Chapter 13: The Spoiled Brat, Full of Love

Chapter 13: The Spoiled Little Monster, Filled to the Brim with Love

Little Dongzi nodded: "Fifth Miss, this is an unprecedented imperial favor from His Majesty. You are the very first to receive it."

This verbal decree from Emperor Wu Su was truly extraordinary, and it came with a specific instruction: only Ji Qingwu was to know; she must not tell anyone else in the Ji family.

The little eunuch delivered the gift, relayed the decree, and hurried back to the palace.

Ji Qingwu clutched the brocade box in her hand, her expression off.

Madam Qiao stepped forward a few steps and gently patted her arm: "Little Five, you caught a chill today. Don't stand in the cold wind at the door. Go inside and warm up."

Ji Qingwu remained silent, following Madam Qiao back to Anju Courtyard. Ji Qingyuan said a few sour things along the way, but she acted as if she hadn't heard a word.

Upon entering, Madam Qiao immediately ordered the maid beside her: "Chunhua, go to the kitchen at once and watch the cook. Make a bowl of red date and ginger soup for the Miss. Remember to simmer it thick and strong; that's the only way to dispel the cold."

Ji Qingwu sat on the seat in the main room, her expression dazed.

Knowing her daughter had experienced too much today—advancing and retreating appropriately before the Empress Dowager and receiving the Emperor's reward—Madam Qiao also felt a sense of pride.

Her tone was exceptionally gentle: "Little Five, you've been tossed about all day and are tired. Go take a hot bath first. If there's anything, we'll talk later."

Madam Qiao wasn't without curiosity about the Emperor's sudden verbal decree, but she wouldn't ask about things she shouldn't know.

Ji Qingwu rallied her spirits: "Mother, I'm fine."

"Lanzhi, come in."

Madam Qiao called in a maid, lifted her chin, and said: "From now on, you will be responsible for attending to Fifth Miss's daily life."

Lanzhi bowed respectfully: "Yes, Madam."

"Lanzhi's mother was a dowry maid I brought with me when I married. She was born and raised in the household, honest and steady. You can treat her as one of your own people. I'll assign you four more little maids to stay in the outer room and do sweeping and such."

Ji Qingwu's gaze fell on Lanzhi. She was a girl of sixteen or seventeen with regular features. What was rare was the steady aura about her.

Her mother must have given her one of her own capable head maids. Lanzhi was very familiar with the Ji Manor, and her temperament had been trained. With her by her side, she should adapt to life here very quickly.

Ji Qingwu smiled gently at Lanzhi: "I'll have to trouble Lanzhi to help me out a lot in the future."

Lanzhi froze for a moment, then hurriedly lowered her head, overwhelmed by the favor: "Miss, you mustn't say that. These are all this servant's duties."

A few days ago, the Madam had told her mother to transfer her to serve the Fifth Miss who had been lost years ago. Changing masters, she was actually afraid inside—afraid the Miss would harbor resentment upon returning home and make things difficult for lowly servants like them.

She never expected the Fifth Miss to have such a gentle, good nature.

Lanzhi had also heard that the Fifth Miss had received rewards from the Emperor and Empress Dowager after entering the palace—rewards even the most favored Fourth Miss in the manor hadn't received. Perhaps in the future...

Serving such a capable master, she would definitely serve her well.

Madam Qiao addressed the master and servant: "Your residence, Wutong Courtyard, has already been tidied up. Let Lanzhi take you there. If you lack anything, just tell me. It's getting late, so go on now."

Under the lamplight, Ji Qingwu looked at her mother's gentle expression and nodded gratefully.

She was indeed exhausted today. She hadn't rested for even an hour after returning home before being summoned by the Empress Dowager. Then she swam a 500-meter freestyle, and someone scared her half to death. After returning home, she received an unexpected decree.

Ji Qingwu didn't forget Jiujiu, who was already sound asleep in the side courtyard, and took her back to Wutong Courtyard together.

