"You’re going to trade it away?"
Seeing the displeasure in Emperor Wu Su’s tone, the light in his eyes instantly dimd to a deep, dark glint.
"No."
Holding the jade ring, Ji Qingwu quickly explained, "I was just going to pawn it. I’ll get it back later."
She did like this green jade.
It was just that right now, the only valuable items she possessed were the Red Lotus Bracelet and this jade ring.
Besides, he’d told her he’d just picked it up from a street vendor. She suspected the jade was no ordinary piece, which was why she wanted to try using it in a pinch.
She did have other gold and silver jewelry; Mrs. Qiao had given her quite a bit after she returned ho. But if any pieces she was known to wear were discovered at a pawn shop, it would harm her reputation and that of the Ji Family.
Ji Qingwu saw his silence, his gaze growing sharper. He seed incredibly displeased by her actions. ’The Emperor cares this much about a little jade ring?’
She asked timidly, "I can’t?"
’He gave it to , so isn’t it mine?’
’If this jade can only sit at ho as a decoration, I’d get tired of looking at it every day, no matter how valuable it is. It’s better to put it to so practical use.’
Without him needing to speak, Ji Qingwu felt the surrounding air grow several degrees colder.
’Looks like that’s a no...’
Waving the green jade in her hand, Ji Qingwu said quickly, "I didn’t actually pawn it, did I? It’s still right here."
Emperor Wu Su fixed her with a pair of ice-cold eyes. "It’s not that you didn’t want to. You were refused by Duan Mingfeng."
’He can even deduce such private details.’ Ji Qingwu said with admiration, "You truly are prophetic, sir!"
Emperor Wu Su watched her innocent expression and half-hearted praise, then suddenly took a step forward. With nowhere to retreat, Ji Qingwu could only press her back tightly against the wall.
She tilted her head up to look at him, her tone softening. "You rule over the world, fabulously wealthy. Of course you can’t understand the hardships of humble folk like us. I was just in a tight spot and had no choice but to resort to this. I really was just going to pawn it temporarily. I would have redeed it."
She sounded certain, as if she wasn’t lying.
Emperor Wu Su’s brow furrowed. "What did you need collateral for?"
"To start a business," Ji Qingwu said plainly, then briefly explained her plan.
Then she asked expectantly, "What do you think of the idea, sir?"
’This business—a clinic for won—was sothing only Ji Qingwu could pull off. No other physician could do it. That alone gave the venture great potential.’
’I wonder where she ca up with such a novel idea.’
Emperor Wu Su nodded, his gaze falling on the green jade in her hand.
"If you want to do it, then do it. But why didn’t you tell you were short on Silver?"
His approval, even if it was just a nod, put Ji Qingwu’s heart at ease.
"I’m not broke, I just don’t have any liquid silver. And I couldn’t very well ask my family for it."
’She needed money, but instead of asking her family, the first thing she thought of was the jade ring I gave her.’
At this realization, Emperor Wu Su’s expression cleared like a sky after a storm, and the tightness in his chest eased considerably.
Ji Qingwu didn’t know what she’d said to please His Majesty the Emperor. She thought for a mont, then did her best to say sothing else he might like.
"I heard there’s trouble at the border. My father sent a letter specifically telling our family to cut back on spending to help raise Silver Taels for military salaries and provisions."
Her eyes as clear as water, she continued, "The court is in need of Silver Coins at a ti like this. How could I possibly trouble you?"
The corner of Emperor Wu Su’s mouth quirked up. "Didn’t you say I’m fabulously wealthy? Sharing a little with you would be no trouble at all."
"Go back and tell Mr. Ji he needn’t worry about this. The Ji Mansion is not to cut back on its expenses in the slightest."
’Compared to the soldiers fighting and dying on the battlefield, all we’re doing is making fewer new clothes and eating less extravagant food.’
Ji Qingwu said with sincerity, "The Ji Family is happy to help lighten the court’s burdens. We worry for what Your Majesty worries for."
He had heard those words countless tis. Emperor Wu Su could tell who was sincere and who was rely pretending.
He shook his head. "My greatest worry isn’t about military funds. I have a far greater one, and only you can help with it."
Ji Qingwu’s breath caught.
But then he said, "But I don’t want you to lighten my burden. I want you to enjoy your life. I am content to find my happiness after Ah Wu finds hers."
Emperor Wu Su trapped her between the wall and his arm, saying in a low voice, "I can find a way to solve any other problem. But you alone, you give a terrible headache. Do you know why?"
Ji Qingwu’s head was BUZZING as if a thousand bees were swirling inside. She felt a little dizzy.
But after the buzzing passed, it felt as though she’d been steeped in honey.
’It’s a little sweet.’
Ji Qingwu suddenly understood why Jiu Jiu was so easily won over, turning traitor for just a few pieces of candy.
’When a man like Emperor Wu Su wants to charm you, it’s like being struck dizzy with honey. You get tangled in a fine, dense web of spun sugar with absolutely no escape, until you have no choice but to surrender your heart.’
’No wonder the little girl had no willpower. I also...’
Suddenly, Ji Qingwu rembered sothing. Her body jolted, and she shoved away the man leaning over her.
"Oh no!" she cried in a panic.
First she tried to pawn the jade he’d given her, and now, right after he’d said sothing that was practically a confession, she had the audacity to push him away. A dangerous look beca plain to see in Emperor Wu Su’s eyes.
Ji Qingwu pressed her hands against his chest and said earnestly, "It’s the hour to pick up Jiu Jiu from her lessons! I promised her today that I would go to the Upper Study Room to get her."
After speaking, she ducked down and deftly slipped under his long arm.
Seeing her trying to escape again, he hooked a hand around the back of her collar and, with a slight tug, pulled her right back.
Ji Qingwu’s eyes widened. "If she doesn’t see , the little one will be upset, and Jiu Jiu is very difficult to placate."
"Especially since I swore to her last night that I’d pick her up. The little girl was so excited she even ate an extra half-bowl of rice for dinner."
Hearing she was so anxious to leave to pick up Jiu Jiu, and not to avoid him, Emperor Wu Su’s expression softened a little.
His low voice murmured in Ji Qingwu’s ear.
"If you just run off like that, I won’t be happy either. When it cos to placating people, shouldn’t there be an order of priority?"
"What order?" Ji Qingwu asked.
"I’m easy to placate." The fingers of Emperor Wu Su’s hand, still hooked in her collar, tightened, pulling her straight into his embrace. His other arm wrapped around her slender waist as he said, slowly and deliberately, "So, placate first."
’How am I supposed to placate him?’
’Wait, why do I have to placate him?’
In this embrace from behind, she couldn’t see his expression. She could only feel his warm breath brush against the tender skin of her neck, making it tickle and flush.
Ji Qingwu shifted her shoulders uncomfortably, but his arms only tightened, holding her fast within his warm embrace, unable to move.
"Don’t move," he said in a low voice. "Just let hold you for a mont."
His tone wasn’t gentle. If you listened closely, it held an undercurrent of threatening displeasure.
Ji Qingwu’s heart was POUNDING.
This ti was different. It was like a clap of thunder on a clear spring day—a loud RUMBLE that left her heart feeling bright and sunny.
After Princess Qingyun was reprimanded by the Emperor and left, the girls and servants of Liangxiang Pavilion were all released. A few of the close friends wanted to go upstairs to check on Mo Lingling.
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