Starting with Xiu Yun and Zheng Tiao’s marriage, Feihua City suddenly popularized the practice of promising to marry only one person when offering betrothal gifts.
Of course, most who made such promises were from humble backgrounds. Already struggling to marry, they often abandoned their wives after finding success. To secure brides, they began writing promises that if they took another wife or abandoned their current one after becoming successful, all family assets would go to the wife.
This practice pleased the brides’ families. Even some noble families’ concubine-born daughters began seeking promising low-born men willing to commit to monogamy.
As the trend grew, noble sons became discontented.
“One life, one love? Just poor men’s lies to trick noble ladies. Can a man truly stay with one woman for life?”
Their complaints made their wives envious. How could they live like this?
Some officials wanted to complain to the palace but found their lord truly uninterested in other women after marriage, deeply affectionate with the Mistress.
Unable to voice their grievances, they returned to face domestic turmoil.
As people wondered how this trend started, Ming Yi sat in a flying beast carriage bound for Zhuyue City, smiling silently.
Her wedding gift to Xiu Yun was a hundred poems by literary masters, praising Xiu Yun’s unique charm and Zheng Tiao’s steadfast heart. The poems placed them as equals, extolling them from head to toe, saying true love should be thus – if one’s heart strays, divorce first, then remarry, never pursuing both.
If a city’s ruler and Mistress could do this, commoners found it hard not to emulate. With men already outnumbering women, polygamy would only drive all women to marry into high families, leaving humble men heirless. People gradually felt this was a fair practice.
As the trend grew, Ming Yi incorporated monogamy into law, taking Ji Bozai’s hand to stamp the seal of the Six Cities’ ruler.
This action overstepped bounds and was somewhat offensive, but Ji Bozai wasn’t angry. Instead, he smiled.
“Does this count as you asking me for something?” he asked.
Ming Yi replied seriously, “How could it? This is for Your Majesty’s benefit. The Six Cities’ natural growth ensures Your Majesty’s throne for generations.”
It sounded reasonable but was denying him any chance.
Ji Bozai sighed, then said, “Tomorrow at dawn, there’s a silver disc eclipsing the sun. I’ve prepared a warm room…”
Ming Yi raised an eyebrow: “Why watch the moon indoors? Since we’re here, the rooftop would be best.”
He paused, silent for a while, then turned away: “Then you go to the roof. I’ll stay inside.”
Why the sudden temper?
Ming Yi didn’t understand why he insisted on staying indoors but wouldn’t accommodate him. She decided to go watch alone.
The silver disc eclipsing the sun was unique to Zhuyue City. At sunrise, the moon hadn’t set, and Zhuyue’s moon appeared larger than the sun.
Previously here for competitions, they hadn’t properly appreciated this sight. Now with leisure, Ji Bozai had volunteered to bring her, yet refused to join her on the roof.
Ming Yi watched, feeling annoyed, thinking he might be trying to manipulate her again with this push-pull tactic.
However, inside, Ji Bozai was drinking a large bowl of medicine brought by Bu Xiu.
Already badly wounded in several battles, and then suffering from heartache and insomnia, Yan Xiao said it was a miracle he was still conscious. Without proper rest and avoiding night winds and heavy rain, he might collapse before touring all of Six Cities.
He didn’t want to collapse midway. If he fell, Ming Yi would surely happily go to Zhou Zihong.
Taking a deep breath, he squinted at the window.
The windowsill blocked his view, leaving only the moon visible, but as dawn broke, he heard Ming Yi’s exclamation from the roof.
Her voice was sweet and crisp. As a man, she used to suppress it, only letting it out when extremely happy.
Smiling, Ji Bozai coughed twice and began instructing Bu Xiu to find herbs.
Yan Xiao said he needed blood ginseng, but its dangerous harvesting had been banned by official decree after the Six Cities unified. To buy some, they’d need to send someone to Muxing City.
Feeling drowsy, he gave instructions and fell asleep.
At midnight, he sensed someone touching his forehead, muttering, “So hot.”
Then a damp cloth was placed on his brow.
Must be Matron Xun, Ji Bozai thought. The current Ming Yi didn’t care for him, so naturally wouldn’t care if he was ill.
Waking up, he looked to the side.
Ming Yi sat properly at the table eating, even glancing at him as if annoyed he’d risen so late.
He sighed in relief, got up, cleaned himself, and sat beside her.
Today’s meal was bland again. He worriedly looked at Ming Yi, wondering how her tastes had changed so much, but saw her eating naturally, showing no intention of talking to him.
Seems she’s still angry about last night.
He sighed, speaking softly: “Palace affairs have piled up. For the remaining cities, shall we go in two months?”
Ming Yi spooned soup, not looking up: “I heard Your Majesty originally planned to visit Chaoyang New City. Not going anymore?”
Ji Bozai clenched his hand.
Seeing Ming Yi so unhappy before, he had planned to personally escort her to Chaoyang New City to see Zhou Zihong, but – perhaps his mind wasn’t broad enough yet. After two months of consideration, he still didn’t want to go.
He didn’t want to see Ming Yi smile at another man, not at all.
But Yan Xiao said this behavior was petty and likely to displease Ming Yi. It was fine if she didn’t know, but knowing and not going seemed like toying with her.
After a long silence, Ji Bozai took the spoon from her hand, filled it with soup, and placed it before her: “On the way back, let’s stop by and see.”
Ming Yi raised an eyebrow in surprise, then smiled.
She felt quite wicked as if she enjoyed seeing him conflicted and devastated. The more troubled he was, the happier she felt.
However, planning to take her despite his struggle, Ji Bozai might never recover from falling into her hands in this lifetime.
How the tables have turned, Lord Ji!
The man before her didn’t know why she was smiling, thinking she was genuinely happy about seeing Zhou Zihong, so his face darkened unpleasantly.
“Wait until you see him to be happy,” he said gloomily.
Ming Yi teased: “Is it not allowed to feel happy just thinking about it?”
He lowered his eyes, saying nothing more, his back straight, cold, and proud.
Ming Yi happily finished her meal, then glanced at what remained in his bowl: “Eat it all.”
How did a young girl who angered him so still have the audacity to order him around?
Ji Bozai was annoyed but, after silently gripping the bowl for a moment, finished all the food and dishes under her watchful gaze.