Chapter 135 The Emperor is still unhappy, but the consequences aren't too serious (Seeking monthly votes!)
Ji Qingwu's heart skipped a beat when he suddenly stared at her.
She immediately stood at attention, changed her expression, and her face was full of fawning smiles.
She said in a soft, gentle voice, "Your Majesty, you're awake."
Emperor Wusu's voice was slightly hoarse, with a hint of barely perceptible fatigue.
"Why did it take you so long to get here? Didn't you want to come?"
That was a very accurate guess.
Upon hearing this, Ji Qingwu trembled slightly.
She then replied softly, "How could I dare disobey Your Majesty's decree? It's just that this place is quite far from Cining Palace, and I'm not very fast. I've kept Your Majesty waiting. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."
"You dare not?"
Emperor Wusu's words carried a hint of mockery and scrutiny: "I see you dare to do anything, you're incredibly bold."
Ji Qingwu fell silent, lowered her head guiltily, and looked at her toes, appearing obedient and docile.
Seeing her expression, Emperor Wusu set out the teacups, picked up the teapot from the stove, poured himself a cup, and moistened his throat.
"Tell me first what you have done."
Ji Qingwu had nothing to hide. Her "grudge" with Prince Yong was accumulated on that night on the dragon boat, and the emperor knew about it.
She frankly stated, "I gave Princess Yong a prescription for that kind of medicine."
Emperor Wusu raised his eyes and asked, "Which prescription? Please be more specific."
For some reason, Ji Qingwu felt a little embarrassed to speak in front of the emperor. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she carefully considered her words.
"It's the kind of prescription that will make Prince Yong spend the rest of his life as a eunuch."
This could be considered torture for a man, and Emperor Wusu was surprised that she would do such a thing when he heard about it earlier.
The dim lighting made the spacious Lotus Pavilion feel cramped.
Ji Qingwu, awaiting his fate, was so nervous that he could hear his own heartbeat.
Emperor Wusu said, "What grudge do you have against Prince Yong that you would resort to such methods? Although Ming Hong intends to get close to you, he has not taken any substantial action."
Ji Qingwu explained, "Your Majesty is well aware that Prince Yong is plotting against me. If something were to happen, it would be too late. I am merely taking precautions."
"Acting recklessly will only bring greater trouble upon yourself. Is this your way of preventing problems before they arise?"
Emperor Wusu's words carried a hint of reproach.
Ji Qingwu could remain indifferent to other people's questioning and reprimands, but his words, which were merely accusatory, were unbearable to her.
She opened her lips again, her expression revealing stubbornness, no longer the coquettish girl she had been before.
"What does Your Majesty mean? Just because Prince Yong is of noble birth, does that mean I should swallow my anger and let things go just because he didn't really bully me that night?"
Her voice carried a questioning tone, as if she wanted to pour out all the grievances in her heart.
Emperor Wusu looked into her eyes, which were filled with resentment, and slowly said, "I have already punished Minghong, ordering him to guard the Golden Juice torture as a warning."
During the execution, Prince Yong was so frightened that he fainted, and it took him a while to recover.
Ji Qingwu met his gaze stubbornly, refusing to back down in the slightest.
"But that was His Majesty's doing. I also want to do something with my own strength. I can't just sit here and wait to die. What if someone else, like Ji Changyan, discovers Prince Yong's feelings for me and tries to send me to Prince Yong's bedside?"
Emperor Wusu put down his teacup, stared at her, and said in a deep voice, "There are many unknown dangers, and even more that you cannot foresee. But since you have taken action, I would like to hear what makes you think you can get away unscathed?"
Ji Qingwu pondered for a moment, then smiled calmly and said, "It depends on luck."
The emperor couldn't help but chuckle at her use of the word "luck."
"Relying solely on luck won't allow you to survive long in the palace."
Seeing the sarcastic smile on his lips, Ji Qingwu said resolutely, "I never thought of a way out. I act according to my heart. Besides, this matter has already been resolved, and I have not been punished. Why should I bind myself to this matter?"
Seeing that she didn't want to talk about it anymore, Emperor Wusu's eyes darkened, and his tone carried an undeniable authority.
"You did consider a way out. The reason you dared to attack Prince Yong is because you didn't take him seriously at all!"
Her body trembled involuntarily, as if struck by a single word.
His words were like a barrage of arrows, utterly merciless.
"Furthermore, why are you not afraid of the Empress Dowager's punishment, the head of the harem? Is it because you are the Qiao family's granddaughter, or because you are the Empress Dowager's niece?"
Ji Qingwu stared at him in a daze.
Emperor Wusu coldly replied, "Neither."
His gaze suddenly became as sharp as a blade, as if it could pierce her heart and explore the hidden corners of her soul.
“Prince Yong and the Empress Dowager are people of high status, not people you can afford to offend. And you are not someone who is not afraid of death. So, what is the real reason behind your bold actions without regard for the consequences? What are you convinced of in your heart?”
Ji Qingwu's eyes flickered. She wanted to speak in rebuttal, but her lips seemed to be glued shut, and she couldn't open them even an inch no matter what she did.
Did she really harbor such thoughts?
What exactly is she so certain about?
Ji Qingwu's heart trembled. She gradually realized that what she had been so certain of was actually...
Someone will come to her rescue from danger, just as they have done every time before.
Who is that person...?
Across the table, Emperor Wu Su's aura rushed over menacingly, carrying an undeniable sense of oppression.
Ji Qingwu's legs began to weaken against his will, and a sense of powerlessness quietly spread.
She pressed her hands against the table for support, her fingertips losing color from the force.
Seeing the intense struggle on her face, Emperor Wusu sighed, suppressed his domineering aura, and poured her a cup of tea, placing it beside her.
He conceded first, saying, "This tea is made from lotus flowers that haven't yet budded. Let's drink some tea to warm ourselves up first, and then we won't talk about this matter again."
But Ji Qingwu stared blankly at the clear yellow tea, saying nothing.
The hall fell silent for a moment, with only the rustling of the breeze through the lotus leaves coming from outside the window.
After an unknown amount of time, the tea had gone completely cold before Ji Qingwu finally recovered.
She immediately looked up at the other side of the table and saw that Emperor Wusu was still sitting there, without having left.
My heart was pounding.
Her gaze was fixed on him, as if she were afraid he would suddenly disappear.
Seeing this, Emperor Wusu said slowly, "It's no wonder you don't take Prince Yong seriously."
He originally said this with a stern face.
Just then, Ji Qingwu's dark eyes darted around nimbly, his sly little expression vividly portrayed.
Without a word, he knew what she was thinking.
She dared to force herself on him, the emperor; a mere Prince Yong would naturally be no match for her.
Emperor Wusu couldn't help but smile.
Seeing his expression soften, Ji Qingwu gently pursed her lips, making them appear much redder, and spoke in a low, murmuring voice.
"His Majesty."
Emperor Wusu raised an eyebrow and asked, "What is it?"
"Thank you for saving me today, Your Majesty." Ji Qingwu paused slightly, then added, "Not just today."
He said with displeasure, "What I want to hear is not thanks."
Ji Qingwu understood what he wanted.
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