Chapter 6 A Grand Gift: Becoming the Empress Dowager's Daughter-in-Law
The Ji family members knelt on the ground.
The eunuch who came to deliver the message did not rush to announce the imperial decree, but first helped the old lady up.
"Greetings, Madam. The Empress Dowager has been away from her family for a long time and is very concerned about them. She has specially summoned the women of her family to Cining Palace for dinner."
After speaking, the father-in-law looked around at the kneeling women and found Ji Qingwu kneeling in the far corner.
He continued, "When the Empress Dowager learned that the Fifth Miss of the Ji family had been found, she wanted to share in the joy and specifically instructed that the Fifth Miss should also accompany her."
Mrs. Qiao turned around and gave her daughter a wink.
Ji Qingwu knelt and crawled a few steps before bowing deeply: "This humble woman thanks the Empress Dowager for her concern."
After the eunuch who delivered the imperial decree left, Ji Qingyuan got up and passed by Ji Qingwu, noticing that Ji Qingwu's brows were furrowed.
Ji Qingyuan smiled slightly and said meaningfully, "It seems that your aunt values Fifth Sister very much. Since this is your first time entering the palace, you must perform well and not disgrace the Ji family."
However, Ji Qingwu frowned because her knees were sore from kneeling. The thought of having to kneel again to enter the palace made her feel helpless.
She asked, "Fourth Sister, how many times do you have to kneel before entering the palace?"
This question made Ji Qingyuan freeze instantly.
Even after the figure in blue left, she was still pondering what Ji Qingwu really meant.
Is it mocking her for only being able to pay respects to the Empress Dowager and not being able to see the Emperor every time she enters the palace?
Ji Qingyuan clenched the handkerchief in her hand.
As the older sister, I should give this younger sister a "big gift".
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Cining Palace.
Green tiles and red walls, glazed tile roofs, gleaming in the sunlight.
Ji Qingwu walked slowly in, and before him was an elegant and magnificent scene, every corner exuding royal majesty and nobility.
Aunt Shixi, who was by the Empress Dowager's side, led the Ji family into the main hall.
"Madam, ladies and young ladies, please sit and rest here for a while. The Empress Dowager is changing her clothes and will be here shortly."
Madam Ji nodded and said gratefully, "Thank you for your help, Aunt Shixi."
Ji Qingyuan looked at the pastry plate next to the tea table and praised, "Aunt Shixi, has the palace added new styles of pastries? They are so innovative. I have never seen such exquisite and elegant pastries before."
Shi Xi smiled and nodded in agreement: "Fourth Miss, the Empress Dowager knows that you like to eat these, so she specially ordered the small kitchen to prepare them."
Second Madam Wu immediately said, "Your Majesty knows exactly what Yuan'er likes to eat; you spoil her too much."
Shi Xi smiled without saying a word.
Madam Ji coughed a few times and glared at the second wife.
Within the palace, one cannot speak ill of one's master; they have no right to discuss who the Empress Dowager favors.
Realizing she had spoken out of turn, Ms. Wu awkwardly shut her mouth.
Seeing the mother and daughter on the other side, Shi Xi's eyes showed a hint of surprise.
Madam Qiao, the first wife, came from a prominent family and her manners and etiquette were always impeccable, leaving no room for criticism.
But what about the Fifth Sister who had just been found and brought home...?
After Ji Qingwu sat down, she straightened her back, raised her head slightly, and looked calm and composed. She didn't glance around or even look at the exquisite pastries beside her.
In everyone's eyes, he appears calm, composed, and elegantly refined.
Even though Shi Xi had seen many ladies in the palace, he couldn't help but admire the Fifth Miss's graceful demeanor. Although her appearance was not as glamorous as the Fourth Miss's, her overall temperament far surpassed hers, making the Fourth Miss seem a bit petty.
Ji Qingwu was unaware of what the others were thinking.
It wasn't that she didn't want to move, but that she was afraid to.
It was truly because Mrs. Qiao had added quite a few things to her head before she left.
