"I'm fine," Ji Wushang said.
"Actually, it's normal for you to be a little worried since your wedding with Prince Nan is approaching. Don't worry, I'll have someone go and take care of things," Madam Qin said with a smile.
Ji Wushang smiled and nodded as he listened to her say that.
Ji Dingbei dismounted and then entered the ancestral cemetery. "Father (Master)," everyone called out as soon as they saw him enter. He nodded, looked at the family members kneeling there with incense to worship their ancestors, nodded, and took some incense himself.
After the ancestral worship ceremony was over, everyone was thinking of going back when Ji Dingbei suddenly called out to Ji Wushang, "Wushang, you stay."
"Father? What is it?" Ji Wushang stayed behind and slowly followed behind Ji Dingbei, who was leading his precious horse.
Several guards followed a short distance behind them, protecting their safety. In front were Madam Qin and several maids.
“Wu Shang, I went to the Marquis’s residence a few days ago and had a few drinks with the Marquis, but I heard some unpleasant things.” Ji Dingbei looked at her and said, “Your second sister is dead.”
“Well, Father, death is already a bad thing. It’s not a good thing to see Second Sister lying in bed all the time. Let her go down and keep Aunt Bai company so she won’t be too lonely. If she keeps lying in bed, it’s torture. If it were me, I would also choose to die.” Ji Wushang looked at Ji Dingbei with a somewhat sad expression.
Actually, dying would have been too good for Ji Meiyuan!
“You didn’t understand what I meant, Wu Shang. Your second sister’s death is a strange thing. I heard that she was getting better, but unexpectedly, she suddenly passed away.” Ji Dingbei sighed.
"Father means that after I marry him, I should help investigate this matter thoroughly?" Ji Wushang looked at him, he was worried about Ji Meiyuan! And what about himself?
"Hmm." Ji Dingbei nodded, stroking his beard. "Actually, I'm more worried about how your fourth sister is doing now."
"Didn't Father go to the Marquis's residence? Why didn't you ask him why, or let Fourth Sister come out to see you?"
“Well, I don’t really have to deal with the affairs of the Marquis’s mansion.” Ji Dingbei looked at her. “Your fourth sister is so delicate and frail, it’s worrying.”
"Delicate? Father, don't worry, she's better at doing than talking. She'll be fine. I'm the one who's worried about what to do after I marry into the Marquis's mansion!"
"How can you talk like that? If you're bullied, your father will be there to watch over you!" Ji Dingbei looked at her, giving off an impression that while she was trustworthy, they weren't!
"Yes." Ji Wushang nodded, knowing there was no point in saying more. "From now on, let's each accept our fate! Father, don't think so much about what will happen in the future!" Ji Wushang tugged at his arm. "Father, let's go!"
"Alright." Ji Dingbei nodded. "Why don't we go to the drill ground and see your brother and younger brother? Why haven't they come back? They're such unfilial children!"
"Father, please don't blame them. They are just like you, sacrificing some of their own interests for the sake of our Great Xia Zhou Dynasty. If Eldest Brother and Wu Zi can achieve something, Father will definitely be happy."
"Yes!" he seemed to sigh. "I owe you all so much, and I can only use the rest of my time to make it up to you!"
Ji Wushang listened without speaking, only feeling the wind grow stronger.
Ji Dingbei had a carriage temporarily arranged, then instructed everyone to go back first, while he went to the training ground with Ji Wushang.
The training ground was still bustling with activity, with all the soldiers practicing. Ji Wushang followed Ji Dingbei cautiously, knowing that this was a training ground, not a place to enter and leave at will.
When the soldiers saw General Ji arrive, they all stopped. Ji Tiankui, who was in charge of training, immediately ran over. His armor made his tall figure look even more imposing. He stood in front of Ji Dingbei and gave a standard salute, "General!" On the battlefield, there is no such thing as father and son, only soldiers!
Ji Wushang smiled and greeted him with a bow, "Big Brother."
"Yes, continue training!" Ji Dingbei nodded to Ji Tiankui, his face serious.
Upon receiving the instructions, Ji Tiankui smiled at Ji Wushang, then turned around and immediately went to practice.
Ji Wushang looked at Ji Dingbei and asked, "Father, do these soldiers have anything to keep warm?" Why do they all seem to be wearing such thin clothes, yet so heavy armor? The saying goes, to get people to risk their lives for you, you have to treat them well; otherwise, how can you win their hearts?
“Martial artists are generally warm-bodied, so you don’t need to worry.” Ji Dingbei nodded. “I’ll take you to see other places.”
"Yes." Ji Wushang nodded.
Unexpectedly, the two princes, Huangfu Ting and Huangfu Yu, walked towards them.
