Chapter 60 Five-Colored Threads, Encircling Your Heart
When Ji Qingwu returned from the princess's residence and entered the main room of Anju Garden, he saw Qiao Shi tying a colorful silk thread to Qiujiu's wrist.
She remembered that the Dragon Boat Festival was just around the corner, and Lin'an had a long-standing custom of wearing five-colored threads.
After tying the knot, Qiao said, "Tomorrow is the Dragon Boat Festival. Wearing this can ward off evil spirits and prevent the five poisonous creatures from getting close."
Chiu Chiu waved her chubby little hands, clearly delighted, and said sweetly, "Thank you, Grandma who loves Chiu Chiu the most."
Qiao hugged her and said, "Put it on properly, now go to school with Granny Li."
When Qiuqiu turned around and saw Ji Qingwu, she ran over and tugged at her skirt, saying in a spoiled tone, "Mother, take me there. Mother hasn't taken me there in a long time."
Ji Qingwu smiled and said, "How about your mother picks you up after school?"
The little girl thought for a moment and realized that getting out of school was the happiest time of the day, and she could see her mother again, which made her incredibly happy.
The mother and daughter made a pinky promise, and Ji Qingwu repeatedly assured her that he would definitely come to pick her up. Only then did Qiuqiu leave, looking back every few steps.
Once the child and Granny Li had disappeared from sight, Ji Qingwu stretched out her wrist, pouted, and said in a disgruntled voice, "Mother, what about mine?"
You're such a grown-up, yet you act like a child.
Madam Qiao gently patted her fingers and smiled lovingly, "My dear, how could I forget you?"
Then, he took out a box from behind him, inside which were several finished five-colored threads and several skeins of colorful silk threads.
Ji Qingwu picked one up, examined it closely in her hand, and said, "Mother, teach me how to weave this."
Five-colored threads, also called longevity threads.
She wanted to weave one herself and give it to the little one in the palace to wear, so that it would protect him and bring him peace and good fortune.
She spent the entire afternoon in Qiao's room learning how to weave five-colored threads.
There are many patterns that can be woven. The simplest is to twist the rope together. You can also add gold ornaments, or fold it into the shape of human figures, sun, moon, stars, birds and animals.
She took five threads of different colors: blue, yellow, white, red, and black. She unraveled and re-braided them several times before she finally finished braiding one, almost missing the time to pick up Qiuqiu.
At the entrance of the Imperial Study.
Several children were walking out chatting and laughing, but the little girl was nowhere to be seen. Usually, she would have been the first to rush out the door.
Ji Qingwu went up and asked them what happened. They said with a smile that Qiuqiu had drawn a whole page of little ducks in calligraphy class and was being kept after school as punishment for copying them.
She was both amused and exasperated.
Ji Qingwu then asked, "Do you know where Prince Yuanheng is?"
Before the child in front of him could answer, a voice that was feigned indifference came from behind him.
"What business do you have with me?"
Ji Qingwu turned around and saw the exquisitely beautiful little guy. He was taller than when he last saw him, and his face was more like his father's.
He is growing up well.
She smiled, her eyes crinkling, and said, "Chiu Chiu is studying in the Imperial Study. I heard that Your Highness often helps her with her studies and calligraphy. I would like to express my gratitude."
Yuan Heng raised his chin, looking proud, but said dismissively, "It's just a trivial matter, not worth mentioning."
Ji Qingwu squatted down, took something out of the blue purse embroidered with pink lotus that she always carried, held it in her palm, and handed it to him.
"How about this as a thank-you gift?"
Yuan Heng looked down at her hand; it was a five-colored thread.
It is exceptionally simple and unadorned.
Unlike the gold thread favored in the palace, which was adorned with gold ornaments and jewels, this one was quite unique. It wasn't an ordinary knot; it resembled a small triangular rice dumpling wrapped around it.
The eunuch serving Yuan Heng stepped forward and said, "Miss Ji, His Highness doesn't like wearing these ornaments. The Imperial Household Department specially sent a whole set today, but His Highness didn't even look at it."
