Chapter 36 See you in three days!

Emperor Wusu had not expected this.

One day, he will be disliked by his own son.

The young child said, "I believe the palace is not a good place to raise people, and I cannot bear to see her suffer after marrying into it."

Upon closer examination, this statement makes sense.

Emperor Wusu kept a cold face until the end of the palace banquet.

The Empress Dowager, Consort Wei, Ji Qingyuan, and even the Emperor were not very happy about the banquet.

But Ji Qingwu felt much more relaxed, both physically and mentally.

Firstly, archery exercised his muscles and bones, which relieved much of the tension and fear he felt after returning to Lin'an. Secondly, he received personal guidance from the emperor, which improved his archery skills.

Secondly, through two close encounters with Emperor Wusu, her heart calmed down.

He wasn't sure if he had recognized her...

But upon closer reflection, there are only two possibilities: if the emperor doesn't recognize her, she will continue to pretend; or if he does recognize her but pretends not to know, she will play along.

She's still alive and well, which is the best possible outcome.

The more she thought about it, the happier she became. Ji Qingwu couldn't help but curl up the corners of her mouth. If she could, she would hum a song.

Even when Emperor Wusu was leaving, he passed by Nanxi and glanced at her, and she was able to return his gaze with a smile without any hesitation.

This caused the emperor to pause in his steps.

But Ji Qingwu wanted to express her gratitude for his archery instruction, so she smiled even more brightly at him.

The woman's smile was more radiant than shimmering brocade, her eyes were bright and moist, and those who were looked at by her felt refreshed and completely at ease.

Emperor Wusu's eyes flickered, but he did not respond. However, his expression improved considerably, and he then walked away.

After all the dignitaries had left.

Qiao Shi pulled Xiao Wu along as they walked out of the South Seating Ceremony, where they ran into Li Chengxun, who was about to leave.

"Greetings, Madam Ji, and Fifth Miss."

Ji Qingwu gave a simple curtsy and replied, "Young Master Li."

Watching from the side, Madam Qiao thought the two of them looked very well-matched and nodded inwardly. Her original intention was just for the two of them to meet under the guise of the palace banquet. After exchanging greetings, Madam Qiao led Ji Qingwu out of the palace.

After leaving the palace gates, Ji Qingwu helped Qiao Shi into the carriage.

"Miss Ji, please wait a moment."

A clear male voice came from behind them.

Ji Qingwu turned around and saw a tall, elegant man in white.

"Young Master Li?"

Li Chengxun stepped forward, with a distance of one meter between them.

“Miss Ji, it was inconvenient to speak in the hall just now. Would you like to visit Hanshan Temple with me in three days? I have heard that the scenery from the top of the temple is quite beautiful.”

After he finished speaking, he smiled, as if the sunlight was shining on the snow, and Ji Qingwu immediately felt that his vision had brightened considerably.

She wasn't in a hurry to get married, but today she happened to have settled a major matter on her mind, and she was in a good mood.

Moreover, she had long heard of Hanshan Temple, which was built on the summit of Qianqi Mountain, where the scenery was magnificent, and she wanted to go and admire the beautiful scenery.

But is this in accordance with proper etiquette?

Inside the carriage, Madam Qiao lifted the curtain and said with a smile, "It's alright to have Lanzhi accompany you."

There's nothing wrong with young people traveling together in public, but it's unexpected that Young Master Li is so attentive to Xiao Wu, so Madam Qiao naturally wants to help them get together.

Ji Qingwu nodded and said generously, "Okay, see you at the foot of the mountain in three days."

Seeing that she had agreed, Li Chengxun smiled and said, "See you there."

After returning home, Ji Qingwu removed her hairpins and bracelets. Her right arm was a little sore; that Xuanyuan Bow was truly not something an ordinary person could wield.

She looked at her face in the mirror.

Familiar yet unfamiliar, she had almost forgotten what she truly looked like.

From a young age, Qiuqiu was used to Ji Qingwu changing her face from time to time, but the girl could always recognize her. She once asked, "How do you recognize your mother?"

Chirp chirp pounces on her, rolling around on her body, sniffing her with her little nose, saying that it's because her mother smells so good that she can't smell it anywhere else.

Ji Qingwu held a sandalwood comb with fine teeth and combed her long, black hair.

