Chapter 294: No Longer of the Ji Family, Consummated the Marriage?
Ji Qingwu let go of her hand and crouched down. "Jiu Jiu, go find Grandmother. She must miss you terribly."
Jiu Jiu clutched the corner of her robes, refusing to let go.
Children are sensitive to emotional shifts, and she could feel the hostility in Ji Qingyuan’s eyes.
She said in her sweet, childish voice, "Mama, come with me. Grandmother is waiting for us."
Ji Qingwu patted her little back and said softly, "Mama has a few things to discuss with them. You go on ahead. I’ll be there in a moment."
After they made a pinky promise, Jiu Jiu followed Chunhua to Anju Garden.
As soon as Ji Qingyuan heard the news about the assassination attempt on the Emperor and the appearance of assassins in the palace, she had hurried home.
For the past few days, she had remained at home, never stepping out, and stuck to the old matriarch’s side constantly.
"Fifth Sister, Jiu Jiu only knows her grandmother, but she’s unaware that her great-grandmother is standing right here."
Ji Qingyuan supported Old Madam Ji as she walked over.
"A child doesn’t know any better, so she can’t be blamed. But you’re a grown woman; shouldn’t you know better? Is this how you raise your daughter?"
Back in the palace, the Empress Dowager had treated Ji Qingwu with special favor. Ji Qingyuan had nowhere to vent her fury and could only suppress it.
But now that she was back home, she knew today was the day of Ji Qingwu’s ceremonial visit after her wedding. Wei Ting had left Lin’an on their wedding night. With Xijin’s invasion, it was uncertain whether he would ever return, and besides, the Wei Family disliked Ji Qingwu.
’She must have had a miserable time these past few days.’
That was why Ji Qingyuan had specifically invited their grandmother for a stroll in the garden. She wanted to run into Ji Qingwu, who would be returning home alone, and see her weeping with regret.
Ji Qingyuan had even changed into a pleated skirt embroidered with peonies and spring blossoms, turning herself into a scenic view wherever she stood.
Even Old Madam Ji complimented her beautiful dress. Ji Qingyuan arched her elegant neck like a proud peacock.
Ji Qingwu ignored Ji Qingyuan’s words entirely.
’If we’re talking about Jiu Jiu’s great-grandmother, Old Madam Ji hardly deserves the title.’
Without even glancing at Ji Qingyuan, Ji Qingwu knew that ignoring someone was sometimes more effective at crushing their spirit than a direct retort.
She turned to Old Madam Ji, who was dressed in a long, dark green tunic, and greeted her with a smile. "Grandmother, have you been well?"
Old Madam Ji’s deep-set eyes swept over her with indifference.
’So now she knows to come curry favor with me.’
Old Madam Ji saw at a glance that this granddaughter of hers had grown even more radiant. Before, Qingyuan’s beauty might have been her equal, but now, even in her finest attire, Qingyuan fell short.
Old Madam Ji said slowly, "Whether I am well or not is of no consequence."
With a sincere expression, Ji Qingwu replied, "How could it not be important? You are my grandmother, after all."
Old Madam Ji simply assumed that Ji Qingwu had suffered during her two days with the Wei Family and was now running back to her maiden home for protection.
"Qingwu, you are a married woman now, a new bride of the Wei Family. From the moment you agreed to marry Wei Ting, you should have known you were no longer a part of the Ji Family."
Ji Qingwu’s eyes filled with surprise. "Does that mean I can no longer even call you Grandmother?"
The old matriarch said, "Only now do you remember to treat me as your grandmother. Don’t you think it’s a little late for that?"
Old Madam Ji shook her head. "I will no longer involve myself in your affairs. From now on, you must walk your own path."
Hearing this, the corners of Ji Qingwu’s lips curled up slightly before she quickly pressed them down.
She asked in a pitiful voice, "Do you truly mean that?"
Old Madam Ji thought she was playing weak to keep clinging to her for support. She sighed. "I don’t wish to be so heartless. But whether you rise to become a phoenix or are trampled into the mud, I will no longer interfere. It’s all up to your own fate."
