Chapter 7: 7. Chapter 7: Kneeling until my limbs grew cold, and my heart grew even colder

Chapter 7: Kneeling until hands and feet grow cold, and the heart grows cold too

The mother and daughter of the second branch exchanged a glance.

Such a precious gift—could it be that the Empress Dowager had other intentions, planning to replace the candidate from the Ji family to be sent into the palace as a consort?

Was she choosing to have Ji Qingwu enter the palace instead?

Madam Wu gave a soft cough, and Ji Qingyuan immediately understood. She spoke as if unintentionally, "Aunt’s gift is not only precious, but the sentiment behind it is rare. Fifth Sister, you must be careful; don't let any children touch it and break it."

"Children?"

The hand the Empress Dowager used to hold her teacup paused slightly, a look of confusion appearing on her face.

Ji Qingyuan had deliberately not brought this matter up in front of the Old Madam, wanting to wait for the "best" moment.

She mused, "Fifth Sister returned home in quite a rush; I suppose she hasn't had the chance to report it to you yet, Aunt."

She sighed again and added, "Fifth Sister has been wandering outside for all these years. To think that when she finally returned home..."

Seeing her hesitant demeanor, the Empress Dowager handed the teacup in her hand to Shixi and asked with displeasure, "To think what? Qingyuan, speak clearly. What exactly is going on?"

Ji Qingyuan bit her lip, appearing embarrassed. "She brought an illegitimate child back to the manor."

Qingwu was already married and had a child?

The Empress Dowager’s brows furrowed slightly, as if her plans had fallen through. She began to twist the prayer beads on her wrist.

Shixi and Fanghua knew this was a sign that the Empress Dowager was in a bad mood, and both lowered their heads.

The hall fell silent for several seconds.

Old Madam Ji sat upright in the lower seat and asked in a heavy voice, "Qingyuan, let me ask you: why did you not inform me of this the moment the fifth girl entered the manor?"

Ji Qingyuan explained with a look of helplessness, "Such news brings shame upon the family, so I thought I would tell Grandmother another day. I never expected that Aunt would summon us this evening."

A "shameful" piece of news, indeed.

The smile that had been on the Empress Dowager’s lips had already vanished, and the atmosphere in the palace hall turned cold.

Hearing the Fourth Miss splashing dirty water on Little Five, Madam Qiao could not sit still; she had to defend her.

"Empress Dowager, it was not intentional on Qingwu’s part. When she returned home, she brought the child through the main gate of the Ji manor openly and honestly. She never intended to hide it. It was just that today’s timing was too rushed, and we hadn't had the chance to inform you or the Old Madam yet."

The Empress Dowager let out a hum. "It seems it is my fault then, for being too impatient to summon you."

At this moment, Ji Qingwu finally moved. She shook her head at the nervous Madam Qiao.

She lifted the hem of her lake-blue skirt and knelt directly on the floor.

Her posture was humble, but her words were firm.

"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, Qingwu was separated from my family in childhood. I did not know the mystery of my birth, nor whose daughter I was. Having barely survived at the border for so many years, I was fortunate to have a daughter with my husband. From that moment on, Qingwu had kin of her own blood. How ridiculous the word 'illegitimate' is—Qingwu considers it a rebirth!"

Her Jiu-jiu must never bear the stigma of being an illegitimate child.

Ji Qingwu lowered her head, her voice soft yet clear. "I beg the Empress Dowager to discern the truth."

"A rebirth?"

Just then, a man’s voice came from the entrance of the hall.

"The Fifth Miss of the Ji family speaks well!"

A young man in a precious blue robe entered the hall, his figure tall and imposing.

He walked to Ji Qingwu’s side, tilted his head slightly, and let out a low chuckle.

Ji Qingwu’s back stiffened slightly.

The man approached the Empress Dowager, lifted his robes, and said loudly, "Your son pays his respects to Mother!"

This person was the current Emperor?

Ji Qingwu felt a bit disappointed in her heart.

After all, along the way, she had heard too many rumors about this new Emperor of Beili—how he was a man of great strategy and talent, all words of high praise.

However, seeing him now, this "enlightened ruler" had a temperament that was so... frivolous and indulgent.