"Second Brother, I never expected to see Miss Ji!" Huangfu Yu smiled.
Huangfu Ting nodded. "This girl is a formidable character."
“Second Brother, this is even more interesting!” Huangfu Yu raised his eyebrows slightly. “I heard that you made things difficult for her during the winter hunt.”
"It's not that I'm being difficult, but rather, I'm serious." Huangfu Ting's smile vanished, and he strode forward.
Ji Wushang was not happy. After all, the winter hunt had not been long ago, and he was determined to teach this second prince a lesson!
Upon seeing the people approaching, Ji Dingbei immediately pulled Ji Wushang forward and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Second Prince and Sixth Prince."
"Greetings to Your Highnesses, may Your Highness live a thousand years!" Ji Wushang bowed.
"No need for formalities," Huangfu Ting said, his thin lips barely moving.
"Your Highness, I apologize for the offense my daughter and son caused during the winter hunt. I hope Your Highness will forgive them," Ji Dingbei said humbly. He had originally intended to tell Huangfu Ting upon returning from the hunt, but Huangfu Ting had already returned to his residence. Ji Dingbei had no choice but to give up; he hadn't expected to encounter these two today.
Ji Wushang looked away, remaining silent. He decided to keep quiet about this matter for now.
"General, you flatter me. It was just a misunderstanding. Please don't take it to heart!" Huangfu Ting said, but then looked at Ji Wushang, who did not respond.
"That brat!" Huangfu Ting thought with a hint of anger. "I'll definitely pluck every hair off your head from now on!"
Huangfu Yu looked at Ji Wushang and said playfully, "Miss looks so beautiful today!"
Upon hearing this, Ji Wushang felt embarrassed. How could a prince say that his daughter was pretty in front of her father?
"Ahem, I won't disturb the Second Prince and the Sixth Prince's enjoyment any longer, so I'll take my daughter and leave first." Ji Dingbei glanced back at Ji Wushang, who nodded.
“In that case, please.” Huangfu Ting looked at the two of them.
"Your Highness is too kind. Please, Your Highness and Sixth Prince, pass in front of me and Ji Wushang first." Ji Dingbei gestured for them to pass in front of him and Ji Wushang first.
Huangfu Ting sneered and walked ahead. When he reached Ji Wushang, he suddenly stopped and said in a voice that the two of them could hear, "I will never forget the winter hunt!" After saying that, he strode away.
Huangfu Yu found Ji Wushang amusing and stepped forward, saying, "Young Miss, you're so interesting!"
Ji Wushang suddenly felt an urge to slap the Sixth Prince's mouth shut!
Huangfu Yu left with a light laugh, as if he had humiliated Ji Wushang a hundred times!
Ji Wushang gritted his teeth in hatred. He was clearly putting on a show for his father, Ji Dingbei! Otherwise, why would he act like this? Sure enough, Ji Dingbei looked at Ji Wushang as if he were some kind of monster. "Are you very familiar with the Sixth Prince?"
"Um, Father, we're not familiar with each other. We've only met a few times!" Ji Wushang smiled. "Father, you know how much His Highness the Sixth Prince enjoys playing around." Ji Wushang tried his best to divert Ji Dingbei's attention.
Ji Dingbei said "oh," seemingly believing what Ji Wushang had said. Ji Wushang then pulled him along as they walked.
Ji Wushang secretly wiped away a bead of sweat, managing to cover up the matter.
Ji Dingbei didn't take the matter to heart, but instead sent many things to Xinyuan. The mansion also began to prepare a lot of red items, such as door frames, windows, steps, flower pots and plants in the yard. Almost everything that could be replaced was replaced, and everything that could be decorated was turned into a festive red.
Yes, Ji Wushang is getting married!
Everyone in the manor was overjoyed and busied themselves with preparations for Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong's marriage.
Madam Qin personally selected a wedding dress, along with a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, and had the servants bring them all into the Xinyuan Garden.
Ji Wushang was a little nervous. He knew he was going to get married eventually, but at this crucial moment, his heart was pounding. He felt he would let Yiyun Shangcheng down. He told himself he had to go back to the Western Regions, reclaim what was his at the academy, and then give her the position of empress!
I wasn't really looking forward to it, but there was this feeling, like I was being forced... My mind is so confused!
When Madam Qin entered with her entourage, she saw Ji Wushang sitting at his desk, his chin resting on his hand, his brows slightly furrowed, as if he were deep in thought.
"Young Miss?" Madam Qin stepped forward, smiling, and asked, "What are you thinking about?"
"I... I was thinking, in just a few days I'll be moving out of this Xinyuan? Suddenly, I feel really attached to this place," Ji Wushang said, snapping out of his reverie.
