She curtsied to Wei Ting from afar.
The wind lifted the hem of her crescent-white skirt, which was intricately embroidered with wave patterns. Her slender waist bent slightly, her figure as graceful and ethereal as swirling snow in the wind.
Such perfect poise should have been captivating.
Yet Wei Ting turned his face away, a storm of emotion brewing in his eyes.
Wei Liru watched her brother, surprised by his expression. It seed to carry a hint of... disgust, mixed with another emotion she couldn’t comprehend.
She rarely saw Wei Ting lose his composure like this.
It was common to see disgust on others’ faces, but never on Wei Ting’s.
In her mory, her brother Wei Ting had achieved success at a young age. He was wise and a brilliant strategist, always facing every situation with an effortless and gentle calm.
The only ti an anxious look would cross his face was when she was crying.
Besides, Wei Ting was always suave, humble, and polite when interacting with won. ’For him to show such open displeasure... this Fifth Miss Ji must really be sothing else.’
’Could it be because of what I wrote in my recent letter? I ntioned that Ji Qingwu had deliberately shot through my arrow and target, putting in an awkward position.’
’Is Wei Ting upset on my behalf?’
As soon as this thought occurred to her, Wei Liru’s spirits soared. She smiled brightly and said, "Brother, don’t let others trouble you. Today is a wonderful day. His Majesty just ntioned he wants to dine with us at Guanju Palace. I’ll head to the small kitchen to prepare the food and wine. You should co with ."
She hadn’t seen her brother in a long ti, and now that he was finally back, she had so much she wanted to tell him.
The Wei Family had many children, but Wei Liru had been close with Wei Ting since they were small, always trailing behind him. Even after so many years apart, she didn’t feel any distance had grown between them.
Ji Qingwu paid no more attention to the heartwarming scene of the siblings’ reunion.
She now understood why the red gates of the Diligent Governance Hall had remained tightly shut: Emperor Wu Su had been discussing matters with the secretly returned Wei Ting.
Now, the Emperor was going to hold a banquet to reward General Zhenbei for his ritorious service on the border. And from what Princess Wei had said, it would be an intimate affair for just the few of them.
’Naturally, he won’t have ti for , nor will he summon Jiu Jiu for her recitations.’
Ji Qingwu led Jiu Jiu away. After they had walked a short distance, an urgent call ca from behind.
"Miss Ji, wait! Please wait!"
Li Yuzong ca running up, his face covered in sweat, with Little Dongzi trailing behind him.
Ji Qingwu saw the pea-sized beads of sweat on his face. ’I haven’t walked that far,’ she thought. ’I can still see the silhouette of the Diligent Governance Hall from here. Eunuch Li shouldn’t be this exhausted just from running.’
She asked, "Eunuch Li, are you feeling unwell?"
Li Yuzong replied, "Thank you for your concern, Miss Ji. Please co back to the hall with ."
Ji Qingwu was surprised. "I heard from Princess Wei that His Majesty is hosting a banquet for them. It wouldn’t be appropriate for to go, would it?"
Li Yuzong explained, "The banquet is at Guanju Palace, and the Princess will need an hour or so to prepare. There’s no rush."
Ji Qingwu replied, "Eunuch Li, His Majesty’s banquet may not be urgent, but I’m in a hurry to get ho for dinner."
She didn’t know his reason for stopping her, but whatever it was, she had no desire to get involved.
A panicked look crossed Li Yuzong’s face. He seed at a loss for words. "The Holy Emperor..."
He exchanged a glance with Little Dongzi behind him.
As Eunuch Li turned to the side, Ji Qingwu got a clear look at Little Dongzi’s face. He was deathly pale, his lips completely drained of color—the very picture of soone who had been terrified out of his wits.
Li Yuzong pushed his apprentice forward to speak. Little Dongzi looked like he was on the verge of tears.
"Miss Ji, please, just co with us to the Diligent Governance Hall," Little Dongzi pleaded. "The Holy Emperor is in a thunderous rage, and my master and I think you’re the only one who can calm him down."
"Why is His Majesty angry?" Ji Qingwu asked, confused.
’When Princess Wei ca out of the hall, she was smiling. The Emperor must have been in a good mood at that ti. How could he have suddenly flown into such a rage and terrified his attendants like this?’
Li Yuzong said, "Miss Ji, I am begging you. Please, do it to save Little Dongzi and the other Palace Attendants serving in the Diligent Governance Hall."
Just monts ago, when General Wei and Princess Wei had left, the Emperor’s expression had indeed been normal.
But when the hall doors swung open, Emperor Wu Su saw the two figures outside looking at each other from a distance. His expression instantly soured, and he swept the confidential military report from his desk onto the floor.
When a Palace Attendant tried to step forward to serve tea, the Emperor shot them an icy, murderous glare. The teacup fell and shattered, splashing tea all over the morials on the floor.
In an instant, everyone in the hall dropped to their knees, not daring to raise their heads or utter a sound.
Li Yuzong gave a subtle signal, and the offending Palace Attendant was dragged away.
Then they heard the Emperor’s cold voice ask, "Who closed the hall doors today?"
Trembling, Little Dongzi crawled forward a few steps.
Emperor Wu Su glanced at him but said nothing. His gaze drifted to the world beyond the hall, deep and unnerving, as the murderous aura around him grew heavier, making it hard for anyone to breathe.
The servants attending the Emperor had never seen the Holy Emperor display his fury so openly. It felt as if his gaze alone could command everyone in the hall to be beaten to death.
Sweat stread down Li Yuzong’s face, but even as it dripped into his eyes, he dared not wipe it away.
His mind raced. Stealing a glance outside, he saw the distant, light-green figure facing General Wei and Princess Wei, performing an elegant curtsy.
It should have been a vision of pure grace, yet it had sohow made Emperor Wu Su seethe with uncontrollable rage.
After backing out of the hall, Li Yuzong had imdiately rushed after Ji Qingwu.
Now, the master and apprentice stared at Ji Qingwu as if she were their only hope.
The words of refusal died on her lips.
Seeing her hesitate, Li Yuzong quickly added, "Little Dongzi will personally escort Miss Jiu Jiu back to the Ji Mansion. Please, Miss Ji, take pity on us servants."
Little Dongzi nodded frantically, tears welling in his eyes. "Miss Ji, please save ! I’ll slave away for you in my next life—no, in this life! I’ll do it willingly!"
Ji Qingwu decided she needed to understand what had actually happened first.
"What did you do wrong? If it’s a cri punishable by beheading, my pleading on your behalf will be useless."
With a miserable look on his face, Little Dongzi said, "I didn’t do anything! I just closed the hall doors. I was following the protocol for a private council; I wasn’t acting on my own."
Ji Qingwu asked, finding it hard to believe, "That’s all? You just... closed the doors?"
Since they were begging her over sothing that didn’t seem like a major offense, Ji Qingwu hesitated for a mont before agreeing.
On the way, Ji Qingwu couldn’t help but think, ’Emperor Wu Su is far too capricious.’
As she approached the main entrance of the Diligent Governance Hall, she saw that the red gates were now flung wide open. The Wei siblings were no longer there.
However, due to the angle and the light, even with the doors wide open, she still couldn’t clearly see the scene inside the hall from the outside.
She paused on the steps where Wei Ting had stood monts before, her expression hesitant.
Li Yuzong took a deep breath and urged in a low voice, "Miss Ji, please go inside."
Ji Qingwu looked into the dark, cavernous hall before her...
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