Chapter 381: You Should Be Thankful That Your Granddaughter’s Surname Is Ji

But his gaze still made Ji Qingwu’s back tense.

She turned her head away, raising her sleeve to discreetly wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes.

Li Yuzong handed the gift box he was carrying to Ji Bo Lian and retreated to the doorway, blocking Ji Qingyuan from entering as well.

The Emperor’s arrival made the atmosphere in the room tense.

The Emperor said he was here to visit Old Madam Ji, so it wouldn’t do to have the ailing old woman move.

But they couldn’t have the Emperor stand while he spoke, so servants tiptoed in with chairs.

However, Old Madam Ji’s bedchamber, designed to be restorative and calming, was not spacious. After the chairs were brought in, it felt rather cramped.

As a result, everyone was seated very close together.

According to seniority, Ji Qingwu was the last to be seated, so by the time it was her turn, she was left with the only remaining spot.

She blinked, stared at the only empty seat, and sat down, the pressure mounting.

The reason was simple: the empty seat was directly across from the Emperor.

Everyone sat ramrod straight, and even the old woman propped up in bed was no exception. Only Emperor Wu Su was at ease, one long leg stretched out so far it nearly touched the hem of Ji Qingwu’s skirt.

Ji Qingwu glanced left and right. There was truly no room to move, so she could only tuck her feet in as much as possible.

Ji Bo Lian sat to Emperor Wu Su’s side. As the Family Head of the Ji Family, he was the first to speak. "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty," he said respectfully. "My mother’s illness is nothing serious. Your subject is deeply grateful for your imperial grace."

The old woman’s previous anger vanished, replaced by a benevolent smile. "This old one thanks Your Majesty for visiting. It’s just an old ailment of mine. I’m quite all right now."

Zhao Mingyan said coolly, "As long as it’s not serious."

Everyone quickly chimed in with a few words of agreement, and the room soon fell silent again.

’Old Madam Ji’s illness came on so suddenly. Why would the Emperor care about her health? He was clearly here for something else and just happened to find the old woman sick, using her as an excuse.’

But no one dared to ask.

The one person who might have dared had no intention of doing so.

Ji Qingwu kept her head down, fiddling with her fingers, nearly twisting them into knots.

Zhao Mingyan’s gaze swept over the crown of her head, and he deigned to speak again.

"When I arrived at the door, I heard you mention selling out a brother. For what benefit? And you mentioned Prince Yong?"

Everyone’s expression stiffened.

It was exactly what they had feared.

Ji Bo Lian’s brow furrowed, his expression turning bitter. They had only said a few words, and the Emperor had heard it all.

He shot the old woman a glare. ’A slip of the tongue is worse than taking the wrong medicine. She should have just slept longer instead of stirring up this disaster!’

Ji Bo Lian said carefully, "Your Majesty, my mother is ill and was speaking nonsense. Please, don’t take her words to heart."

Zhao Mingyan raised his eyes, their upward tilt sharp and severe.

"It sounds to me as though Old Madam Ji is suffering from a heavy heart. If Prince Yong has done something to cause her such distress that it has manifested as an illness, you must tell me. I am his elder brother, after all."

Ji Bo Lian assured him, "It has nothing to do with the Prince. Your subject and my family have overstepped. We will be more prudent with our words and actions in the future."

Zhao Mingyan glanced at him. "Mr. Ji," he said, "I was asking Old Madam Ji."

His tone was light, but it carried an unquestionable air of authority.

Ji Bo Lian immediately fell silent.

Old Madam Ji’s heart was uneasy. She took a deep breath and said, "Your Majesty, this old one did indeed mention the Prince. There was an old matter I wished to ask Qingwu about. I did not intend to cause any offense."

Zhao Mingyan let out a long, drawn-out "Oh?" "What matter might that be?" he asked. "Why don’t you tell me? Perhaps I’m already aware of it."

