Chapter 257: Chapter 257: One Tames Another, Leaving the Palace to Worship Ancestors
Ji Qingwu had done it all on purpose: choosing to perform at night, dancing the Jade Curtain Shadow Dance, and vanishing right before his eyes.
The curtain in front of Emperor Wu Su was blasted into shreds by a tyrannical wave of Inner Strength and fell to the ground.
Li Yuzong, who was following behind the Emperor, lowered his head.
’Truly, every man has his match.’
’He had thought this Miss Ji would leave the palace heartbroken, but instead, she’d come up with a trick like this.’
’And its effectiveness? One look at Emperor Wu Su’s face—stifled and without any release—was all the proof he needed.’
Emperor Wu Su turned and shot him a sidelong glance.
"If you want to laugh, then laugh."
Li Yuzong’s lips tightened. "Your Majesty misunderstands me. I was simply born with a smiling face."
Soon enough, Chief Li found he couldn’t laugh anymore. Back in his bedchamber, Emperor Wu Su grew agitated at the sight of everything.
The bed curtains looked too much like the drapes Ji Qingwu had danced behind earlier. He had them taken down and replaced several times before the Emperor was satisfied.
After that, he complained that the hall was too hot, and only settled down after several basins of ice were placed on the floor of the bedchamber.
After her dance, Ji Qingwu lay down on her canopy bed, utterly content, and soon drifted off to sleep.
But the lights in Zhaoyang Hall burned late into the night before they were finally extinguished.
「The next morning.」
Word spread throughout the palaces: that Fifth Miss Ji had performed the Jade Curtain Shadow Dance before the Emperor’s bedchamber, and that Emperor Wu Su had destroyed the curtain in a rage.
After getting out of bed, Ji Qingwu heard the little eunuchs who were sweeping and cleaning discussing it in low voices.
"Did you hear? The Emperor was so angry last night he couldn’t sleep until the early hours of the morning."
"What happened?"
"It was that Fifth Miss Ji again. She got close to the Emperor again yesterday. I heard she even performed some seductive dance. Our Emperor is the most pure-hearted and desireless of men; he barely even enters the rear palaces. Now, the very sight of her vexes him."
Hearing that Emperor Wu Su hadn’t slept well last night, Ji Qingwu stood under the corridor feeling all the more refreshed and invigorated.
"Fifth Missy." Someone hurried over to her.
Ji Qingwu greeted her, "Aunt Shi Xi."
Shixi said, "Fifth Missy, the Empress Dowager requests your presence in the front hall."
Ji Qingwu followed behind Shixi and asked, "Aunt, do you know what’s happened? Why would the Empress Dowager summon me so early in the morning?"
Lately, the Empress Dowager had grown increasingly fond of Ji Qingwu. As long as she was willing to expend effort on the Emperor, she was the person dearest to the Empress Dowager’s heart.
Shixi also treated her more warmly than before. She gave her a hint, lowering her voice. "News came from the Emperor’s side."
’Just one night has passed, and there’s already news from Emperor Wu Su?’
But judging from Shixi’s expression, it was very likely not good news.
Just as Ji Qingwu reached the entrance to the hall, she heard deep sighs from within.
"I thought the Emperor valued Qingwu, but now it seems the Emperor truly dislikes her."
Ji Qingwu’s steps faltered for a moment. Then she stepped inside, her expression already composed, and greeted her with a smile.
"Qingwu greets you, Aunt."
The Empress Dowager said, "Have a seat first."
Ji Qingwu took a seat in a lower position. After the Palace Attendants served tea, the Empress Dowager dismissed all her servants, leaving only Shixi and Fanghua.
Only then did Ji Qingwu ask, "Aunt, what on earth has happened?"
The Empress Dowager glanced at her and sighed. "Because the Longevity Festival is approaching, the Emperor plans to leave the palace tomorrow to offer sacrifices to the ancestors at the Emperor Temple outside the city."
Ji Qingwu nodded and asked, "That’s normal. It’s just ancestral worship. Why are you so worried, Aunt?"
