Chapter 61: Keep the order in mind and don’t dare to go beyond the rules
The chief steward of the Imperial Household Department soon appeared in front of Ji Qingwu and conveyed the emperor's order.
But she really didn’t understand why she had to go with the emperor when he summoned Yuan Heng?
She was just passing through.
Ji Qingwu looked at the palace with carved beams and painted rafters in the distance and said in embarrassment, "Eunuch Li, I still have to wait for Jiujiu to finish school."
Li Yuzong waved his whisk and ordered the young eunuch beside him to come forward.
"Miss Ji, let Xiao Dongzi wait here for you. I'll call you when there's news. His Majesty is still waiting. If you wait too long, His Majesty will be unhappy."
Yuan Heng straightened his chest and said bravely: "Come with me, I will protect you."
Ji Qingwu sighed, there was no way to avoid it, so she followed him into the Qinzheng Hall and, together with Yuan Heng, paid their respects to the emperor.
"Stand up." The voice coming from the throne was as cold as always.
She stood up and stood in the center of the hall. Seeing Lu Juan sitting on her right, she bowed.
"Meet Lord Lu."
Lu Juan smiled at her gently. He hadn't seen his fifth sister for some time and didn't expect to meet her in the palace today.
Just seeing how harmoniously she had with the little prince, he was slightly surprised. Young Prince Yuan Heng had a similar personality to the emperor and did not like to interact with outsiders.
What surprised him even more was yet to come.
The king on the throne said coldly, "Ziyou, isn't there something going on at home?"
If the emperor said there was something going on at home, then there was something going on.
Lu Juan immediately understood, stood up and walked out.
As he walked, he said, "My wife is still pregnant, and I need to go home as soon as possible to take care of her. I will take my leave now."
Ji Qingwu's eyes followed Lu Juan closely, wanting to ask whether his elder sister was in good health and whether her morning sickness was serious.
But her brother-in-law walked so fast that he didn't give her time to speak, and he didn't even look at her.
Emperor Wu Su said calmly: "Yuan Heng, come here."
The little guy walked forward, Emperor Wu Su stared at his wrist with a frown, Yuan Heng pulled up his sleeves and quietly covered the five-colored thread.
Emperor Wu Su asked in a deep voice: "Have you completed all the homework assigned by the Grand Tutor?"
I just got home from school and went to the study room, so I don’t have time to do my homework.
"I haven't finished yet."
Emperor Wu Su drove him away with a cold face: "You should have the ambition to establish a heart for the world and a life for the people. Don't be greedy for fun. Hurry up and go."
Yuan Heng said in a crisp voice: "I obey your command."
The conversation between the father and son made Ji Qingwu sigh in his heart.
Her son has been living a hard life these years. He comes when he is called and leaves when he is dismissed, and he never gives her a good face.
Yuan Heng turned around and glanced at Ji Qingwu, his dark eyes full of apology, silently apologizing for the bold words he had said before.
Ji Qingwu shook his head slightly, meaning that he was not to blame.
She understands.
Because she couldn't stand Emperor Wu Su's cold eyes.
The interaction between the two was seen by the person on the high seat. He wondered when she had ever looked at him with such reluctance.
Emperor Wu Su's expression turned a little colder.
Seeing that Lu Juan and the little prince were driven out one after another, without waiting for the emperor to speak, Li Yuzong was very tactful and retreated quickly, leaving the red door ajar.
Half a cup of tea.
She and the emperor were the only ones left in the Qinzheng Hall.
He didn't feel anything just now when there were many people around, but when the two of them were alone, Ji Qingwu began to feel uneasy.
It felt like there was a small hammer hammering in my heart, making a clanging sound and I couldn't get any peace.
But after spending a few times together, she could feel that the head on her shoulders should be stable and her life was not in danger.
However, the fear that comes from the bottom of the heart is not so easy to get rid of.
Emperor Wu Su saw her eyes moving and her eyelashes fluttering, and she looked a little flustered, but finally she was no longer trembling with fear.
This change is a good sign.
The last time she came to the Qinzheng Hall, she was like a frightened bird when she saw him.
