Chapter 14: One Concubine, Two Chambermaids

Chapter 14: One Concubine, Two Chambermaids

Many maidservants stood outside the main entrance of Anju Courtyard.

It seemed that private conversations were taking place inside, so the servants had all been dismissed.

As Ji Qingwu approached, Chunhua hurried to greet her: "Fifth Miss, Madam has said that you and the Little Miss may come straight in once you arrive."

Chunhua knocked a few times, and after a long moment, Lady Qiao responded, "Come in."

On a daybed by the window, Lady Qiao sat facing a woman with her head bowed low.

Ji Qingwu held Jiu Jiu's hand and said, "Mother."

The little girl followed suit, saying sweetly, "Grandmother."

The woman raised her head. She wore a gold-inlaid jade hair crown and exquisite purple rose silk garments, looking quite imposing at first glance. However, her nose and the corners of her eyes were red; she was clearly the one who had been weeping.

This person was none other than the eldest legitimate daughter of the main branch, Ji Qingrong.

She had married Lu Juan, the Heir of the Marquis of Zhongwu, and had been married for over three years.

Looking at the large and small figures before her that shared similar features, Ji Qingrong noted that the little girl looked exactly like her fifth sister did as a child; conversely, her fifth sister's current appearance didn't seem as much like herself as the child did.

"Fifth Sister," she called out, her voice tinged with bitterness.

Seeing her eldest sister, Ji Qingwu also felt a sense of kinship; after all, they shared the same mother and possessed many similar facial features.

She marveled inwardly that Ji Qingrong lived up to her name. Her beauty was breathtaking, and her features were even more striking than her own. Even though she looked somewhat haggard now, she was still superior to the Fourth Miss of the second branch, possessing a more refined and elegant temperament.

She said softly, "Eldest Sister."

Ji Qingwu turned her head and squeezed the little girl's palm: "Jiu Jiu, call her Great Aunt."

Lady Qiao had already told Ji Qingrong about Xiao Wu having a daughter. Initially, she had found it difficult to accept that her younger sister was already a married woman.

But upon seeing this mother and daughter, she felt her heart melt completely, just like Lady Qiao.

Although Ji Qingwu had given birth, there wasn't a trace of the mature charm of a married woman in her features; she remained clean, clear, and possessed a certain innocent charm.

Seeing a face so similar to her mother's, Jiu Jiu kicked her short legs, trying to climb onto the daybed, but she was still too small and failed.

Thus, she held up her lotus-root-like little arms, tilted her small head, and blinked her large eyes.

"Great Auntie, hug!"

Ji Qingrong immediately let out an "oh!" and, momentarily forgetting her low spirits, hurriedly reached out to scoop the little girl up and place her on her lap.

Leaning against her fragrant Great Auntie, Jiu Jiu smiled so widely that her eyes disappeared.

Seeing this, Lady Qiao said in surprise, "Jiu Jiu, your Great Auntie usually never initiates physical contact with anyone. What's gotten into her today, changing her nature like this?"

"Jiu Jiu, come down quickly," Ji Qingwu urged. "Come to Mother."

The little girl looked at Ji Qingrong pitifully: "Great Auntie, do you not like Jiu Jiu?"

Seeing Jiu Jiu clutching the hem of her clothes, Ji Qingrong said dryly, "Of course I like you."

Lady Qiao laughed inconsolably by her side: "It seems your Great Auntie truly likes you. Qingrong is very fastidious. Even before she was married, there couldn't be a speck of dust or a single strand of hair on the beds in this house. Even if her clothes were wrinkled, she would pout and throw a tantrum."

Thinking of this image, Ji Qingwu found it impossible to reconcile the noble and elegant Madam of the Marquis of Zhongwu with the temperamental, pouting person Lady Qiao described.

Ji Qingrong chided, "Mother, what are you saying in front of Fifth Sister and the child?"

