Chapter 123 Yuan Heng's birth mother was mentally challenged and had a bad fate.

Through a series of coincidences, Princess Huachang suddenly had the idea of ​​having a child, so she decided to go with the flow.

Because a few days ago was the anniversary of the death of the Yuchi family.

The Yuchi family was full of loyal martyrs who survived the massacre at Hangu Pass, but now only Yuchi Lianping remains. With his father and brothers gone, the honor and burden of the Yuchi lineage rest on his shoulders.

He also has a grandmother in his hometown. Every month, the old lady would send someone to write letters urging him to have a child, as if she would not be able to die in peace if she did not see her great-grandchild.

Princess Huachang was unaware of this matter, but the carrier pigeon was rather dim-witted, and one day it fluttered to her window.

After reading the vulgar language in the letter, she felt like washing her eyes.

But it also made her realize that over the years, Yuchi Lianping was not as indifferent to matters concerning children as he appeared on the surface.

......

Seeing that she was deep in thought with her eyes closed, Ji Qingwu's brow twitched slightly, and he gently interrupted her reminiscence.

"Your Highness, General Yuchi will be heading to the northern border the day after tomorrow. Why don't you invite him back so that the two of you can have an open and frank discussion?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Princess Huachang opened her eyes.

Her eyes returned to their placid state, and she said, "Talk? What is there for me to talk about with that brute!"

Ji Qingwu said, "But..."

Princess Huachang's eyes, which were as deep as a still pool, suddenly welled up with tears.

"But what but? Do you really think having a child is an easy thing! Let whoever wants to have the child have it. Anyway, it's the Yuchi family that's going to die out, not our Zhao family!"

After saying this, Princess Huachang felt much better.

After a while, she thought about how the Zhao family's empire had almost been wiped out.

She parted her lips and said, "I don't know if Yuan Heng's birth mother was stupid or just unlucky. She suffered the most painful thing about childbirth but didn't have the fortune to enjoy it."

Princess Huachang sought her approval, saying, "Don't you agree, Qingwu?"

If forced to choose between the two, Ji Qingwu replied, "...maybe it's just bad luck."

She's not stupid.

*

Ji Qingwu had just returned to the Ji residence that evening when the imperial gifts arrived.

As soon as she entered the main gate, Chunhua, who was standing next to Qiao Shi, was waiting for her at the door and pulled her directly to Shou'an Hall, where Old Madam Ji was.

The person inside said, "Madam, the Empress Dowager ordered me to bring you red ginseng, which is very nourishing. Please take good care of yourself. The Empress Dowager has been thinking of you."

Ji Qingwu stood at the entrance of the main hall and looked inside. Standing in the hall was Aunt Fanghua, who was by the side of the Empress Dowager. Shi Xi was not there, probably still busy taking care of the sick Princess Qingyun.

These days, Old Madam Ji's health has been fluctuating. Today, she seemed to be in relatively good spirits, but her cheeks were much sunken and she looked much older. Ji Qingyuan sat next to the old lady.

Upon seeing Ji Qingwu appear, Madam Qiao called out, "Xiao Wu, come quickly and thank the Emperor."

Aunt Fanghua also looked over and said with a smile, "Fifth Miss is finally back."

Ji Qingwu didn't have much contact with this aunt on a regular basis, so she curtsied in greeting.

Madam Qiao said, "Xiao Wu had to go out on business, which troubled Auntie to wait for so long."

Aunt Fanghua said, "Madam, you're too kind. This is what I should do." Then, she turned around and gave a wink to the little eunuch waiting behind her.

The young eunuch immediately presented a black lacquered box with a gold-painted landscape design, placed it on the table, and gently opened it, eliciting gasps of amazement from everyone.

Inside, there was a box, inside the box was a chest, and inside the chest was a drawer, a winding and complex structure.

After removing the partitions one by one, eight fan-shaped structures are revealed, resembling a windmill, with the central circular wall able to rotate and flow freely.