Wutong Courtyard. Inside the courtyard stood a towering ancient parasol tree.

After drinking the ginger soup Lanzhi handed her, Ji Qingwu went to the clean room to wash up and soak in a hot bath until her face was flushed red. Then she stepped lightly into the west ear room.

The little dumpling on the bed didn't suffer from stranger anxiety at all; her breathing was soft and even.

After Ji Qingwu took off her shoes and got into bed, Jiujiu sensed her mother's presence and scooted over, pressing her soft little face against her arm.

Looking at the little girl's peaceful sleeping face, the fatigue on her dissipated considerably, and she soon fell asleep as well.

Thick double-layered gauze curtains hung down, making the space inside the canopy bed dim and quiet.

Ji Qingwu was still asleep when she felt a stuffiness in her chest. Without opening her eyes, she instinctively reached out and, sure enough, touched a soft little dumpling.

After the little girl woke up, she had climbed on top of her. Bright, spirited big eyes stared fixedly at her, as if she hadn't seen her in eight hundred years.

Ji Qingwu rubbed her eyes, her voice still hoarse with sleep.

Helplessly, she said: "Jiujiu, you're not a one or two-year-old baby anymore. You're a big four-year-old kid. You really don't realize how heavy you've gotten."

But she didn't move Jiujiu away. Instead, she used her hand to support Jiujiu's little bottom, kneading it again and again, indulging her behavior.

The little girl had slept her fill, her voice crisp and clear.

"Mother, actually it's not that Jiujiu got heavier."

Ji Qingwu found it funny: "Then what is it?"

The little girl stuck out her bottom, wrapped both arms around her neck, and rubbed against her.

Acting spoiled, she said: "It's because Jiujiu loves Mother even more, so I grew into a big kid. That's why Mother feels Jiujiu is heavy."

Ji Qingwu understood the little girl's meaning. So the little body wasn't filled with soft flesh, but brimming with love for her.

This child had known how to coax people since she was little. Who knew where she learned it? Her mouth was just so sweet.

She chuckled softly: "You're the cleverest one."

Jiujiu shouted excitedly: "I love Mother the most!"

Then she kissed all over Ji Qingwu's face, covering her in saliva.

Hearing movement in the room, Lanzhi stepped in lightly.

"Miss, is it time to get up?"

Ji Qingwu lifted the gauze curtain. The sky outside was already bright. She reluctantly hummed in agreement.

Lanzhi said softly: "The Madam sent word early this morning saying the Miss could sleep a bit longer. The Old Madam sympathizes with your hard work yesterday and says you needn't go to Shou'an Hall to pay respects."

Ji Qingwu's waist, which had just started to rise, went soft, and she lay back down.

Since that was the case, she wouldn't stand on ceremony.

She didn't want to play the aristocratic lady's game of morning and evening greetings just to win a reputation for virtue. If there's a comfortable lazy sleep to be had, not sleeping it would be foolish.

Ji Qingwu held her daughter and slept for another two hours.

Lanzhi attended to Jiujiu washing her face and combing her hair, which made things much easier for her.

Not long after, Chunhua from Madam Qiao's side came to fetch her.

"Fifth Miss, the Madam invites you to Anju Courtyard to dine together. The Eldest Miss has also returned home today."

Ji Qingwu was sitting at the dressing table, already changed into a goose-yellow long skirt embroidered with white magnolias. She let Lanzhi style her hair into a loose cloud bun, simply adorned with a dark green hairpin with a jade flower.

One had to admit, clothes make the woman. She looked far more exquisite and moving than in her previous rustic attire.

Ji Qingwu led Jiujiu to the entrance of Anju Courtyard when her steps halted.

She heard someone crying softly inside.

It sounded utterly wronged and heartbreaking.

Aaaaaah! I just watched the national table tennis match, so the update is a bit late!

(Sending this chapter with excited, surging hands~)

(End of Chapter)