Chapter 145 Someone's Intentions Are Obvious

Madam Qiao addressed the people below, saying, "Except for the Old Madam's Shou'an Hall, all purchases in the mansion must be reduced by 20%. You should all take good care of your accounts. If there are any problems, consult Steward Liu first. If Steward Liu cannot solve them, you may come to me. You may all leave now."

The servants bowed their heads in agreement and then orderly withdrew from the room.

Ji Qingwu walked to the opposite side of the kang table and sat down, looking at the pile of account books on the small table.

She asked in surprise, "Mother, why did you suddenly bring out all the account books from previous years?"

Qiao waved her hand, and Chunhua went to the door to stand guard.

Ji Qingwu looked at his mother and instantly caught the deep worry hidden in her eyes.

Madam Qiao sighed and said, "Your father sent a letter saying that Xijin has repeatedly provoked us, and there has been a lot of turmoil on the border recently. Your father has been in contact with merchants who specialize in traveling to the north. They have recently heard rumors that General Wei has been seriously injured, and the Emperor has sent General Yuchi to the border to quell the unrest. This war could break out at any time."

In the Lotus Pavilion, Consort Wei said the same thing after she barged in. But Emperor Wusu said that Wei Ting was unharmed, and she believed him; Wei Ting would be alright.

However, she had no idea whether or when this war would break out.

Qiao continued, "Our Ji family still needs to make plans as soon as possible."

At this time, it was necessary to organize the accounts, liquidate the family property, and save money in the household.

Ji Qingwu understood the deeper meaning. She rested her chin on her hands and said, "Mother, don't worry. I'm good at running away. If war breaks out and Lin'an City is not safe, I will take you and Qiuqiu to find a safe place to live."

She thought to herself that if things really got really dangerous, she would have to sneak into the palace and steal Yuan Heng out too, so that the whole family could escape together.

Qiao was amused by her words and asked with great amusement, "Little Wu, do you have any clever ways to escape? Teach your mother."

Ji Qingwu patted her chest and said, "Of course it's because of my intelligence and talent, and I also know how to disguise myself, I..." She stopped abruptly, feeling that she was about to give herself away.

When Qiao heard her words, there was no surprise on her face.

Looking warmly at her face, he said, "My little Wu, you're so amazing, that's wonderful."

She had just said those familiar words to Yuan Heng in the palace.

Ji Qingwu felt a surge of heat in his heart.

Then, Qiao took out something from under the box and said to her, "These shops are not the property of the Ji family, but my dowry, and they are for you."

Ji Qingwu wanted to refuse, but her eyes were glued to the stack of papers.

She wanted it, but was too embarrassed to take it.

Madam Qiao directly shoved the shop deed into her hand and said, "When your eldest sister got married, I gave it to her too. This one is for you. I was originally planning to give it to you as part of your dowry when you got married."

But her daughter's marriage still needed to be considered carefully. She sighed, "Looking at it now, we don't need to wait until then. Life is for ourselves, and it's better for you to take over sooner."

Madam Qiao then said earnestly, "My dear, with your mother by your side, you can do whatever you want without restraining yourself."

Seeing that Ji Qingwu's eyes were red, Qiao said with a smile, "You're a mother now, and you still cry all the time. If the servants saw you like that, they would laugh at you."

Seeing the smile lines at the corners of Qiao's eyes, Ji Qingwu rushed over and hugged her waist.

She said coquettishly, "I don't care, you're my mother. I'm just moved to tears. No one will laugh at me; they'll just envy my good fortune."

He was so easily satisfied with his youngest daughter, who had been lost since childhood, and he hugged her affectionately, just like when she used to cling to him when she was little.

Qiao felt a mix of bittersweet emotions. She patted her head and said, "Little Wu is so lucky. Your mother will be able to enjoy a life of happiness from now on."

Ji Qingwu stopped being polite, put away the shop deed, and sat up straight.

Remembering what Madam Qiao had just said, she said confidently, "Mother, don't worry about the money. I will find a way to make these shops more profitable. Even if we are not in Lin'an in the future, we can still control these shops remotely."

However, Qiao asked in confusion, "Xiao Wu, what are you talking about? Why did we leave Lin'an?"

Looking at the thick ledger in front of her, Ji Qingwu asked in confusion, "Mother, aren't you planning how the Ji family will escape and survive during the war?"

Madam Qiao shook her head: "If they really reach the capital, no one will be spared when the nest is overturned. The Ji family is the Empress Dowager's maternal family, so there is no way for them to escape."

Ji Qingwu was truly puzzled and asked, "Then why did Father instruct Mother to organize the accounts, see how much money we had left, and tell the whole family to be frugal and what we should do with the money we saved?"

Mrs. Qiao put the account book into a wooden box to the side and locked it.

Looking at her, he said, "Your father means that fighting on the front lines requires money. Although the national treasury has a surplus, it is still a new dynasty and the foundation is not yet solid. The Ji family should set an example as soon as possible."

Ji Qingwu understood.

Her father, Gibran, intended to donate all the family's remaining money to the Northern army at the front lines.

This sentiment truly left Ji Qingwu speechless.

Having lived here for so long, she has discovered that the Ji family is not extravagant or wasteful. This can be seen from the old lady's Shou'an Hall. Although he was a key minister who assisted the new emperor in ascending the throne, the regulations in the mansion did not exceed the bounds, and some parts could even be considered simple.

Compared to many extravagant aristocratic families in Lin'an, the Ji family could be described as "poor".

But while others are poor, they focus on their own well-being; her father, however, is poor but wants to help others.

Ji Bolian was an upright official. Most of the wealth of the eldest branch of the Ji family came from shops on the main road, while the second branch was a family that only spent money and never earned any.

The enormous expenses of the war were not enough even for the savings of tens of thousands of Ji families.

Qiao continued, "Your father is the most loyal to the emperor and loves his country. If the emperor says that the front line is short of people and needs to recruit soldiers, and we don't have any suitable sons in our family, and your eldest brother is on a mission to Southern Chu, do you believe that he would still be willing to go to the battlefield to kill the enemy at his age?"

Qiao's words were not an exaggeration, and Ji Qingwu's brows fell low upon hearing them.

Putting aside her age, her father was a civil official who couldn't lift a finger or carry anything heavy... He was far less capable than her, truly a man with a burning passion for serving his country but no talent.

Ji Qingwu said helplessly, "If that day really comes, I will have no choice but to follow the example of Mulan and join the army in place of my father."

Mrs. Qiao patted her head and said, "You child, there's no way you'll be sent to the battlefield."

Ji Qingwu thought about it and realized that it was hard to say.

＊

Wutong Garden.

As soon as Qiuqiu got home from school, she rushed into the yard like a little firecracker.

Ji Qingwu was sitting by the window, pondering the purpose of those shops. If there were to be a war, what kind of business would be more suitable?

"Mother!" the little girl's voice was loud and clear.

Chiu Chiu entered with a beaming smile, her pink and blue purse bulging.

She pulled everything out of the box like a treasure, covering the small square table with the same kind of fruit candy that Ji Qingwu had tasted last time.

The "candy tycoon" Chiu Chiu said very generously, "Mother, have some candy!"

Ji Qingwu could tell at a glance where the candies bearing the imperial kitchen's seal came from.

Someone really is using a two-pronged approach; today, they specifically ordered someone to lead her to Yuan Heng's palace.

He wasn't idle either.

This person's thoughts are crystal clear.