Super-Fertile Darling: Forced to Marry the Heirless Tyrant

A torrent of thoughts flooded Ji Bo Lian’s mind, and once the emotions started, they were difficult to contain.

Ji Qingwu said softly, "Have some tea first. It will soothe your throat."

Ji Bo Lian held the teacup in his hand but didn’t drink, letting the warmth of the tea seep into his palm.

"You should bring the child back as soon as you can. It’s better for you to raise her yourself than to leave her in someone else’s care. A child needs her mother." His tone was much softer than before.

Ji Qingwu nodded. She had no desire to defy Mr. Ji, especially after he had helped her out of such a major predicament.

But she still felt conflicted. ’The first time we met, he berated me in front of the entire family. It’s hard to feel any affection for him after that.’

Seeing her agree, Ji Bo Lian stood up and said to Mrs. Qiao, "Let’s go."

Mrs. Qiao looked up in surprise. "Leaving already? Do you even remember why we came here in the first place?"

After seeing Xiao Wu and asking a few questions about his granddaughter, Ji Bo Lian had completely forgotten the actual reason for their visit.

Hearing this, Ji Qingwu asked, "Mother, was there something you came for?"

Mrs. Qiao smiled and shared a piece of good news.

"Your older brother is coming back."

Ji Qingwu’s eyes lit up. "Really?"

Ever since his fight with Wei Chi Lianping at the last palace banquet, Ji Changlin had been dispatched to the embassy in Nanchu.

’By rights, he shouldn’t be able to return without an imperial edict. Could it be an order from Emperor Wu Su?’

Ji Bo Lian really had forgotten the news of his eldest son’s return. If Mrs. Qiao hadn’t reminded him, he would have gotten up and left.

He said, "At morning court today, the Emperor granted your older brother special permission to return home and visit his family. He has a month’s leave."

Thinking that Ji Changlin would be home in a few days, a smile spread across Mrs. Qiao’s face. "Your father has a long leave as well," she said. "It’s the perfect chance for a family reunion."

It was rare for everyone in the family to be together, and a smile touched Ji Qingwu’s lips as well.

Ji Changlin was very protective of her, and she was genuinely happy to see her eldest brother.

’Besides, now they could discuss the things she’d written about in her recent letter to him face-to-face. And perhaps she’d even get to see Lan Ling.’

Ji Qingwu mused aloud, "With my older brother coming back... I remember his favorite is Bamboo Leaf Green liquor. They don’t have that in Nanchu. I’ll have Lan Zhi hurry to the wine shop and reserve a few jars. It’s very hard to come by."

Mrs. Qiao smiled. "Your brother would be thrilled if he knew."

Ji Bo Lian chimed in, "I’ve heard the chrysanthemum wine from Lin’an is quite good, too."

A moment of silence fell. Ji Qingwu didn’t say a word. After a long pause, Mrs. Qiao finally said, "A man your age shouldn’t be drinking; it’s bad for your health. It’s better to stick to tea. That’s what will keep you healthy."

Ji Bo Lian downed the lukewarm tea in a single gulp. Instead of easing his melancholy, it only seemed to make it worse.

Not only was Ji Qingwu’s confinement lifted, but the standard of living in Wutong Garden also improved significantly.

Lan Zhi practically swaggered back into the room.

"Fifth Missy, when I went to collect our monthly silver from Housekeeper Li today, he gave me this huge bag! It’s the biggest and fullest portion out of all the courtyards."

Ji Qingwu glanced at the silver bag Lan Zhi was holding with both hands. It was indeed brimming.

"Why the extra amount?" she asked.

Lan Zhi hadn’t considered that. She had simply taken what was given. "...I didn’t ask."

’Well, getting extra silver is a good thing,’ Ji Qingwu thought, and let the matter drop.

Not long after, Lan Zhi went to the kitchen to fetch their lunch.

She left empty-handed but returned fully laden, instructing the young maids following her to set down the food containers. There were four large boxes, all packed to the brim.

Ji Qingwu was holding a mortar, and the pestle in her right hand stilled. She looked up to see Lan Zhi covering the table with an array of dishes.

