Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Kissed the Noble and Precious Emperor
"It was my oversight."
The Empress Dowager had no idea what the Emperor was playing at, why he had suddenly flown into a rage. ’Is he trying to use this as a warning to the Ji Family...?’
Emperor Wu Su’s gaze fell on the woman’s bowed neck. The curve of it was graceful, but the mind within that head was a stubborn one.
When they met in the carriage that day, he had ordered her to the Princess Mansion three days later, specifically so she would have to cancel her appointment with Li Chengxun.
But the very next day, she had gone right ahead to the Qiao Family residence to meet him.
The onlookers could only watch as Emperor Wu Su’s expression grew increasingly grim. His oppressive aura was so intense that many of them began to break out in a cold sweat.
The kneeling members of the Ji Family all bowed their heads, awaiting the Emperor’s judgment. But one little tyke couldn’t stay still.
Seeing her mama kneeling at the very front, Jiu Jiu got up and scampered over.
Out of the corner of her eye, Ji Qingwu saw the little girl toddle past her. Her eyes flew wide in panic, and she instinctively reached out to grab Jiu Jiu.
But the little one was surprisingly nimble, scrambling up the steps of the dais in a flash.
Forgetting all etiquette, Ji Qingwu lifted her head just in time to see Jiu Jiu charge right up to Emperor Wu Su’s throne.
Thankfully, Jiu Jiu glanced back at her. Ji Qingwu held her breath and shook her head, trying to urge the little girl to come back.
But Jiu Jiu had her own ideas.
And they were even more stubborn than Ji Qingwu’s.
Using both her little hands and feet, she grabbed hold of Emperor Wu Su’s Dragon Robe and tried to keep climbing. But she didn’t have the strength and couldn’t pull herself up. She ended up just hanging from the Emperor’s leg, her chubby little legs dangling in the air.
Ji Qingwu felt her vision go dark.
Chief Eunuch Li Yuzong should have stopped the child the moment she started climbing the dais. But when the little girl appeared before the Emperor, he noticed His Majesty looked slightly surprised, not at all displeased.
He had even raised an eyebrow, the movement almost imperceptible.
When he saw the little grimy hand—which had just been crawling on the floor—touch the Emperor’s Dragon Robe, Li Yuzong’s heart seized. But Emperor Wu Su, who was famously a stickler for cleanliness, didn’t react at all.
Chief Li looked up, then down, his mind racing. After a few moments of contemplation, the truth finally dawned on him.
At first, he had thought the girl was the spitting image of Young Master Yuan Heng. But on second thought, who did Young Master Yuan Heng resemble?
Emperor Wu Su himself!
Taking a closer look, he saw that aside from her eyes and brows, the girl’s facial structure and chin were identical to the Emperor’s.
Li Yuzong’s eyes darted back and forth. He glanced again at Ji Qingwu kneeling in the hall and finally understood His Majesty’s strange behavior these past few days.
He lowered his head, pretending he had seen nothing.
Meanwhile, Jiu Jiu was still hanging from Emperor Wu Su’s leg, her soft little face tilted upward.
Her big, dark eyes gazed up at him. "Are you Your Majesty the Emperor? Why are you being mean to my mama?"
Emperor Wu Su looked down, his gaze falling on her eyes, which were identical to those of the woman kneeling in the hall.
"She made a mistake."
The Emperor’s tone was surprisingly calm.
Ji Qingwu, who was still unaware of what she had done wrong, let out a small sigh of relief.
However, she then heard Jiu Jiu immediately object, "Mama did nothing wrong!"
’My daughter is trying to play the righteous judge right in front of the Emperor!’
The breath Ji Qingwu had just released caught in her throat again.
Jiu Jiu had been attending school recently, and now that she had begun her studies, she understood a great deal more.
"The Empress Dowager is healthy, but Mama wants her to be even healthier. That’s why she sent the prescription."
"It’s just like how your Lin’an City is already wonderful, Your Majesty. But you still go to bed late and wake up early every day. You work so hard just to make Lin’an City even more wonderful."
Her analogical plea was surprisingly reasonable.
Emperor Wu Su suppressed a smile and said with feigned indifference, "So you’re saying I’ve misunderstood your mama?"
The little one began to sagely shake her head, her little mouth full of big ideas.
"My teacher says that words are the voice of the heart, and communication resolves all misunderstandings. Once it’s cleared up, everything will be fine."
Emperor Wu Su scooped her up and settled her on his lap. "So clever at such a young age," he asked in a low voice. "What is your name?"
Jiu Jiu showed no fear of strangers, easily settling back against his broad chest.
"My name is—" She pursed her small lips as she mouthed the name, "Jiu Jiu."
