In her anxiety, the Empress Dowager felt her words had been too harsh.

The Ji Family had no one else to rely on at the moment, and this niece of hers was at least calm and composed in the face of trouble.

Before leaving, the Empress Dowager made a point to explain.

"During this morning’s court session, an official from the Astronomical Bureau accused you of bringing harm to the imperial heir. To avoid any bad luck, the Emperor might be unwilling to see you. You are to wait for news here in Cining Palace."

Ji Qingwu wasn’t the least bit hurt by the Empress Dowager’s words. She simply smiled, nodded, and respectfully saw the Empress Dowager off.

After they left, she sat down again.

Outside, the sky had already darkened. It was nearly time for the evening meal.

After an afternoon of hard labor—digging earth and burying medicine—Ji Qingwu’s stomach had started growling long ago.

She could only drink a few more cups of tea, filling her stomach with water to tide her over.

Shixi had gone with the Empress Dowager and the others. A few palace maids remained in the hall, along with Aunt Fanghua, who stood near the entrance.

The moment Ji Qingwu glanced in her direction, Fanghua seemed to sense it and walked over.

She said softly, "I have prepared some snacks for you, Fifth Missy. It is already late, and it’s uncertain when the Empress Dowager will return. Would you care for some?"

’Such attentiveness to the needs of her superiors... she truly lives up to her reputation as a teacher who has instructed many concubines and young mistresses in the palace for years.’

But Fanghua was, after all, the head attendant in the Empress Dowager’s palace. It wouldn’t be right for Ji Qingwu to order her around.

She politely refused, "There’s no need to trouble you, Aunt. The Empress Dowager and the others are running themselves ragged over my father’s affairs. I couldn’t possibly indulge myself here alone."

Fanghua glanced at the surrounding palace maids, then took something from her robes and pressed it into Ji Qingwu’s hand.

Surprised, Ji Qingwu looked down. It was the same kind of sugar cake that Jiu Jiu had once brought her, wrapped in the same familiar paper.

’This...’

’Aunt Fanghua is...’

Fanghua’s expression betrayed nothing unusual. She raised her voice and said, "Fifth Missy, if you wish to change your clothes, please follow me."

Ji Qingwu played along and followed her to a washroom in a side hall, watching as Fanghua closed the door.

Once they were alone, she stood still and asked, "Aunt, you brought me here for a reason. Does *that person* have a message for me?"

Fanghua curtsied. "You are wise, Fifth Missy. My master instructed me to pass on a message if you came to Cining Palace."

Ji Qingwu already had a feeling. "Is it about my father?"

Fanghua said, "Precisely. Please rest assured, Mr. Ji is fine."

She wasn’t surprised that the Emperor had planted someone by the Empress Dowager’s side. But for that informant to be the Empress Dowager’s most trusted attendant, who had been serving her since their days in the Marquis Yong’an Mansion... that was unexpected.

’Emperor Wu Su has revealed his trump card within the Empress Dowager’s circle to me. Isn’t he afraid I’ll tell the Empress Dowager?’

She was a daughter of the Ji Family, after all.

From the Emperor’s words and actions during her first visit to the palace, she had sensed that he disliked the women of the Ji Family and had no desire for a Miss Ji to enter the palace as a concubine. That was the reason for his verbal decree.

Through this act, Ji Qingwu truly felt the Emperor’s trust in her.

It was no longer just flirtatious words. He was now demonstrating through concrete action that his secrets could be shared with her.

It made her begin to feel certain that she held a significant place in the Emperor’s heart.

Ji Qingwu opened her palm, gently unwrapped the paper from the sugar cake, and raised it to her lips, savoring it in small bites.

It was sweet and soft, and the taste seemed to have a subtle difference from usual.

Although Ji Qingwu ate slowly, the sugar cake was small and gone in a moment.

She lowered her gaze, the faint sweetness still lingering on the tip of her tongue.

She licked her lips. For the first time, she felt a little jealous of Jiu Jiu for getting so many sugar cakes.

