The Old Marquis continued, "A few years ago, we went on a night hunt together. He saw a fierce tiger lying in the tall grass and fired an arrow. SPARKS flew everywhere."
"At the ti, I thought it was strange. Why weren’t there splatters of blood?"
Ji Qingwu put down the Eight Treasure Lotus Seed Cake in her hand, licked her lips, and stared at the graying Old Marquis, waiting for him to continue.
Princess Hua Chang brought her celadon teacup to her lips but didn’t drink, her interest also piqued by their conversation.
The Old Marquis said animatedly, "When we got closer to take a look, it turned out to be a large rock."
"The arrowhead had pierced deep into the stone. It just goes to show the Prince Consort’s Divine Power in archery."
Princess Hua Chang resisted the urge to roll her eyes. ’Mistaking a giant rock for a tiger... that’s definitely sothing he would do.’
Ji Qingwu couldn’t help but clap in admiration. To shoot an arrow at a rock and make sparks fly truly was a heaven-sent Divine Power.
Emperor Wu Su seed to glance at her, but his gaze quickly moved on.
Ji Qingwu didn’t look toward the throne. She was deliberately avoiding it. Following the rhythm of the drums and music from below the platform, she finished the other half of her Eight Treasure Lotus Seed Cake.
There was no suspense in the n’s mounted archery competition.
Wei Chi Lianping ca off the field. The prize for first place was a suit of golden silk armor, but he had no interest in it. Without even a glance, he went straight up to the high platform, only to find his seat occupied upon his return.
Wei Chi Lianping raised an eyebrow. "Fifth Miss Ji, go back to your own spot. Why are you fighting with for mine?"
Ji Qingwu: ...’Where exactly is *my* spot?’
Wei Chi Lianping jutted his chin toward the throne. "You should be over there."
Ji Qingwu didn’t even want to look in the direction of Emperor Wu Su.
Although he and Princess Consort Wei sat there, a perfect picture of a handso man and a beautiful woman, looking as if they had stepped out of a painting, just a brief glance made Ji Qingwu’s eyes sting and her heart ache.
’It’s much better here.’ She scooted closer to Princess Hua Chang, her eyes pleading for help.
Princess Hua Chang looked at the sweat on Wei Chi Lianping and frowned. "Are you so kind of beast, marking your territory? Miss Ji is sitting right here. Go find sowhere else to sit."
The Prince Consort frowned in displeasure, about to squeeze in next to Hua Chang.
"Wei Chi Lianping."
A cold voice called out.
Wei Chi Lianping imdiately turned, strode to the front of the platform, and knelt. "Your subject is here."
Emperor Wu Su stood up and handed a brocade box containing half a Tiger Talisman to Li Yuzong.
He said gravely, "In three days, you will lead the troops to the Northern Border to reinforce the garrison and relieve the current forces. Spend these next few days preparing the army and enforcing discipline. We will see you off on your campaign from the Star-picking Platform."
’I didn’t expect this day to co so soon.’
Upon hearing this news, Princess Hua Chang swayed. Ji Qingwu reached out to steady her, but then, rembering the Princess disliked being touched by others, quickly withdrew her hand.
Wei Chi Lianping respectfully took the Tiger Talisman from Li Yuzong with both hands and declared in a loud voice, "Your subject accepts the order! I will not fail to live up to the vast imperial grace!"
But that wasn’t all. Emperor Wu Su looked at the woman below, not wanting to miss the slightest change in her expression. He said, "Soon, Wei Ting will break camp and return to Lin’an."
This ti, it was Ji Qingwu’s turn to go rigid.
She subconsciously looked at the speaker, her bright eyes misting over, obscuring her true thoughts.
Wei Liru was overjoyed. She excitedly grabbed his sleeve and asked, "Your Majesty, is my brother really coming back? Is it true?"
Emperor Wu Su stared at the figure in aquamarine and said slowly, "We know you miss him. Wei Ting will be staying for a longer ti on this occasion."
