Chapter 308: Making Amends, a Sudden Accident
Earlier, when Emperor Wu Su awoke and learned that Ji Qingwu had married, he had flown into such a rage that he coughed up blood. The sight had truly stunned all of them.
Afterward, Li Yuzong, Lu Duan, and one other official withdrew from the hall. The three of them gathered together and reached a consensus on the matter of Ji Qingwu.
Emperor Wu Su’s act of coughing up blood made them reflect. ’Have we not been doing enough as his subjects?’
’There is only one Emperor. If his health is ruined by anger, where would we ever find such an enlightened monarch again?’
And so, these few zealous officials put their heads together, wanting to share the Holy Emperor’s burdens.
Therefore, the result of their discussion was that from now on, they would handle all matters concerning Fifth Miss Ji with the utmost diligence, as if they were the Emperor’s own affairs.
The more smoothly things went for Ji Qingwu, the less Emperor Wu Su would have to worry.
Zhaoyang Hall. Utter silence.
Emperor Wu Su sat behind the imperial desk, his presence heavy and oppressive.
Li Yuzong collected himself and quickly explained in a low voice, "Mr. Lu is simply concerned about Miss Ji’s safety."
Zhao Mingyan said coldly, "Why is Lu Juan being so proactive? It’s hardly his place to grandstand."
That tone, that expression...
It dawned on Li Yuzong. ’So, it’s also not good for us to be *too* attentive.’
"Then, this old servant will go tell Mr. Lu to return." As he spoke, he prepared to exit.
Zhao Mingyan waved a hand, saying reluctantly, "Forget it. Let him be."
Then he added, "Have him come to the palace after nightfall."
Li Yuzong lowered his head and stepped aside. While Emperor Wu Su studied a route map, Li Yuzong’s eyes shifted back and forth.
’We’ll have to find time to get together for another small meeting,’ he thought. ’We need to get the balance and boundaries right.’
*
Lu Juan arrived at the Song Mansion.
Just as the doorman opened the main gates for him, he was met with the sight of a glittering golden archway.
Lu Juan stopped in his tracks.
He had heard of this archway before, but what truly surprised him was that the space before him was filled with people.
The entire staff of the mansion stood with their backs to him, arranged in seven rows.
Anyone walking in on such a scene would be taken aback.
Just as Lu Juan was stroking his chin, analyzing whether this grand scene was Song Wei’s way of trying to kick him out of the Song Mansion or a ceremony to welcome him...
The crowd suddenly parted. Lu Juan, ever vigilant, ducked behind a thick, dark pillar by the gate.
The surface was smooth to the touch. He ran his hand over it and discovered that the stone pillar was actually covered in a layer of Xuanyu. ’The Song family’s fortune could truly rival half the nation’s treasury,’ he thought.
Lu Juan’s admiration had yet to fade when he heard a familiar, gentle voice.
"It was at Mr. Su’s request that I chose this compromise."
Ji Qingwu strolled leisurely until she stood directly facing the crowd, with two people following her.
"When Mr. Song brought his people to cause a scene in front of my clinic, he did so in full view of the people of Lin’an City. He claimed my clinic had taken a life, causing irreparable damage to its reputation."
"Now, all I ask is that you offer a small apology in front of your entire household. That’s not excessive, is it?"
Lu Juan stroked the Xuanyu, listening to Ji Qingwu’s forthright and dignified words. In his heart, he was cheering for this "fifth sister" of his.
’Looks like I won’t have to step in after all,’ he thought.
Lu Juan was filled with mixed emotions. Once, this "fifth sister" of his would have met with trouble with a face full of hurt, her fragility showing from the very marrow of her bones.
Now, she had become this assertive, capable of putting on an act to punish the son-in-law of that old fox, Prime Minister Su, right to his face.
’But what exactly is this "small apology" she’s talking about?’
Lu Juan peeked out from the side.
Song Wei’s face was taut, his expression ashen and grim.
He glanced at Su Fengyue. Seeing the man remain silent, he knew he had to accept his defeat.
