Chapter 369: If the Child Isn’t With Her Mother, She’s With Her Father
Ji Bo Lian was furious.
And not just a little.
He had intended to bring his little granddaughter home with him, and his initial excitement was matched only by his frustration when he arrived at the Wei residence and Jiu Jiu was nowhere to be found.
Ji Bo Lian vented his anger on the Wei family.
Standing at the entrance to the main hall, he accused the household of several hundred people of being unable to watch a single child.
As for the child, the Wei family all claimed they hadn’t seen her. Even if they had, they were too busy to pay her any mind. They all just stammered, unable to give a clear explanation.
With a stony expression, Ji Bo Lian berated them one by one, pinning the crime of "negligent supervision" on them all.
Wei Tongyou, who was on slightly better terms with Ji Qingwu, stepped forward to offer a few words of defense, but Ji Bo Lian immediately countered with a long-winded, citation-filled tirade that left her speechless.
When Madam Wei of Yiyang Pavilion heard that Ji Bo Lian had left the Wei estate, she immediately put down her Buddha Beads, tossing them onto the incense table.
She asked for confirmation, "He’s really gone?"
Nanny Feng nodded. "Gone. The guards watched him leave. And he took all of the young madam’s things with him."
Madam Wei let out a long sigh.
Nanny Feng asked, puzzled, "The Wei and Ji families have never been on good terms, and that master from the Ji family was so rude to our young masters and ladies. Why did you...?"
Madam Wei finished her thought. "Why didn’t I go out? Why have I become so afraid of making a scene?"
The old woman rose and stood by the door, gazing out at the clear sky.
"Don’t just see him as a third-rank Salt Transport Envoy. Throughout the dynasties, anyone who has held that position has been a worthy minister, deeply trusted by the one on high."
Nanny Feng grew even more confused. "But last time, when Prime Minister Su and that matron from the Song family were at our gates, you went out to take control of the situation. Could that master of the Ji family’s authority possibly be greater than the Prime Minister’s?"
Madam Wei glanced back at her and prodded, "Have you forgotten what position Ji Bo Lian held before he was transferred to his official post in the south?"
Nanny Feng’s eyes widened in realization. "Of course, your memory is much better than mine. Back then, he truly was..."
He truly was... This Mr. Ji, this renowned Imperial Uncle, had stirred up no small number of "storms" in his day.
Madam Wei said, "When Ji Bo Lian was in the Six Department Secretariat, he supervised the Six Ministries. He impeached a hundred officials, and he even rejected one of the Emperor’s own decrees."
Nanny Feng helped the old woman outside to get some sun.
Walking at a slow pace, Madam Wei said, "It’s not that I’m truly afraid of him. The Ji family wants to take Ji Qingwu back, and that happens to suit my own wishes perfectly. I might as well help push the boat along."
Nanny Feng said anxiously, "But what if the young master returns and finds the wife he just married is gone? What if he causes another uproar?"
Wei Ting had clashed so intensely with the old woman, causing such a huge scene.
Madam Wei said, "I’ve tested the waters for Ting’er. That Ji Wu has no affection for him. It’s better to suffer a short pain than a long one. Besides, this can’t be blamed on me. It’s his father-in-law who is displeased with him."
"It’s easy for you to be so philosophical, but my heart aches for the young master."
Madam Wei said, "It’s not that I’m being philosophical; I’m simply out of options. What happened with Ting’er’s mother... is a cautionary tale. You can’t force someone to stay. In the end, it only brings harm to everyone involved."
Nanny Feng genuinely felt that Wei Ting deserved better. "For that Ji Wu to look down on a man like our young master... her standards must be sky-high. I’d like to see what family dares to take her after this."
Madam Wei said, "We shall wait and see."
*
With a thunderous expression, Ji Bo Lian returned to the Ji estate.
Old Madam Ji had wanted to talk with him, to persuade him not to act on impulse and to let Qingwu return to the Wei family.
But then she learned that Ji Bo Lian had personally gone to the Wei residence, not only returning the betrothal gifts but also having the entire dowry carried back. The news made her so angry her head throbbed.