Although she put a lot of effort into creating this, she couldn't force the child to conform to her own preferences.
Ji Qingwu suddenly realized, "If you don't like it, then you won't..."
"Shut up!"
Yuan Heng, with a stern face and sharp eyes, rebuked him.
Ji Qingwu swallowed the rest of his words. The little guy was quite fierce, very much like his father. One could foresee his imposing presence when he grew up.
Yuan Heng quickly took the five-colored thread from her palm, his dark eyes gleaming.
“I wasn’t talking about you, Xiao Shunzi is just being unreasonable.” Then, he looked at the empty space to the side.
Ji Qingwu's eyes brightened, and she said softly, "May I put it on Your Highness?"
She knelt down, took his small hand, and adjusted the five-colored threads to the right length.
Yuan Heng stared intently at her face, his gaze focused, a slight upturn of his lips before he suppressed it.
After several repetitions, the corners of his mouth seemed to have their own will, the curve growing wider and wider.
I was overjoyed.
After Ji Qingwu finished tying the knot, she looked up and met his gaze. Yuan Heng quickly pursed his lips into a thin line.
He was still just a child, and he couldn't hide his emotions well enough. She couldn't help but poke his little cheek.
Feeling a poke on his face, Yuan Heng opened his eyes wide and said, "You're being presumptuous again."
She not only poked his face, but also scratched his chin, saying, "If Your Highness is happy, just laugh it off. Why hold it in?"
Yuan Heng's little mouth is full of profound truths.
"My father said that those who are emperors or rulers are ordained by Heaven. Heaven is impartial and cannot show obvious likes or dislikes."
The King of Chu loved slender waists, and many starved to death in the palace. Ji Qingwu nodded knowingly.
If someone discovers the emperor's likes and dislikes, it's one thing to flatter and fawn over him, but it's much more dangerous if those with ulterior motives plot against him.
The Hall of Diligent Governance is just a few dozen meters away.
Lu Juan stood in the hall, cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, twenty-six officials have already been demoted in the case of embezzlement in disaster relief. Should we continue to investigate further?"
He thought of the list of names that had been traced over the past few days.
After hesitating for a long time, he still said, "Many aristocratic families in Lin'an City are also involved."
Emperor Wusu held a secret memorial in his hand and said indifferently, "The roots of aristocratic families have long been rotten to the core. This case will be closed for now."
Lu Juan lowered his head even further, knowing that the emperor would not let these people off easily. He wanted to nip the problem in the bud, but he didn't know when the emperor planned to settle accounts.
Emperor Wusu casually flicked the memorial and slammed it onto the desk.
"Please have a seat and serve tea."
Li Yuzong led several palace servants in to attend to him, and the vermilion gates were wide open.
Lu Juan drank a cup of tea and noticed that Emperor Wu Su's gaze was fixed on his cuffs.
Besides being ruler and subject, the two were also cousins, and Lu Juan had a close relationship with the emperor since childhood.
At this point, he was less restrained when not discussing politics.
Lu Juan glanced at it and said smugly, "Your Majesty, this is a five-colored thread woven by my wife. She says it represents good fortune in the five directions and can protect me."
His smile deepened as he recalled Ji Qingrong's gentle expression while weaving the silk threads.
With a hint of smugness, he asked, "Didn't His Majesty receive it?"
Li Yuzong stood aside, smiling obsequiously as he continued, "The young master and his wife are truly loving. This morning, the ladies of the harem and the concubines sent over a dozen five-colored threads. The one sent by Consort Wei even had a golden dragon pendant attached to it; this servant couldn't take his eyes off it."
Lu Juan looked the emperor over and examined his body and wrists, but did not see the five-colored thread.
Emperor Wusu, however, turned his gaze to the distance.
"Go and summon Yuan Heng."
Li Yuzong looked outside and saw two figures, one tall and one short. He sighed inwardly and quickly went out to obey the order.
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