Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Is the Emperor That Worried About Her?

Ji Qingyuan glared at her malevolently. "You have the nerve to come to Third Brother’s mourning hall and offer incense?! He’s dead because of you."

In the days since Ji Changyan’s... incident, her mother, Ms. Wu, had seemed to lose her mind. Even Old Madam Ji, who doted on her most, had fallen ill.

Within a single month, the second branch of the family had fallen into such a state of decline.

But for the mother and daughter of the first branch, everything was as usual. Their lives were comfortable, and even at Ji Changyan’s funeral, their faces showed no sign of grief.

Ji Qingyuan said hatefully, "How could the Ji Family have someone as cold-blooded as you!"

Ji Qingwu saw the deep resentment in her cousin’s eyes and frowned. ’The dead deserve respect,’ she thought, ’I don’t want to start a fight here.’ 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

She relaxed her shoulders, intending to appease her and let the matter drop.

But Ji Qingyuan suddenly rushed in front of her and grabbed her by the arm.

"Your silence is an admission of guilt, isn’t it?" she said relentlessly. "What exactly happened that night? Why was Third Brother taken away? Don’t even think about leaving until you give me a clear explanation."

She produced a knife from somewhere and brandished it in front of Ji Qingwu.

But before Ji Qingyuan could utter a threat, a sharp pain shot through her wrist. Someone delivered a swift chop to her arm, and the dagger was sent clattering to the ground.

Ji Qingwu didn’t even have time to register what it felt like to have a knife at her throat.

The scene that unfolded before her stunned Ji Qingwu once more.

The person had appeared in an instant and vanished just as quickly, as fast as a black bolt of lightning.

She looked at Ji Qingyuan, whose face was twisted in pain, and said, "No matter what happened that night, it’s a fact that Ji Changyan murdered an Imperial Censor. The Emperor didn’t blame the Ji Family for it. You weren’t exiled to the Northern Land, and you’re still able to enjoy a life of luxury. You should be grateful."

Having been kept out of the whole affair, Ji Qingwu understood why Emperor Wu Su had acted as he did. ’He confined me to my quarters. On the surface, it was a punishment, but in reality, it was a form of protection for me.’

’My own cousin tried to send me to Prince Yong’s bed. Though I was the victim, vicious rumors can destroy a person. Even if nothing had happened, my reputation would have been utterly ruined.’

’When Old Madam Ji returned to the mansion from the palace, she never asked what had truly happened that night. The old madam understood that the Emperor’s actions had been swift and ruthless, and that there were probably other reasons behind it.’

’At this point, knowing too much would only attract more trouble.’

But the second branch was still left with the simple-minded yet bold Ji Qingyuan, who had charged right up to Ji Qingwu to demand answers.

Ji Qingyuan was sweating from the pain, her voice hoarse as she asked, "Who was that just now?"

Ji Qingwu picked up the dagger from the floor and, seeing the panic in her cousin’s eyes, walked toward her.

She patted Ji Qingyuan’s cheek with the flat of the blade.

Her voice, however, was soft and gentle. "Fourth Sister, do you really want to know what happened that night? And do you still want to know who that person was just now?"

The cold steel against her face sent a bone-deep chill through Ji Qingyuan. She shivered, forcing herself not to back away, her lips trembling.

Ji Qingwu continued, "But knowing means you won’t be able to live. Since you’re so eager to find out, so eager to seek justice for Third Brother, why don’t you go down and keep him company?"

"I’ll tell you right now."

As she spoke, she leaned closer to her cousin’s ear.

Ji Qingyuan was nothing but a paper tiger. She was already too terrified to speak. Enduring the pain in her wrist, she clapped her hands over her ears and shook her head frantically.

"I... I don’t... I don’t want to hear it..."

Ji Qingwu glanced at the gleaming knife in her hand.

A resigned smile touched the corners of her lips. In truth, the dagger hadn’t even been sharpened. It was just a small, jewel-encrusted ornamental knife, too dull to even peel an apple.

’This Fourth Sister of mine,’ she mused, ’always causes trouble right to my face.’

