Chapter 123: Chapter 123: Yuan Heng’s Birth Mother: Foolish or Unfortunate
Through a series of strange coincidences, Princess Hua Chang suddenly had the idea of bearing a child and decided she might as well go through with it.
Because a few days prior had been the death anniversary for the Wei Chi family.
The Wei Chi family, a line of loyal martyrs, had endured the agony of the Hangu Pass massacre, leaving Wei Chi Lianping as the sole heir. Having lost his father and brothers, the glory and the burden of the Wei Chi name now rested entirely on his shoulders.
He also had a grandmother back in his hometown. Every month, the old woman would hire someone to write a letter urging him to have a child, giving the impression that she could not die in peace without seeing a great-grandchild.
Princess Hua Chang hadn’t known about this, but the carrier pigeon was a clumsy one, and it happened to flutter down beneath her window one day.
After reading the vulgar curses in that letter, she felt like she needed to wash her eyes out.
But it also made her realize that all these years, when it came to the matter of having children, Wei Chi Lianping was not as indifferent as he seemed.
...
Ji Qingwu saw her lost in thought with closed eyes, a slight furrow in her brow, and softly interrupted her reverie.
"Your Highness, General Wei Chi is leaving for the Northern Border the day after tomorrow. You should ask him to return so the two of you can speak openly and honestly."
The moment she finished speaking, Princess Hua Chang opened her eyes.
Her eyes were once again as still as the water in an old well. "Talk? What is there for me to talk about with that brute!"
Ji Qingwu said, "But..."
Ripples suddenly erupted in Princess Hua Chang’s deep, placid eyes.
"But what? Do you really think having a child is some easy task? Whoever wants to bear this child can go right ahead! It’s the Wei Chi family whose line is about to end, after all, not my Zhao Family!"
Princess Hua Chang felt much better after saying her piece.
A moment later, she recalled that the Zhao Family’s empire had also nearly been left without an heir.
She curled her lip. "I wonder if Yuan Heng’s birth mother was a fool or just unlucky. She endured the worst of childbirth but wasn’t fortunate enough to enjoy any of the benefits."
Princess Hua Chang sought her agreement. "Don’t you think so, Qingwu?"
If she had to choose between the two, Ji Qingwu replied, "...Then she was probably just unlucky."
’She, for one, was no fool.’
*
Ji Qingwu had just returned to the Ji Mansion that evening when the rewards from the palace arrived.
She had just stepped through the main gate when Chunhua, Mrs. Qiao’s maid, who had been waiting at the entrance, pulled her directly to Shou’an Hall, where Old Mrs. Ji was.
Someone inside was saying, "Old Madam, the Empress Dowager has ordered this servant to bring you some red ginseng. It is most nourishing, so please rest well. Her Majesty has been thinking of you."
Ji Qingwu peered inside from the entrance to the main hall. Standing there was none other than Aunt Fanghua, who attended to the Empress Dowager. Shixi hadn’t come; she was likely still busy caring for the ailing Princess Qingyun.
Old Mrs. Ji’s health had been fluctuating recently. She seemed to be in relatively good spirits today, but her cheeks were far more sunken, and she had aged considerably. Ji Qingyuan sat beside her.
Seeing Ji Qingwu, Mrs. Qiao called out, "Xiao Wu, come quickly and give thanks for the imperial favor."
Aunt Fanghua looked over as well, smiling. "Fifth Missy, you’ve finally returned."
Ji Qingwu rarely interacted with Aunt Fanghua, so she simply offered a curtsy in greeting.
Mrs. Qiao said, "Xiao Wu had to attend to a matter. My apologies for keeping you waiting so long, Auntie."
Aunt Fanghua replied, "You are too kind, my lady. It is my duty." Then, she turned and gestured with her eyes to the little eunuch waiting behind her.
The little eunuch immediately presented a square, black-lacquered box painted with a golden landscape. He placed it on the table and gently opened it, drawing gasps of amazement from the onlookers.
Within the lid was another box, within that box another casket, and within the casket, a series of winding drawers.
As the partitions were removed one by one and eight fan-shaped compartments slid out, the entire structure resembled a pinwheel, with the central circular disk even able to spin freely.
