Chapter 88 Crimson Lotus Shines, Yin and Yang Unite

Behind Ji Qingwu stands a towering willow tree.

The willow branches drooped to the edge of the pond, swaying in the wind behind the woman.

Ji Qingwu, dressed in a light blue dress, resembled a small tree, with eyebrows and eyes like willows shrouded in mist, yet her figure was upright and straight.

Seeing Mo Lingling's guilty look, Ji Qingwu continued, "Why are you making such a big fuss, wanting the whole city to know that you're pregnant and looking for a father for the child in your belly? What's the reason?"

Mo Lingling was furious that her thoughts had been guessed: "It's nothing, you're overthinking it!" Then, she turned around and quickly tried to leave.

Ji Qingwu did not stop her, but said calmly from behind her, "Are you forcing the real father of the child in your womb to appear?"

While pulling her by the wrist, she had secretly checked Mo Lingling's pulse. "If you keep going like this, the baby will be lost before he even appears."

Mo Lingling's shoulders trembled, and her figure stopped.

Ji Qingwu's mention of the condition of her unborn child caused a rift in her heart.

Having been in such close proximity, Ji Qingwu had already smelled the mugwort scent on her. Presumably, Mo Lingling also knew that she was showing signs of an unstable pregnancy and had been using the method of fumigating with mugwort to protect the pregnancy.

Mo Lingling said wearily, "But I have no better way, this is the only thing I can do."

Ji Qingwu asked, "But the child's father is unwilling to take responsibility?"

She made her pregnancy a public announcement throughout the city; even if the man was blind and mute, he must have heard about it by now.

“I think it’s him… he’s too busy,” Mo Lingling whispered in defense.

Ji Qingwu looked up at the azure sky and remained silent for a long time, speechless.

She shouldn't have interfered; she should have respected individual fate. She shook her head and walked away.

Mo Lingling calmed down this time and followed behind her, saying, "But he's been really busy with work lately. He didn't mean to ignore me." She had come up with every excuse she could think of for him, and this was the most plausible one.

Ji Qingwu slowed his pace and asked, "Official business? Is he a government official?"

"I didn't say that." Mo Lingling covered her mouth, afraid of letting something slip.

Ji Qingwu said decisively, "Then don't say it."

She continued walking, but after a few dozen steps, she stopped.

Looking at the three-way intersection in front of her, Ji Qingwu didn't know which way to go. She had pulled Mo Lingling along in a hurry and hadn't remembered the way when she came.

Mo Lingling looked at the intersection: "I don't know the way either. I came with you, so you have to take me back to the main gate."

Neither of them remembered the route or how to get back, so they could only grope their way forward. After walking for half an hour, making many twists and turns, Ji Qingwu's forehead began to be covered in a thin layer of sweat.

Finally, they entered a secluded, winding path, where they heard no human voices, only the chirping of birds and the croaking of frogs.

After walking for so long without anyone speaking, Mo Lingling couldn't hold back any longer.

He called out, "Miss Ji Wu."

The path was very narrow, and the weeds on both sides were more than a meter tall, so Ji Qingwu had to gather her skirt up and lift it as she walked.

She didn't turn around or stop, and asked, "What is it?"

Mo Lingling bit her lip, feeling that Ji Qingwu was someone she could befriend, and finally asked the question that had been on her mind all these days.

"If the person you like is someone admired by others, and you know that the two of you are not a good match in terms of family background and status, and that being together is destined to be difficult, would you still try to win them over?"

It seems that she and the child's father are of very different statuses; she must be a high-ranking official in the imperial court.

Ji Qingwu pushed the overgrown grass aside and asked, puzzled, "Why does it have to be worthy?"

Mo Lingling was speechless, and said softly, "Marriage isn't about matching social status..."

"Would you be willing to marry a male prostitute?"

"Of course not!"

Ji Qingwu chuckled: "You're picky about food, and you choose exquisite and beautiful clothes and jewelry, so why don't you choose the best when it comes to choosing a husband?"

Mo Lingling was stunned for a long time, and said with a heavy heart, "He and I are like heaven and earth. No matter how confident I am, I feel ashamed in front of him."

"You despise yourself, so naturally others won't respect you. Did you only take a liking to him because of his reputation and status?"

Mo Lingling immediately said, "Absolutely not. I've admired him since I was in Xianyang. Back then, he was still..." As she spoke, her voice trailed off, as if she were lost in memories.

Ji Qingwu turned to look at her, and asked in surprise, "Are you from Xianyang? Why have you come to Lin'an?"

Xianyang is a prosperous and peaceful place, and Mo Lingling doesn't need to take the imperial examinations like men. So what is she doing traveling all over the place?

Upon hearing her question, Mo Lingling immediately rolled up her sleeves, revealing a large expanse of skin.

Ji Qingwu immediately took a step back warily.

Mo Lingling glared at her and said, "I didn't intend to do anything to you, see for yourself."

There was a large brand on her right arm, and Ji Qingwu's eyes widened slightly.

"Who are you......"

“I am the daughter of a disgraced official. My father was originally the county magistrate of Xianyang, but he was framed for embezzlement and was murdered in prison.”

Mo Lingling spoke calmly, as if she were telling someone else's story: "I was also forced into prostitution because of this."

She was originally a daughter of an official who had fallen into prostitution.

Ji Qingwu now understood where that naiveté that occasionally popped up in her body came from.

Mo Lingling lowered her eyes and said softly, "He said he would help me clear my father's name, and I have been waiting for him."

"I have no comment on your matter."

Ji Qingwu reached out and gently lowered her rolled-up sleeves. "But take care of yourself and don't catch a cold."

Having not been genuinely cared for in a long time, Mo Lingling's eyes welled up with tears. She strained to open her eyes wide and tried to pretend that nothing had happened.

She changed the subject, saying, "Miss Ji, you analyze emotional issues so well. What kind of man was your husband? He was the one who died."

Ji Qingwu withdrew his hand.

He turned around deftly and continued walking without saying a word.

*

Hanshan Temple, Master Liaoran's meditation room.

Not long after Ji Qingwu left, a distinguished guest arrived.

The man wore a long robe made of soft white silk with orchid patterns, embodying the saying, "A gentleman should be like an orchid, serene and far-reaching, like a gentle breeze in a secluded valley."

A set of elegant, thin-walled official kiln porcelain tea set was placed in front of me.

Master Liaoran is pouring tea for this person. The aroma of tea blends with the charcoal fire, and the white jade cup is filled with green liquid.

"This is tea that I personally picked and processed in Zhangling. Please have a taste, Your Majesty."

Emperor Wusu picked up the teacup, smelled its aroma, took a small sip, and said, "It's acceptable."

Master Liaoran nodded in satisfaction. To receive the word "acceptable" from this person was already a high compliment, as the previous teas had all received comments such as "lowest grade" or "second-rate."

The two sat facing each other on either side of a carved chessboard, on which lay an unsolved game.

"Last time, I requested an audience with the Emperor, but was unable to do so. Today, Your Majesty seems to be in the mood to come and sit in my meditation room."