The Empress Dowager said, "When the Emperor goes to worship the ancestors, those who are allowed to accompany him—be they close ministers or concubines—are all recipients of his favor. The Emperor himself chooses them."
’It seems the list of people accompanying Emperor Wu Su to worship outside the palace has already been decided.’
Seeing the Empress Dowager’s deeply furrowed brow, Ji Qingwu was not surprised by the outcome.
She said, "I’m probably not on it."
Gazing at Ji Qingwu’s face, the Empress Dowager shook her head and said regretfully, "It’s not just that you’re not on it. It’s that practically every concubine in the rear palace is going—except for you."
Ji Qingwu’s eyes shifted as she contemplated the meaning of those words.
’She wasn’t a concubine to begin with, so it was understandable that she wouldn’t be included in the ancestral worship trip.’
The Empress Dowager said, "That’s not all. Ji Qingyuan is on the list too."
At this, Ji Qingwu’s brow furrowed. Emperor Wu Su had included even Ji Qingyuan, but had pointedly left her name off the list.
This...
This was far too deliberate.
When Ji Qingwu looked up again and saw the Empress Dowager’s face full of sorrow and regret, she understood at once.
’In her heart, she knew of the bond between them, but outsiders were completely unaware.’
’This move would only make others think the Emperor was utterly tired of her.’
’Bringing Ji Qingyuan to the worship ceremony was also a signal to the Empress Dowager: stop helping me behind the scenes; she might as well put her efforts into her other niece.’
These past few times, Ji Qingwu had only been able to orchestrate encounters with the Emperor because of the Empress Dowager’s support.
The Empress Dowager asked, "Qingwu, what are your thoughts?"
’Emperor Wu Su had seen right through the Empress Dowager’s plans. What thoughts could she possibly have?’
Ji Qingwu said, "...I will listen to whatever you say, Aunt."
The Empress Dowager nodded. "You’ve worked hard these past few days. Rest for now. We will discuss this matter at length later."
’Discuss this matter at length.’ To her, that was just a nice way of saying ’let’s forget about it over time.’ Ji Qingwu felt she might as well start packing her bags and prepare to leave the palace.
Because this ancestral worship trip had been proposed on short notice, the Empress Dowager had to go as well.
They would be staying there overnight before returning, so there was much to prepare, and the Empress Dowager did not talk with her for long.
Most of the people in the palace became busy, which in contrast made Ji Qingwu seem like the only idle person around.
「On the day of the ancestral worship.」
The sky was still dim when Ji Qingwu was woken by the sound of bells and drums from outside.
She sat up, the thin blanket sliding down to her lap. Draping a robe over her shoulders, she walked to the window. Outside, a faint, pale crescent moon still hung in the sky.
It felt as if Ji Qingwu’s heart had been snagged by it, too.
’Suddenly, she desperately wanted to see him.’
’Just one glance would be enough.’
Once the thought took root, she could no longer suppress it. She quickly threw on her outer robe, pushed open the door, and headed out.
The air was still cold at the break of dawn, and a cool breeze made Ji Qingwu shiver.
The paths within the rear palaces were mostly empty. The consorts accompanying the Emperor to worship had taken their attendants with them, so the usual morning hustle and bustle of palace attendants was nowhere to be seen.
Seeing such a desolate scene made Ji Qingwu’s heart ache. Her pace quickened.
When she neared Zhaoyang Hall, she stopped.
From several dozen feet away, Ji Qingwu gazed at the magnificent palace. At this moment, no lights were lit within, and not a single shadow could be seen.
’The person inside... was already gone.’
Ji Qingwu had walked so quickly on her way over that her forehead and the tip of her nose were beaded with sweat.
After a moment’s thought, she turned and started walking again. Deciding that walking was too slow, she broke into a run.
By the time she reached the palace gates, she could only see the tail end of the grand procession and the dust kicked up by the horses and carriages.
’She still hadn’t seen him.’
Leaning against the gilded gate, Ji Qingwu gasped for breath.
’It’s okay... if I didn’t see him. I’ll just wait for him to come back.’
Ji Qingwu stood at the gate for a while longer. As she turned to leave, she glanced down and discovered a figure standing there with her.
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