The members of the Ji Family knelt on the floor.
The eunuch who came to deliver the message did not rush to announce the decree. First, he helped Old Madam Ji to her feet.
"Greetings, Old Madam Ji. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has not been reunited with her family for some time and misses them dearly. She has specially summoned the ladies of the family to Cining Palace to join her for supper."
After he finished speaking, the eunuch's gaze swept over the kneeling women several times before it landed on Ji Qingwu, who was kneeling in the farthest corner.
He continued, "The Empress Dowager has learned that the Fifth Missy of the Ji Mansion has been found. She wishes to share in the good fortune of such a joyous occasion and has given special instructions that the Fifth Missy is to accompany you as well."
Mrs. Qiao turned and shot her daughter a meaningful glance.
Kneeling, Ji Qingwu shuffled forward a few steps on her knees and prostrated herself. "I, your humble servant, thank the Empress Dowager for thinking of me."
After the eunuch who delivered the decree departed, Ji Qingyuan rose to her feet. As she passed by Ji Qingwu, she noticed her brow was furrowed.
The corners of Ji Qingyuan's lips curled up slightly as she said meaningfully, "It seems our aunt thinks very highly of you, Fifth Sister. This is your first time in the palace. You must make sure to be on your best behavior and not disgrace the Ji Family."
However, Ji Qingwu was only frowning because kneeling had made her knees ache terribly. 'And I'll have to kneel even more in the palace,' she thought with a sense of resignation.
She asked, "Fourth Sister, how many times do you have to kneel when you visit the palace?"
Her question made Ji Qingyuan's expression freeze on the spot.
Long after the figure in green had departed, she was still trying to figure out what Ji Qingwu had meant.
'Is she mocking me because I only get to see the Empress Dowager every time I enter the palace, and never the Emperor?'
Ji Qingyuan clenched the handkerchief in her hand.
'As her elder sister, I ought to give her a "grand gift."'
————
「Cining Palace.」
Green-tiled roofs atop red walls, their glazed surfaces glittering in the sunlight.
Ji Qingwu walked in at a leisurely pace, a scene of elegant splendor unfolding before her. Every corner radiated with royal authority and dignity.
The Empress Dowager's attendant, Aunt Shi Xi, led the Ji Family into the main hall.
"Old Madam Ji, ladies, please have a seat and rest for a moment. The Empress Dowager is currently changing and will be here shortly."
Old Madam Ji nodded. "We are much obliged, Aunt Shi Xi."
Ji Qingyuan's gaze fell on a plate of pastries next to the tea table. "Aunt Shi Xi," she praised, "has the palace kitchen created a new kind of dessert? How novel. I've never seen such exquisite and elegant pastries before."
Shixi smiled and nodded. "Fourth Miss, the Empress Dowager knows you enjoy these treats and specifically ordered the kitchens to prepare them."
The Second Madam, Ms. Wu, immediately chimed in, "Her Majesty knows exactly what Qingyuan loves to eat. She truly dotes on her."
Shixi simply smiled without a word.
Old Madam Ji coughed a few times and shot the Second Madam a glare.
One must not speak idly of their masters within the palace. They had no right to comment on whom the Empress Dowager chose to favor.
Ms. Wu, realizing her slip of the tongue, fell silent in embarrassment.
Shixi's gaze then fell upon the mother and daughter on the other side, a hint of surprise in her eyes.
The First Madam, Mrs. Qiao, hailed from a great aristocratic family, and her grasp of etiquette and decorum was always impeccable, leaving no room for fault.
But that Fifth Missy, the one who had just been found...
After Ji Qingwu sat down, her back was ramrod straight, her head held high, and her gaze was as placid as still water. She didn't let her eyes wander, not even giving the delicate pastries beside her a second look.
To the others, she appeared composed and unhurried, possessing a refined and otherworldly air that was neither humble nor arrogant.
'Even Shixi, who was accustomed to seeing the ladies of the palace, couldn't help but inwardly praise the Fifth Missy's graceful demeanor. Although her features weren't as striking as the Fourth Miss's, her overall presence far outshone her, making the Fourth Miss seem almost provincial by comparison.'
Ji Qingwu was oblivious to what was on everyone's minds.
It wasn't that she didn't want to fidget, but that she didn't dare.
