Chapter 396: Bridge to Bridge, Road to Road

Lu Juan said, "There are still matters at the palace. I must trouble you, Father-in-law and Mother-in-law, to take Qingrong home."

Mrs. Qiao froze, not understanding what her son-in-law meant. ’Has he truly cast our eldest daughter aside because of this...?’

"That’s not enough!"

A voice as crisp and clear as pearls rang out.

"And why should I listen to you?"

A scroll had appeared in Ji Qingwu’s hand.

She walked up to Lu Juan. With a twist of three slender, pale fingers, she deftly twirled the scroll.

Lu Juan’s expression shifted several times as he gradually made out what she was holding.

He knew what it was from the brilliant red of the silk and the painted dragon and phoenix.

This was the first time Lu Juan had been stunned for so long.

Ji Qingwu’s lips curved into a slight smile. "Mr. Lu," she said, "on this matter, do I get the final say?"

Lu Juan rose to his feet and bowed with his hands clasped.

"...You may."

The Cui Family’s eyes widened. "Ziyou, what are you saying?!"

Lu Juan’s gaze moved from the scroll to Ji Qingwu’s face. "Regarding how to handle this," he said, "may we speak in private?"

Ji Qingwu also found the bickering from the Cui Family and Feng Shuang tiresome. For every one thing she tried to say to Lu Juan, they would retort with several of their own.

She nodded. "Of course, as long as the proposed arrangement is to my satisfaction."

The Cui Family and the others still didn’t know what Ji Qingwu was holding.

Feng Shuang sneered, "Let’s hope it’s not some piece of trash she’s treating like a royal decree."

But Mrs. Qiao and Ji Bo Lian knew what that scroll was. It had once frightened the entire Ji Family out of their wits.

Mrs. Qiao retorted, "It’s something you, with a head full of chicken feathers, wouldn’t even dare to dream of."

’Her Xiao Wu has the destiny of a phoenix.’

Ji Qingwu and Lu Juan moved outside.

The moon was at its zenith.

Gazing at the yellow orb overhead, Ji Qingwu was suddenly reminded of another shade of brilliant yellow. She caressed the imperial edict in her hands.

Her heart ached with a bitter pang. ’What is he doing right now?’ she couldn’t help but wonder. ’Is he galloping furiously on his horse, or feigning sleep in his carriage?’

Lu Juan saw she was silent and said in a low voice, "This subject greets..."

Ji Qingwu snapped back to reality and quickly stopped him. "It hasn’t been announced to the realm yet. There’s no need for such courtesy, Mr. Lu. Let’s get straight to the point."

Lu Juan stared at the scroll in her hand, his expression complex.

The matter of appointing an empress had the court officials in an uproar, and the topic was brought up for debate in court almost every few days.

But Emperor Wu Su clearly had someone in mind all along, yet he hadn’t revealed a single hint.

His eyes shifted. ’No wonder the Emperor was summoning his ministers to the Diligent Governance Hall with Fifth Sister’s little daughter in tow these past few days.’

’He’s been planning to become a stepfather all along.’

Lu Juan said, "In that case, I will continue to address you as Fifth Sister."

"Call me what you will," Ji Qingwu said. "My older sister nearly died in childbirth, yet Mr. Lu remains indecisive and incapable of settling his own household affairs."

In the dim light of the night, Lu Juan could not conceal his exhaustion. "The Emperor trusts you, Fifth Sister, and is willing to grant you the position of Empress. I won’t hide this from you: all the major affairs of the palace have fallen upon my shoulders. I am spread too thin. But since I have accepted this great responsibility..."

Ji Qingwu heard the gravity in his tone and guessed what he was about to say.

Lu Juan sighed. "I must prioritize the affairs of the state."

"I can only rest easy if you take Qingrong home. I cannot stay by her side all the time."

Lu Juan’s original plan was to have the Ji Family be the ones to suggest taking Ji Qingrong home, so he would have a free hand to do his work.