Aunt Fanghua said respectfully, "Fifth Miss, everything inside was selected for you by the Empress Dowager from the storeroom, hoping it would suit your taste."

The Eight Treasures Container contains many precious items.

Ji Qingwu looked at the items in the box, which included a jade bracelet inlaid with rubies, a round fan with two carp swimming freely, a jade sachet carved with the Two Immortals of Harmony and Union, a pearl gold ring, and a red gold begonia eight-treasure tassel hairpin, among other things.

She didn't understand why the Empress Dowager was suddenly being so generous, especially since she had contradicted the Empress Dowager last time.

Ji Qingwu asked in confusion, "Aunt Fanghua, did the Empress Dowager say why she bestowed this upon me?"

Fanghua exclaimed in surprise, "Fifth Miss, you saved Princess Qingyun's life. Originally, Her Majesty wanted to summon you to Cining Palace, but the princess has not yet recovered, and the Empress Dowager is also recovering from her illness and is not in a position to see anyone. Therefore, she instructed me to come to the Ji residence first to give you the reward."

When Madam Ji and Madam Qiao heard this, they were all surprised.

When did Ji Qingwu save Princess Qingyun's life? When the princess fell ill, they only said it was because she had caught a cold. But it turns out that something else had happened that they didn't know about.

When Ji Qingwu rescued Qingyun, he never expected to gain anything from it.

Especially after that arrogant little princess slapped her without any regard for the consequences.

She asked, "Did Princess Qingyun say that?"

Fanghua said, "The princess's fever only subsided this morning, and she burst into tears whenever she mentioned the Fifth Miss. She is deeply grateful for your life-saving grace."

Ji Qingwu was a little confused, but after kneeling for a while, he cleared his head.

Princess Qingyun spent the entire night in the cold wind at the edge of the cliff. The night was terrifying, with the cliff face and the roars of wild animals. Even with someone by her side, it was still unbearable for her.

In her sleep, she would talk nonsense, shouting, "Fifth cousin, save me!"

Upon waking up, the first person she wanted to see, the person who gave her the greatest sense of security, was surprisingly Ji Qingwu.

But Princess Qingyun, who was still conscious, could not bring herself to say that she wanted to see her fifth cousin.

When the Empress Dowager ordered Fanghua to prepare a thank-you gift, it was Fanghua who, with a hoarse voice, took the initiative to offer to send her beloved treasure box to the Ji family.

Ji Qingwu graciously accepted the black lacquered box and said, "Thank you, Aunt Fanghua. I will go to the palace to pay my respects another day."

After the palace staff left.

Shouan Hall returned to quiet.

It had been a long time since she had seen such long-staying guests, and the weariness on Old Madam Ji's face was quite evident.

Mrs. Qiao said worriedly, "Mother, we won't disturb your rest any longer."

Ji Qingyuan also said, "Grandmother, you should rest well." Then she said to the person standing next to her, "Granny Feng, make sure Grandmother drinks the nourishing soup on time."

Ji Qingwu didn't say much and was about to leave with the others.

Madam Ji coughed and said, "Qingwu, you stay."

Qiao hesitated, glanced at her, and Ji Qingwu gently shook her head, indicating that she could do it herself.

Ji Qingwu sat quietly in the rosewood chair at the lower end of the table, looking down at her hand.

The old lady was in poor spirits. After being helped to lean against the couch by Granny Feng, she said, "You should go out first. I want to talk to Qingwu for a while."

Ji Qingwu knew that the old lady was biased. It wasn't that she disliked him, but that Ji Changyan and Ji Qingyuan had grown up by her side since childhood and had a long-standing relationship with her.

Even the palm and back of the hand can have different thicknesses.

At first, she also longed to receive care from her elders through Madam Ji.

Fortunately, the Qiao family gave her enough.

She no longer needs to draw warmth from these "family members" who weigh her worth before giving her a kind look.

Ji Qingwu's long eyelashes concealed the emotions in her eyes, but when she lifted them again, her eyes were already smiling.

"Grandmother, why did you ask me to stay? Is there something you want to discuss?"