The door of the private room opened, and someone entered to serve wine.
Ming Yi was lost in thought when she suddenly felt a cool sensation on her head. The wine had splashed down, wetting half her face. Then she heard an “Oh!” as someone with a long skirt stumbled and fell directly into Ji Bozai’s arms right in front of her.
The commotion startled everyone in the room. They looked up to see Qing Li, her face flushed with embarrassment, sitting helplessly on Ji Bozai’s lap. “My Lord, I… I tripped on something. I didn’t mean to offend you.”
Ji Bozai’s wine cup had spilled, releasing a strong, spicy aroma. Combined with the beauty before him, it created quite an atmosphere.
However, his first reaction wasn’t to embrace the beauty but to glance to the side.
Wine had splashed on Ming Yi’s hairdo, her seat had been pushed away, and her man was being embraced by another woman.
Any of these three points should have angered her. He even expected her to stand up and pull the woman away.
But she didn’t.
Ming Yi just sat there, looking at him and Qing Li with a dazed expression, then slowly lowered her gaze and voluntarily moved aside.
Ji Bozai’s heart tightened. He gestured for Bu Xiu to take Qing Li away, then pulled Ming Yi back to her original position.
“Where did it spill?” he asked.
She looked at him with surprise, her phoenix eyes gradually filling with a hint of a smile. She tentatively pointed to her hair ornament. “Here.”
Ji Bozai pinched his sleeve and frowned as he wiped it for her. “You’re usually so quick-witted. Why didn’t you dodge just now?”
“She moved too fast. I didn’t react in time,” Ming Yi lowered her head, obediently allowing him to adjust the jewels in her hair.
Qing Li was still dazed when Bu Xiu helped her to the side. When she turned back and saw the couple’s affectionate interaction, she immediately stood up in anger. “My Lord, she tripped me first. That’s why I spilled the wine.”
Ji Bozai didn’t even raise an eyelid. “I see. You may leave now.”
Looking at his back in disbelief, Qing Li shook her head slightly. “My Lord wasn’t like this before. Are you still upset about my previous transgression? I’ve already realized my mistake. These days, I haven’t accepted any clients except you. I’ve been waiting for you to come to Hua Man Lou so I could explain. You did come, but you brought someone to upset me.”
She staggered half a step as if muttering to herself, “I have nothing but this body, which I’ve already given to you. What else do you want to take from me? I’m willing to give anything. Just tell me, My Lord.”
Ming Yi frowned as she listened.
To think that even the top courtesan had been so captivated by Ji Bozai. She was beautiful and likely talented too. Why would she stake everything on a man who wouldn’t redeem her?
And Ji Bozai, using her as a cover was one thing, but why did he have to sweet-talk her? It only caused heartbreak.
Truly, a dog can’t change its nature.
Seeing Ming Yi’s expression change, Ji Bozai felt somewhat relieved.
He had thought this young girl was too accustomed to yielding, that she wouldn’t even feel jealous. But perhaps earlier she just lacked confidence, fearing he wouldn’t take her side.
How could he not take her side?
“Bu Xiu,” he raised his chin slightly, “Miss Qing Li is drunk. Take her out and hand her over to the manager here. Let her sober up.”
“Yes, sir.”
Bu Xiu stepped forward. Qing Li tried to struggle but froze slightly when he got close. She then looked up at him in disbelief.
“This way, Miss,” he said expressionlessly.
Qing Li was led out of the room in a daze. After a while, they heard her heart-wrenching sobs.
The guests were all looking for entertainment. Seeing the drama end so simply, they felt somewhat disappointed.
Yan Xiao fanned himself teasingly, “Duke Ji certainly knows how to show love and hate clearly.”
“You flatter me,” he lowered his head to look at Ming Yi, “A hard-won treasure, I can’t let her heart be hurt.”
Ming Yi wasn’t heartbroken, but she smiled. She just felt that the women in the Qing Yun Realm were truly pitiful, having to rely on men to survive. Once deceived or abandoned, it was as if their world had ended. If even a cultivated courtesan like Qing Li was like this, what about those from poorer families?
If only one day, women could also study from childhood and become Duelists if they had talent.
“I’m only like this to people I don’t like,” seeing her silent for a long while, Ji Bozai caressed his wine cup and added, “I won’t be like this to you.”
Ming Yi lowered her eyes, then smiled, “To have My Lord’s favor is this servant’s honor.”
One pretended to be affectionate, the other pretended to believe – they played their parts well, creating a pleasing scene.
“That’s enough from you two. You’re just tormenting those of us who haven’t found true love yet,” Shu Zhonglin grimaced.
“Exactly,” Yan Xiao chimed in.
Liang Xiuyuan paused at this and exclaimed, “Hey, don’t include me in that ‘us’.”
“Oh?” Everyone at the table turned to look at him.
Ji Bozai found it curious, “When did this happen? You never mentioned it.”
“Yes, which family’s daughter is she? Bring her out for us to see.”
Liang Xiuyuan chuckled softly, his eyes full of tenderness, “She’s busy. She’ll have time when the Duelists start their training.”
Yan Xiao raised an eyebrow, “Is she a girl who received the Phoenix Tail Flower?”
“Yes,” Liang Xiuyuan nodded, “But she’s different from others. She doesn’t crave wealth or status, nor does she covet any Duelist’s future. She just does her duty well. The day I met her, she was arranging the venue. That air of being in complete control – I’ve never seen it in any other girl.”
His eyes shone as he spoke, making everyone even more curious. “What’s her name?”
Liang Xiuyuan looked warily at Ji Bozai, “If I tell you, you won’t set your sights on her, will you?”
Ji Bozai snorted with laughter, “I don’t have time for that.”
“Alright then,” Liang Xiuyuan said, “Her name is Tian Ji, the third daughter of the Xu family.”
Xu Tian Ji? Ming Yi was startled and asked in confusion, “Which Xu family?”
“Which else could it be? Of course, it’s the Xu family with Duelist merits,” seeing the shock on her face, Liang Xiuyuan became curious, “Miss Ming, do you know Tian Ji?”
It wasn’t just knowing her; there was a grudge.
Ming Yi recalled Liang Xiuyuan’s evaluation of her, then remembered what Xu Tian Ji had said on the street that day. She shook her head kindly, “I don’t know her.”
She didn’t want to say too much to a man deeply in love. He wouldn’t think well of her; he’d only think she had evil intentions.
She just wanted to be a beautiful but useless vase.
“The Xu family, huh? That’s not bad. I heard all their daughters audit the Duelist classes. Compared to ordinary girls, they understand us better,” Shu Zhonglin nodded. “Bring her out some time so we can see what your girl looks like when she’s in control.”
“There will be a chance soon,” Liang Xiuyuan said. “When the Yuan Shi Academy opens, she’ll be going too.”