Aunt Fanghua said with the utmost respect, "Fifth Missy, everything inside was personally selected for you by the Empress Dowager from her treasury. She hopes they are to your liking."
The eight-sectioned treasure box contained many precious items.
Ji Qingwu gazed at the objects within the box. Inside were a red gemstone and green jade bracelet, a Double Carp Leisurely Swimming Round Fan, a Hehe Erxian Jade Carved Fragrance Pouch, a Bright Pearl Golden Ring, and a Red Gold Begonia Eight Treasure Tassel Headband, among other things.
She didn’t understand why the Empress Dowager was being so lavish. After all, the last time they’d met, she had contradicted her.
Puzzled, Ji Qingwu asked, "Aunt Fanghua, did the Empress Dowager happen to say why I am being rewarded?"
Fanghua looked surprised. "Fifth Missy, you saved Princess Qingyun’s life. Her Majesty originally intended to summon you to Cining Palace, but the Princess has not yet fully recovered, and the Empress Dowager has been exposed to the illness herself, so it is not convenient for her to receive visitors. That is why she instructed me to come to the Ji Mansion first to deliver your reward."
Hearing this, Old Madam Ji, Mrs. Qiao, and the others were all astonished.
When had Ji Qingwu saved Princess Qingyun’s life? The official story was that the princess had merely caught a cold. Apparently, something much more serious had occurred without their knowledge.
When she had saved Qingyun, Ji Qingwu never expected to get anything out of it.
Especially not after that arrogant little princess had slapped her without a second thought.
She asked, "Was it Princess Qingyun who told you?"
Fanghua replied, "The Princess’s fever only broke this morning. She starts to cry every time your name is mentioned, Fifth Missy. She is so grateful to you for saving her life."
Ji Qingwu was confused. ’Did kneeling for a while really knock some sense into her?’
Princess Qingyun had endured a full night of cold wind on a cliff’s edge. The terror of the precipice at night, with the roars of wild beasts, was more than she could bear, even with someone accompanying her.
In her delirious sleep, she kept crying out, "Fifth Cousin, save me."
When she awoke, the first person she wanted to see—the one person who made her feel safe—was, surprisingly, Ji Qingwu.
But now that she was lucid, Princess Qingyun could never bring herself to say words like "I want to see my Fifth Cousin."
When the Empress Dowager ordered Fanghua to prepare a thank-you gift, it was the princess herself who, in a hoarse voice, suggested sending her own beloved treasure box to the Ji Mansion.
Ji Qingwu accepted the black-lacquered box gracefully. "Thank you, Aunt Fanghua. I will go to the palace another day to pay my respects."
After the palace visitors left, Shou’an Hall fell quiet once more.
It had been a long time since she had entertained guests for so long, and the exhaustion on Old Madam Ji’s face was palpable.
Mrs. Qiao said with concern, "Mother, we won’t disturb your rest any longer."
Ji Qingyuan added, "Grandmother, please get some rest." She then turned to the attendant standing beside her. "Nanny Feng, make sure Grandmother drinks her restorative soup on time."
Ji Qingwu remained silent, intending to leave with the others.
Old Madam Ji let out a wheezing cough. "Qingwu," she said, "you stay."
Mrs. Qiao paused and glanced at her, but Ji Qingwu gave a slight shake of her head, indicating that she would be fine.
Ji Qingwu quietly took a seat on a rosewood chair in the lower part of the room, her gaze falling to her hands.
The old lady was clearly drained. After Nanny Feng helped her recline on the couch-bed, she said, "You may leave us. I want to speak with Qingwu for a moment."
’Ji Qingwu knew her grandmother was biased. It wasn’t that the old woman disliked her, but that Ji Changyan and Ji Qingyuan had grown up by her side, and she had years of affection built up for them.’
’Even the palm and the back of a hand are not treated the same.’
’At first, she too had longed for an elder’s affection from Old Madam Ji.’
’Fortunately, Mrs. Qiao had given her more than enough.’
’She no longer needed to seek warmth from these "family members," who would first weigh her worth before deigning to show her any kindness.’
Ji Qingwu’s long lashes veiled the emotions in her eyes. When she looked up again, there was already a smile in them.
"Grandmother, you asked me to stay. What did you wish to talk about?"
