Chapter 192 Rejected, She Was Jealous
In her anxiety, the Empress Dowager realized that she had spoken too harshly.
The Ji family is currently short of capable people, and this niece is at least calm and composed in the face of adversity.
Before leaving, the Empress Dowager made a point of explaining.
"At the morning court session this morning, the officials from the Imperial Observatory said that you were harmful to the imperial heir. To avoid any taboos, the Emperor said he was not allowed to see you. You should wait for news in the Cining Palace."
Ji Qingwu was not hurt by the Empress Dowager's words at all. She smiled and nodded, respectfully seeing the Empress Dowager off.
After they left, she sat down again.
It was getting dark outside, and it was almost time for dinner.
That afternoon, Ji Qingwu worked hard digging and burying medicine, and his stomach started rumbling early in the morning.
She could only drink a few more cups of tea to barely fill her stomach.
Shi Xi accompanied the Empress Dowager and the others to the palace. There were still a few palace maids and Aunt Fanghua standing near the palace gate.
Just as Ji Qingwu looked up in her direction, Fanghua seemed to sense it and walked towards her.
She said softly, "This servant has prepared some snacks for the Fifth Miss. It's getting late, and we don't know when Her Majesty will return. Would you like some?"
Such a keen understanding of the emperor's intentions is truly worthy of an aunt who has spent many years in the palace teaching numerous empresses and concubines.
But Fanghua was, after all, the head maid in the Empress Dowager's palace, so how could Ji Qingwu possibly order her around?
She politely declined, saying, "I won't trouble you, Aunt. The Empress Dowager and the others are busy with Father's affairs, and I'm too embarrassed to enjoy myself here alone."
Fanghua turned her head to look at the palace maids around her, then took something out of her bosom and placed it in her hand.
Ji Qingwu looked down in surprise and saw that it was the same sugar cake that Qiuqiu had brought back before, with the same familiar wrapping paper.
this......
Aunt Fanghua is...
Fanghua's expression showed no abnormality as she called out, "Fifth Miss, if you need to change your clothes, please come with me."
Ji Qingwu obediently followed her to the clean room in the side hall, watching Fanghua close the door.
After she stopped, she asked, "My aunt specifically led me here, is it because that person has something to tell me?"
Fanghua curtsied and said, "Fifth Miss is intelligent. The master instructed me to pass on a message to you if you come to Cining Palace."
Ji Qingwu already sensed something: "Is it about my father?"
Fanghua said, "That's right, please rest assured, Lord Ji is fine."
She wasn't surprised that the emperor had planted someone by the Empress Dowager's side, but what surprised her was that this spy had been serving the Empress Dowager's trusted aunt since the time of the Marquis of Yong'an's residence.
Ji Qingwu's eyes flickered. Emperor Wusu had revealed all his trump cards to the Empress Dowager. Wasn't he afraid that she would tell the Empress Dowager?
She is a daughter of the Ji family.
When she first entered the palace, she could tell from the emperor's words and actions that he disliked the Ji family woman and did not want her to enter the palace as a concubine, which is why he issued that imperial edict.
From this incident, Ji Qingwu truly realized the emperor's trust in her.
Finally, it wasn't just verbal flirting; he genuinely showed her through his actions that he could share his secret with her.
This made her somewhat certain that she held considerable weight in the emperor's heart.
Ji Qingwu opened her palm, gently peeled back the paper of the sugar cake, and held it to her lips, tasting it in small bites.
It's sweet and soft on the palate, and the flavor seems to have a slightly different feel than usual.
Although Ji Qingwu ate slowly, there was only one small piece of sugar cake, which he finished in no time.
She lowered her eyes, a faint sweetness still lingering on her tongue.
She licked her lips, feeling a little jealous for the first time of her life of getting so many sugar cakes.
*
The Empress Dowager went to Zhaoyang Palace first, and the palace servants at the gate said that the Emperor had not yet returned to his palace.
They then rushed off to the Hall of Diligent Governance.
The Hall of Diligent Governance was brightly lit, and several important court officials were inside discussing matters. Emperor Wusu was too busy to receive them.
Li Yuzong was serving in the hall, while Xiao Dongzi was responsible for guarding the door.
He first glanced behind them. The Empress Dowager thought that Xiao Dongzi was looking at Madam Ji and Madam Qiao, and said sternly, "I have important matters to discuss with the Emperor."
The young eunuch, with a forced smile, tried to persuade the Empress Dowager at the door.
"Your Majesty, please return. His Majesty is discussing state affairs with the officials, which will take at least another hour or two. It is already late, and the night air is chilly. Please take care of your health."
The Empress Dowager could not linger here for too long.
The women of the inner palace are not allowed to interfere in politics. Even if she is the Empress Dowager, if she appears in the hall where the court is discussing matters without being summoned, the officials of the Censorate will inevitably find a pretext to criticize her.
After waiting for half an hour, the Empress Dowager lost her patience and said, "After the Emperor has finished dealing with his business, tell him that I have been here."
Xiao Dongzi said respectfully, "This servant will certainly convey the message and respectfully see off the Empress Dowager."
Xiao Dongzi watched them leave and shook his head slightly. If the Empress Dowager had brought Miss Ji Wu with her, the Emperor might have made an exception and agreed to see her.
Ji Qingwu didn't have to wait long before the Empress Dowager and her entourage returned to Cining Palace.
She was slightly surprised. Had she been sent back so quickly? What exactly had Emperor Wusu said?
Since the Empress Dowager did not speak, Ji Qingwu waited quietly.
Seeing the obvious worry on Qiao's face, she knew things were not good; perhaps she hadn't even seen the emperor.
After a long silence in the room, the Empress Dowager said, "Mother and the First Madam will stay in the palace tonight. I will go to see the Emperor in person after he finishes court tomorrow."
Madam Ji had the same idea. They wouldn't be able to rest well if they went back home, so if news came in the middle of the night, they would know sooner.
The Empress Dowager was also exhausted from all this, and said, "Fanghua, take the old lady and the others to rest first. Come to the main hall to discuss any news you may have."
When arranging accommodations, the order of seniority should naturally be followed, with the old lady first and Ji Qingwu last.
Fanghua led Ji Qingwu to a room in the most secluded corner of the palace, and the two of them had to turn several corners to get there.
"Fifth Miss, please rest here tonight. Your belongings will be brought in by palace servants shortly. Please leave the door open."
"Thank you very much, Aunt Fanghua."
Ji Qingwu walked to the round table with the carved lingzhi mushroom and sat down. Since the emperor had specially sent someone to tell him that his father was safe, he was sure he could protect Ji Bolian.
She has nothing to worry about.
Just then, the sound of a door being pushed open was heard, and Ji Qingwu's heart skipped a beat.
Looking up, I saw two maids dressed in palace attire, carrying things needed for bedtime, while eunuchs behind them carried hot water for bathing.
Ji Qingwu said gently, "You can leave once you've put it away. I don't need anyone to serve me."
Only after the palace servants closed the door and left did a hint of disappointment appear in Ji Qingwu's eyes.
But that feeling quickly dissipated.
She picked up the change of clothes from the table and walked to the screen, removing the white jade hairpin from her hair as she went. Her long hair flowed freely down her back, the ends of which danced lightly in the air.
She untied her dress and hung it piece by piece on the wooden clothes rack next to her.
After stripping down to her underwear, she suddenly felt a gust of wind behind her, making her back feel cold.
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