Chapter 124: Chapter 124: An Unstoppable Husband’s Family, I Will Have a Grand Wedding

Old Madam Ji was hunched over, her eyes no longer as clear as they once were.

She looked at Ji Qingwu, yet it was as if she were looking at someone else entirely.

"Ever since your third brother passed, making me, a white-haired woman, bury one with black hair yet again, my health has deteriorated day by day. Your father is still stationed outside Yong City, and only a few of you children are left in the Ji Family."

Ji Qingwu simply comforted her in a soft voice, "Grandmother, please don’t be too sad. Everyone has their own destiny."

Old Madam Ji continued, "Qingwu, I’ve had many questions these past few days, but right now, I only want to ask one thing: do you have any intention of entering the palace to become an imperial concubine?"

A glimmer of light appeared in the depths of the old madam’s cloudy eyes.

’Enter the palace as a concubine... Has Old Madam Ji found out something, or has she seen through my plans?’

Ji Qingwu had thought she would answer this question without a moment’s hesitation, just as she always had.

But she found herself pausing to think. She knew exactly what Old Madam Ji was scheming.

Under the old woman’s almost coercive gaze, she still shook her head and said, "I am not willing."

’If the Old Madam and the Empress Dowager knew that Yuan Heng was my son, they would have sent me into Phoenix Palace overnight with gongs and drums to secure the Ji Family’s favor.’

Old Madam Ji indeed did not know the truth of the matter.

The last glimmer of light in her eyes slowly faded.

Ji Changlin had been transferred to Nanchu with no set date for his return, leaving the family with no dependable sons to rely on.

After the pain of losing her grandson, Old Madam Ji and the Empress Dowager had grown distant. If Ji Changyan hadn’t spent all his days carousing with Prince Yong, he wouldn’t have developed such a lawless nature. As for the disaster he caused that implicated the entire family, Prince Yong was undoubtedly involved.

Now, with her health failing day by day, the Ji Family urgently needed someone to lean on.

Based on recent events, Old Madam Ji had also guessed that the Emperor might hold this granddaughter in some regard.

But seeing how decisively Ji Qingwu refused, Old Madam Ji thought for a moment. If she was unwilling to enter the palace, so be it.

The old madam let out a long sigh. "Qingwu, Grandmother knows you have a mind of your own, and I won’t force you. But you must think carefully about the matter of your marriage."

Ji Qingwu hadn’t expected the topic of her entering the palace to be dropped so easily.

She replied obediently, "Thank you, Grandmother."

Old Madam Ji pushed herself up on the couch. "A while ago," she said, "Mrs. Li, the wife of Imperial Scholar Li, sent a message. She said she’s looking for a suitable girl for her third son. The Li family’s third son currently serves in the Ministry of Communication, which is not a low position. He has no concubines or bed-servants, so whoever marries him can comfortably become the lady of the house right away."

’Why is she telling me about these inner-courtyard women’s affairs?’

Ji Qingwu, feigning ignorance, nodded and said, "Then Grandmother must help the Li family find a good match."

Old Madam Ji said, "Mr. Li is a great official of the First Rank. It would be a blessing to marry into such an upright and respectable family."

There were only five First Rank officials in the entire dynasty. The Li family was indeed extraordinary, far from an ordinary household.

Ji Qingwu said in surprise, "There’s such a good marriage prospect?"

Old Madam Ji looked at her and said, "Qingwu, Grandmother feels this is a fine match. What are your thoughts?"

In all the time since Ji Qingwu had returned home, this was the first time Old Madam Ji had taken the initiative to arrange a marriage for her.

First, she had asked about her intentions to enter the palace, and now she was bringing up the Li family’s third son.

Coincidentally, this Imperial Scholar was the same man her maternal grandmother, Madam Qiao, had mentioned before—the one who had jumped over the moat for her in his youth. At the time, she had also heard some rumors from her grandmother about Mr. Li’s family.

A gentle smile played on Ji Qingwu’s lips, but her eyes were devoid of any emotion.

"Fourth Sister is a year older than I am. Why doesn’t Grandmother save this for her?"

Old Madam Ji’s expression froze for a moment. "With such a good match, you were the first one I thought of, Grandmother. You know as well as I do that Qingyuan is single-mindedly focused on entering the palace. She is deeply in love with His Majesty and has no interest in other men. It would be a waste of breath to even mention it to her."

"Has Grandmother told Mrs. Li about my situation?" Ji Qingwu asked, raising an eyebrow.

Old Madam Ji smiled. "The Li family is very open-minded. They even said that a widow with a child proves she’s fertile—they couldn’t be happier. If you marry into their family, you’ll live a life of comfort. They won’t let you suffer the slightest bit."

Ji Qingwu’s smile vanished. Her bright eyes stared directly at the old woman. "The Li family certainly is open-minded. I wonder if Grandmother has also heard that the Li family’s third son does not love fair maidens, but rather prefers the company of men? Marrying someone like that means a glamorous life on the surface, but behind closed doors, not only would I be a widow in all but name, I would also be an object of ridicule. Is this what you call a ’good match,’ Grandmother?"

Exposed so directly, the old madam’s face darkened.

Seeing her reaction, Ji Qingwu knew this wasn’t new information to her grandmother—she had known all along. At that realization, Ji Qingwu’s heart went completely cold.

She stood up and said coldly, "Grandmother, you needn’t trouble yourself with my marriage."

Seeing her get up to leave, Old Madam Ji’s voice became shrill and hoarse.

"Your surname is Ji! You have the blood of the Ji Family in your veins! Don’t think you can pull any tricks just because you have your mother and your maternal family to back you up! As long as I am still in the Ji Family, I will not approve your marriage! I don’t care who your husband’s family is, you can forget about getting married!"

After her outburst, Old Madam Ji devolved into a fit of coughing and gasping. As long as she was alive, she would obstruct Ji Qingwu’s marriage. As long as Qingwu refused to yield, they could remain at this stalemate indefinitely.

Nanny Feng heard the commotion and hurried in from outside, rushing to the side of the couch.

"Old Madam, you’re already unwell, how can you get so angry? Fifth Missy, how can you be so thoughtless? Apologize to the Old Madam at once."

Ji Qingwu stood at the doorway, her figure slender and graceful. She glanced back at the old madam on the couch.

A bright smile returned to her lips.

"Grandmother, please take good care of your health. Just you wait. Your granddaughter will find a husband whose family you can neither stop nor hinder. I will have a magnificent wedding."

*

「Three days passed in a flash.」

Wei Chi Lianping had been so busy these past few days he was practically run off his feet. He knew how to prioritize and always put military affairs first.

Only on this morning, just before departing for the campaign, did he sacrifice his sleep, making time to return to the Princess Mansion as the sky was just beginning to lighten. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

He pushed open the door to the main chamber. Layer upon layer of gauze curtains obscured the figure of the woman on the bed. He parted them one by one and walked in.

Princess Hua Chang had been sleeping poorly for the past few days, waking up several times each night.

When she groggily opened her eyes, she saw a large, dark face magnified before her, staring. No matter how refined her upbringing, she couldn’t stop herself from letting out a sharp scream.

The maids outside rushed in and lit the candles.

Only then did Princess Hua Chang see clearly who the man was, leaning against the bedframe with his arms crossed.

She closed her eyes, suppressing her temper. "Get out."

The maids bowed their heads and retreated from the room.

Princess Hua Chang said through clenched teeth, "You, get out too."

But Wei Chi Lianping didn’t move. He stared at her intently, his gaze almost greedy, as if he would never see her again.

"Eldest Princess, in another hour, I will be leaving for the Northern Border. Are you happy?"