Little Dongzi nodded. "Fifth Missy, this is an unprecedented gift from the Emperor. You're the very first to receive such an honor."
This oral edict from Emperor Wu Su was truly extraordinary. Furthermore, he had specifically instructed that only Ji Qingwu could know of it; no one else in the Ji Family was to be told.
After delivering the gift and relaying the oral edict, the little eunuch hurried back to the palace.
Ji Qingwu tightened her grip on the brocade box, her expression turning uneasy.
Mrs. Qiao took a few steps forward and gently patted her arm. "Xiao Wu, you caught a chill today. You shouldn't stand in the cold wind by the door. Come inside and warm up."
Ji Qingwu remained silent, following Mrs. Qiao back to Anju Garden. She seemed not to hear the few sour remarks Ji Qingyuan made.
The moment Mrs. Qiao entered, she instructed a nearby maid, "Chunhua, hurry to the kitchen and supervise the cook. Have her brew a bowl of red date and ginger soup for Missy. Make sure it's boiled down to be nice and thick; that's the best way to ward off the chill."
Ji Qingwu sat on a chair in the main room, her expression dazed.
Knowing her daughter had been through so much today—behaving with perfect propriety before the Empress Dowager and even receiving a reward from the Emperor—made Mrs. Qiao feel a great sense of pride.
Her tone was exceptionally gentle as she said, "Xiao Wu, you must be tired after such an eventful day. Go take a hot bath first. We can talk about things later."
It wasn't that Mrs. Qiao wasn't curious about the Emperor's sudden oral edict, but she would not ask about what she was not meant to know.
Ji Qingwu roused herself and said, "Mother, I'm fine."
"Lan Zhi, come in."
Mrs. Qiao summoned a maid and, with a lift of her chin, said, "From now on, you will be responsible for attending to Fifth Missy's daily needs."
Lan Zhi lowered her head respectfully. "Yes, First Madam."
"Lan Zhi's mother was one of my dowry maids who came with me when I married. Lan Zhi is a household-born servant who grew up in this mansion. She is dutiful and honest. You can treat her as one of your own. I will also assign you four junior maids, who can stay outside to handle chores like cleaning and sweeping."
Ji Qingwu's gaze fell on Lan Zhi. She was a pretty girl of about sixteen or seventeen, but what was rare was her composed and steady demeanor.
Her mother had surely given her one of her most capable head maids. Lan Zhi was very familiar with the Ji Mansion and had a well-trained disposition. With her by her side, Ji Qingwu felt she would be able to adapt to life here quickly.
Ji Qingwu smiled amiably at Lan Zhi. "I'll be relying on you for your help from now on, Lan Zhi."
Lan Zhi froze for a moment, then, overwhelmed by the gesture, she hurriedly bowed her head. "Missy, you mustn't say that! This is all part of this servant's duties."
A few days ago, the First Madam had told her mother that she would be transferred to serve the Fifth Missy who had been lost for all those years. In truth, she had been afraid of getting a new master, fearing that the young missy would harbor resentment upon returning home and take it out on lowly servants like them.
But she never expected the Fifth Missy to have such a gentle and good-natured temperament.
Lan Zhi had also heard that after entering the palace, Fifth Missy had received rewards from both the Emperor and the Empress Dowager—an honor that even the family's most favored Fourth Missy had never obtained. Perhaps in the future...
She had to serve such a capable master well.
Mrs. Qiao spoke to the master and servant pair, "Your residence, Wutong Garden, has been prepared. Let Lan Zhi lead you there. If you lack anything at all, just let me know. The hour is getting late, so go on now."
Under the lamplight, Ji Qingwu looked at her mother's gentle expression and nodded gratefully.
She was indeed exhausted today. She hadn't even been home for an hour before being summoned by the Empress Dowager. Then there was the 500-meter freestyle swim, getting a huge scare from a certain someone, and finally receiving an unexpected imperial decree upon returning.
