Chapter 153 What is our relationship? She couldn't take her eyes off her.
"I wonder which powerful figure came today. Lingling is usually very tactful, but this time she has really messed with someone she shouldn't have."
"She's been causing quite a stir in town lately. I bet it's because her lover's wife is here to teach her a lesson."
The two were whispering to each other when they came up and saw two figures embracing.
They laughed and teased, "Oh, so eager to hug each other, what kind of wild couple are you?"
When the two saw the man's jade-like and golden appearance, they couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
"That young master is really handsome. Is he carrying one of the girls from our establishment? Who's so lucky?"
"Their attire doesn't look like it; we don't have anyone dressed so plainly in our building."
As they talked, they also walked closer to take a closer look.
Ji Qingwu's ears were burning, but seeing that the emperor didn't move and his arm was still around her waist, she didn't feel offended.
She took his large hand and grasped his long, slender fingers.
"Let's go."
Ji Qingwu had the idea of escaping. Without having time to think about whether the emperor agreed or not, he grabbed him and started running.
"Oh no! Those wild mandarin ducks have run away..."
Laughter came from behind me.
Fortunately, there were stairs on both sides of the upper floor of Liangxiang Pavilion, and Ji Qingwu pulled him along, running all the way to the outside.
As soon as she stepped outside, she hurriedly separated their clasped hands, as if they were burning hot.
Emperor Wusu looked at his hand with a sense of loss. Just moments before, the woman's hand, as smooth and delicate as silk, had been tightly clasped in his palm.
He said, "What's the panic? Are you afraid they'll see us?"
Ji Qingwu jogged along, her complexion as clear and bright as jade, like a new moon with a halo.
She said, "If they misunderstand our relationship, we'll have to explain, which is too much trouble."
Emperor Wusu stared at her and said, "We don't need to explain our relationship to anyone. Just let them leave."
His words carried a hint of displeasure at being disturbed.
He hadn't hugged her enough yet...
Ji Qingwu suddenly realized that the emperor did not need to explain his actions to anyone; this was the true meaning of acting solely according to one's will and doing as one pleased.
It's always others who take the initiative to avoid it; there's no reason for him to avoid it.
The sun had already set.
Ji Qingwu looked at the sky and said urgently, "It's too late, I have to hurry and pick up Qiuqiu, I'm leaving now."
But then he grabbed her hand.
Emperor Wusu chuckled and said, "Let's go together."
She almost forgot again that he and she were not only on the same road, but the place she was going to was inside his Phoenix Palace.
*
When Ji Qingwu arrived at the door of the Imperial Study, he found that the door was still closed, and the sound of reading aloud could be heard from inside; the teacher had not yet finished class.
Judging from the sky, she must have arrived a little late. Usually, by this time, Qiuqiu would already be home.
Not long after, Master Qiao slowly walked out, holding a volume of "Collected Annotations on the Four Books".
Ji Qingwu smiled and bowed, saying, "Greetings, maternal grandfather."
Qiao Menghan stroked his long, graying beard and looked at her gently: "Xiao Wu, it's rare to see you come to pick up Qiuqiu in person."
Ji Qingwu lowered his head slightly, looking somewhat ashamed.
She hadn't been there many times, mainly because the Imperial Study was too close to the Hall of Diligent Governance where the emperor handled state affairs.
Every time she came over, she would be called away by the sharp-eyed Li Yuzong, which had left her with considerable psychological trauma.
Initially, fearing her identity would be exposed and to avoid Emperor Wusu, she entrusted the task of picking up and dropping off Qiuqiu to Granny Li.
But now, what else does she have to hide?
Moreover, Qiuqiu has already had many private contacts with the emperor, and even secretly exchanged "betrothal gifts." In order to prevent her daughter from being assimilated and turned against the emperor, she must keep a close watch on her.
Master Qiao said, "But Qiuqiu can't leave yet."
Ji Qingwu asked in surprise, "Why? Did she do something wrong?"
Qiao Menghan unfolded the book in his hand and said, "No, not at all."
"His Majesty is concerned about the students' studies. These past few days have been crucial for learning Confucian classics. Apart from His Highness Yuanheng, other students can only go home after passing a recitation test if they wish to leave get out of class."
The lessons in the Imperial Study are really difficult; you have to memorize texts and take tests before you can leave school.
Ji Qingwu asked with concern, "Then why exclude Yuan Heng?" She was worried that this special treatment would cause Yuan Heng to be ostracized by his classmates.
Qiao Menghan, the Crown Prince's tutor, said smugly, "His Highness Yuan Heng learned it a year ago and knows it by heart. He doesn't need to check it at all."
Ji Qingwu was relieved, then turned to worry about another matter, asking, "Was Qiuqiu selected to recite today?"
"This child," Old Master Qiao frowned and sighed, "she has bad luck with the lottery; she always gets drawn."
Ji Qingwu thought to himself, "What kind of hit rate is this...?"
She had a vague feeling that something was amiss.
"Grandfather, didn't you ever suspect there was something fishy going on? Why does Chiu Chiu always get picked? Don't you think it's too much of a coincidence?"
Qiao Menghan said slowly, "Every day, Eunuch Li, who serves the Emperor, comes to supervise, but I personally draw the slips of paper for the lottery, and every time I happen to draw her."
Ji Qingwu pursed her lips, already having a guess that Li Yuzong must have secretly done something.
"It's a coincidence, but it's also fate. Who told you to give the little girl such a name?"
"What's wrong with this name?" Ji Qingwu asked, puzzled.
Qiao Menghan said with dissatisfaction, "What's with all the chirping? You kept getting grabbed when we were drawing lots."
Ji Qingwu: ...Is it really because of the name?
Old Master Qiao instructed, "You should quickly give the child a proper name. By the way, what is her father's surname? I can help you think of a few when I have time."
Ji Qingwu: ......
Old Master Qiao: "Why aren't you saying anything?"
Ji Qingwu forced a smile: "Chiu Chiu already has a name, so there's no need to trouble Grandfather."
"Why not use your formal name? Let the little girl use her formal name from now on."
The highly talented old man, who was usually the one asked to give names to others, but was simply refused by his granddaughter, left with a stern face and a flick of his sleeve.
As Qiuqiu skipped out of the Imperial Study, Li Yuzong also walked quickly over from the Hall of Diligent Governance.
The two arrived in front of Ji Qingwu at the same time.
Chiu Chiu stretched out her little arm, took her hand, and happily called out, "Mother!"
Li Yuzong smiled like a wrinkled walnut, and when he saw Ji Qingwu, his eyes narrowed into slits with laughter.
"Miss Ji, His Majesty is inside the palace. Please come quickly."
Ji Qingwu originally wanted to say that she would just wait there, but if Qiuqiu was with the emperor again, then all the effort she had put into coming to pick her up would have been wasted.
The Qin Zheng Hall, its vermilion gates wide open.
It was as if they were welcoming the mother and daughter in.
As Ji Qingwu stepped into the brick hall, he saw the emperor, now dressed in a different robe, sitting upright at his desk, intently reading a book.
She stared at him intently.
He was dressed in a silver-white round-necked robe embroidered with gold dragon patterns, with a bamboo-green belt around his waist, resembling a golden dragon coiled beneath green bamboo, exuding a clear and extraordinary aura.
Ji Qingwu couldn't take her eyes off him.
Li Yuzong coughed a few times before she came to her senses.
Ji Qingwu hurriedly bowed and greeted them, and Qiuqiu followed suit.
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