Chapter 13: A spoiled child, full of love
Xiao Dongzi nodded: "Fifth Miss, this is an unprecedented gift from the Emperor, and you are the first to receive it."
Emperor Wu Su's oral instruction was truly extraordinary, and he also specifically pointed out that only Ji Qingwu could know about it, and not to be told to other members of the Ji family.
After delivering the gift, the young eunuch delivered the oral order and hurried back to the palace.
Ji Qingwu tightly grasped the brocade box in his hand with an unpleasant expression.
Mrs. Qiao took a few steps forward and patted her arm gently: "Xiaowu, you caught a cold today. You should stop standing at the door and get warm in the house."
Ji Qingwu remained silent and returned to Anjuyuan with Qiao. Ji Qingyuan said a few sarcastic words, but she seemed not to hear them.
As soon as Mrs. Qiao entered the room, she ordered the maid beside her: "Chunhua, go to the kitchen and watch the cook. Make a bowl of red dates and ginger soup for the young lady. Remember to make it thick so that it can drive away the cold."
Ji Qingwu sat on a seat in the main room with a dazed look on his face.
Knowing that her daughter had been through a lot today, and that she had handled herself appropriately in front of the Empress Dowager and had received a reward from the Emperor, Mrs. Qiao felt proud.
She said in a very gentle tone: "Xiaowu, you must be tired after all the hard work. Go take a hot bath first. We can talk later if there is anything else."
It's not that Qiao wasn't curious about the emperor's sudden oral order, but she wasn't supposed to know, so she wouldn't ask.
Ji Qingwu cheered up and said, "Mom, I'm fine."
"Lanzhi, come in."
Mrs. Qiao called in a maid, raised her head and said, "You will be responsible for taking care of Miss Fifth's daily life from now on."
Lanzhi bowed her head respectfully: "Yes, Madam."
"Lanzhi's mother is my maidservant who came with me as a dowry. She was born in the family and grew up in the courtyard. She is a dutiful and honest person. You can treat her as your own. I will also give you four little girls who can stay outside the house and do some cleaning work."
Ji Qingwu's eyes fell on Lanzhi, a girl with a decent appearance, about sixteen or seventeen years old. What was rare was her steady temperament.
Her mother must have given her the capable maidservant. Lanzhi was very familiar with the Ji Mansion and her temperament had been trained. With her by her side, she should be able to adapt to life here quickly.
Ji Qingwu smiled at Lanzhi kindly and said, "Please help me more in the future, Lanzhi."
Lanzhi was stunned for a moment, and then she lowered her head in surprise and said, "Miss, please don't say that. This is all my job."
A few days ago, the eldest lady told her mother that she wanted to transfer herself to serve the fifth young lady who had been lost a few years ago. She was actually afraid of having a new master, for she was afraid that the young lady would be resentful when she returned home and would bully servants of low status like them.
But I didn't expect that the fifth young lady is such a gentle and good-tempered person.
Lanzhi also heard that after the Fifth Miss entered the palace, she received a reward from the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, which even the most favored Fourth Miss in the palace had never received. Maybe in the future...
She must serve such a capable master well.
Qiao said to the master and servant, "Wutong Garden, where you are staying, has been prepared. Let Lanzhi take you there. If you need anything, just tell me. It's getting late, so go quickly."
Under the light, Ji Qingwu looked at his mother's gentle expression and nodded gratefully.
She was indeed tired today. She had not even had time to rest for an hour after returning home when she was summoned by the Queen Mother. Then she swam the 500-meter freestyle and was startled by someone else. After returning home, she received another unexpected decree.
Ji Qingwu did not forget to pick up Jiujiu who was sleeping soundly in the side courtyard, and went back to Wutong Garden together.
In Wutong Garden, there is a towering ancient Wutong tree in the yard.
After drinking the ginger soup handed to her by Lanzhi, Ji Qingwu went to the bathroom to wash up and soak in the hot soup until her face turned red. She walked lightly into the west room.
The little ball on the bed didn't recognize the bed at all and his breathing was soft.
After Ji Qingwu took off her shoes and got on the bed, Jiujiu felt her mother's scent and moved over, resting her tender little face on her arm.
Looking at the little girl's peaceful sleeping face, her fatigue dissipated a lot and she soon fell asleep.
With thick double-layered gauze hanging down, the space inside the bed was dim and quiet.
Ji Qingwu was still asleep when she felt a tightness in her chest. Without opening her eyes, she reached out her hand skillfully and, sure enough, she felt a soft little ball.
After the little girl woke up, she climbed on top of her, staring at her with her big watery eyes, as if she hadn't seen her for eight hundred years.
Ji Qingwu rubbed his eyes, his voice still sounding sleepy.
She said helplessly, "Jiujiu, you are no longer a one or two year old child. You are a big child of four years old. You really don't know how much you weigh now."
But she did not move Jiujiu away. Instead, she held Jiujiu's little butt with her hands and rubbed it again and again, indulging her behavior.
The little girl had a good sleep and her voice was crisp.
"Mother, it's not that Jiujiu has become heavier."
Ji Qingwu said with a smile: "What is that?"
The little girl stuck out her little butt, put her arms around her neck, and rubbed it.
She said coquettishly, "It's because Jiujiu loves A-niang more, that's why she became a big kid and A-niang feels that Jiujiu is heavy."
Ji Qingwu understood what the little girl meant. It turned out that the little body was not filled with soft flesh, but was full of love for her.
This child has been able to coax people since he was young. I don’t know where he learned it, but he is very sweet-talker.
She chuckled: "You are the smartest."
Jiujiu shouted excitedly: "I love my mother the most!"
Then he kissed Ji Qingwu all over the cheeks, covering her face with saliva.
Hearing some noise in the room, Lanzhi tiptoed in.
"Miss, are you going to get up?"
Ji Qingwu lifted the gauze curtain. It was already bright outside. She nodded reluctantly.
Lanzhi said softly, "The eldest lady sent someone to say that you can sleep a little longer. The old lady understands your hard work yesterday and does not need you to go to Shou'an Hall to pay respects."
Just as Ji Qingwu was about to stand up, his waist softened and he lay down again.
Since that's the case, she won't be polite.
She also didn't want to follow the rules of the girls from noble families who had to visit their parents every morning and evening. If she didn't want to have a comfortable nap just to gain a reputation as a virtuous woman, wouldn't she be a fool?
Ji Qingwu hugged his daughter and slept for another hour or two.
Lanzhi helped Jiujiu wash her face and comb her hair, and she felt a lot more relaxed.
Not long after, Chunhua, who was beside Qiao, came over to invite her.
"Fifth Miss, the eldest lady invites you to have dinner together at Anjuyuan. The eldest lady is also returning home today."
Ji Qingwu was sitting in front of the dressing table. She had already changed into a goose yellow dress embroidered with white magnolias. She let Lanzhi put her hair into a loose bun and simply inserted a black snow-white flower hairpin into the bun.
I have to say, clothes make the difference. This look is much more refined and attractive than her previous rustic outfit.
Ji Qingwu led Jiujiu to the gate of Anjuyuan and stopped.
She heard someone crying softly.
Feeling extremely aggrieved and sad.
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