Chapter 375 Tea Enters the Sorrowful Heart, and Sorrow Intensifies
Gibran was overwhelmed with emotion, and once he started to express it, he couldn't stop.
Ji Qingwu said softly, "Have some tea first to soothe your throat."
Gibran held the teacup in his hand but didn't drink it; the warmth of the tea comforted his palms.
"You should bring the child back as soon as possible. It's better to keep the child with you than to ask someone else to take care of them. The child can't be without his mother." Her tone was much gentler than before.
Ji Qingwu nodded. She never wanted to go against her father, especially after he helped her solve such a big problem.
However, she still felt awkward. Upon their first meeting, he criticized her in front of the whole family, making it impossible for her to feel close to him.
Seeing that she agreed, Ji Bolian stood up and said to Qiao Shi, "Let's go."
Mrs. Qiao looked up in surprise and said, "Sir, you're leaving just like that? Do you remember why we came here?"
When Ji Bolian saw Xiao Wu, he asked his granddaughter a couple more questions, having completely forgotten the real reason he came here.
After hearing this, Ji Qingwu asked, "Mother, what brings you here?"
Mrs. Qiao smiled and told her some good news.
"Your older brother is coming back."
Ji Qingwu's eyes brightened, and he said, "Really?"
Since Ji Changlin fought with Yuchi Lianping at the palace banquet, he has been sent to the embassy of Southern Chu.
Logically speaking, one cannot return without an imperial edict. Could it be that Emperor Wusu issued the order?
Ji Bolian had completely forgotten about the news that his eldest son was coming back. If it weren't for Qiao Shi reminding him, he would have gotten up and left.
He said, "This morning at court, the Emperor granted your elder brother a month's leave to go home and visit his family."
Thinking that Ji Changlin would be able to return home in a few days, Qiao's smile spread across her face. She said, "Your father also has such a long leave, which is perfect for our family to reunite."
It was rare to have everyone in the family together, and Ji Qingwu's lips curled up in a smile.
Ji Changlin treated her with great care, and she was overjoyed to see her elder brother.
Moreover, the matter mentioned in his letter a few days ago could be discussed in person, and perhaps he could even meet Lanling.
Ji Qingwu muttered, "My elder brother is coming back. I remember he loves drinking Zhuyeqing wine the most. There's no such wine in Nan Chu. I'll have Lanzhi hurry up and go to the winery to order a few jars. That wine is very hard to buy."
Mrs. Qiao laughed and said, "If your eldest brother knew, he would be overjoyed."
Ji Bolian interjected, "I've heard that the chrysanthemum wine in Lin'an is also quite good."
There was a moment of silence. Ji Qingwu didn't speak. After a long while, Qiao Shi said, "At your age, drinking alcohol is bad for your health. It's better to drink tea, which is the best for your health."
Gibran downed the lukewarm tea in one gulp, the tea only intensifying his sorrow.
Ji Qingwu was not only released from confinement, but his treatment at Wutong Garden was also significantly improved.
Lanzhi walked out and came back sideways.
"Fifth Miss, when I went to Steward Li to collect my allowance today, he gave me a huge bag, the largest and most numerous bag among all the courtyards."
When Ji Qingwu looked at the silver bag that Lanzhi was holding in both hands, it was indeed full.
The question was asked: "Why are there so many cases?"
Lanzhi hadn't thought about that question; she simply accepted it and said, "...I didn't ask."
Giving them more money would be a good thing, so Ji Qingwu didn't think about it any further.
Not long after, Lanzhi went to the kitchen to get her lunch.
They went empty-handed but returned laden with food. Lanzhi instructed the maids behind her to put down the food boxes, which were filled to the brim.
Ji Qingwu was holding a mortar and pestle when she stopped grinding the pestle in her right hand. She looked up and saw that Lanzhi had laid out a table full of dishes.
She raised an eyebrow and asked, "Is it a holiday?"
Lanzhi replied, "Fifth Miss, this was specially prepared for our Wutong Courtyard by Granny Zhang from the kitchen. People in the other courtyards are extremely envious."
Ji Qingwu put down the pestle and went over to take a closer look.
This dish is not a home-style meal; the shark fin, sea cucumber, and scallops on the plate are all expensive ingredients.
Adding one or two meat dishes is perfectly normal; it's definitely not something a cook could decide just to please her.
Lin'an is not by the sea, so these delicacies are only available to the nobles in the capital. This level of cuisine, comparable to that of imperial meals, must have been ordered by the higher authorities.
Ji Qingwu believed it was arranged by the Qiao family and clicked his tongue in amazement, saying, "Is the Ji family making such a large surplus this year? I haven't heard of any increase in land prices or any shop being very popular."
"The food here at Fifth Miss's place is specially made, and we've also added a couple of dishes to the old lady's place."
Lanzhi said mysteriously, "I heard that it was all ordered by the master, especially the soup-filled yellow croaker, which the master brought back from outside after court."
Ji Qingwu hadn't tasted these fresh foods in a long time, and he didn't care who arranged it, as long as it wasn't poisonous.
She washed her hands, ate and drank her fill, and lazily fiddled with the medicine powder by the window.
Two more maids came in, carrying two boxes with them.
Lanzhi went to meet it, and after seeing what it was, she laughed so hard her eyes disappeared.
"Fifth Miss, these are all new dresses from Mufeng Residence this year."
A huge suitcase, bigger than her current wardrobe.
Ji Qingwu's hand trembled as he held the kraft paper to pour the medicine powder, almost spilling it outside the porcelain bottle.
Lanzhi busied herself, displaying each garment to Ji Qingwu one by one. The clothes were of various colors, with elegant and graceful styles and beautiful and tasteful fabrics.
There was another box next to it. Ji Qingwu asked, "What's this?"
Looking at the engraving on the box lid, Lanzhi exclaimed in delight, "These are jewelry and headdresses from Dequanzhai!"
After opening the box, sunlight shone on it, and Ji Qingwu's eyes were momentarily dazzled by the large red gemstone on it.
Ji Qingwu asked, "Who delivered this?"
The two maids replied in unison, "It was all ordered by the master."
Ji Qingwu took a breath. She felt overwhelmed with gratitude, knowing how much money this must cost.
She put the stopper back on the porcelain bottle, stood up, and asked, "Where is Lord Ji?"
*
Shou'an Hall.
After returning to the mansion, whenever he had free time, he would come to have lunch with the old lady.
Looking at the much more abundant dishes in front of her, including a small yellow croaker, Madam Ji said, "Bolian, I'm old and can't eat too much meat and oily food."
That being said, I still ate two of those fragrant little yellow croakers.
Ji Bolian personally served the old lady a bowl of vegetable soup. The old lady took it and said, "If you are truly filial and want to please me, then don't force Qingwu to stay at home."
“You’ve been away from home for a long time, so you don’t know Qingwu’s temperament as well as I do. She grew up outside, and she’s proud and impetuous. Compared to her fourth sister, she’s far inferior.”
Ji Bolian paused in his chopsticks, his expression turning serious.
The old lady sighed and said, "Since Qingwu has married into the Wei family, let her be. She agreed to it herself in the first place, and now that she has brought her home, the whole city is talking about it."
“You’ve intervened in this matter, but you can only manage it for a short time. You can’t manage her forever. Besides, in two months, you’ll be leaving again to go somewhere else, leaving this mess for me and your wife.”
Ji Bolian's lips twitched, and he was about to speak when Feng Mama's voice came from the doorway.
Someone has arrived.
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