*

The Empress Dowager first went to Zhaoyang Hall, but the Palace Attendants at the entrance said the Holy Emperor had not yet returned to his bedchambers.

They then rushed over to the Diligent Governance Hall.

The Diligent Governance Hall was brightly lit. Several high-ranking court ministers had arrived and were discussing matters within. Emperor Wu Su had no time to receive them.

Li Yuzong was serving inside the hall, while Little Dongzi was assigned to guard the entrance.

He first glanced behind them. The Empress Dowager, thinking Little Dongzi was looking at Old Madam Ji and Mrs. Qiao, said imperiously, "I have urgent business with His Majesty."

The little eunuch put on a placating smile and tried to persuade the Empress Dowager at the door.

"Your Highness, please return for now. His Majesty is discussing state affairs with the ministers. It will be at least another hour or two. The hour is late and the night air is chilly. Please take care of your health, Your Highness."

The Empress Dowager couldn’t very well linger there for too long either.

The inner palace was forbidden from interfering in politics. Even as the Empress Dowager, appearing unsummoned in a hall where matters of the outer court were being discussed would inevitably give the Imperial Censors of the Imperial Censorate an opening to criticize her.

The Empress Dowager waited for about ten minutes before losing her patience. She said, "When His Majesty is finished, tell him that I was here."

Little Dongzi replied with the utmost respect, "This servant will certainly pass on the message. A respectful farewell to the Empress Dowager."

’If the Empress Dowager had brought Fifth Miss Ji with her,’ Little Dongzi thought as he watched them leave, shaking his head slightly, ’His Majesty might have made an exception and agreed to see them.’

Ji Qingwu didn’t have to wait long before the Empress Dowager and her party returned to Cining Palace.

’They were sent back so quickly?’ she thought in surprise. ’What exactly did Emperor Wu Su say?’

The Empress Dowager said nothing, so Ji Qingwu waited in silence.

Seeing the obvious worry on Mrs. Qiao’s face, she knew things hadn’t gone well. They probably hadn’t even managed to see the Emperor.

Silence hung in the room for a long time before the Empress Dowager finally spoke. "Mother, and you, First Madam, will stay in the palace for the night. After His Majesty concludes court tomorrow, I will go again personally."

Old Madam Ji was of the same mind. They wouldn’t be able to rest well even if they went back, and if news arrived in the middle of the night, they would learn of it sooner this way.

The Empress Dowager was also exhausted from the whole ordeal. "Fanghua," she said, "take Old Madam and the others to rest first. If there’s any news, come to the main hall to discuss it."

Accommodations were naturally arranged according to seniority, with Old Madam Ji first and Ji Qingwu last.

Fanghua led Ji Qingwu to a room in the most secluded corner of the palace, the two of them having to make several turns to get there. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"Fifth Missy, you will rest here tonight. A Palace Attendant will bring in everything you need shortly. Please leave the door unlocked."

"Thank you, Aunt Fanghua."

Ji Qingwu walked to a round table carved with openwork lingzhi mushrooms and sat down. ’Since the Emperor specifically sent someone to tell me Mr. Ji is fine, he must be able to protect Ji Bo Lian.’

She had nothing to worry about.

Just then, she heard the sound of the door being pushed open. Ji Qingwu’s heart stirred.

She looked up to see two Maids in palace maid attire, holding items for her to settle in for the night. Behind them, a eunuch carried in hot water for a bath.

Ji Qingwu said gently, "Just put those things down and leave. I don’t need anyone to attend to me."

After the Palace Attendants closed the door and left, a flicker of disappointment appeared in Ji Qingwu’s eyes.

But the feeling quickly vanished.

She picked up the fresh change of clothes from the table and walked toward the screen, removing the white jade hairpin from her head as she went. Her long hair cascaded down her back, the ends dancing lightly in the air.

She untied her dress and hung it, piece by piece, on the wooden clothes rack beside her.

Just as she was down to her undergarments, she suddenly felt a gust of wind behind her, sending a chill down her spine.