Chapter 368: Feeling Wronged, Putting on an Act
Mrs. Qiao said, "Mr. Ji, you said it yourself—that was all in our youth. Things aren’t what they used to be. It seems I’ve grown old and lost my luster, regressing with each passing year, only to be reprimanded by Mr. Ji."
Ji Bo Lian clicked his tongue twice, gazing at her profile.
"Didn’t we agree in our letters? We would put on an act to keep Xiao Wu at home. How was my performance?"
Mrs. Qiao, unwilling to face him, said, "It was brilliant."
Ji Bo Lian asked with concern, "You weren’t hurt by the shards from the cup, were you?"
He reached out to put an arm around Mrs. Qiao’s shoulder, but she frowned and brushed it away.
Mrs. Qiao said sarcastically, "It was just a cup. The most it could do is break the skin. It can’t break a person’s heart."
A bitter look crossed Ji Bo Lian’s face. He knew what she meant.
"I had the best of intentions. If you still don’t understand me, my heart might just shatter into a thousand pieces."
Even though Mrs. Qiao knew the plan, his words still made her heart ache. The thought that Ji Qingwu was completely in the dark made her feel awful.
She snorted, her face stern. "What a display of authority, Mr. Ji. So careless with your words. If I were Xiao Wu, I would be heartbroken to hear that. I’d never acknowledge you as my father again."
Ji Bo Lian’s expression flickered, as if that possibility had just occurred to him.
Finally, he sighed. "My dear, don’t say that. With her personality, Xiao Wu will never be taken advantage of. She almost had me twisted around her finger."
"She even lectured me on the duties of an official, and then brought up how a married woman must obey her husband. It seems she’s well aware of the rule that an unmarried daughter must obey her father. Xiao Wu understands all these principles. That girl has been clever and quick-witted since she was a child, not one of those who just buries her nose in a book."
His tone was filled with nothing but admiration.
Ji Bo Lian warmed to his subject, saying, "My dear, don’t you think? Xiao Wu’s features are still the same as when she was a child; she hasn’t changed much at all. Especially her eyes—they’re just as beautiful whether she’s happy or cross. Once I look at them, I can’t look away."
’So now he decides to sing her praises.’
Mrs. Qiao glared at him. "Did you not see her when she was being dragged away? Her little face was all scrunched up, her eyes brimming with tears. How could you bear it!"
Ji Bo Lian rubbed his nose. "I honestly didn’t see. I had already turned my back."
He had been afraid he would go soft, so he turned away right after saying those harsh words.
Mrs. Qiao said, "I told you before, we should have let Xiao Wu in on the plan. She only married into the Wei Family out of desperation; she doesn’t want to stay there."
"Xiao Wu is clever. She certainly would have cooperated with us."
Ji Bo Lian disagreed. "If she had known beforehand, the performance wouldn’t have been convincing."
"Marrying my daughter without my consent as her father? And by force, no less! That boy from the Wei Family is dreaming!"
At this, Mr. Ji grew genuinely angry.
Mrs. Qiao said, "I don’t care about your reasons. Our Xiao Wu has been wronged. Now, what are you going to do about it?"
Ji Bo Lian shook his head. "She may look soft and as cute as she was when she was little, but based on your letters, she has a mind of her own. Her personality is the complete opposite of her appearance. She’s utterly fearless."
"You’re always indulging her, spoiling her because she’s only been home a short while. That’s not good for a child."
Ji Bo Lian sighed. "There has to be someone in the family for her to fear."
"I’m playing the villain here. Are you still not satisfied?"
Mrs. Qiao pursed her lips. "Some villain you are. Seeing you now still disgusts me. Keep your distance."
She gave Ji Bo Lian a push and rose to walk into the inner chamber.
"Go back and stay in your study. Don’t linger in my Anju Garden."
"I just returned home, and you’re already driving me out?"
Ji Bo Lian stared at her in astonishment.
Mrs. Qiao lowered the gauze curtains of the inner chamber, her voice drifting out from behind them.
"Wasn’t it Mr. Ji who said we needed to put on a show? Well, if you’re going to act, you must commit to the role. I’m going to rest for a bit. Please, Mr. Ji, see yourself out."
Ji Bo Lian paced around the room a couple of times, sighing dramatically. Once he was certain Mrs. Qiao truly had no intention of speaking to him, he left Anju Garden.
But instead of returning to his study, he left the estate.
*
Ji Qingwu had thought she would be dragged off to some remote wing and locked away, but instead, Chunhua led her back to Wutong Garden. The door wasn’t even guarded.
She had expected to be denied food, or at best be served plain rice and weak tea. But lunch was surprisingly lavish, and every dish was something she loved.
’If this is what being confined is like,’ she thought, ’I’d be willing to stay this way forever.’
After getting her settled, Chunhua returned to Anju Garden, leaving Qiushi behind.
Ji Qingwu swallowed a mouthful of crispy stir-fried chrysanthemum greens and asked, "Did Nanny Li make this?"
She could tell who had made it with a single bite.
Qiushi replied, "The meal was prepared at Anju Garden ahead of time and sent over."
Ji Qingwu nodded. No matter how upset she was, there was no sense in taking it out on her stomach. She ate a considerable amount.
Qiushi, who had been given instructions, silently took note of which dishes she ate.
After lunch, Ji Qingwu had nothing to do and went back to bed. ’It really is most comfortable in my own garden.’
Even the quilt had been freshly aired in the sun. It was fluffy and carried a pleasant fragrance—the same scent as Mrs. Qiao’s room.
She fell into a deep and peaceful sleep.
When she awoke, she found another maid in the room.
Lan Zhi was standing by her bed, looking at her and beaming. "Fifth Missy."
Ji Qingwu thought she must still be groggy from sleep. ’Isn’t Lan Zhi supposed to be at the Wei residence? How did she return to the Ji Family?’
She sat up and asked, "When did you get back?"
Lan Zhi said excitedly, "Mr. Ji brought me back himself."
She stepped aside, pointing to several large trunks on the floor. "Mr. Ji brought all of these back with help from the estate’s young servants."
Ji Qingwu glanced over. They were her dowry chests and clothing trunks. A glint appeared in her eyes.
’Does Ji Bo Lian really intend to keep me here?’
’But wouldn’t this be tantamount to completely severing ties with the Wei Family?’
"Fifth Missy, you have no idea! He stood there right in front of the Wei Family, and he was so commanding."
Lan Zhi mimicked Ji Bo Lian’s actions, waving a hand dramatically.
"’Take all of Qingwu’s things. As her father, I never consented to my daughter marrying into your family.’"
Lan Zhi even mimicked his beard-stroking gesture perfectly.
"’Your Wei Family has gone too far! I will settle this score with you later!’"
Ji Qingwu pretended to be uninterested, smoothing the wrinkles in her clothes, but she was hanging on Lan Zhi’s every word.
Lan Zhi then remembered something. "Oh, right, Fifth Missy. Mr. Ji seemed really angry."
Ji Qingwu’s expression faltered. She nodded. "I know."
Lan Zhi said in surprise, "Miss, you even know that he’s angry?"
"But..."
Ji Qingwu said sullenly, "Stop talking." She didn’t want to hear any more unpleasantness.
She got out of bed, walked over to the small couch in the outer room, and found her medicinal powders. She refilled a porcelain bottle that was half-empty from previous use.
As if sensing Ji Qingwu’s somber mood, Lan Zhi said no more and joined Qiushi in unpacking the large trunks they had brought back.
They began putting the items from inside back in their original places.
Footsteps sounded at the door...