The last time, in the side hall of the Cining Palace, he still remembered that the woman's clothes were wet and her slender waist was shaking violently.
Emperor Wu Su walked down from the platform and slowly came to her.
Ji Qingwu still kept her head down, not daring to look him in the eye. She had to force herself not to step back, allowing that gaze to fall on her.
Only a long sigh was heard.
"Are you so afraid of me? Tell me why you are afraid of me."
Ji Qingwu's eyes wandered, but he didn't dare to look at his face. Looking down, he saw a bright yellow gold-engraved plum blossom belt inlaid with tiles and beads, which hugged his slender waist.
How should I respond to the reason why I am afraid of him?
She stared at the plum blossoms until her eyes were sore, and then she replied respectfully: "I have a deep respect for Your Majesty, so I am extremely terrified."
The answer she carefully selected in her mind should not be wrong.
The Mandate of Heaven is clear, the imperial power is majestic, and the common people are humiliated. Who can not be afraid when seeing the emperor?
Very good, Ji Qingwu applauded himself in his heart.
Seeing that she still had a hint of complacency on her face, the emperor lowered his eyes with a hint of danger in them.
"Why do I feel that your behavior is not awe, but more like..."
He deliberately paused for a few seconds, then raised his hand to lift her chin.
Ji Qingwu met his cold eyes and immediately avoided them guiltily.
Emperor Wu Su said casually: "I have done something wrong."
Ji Qingwu suddenly thought of what he had done that was "wrong" and his legs began to weaken. Those clear eyes began to waver again, and there was a tendency for mist to spread.
Emperor Wu Su instead pinched her cheek with two fingers, leaned closer, his eyes dimmed slightly.
"I can't even mention it. She becomes soft as soon as I mention it. She'll cry in front of me as soon as I mention it."
Ji Qingwu didn't want to be so useless and couldn't hold back his tears.
He stared at her face, not missing a single change in her expression. "It seems like you really did something bad, and you want to win my pity?"
Ji Qingwu held back her bitter tears, looked up at him with moist eyes, and said delicately, "I dare not."
Emperor Wu Su said in an ambiguous tone, "You don't dare? Is there anything Miss Ji doesn't dare to do? You are timid, but you prefer to do bold things."
Ji Qingwu's pupils shrank. Was this a hidden meaning or just a casual remark?
She was surprised and confused, but he let her go and walked back to the throne. He sat there with natural dignity, tall and straight, looking at her deeply.
After keeping a certain distance, Ji Qingwu's breathing became much smoother.
When she calmed down, Emperor Wu Su asked, "Let's talk about something else. Was the five-colored thread on Yuan Heng's wrist a gift from you?"
Even such a small matter was noticed by the emperor, Ji Qingwu nodded.
"This is written by a servant, hoping that your Highness will be safe and sound."
Emperor Wu Su raised the jade cup and said, "In what capacity do you do this? When will the prince need the minister's daughter to take care of him?"
She thought about it and realized that the reason Yuan Heng gave might be used to appease a child, but it was absolutely inappropriate to use it to reply to the emperor.
Emperor Wu Su then asked, "Why are you trying so hard to get close to the prince?"
Ji Qingwu's knees trembled, and she wanted to kneel down again. She explained in a low voice: "I have no other intentions. I just get along well with the young prince."
"I can't hear you clearly. Come closer and answer me."
She walked up the steps reluctantly and came to his side.
"Do you know what your actions mean to others?"
Ji Qingwu thought about it deeply.
There is only one prince in the harem, and he was previously raised in Concubine Wei's palace. Therefore, Wei Liru has greater power in the harem.
If she were to get close to the prince, outsiders would only think that Ji wanted her to enter the palace as a concubine, adopt the prince, and achieve success overnight.
This move was indeed rash. Ji Qingwu was pointed out by him and quickly shook her head and said, "This minister absolutely did not mean that."
"I have always kept in mind the instructions Your Majesty gave me, and I dare not think of breaking the rules."
Emperor Wu Su's face darkened and he tightened his grip on the jade cup.
That oral instruction...
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