When the Empress Dowager saw him, a smile immediately appeared in her eyes. "Minghong, how do you have the time to enter the palace today?"

The members of the Ji family also rose one after another to offer their respects with voices full of deference.

"Your Highness, Prince Yong."

So he was Prince Yong.

Ji Qingwu was already kneeling on the ground and did not need to bow again. Her gaze happened to meet Prince Yong’s.

His smile seemed to brighten even more. "Mother, Changyan and I just finished some important business, so we finally had the leisure to come and pay our respects to you."

Empress Dowager: "Enough, as if I don't know what you usually get up to."

Ji Qingyuan said with a knowing look, "Your Highness, so you were with the Fourth Brother. No wonder I didn't see him return home today."

Ji Changyan was born to Madam Wu of the second branch and was a few years younger than Prince Yong.

The two were cousins and shared a similar temperament; they always loved to stay together to "handle business"—which was nothing more than using their status to act recklessly and indulge in debauchery.

Prince Yong was the Empress Dowager’s own son and a prince of the dynasty; naturally, he ran rampant in Lin'an City.

Prince Yong continued, "So this is the fifth cousin that Grandmother’s family just found?"

"You are certainly well-informed," the Empress Dowager’s tone revealed a hint of helplessness.

Prince Yong stood below the steps, speaking with a teasing expression, "That cannot be blamed on your son. The streets and alleys of Lin'an City are all gossiping about a carriage parked at the gate of the Ji manor, and the person who stepped out was a lotus fairy. I also wanted to come and see the grace of this fairy with my own eyes."

Ji Qingyuan’s eyes flickered slightly. "Your Highness, now that you have seen Qingwu, what do you think? Is she as beautiful and moving as the rumors say?"

At this moment, Ji Qingwu was still kneeling straight, her slender waist cinched by a patterned, embroidered belt, her light blue and white dress spread across the floor.

Prince Yong’s gaze swept over Ji Qingwu from head to toe.

Ji Qingwu lowered her head, appearing shy, but in reality, she was frowning tightly.

Being stared at by this man gave her the same discomfort as being circled by a python.

Shixi added a seat for Prince Yong beside the Empress Dowager. After he sat down, he curled his lips into a smile. "I think the Fifth Cousin does not match the rumors. She cannot be considered a graceful lotus fairy. If we are talking about peerless beauty, that would have to be the Fourth Cousin."

Upon hearing this, Ji Qingyuan’s face lit up with joy, and she touched her own face.

"Thank you for the compliment, Your Highness. Although Fifth Sister is not a lotus fairy, she can still be considered a delicate beauty."

Prince Yong’s eyes held a hint of interest as he stared straight at the head-bowed Ji Qingwu.

He had many stunning courtesans in his manor, but none had the appearance and bearing of the woman kneeling in the hall.

Dignified and clear, yet not lacking in charm and allure.

He changed his tone and said, "Fourth Cousin, you misunderstand. The Fifth Cousin is not a fairy; she is clearly a lotus rising from the water—a delicate, dripping-wet little beauty."

She had been complimented, but Ji Qingwu could not feel happy.

She felt that if Prince Yong looked at her any longer, she would fall ill.

But the other party was the Empress Dowager’s own son, the Emperor’s brother; she could not afford to offend him.

Ji Qingwu secretly clenched her hands into fists, trying hard to suppress this repulsive feeling.

In this room, most people had experienced the ways of the world; how could they not understand Prince Yong’s lecherous gaze?

The First Madam, Qiao, frowned tightly.

The jade bracelet the Empress Dowager had given earlier—besides what she had previously thought, there was another possibility. Could it be that she intended to marry Little Five to Prince Yong?

Regardless of Prince Yong’s character, there was one fact: two years ago, he had married the eldest legitimate daughter of the Grand Secretary as his Princess Consort. If Little Five married him, she could only be a concubine.

He was absolutely not a good match for Little Five.

She could not let her escape one fire pit only to fall into an abyss.

Madam Qiao made a prompt decision and knelt down immediately, saying solemnly, "Empress Dowager, this subject’s wife has a matter to request."

Little Five: Once my mother makes a move, you know it’s the real deal.

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