"I wonder which big shot showed up today. Lingling is usually so smooth, but this ti she’s really ssed with the wrong person."
"She’s been making quite a scene all over the city lately. I bet her patron’s official wife ca to teach her a lesson."
The two whispered to each other. As soon as they ca upstairs, they saw two figures locked in an embrace.
They chuckled teasingly. "My, my, can’t wait to get your hands on each other. What pair of secret lovers are you?"
When the two got a clear look at the man’s refined and handso features, they couldn’t help but gasp.
"This young master is gorgeous! Is that one of our girls he’s holding? Who could be so lucky?"
"Doesn’t look like it from her clothes. None of the girls in our house dress so plainly."
As they spoke, they started to walk closer for a better look.
Ji Qingwu’s ears burned with embarrassnt. She saw that the Emperor wasn’t moving, his arm still firmly around her waist, but she didn’t feel offended.
She took the initiative to take his large hand, her own wrapping around his long, slender fingers.
"Let’s go."
The urge to flee took over Ji Qingwu. With no ti to wonder if the Emperor would agree, she grabbed him and broke into a run.
"Hey! The secret lovers are getting away..."
Guffaws of laughter followed them from behind.
Fortunately, the upper floor of Liangxiang Pavilion had staircases on both sides. Ji Qingwu pulled him along, sprinting all the way out of the building.
The mont they were outside, she snatched her hand away from his as if she’d been burned.
Emperor Wu Su looked down at his own hand, a sense of loss washing over him. Just a mont ago, a woman’s hand, as soft and smooth as silk, had been clasped tightly in his palm.
He said, "What’s the panic? Afraid they might see you?"
After her short run, Ji Qingwu’s face was flushed, her skin as radiant as jade, like a new moon glowing within a soft halo.
She said, "If they were to misunderstand our relationship, I would have to explain, which would be far too much trouble."
Emperor Wu Su stared at her, his lips parting. "Whatever our relationship is, it needs no explanation to anyone. I would have simply had them leave."
His words were tinged with the displeasure of having been interrupted.
’He hadn’t held her nearly long enough...’
Ji Qingwu had a sudden realization. The Emperor never had to explain his actions to anyone. That was true power—to do exactly as he pleased, whenever he pleased.
It was always others who went out of their way to avoid him; it made no sense for him to be the one hiding.
The sun was already setting in the west.
Ji Qingwu glanced at the sky and said urgently, "I’m running late! I have to go pick up Jiu Jiu. I’ll be on my way."
But he grabbed her hand again.
Emperor Wu Su said with an amused smile, "We’ll go together."
’She’d almost forgotten again. Not only were they heading in the sa direction, but the place she was going was located inside his Phoenix Palace.’
*
By the ti Ji Qingwu reached the entrance to the Upper Study Room, the doors were still shut tight. The clear sound of students reading aloud drifted from within—the tutor hadn’t dismissed class yet.
’Judging by the sky, she was running a little late. By this ti, Jiu Jiu was usually already ho.’
Before long, Mr. Qiao erged, walking slowly while holding a copy of the *Four Books Collection*.
Ji Qingwu smiled and curtsied. "Greetings, Grandfather."
Qiao nghan stroked his long, graying beard, his gaze soft as he looked at her. "Xiao Wu, it’s rare to see you picking up Jiu Jiu in person."
Ji Qingwu lowered her head slightly, looking a little ashad.
’She had only co a few tis, mainly because the Upper Study Room was too close to the Diligent Governance Hall, where the Emperor conducted his official business.’
’Every ti she ca, the sharp-eyed Li Yuzong would spot her and summon her over. The experience had left her with a considerable sense of dread.’
’At first, she worried about her identity being exposed. To avoid Emperor Wu Su, she had entrusted Nanny Li with the task of taking Jiu Jiu to and from her lessons.’
’But now, what was there left for her to hide?’
’Besides, Jiu Jiu had already t with the Emperor in private nurous tis and had even secretly accepted a "betrothal gift" from him. She had to keep a close eye on things to prevent her daughter from being won over and turned against her.’
Mr. Qiao said, "But Jiu Jiu can’t leave just yet."