“You will get married eventually, so don’t think too much! You’re about to come of age, and that day will be your wedding day. I think it’s a really auspicious day!” Madam Qin smiled and had her maid bring out the phoenix coronet, wedding robes, and wedding dress. “I personally chose these for you. If you like them, try them on, and then you can have a grand wedding on the fifth day of the first lunar month. If you don’t like them, I can have the girls at the embroidery shop make them again.”
"Thank you, Mother. Let me see." Ji Wushang put aside her thoughts and took the wedding dress. Seeing that it was all red and festive, she was very happy.
"I wonder how it will look on me?" Ji Wushang's heart pounded, but he couldn't help but think of Nan Xuzong, not Yi Yun Shangcheng. It was as if Nan Xuzong was smiling at him!
Ji Wushang snapped back to reality. "This is fine."
"Good, I'm glad you like her." Madam Qin looked at her. "What a lovely young lady! Good thing, good thing!"
"Thank you, Mother." Ji Wushang forced a smile.
Madam Qin dismissed the servants, then sat down next to Ji Wushang and said, "You haven't seemed to be in good spirits these past few days. Don't you like Prince Nan? Why do you look so hesitant and worried right now? Is there something on your mind? You can talk to your mother about it."
Ji Wushang was taken aback. She said she liked Nan Xuzong?
"Mother, you said I like...Prince Nan?" Ji Wushang asked, quite surprised.
Madam Qin looked at her expression and was even more surprised. "What? You've forgotten? Prince Nan treated you so well. Back then, I was still a concubine. Wasn't it you who supported me and helped me become his wife? I followed you back then and saw a lot of things. You liked Prince Nan, and Prince Nan liked you too. You were a perfect match, a wonderful couple."
Ji Wushang listened, even more surprised. But Madam Qin wouldn't lie to him, so what happened to him? At that moment, he only felt hatred for him, and all he could think of was that he was just using him!
Ji Wushang closed his eyes. "Mother, I'm fine. I'm just a little tired. I'll be fine tomorrow."
"That's good." Madam Qin nodded.
"By the way, Mother, I want you to do me a favor." Ji Wushang said, taking out a box from his dressing table, opening it, taking out the phoenix jade hairpin that was broken into two pieces, and walking up to Madam Qin.
Madam Qin's eyes lit up as she looked at it. "What a fine hairpin!"
“But it’s broken.” Ji Wushang’s face showed some sadness. “I accidentally broke it.” That was the only reason he could say. “Mother, do you have any way to have someone glue the hairpin back together? I love this phoenix jade hairpin so much. I think it would be even better if I could wear it when I get married.”
"This is a bit difficult, but I'll ask someone else to try." Madam Qin took the phoenix jade hairpin that Ji Wushang handed her. The moment she touched the jade, her whole hand felt smooth. "This hairpin is so beautiful!" she couldn't help but exclaim.
Although the phoenix jade hairpin is broken, it does not diminish its beauty in the slightest.
"Yes, it's beautiful. I've been reluctant to take it out," Ji Wushang said softly.
"Where did you buy it?" Madam Qin suddenly asked.
Ji Wushang remained silent.
Madam Qin smiled thoughtfully, "Alright, I'll try my best to have someone glue it back together."
"Thank you, Mother." Ji Wushang bowed.
"Well, then I won't bother you any longer." Madam Qin stood up. "You can try on this wedding dress. Look, it's almost time. I'm really hoping to hold a grandson!"
Upon hearing this, Ji Wushang blushed immediately. "What are you saying!" he said, lowering his head, his face as red as a boiled tomato.
"Enough with the teasing, I'm leaving now!" Madam Qin smiled and then walked out. But thinking back, how were they going to consummate their marriage? Could it be that this Prince Nan has extraordinary talent? Madam Qin smiled, secretly blaming herself for overthinking things. How could she, as an elder, presume to comment on the affairs of these young people?
Ji Wushang watched her leave, stretched out his hand, and counted on his fingers, "One day, two days, three days... half a month left!" He exclaimed, whether it was excitement, nervousness, or some other emotion, he couldn't tell.
Nan Xuzong sat by the window, lost in thought. What could he do to help her remember everything that had happened? Did he have to retrace their steps together? Their first encounter was in the Luoyin Garden of the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion. Did he really have to return to that Luoyin Garden?
The second time, it was probably on that street, right?
The third time...
September Tower.
The September Building holds so many memories of me and her.
He almost took her in the September Pavilion. Did he really want to take her back to the past?
Nan Xuzong closed his eyes and gently breathed in the breeze blowing in from the window.