Ji Wujing sat down while holding Gu Jianli, casually removing her shoes, squeezing her toes, and playing with her feet in his palm. He asked, “Gu Jianli, what day is it today?”
“The tenth.”
Gu Jianli’s hand rested on Ji Wujing’s shoulder. She looked at his profile, thought for a moment, and asked, “Fifth Master, are you planning to take the medicine Mr. Ji brought?”
“Tomorrow.” Ji Wujing squinted his eyes, rubbed his temples, and started feeling sleepy again.
He was always more prone to sleep than others.
Gu Jianli nestled against his chest, lightly kicking his palm intermittently. She suddenly laughed, looked up at Ji Wujing, and said happily, “If you take it tomorrow, then ten days later it will be the twentieth of the twelfth lunar month.”
Ji Wujing looked at her lazily and asked indifferently, “What’s so special about the twentieth of the twelfth lunar month?”
“Well, it’s a very special day. Isn’t that right, Uncle?”
Ji Wujing scoffed lazily and ignored her.
Gu Jianli tugged at his mouth, forcing him to smile.
Outside, Hongzan knocked lightly on the door, reporting that Wen Jingshan wanted to see Ji Wujing.
Ji Wujing drank a cup of cold tea, relieving his drowsiness, and went to see Wen Jingshan.
Wen Jingshan had packed her things and was ready to leave at any time. She was unsure if staying here would bring danger to Ji Xinglou or even implicate Ji Wujing. She had come to see Ji Xinglou, and now that she had seen him, despite her reluctance, she knew she had to be clear-headed and rational. However, she wasn’t sure if leaving now would cause trouble. Even if she left, she needed to keep her whereabouts hidden and discuss it with Ji Wujing.
Ji Wujing didn’t let her leave.
“Is it because I’ve been exposed? Or what… I…” Wen Jingshan was a little flustered.
“Don’t worry,” Ji Wujing said, “Stay here for now and don’t go anywhere. But this is just a temporary hiding; later, there will be no need to hide.”
Wen Jingshan looked at Ji Wujing in surprise, not understanding his meaning.
Ji Wujing curled his lips, revealing a sinister smile.
It was widely rumored in the capital that Ji Zhao often spoke incoherently and rarely said anything truthful. He also disliked speaking seriously with others. Looking at the weak and haggard woman in front of him, he couldn’t help but recall her standing beside Ji Chong in the past. He rarely spoke much, but now he did.
“I’ve thought about it, and hiding like this is really boring. It’s better to eliminate all our enemies quickly. Xinglou is right, final words are just to comfort the dying. The living should enjoy life more. Even if we break our promises and go against his last wishes, in the underworld…” Ji Wujing paused, a sly glint in his fox-like eyes, “His Highness can’t defeat me anyway.”
Wen Jingshan was dumbfounded.
She was stunned for a while before she stammered, “I… I didn’t think we had to follow His Highness’s last wishes to the letter. The deceased should rest in peace, and the living should carry on. At that time, the situation was unclear, and Xinglou hadn’t even been born. If Ah Chong knew that it caused you to be bedridden for years, he would surely blame himself. But… but it’s too hard and too dangerous!”
The more Wen Jingshan spoke, the more flustered she became.
“Did I cause trouble by coming to the capital this time? Did I ruin your plans? Will you be in danger?” Wen Jingshan bit her lip and steeled herself. “Even though we are separated by life and death, I know his heart. He would want Xinglou and me to live well, but he would never want to harm you. If my coming to the capital puts you at risk, I’ll go to the underworld to find him! I won’t let others be implicated because of me.”
Ji Wujing raised his hand, stopping her from speaking further. He didn’t want to listen anymore and didn’t want to explain further; he just wanted to go back to sleep.
“That’s it,” he said.
He added, “Xinglou will recognize you. You will also return to the position you deserve.”
Ji Wujing walked outside as the sky gradually darkened. He saw Ji Xinglou and Ji Xinglan playing under a tree from a distance. Ji Xinglan was sitting obediently on a small stool, while Ji Xinglou made exaggerated faces at his sister, making her laugh.
Ji Wujing’s impatient expression gradually softened.
The Ji family was known for their outstanding looks, a trait passed down through generations. Ji Chong was exceptionally handsome, with an extraordinary demeanor. He was talented and well-versed in many fields, excelling in both literature and martial arts. He was skilled in painting, calligraphy, swordsmanship, strategy, archery, music, chess, and medicine. Even in games like pitching arrows into a pot or playing polo, few could match him.
If he had any flaw, it was his kindness.
In public, Ji Chong was polite and courteous. In private, he was playful and mischievous, especially in his younger years.
Looking at Ji Xinglou, Ji Wujing’s expression suddenly changed. He strode forward, picked Ji Xinglou up, and took him to find Gu Jianli.
No, this child can’t spend all day playing. Whatever his father could do, he must learn as well. Ji Wujing decided to hand Ji Xinglou over to Gu Jianli, either for her to teach him or find someone to teach him.
“Sister! Sister!” Ji Xinglou waved at Ji Xinglan as Ji Wujing carried him away.
Ji Xinglan stood up slowly, watching her brother being carried off, her smile gradually fading. As the sky darkened, she found herself alone in the growing darkness. She lowered her head, her thick, beautiful eyelashes hiding the disappointment in her eyes. She stood there alone for a long time, long enough for her little legs to ache.
Daddy won’t come back to find her.
