Chapter 157: Chapter 157: It’s Nothing, I Just Missed You
’But I have no idea what the situation in Beili is like. I’ll have to ask Mrs. Qiao when I get home.’
The Upper Study Room was located to the front right of the palace gate’s central axis.
Ji Qingwu had been walking quickly, but as she drew near, her pace slowed instead.
She steadied herself and, without looking away, headed straight for the entrance of the Upper Study Room.
The sleeves of Ji Qingwu’s outfit were wider than usual. They billowed in the wind, giving her a lively and graceful air.
The windows of the Upper Study Room were open, so she could see clearly inside from the bottom of the steps. Mr. Qiao was not teaching today; another old master was assigning schoolwork.
Although she stood beneath the study room’s window, Ji Qingwu’s gaze kept drifting, almost unconsciously, toward the doors of the Diligent Governance Hall.
At that moment, the red gates were tightly shut, unlike the previous times when they had been wide open. There must still be ministers inside discussing matters.
A few of the more lively and active young masters were the first to notice the woman’s figure outside the window. Their eyes lit up, and they began whispering to one another.
Jiu Jiu, who was sitting by the wall, also looked over.
The moment she saw Ji Qingwu, her big, dark eyes instantly shone.
’This is exactly how Mommy looked in my dream! My fairy mommy is finally back!’ Jiu Jiu was so excited she couldn’t sit still, her little bottom wiggling back and forth on the chair.
The atmosphere in the classroom grew restless, all because of the woman standing outside the window.
But Yuan Heng, sitting in the very front row, sat with his back perfectly straight, his focus fixed ahead, unaffected by those around him.
After the old master announced the end of class, all the children’s gazes snapped toward the window in unison, like sunflowers chasing the light.
Jiu Jiu was already in a sprinter’s stance. She was the first to run out and hug Ji Qingwu’s leg, shouting loudly, "Mommy! You came to get me!"
She seemed afraid that the people inside couldn’t hear her.
Her cry of "Mommy" drew envious gasps from many of the children. So this great beauty was Jiu Jiu’s mother.
Ji Qingwu gently pinched Jiu Jiu’s little cheek, showing her disapproval of the show-off-y display.
Jiu Jiu then ran back into the study room and enthusiastically introduced the person outside as her mommy to several others.
Ji Qingwu pressed a hand to her forehead.
’Emperor Wu Su wants to turn Jiu Jiu against me, but of course I have ways to solidify my position.’
’This method is proving to be extremely effective.’
’And now, I have to win over another little one. I just don’t know if he’ll fall for this.’
Just then, Yuan Heng finished packing his things and came out. He stood on the steps, staring straight at Ji Qingwu.
There were considerable ripples of emotion in his eyes, and even his small hands, hanging by his sides, were clenched into tight fists.
Seeing his adorable expression, Ji Qingwu called out softly, "Young Master Yuan Heng."
Hearing her call, Yuan Heng’s little mind seemed to go blank, and he walked straight to her.
Ji Qingwu saw the tips of his ears turn beet red. She suppressed a smile, striving to maintain her elegant and serene composure.
Yuan Heng’s tone was unnatural as he said, "You called me over. What is it?"
As he spoke, he snuck several glances at her, the affection in his eyes threatening to spill out.
But Ji Qingwu replied naturally, "Oh, nothing important. I just missed the Young Master, so I called you over."
’I missed him.’
’Just like he misses me.’
This time, Yuan Heng’s eyes sparkled too. Hearing her say she missed him, he proactively took her hand.
His small fingers gripped her hand tightly.
The smile at the corners of Ji Qingwu’s lips could no longer be contained, and she laughed.
Her smile was utterly enchanting, her eyes full of captivating light.
Seeing her like this, Yuan Heng’s little face flushed crimson. He turned his head away and, from an angle where she couldn’t see, pursed his lips to hide a secret smile.
Ji Qingwu’s clear, water-like eyes flickered. ’If I’d known this tactic was so effective, I would have used it sooner.’
’First, build a good relationship with the little one, then proceed slowly with the plan.’
’Now, there’s just one left...’
Jiu Jiu returned with her head held high, like a triumphant General, only to see Ji Qingwu holding the Young Master’s hand.
Her eyes went wide.
She never would have imagined that in just that short moment, her dear mommy would be snatched away.
Jiu Jiu was about to stomp over, her cheeks puffed out in anger.
At the sound of someone’s voice, Yuan Heng reluctantly let go of her hand.
"Yuan Heng?"
A woman in a magnificent cherry-red gown suddenly appeared before Ji Qingwu. In the rear palace, only the bewitching and glamorous Princess Consort Wei could carry off such a color.
"Greetings, Princess Wei."
The moment Wei Liru saw Ji Qingwu, she scrutinized her for a long while.
She noticed that after not seeing her for some time, this Fifth Miss Ji’s beauty had grown even more delicate and radiant, so tender she looked as if water could be squeezed from her skin.
Today, Wei Liru was in a good mood due to a happy occasion and had no desire to pick a fight with Ji Qingwu.
She praised, "Miss Ji has blossomed into a truly moving beauty. I imagine the military generals’ families in Lin’an City are about to wear down the Ji Mansion’s doorstep. I wonder who will be so fortunate as to marry such a belle."
Ji Qingwu just smiled faintly without a word.
She and Princess Consort Wei had had an unpleasant falling-out over the archery competition last time. Now that they were in the palace, she had to avoid her sharp edge.
Wei Liru’s gaze shifted between her and Yuan Heng.
Her richly colored lips, painted with red lipstick, opened and closed. "Prince Yuan Heng seems quite close to Miss Ji. This one is gratified to see it. Back when he was in my palace, Yuan Heng was just a tiny little thing. Now he’s grown so tall. It truly makes one sigh at how quickly time passes."
If not for the incident where Yuan Heng fell into the water, the little prince would have continued to grow up in Princess Consort Wei’s palace.
Moreover, the Princess Consort Wei of today would have risen beyond the rank of a mere concubine.
Yuan Heng had long since resumed his cold expression, a look that was enough to show he was not close to Wei Liru.
Ji Qingwu crouched down and winked at him. "The Young Master must still have a lot of homework. We’ll talk again when we have the chance."
Yuan Heng nodded and left with a eunuch who had been waiting at the side.
"Miss Ji, that little girl must be your daughter."
Wei Liru’s gaze fell on Jiu Jiu, who was standing on the steps. "To have such a precious and lovely child, this one is truly envious. I wonder when this one will be able to have a child of my own, to have some comfort in this palace."
Ji Qingwu could have offered some high-sounding words of comfort to Princess Consort Wei, but she didn’t.
Because she knew that Emperor Wu Su was fated to be heirless. For Princess Consort Wei to want a child was simply a fantasy.
Whether based on fact or feeling, she remained silent.
Wei Liru was about to say something more when Li Yuzong appeared behind them.
"Princess Wei, Miss Ji," he said in a low voice.
Ji Qingwu and Wei Liru turned their heads at the same time, and the well-traveled Chief of the Internal Affairs Office looked visibly startled.
He recognized at a glance that the person before him was Fifth Miss Ji.
But he could also clearly sense how extraordinarily different she was now.
’Her brows were as fine as spring hills, her eyes as clear as autumn waters. She possessed an enchanting, effortless grace, and her radiance seemed to light up everything around her.’ Li Yuzong secretly made a comparison in his mind. ’Ji Qingwu even outshines Princess Consort Wei—a woman whose beauty could topple nations—by a clear margin.’
Because the ineffable charm in her eyes was all the more captivating to the soul.