She raised an eyebrow. "Is it a festival today?"

Lan Zhi replied, "Fifth Missy, Nanny Zhang from the kitchen prepared this specially for us at Wutong Garden. Everyone from the other courtyards was green with envy."

Ji Qingwu set down the pestle and walked over to take a closer look.

These were no everyday dishes. The plates held shark fin, sea cucumber, and dried scallops—all precious ingredients.

’Adding an extra meat dish or two would be one thing,’ she thought, ’but this is definitely not something the kitchen staff could decide on their own just to curry favor with me.’

Lin’an was landlocked. Delicacies like these were typically only available to the dignitaries of the Imperial City. A spread of this quality, comparable to an imperial meal, must have been ordered from on high.

Assuming Mrs. Qiao had arranged it, Ji Qingwu clicked her tongue in amazement. "Does the Ji Mansion have this much of a surplus this year? I haven’t heard about our farmlands increasing in value or any of the shops doing exceptionally well."

"Your meals are specially prepared, Fifth Missy. Old Madam Ji also received an extra dish or two."

Lan Zhi lowered her voice conspiratorially. "I heard that Mr. Ji ordered all of it. He even brought back that yellow croaker in soup himself from outside after court this morning."

It had been a long time since Ji Qingwu had tasted such delicacies. She didn’t care who had arranged it, so long as it wasn’t poisoned.

She washed her hands, ate her fill, and then settled lazily by the window to grind some medicinal powders.

Two more young maids came in from outside, carrying two large chests between them.

Lan Zhi went to see what they had brought. When she saw the contents, her face broke into a smile so wide her eyes nearly disappeared.

"Fifth Missy, these are all the latest dresses from Mufeng Residence for this year!"

It was a massive chest, even larger than her current wardrobe trunk.

Ji Qingwu was pouring powder from a sheet of kraft paper into a porcelain vial, and her hand trembled so much she nearly spilled it.

Lan Zhi busied herself with presenting them to Ji Qingwu one by one. The garments came in a wide range of colors, the styles were elegant and chic, and the fabric was magnificent without being gaudy.

There was another chest beside it. "And what’s this?" Ji Qingwu asked.

Lan Zhi’s eyes fell on the engraving on the lid. "It’s a jewelry set from Dequan House!" she exclaimed in delight.

As the chest was opened, sunlight struck a large red gemstone inside, momentarily dazzling her.

"And who sent this?" Ji Qingwu asked.

The two young maids replied in unison, "It was all on Mr. Ji’s orders."

Ji Qingwu drew in a sharp breath. ’This must have cost a fortune.’ She was finally experiencing what it felt like to be overwhelmed by favor.

She corked the porcelain vial, stood up, and asked, "Where is Mr. Ji?"

*

「Shou’an Hall.」

Since returning to the mansion, Ji Bo Lian would join Old Madam Ji for lunch whenever he was free.

Old Madam Ji looked at the much more lavish spread before her, which now included a dish of small yellow croaker. "Bo Lian," she said, "I’m getting old. I can’t eat too much rich, greasy food."

Despite her words, she still ate two of the fragrant little fish.

Ji Bo Lian personally served his mother a bowl of vegetable soup. Old Madam Ji accepted it and said, "If you truly want to be filial and make me happy, you won’t insist on keeping Qingwu at home."

"You’ve been away for a long time; you don’t know Qingwu’s temperament as I do. She grew up outside our home, so she’s arrogant and impetuous. Compared to her fourth sister, she falls short by a wide margin."

The hand Ji Bo Lian was using to pick up food froze, and his expression grew grave.

The Old Madam sighed. "Since Qingwu married into the Wei Family, just let things be. She was the one who agreed to it in the first place. Bringing her back home has already set the entire city to gossiping."

"You can meddle in this matter for now, but you can’t watch over her for the rest of her life. In two months, you’ll be leaving for your post again, and you’ll just be leaving this whole mess for your wife and me to clean up."

The corner of Ji Bo Lian’s mouth twitched. Just as he was about to speak, Nanny Feng’s voice announced someone’s arrival from the doorway.