Chapter 389: Tagging Along! A Sudden Accident

The voice came from behind her.

Ji Qingwu clutched her chest, startled.

’But I’ve been in here packing, walking back and forth several times at least. How did I not notice a whole other person in here?’

He hadn’t left.

He was still by her side.

’But only for a little while...’

Outside, the sky was growing dark, and no lamps were lit in the room.

Yet, to Ji Qingwu, it felt as if his entire being was glowing.

She bit her lip. A wave of joy washed over her first, followed quickly by annoyance.

Ji Qingwu suppressed it. She had just been reflecting on her own behavior. ’I have to speak properly,’ she thought, ’especially when we’re about to part. If I wait until there’s no chance left, I’ll regret it forever.’

"Why haven’t you left yet?"

The moment the words left her mouth, Ji Qingwu pressed her lips together tightly.

She hadn’t meant to sound like she was chasing him away, but the words came out that way. She was even more furious with herself.

Zhao Mingyan saw her expression and thought she was still angry.

"If I had left, how would I have been able to see Ah Wu’s vivid expressions, or hear Ah Wu’s true feelings?"

’What true feelings?’

Ji Qingwu furrowed her brow and said, "I have no desire to be the Empress Dowager."

Zhao Mingyan said bluntly, "I won’t give you that chance. At least, not within the next fourteen years."

’Fourteen years... Why such a specific number?’

Zhao Mingyan looked at the large bundle on the table and asked, "What are you packing all this for?"

Seeing his infuriating, feigned ignorance, Ji Qingwu replied, "Since Your Majesty is off to attend to your great affairs, I shall go fulfill my own aspirations. I’m going to travel and see the great mountains and rivers, and if I happen to find something I like—"

Zhao Mingyan’s face darkened. His brow lowered, and he asked in a voice that was the calm before a storm,

"Like what?"

Ji Qingwu’s brow smoothed out as she said, "Of course, if I find a place I like, I’ll settle down there."

Zhao Mingyan’s expression relaxed slightly, but his voice was grave. "Settle down? You will not."

"And why not?"

Ji Qingwu didn’t break down and cry in front of him like before.

Instead, she smiled and said, "Your Majesty can just go lead your campaign. I’ll take the opportunity to enjoy a few leisurely days. With Your Majesty gone, you won’t be able to control me."

She added confidently, "Even Your Majesty’s Hidden Guards can’t stop me. I’ll always find a way to get out."

Zhao Mingyan shattered her fantasy. "Every one of them has superior martial arts to you. Stopping you would be easy."

"Oh?" Ji Qingwu said, her tone questioning.

"Does Your Majesty not remember? You’ve already gifted Si Hai to me. But even if Your Majesty sends more men, it will be useless."

Ji Qingwu took a few steps forward, drawing closer to him.

"If I try to force my way out, heedless of my own life, they would never dare to stop me. Because..."

Zhao Mingyan raised an eyebrow, his gaze fixed on her lips, waiting to see what "outrageous words" would come from them next.

Ji Qingwu smiled, her full, supple lips, like peach petals, curving into a tantalizing arc.

She raised her hand to his chest, stroking it gently, again and again.

Her voice was soft and gentle, with a sweet, lingering lilt at the end of her words.

"Because if they hurt me, they would be committing a grave crime. Because Your Majesty couldn’t bear to see me injured. Because I have a place in Your Majesty’s heart, the people under you would naturally not dare to stop me."

After a long moment, Zhao Mingyan let out a long sigh.

His expression cold and grave, he said, "You know everything, don’t you?"

But Ji Qingwu was not the least bit afraid of this look on him now.

She rested her head on his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, and poked a finger at the spot over his heart.

"If you can rest easy, then go."

She was speaking to his heart.

Zhao Mingyan seized her fidgeting fingers, enclosing them one by one in his palm.

"It listens to you."

He couldn’t bear to see her cry.

’It all listens to me?’