’Her malice is so predictable it saves me a lot of trouble.’

’But that dark figure just now... I wonder if it was Sanchuan or Si Hai. My confinement has been lifted, but are they still with me? Is Emperor Wu Su that worried about me?’

Ji Qingyuan watched as Ji Qingwu looked down and smiled, then, seemingly in a good mood, thrust the knife back into her hand.

Then, she left her with a parting word and departed.

Ji Qingyuan stood rooted to the spot, mulling over her younger cousin’s words.

"You don’t even know if a blade has been sharpened. How can you possibly see whether a person’s heart is good or evil? Forget it. I won’t stoop to your level."

Now, not only was Ji Qingyuan’s wrist throbbing with pain, but her face had also turned beet-red, and her chest felt tight enough to burst with fury.

But she didn’t dare try to stop her again.

After the funeral, the Ji Mansion was quiet for a few days. But since the deceased was a junior family member who had died young after committing a major crime, the mourning hall was dismantled after only a few days of remembrance.

Life in the Ji Mansion soon returned to normal.

*

The nation of Beili revered martial prowess.

Every year, one or two grand mounted archery competitions were held. This year’s was set to take place at the royal Mulan Hunting Ground.

However, the date was much earlier than usual. It was said that the Emperor himself had proposed and finalized it.

The noble ladies from various families who were skilled in horsemanship and archery were eagerly rubbing their hands together, planning to put on a fine display at the competition.

When Ji Qingwu went to Anju Garden that morning, Mrs. Qiao had specifically mentioned the event to her. Ji Qingwu’s own hands were itching to participate, but she felt she ought to keep a low profile and hadn’t decided whether to sign up.

But when she returned to Wutong Garden, she found a new set of items on her table.

It was a complete riding outfit in a dark red fabric, embroidered with a golden pattern of interlocking lotuses.

There was a jacket, breeches, an outer skirt, a veiled hat, and even a full set of horse tack. Unlike anything she had worn before, this outfit was ornate and dignified, with exquisitely fine details.

As to who had sent it so secretly, a flicker of understanding shone in Ji Qingwu’s eyes. She already had an answer in her heart.

「A few days passed in the blink of an eye.」

The grand mounted archery competition always began with Emperor Wu Su personally taking the field to shoot the formidable first arrow.

Emperor Wu Su stood on a high platform directly in front of the target. He wore a suit of silver armor that glittered under the light, making him appear all the more valiant and extraordinary.

From her seat in the side stands, Ji Qingwu felt her palms begin to sweat. The high platform was a good several dozen meters from the target; from her position, she couldn’t even make out the rings of the bullseye.

’To shoot an arrow with everyone watching, and to be required to hit the mark without the slightest deviation...’

Emperor Wu Su nocked an arrow, effortlessly drawing the bowstring taut with his right arm. Then, with a coordinated release, the feathered shaft shot through the air like a peregrine falcon.

Ji Qingwu nervously clutched her sleeves, her gaze fixed on the arrow’s trajectory.

The magnificent arrow, its arrowhead flashing white, struck home with a sharp THWACK!

The arrow had struck dead center in the bullseye. Against the red target, its white fletching seemed dazzlingly bright.

At that moment, it was not just the target that was quivering; Ji Qingwu felt as if her very heart was trembling along with it.

A tsunami of cheers erupted. Waving banners blotted out the sun, warhorses neighed, and thousands of archers released their bows in unison, sending a shower of arrows into the air.

Ji Qingwu gazed at the man’s magnificent figure on the high platform, a ripple of emotion stirring in her eyes.

The moment that sharp arrow had been loosed, it carried an aura of overwhelming power.

’Judging by the arm strength and accuracy of that single shot,’ Ji Qingwu mused, ’aside from Wei Ting in the Northern Border Army, there’s likely no one who could compare.’

’The scene from last time in Jiyin Hall, when Emperor Wu Su had held her arm as he shot an arrow, was still vivid in her mind.’

’Thinking back on the force of that arrow, His Majesty the Emperor must have just been teasing her for fun.’