Chapter 71 The Jade Ring, Revealing the Emperor's Heart
Hearing his words.
Ji Qingwu's breathing quickened, and her chest heaved.
The fabric of her nightgown brushed against the tip of his nose.
Their eyes met, and she looked away first, lowering her eyelashes with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor.
His aggressive expression was no better than simply stripping her naked.
Emperor Wusu carried her directly to the inner room.
With his other hand, he lifted the thin bed curtains and gently placed her on the bed.
Ji Qingwu lay on her back, her black hair spread out on the bed, her skin fair and translucent, her eyes sparkling with a soft, gentle look.
Just as she thought he was going to do something, Emperor Wusu's gaze shifted to the inside of the bed.
Ji Qingwu turned her head and couldn't help but smile. The little girl's chubby arms and legs were exposed, but her belly was covered with a long, light red towel.
Her little face was adorned with a sweet smile, as if she were having a wonderful dream.
The atmosphere suddenly softened.
Emperor Wusu's gaze fell on the little girl's pillow, and he raised his long eyebrows.
Ji Qingwu also noticed what was there and immediately turned back.
Before going to sleep, Qiuqiu has a ritual: she must touch the jade pendant she has worn since she was little. Sometimes she will even stick out her little bottom and have a intimate chat with the koi fish pendant.
The "evidence" was then presented blatantly to the emperor.
Ji Qingwu's secrets were exposed without anyone noticing.
Emperor Wusu glanced at her meaningfully, then flicked the five-colored thread at his waist with his fingers, the jade pendant exactly like Qiuqiu's, swaying incessantly in front of her.
Ji Qingwu grabbed a satin quilt from the side and pulled it over her head; she really didn't want to face this embarrassing scene.
Emperor Wusu waved his hand and tore off the quilt, throwing it aside.
He traced her face with his fingertips and whispered, "If you hide yourself, you can pretend nothing happened?"
Ji Qingwu made up her mind not to make eye contact with him, and covered her face with her hands.
He took her hand and held her soft, boneless hand in his palm.
She closed her eyes tightly again.
Emperor Wusu watched with amusement as she closed her eyes, her face flushed with embarrassment as she acted coy.
Just then, several roosters crowed outside.
Ji Qingwu was puzzled. No chickens were kept in Wutong Garden or even the Ji family mansion, so how could there be the sound of chickens crowing?
The sound made Emperor Wusu frown.
"Remember, you still owe me an answer. Patience will eventually run out."
She was still wondering why there was such a strange noise.
He caressed her lips, reminding her, "Did you hear that?"
After Ji Qingwu nodded obediently, he straightened up, but still stood in front of the bed. After staring at her for a while, he took out a jade ring from his sleeve and placed it beside her pillow.
His voice seemed much softer, and he spoke a little faster.
"I bought this on a whim on the road tonight. It looks to be in decent condition, so I'm giving it to you."
Before she could reply, the rooster crowing outside the door grew louder, as if urging her to do something.
Emperor Wusu turned and strode away.
After that tall and heroic figure disappeared, Ji Qingwu sat up, wrapped in the brocade quilt, and picked up the jade ring from beside her pillow.
My heart skipped a beat.
This jade ring is made of green jade, without any carvings or patterns, but its luster alone shows that it is very valuable.
It was definitely not something you bought casually from a roadside stall.
Jade ring, jade returned.
The implication is that by using a ring to reverse a broken relationship, one can reunite with those who have drifted apart and rekindle old friendships.
Emperor Wusu came late at night, not to punish her, nor to play a trick on her.
His act of condescending to such an extent was for the purpose of...
Sum.
The emperor's heart is clear, and his jade can attest to it.
Tonight in the private room of the teahouse, his furious appearance startled her, and this jade ring was a silent apology.
Ji Qingwu gripped the jade in her hand tightly; it still carried the warm body heat of Emperor Wusu's embrace.
The sky outside was no longer pitch black; it had begun to turn a hazy gray.
Duan Mingfeng had been waiting at the gate of the Ji residence for a long time. After Emperor Wusu left, he drove his carriage and sped all the way to Phoenix Palace.
Emperor Wusu changed into his imperial robes and went to court.
Although he hadn't slept all night, the emperor was in good spirits and looked relaxed, which made the officials at the morning court feel much more at ease as well.
After listening to the reports from several ministers as usual, he asked in a deep voice, "Do any other matters concern you ministers?"
Everyone lowered their heads in silence.
Li Yuzong raised his whisk and said loudly, "If you have something to report, speak now; otherwise, the court is adjourned."
Suddenly, an imperial censor rushed out, and several people tried to stop him.
But he ran so fast and fast that he fell directly onto the bricks and stones of the Golden Palace, shouting loudly, "Your humble servant is willing to die to remonstrate with you!"
The fact that a censor could be so determined to remonstrate to the death must be a major event, causing an uproar throughout the court.
Emperor Wusu calmly replied, "Speak."
After kowtowing, Wang Minda said with grief, "The former Imperial Censor Yan Zongrang was brutally murdered by villains a few days ago, but no one dares to take the case. Your Majesty, I beg you to find the person behind the murder."
Yan Zongrang was recently demoted to a remote mountain by the emperor. As a disgraced official, he should not have mentioned this matter in the morning court, but Wang Minda could not bear to see his former colleague die unjustly.
Emperor Wusu remained silent.
The court has split into two factions: one faction, mostly composed of upright officials from the Censorate and the Court of Judicial Review, supports a thorough investigation of the case; the other faction, led by Prince Yong, strongly opposes it.
Their claim was that Yan Zongrang was a criminal with a criminal record, and that this case was less serious than an ordinary murder case, so it could be investigated by a branch of the Imperial City Guard, and was not worth the effort of the three judicial departments.
Emperor Wusu adjusted his sleeves and watched them debate in the court with a leisurely air.
Just as the atmosphere was getting lively, he spoke up: "What does Minister Li think?"
The ministers fell silent.
Li Chengxun had been assigned to the Censorate, and he stepped forward in a scarlet official robe.
After bowing, he said, "Your Majesty, I believe that Yan Zongrang's death is a minor matter, but the court should not be disgraced because of this. There are already rumors circulating among the people."
What rumors are these?
Li Chengxun hesitated and said, "Rumors are rumors because they have no factual basis. I am afraid that they will offend Your Majesty's ears."
A fierce glint flashed in Emperor Wusu's eyes: "It is rumored that I sent someone to kill him."
Upon hearing that the Emperor had guessed correctly, Li Chengxun knelt down and bowed, "Your Majesty, please calm down. These are all false rumors."
Emperor Wusu, seated high on the dragon throne, took in the expressions of his ministers.
He said in a deep voice, "Are you willing to take on this case?"
Li Chengxun was shocked. He had just arrived at the Censorate and was in dire need of a major case to establish his reputation.
He firmly replied, "Your humble servant will certainly not fail in his mission."
After the court session ended.
Grand Eunuch Li Yuzong jogged to summon Lu Juan and Yuchi Lianping to the Hall of Diligent Governance.
The two stood in the hall and exchanged a glance.
Yuchi Lianping said, "Although Yan Zongrang, that stubborn old man, was hateful, he was also a rare honest official. He was killed in a feud not long after he was demoted. Who would be so bold as to do that?"
Looking at the dragon pillar in front of him, Lu Juan guessed, "There must be something fishy about this case. I suppose the Emperor summoned us here for this very reason."
After waiting for a while, Emperor Wusu entered the main hall.
He specially changed into a moon-white casual outfit with dragon and cloud patterns, which perfectly matched the jade ornament hanging at his waist.
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