"Qingyuan, help me back."
Ji Qingyuan replied sweetly, "Yes, Grandmother."
They left Ji Qingwu standing there alone, her head bowed.
Once her surroundings fell silent, Ji Qingwu raised her head, a smile gracing her lips. ’With that declaration, I can finally cut ties with the Ji Family. A necessary precaution.’
’Once Emperor Wu Su "wakes up," he’s bound to settle accounts with those who showed dissent while he was grievously injured.’
’The Empress Dowager’s attempt to enthrone Prince Yong surely touched a nerve with the Emperor. I can’t imagine what will happen now. I just hope Old Madam Ji doesn’t come crying and throwing a fit, begging me for help.’
「Anju Garden」
Before Ji Qingwu even stepped into the main hall, she could hear Mrs. Qiao and Nanny Li cooing "sweetheart" and "my precious."
The little girl’s cheerful, bell-like laughter carried all the way outside.
It seemed Jiu Jiu had picked up the art of "diagnosing illnesses" from somewhere.
As soon as she got inside, she declared that Mrs. Qiao’s complexion looked poor and insisted on examining her. After a long, dramatic fuss, she finally reached a conclusion.
"Grandmother is suffering from lovesickness! The cause is that she falls ill whenever she can’t see Jiu Jiu."
Ji Qingwu walked in, feigning jealousy. "You’re a confident one, little girl. Are you sure my mother’s lovesickness isn’t from missing me too much?"
Seeing her younger daughter enter, Mrs. Qiao’s eyes immediately reddened, and she was on the verge of tears.
Ji Qingwu’s smile vanished. She hurried forward to support her mother’s arm, guiding her to a seat at the round table.
"Mother, I’m home."
Mrs. Qiao turned away from Jiu Jiu and dabbed at her eyes with a pale yellow handkerchief. "It’s good that you’re home."
Ji Qingwu’s heart ached as well. "Jiu Jiu," she said, "didn’t you say you forgot something here? Why don’t you let Nanny Li help you find it, alright?"
Jiu Jiu nodded obediently, took the nanny’s hand, and left the main hall.
Ji Qingwu saw them out, closed the door behind them, and returned to her seat on the round stool.
Mrs. Qiao gazed at her earnestly, holding her hand. Though it had only been two days, it felt like an eternity.
Ji Qingwu sat quietly beside her, a gentle, warm smile on her face.
As Mrs. Qiao watched her, her brow furrowed. "Xiao Wu, there’s something I must ask you."
Ji Qingwu nodded. "Go ahead, Mother."
"Have you and Wei Ting consummated your marriage?"
Mrs. Qiao had heard that Wei Ting was summoned by the Chief Eunuch on their wedding night and had rushed to the Northern Border shortly after.
’Matters of state take precedence over personal feelings; there was nothing to fault him for.’
Ji Qingwu lowered her gaze and said softly, "We haven’t."
Mrs. Qiao’s expression turned strange. "Then... at the Wei residence, has anyone been bullying you?"
Ji Qingwu replied, "Since the wedding, I haven’t even met any of the Wei Family, so no one has bullied me. Wei Ting left his personal maid, Xuemei, to attend to me. I’m doing just fine at the Wei residence."
She chose her words carefully, only mentioning the good things so as not to worry her mother.
’It was true, though, that she hadn’t met any of the Wei Family. She had left with Jiu Jiu on the morning after her wedding and hadn’t been back since.’
Mrs. Qiao squeezed her hand tightly, her tone stern. "Tell your mother the truth."
Even though the marks on Ji Qingwu’s body had been erased by the system’s golden light, the very air about her had changed dramatically.
An experienced woman could spot the difference at a single glance.
Let alone a mother as caring as Mrs. Qiao.
Previously, when Ji Qingwu first returned to the family, she still had the innocent, artless air of an unmarried girl, despite having already borne a child.
But now...