort Miss Mo back, won’t you?"
The soft feel of her hand pressed against his palm, brushing against the light calluses at the base of his fingers, seemed to wear away much of the hardness encasing his heart.
In the end, Emperor Wu Su said nothing. He simply released her hand and strode off alone.
’He agreed!’
Ji Qingwu quickly turned back and gestured for the two of them to leave at once.
Mo Lingling let out a long sigh of relief, her legs giving way as she sank onto the stone steps. Duan Mingfeng watched thoughtfully as Ji Qingwu’s elegant figure hurried after the departing Emperor.
Emperor Wu Su strode ahead, and Ji Qingwu hurried to follow, soon finding she had to break into a light jog to keep up.
’This is just like Jiu Jiu when she gets in a huff and storms around.’
An idea struck Ji Qingwu. She ran a few quick steps, circling around to block his path.
She called out, slightly breathless, "Your Majesty."
Emperor Wu Su’s expression was frigid. He didn’t look at her, but he did stop walking.
Ji Qingwu recalled that every time he had shaken off her hand, he had worn this exact same ice-cold expression.
She asked, "Your Majesty, why are you displeased?"
Emperor Wu Su raised a shapely eyebrow and looked at her. "A wonder you can even tell."
After all this time, it was the first time Ji Qingwu had ever asked.
Emperor Wu Su continued, "We assumed Miss Ji was both unobservant and unperceptive, incapable of sensing Our displeasure."
Ji Qingwu was rather baffled by his sarcastic, passive-aggressive tone.
’Has he been waiting for me to ask all this time? But everyone always tries to guess the Emperor’s intentions. I never would have dared to ask directly.’
She explained, "I didn’t dare ask before. Prying into the Holy Emperor’s moods is a grave taboo."
"And now you dare? You’re not afraid of the taboo?"
Emperor Wu Su remained expressionless. Ji Qingwu said gently, "Since it was I who incurred Your Majesty’s displeasure, I should naturally learn the reason so that I may offer a proper apology."
He gazed at her, his eyes growing dark and somber. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
Since time immemorial, those who wield authority have been surrounded by sycophants. The world bustles with people chasing their own interests—all for power, status, and wealth.
What they desire most is a pure heart—someone who comes to them not for the sake of others, not for material gain, and not for power.
Of course, what Ji Qingwu had done was hardly on that level.
It was just that Emperor Wu Su was exceptionally particular about this. He didn’t want her to make requests of him or show him affection for the sake of anyone else, no matter how small the reason.
Ji Qingwu watched him stare at her in silence, a flicker of inner conflict in his eyes.
She reached out again and took hold of his index finger. When he showed no sign of revulsion, she took another finger, then another, until her small hand gradually enveloped the tips of four of his fingers.
Emperor Wu Su’s Adam’s apple bobbed.
Ji Qingwu watched his expression closely as she moved. She loosened her grip slightly, her fingers slowly tracing a line across his palm before brushing against the inside of his wrist.
The skin there was clearly not as calloused as his palm, but it was far more sensitive.
Beneath the cuff of his robe, she wrapped her hand around his wrist, though her fingers could only encircle half of it.
Emperor Wu Su lowered his eyes, his gaze falling upon her hand.
Ji Qingwu tapped his wrist with her fingertip and smiled faintly. "Your Majesty doesn’t dislike my touch."
"Then the problem must lie elsewhere." Ji Qingwu pulled his large hand closer, her eyes shimmering like clear autumn waters. "What Your Majesty truly dislikes is..."
Emperor Wu Su lifted his gaze to watch her, a dark undercurrent flickering in his eyes.
Ji Qingwu let out a soft laugh. "When it’s about other people."
’To think that Emperor Wu Su would get upset over something like this.’ Once Ji Qingwu figured it out, she found it rather amusing.
’He’s an Emperor at the pinnacle of power, filled with the pride of one who looks down upon the world. Everyone comes to him with requests. So why is it that when I’m the one asking, it lights a fire in his heart and makes him so unhappy?’
Seeing her sly smile, Emperor Wu Su pinched her soft, supple cheek.
"Since you now know why We are displeased, you will take this as a warning. If you dare to repeat this offense, what should your punishment be?"
Ji Qingwu’s eyes widened. "I haven’t even done anything wrong, yet Your Majesty is already thinking about how to punish me."
She muttered under her breath, "Truly, the Holy Emperor’s mind is impossible to fathom."
No matter how quietly she spoke, Emperor Wu Su’s hearing was far from ordinary; he heard every word with perfect clarity.
Emperor Wu Su was already finding it hard to let go of her soft, tender cheek. Hearing her be so impudent right to his face, he couldn’t help but increase the force of his torment.
Ji Qingwu mumbled, her words muffled, "Is Your Majesty... kneading dough?"
"Mm-hmm. Kneading a little dough figure."
Emperor Wu Su asked probingly, "What sort of disguise technique is this? It’s utterly flawless." ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
Ji Qingwu’s smile vanished. She pretended not to hear him and simply refused to answer.
Faced with her utter unresponsiveness, Emperor Wu Su was so frustrated he could have gnashed his teeth. He gave her cheek a hard pinch, leaving a red mark behind.
She covered her face, shooting him a glance that was a mixture of coyness and resentment.
Then, he grabbed her by the nape of her neck and disciplined her a little more.
After they exited the main gate of Hanshan Temple, they arrived at the carriage from Duke Zhongyong’s Mansion.
Chun Xing was waiting by the carriage. When she saw Ji Qingwu, she rushed over. "Fifth Missy, you’re finally back! The madam has been worried sick. She nearly went to find you herself. It took a great deal of effort to talk her out of it."
Ji Qingwu asked, "Are my eldest sister and Jiu Jiu alright?"
"The madam and the young miss are both resting in the carriage," Chun Xing replied.
Jiu Jiu had already had a nap in the carriage. The moment she heard Ji Qingwu’s voice, she immediately lifted the curtain and peeked out with her little head.
The little girl’s face still bore the creases from her nap, a clear sign she had just woken up. "Mama!" she called out in a bright voice.
When Ji Qingrong saw her fifth sister return, the worry that had been weighing on her heart finally lifted. She was just about to scold her a little and tell her not to run off again when she spotted the figure of a man standing a few meters away.
Her mouth fell open, then snapped shut, her eyes wide with astonishment.
