Chapter 215 Even a forced marriage can quench thirst.
Old Madam Ji said angrily, "It's your own business, you figure it out yourself!"
After the old lady and Granny Feng left Wutong Garden with sighs, Ji Qingwu immediately put away her aggrieved expression.
She hummed a little tune as she picked up the copper kettle and went to water the herbs in the yard.
*
I just finished the morning court session.
Emperor Wusu then received secret reports from all corners of the country.
Li Yuzong looked at the Emperor's increasingly furrowed brows and felt uneasy.
I wonder what Miss Ji did today. Every time he sends a letter from his secret guards, my heart is always in my throat.
After a while, Emperor Wusu casually tossed the letter onto the table.
Li Yuzong cautiously said, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager and Madam Ji will persuade Miss Ji to enter the palace as soon as possible after they learn of this matter."
We should quickly invite this young lady into the palace; it would be of great benefit to him, the chief steward who serves the king.
Emperor Wusu said indifferently, "I did try to persuade you, but it didn't achieve the effect I wanted."
No wonder His Majesty frowned; something must have gone wrong.
Li Yuzong said, "Miss Ji is unaware that this news was leaked from His Majesty, so it's normal for her to be wary."
Emperor Wusu, of course, understood this principle, and said with a profound look, "Whether she refuses or not, I have a way to deal with it."
However, Ji Qingwu forged his own path.
Li Yuzong quietly examined the letter lying on the side of the table. What exactly did Miss Ji reply?
Emperor Wusu's tone showed no displeasure; he merely sighed and shook his head.
"He's made great progress, and he's even learned to use me as a shield."
According to his original considerations, if Ji Qingwu were to enter the palace, it would be more appropriate for the imperial decree to be issued by the Empress Dowager rather than by the Emperor himself.
Whether she agreed or not, the Empress Dowager would always give her a push from behind.
On the surface, it appears that the Ji family pushed her into the Phoenix Palace so that no one would suspect his true intentions, thus protecting her to the greatest extent possible.
Emperor Wusu did not want her to be involved in any danger, so he needed to make plans before she entered the palace.
The reason he didn't inquire about Ji Qingwu's intentions beforehand was because his patience was almost exhausted, and even forcing a little devil could quench his thirst.
The Empress Dowager's reaction was exactly as he had expected.
But Ji Qingwu became an unexpected variable in his plans.
In front of Madam Ji, Ji Qingwu did not say whether she was willing to enter the palace. Instead, she guided the other party to believe that it was just a fleeting affair with the emperor, portraying him as someone who was lustful at first sight, coveting her beauty but unwilling to take responsibility.
Such a quirky method, only she could come up with it, it's not a bad plan.
As far as she was concerned, Madam Ji would be wary of her and would no longer arrange marriages for her.
For him, all he had to do was wait for the Empress Dowager to give him some "foolish advice" and get her to come to his side.
The Empress Dowager is not as easy to deal with as Old Madam Ji.
Seeing the Emperor sitting relaxed on the dragon throne, Li Yuzong waved his long arm and collected the letters on the table, placing them into a box specifically for storing secret memorials.
*
After tending to the flowers and plants, Ji Qingwu went out.
Mo Lingling sent someone to tell her that Duan Mingfeng was waiting for her at the clinic.
As Ji Qingwu passed by Anju Garden, she happened to run into Qiao Shi, who was looking for her.
She jogged over, affectionately took Qiao's arm, and said sweetly, "Mother, the weather is nice today. It's good for your health to go out for a walk."
Seeing her attire, Madam Qiao asked, "Are you planning to go out?"
Ji Qingwu nodded and said, "Mother, I have something to do and need to go out for a bit. I won't be back too late."
Seeing that she was about to leave after saying just one sentence, Madam Qiao grabbed her arm and said seriously, "Little Fifth, I have something to ask you."
When Ji Qingwu was pulled away, he guessed what it was about.
She said, "Mother, do you want to ask why Grandmother came to my courtyard this morning?"
There were servants coming and going outside the gate, so it wasn't a place to talk. Qiao Shi pulled her into the courtyard of Anju Garden.
"I understand."
After leaving Wutong Garden in a huff, Old Madam Ji went to Qiao's place, took her mother-in-law's money, and scolded her for her poor upbringing.
"The old lady just left my place and gave me a long rant, telling me to keep a close eye on you."
Ji Qingwu lowered her head, not daring to meet Qiao Shi's gaze, and whispered, "Mother, are you angry with me...?"
Mrs. Qiao said, "What's done is done, it's too late to blame anything."
Seeing her nervous expression, she softened her tone and said, "I can't blame you. I should have realized something was wrong earlier. Perhaps I shouldn't have insisted on taking you to the palace banquet in the first place."
Ji Qingwu quickly shook his head: "This has nothing to do with Mother, it's all my fault...it's all my fault."
Qiao was fine with being scolded by her mother-in-law, but she felt sorry for her daughter. She had finally escaped the trap of Wei Ting's marriage proposal, only to find herself in an even deeper, bottomless pit.
Qiao had long cursed the lustful and heartless emperor in her heart, but she dared not show any disrespect.
But the strangest thing about Qiao was himself.
If Xiao Wu hadn't gotten lost and had been raised by her side since childhood, she would never have been treated with such contempt and neglect, and they could have had a good marriage long ago.
Seeing Ji Qingwu nervously twisting her fingers, Qiao quickly comforted her.
"Whoever the Emperor chooses to favor, even without a proper matchmaker, and whoever does something against the natural order, who can say anything? It's not your fault anyway; it's just that your fifth daughter is so beautiful."
No matter when or what happens, Mr. Qiao always stands by her side.
Ji Qingwu's eyes welled up with tears, and she called out in a sticky voice, "Mother..."
Qiao pushed her away briskly and said, "Alright, a son is no longer under his mother's control when he grows up. Do whatever you want. Didn't you say you were going out? Go now."
Ji Qingwu didn't want to keep Duan Mingfeng, the Imperial Envoy who was busy with official duties, waiting for her at the clinic for too long, so she hesitated for a moment and then left the Ji residence.
Mrs. Qiao watched her departing figure.
It's all about timing and fate.
Enjoy the days you can be as carefree as a bird, for as many days as you can. Who knows what storms tomorrow might bring? It's better to live well today.
*
As Ji Qingwu approached the clinic, he saw a dark-faced door god standing at the entrance.
He thought to himself, "When I open my business, I should invite this Duan Shisi less often, or he'll scare away all the customers."
She stepped forward: "Duan Shisi."
Duan Mingfeng had been lost in thought until he heard her voice, which brought him back to his senses.
"Greetings, Miss Ji."
Looking at the crowd of people in front of him, Ji Qingwu asked in bewilderment, "Why don't you go inside and wait? Why are you standing at the door?"
Duan Mingfeng glanced into the clinic but did not see the person he wanted to see.
"Miss Ji, what brings you here?"
Ji Qingwu said, "It's not appropriate to talk like this standing at the door. Let's go inside and talk."
Hearing a noise at the door, Mo Lingling peeked out from behind a six-foot-tall cabinet. Seeing Ji Qingwu enter, she greeted him with a joyful expression.
"Miss Ji, you've arrived!"
Ji Qingwu nodded with a smile.
Mo Lingling's complexion had completely recovered, and she kept talking when she saw her.
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