"Once I’ve handled the matters at hand, I will sever ties with the Duke Zhongyong’s Mansion. From then on, the Marquis Mansion will be its own affair, and Qingrong and I will have our own home. I swear she will never suffer such pain again."

Ji Qingwu stared at him, as if trying to judge whether his words could be trusted.

’Lu Juan drawing a clear line with the Duke Zhongyong’s Mansion, for them to go their separate ways...’

’That’s actually a good solution.’

Lu Juan continued, "After we separate from the family, I will request to be removed from the ancestral registry. The Marquis Mansion can fend for itself; I will no longer concern myself with it. Qingrong will never have to see my mother again. Today will be the last time they ever see each other."

’For her own son to abandon the title of Princely Heir and have his name struck from the family registry... now *that* would be the ultimate humiliation for the Cui Family.’

"As for Feng Shuang, that’s even easier to handle. No need to do it out in the open. My second brother, Lu Wei, has a favored mistress. We’ll find an excuse to bring her into the family. He’s enough of a scoundrel to do something like demoting his wife to a concubine."

’Difficult or not... it all depends on Lu Juan’s scheming.’

Ji Qingwu’s expression finally returned to its usual composure.

"Talk is cheap. As long as your household affairs remain unsettled, my older sister will remain at our home."

Her eyes gleaming, she added a threat, "If you fail to handle it, I will take matters into my own hands."

"Very well," Lu Juan said. "In the meantime, I must ask you to take good care of Qingrong, Fifth Sister."

Ji Qingwu’s eyes glinted. "So, what you mean, Mr. Lu, is that I should look after your wife and child for free?"

Lu Juan was a sharp man. "In the future, if there is ever anything you need me for, just come and find me. I will surely repay the kindness you’ve shown me today, Fifth Sister."

Ji Qingwu nodded. "But I can’t look after her for too long. At most..."

Thinking about what was to come, she continued, "At most, until my older sister is out of her month of confinement. In any case, nothing will happen to her while she’s staying with the Ji Family."

"That’s fine as well," Lu Juan said. "After some time, I’ll be able to find time to see Qingrong."

"Then it’s settled for now," Ji Qingwu said.

"Fifth Sister."

Ji Qingwu didn’t turn around. "No need to thank me. She’s my eldest sister too."

Lu Juan paused for a moment before saying hesitantly, "Fifth Sister, I have something else to ask you."

Ji Qingwu turned her head. "What is it?"

Lu Juan asked, "...Is it a son or a daughter?"

Ji Qingwu was left speechless.

’To think that Mr. Lu doesn’t even know if his own child is a boy or a girl.’

Her expression was indescribable. "You were in the room with my older sister for nearly an hour, and you never asked if you had a son or a daughter?"

"I forgot," Lu Juan said.

He truly had forgotten.

His mind, for once, was in a fog. He had been completely focused on checking if Ah Rong was all right, comforting her with soft, sweet words.

He hadn’t even noticed the infant nearby; he had completely forgotten that his child had even been born.

Ji Qingwu raised an eyebrow. "I’m not telling you. If you want to know, you’ll have to come to the clinic and see for yourself."

Lu Juan’s heart felt as if it were being scratched by tiny claws.

’This Fifth Sister... she’s really something else...’

But when he thought of how Emperor Wu Su had placed the title of Empress right into Ji Qingwu’s hands, he could only shake his head in resignation.

’Even the Emperor is wrapped around her finger. What chance do I have?’

Coming to this realization, Lu Juan also breathed a sigh of relief.

The moonlight that night was brilliant, as brilliant as Ji Qingwu’s eyes, and it made one feel that the future was full of hope.

’As long as we can endure this period and wait for the Emperor’s return, everything will be alright.’

*

When Ji Qingwu returned to the main hall, all eyes converged on her once more.

The scroll in her hand drew the attention of the Cui Family and Feng Shuang.

The Cui Family’s gaze had been glued to the scroll ever since Ji Qingwu entered the room, and she too had realized something was amiss.

As if afraid she wouldn’t notice, Ji Qingwu kindly walked closer, allowing the Cui Family a clearer view.