The green-tiled courtyard again. Ming Yi pretended to be indifferent: “It’s just an old courtyard, what’s so special about going in? It’s probably just full of junk.”
“Doesn’t Miss Ming find it strange that someone as wealthy as Ji Bozai, who can accompany you shopping on Changrongus Street without batting an eye, doesn’t have money to repair this dilapidated courtyard in his mansion?”
“Perhaps he just likes the old look of that courtyard?”
Dan Er chuckled: “He does like it, but not because it’s old. It’s because someone from his past used to live there.”
Ming Yi’s heart stirred slightly, and she perked up her ears.
However, this cunning person didn’t continue. He just put away the map and said: “My deal with you is complete. I will keep your matters confidential.”
“What are you going to do with this?” Ming Yi asked one more question.
Dan Er shrugged: “If I say I like the look of his residence and want to build a replica, would Miss Ming believe me?”
“…Do you see the word ‘fool’ written on my forehead?”
He laughed heartily, went back to the adjacent room through the secret door, and closed the mechanism.
Ming Yi rolled her eyes at his back.
This person was truly annoying, but he also kept his word. As long as he didn’t reveal her identity, she could investigate other matters herself.
It was convenient that Ji Bozai had been busy lately selecting people to accompany him, often returning late at night. She could send Nanny Xun away during the midday nap. This wouldn’t be difficult to manage.
Ming Yi planned it well.
However, when she chose an auspicious day and snuck into the green-tiled courtyard at the right time, she found that things weren’t so simple.
Ji Bozai had set up a Yuan Power formation in such a dilapidated courtyard!
A fine net of Yuan Power surrounded the entire green-tiled courtyard where the sun-facing willow was located. The net lines were thin and crystal-clear; one would easily touch them and leave their aura if not careful.
Ming Yi gritted her teeth at the sight.
This use of Yuan Power was too wasteful. It would take a long time of practice to replenish it. Even a fighter would feel distressed seeing this.
However, it indirectly proved that Si Tuling and Dan Er hadn’t lied to her. There was a secret here.
Ming Yi looked around, making sure no one was there, before quietly pinching her fingers to produce two strands of Yuan Power. Like hooks, she used them to open a gap in the fine net, then held her breath and slowly moved inside.
The courtyard wasn’t large, just a main house with two side rooms, and a small front yard. The willow tree in the yard was green and had sprouted new branches.
Ming Yi surveyed the scene for a moment before walking towards the willow tree, intending to dig out the makeup box Si Tuling had mentioned.
However, just as she took a step, her ears twitched, and she immediately flew into one of the side rooms, leaping onto a roof beam.
Someone was stumbling towards this place, breathing heavily with erratic breaths. He entered the courtyard and walked straight to the side room. The wind blew, carrying a sweet, metallic scent.
Ming Yi’s face turned pale with fright.
No way, she hid here, and he had to choose this very room to enter.
The door was yanked open with a creak, hitting the back wall before bouncing back slightly, half-obscuring the light from outside. The person sat down in a spotless armchair, looking dazed for a while.
Incense was burning in the side room, with a spirit tablet placed on the altar, its golden characters faintly glowing.
He looked at it and suddenly spoke in a hoarse voice: “I’m sorry.”
Ming Yi’s pupils contracted.
It was Ji Bozai’s voice.
Why was he here in the middle of the day, covered in wounds, instead of overseeing the selection process outside?
If it were someone else, she might have been able to hide, but with his abilities, once he calmed down, he would discover someone else in the room.
She was doomed.
Her mind was in chaos, and Ming Yi bit her finger, not knowing what to do. She closed her eyes, steeled her heart, and simply let out an “Aiya!” as she slid down.
Ji Bozai was full of murderous intent. Hearing the noise, he reacted without thinking, striking out with a palm filled with killing intent, aiming for her vital point.
However, their eyes met, and a flash of surprise crossed his. He darkened his face and forcibly retracted the strike, then reached out to catch her.
“What are you doing!” Anger surged, and he coughed up more blood.
Ming Yi trembled in fear, wiping the blood from his face with her sleeve while sobbing: “I came to find something, who knew the master would come… Master, what happened to you? Are you alright? Why is there so much blood!”
She hadn’t realized it until now, but his arms were covered in blood, and more was continuously flowing from the corner of his mouth.
The scene was terrifying, especially with him looking at her as if she were already dead.
But for some reason, Ming Yi’s mind went blank, and she blurted out: “Did you get your period in your mouth?”
Ji Bozai: “…”
He wanted to strangle her.
Taking a deep breath, he started coughing and put her down on the ground.
Ming Yi looked down and realized her lotus-colored clothes were stained with blood. She quickly bent down to help him breathe: “Who could have injured the master like this?!”
“How… did you get here?” He coughed up two mouthfuls of blood and stared at her intently.
Ming Yi knelt, looking sincere: “A few days ago, I met young master Si Tuling when I went out. He told me to come here to find some makeup box. I was curious about his motives, but the master has been busy lately. You only come back when I’m asleep, and when I wake up, you’re gone again. I had no chance to ask you, so I could only come and look for myself. I thought I’d tell you once I found it.”
She looked innocent and naive: “What’s wrong? Can’t I come in here? It’s just an old courtyard, isn’t it?”
Ji Bozai’s hands trembled with anger as he gripped the back of her neck: “Don’t you dare lie to me.”
“How dare I?” Ming Yi looked frightened, tears instantly welling up in her eyes. “Nanny Xun is here today too. The master can go ask her.”
Feeling weak, Ji Bozai half-closed his eyes: “If you dare to deceive me, if you dare to deceive me…”
“Master?” Ming Yi quickly supported him and turned to shout outside, “Someone come! Someone—”
However, few people came around this courtyard, and even Bu Xiu wasn’t guarding nearby. She shouted until her throat hurt, but no one responded.
Gritting her teeth, Ming Yi struggled to carry him on her back: “I’ll take you to find a doctor.”
“Let go…”
“This is no time for you to act tough.” She cursed under her breath, then laboriously carried him out.
The person who had struggled to take two steps before was now crying while quickly carrying him out of the green-tiled courtyard, constantly supporting and holding him. In the end, when she had no strength left, she could only half-drag him to sit by the side of the small path, crying: “Someone help, wuwuwu.”
Ji Bozai was both angry and amused. He had never seen Ming Yi in such a disheveled state. Her dress was stained with blood, dark in some places and light in others. Her hands and feet were trembling from exhaustion, yet she still refused to leave him, stubbornly trying to drag him to find help.
He wanted to say that she could just leave him there and go call for help herself. But he was too tired to speak, and could only think helplessly, well, women in love have no brains.
Let her drag him then, his clothes were thick enough anyway.
“Master? Miss Ming?” In the distance, Bu Xiu’s voice finally rang out.
Ji Bozai let out a sigh of relief and lost consciousness as his vision went dark.