The group enjoyed lunch in a pleasant atmosphere. Lady Qiao had specially requested the small kitchen to prepare Triple-Crisp Soup, braised bamboo shoot shreds, smoked pork, mushroom and fresh shrimp crystal buns, and almond milk jelly for Jiu Jiu.

Ji Qingrong couldn't help but smile while eating, causing Ji Qingwu to keep glancing at her.

"Eldest Sister, what are you laughing at?" she asked, putting down her chopsticks in confusion.

Ji Qingrong covered her mouth with a silk handkerchief. "I am laughing at you and Jiu Jiu. Even though you look alike, your eating styles are completely different."

Ji Qingwu ate slowly and meticulously, taking only a few bites of each dish to ensure she tasted everything equally.

But the little girl stared intently at her favorite foods and ate vigorously without looking up, her small mouth stuffed full. Had it not been for Mother Nanny Li feeding her by hand yesterday, Lady Qiao would have thought the child hadn't eaten in three days.

Seeing Jiu Jiu's great appetite and how much she enjoyed the food, Ji Qingwu smiled and said, "She is most focused when she eats. No one can disturb her, or she will get upset."

Her little daughter didn't have morning grumpiness, but she did have "eating grumpiness." If anyone disturbed her concentration on food at that moment, she would surely become sulky.

Ji Qingrong remarked, "Where can one find such an obedient child? Song-ge from my second sister-in-law's house needs two maidservants to coax and persuade him just to eat a little during his meals with the Old Madam."

As she spoke, she sighed, and the light in her eyes faded again.

Once Jiu Jiu finished eating, Chunhua led several maids to clean the hall, while Mother Nanny Li took Jiu Jiu out to play.

With only the three of them left in the room, both Lady Qiao and Ji Qingrong looked toward Ji Qingwu with expectant gazes.

Ji Qingwu had guessed a little upon entering. For Ji Qingrong to return to her maiden home in tears, she must have suffered some grievance at the Marquis's manor.

Seeing the envious look her eldest sister gave Jiu Jiu, it was clear she had married into the Marquis's manor but had yet to conceive.

Connecting the dots, she understood why Ji Changlin had traveled all the way to Southern Chu specifically to seek out her as a divine physician.

She took the initiative and said, "Mother, to make a living in my earlier years, I studied medicine for a few years. I see that Eldest Sister's complexion isn't very good; may I take her pulse to check her well-being?"

The words were tactful and comforting.

Ji Qingrong marveled inwardly at how wise this fifth sister was. She rolled up her sleeve and revealed her wrist.

Since they were both women, there was nothing to avoid.

Ji Qingwu placed her hand upon it, pressing slightly with her fingers, and diagnosed calmly for a while.

When she withdrew her hand, Lady Qiao asked urgently, "Xiao Wu, is there something wrong with Qingrong's body?"

"Eldest Sister is healthy, but she has a bit of Yin deficiency with excessive internal heat. She needs to nurture her body more."

Ji Qingwu added meaningfully, "It would be better to retire early in the evening to allow the internal organs time to rest."

Yin deficiency with internal heat, and retiring early.

Ji Qingrong's face instantly turned bright red.

Lady Qiao understood the implication. With a tone of surprise mixed with seriousness, she said, "Qingrong, does the Heir stay in your room every night?"

Seeing Ji Qingrong nod, Lady Qiao frowned. "You have been married for over three years. While a good relationship between husband and wife is important, you must also care for your own body. I have told you before, do not let men behave recklessly in the bedchamber."

Ji Qingrong wore thick powder to hide the dark circles under her eyes.

She naturally knew this, but she said aggrievedly, "Mother, you don't know how much pressure I am under at the Marquis's manor. I have been married for so long without any sign of pregnancy, and my sisters-in-law are all watching me for a joke."

"For the past six months, Mother-in-law has also been dissatisfied with me. She has already sent a concubine and two chambermaids to the Heir's side."

If she were to push the Heir away at this time... Ji Qingrong looked deeply troubled.

Ji Qingwu also furrowed her brows.

Because, regarding her eldest sister's body, it wasn't just Yin deficiency with internal heat...