The truth was, Mrs. Qiao had adorned her head with a great many things before they left home.
Tucked into her high-piled chignon was a Furong Warm Jade Step Shaking hairpin, along with a Purple Gold Inlaid Peony pin, and Silver Embroidery Ribbons were draped on both sides.
She felt as if she had been frozen in place, not daring to move her head or even turn her neck.
'Ji Qingwu had to admire Ji Qingyuan. With a head full of gold, silver, and jewels that must have weighed at least five pounds, she could still move about with ease.'
"Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has arrived!"
At the eunuch's loud announcement, Ji Qingwu followed Mrs. Qiao's lead and performed her salutation.
As the Empress Dowager passed in front of her, her steps seemed to pause for a moment. Then, she continued to her throne and sat down gracefully, attended by Aunt Shixi and Aunt Fanghua on either side.
Her voice was gentle. "You may all rise. We are family here."
After the Empress Dowager and Old Madam Ji exchanged a few pleasantries, her gaze fell directly on the young woman sitting at the very back.
"So this is Qingwu."
Her name having been called, Ji Qingwu had no choice but to rise and kneel once more.
She performed the grand salutation with such elegance that it was not only flawless but also a pleasure to watch.
This was something Mrs. Qiao had specially taught her before they left. By the time Ji Qingwu completed the grand salutation, she could feel a film of sweat forming on her back.
"Qingwu, come forward. Let Us have a closer look."
With her head lowered, Ji Qingwu obeyed. She walked forward and stopped at the foot of the golden dais, the scent of sandalwood filling her senses.
In truth, the Empress Dowager had been subtly observing her ever since she entered. This was merely a pretext to bring her closer and get a proper look at her face.
"Lift your head. Come a little closer to your aunt."
The Empress Dowager's gaze grew distant, as if she were lost in a memory.
"When Qingwu was a child, I used to hold her. She was such a well-behaved little thing," the Empress Dowager said with a smile. "This was back at the Marquis Yong'an Mansion. I remember the day after I held Qingwu, I was diagnosed with a pregnancy."
The Empress Dowager remembered such a darling child with perfect clarity.
Old Madam Ji nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Your Majesty remembers correctly. You were pregnant with Princess Qingyun at the time."
Princess Qingyun was the apple of the Empress Dowager's eye and the Emperor's paternal half-sister.
Ji Qingwu lifted her head to meet the Empress Dowager's gaze.
After studying her with a smile for a long while, the Empress Dowager turned to the palace attendant standing beside her and commanded, "Shixi, go and personally fetch the welcoming gift I prepared for Qingwu this morning."
She heavily emphasized the two words "this morning."
Shixi started, but quickly accepted the command and departed.
The welcoming gift was a jade bracelet. Its jade was lustrous and translucent—clearly no ordinary piece.
The Empress Dowager said, "There was originally a pair, but the other one was accidentally broken. I have kept this one carefully and never wore it again. At my age, such a verdant jade is no longer suitable for me. Qingwu is in the prime of her youth. It will be perfect for her."
Ji Qingwu did not miss the look of astonishment in Aunt Shi Xi's eyes.
'It seems the gift the Empress Dowager originally prepared for me wasn't this jade bracelet, but something else entirely.'
'Her heart stirred. She realized this jade bracelet must have an extraordinary origin, and likely some hidden meaning as well.'
'Just now, after the Empress Dowager had inspected her for so long, she seemed to have become satisfied and decided to bestow this gift upon her instead.'
At the same time, Ji Qingyuan's expression had turned utterly foul.
She stared at the brocade box in Ji Qingwu's hands, her eyes filled with jealousy and envy.
She said sourly, "For our aunt to bestow this upon Fifth Sister is a truly immense honor."
That jade bracelet was the nuptial gift the Marquis had given the Empress Dowager on their wedding night when she married into the Marquis Yong'an Mansion as his successor wife.
Ji Qingyuan had wheedled and pleaded for it several times, but to no avail.
Yet the Empress Dowager had met Fifth Sister just once and had already gifted her the bracelet!
A nuptial gift.
It was a gift exchanged between newlyweds to express their devotion. If given to someone of a younger generation, it was typically passed down to a daughter-in-law, symbolizing a wish for a loving and harmonious marriage.
To become the Empress Dowager's daughter-in-law...