Song Wei said resentfully, "Lady Wei, we will still have to see each other around Lin’an in the future. Why not leave me a shred of dignity?"
Ji Qingwu said, "And when and where does Mr. Song suppose we’ll meet next?"
Song Wei hinted, "A person’s fortunes can’t always be favorable. Should Lady Wei ever have need of my help in the future, I will remember your magnanimity today."
The Song family’s fortune was enough to make anyone green with envy, and many high-ranking officials and nobles competed to get on their good side. The family’s great wealth was undoubtedly a major reason Prime Minister Su had married his daughter to Song Wei.
Ji Qingwu said dismissively, "But I am not so generous. Mr. Song, you should just get on with it. The sun is about to set."
Seeing that persuasion was useless, Song Wei took a deep breath, flicked his sleeves, and stood before all the family members and servants of his household.
Under the watchful eyes of all, he first removed his fourth-rank blue robe, leaving him standing in his inner garments.
After disrobing in public, the muscles beneath his eyes twitched. He then removed the golden crown from his head.
Men were required to wear their hair bound in a crown upon coming of age. To have it removed was a great humiliation.
Song Wei, his clothes and hair in disarray, bowed deeply in apology.
A strange light flashed in Ji Qingwu’s eyes. She waited until he had completed his bow and raised his head.
A faint smile played on her lips as she said, "That won’t do."
Song Wei ground out through clenched teeth, "What in the world do you want?"
Ji Qingwu’s gaze dropped to his black boots. "According to the customs of the aristocratic families, one must be barefoot and uncrowned to make a formal apology. Mr. Song, you’re missing one item."
She sought confirmation from the man beside her, asking, "Mr. Su, you have seen a great deal. That is the rule, is it not?"
Su Fengyue nodded. "It is."
But Ji Qingwu could have reminded him before he bowed.
She hadn’t.
Hidden behind the pillar, Lu Juan smiled to himself.
He had made a new discovery.
He had misjudged his "fifth sister." He’d thought she was a piece of soft, white mutton-fat jade, but he never expected she was actually as hard and dark as blackest jade.
Song Wei had no choice but to bend down and remove his boots and socks. With resentment clear in his eyes, he stood on the stone path and again performed the deep, apologetic bow to Ji Qingwu.
This time, Ji Qingwu nodded in satisfaction.
"I have received Mr. Song’s expression of remorse. Please, do not make the same mistake again."
Ji Qingwu added, "Otherwise, I’m afraid I don’t know in what position Mr. Song will find himself when we next meet."
"Fine," he spat. "I’ll be waiting for next time!"
The attendants beside Song Wei rushed up to help him dress, but he barked at them to get back. He simply grabbed his shoes, socks, robe, and crown and stormed off.
It was exceedingly rare for a court official to apologize by baring their feet and removing their crown.
Because... few could bear such a humiliation.
But Song Wei was the type of person who valued profit far more than integrity.
In the traditional hierarchy of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, merchants were the lowest class. To enter the ranks of officialdom, Song Wei had learned of Prime Minister Su’s particular tastes and deliberately catered to them. This was how he had won the opportunity to marry the prime minister’s daughter, which in turn allowed him to become an official.
Ji Qingwu had picked the right soft target.
Seeing that his presence was no longer needed, Lu Juan quietly departed.
Ji Qingwu raised an eyebrow. "I am leaving. No need to see me out, Mr. Su."
Su Fengyue smiled. "As it happens, this old man is also leaving. I shall walk with you, Lady Wei."
But Ji Qingwu was already walking away before he could finish speaking.
Su Fengyue watched her graceful, pale-green figure until it disappeared through the main gate. The smile vanished from his lips, and a strange, calculating light flickered in his eyes.
Once outside the Song Mansion gates, Ji Qingwu frowned.
’Su Daiyue seems terrified of going back to the Su family,’ she thought. ’She’d rather stay with Song Wei, who might try to kill her at any moment. She’d even rather die than return to the Su family home.’
Ji Qingwu gathered the various threads of her thoughts as she walked.
Suddenly.
Her mind short-circuited, going completely blank.