Later that evening, Ji Bo Lian finally entered Anju Garden, but as soon as he arrived, he began to sulk.
Mrs. Qiao was lighting a sliver of incense. She shot him a glance. "Mr. Ji, who is that long face for?"
Ji Bo Lian sat down, looked at a maid in the room, and commanded in a low voice, "Go to Wutong Garden and find Xiao Wu for me."
As if she hadn’t heard a thing, Mrs. Qiao opened an account book on the table and said nonchalantly, "If you want her, go yourself. Why are you ordering me around?"
Ji Bo Lian put on the airs of the Family Head, but no one paid him any mind. With nothing left to say, the couple lapsed into silence.
After the sliver of incense had burned about halfway down, Ji Bo Lian could no longer bear the silence. He cleared his throat at Chunhua, who tactfully bowed her head and excused herself.
He sidled up to Mrs. Qiao, nudged her arm, and urged, "Go on, hurry up and ask Xiao Wu where she’s hidden our granddaughter."
Mrs. Qiao was even better informed than Old Madam Ji and had known for some time that he had stormed over to the Wei residence to throw a tantrum.
"How are you so sure that Xiao Wu hid the child? How do you know the Wei family didn’t lose her?"
Ji Bo Lian’s eyes widened. "Would a mother just lose her own child? She must have hidden her."
Mrs. Qiao’s hand, which had been turning the pages of the account book, froze.
The moment the words left his mouth, Ji Bo Lian realized his mistake and quickly tried to backtrack. "That was my fault. I misspoke in my haste."
Xiao Wu’s disappearance as a child was a forbidden topic for the couple. Even after Ji Qingwu had returned home, they remained extremely sensitive about the subject.
This was especially true for Mrs. Qiao, who was prone to tears at the slightest mention of it.
Ji Bo Lian patted her shoulder. "Our granddaughter isn’t at the Wei estate, and she’s not with Xiao Wu. Aren’t you worried?"
Mrs. Qiao wasn’t worried in the slightest.
Ever since she’d learned that her little granddaughter was actually the current Emperor’s young daughter, her heart had been at ease.
’Where else could she be?’
’If not with her mother, she’s with her father.’
But Mrs. Qiao didn’t dare tell Ji Bo Lian this astonishing news.
Seeing Mrs. Qiao lower her head without a word, Ji Bo Lian began to doubt his own judgment. "Should I go report it to the Capital City Governor right now?" he asked suspiciously. "According to the Wei family, the child has been missing for two days."
Mrs. Qiao impatiently snapped the account book shut.
"Will you ever stop? I’m trying to look at the ledgers, and you’re just buzzing in my ear without a moment’s peace."
Mrs. Qiao put the ledger away, locked it in its box, and placed the box inside a cabinet.
Ji Bo Lian was desperate to know where his granddaughter was. "You only ever have a temper with me! What happened to that proper, well-mannered daughter of the Grand Tutor I married?"
Mrs. Qiao got off the daybed, slipped on her shoes, and started for the door. "Is today the first time we’ve met? We’ve been married for over twenty years. You don’t know what I’m like by now?"
Ji Bo Lian followed after her. "We barely exchanged two sentences, and you’re already leaving just because we disagree? Where are you going?"
In his anxiety, his voice rose in volume.
Mrs. Qiao sneered. "I was tricked into marrying into this Ji family, and I’ve been left to manage this entire messy household every day while you’re gone for years at a time. And you still dare to raise your voice at me? Fine. From now on, you can handle the family’s affairs yourself."
She shoved the bundle of household keys into Ji Bo Lian’s hand and said without turning back, "I’m going to stay with Xiao Wu for the night. The sight of you is getting on my nerves."
Ji Bo Lian knew her bark was worse than her bite. He called after her, "I knew you were kind-hearted, my dear wife! I knew you understood what’s important! Go on, hurry! And send someone to give me word as soon as you find out!"
"I’ll be waiting right here in Anju Garden!"