Ji Qingwu asked in surprise, "Why? Did she do sothing wrong?"
Qiao nghan unrolled the book in his hand. "No, nothing like that."
"The Holy Emperor pays close attention to the students’ coursework. They are at a critical point in their study of the Confucian classics right now. With the exception of Prince Yuan Heng, any student who wants to leave for the day must first pass a recitation test."
’The lessons in the Upper Study Room were certainly demanding. They had to pass a recitation exam just to be dismissed.’
Ji Qingwu asked with concern, "Then why is Yuan Heng excluded?" She was worried this special treatnt would cause Yuan Heng to be ostracized by his classmates.
Qiao nghan, in his role as the Crown Prince’s Tutor, said proudly, "Prince Yuan Heng could already recite this a year ago. He knows it forwards and backwards, so there’s simply no need to test him."
Ji Qingwu relaxed, only to start worrying about her own child. "But was Jiu Jiu chosen for recitation today?"
"That child." Mr. Qiao frowned and sighed. "Her luck with the lots is terrible. She gets picked every single ti."
Ji Qingwu complained to herself, ’What kind of probability is that...?’
’She had a nagging feeling that there was sothing fishy going on.’
"Grandfather, have you never suspected sothing is going on behind the scenes? Why is Jiu Jiu chosen every ti? Don’t you think that’s too much of a coincidence?"
Qiao nghan said slowly, "Eunuch Li from the imperial court cos to supervise personally every day, but I’m the one who draws the paper slips. And every single ti, I just happen to draw hers."
Ji Qingwu pressed her lips together. She already had her suspicions—Li Yuzong must have tampered with the lots behind the scenes.
"It is a coincidence, but perhaps it’s fate. After all, you’re the one who gave the little girl such a na."
"What’s wrong with this na?" Ji Qingwu was confused.
Qiao nghan looked displeased. "What kind of na is Jiu Jiu? With a na that sounds like ’choose, choose,’ it’s no wonder she gets chosen every ti we draw lots."
Ji Qingwu was speechless. ’Is that really the reason?’
Mr. Qiao urged her, "You should hurry and give the child a proper formal na. By the way, what is her father’s surna? I can help you think of a few options in my spare ti."
Ji Qingwu was silent.
Mr. Qiao asked, "Why aren’t you saying anything?"
Ji Qingwu forced a smile. "Jiu Jiu already has a formal na, so there’s no need to trouble Grandfather."
"If she has a formal na, why not use it? Have the little girl use her formal na from now on."
Mr. Qiao, a man of imnse learning whom others usually begged to bestow nas upon, had just been flatly rejected by his own granddaughter. With a stern face, he flicked his sleeves and stord off.
Just as Jiu Jiu ca skipping out of the Upper Study Room, Li Yuzong ca scurrying over from the Diligent Governance Hall.
The two of them arrived in front of Ji Qingwu at the sa ti.
Jiu Jiu stretched out her little arms, took her hand, and called out happily, "Mama!"
Li Yuzong’s smile was as wrinkled as a walnut. When he saw Ji Qingwu, his eyes crinkled up into thin slits.
"Miss Ji, the Holy Emperor is in the hall. You two should go over now."
’Ji Qingwu had intended to say she could just wait here. But if Jiu Jiu went off to spend more ti with the Emperor, her entire effort in coming to pick her up would be wasted.’
At the Diligent Governance Hall, the great vermilion gates stood wide open, as if to welco the mother and daughter inside.
The mont Ji Qingwu stepped onto the stone floor of the hall, she saw the Emperor. He had changed his robes and was now sitting upright before his desk, holding a book and reading with rapt attention.
She stared at him, transfixed.
He was dressed in a silver-white, round-collared robe embroidered with a Golden Dragon motif. A sash the color of bamboo leaves was tied at his waist, creating the image of a golden dragon coiling beneath verdant bamboo and lending him an air of bright, extraordinary grace.
Ji Qingwu found herself unable to look away.
Li Yuzong coughed lightly a few tis, which brought her back to her senses.
Ji Qingwu hastily curtsied in greeting, and Jiu Jiu dutifully copied her.
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