Her hair was piled high in a bun, adorned with a hibiscus-patterned jade hairpin and a purple-gold hair comb inlaid with peonies. She also wore silver ribbons on both sides.
She seemed frozen in place, afraid to move her head or neck.
Ji Qingwu still admired Ji Qingyuan in his heart. Her head was covered with gold, silver and jewels, weighing more than five pounds, yet she could move around freely.
"The Empress Dowager has arrived!"
As her father-in-law called out loudly, Ji Qingwu bowed beside Qiao Shi.
When the Empress Dowager passed in front of her, she seemed to pause for a moment before gracefully sitting down on the throne, with her two aunts, Shixi and Fanghua, attending to her.
He said in a gentle voice, "Get up, we're all family."
After exchanging a few pleasantries with Madam Ji, the Empress Dowager turned her gaze directly to the woman sitting at the very back.
"This must be Qingwu."
Ji Qingwu, who was called out, had no choice but to get up and kneel again.
The kneeling ceremony was performed with such elegance that it was not only flawless but also pleasing to the eye.
This was something Qiao had specifically taught her before she left. After Ji Qingwu finished performing the grand ceremony, she felt sweat starting to trickle down her back.
"Qingwu, come forward and let me take a closer look."
Ji Qingwu bowed his head and went to obey the order. He stopped at the golden steps, his nostrils filled with the scent of sandalwood.
The Empress Dowager had been subtly observing her ever since she entered the room; now she was simply looking for an excuse to let her get closer so she could get a good look at her appearance.
“Raise your head and get closer to your aunt.”
The Empress Dowager's gaze was deep, as if it had stirred up some memories.
"I held Qingwu when she was little, and she was a very obedient child." The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "Back then, we were still at the Yong'an Marquis's residence. I remember that the day after I held Qingwu, I was diagnosed with pregnancy."
The Empress Dowager remembers this adorable child very clearly.
Madam Ji nodded in agreement: "Yes, Your Highness remembers correctly. At that time, Your Highness was pregnant with Princess Qingyun."
Princess Qingyun was the Empress Dowager's darling daughter and the Emperor's half-sister.
Ji Qingwu raised his head and met the Empress Dowager's gaze.
After smiling at her for a long time, the Empress Dowager turned to the palace maid standing to the side and instructed, "Shixi, go and fetch the gift that I specially prepared for Qingwu this morning."
He emphasized the words "this morning" in his tone.
Shi Xi was taken aback, then accepted the order and left.
The gift was a jade bracelet, the jade was warm and translucent, it was no ordinary item.
The Empress Dowager said, “There was originally a pair, but the other one was accidentally broken. I have kept this one carefully and have never worn it again. However, at my age, it is no longer suitable for such a green jade. Qingwu is in her prime, so it is just right for her to wear it.”
Ji Qingwu did not miss the look of surprise in Aunt Shixi's eyes.
It seems that the gift the Empress Dowager initially prepared for her was not this jade bracelet, but something else entirely.
A thought struck her: this jade bracelet must have an extraordinary origin, and perhaps it held some other significance.
Just now, the Empress Dowager looked at her for a long time and seemed quite satisfied with her, which is why she rewarded her with this.
At the same time, Ji Qingyuan's face turned very ugly.
She stared at the brocade box in Ji Qingwu's hands, her eyes filled with jealousy and envy.
She said sourly, "It is truly an immense favor that my aunt bestowed this upon my fifth sister."
This jade bracelet was a wedding gift given by the Marquis of Yong'an to the Empress Dowager on their wedding night when she married into the Yong'an Marquis's household as his second wife.
Ji Qingyuan begged and pleaded several times, but to no avail.
But the Empress Dowager only saw the Fifth Sister once before giving her the bracelet!
The wedding ceremony.
It is a gift for newlyweds to express their affection for each other, but if it is given to a younger generation, it is usually passed on to the daughter-in-law, which can symbolize the loving relationship between husband and wife.
Becoming the Empress Dowager's daughter-in-law...
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