Chapter 336 I miss my mother so much, and I also miss sweet cakes.

Life in Wutong Garden had been too comfortable before, but ever since the emperor's assassination attempt, Ji Qingwu's heart had been in constant turmoil for several days.

Only after Su Fengyue was arrested tonight did her heart finally feel a little more at ease.

Ji Qingwu turned over, clutching the blanket, her gaze unfocused as she stared at the pear wood carvings on the headboard.

The evidence in Su Fengyue's case is conclusive, and only the finishing touches remain. The big fish in the court has been caught, but the turbulent waters will remain muddy for a while before they become clear again.

Next, Emperor Wusu will begin the purge.

The Empress Dowager's actions did not disappoint the Emperor, and Wei Ting gave him an even greater surprise.

Ji Qingwu married into the Wei family and bears the surname Ji, so it's hard to believe she could remain uninvolved.

She didn't know how she fell asleep, but she knew she was woken up by someone nudging her.

A soft, fragrant ball of dough burrowed around inside her blanket, successfully making the four corners of the blanket drafty.

Isn't it said that daughters are their mothers' little cotton-padded jackets?

Ji Qingwu rubbed his sore eyes and hugged the little girl who was trying to stir up trouble in his quilt.

"Chirp chirp, sleep a little longer..."

Her voice was still groggy and had a heavy nasal tone, which sounded off.

Chirp chirped in a clear voice, "Mother, it's already noon. If we sleep any longer, it will be dark."

Ji Qingwu opened her eyes a crack in disbelief, and reached her wrist out from under the bed curtains, lifting them slightly.

The blinding light shone through the crack, and the pale wrist was immediately withdrawn.

Chiu Chiu nestled against her, her little face close to her ear, and called out softly, "Mother."

Ji Qingwu hugged her tightly, his eyelids feeling as heavy as a thousand pounds, and closed again.

She asked, "What's wrong?"

Chiu Chiu nuzzled against her and said, "Mother, can you stay with me all day?"

Ji Qingwu's drowsiness was immediately dispelled. Qiuqiu was rarely so clingy. She opened her eyes wide and asked with surprise and uncertainty.

"Is someone in the Wei family bullying you?"

Chiu Chiu shook her head and said, "No one bullied me. I just miss my mother, and I also miss..."

The little girl pouted, looking at her with her dark pupils.

Ji Qingwu immediately hugged her tightly with heartache and agreed, "What are you thinking about? Your mother will accompany you to do everything today."

Chiu Chiu said, "I want to eat the candied hawthorns sold on the street, I want to eat the crispy cheese made by Granny Li, and what I want to eat most is the sugar cake from the palace."

Ji Qingwu looked at the little girl with longing eyes and realized that she wanted to eat something delicious.

Okay, let's eat!

The little girl is in a stage of growth, and a good appetite indicates good health.

Ji Qingwu summoned Xuemei and instructed her to go to the street to buy two strings of gourds. He also sent Lanzhi back to the Ji family and asked Granny Li to make a batch of crispy cheese.

Finally, the only thing missing is the sugar cake made by the imperial kitchen.

Ji Qingwu walked into the courtyard, still unaware of where Sanchuan Sihai usually hid.

She first walked around the courtyard, surveying the possible hiding spots.

Hanzhi, who was in charge of sweeping, came up and said, "Madam, what are you looking for? I'll help you."

Ji Qingwu said, "No need. You can go down first. I'll take a walk in the courtyard. I don't want anyone to disturb me."

After everyone left, Ji Qingwu walked to the rockery in the courtyard, which featured a landscape painting.

He said softly, "Sanchuan."

Sure enough, a black figure immediately appeared above their heads; it was Sihai.

He had been following Ji Qingwu ever since she appeared in the courtyard.

Sihai asked, "What do you want?"

Ji Qingwu said, "Sihai, could you go to the palace and fetch a piece of sweet cake?"

Si Hai never expected it was for this matter; he thought it was to deliver a message to the emperor.

He hesitated and said, "Imperial meals are handled by the head of the Imperial Household Department, so I can only ask around."

"Go ask first."

Ji Qingwu also gave the prepared light blue purse to Sihai, thinking that, as before, Li Yuzong would definitely fill the purse and return it.

Sihai returned quickly to report, even faster than Lanzhi and Xuemei.

There was a knock on the window.

The mother and daughter sitting on the tatami mat both had their eyes light up.

Ji Qingwu opened the window, and Sihai saw two pairs of longing eyes. He lowered his head in shame.

He returned the deflated purse with both hands.

Qiuqiu's little face fell, and Ji Qingwu asked in surprise, "Why didn't you get it?"

Sihai hung his head and said, "Eunuch Li said that things in the palace cannot be collected by proxy; the person must be there in person."

Si Hai didn't specify who wanted the sugar cake, so Li Yuzong assumed it was Ji Qingwu.

Emperor Wusu returned to the Hall of Diligent Governance at midnight and held one morning meeting after another, with five or six batches of officials coming and going.

Li Yuzong was also extremely busy and wanted to advise the emperor to rest and take care of his health, but he simply didn't have the courage to do so.

Just then, people from all over came looking for him, so he took it upon himself to come up with this idea.

Li Yuzong stood at the entrance of the Qinzheng Hall, looking across the street as if he were anxiously waiting for someone.

Xiao Dongzi said, "Master, it's already this late, and the Emperor hasn't had lunch yet. Even someone made of iron couldn't do that, let alone someone who suffered such a serious injury recently."

Li Yuzong looked worried and said, "Do you think I don't know? But at this time, who dares to advise me?"

The emperor had risked his life to secure this moment, so of course he had to wipe out the remaining rebels and traitors in the court in one fell swoop. All the previous forbearance was for the sake of waiting for this moment.

Li Yuzong was conflicted because he understood the difficulties Emperor Wusu had faced.

But serving Emperor Wusu his meals and bedtime was his duty as the head of the Imperial Household Department.

Li Yuzong tried to persuade him once, but upon seeing Emperor Wusu's sharp gaze, he was "killed" and sent back, his back covered in sweat.

He was filled with anticipation, hoping that ancestor would come quickly.

Unexpectedly, another little tyrant arrived instead.

When Sihai placed the little girl carrying the shrunken pink and blue purse in front of Li Yuzong, his old eyes looked slightly dull.

"This, this, this..." Even his usually fluent tongue faltered.

Instead of a lifesaver, a death knell has arrived. There's no time left to soothe the child or take care of the baby.

Undeterred, Li Yuzong asked, "...Miss Ji didn't come?"

Sihai said, "That's exactly what Miss Ji said: she wanted her daughter to be well-fed and happy before sending her back."

"Miss Ji has other important matters to attend to."

Li Yuzong pressed further, "What important matter is it?"

What urgent matter could possibly require sending the children to the palace?

Sihai scratched his head and said, "Take some more sleep."

Li Yuzong's eyes went black as he said, "Miss Ji, don't you know that His Majesty is so busy that he doesn't even have time to drink water?"

"Miss Ji also said that if you find taking care of the child too tiring, that's fine too—"

Li Yuzong's eyes lit up again, and he hurriedly asked, "What can I do? Tell me quickly!"

Sihai said, "We can also send Prince Yuanheng to her place. She has prepared candied hawthorns and osmanthus cakes, enough to fill him up."

Another group of officials came out of the Hall of Diligent Governance.

Inside were the unchanging Emperor Wusu, Lu Juan, and Duan Mingfeng.