Ji Qingwu didn't forget to pick up Jiu Jiu, who was sleeping sweetly in a side courtyard, and bring her back to Wutong Garden.
Wutong Garden. In its courtyard stood an ancient, towering Wutong tree.
After drinking the ginger soup Lan Zhi handed her, Ji Qingwu went to the bathing chamber to wash up. She soaked in a hot bath until her cheeks were flushed, then walked softly into the western side-room.
The little bundle on the bed showed no signs of discomfort in the new surroundings, her breathing soft and even.
After Ji Qingwu took off her shoes and got into bed, Jiu Jiu sensed her mother's presence and shuffled over, resting her tender little cheek on her arm.
Looking at the little girl's peaceful, sleeping face, much of her exhaustion melted away, and she soon fell asleep as well.
Thick, double-layered gauze curtains hung down, making the space within the canopy bed dim and quiet.
While still asleep, Ji Qingwu felt a stuffiness in her chest. Without opening her eyes, she reached out a practiced hand and, sure enough, felt a soft little bundle.
The little girl had woken up and climbed on top of her. Her bright, watery eyes were staring intently at her, as if she hadn't seen her in eight hundred years.
Ji Qingwu rubbed her eyes, her voice still laced with sleepiness.
She said helplessly, "Jiu Jiu, you're not a one or two-year-old anymore. You're a big girl of four. You really don't know how heavy you've gotten."
But she didn't move Jiu Jiu away. Instead, she cupped the child's small bottom with her hand, kneading it gently and indulging her behavior.
The little girl, fully rested, spoke in a voice that was clear and crisp.
"Mother, it's not actually that Jiu Jiu got heavier."
Ji Qingwu asked, amused, "Oh? Then what is it?"
The little girl stuck out her bottom, wrapped her arms around her mother's neck, and nuzzled against her.
She said coaxingly, "It's because Jiu Jiu loves Mother more now, that's why I've become a big girl, and that's why Mother thinks Jiu Jiu is heavy."
Ji Qingwu understood the little girl's meaning. So, her little body wasn't filled with soft, chubby flesh, but was full to the brim with love for her.
This child had known how to sweet-talk people since she was little. Who knows where she learned it, but she was such a sweet-talker.
She chuckled lightly. "You're the cleverest one."
Jiu Jiu shouted excitedly, "I love Mother the most!"
Then she started planting messy kisses all over Ji Qingwu's cheeks, covering her face in drool.
Hearing movement in the room, Lan Zhi entered softly.
"Missy, are you ready to get up?"
Ji Qingwu lifted the gauze curtain. The sky outside was already bright. She grunted in reluctance.
Lan Zhi said softly, "The First Madam sent someone over this morning to say that you could sleep in a while longer. The Old Madam, considerate of your exertions yesterday, has excused you from paying morning respects at Shou'an Hall."
Ji Qingwu's back, which had just been tensing to get up, went soft, and she lay back down.
In that case, she wasn't going to stand on ceremony.
She had no desire to follow the noble young ladies' rigid routine of morning and evening greetings just to earn a virtuous reputation. Who wouldn't sleep in when they had the chance? Only a fool wouldn't.
Ji Qingwu hugged her daughter and slept for another hour or two.
With Lan Zhi helping Jiu Jiu wash her face and comb her hair, things were much easier for her.
Not long after, Chunhua, who served by Mrs. Qiao's side, came to summon her.
"Fifth Missy, the First Madam invites you to Anju Garden to dine together. The Eldest Missy has also returned home today."
Ji Qingwu was sitting at her vanity, already changed into a pale yellow long dress embroidered with white magnolias. She was letting Lan Zhi arrange her hair into a loose cloud-like bun, secured with a simple green hairpin decorated with an ink-and-snow design.
One had to admit, clothes really did make the woman. She looked far more refined and captivating than she had in her previous countryside attire.
Just as Ji Qingwu arrived at the entrance of Anju Garden with Jiu Jiu, her steps halted.
She heard someone crying softly.
The sound was filled with extraordinary grievance and sorrow.