Ji Qingwu forcibly suppressed the smile that threatened to bloom on her lips, but she couldn’t hide the triumphant joy in her eyes.

"And what about Your Majesty?"

A faint blush crept up the tips of Zhao Mingyan’s ears. He pinched her chin and gave it a little shake.

"You’re so pleased with yourself your tail is about to reach the heavens."

Ji Qingwu pressed, "Then will you allow this tail to follow you?"

Zhao Mingyan’s expression softened. "Rest at home for a while first. See if there’s anything else you need to pack. Someone will come to the back gate to pick you up at 9 p.m."

His fingers moved up to pinch her cheek.

"And use your Disguise Technique."

He had to do everything possible to keep her identity from being exposed.

"I will have someone disguise themselves as you to stay in Wutong Garden, so no outsiders will notice. But you still need to inform the trustworthy people in your household."

Listening to his meticulous arrangements, Ji Qingwu stood up straight.

"Yes, sir!"

Zhao Mingyan was utterly defenseless against this side of her. He bent down and pressed a kiss to her lips.

Ji Qingwu remembered something and quickly said, "What about Yuan Heng and Jiu Jiu in the palace..."

Zhao Mingyan said, "Rest assured, there will be absolutely no accidents this time."

Knowing they would see each other again in four hours, Ji Qingwu didn’t try to keep the Emperor any longer. She waved him goodbye, and the two went their separate ways to get busy.

Ji Qingwu rummaged around the room, checking if there was anything else she needed to bring. She suddenly slapped her thigh, jogged out of the room, and went into the small courtyard garden.

Because Emperor Wu Su had been injured before, Ji Qingwu had practically "looted" the garden of its medicinal herbs. Now, it looked like a neglected plot.

But there was one lone sprout left.

It looked unremarkable, with long, blade-like leaves, but Ji Qingwu knew just how potent its medicinal properties were.

’This might come in handy,’ she thought.

Ji Qingwu found a waterproof bag and placed the delicate, fragile-looking sprout inside.

After doing all this, Ji Qingwu’s luggage was finally packed.

It wasn’t even 7 p.m. yet, so there was plenty of time. It was the perfect opportunity to go to Anju Garden and discuss things with Mrs. Qiao.

Just as Ji Qingwu stepped out the door, she saw Mrs. Qiao pushing open the courtyard gate. Her steps were hurried, leaving her two maids far behind.

"Xiao Wu!"

Ji Qingwu froze. ’Could it be? Does Mother already know I’m going to the border with the army? That was fast!’

However, Mrs. Qiao was usually composed. This time, her steps were rushed, and her face was a mask of clear panic.

Ji Qingwu hurried down the steps to meet her.

"Mother, do you know..."

"Xiao Wu."

Mrs. Qiao grabbed her arm and started pulling her away. "Something has happened to your eldest sister. Come with me to Duke Zhongyong’s Mansion right now."

’Something happened to Ji Qingrong?’ For Mrs. Qiao to put it like that, it must be something serious. ’What could happen to Eldest Sister? It’s most likely related to the baby in her womb.’

She wasn’t wrong. Mrs. Qiao said, "Qingrong is going into labor!"

Ji Qingwu’s steps faltered for a moment.

The last time Ji Bo Lian came home, she had checked her eldest sister’s pulse. The baby was fine, and the due date was still a month away. Why would she suddenly go into premature labor?

She squeezed Mrs. Qiao’s hand reassuringly. "Mother, don’t worry. I’m here. Eldest Sister will definitely be fine. I’m faster on my feet, so I’ll go on ahead."

Ji Qingwu turned to a nearby maid. "Chunhua, accompany Mother and walk slowly. Don’t rush."

Just then, Ji Bo Lian also hurried over, throwing on an outer robe. He seemed to have come from the direction of the study.

He had also just received the news. "Ru Ying, what’s wrong with Qingrong?" he asked.

Behind Mrs. Qiao, a maidservant was kneeling on the ground, sobbing as she spoke...