Chapter 4: Mother and Daughter Talk – Who is the Husband?
Madam Qiao, Ji Qingwu's birth mother, brightened up.
Once we're in the city, we won't be far from home.
The person who had been impatiently complaining earlier was Ji Qingyuan, the legitimate daughter of the second branch of the Ji family.
Madam Wu, the second wife, instructed the maid beside her, "Fuling, go and fetch an umbrella for the fourth young lady." She then patted Ji Qingyuan's hand, reassuring her, "Your aunt has been waiting at the door since early this morning. We've only been here a short while, so please wait."
Ji Qingyuan took Wu's hand and said coquettishly, "Mother is still the best to me. My skin is delicate and can't withstand the scorching sun."
While the women in the household were all sunbathing, Ji Qingyuan was the only one who held up an umbrella.
Madam Qiao, the first wife, glanced at the mother and daughter, then turned her gaze back.
She had no time to argue with the mother and daughter, and asked anxiously, "Why haven't they arrived yet? Didn't they say they had already entered the city?"
Qiao was over forty years old, and she waited the longest under the sun. Almost as soon as it was light, she rushed to the gate of the mansion to wait.
"Madam, please don't worry."
As Granny Li was comforting her, she suddenly saw a group of people and pointed happily to the distance.
"They're here! They're here!"
As the sound of approaching hooves grew louder, the carriage slowly came to a stop.
Ji Changlin dismounted first, bowed and said, "Greetings to Mother and Second Aunt."
All eyes were on the slender hand behind him, the one that lifted the curtain.
Normally, Mrs. Qiao was reserved, dignified, and had strict manners, but at this moment she was so anxious that she couldn't stand still and took the initiative to go to greet him.
A tiny, adorable baby jumped out of the carriage and nestled into Madam Qiao's arms.
The old nanny Li exclaimed in surprise.
Where did this adorable doll, which looks like a pink dumpling, come from?
When Qiao saw the child's appearance and the jade pendant on her chest, she instantly lost control and burst into tears, hugging the child tightly in her arms as if she were about to break apart.
"My little Wu, I've finally got you back, my darling..."
The hand holding the curtain on the carriage lifted slightly.
Another young woman emerged from inside, with delicate features and a gentle demeanor.
Ji Qingwu still did not show her true face, but considering that she was going home to recognize her relatives, she could not disguise herself too much, so she restored about 70-80% of her original appearance.
After arriving in the city, she was constantly worried, unsure whether the Ji family would truly accept her and her child.
But when her eyes met Qiao's, her heart skipped a beat.
The woman in front of me had her hair styled in a bun, and wore a magnificent dark green brocade dress with gold trim. She was holding Qiuqiu in her arms, and her face was covered in tears. Her eyes were filled with mixed emotions, but it was not hard to see that they were full of tenderness and regret.
For some reason, Ji Qingwu's eyes also welled up with tears.
Upon seeing the person in front of her, Qiao instantly regained her senses.
Although the child in her arms looked exactly like Xiao Wu when he was young, their ages didn't match.
The girl in front of me is her fifth child!
Qiao tried to call out to her, but tears welled up in her eyes again, and Li, the old nanny beside her, quickly supported her.
"Madam, you'll frighten the child if you do that."
Ji Changlin reached out and helped Ji Qingwu down from the carriage.
She wore light makeup, her eyebrows were delicate and arched, and her eyes were full of smiles.
Ji Qingwu changed into the clothes that Ji Changlin had specially ordered Lanling to buy in town. She wore a light green gauze dress with light pink lotus flowers embroidered on the cuffs, giving her a fresh and natural look.
Although the dresses were not as gorgeous as those of the women of the Ji family, they were exquisite and artistic.
Just then, a gust of wind arose, blowing her skirt, and the flowing gauze became wrapped around her body, revealing her exquisite figure.
"The Fifth Miss looks like a lotus fairy." One of the maids exclaimed in admiration.
Qiao had already wiped away her tears with a handkerchief. She looked at Ji Qingwu, then stared blankly at the little dumpling in her arms.
"You are, this, and this is again."
Ji Changlin quickly explained with a smile, "Mother, the person in front of you is Fifth Sister, and the one in your arms is Fifth Sister's daughter, Qiuqiu."
Mrs. Qiao was taken aback and was stunned for a moment.
Because in his letter home, Ji Changlin only mentioned that he had found Xiao Wu, saying that she was living a hard life, making a living by grinding tree bark in a small border town, and that she had even learned acrobatic skills such as breaking tables with one hand...
But it didn't mention that Xiao Wu was already married and even had a child.
Seeing that the doorway was crowded with people and the crowd was growing larger, Ji Changlin said, "Mother, let's go in and sit down first, then we can talk."
Looking at her daughter whom she had lost and found again, and holding her heavy granddaughter in her arms, Mrs. Qiao finally felt at ease.
Although her throat tightened, her tone was as firm as iron.
"Yes, let's go home."
As they spoke, Mrs. Qiao took the initiative to hold Ji Qingwu's hand.
Both mother and daughter had sweaty palms and were taken aback.
Afterwards, all the women in the mansion stared in astonishment as the usually stern First Madam, holding her child in her right hand and leading her daughter by the hand in her left, returned to the mansion.
The old lady in the mansion was taking a midday nap and had not yet gotten up.
So everyone went back to their own rooms first, and later they would go to Shou'an Hall together to pay their respects to the old lady.
In Anju Garden.
The small garden was lush with flowers and plants, and the servants were doing their work of sweeping and pruning in an orderly manner.
Inside the main house, Qiuqiu was nestled in Ji Qingwu's arms, her little eyes already dull and sleepy.
Granny Li approached quietly and said in a low voice, "Fifth Miss, you must be tired from driving. I'll take the child downstairs and get some sleep, so you and Madam can have a chat."
Qiao also explained to Ji Qingwu in a soft voice, "Granny Li has taken care of you three siblings before. She is very experienced. You can rest assured that she can take care of the children."
Ji Qingwu had no worries and sent Qiuqiu over.
She thought for a moment, then took out a piece of old fabric with an indistinct pattern from her bosom.
"Granny, this is something that Qiuqiu likes to hold in her hand when she's asleep. You can just put it next to her."
Granny Li left, leaving only the mother and daughter in the room.
As Ji Qingwu smelled the gardenia fragrance emanating from Qiao Shi, his mind began to relax, and he was no longer as tense as before.
Seeing that her daughter remained silent and obedient, she noticed that her daughter was quiet and well-behaved.
Qiao hesitated before asking, "Xiao Wu, now that you are married and have children, where is your husband? Why didn't he come back to Lin'an with you?"
Ji Qingwu had long anticipated that his family would question him about who Qiuqiu's biological father was.
She lowered her eyes, pursed her lips, and said, "Ever since Qiuqiu was born, her father has been guarding the border in the northern military camp."
Mrs. Qiao nodded, then asked, "Have you informed your son-in-law about your return home?"
“I haven’t heard from him at all. I don’t even know if he’s alive or dead.” Ji Qingwu sighed, feigning a sigh. “Perhaps he has already forgotten about us, or perhaps he has already died in battle.”
Mrs. Qiao frowned with heartache.
For so many years, Xiao Wu has been living on the streets, without her parents to support her. Perhaps she married a careless man without any support.
The daughter's clothes were simple, and she had no jewelry in her hair. Compared with other girls of the same age in the Ji family, she was far too plain.
How could a man like that be worthy of her Xiao Wu?
Qiao's gaze shifted, and she said firmly, "Xiao Wu, he's dead."
Ji Qingwu's eyes widened: ......
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