Ji Changyan blocked the carriage, and the driver didn't dare to move.
More and more commoners on the street were starting to look over.
Ji Changyan pressed her relentlessly. "What's the rush? You don't even have time to chat with His Highness for a moment?"
'Is my third brother an idiot?!'
'He wants me to stand on a busy street and chat with Prince Yong. What kind of cheap woman does he take me for?'
Ji Qingwu swallowed her anger and suppressed her temper before finally speaking. "I'm going to Duke Zhongyong's Mansion. My eldest sister and brother-in-law are waiting for me."
When Ji Changyan heard she was going to Duke Zhongyong's Mansion, the words inviting her to a teahouse with them died on his lips. He stole a glance at Prince Yong, waiting for him to make a decision.
In terms of rank, Duke Zhongyong's Mansion was naturally no match for a Prince like Prince Yong.
But Marchioness Zhongyong was the Emperor's maternal aunt, and the Princely Heir, Lu Juan, was the Emperor's cousin. He was currently highly favored at court.
Prince Yong's expression shifted. In a tone that was half threat, half enticement, he said, "Since you have business to attend to, I won't invite you for tea, Fifth Cousin. But next time, you must not refuse me again."
The person inside the carriage remained silent.
A moment ago, Ji Qingwu had deliberately mentioned her brother-in-law. She had overheard Mrs. Qiao say yesterday that her brother-in-law, Lu Juan, grew up with the current Holy Emperor. Their bond was deeper than that of true brothers, so deep that even Prince Yong couldn't compare.
The Ji Family had married their eldest legitimate daughter into that family in hopes of using the marriage alliance to solidify the positions of the Ji Family and the Empress Dowager.
By the time Ji Qingwu's carriage arrived at Duke Zhongyong's Mansion, young male and female servants were already waiting at the entrance.
A male servant led the driver to a place to settle the carriage, while a maid curtsied respectfully. "Fifth Missy, Her Ladyship has been up since early this morning waiting for you. Please follow me."
Ji Qingwu smiled and nodded.
Upon entering the courtyard, a central path of gray bricks led straight to the main hall, splitting the grounds into an east garden and a west garden.
"Her Ladyship is in Ninghua Hall in the east garden."
Ji Qingwu followed the maid. The Marquis Mansion's courtyards were far larger than the Ji Family's, and the scenery was unspeakably elegant and charming.
On the way, they encountered a lavishly dressed woman with a slightly plump figure. She smiled before she spoke. "Xin'er, this must be the younger sister of my third brother-in-law's wife, correct?"
"Second Mistress, this is indeed Fifth Missy. My mistress is waiting for her."
Ji Qingwu also smiled and nodded. 'So this is the 'Second Sister-in-law,' Feng Shuang, that Eldest Sister mentioned.'
Feng Shuang extended a warm invitation. "What a beauty you are, little sister. I just love spending time with pretty young ladies like you. If you have a moment to spare, you should come visit my courtyard as well."
The two exchanged these pleasantries and walked past each other.
The moment Ji Qingwu and Xin'er's figures were out of sight, Second Mistress Feng Shuang's smile vanished. Her tone turned mocking. "She has the same seductive face as her sister. So young, yet she's already had a child with who knows who. How dare a ruined woman like her come to the Marquis Mansion as a guest."
A complete departure from her smiling, welcoming demeanor just moments before.
Her personal maid quickly reminded her, "Second Mistress, we are still outside."
Feng Shuang shot her a look and said, "Find someone to ask around. See what she's doing here at the mansion."
By the time she reached her eldest sister's residence, Ninghua Hall, Ji Qingwu's forehead was beaded with sweat from the walk.
Today's dress was beautiful, but it prevented her from taking large strides. She could only manage tiny, mincing steps.
But in the eyes of the Marquis Mansion's inhabitants, her moon-white outer skirt drifted around her feet like a soft cloud as she moved. The pale blue, lotus-patterned silk sash danced along with her. What an ethereal, fairy-like woman.
Ji Qingrong spotted her from behind the ornate window.
When her fifth sister entered, she teased, "If I didn't know better, I'd think an Immortal Concubine had graced my courtyard."
After entering the room, Ji Qingwu plopped down onto a chair and fanned herself with her hand.
"Eldest Sister, I wish I really were an immortal so I could have just flown here directly. The Marquis Mansion is so big! I've been walking for so long, it must have been a few miles."
Ji Qingrong was amused by her sister's charming petulance and gave an order. "Xin'er, serve Fifth Missy some tea. Brew the new Snow Moqing Tea we received."
Seeing Ji Qingwu's flushed face, Ji Qingrong had someone bring out a freshly scented handkerchief for her to wipe her sweat.
Ji Qingwu tilted her face up, enjoying her eldest sister's gentle care.
"Fifth Sister, what would you like for lunch? I'll have the kitchen prepare it early. We can dine here in Ninghua Hall today."
But Ji Qingwu shook her head. "Eldest Sister, doesn't everyone in the Marquis Mansion usually have to dine with the Old Marchioness? It's livelier when more people eat together."
Ji Qingrong knew that her younger sister was being considerate of her current difficult situation and didn't want her to lose face in front of the Old Marchioness.
Xin'er poured Ji Qingwu a cup of tea. Ji Qingwu was indeed thirsty, so she lifted it and took a sip. "This really is good tea."
It was sweet and refreshing on the palate, with no trace of bitterness.
Ji Qingrong smiled. "It's fine to have a meal in my own courtyard. I'm not that useless yet."
Seeing that her eldest sister didn't seem to be just putting on a brave face, Ji Qingwu was naturally happy with this arrangement. Eating with a large group was full of rules; it was hard to say if one could even eat their fill.
She winked at Ji Qingrong.
'I haven't gotten to the real reason I came here today.'
"Alright, you may all leave us." Only Xin'er was left in the room to attend to them.
From a white-sourwood cabinet with a three-tiered design, Xin'er took out a kraft paper packet and carefully handed it to Ji Qingwu.
She opened it and saw about ten birth control pills inside. She picked one up and sniffed it.
"Xin'er, please bring me a bowl of plain water."
When the water arrived, Ji Qingwu dissolved the pill in it. She watched the dregs inside and the water turning a murky yellow-black, thinking for a moment.
Then she began to stir it with a silver hairpin.
Ji Qingrong was afraid to disturb her, but she couldn't help but ask, "Fifth Sister, is there a problem with the pills?"
Ji Qingwu looked up, her brow tightly furrowed and her expression grim.
She said firmly, "The birth control pills are fine."
Hearing that there was no problem, Ji Qingrong let out a sigh of relief.
She had been anxious all last night. If the pills really were the problem, she would have had to live with regret for the rest of her life.
However, Ji Qingwu said gravely, "Eldest Sister, the fact that there's no problem *is* the biggest problem."
They had assumed that the birth control pills had damaged her constitution and caused her infertility. But if that was ruled out, then what was the real cause?
Not finding the cause was the most dangerous thing of all.
Ji Qingrong understood now, and her heart grew even heavier. 'Could it be that I'm fated to be childless?'
Ji Qingwu had taken her pulse yesterday. She was certain that her eldest sister must have ingested some kind of medicine—a potent and aggressive one at that—for her constitution to be so damaged.
She asked tentatively, "In the past few years, have you been sick with anything else? Have you taken any other medicine?"
Ji Qingrong thought back, then slowly shook her head.
Xin'er also said, "Her Ladyship hasn't had any major illnesses these past few years. She's had minor colds, but they always went away after she drank some nourishing soup. It never got to the point of needing medicine."
How strange.