She sniffed, pinched her legs, and slowly walked back to her room by herself.
After taking a few slow steps, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around in surprise to see her father appearing again. Her small mouth opened slightly in astonishment.
Ji Wujing picked her up and carried her to the front courtyard.
Ji Xinglan looked at him in disbelief, her little face dazed.
Ji Wujing glanced at her and spoke impatiently, “Why are you acting so dumb?”
Ji Xinglan grinned happily, wrapping her arms around Ji Wujing’s neck and sweetly calling out, “Daddy, daddy.”
Ji Wujing didn’t respond.
He had indeed forgotten about Ji Xinglan, only to be hit with a pillow by Gu Jianli, who made him promise never to leave Ji Xinglan alone again.
Ji Wujing looked down at the little girl in his arms, her eyes curved with happiness, and his impatience eased a bit. He said, “I got hit on the head by a bad guy on my way out. Quickly, give your daddy a massage.”
“Bad guys are really bad!” Ji Xinglan’s eyes reddened with anger as she reached out her little hands to massage her father’s head.
Gu Jianli, who was holding Ji Xinglou and talking, sneezed.
Ji Wujing made some arrangements, and the next morning, after breakfast, he took the last antidote.
Ji Xinglou and Ji Xinglan were very well-behaved and didn’t make any noise, knowing they shouldn’t disturb their father in the coming days.
Ji Wujing sat on the bed, leaning lazily against one side of the wall, flipping through a booklet of Ji Xinglou’s recent writing practice.
Gu Jianli settled Ji Xinglou and Ji Xinglan and returned to the room. She kicked off her shoes, climbed into bed, and sat next to Ji Wujing. It was cold outside, but warm inside, especially under the covers. She glanced at the booklet in Ji Wujing’s hand and asked, “Why aren’t you asleep yet?”
“Waiting for you,” Ji Wujing replied casually.
“Nonsense, you’re going to sleep for ten days. I can’t stay with you that long.”
Ji Wujing tossed the booklet aside, placed his hand on Gu Jianli’s lower back, and pulled her under the covers with him. He said unhurriedly, “We won’t see each other for ten days, so I need to enjoy your company now.”
Gu Jianli laughed and pushed away his mischievous hand, smiling. “We won’t be apart for ten days. I’ll be by your side every day, sleeping next to you at night.”
Ji Wujing murmured, “Mm,” and lazily said, “Be good and don’t flirt with any young masters while I’m not around.”
Gu Jianli smiled with her eyes curved and didn’t respond.
Ji Wujing yawned and buried his face in the crook of Gu Jianli’s neck, saying lazily, “Gu Jianli, take off your top and let me nibble.”
“Don’t you have any shame?” Gu Jianli glared at him, thinking how he always spoke so naturally and earnestly when saying indecent things, making it hard for her to be angry. It felt as if the vulgar one was her for thinking too much.
“Hurry up,” Ji Wujing urged, patting her waist.
Gu Jianli looked at his head buried in her shoulder and raised her hand, pretending to hit him. But when her palm landed on the back of his head, it just rested there gently.
After some rustling, Gu Jianli loosened her top under the covers, indulging Ji Wujing.
Ji Wujing fell asleep with his face pressed against her chest.
A long time later, after confirming that Ji Wujing was sound asleep, Gu Jianli gently pried his lips open and moved herself away. She helped him lie down properly.
Gu Jianli tidied her clothes, sat quietly by Ji Wujing’s side, and looked at him. She tucked him in, got out of bed, and lowered the bed curtains. She added some charcoal to the fire and walked to the window, opening it a crack.
In the morning, the sky was clear, but now snowflakes were gently falling.
Gu Jianli stood by the window, watching the snow accumulate on the branches, gently covering the blue bricks and red tiles. After a long while, she closed the window, tiptoed around the screen, and climbed back into bed.
The bed curtains had been changed this morning. They were heavy and dark red, extremely effective at blocking light. Just a step away, separated from the snowy brightness outside, the interior of the bed was quiet and warmly dim.
She lay on her side next to Ji Wujing, quietly gazing at him.
After a while, she lifted her hand, her fingertips hovering over Ji Wujing’s eyes, tracing the contours of his brows and eyes in the air, over and over. Finally, her fingertips lightly stopped on the tear mole under his left eye.
Her lips curved into a smile, and she carefully leaned in, gently kissing the tear mole under his eye.
She always remembered her father’s words: never give your whole heart just because someone treats you well. She had pondered for a long time what it was she liked about Ji Wujing but never found an answer.
Three days later, a disguised Ji Jingyi was brought into the palace by Dou Hongyan.
“Is the poison ready?” Ji Lan was perusing the tribute gifts from foreign countries without lifting his eyes.
“Yes, it has been added to Ji Zhao’s food.”
Ji Lan’s gaze sharpened slightly, and he asked, “How much longer?”
Ji Jingyi replied, “Ji Zhao is inherently suspicious and has some knowledge of medicine, so we couldn’t make the poison too obvious. We used a slow-acting poison. It will take fifteen more days. After fifteen days, he will surely die.”
Ji Lan set down the list of gifts, his gaze settling thoughtfully in one spot.
Ji Jingyi glanced at Ji Lan’s expression and added, “However, to allay Ji Zhao’s suspicions, this poison will initially create the illusion of strengthening his body, with his internal energy also seeing a significant boost. So, in the next ten days, we must avoid alarming him.”