Old Madam Ji knew the Emperor must be aware of the matter. Thinking of the punishment Ji Changyan had endured, she steeled herself and decided to ask.

"It’s just—"

Ji Bo Lian let out a sudden, fierce cough.

The sound was so violent it seemed to tear through the air. Ji Qingwu’s own windpipe ached in sympathy for her father.

Old Madam Ji was cut off.

Ji Changlin’s mind worked fast. He said, "Your Majesty, what my grandmother actually wanted to say was that Qingwu once had a dispute with Princess Yong. The brother she mentioned was me. Qingwu and I like to bicker and joke around, that’s all."

He understood his father’s intention, of course, and was trying to help him deflect.

’To complain about Prince Yong in front of the Emperor, and to bring up Chang Yan’s matter again... Did they think the Ji Family’s position wasn’t precarious enough?’

Ji Changlin offered a faint smile. "It’s all ancient history, not worth bringing up before Your Majesty and soiling your ears."

Zhao Mingyan’s expression grew cold, his words laced with sarcasm. "What are you, a mind reader? You even know what she wants to say. If you can read minds, perhaps you can tell what I am thinking?"

’You’re thinking of sending me back to the Nanchu Embassy,’ Ji Changlin thought.

But he didn’t dare say any more, quickly lowering his head, defeated.

Mrs. Qiao, seated to Ji Qingwu’s right, gave her a gentle kick as the men spoke. In this situation, the only one who could possibly say anything was Xiao Wu.

Ji Qingwu turned her head slightly, her face wrinkled in a frown, and mouthed back, ’I’m scared too.’

’But in reality, she just didn’t want to get involved.’

’Since Old Mrs. Ji was so insistent on asking, and the Emperor was right here, she didn’t need to worry about it anymore.’

’She was actually curious to hear how Emperor Wu Su would respond.’

Old Madam Ji did not disappoint Ji Qingwu’s expectations. She was stubborn to the end, her old eyes filled with tears.

"Your Majesty, this old one will not hide it from you, as I know I cannot hide it anyway. My grandson from the second branch, Chang Yan, has been obedient and sensible since he was a child. He committed a grave error and is indeed guilty, but this old one thinks there may be extenuating circumstances."

The old lady looked at Ji Qingwu, her eyes filled with unconcealable resentment.

"That night, Qingwu was also present, but she refuses to say what happened. This old one wants to understand before I die."

As Zhao Mingyan listened, an icy coldness seeped into his expression.

Seeing this, the old lady’s heart grew cold with fear. Only the pillow behind her back kept her from collapsing.

A cold, emotionless curve lifted Zhao Mingyan’s lips. "Old Madam," he said, "are you crying injustice for your grandson? And because of this, you’ve come to resent your granddaughter?"

Old Madam Ji kowtowed on the bed, pleading mournfully, "I beg Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate this matter."

The faces of the Ji men turned grim. They knew what that look on Emperor Wu Su’s face meant: it was a sign of his impending wrath.

Hearing the old lady ask for a thorough investigation, the room fell silent. Ji Qingwu quietly raised her eyes, wanting to see the Emperor’s reaction.

Only to meet his gaze.

Catching the glint that sparked deep in his eyes, she immediately looked away, her heart pounding with fear.

’He came to the Ji Family with an ulterior motive.’

Ji Qingwu suddenly had a... very bad feeling.

Zhao Mingyan leaned forward slightly, speaking in the most nonchalant tone, "Old Madam, you should be thankful that your granddaughter is a Ji."

"Because of her, I chose to be lenient."

His words were not direct, but they were clear enough for everyone to understand.

The Emperor had shown mercy for the grave crime Ji Changyan committed and had not implicated the rest of the Ji Family, all because of Ji Qingwu.

But as for the specific reason *why*, each person had their own suspicions...

Ji Qingwu’s bad feeling was spot-on.

Her eyes darted nervously, her lashes fluttering. She took a sharp breath, her gaze fixed on his thin lips as they moved.