Emperor Wu Su asked, "Why are you called that?"
Jiu Jiu twisted her little fingers together, looking conflicted. Emperor Wu Su patiently asked her again.
The cherubic little girl lifted her face, wrapped her arms around the Emperor’s neck, and leaned in with her rosy little lips.
SMACK.
She planted a solid kiss right on the august Emperor’s left cheek.
Everyone in the hall seemed to hold their breath.
As the little girl’s kiss landed, Emperor Wu Su’s left eyebrow arched, and his eyes brightened slightly.
Jiu Jiu explained, "Mama says that saying my name is like giving a kiss."
Her name meant "kiss," so she had bestowed one upon His Majesty the Emperor as a gift.
The little girl added with a proud little tilt of her head, "And Mama said that everyone loves Jiu Jiu!"
Sweat broke out on Ji Qingwu’s pale forehead.
’But I never told you to go around kissing people indiscriminately!’
"Miss Ji."
Ji Qingwu looked up at the sound of her name.
Emperor Wu Su, still hugging the girl’s plump little body, had an air of smug satisfaction as he said coolly, "You’ve certainly raised a fine daughter."
And just like that, thanks to Jiu Jiu’s little scene, the matter was concluded. The Emperor took the prescription and didn’t pursue the issue further. During the banquet that followed, he even shared several cups of wine in high spirits with Prince Yong and other relatives.
Emperor Wu Su’s birthday gift was particularly extravagant.
He presented nine statues of the Amitayus Buddha, a rare ink-carved diagram of the Avatamsaka Heart-Mirror, and a copy of the Amitayus Sutra written in golden script. All were priceless treasures, nearly impossible to find anywhere in the world.
The Empress Dowager was baffled by the Emperor’s behavior. Just moments ago, he had been angrily admonishing the Ji Family, making a great show of his fury only to let the matter drop completely.
Now, he was presenting such precious gifts. Unable to grasp the Holy Emperor’s intentions, the Empress Dowager remained quiet for much of the banquet. Princess Qingyun, on the other hand, kept glancing toward a certain seat, a shy, sweet smile perpetually on her lips.
Throughout the banquet, the food was tasteless to Ji Qingwu.
’Some questions would get her beheaded if she asked, but her head ached from not knowing the answers.’
She was so lost in thought that she didn’t snap out of it until Mrs. Qiao prompted her when the banquet was over.
As she stood to walk out of the hall, she saw two people standing by the entrance. A petite woman was speaking with a radiant smile to the man opposite her—Li Chengxun.
As Ji Qingwu drew closer, she saw that the woman was Princess Qingyun.
The Princess noticed her as well. Whether it was intentional or not, she suddenly stumbled and fell against Li Chengxun, her small hand pressed against his chest.
"Oh, Mr. Li," she said in a delicate voice. "I lost my footing for a moment. Ugh, my ankle hurts so badly. Would you be so kind as to escort me back?"
After helping her regain her balance, Li Chengxun gently declined. "Princess, that would be improper."
Ji Qingwu was left speechless.
She silently walked past them, pretending she hadn’t seen a thing.
"Fifth Cousin!"
Princess Qingyun called out from behind her. Unable to keep feigning ignorance, Ji Qingwu had no choice but to stop.
"Aunt, please go on ahead," the Princess said to Mrs. Qiao. "I’d like to have a chat with my fifth cousin. I’ll have a palace attendant escort her home personally in a little while."
Since the Princess had made such a polite request, Mrs. Qiao patted Ji Qingwu’s hand, took Jiu Jiu, and left first.
Even if Ji Qingwu were completely oblivious, she could still sense the Princess’s hostility. It was clearly because the Princess had also set her sights on this handsome and talented man.
Ji Qingwu had no desire to compete, but she already had an agreement with Li Chengxun. She would not yield just because her rival was a princess.
Princess Qingyun stood between her and Li Chengxun and said provocatively, "Fifth Cousin, I heard a rumor recently. I was hoping you could confirm it for me."
’A rumor? It must be about our marriage discussions.’
Before Ji Qingwu could say anything, Li Chengxun cupped his hands in a salute. "Since you and Miss Ji have matters to discuss, Princess, I will take my leave."
She watched him leave, a flicker of surprise on her face.
The figure in white had lost his usual air of effortless grace; now, he seemed almost to be fleeing in panic.
Princess Qingyun’s smile grew even more triumphant, and her ankle seemed to have miraculously healed.
"Fifth Cousin, there are too many eyes and ears here. Let’s take a walk by the lake."
It was a walk that should have been harmless.
But fifteen minutes later, news spread that someone had fallen into the water.