Lanzhi suddenly knocked on the door and came in. She lowered her voice but said urgently, "Fifth Miss, someone from the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence has come to tell you that they want you to come over."

"Now?" she asked in surprise.

It's already dark outside, and calling her over at this hour... could it be that something happened to her older sister?!

"Lanzhi, you stay home and look after Qiuqiu, I'm going over to check on her."

Ji Qingwu casually tied her hair into a bun with a jade hairpin and hurriedly went out.

The carriage sent by the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence was waiting at the door. She got into the carriage, her heart filled with unease. No wonder she hadn't seen anyone from the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence at the palace banquet today; it turned out something had happened to her eldest sister.

Upon entering Ninghua Hall, Xin'er led her into the bedroom.

Ji Qingrong was lying on the bed, and Lu Juan was holding a bowl in one hand and supporting her with the other arm, affectionately coaxing her to drink water.

Ji Qingwu was stunned. Her older sister's face was rosy, and she didn't seem to be so sick that she couldn't even drink water.

"Fifth Sister, you're here." Ji Qingrong slapped Lu Juan's hand dismissively, telling him to go aside and not disturb her conversation with her fifth sister.

Lu Juan said good-naturedly, "I invited Fifth Sister over, so please let me ask her a few questions."

"Brother-in-law, what happened that you called me over so late?"

"Fifth Sister, Qingrong fainted this afternoon while taking care of household affairs. We've already called a doctor, but his skills are mediocre, and I don't trust him. I'd rather you come and see her so I can feel at ease."

Ji Qingwu sat down by the bed and took her elder sister's left hand to feel her pulse. Ji Qingrong stared at her nervously, while Lu Juan paced anxiously back and forth on the floor.

In the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, Ji Qingwu calmly withdrew his hand.

Lu Juan stopped and asked, "So fast? Aren't you going to take my pulse a little longer?"

Ji Qingwu tucked her elder sister's hand back under the covers, pointed to herself, and raised an eyebrow, saying, "Don't underestimate my medical skills; I'm a gynecological expert."

Lu Juan humbly sought advice: "May I ask, sir, the doctor previously said that Qingrong's appearance resembled that of a pregnant woman, but the pregnancy was still in its early stages, and he could only wait a month before coming to take her pulse again. What insightful opinion do you have, sir?"

Before Ji Qingwu could speak, her eyes had already curved into a smile.

"It's definitely a pregnancy test."

Upon hearing the diagnosis, Ji Qingrong was stunned, and two streams of tears rolled down her cheeks.

She gripped Ji Qingwu's hand tightly, "Fifth Sister... is it true...?"

Ji Qingwu's hand stung a little from her elder sister's fingernails, but she nodded through the pain and said, "Big sister, it's true, don't you believe me?"

Ji Qingrong wiped away her tears haphazardly and nodded hurriedly, "I believe you, I believe you!"

Lu Juan's eyes flickered as he stood by the bed, hugged his wife tightly, and gently patted her back.

Seeing the couple's tender affection, Ji Qingwu didn't want to disturb them, but she still needed to tell them some medical advice in person.

"You can stop the original medication for now. I'll prescribe some mild tonics suitable for the fetus for your older sister."

Lu Juan: "Okay, I'll make sure she takes her medicine on time."

"Remember to tell your elder sister to take good care of her mind and not to worry about the affairs of the household. She should also avoid being overjoyed or angry."

Lu Juan: "Okay, we can ask my second sister-in-law to come and help."

Ji Qingwu remembered there was one more thing she had to mention, and she bit her lip.

Before, when I was a doctor, I treated women and children I didn't know. But once you know both husband and wife, it becomes a little embarrassing to say certain things.

"My elder sister is in poor health. Please, Your Highness, take care of her health. She should not have intercourse for the first three months."

Lu Juan: "...Okay."

Ji Qingrong buried her face in the blanket.

*

Ji Qingwu walked out of the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence. The night outside was dark, and he could not see the road.

She came out in a hurry, still wearing the same Xiangyun gauze dress she wore to the palace banquet. A gust of evening wind made her shiver.

She quickly boarded the carriage that was waiting at the door.

But before she could even sit down, she realized something was wrong.

The carriage was more than twice as spacious.