Ji Qingwu stood stunned for a long ti.
Her mind was filled with the words "Wei Ting will be staying for a longer ti..."
But in the end, her gaze fell to his dangling, bright yellow, dragon-patterned sleeve, where a woman’s hand still rested.
She thought distractedly, ’Doesn’t he dislike being touched by others?’
Ji Qingwu lowered her eyes, hiding her complicated emotions.
’Oh, right. She isn’t ’others.’ She’s his favored concubine.’
*
After returning ho, Ji Qingwu stared blankly at her bed curtains until just before dawn, when she finally drifted into a groggy sleep for a single hour.
The next day, because she had slept so poorly, she felt muddle-headed and had little appetite even for als.
Mrs. Qiao saw this but didn’t ask what had happened. She simply prepared so extra side dishes and delicate pastries for her.
That morning, several madams ca to deliver calling cards, hoping to et Xiao Wu for matchmaking purposes, but Mrs. Qiao turned them all away. At a ti like this, their interest was rely a fleeting fancy. Those who were sincere would continue to wait.
Before leaving for her lessons, Jiu Jiu also sensed that her mother was out of sorts. She took out the candies she had been saving in her little pouch and fed one to her with her chubby little hands.
Ji Qingwu’s cheeks puffed out with the orange candy the little girl had insisted on stuffing into her mouth.
She flattened the candy wrapper with her fingers. Looking at the intricate and beautiful packaging, she asked in surprise, "Jiu Jiu, where did you get this candy?"
It wasn’t from the sweet pastry shop Mrs. Qiao frequented, nor did it look like sothing that could be bought at a local store.
Jiu Jiu started to stamr, her big eyes darting back and forth, refusing to et her mother’s gaze.
’Such obvious guilt.’
Ji Qingwu put on a stern face. "Mama taught you not to accept things from strangers. There are many bad people who use candy to kidnap little children. They take them to remote villages to do hard labor, and you’ll never get to eat candy again."
The little girl’s eyes went wide. She held up a hand as if to swear an oath. "Mama, he’s not a stranger! We’ve t before, many tis."
’t him? Many tis, even.’
Ji Qingwu asked, "Who is it?"
Jiu Jiu covered her little mouth with both hands, three words leaking through the gaps between her fingers: "It’s a secret." They had made a pact not to tell anyone, especially her mother.
As if afraid of further questioning, the little girl slung on her small pouch and scampered off like a little rabbit.
’Jiu Jiu has secrets with an outsider... My child is growing up...’
Ji Qingwu’s senses returned. She frowned as she watched the little girl’s skipping, retreating figure.
She held the wrapper up to the window. In the sunlight, the faint red seal of the Imperial Kitchen was visible through the paper.
The candy in her mouth lted on her tongue, its sweet and sour citrus flavor washing over her taste buds.
Just like her mood at that mont.
’Who else could it be?’
CRUNCH. Ji Qingwu viciously bit down, shattering the candy.
’That man is no better than a kidnapper,’ she thought. ’He’s dead set on luring away my little girl, and now he’s even started turning her against behind my back when I’m not looking.’
Lan Zhi ca in and said, "Fifth Missy, soone from the Princess Mansion just ca by. They said the Princess requests your presence this afternoon."
Ji Qingwu nodded. Even if Princess Hua Chang hadn’t summoned her, she had been planning to go anyway.
Wei Chi Lianping was leaving for the Northern Border in two days. There was sothing she needed to make clear to the Eldest Princess.
「Princess Mansion.」
The mansion was usually quiet, but today, it was so silent that even the birdsong seed to have vanished.
As Ji Qingwu walked through, she noticed many young servants holding things, hanging them in the trees, and tiptoeing around as if trying to catch sothing.
The Eldest Princess’s handmaiden whispered, "Her Highness didn’t sleep well last night. She found the chirping of the insects and birds outside too loud."
As soon as she entered the main room, Ji Qingwu and Princess Hua Chang looked at each other’s dark circles, and all pleasantries were dispensed with.
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