Chapter 296 Overwhelmed with gratitude, I'm about to see my father!
"Your Majesty, please come in and speak with us."
Lady Qiao led Emperor Wusu through the small flower hall at the entrance and into the main room.
Ji Qingwu was waiting for Qiao Shi to return so she could "instruct" her.
The little girl's expression was incredibly obedient and docile; as soon as she looked up, she saw the emperor striding in.
The hairs on my body stood on end.
Ji Qingwu pointed at him, her eyes almost glistening with tears.
"Zhao...you...why has the Emperor come!"
With her heart still pounding, Lady Qiao first bowed to the Emperor.
"Greetings, Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!"
Zhao Mingyan reached out a hand to help her up, saying, "Madam, there's no need for such formality."
Qiao looked at her broad palm under her elbow with a sense of flattery. Even the Empress Dowager in the palace had never been helped by the Emperor himself.
"Qingwu, how can you be so rude? Come here and pay your respects." Madam Qiao called her daughter to her side.
Ji Qingwu didn't dare to move at all.
Because Emperor Wusu looked at her with an expression that seemed normal, but she could see the dark glint in his eyes that seemed to pierce through her skin.
Ji Qingwu secretly slipped out of Zhaoyang Palace.
Everyone assumed she was lying in bed, unable to move. Emperor Wusu happened to have gone to a side hall to handle some confidential matters, but when he returned, he found her gone.
Zhao Mingyan's gaze fell on the ground, on the delicate shoes beneath her round table.
Qiao urged, "Xiao Wu, hurry up and pay your respects."
Ji Qingwu reluctantly stepped forward: "Greetings, Your Majesty."
As the woman bowed, her slender waist swayed gracefully, and her soft skirt swayed gently, showing no signs of physical discomfort.
Zhao Mingyan's gaze swept over her entire body before he walked to the main seat and sat down, saying, "Sit down and let's talk."
Mrs. Qiao pulled her daughter, who was still standing there, to sit down beside her.
There was a moment of silence in the room; no one spoke.
Seeing Emperor Wusu's gaze fall on Ji Qingwu, Madam Qiao asked, "I wonder what important matter Your Majesty has brought here?"
Zhao Mingyan said calmly, "I have nothing important to do, I just came to visit some relatives."
After these words were spoken, the room fell silent again.
Ji Qingwu glanced at the emperor, then quickly looked away.
What relatives does he have to visit? He can't even come up with a decent excuse.
Seeing that no one responded, Zhao Mingyan coughed lightly: "Today should be the day Qingwu returns home for her wedding."
Ji Qingwu looked at Emperor Wusu with a puzzled expression, wondering why he was bringing this up.
But Lady Qiao was a clever woman, and when she heard the emperor say this, she understood what was going on.
After Xiao Wu's wedding, she returned to her parents' home. The Emperor, who had somehow regained his senses, chose this time to visit relatives.
This is practically an open declaration that he accompanied Ji Qingwu on her homecoming visit.
The person who bullied Xiao Wu, as mentioned before, was none other than the Emperor. But after Xiao Wu entered the palace, why did rumors circulate that the Emperor disliked her...?
A wave of shock surged through Qiao's heart, and a hint of worry appeared on her face, but her every move remained poised and graceful.
“Your Majesty, my daughter is young and impetuous and still unruly. If she has offended you in any way, please forgive her and do not hold it against her. I will keep Qingwu in check in the future so that she will not disturb your peace.”
Zhao Mingyan's eyes changed slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "Madam is too modest. With your daughter here, the colors in the room are brighter."
"If my palace could have more of these bright colors, that would be even better."
Qiao glanced at Xiao Wu out of the corner of her eye and saw her frowning at the Emperor, her eyes full of coquettishness.
She continued, "Your Majesty, there is only one Qingwu, and she is already married. There are plenty of beautiful women in the world, you can easily—"
Zhao Mingyan raised his hand to stop her from saying what she was about to say.
"Madam, your daughter is very well-mannered. As for other matters, you don't need to worry about them."
Qiao murmured and closed her mouth.
When Xiao Wu encountered this person, it wasn't a question of whether he could stand firm in front of him, but rather that he could only let him do as he pleased, since no one dared to set rules for the Emperor.
Seeing that Qiao was nervous, Zhao Mingyan's expression relaxed a bit, and he delivered some good news.
"In a few days, Lord Ji will return to the court to report on his duties. I intend to keep him in Lin'an and there is no need for him to go south again."
After several rounds of back-and-forth between Lady Qiao and Emperor Wusu, she ultimately lost.
The Emperor's leniency in allowing Ji Bolian to return and promising that he would not be appointed to any more posts outside the capital was too tempting for Qiao.
As for why the Emperor said that, what were the hidden conditions in the exchange...?
Qiao glanced at Xiao Wu, who was sitting beside her, fiddling with his fingers.
She knew beforehand that the Emperor wanted Ji Qingwu to enter the palace, but because Xiao Wu wanted to try, she let Xiao Wu go.
Now that Ji Qingwu has married Wei Ting, the situation for everyone has become more complicated. However, judging from the Emperor's tone, he doesn't want her to get involved in this matter and will take responsibility for resolving and cleaning up the mess.
Qiao was deep in thought, and Zhao Mingyan gave her time to consider.
Ji Qingwu ignored the veiled remarks the two made, his eyes instantly lit up by the news from Emperor Wusu.
She was about to see her father.
Ji Qingwu's eyes lit up with joy as he asked, "Your Majesty, when will my father return? It'll be a while, surely you should give me a definite date?"
Qiao took a breath.
Who would dare to bargain with the Emperor, especially since Xiao Wu said it so fluently? Clearly, he had done it more than once.
Seeing that Emperor Wusu's reaction was normal, with a hint of a smile in his eyes, and that he showed no sign of being offended, she noticed that he was not offended at all.
He pondered for a moment and said, "No later than the end of the month, are you satisfied?"
Ji Qingwu smiled, her eyes crinkling.
Qiao swallowed her worries for the time being.
Whether it's favoritism or love, the current emperor certainly values Xiao Wu highly.
After recounting the matter, seeing that Emperor Wusu did not seem inclined to hold her accountable and that his expression had softened considerably, Ji Qingwu relaxed.
Silence fell over the room once again.
"What were you saying in the room before I arrived?" the emperor began, starting a new conversation.
Qiao and Ji Qingwu exchanged a glance, both looking guilty.
Ji Qingwu replied, "It's nothing, my mother and I were just talking about some things that happen between young women."
Zhao Mingyan tapped his fingers on the table and said, "But why do I hear words like beast, money, and cunning?"
Qiao's face froze, and a little sweat beaded on her forehead. The Emperor had heard these words that were so offensive to the Emperor.
Ji Qingwu lowered her eyes. The emperor really did extract all the key words without missing a single one.
She lifted her eyelashes and said, "Your Majesty, it's a misunderstanding."
Zhao Mingyan said in a cold, deep voice, "A misunderstanding?"
Seeing that Qiao was frightened by the emperor's stern face, Ji Qingwu said, "Yes, I had a dream last night. I was bitten all over by a beast. Mother said that we should spend money to have a ritual performed."
She winked at Qiao Shi: "By the way, Mother, didn't you say you were going to find me a Buddha statue to ward off evil spirits?"
Madam Qiao paused for a moment: "Yes, there is such a thing. Little Wu, would you like to come with your mother?"
Emperor Wusu fixed his gaze on Ji Qingwu, as if to say that if she agreed, he didn't know what would happen.
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