Ji Bozai still felt proud when he recalled it: “As the august emperor, I didn’t indulge in any extravagance, yet in just two short years, I saved enough for a golden house!”
“And then Miss Ming was so angry she chased you to beat you,” Nanny Xun added expressionlessly.
Ji Bozai’s face fell, and he grumbled, “She doesn’t separate public from private matters. Every emperor has a private treasury. Should it all be spent on disaster relief? What’s the Ministry of Revenue for then?”
“But at that time, the famine in Xincao was severe. You and Miss Ming had just personally gone to see it, witnessing children starving to death on the streets. Then you turned around and gave Miss Ming a golden house. She could only think of ‘Behind vermilion gates, meat and wine go to waste; on the road lie the bones of the frozen.’ How could she understand that this was your way of entrusting your life to her?”
Ji Bozai stubbornly insisted, “Then she’s the one who doesn’t appreciate it.”
Nanny Xun nodded in sudden realization and turned to go tell Ming Yi.
Ji Bozai quickly stopped her, sighing, “Nanny, you’ve been with me since you were by Madam Bo’s side. How come you help her and not me?”
“This old servant just thinks Miss Ming wasn’t wrong,” Nanny Xun sat back down. “She was still young then, at an age when girls are typically vain, yet she wasn’t misled by your gestures. It shows her virtue.”
He only did such outrageous things once a year. People need to release sometimes, right? Being diligent for 360 days, there should be five days for indulgence.
Ji Bozai felt he wasn’t entirely wrong, but seeing Nanny Xun’s gaze, he felt a bit guilty and said softly, “Then the third year surely wasn’t extravagant, was it?”
“Indeed,” Nanny Xun nodded. “In the third year, after a heavy rainstorm, Miss Ming returned soaking wet. Just as she was about to change clothes, you blocked her in the palace corridor and asked if she wanted a man to warm her up in such cold weather.”
Ji Bozai thought the scene was quite romantic at the time. The rain was falling softly all around, and his girl was like a lotus in clear water, looking up at him with captivating eyes.
However, the reality was that Ming Yi’s makeup had been washed away by the rain, her hair was wet and clinging to her face, and she was in quite a mess. She just wanted to quickly go back and change clothes, but Ji Bozai stopped her and asked if she wanted a man.
Outrageous and vulgar.
She slapped him without a second thought and went back on her own.
Later, when Bai Ying mentioned it, Ming Yi was still puzzled: “Was that supposed to be a proposal?”
Bai Ying wiped her face, also feeling it was inappropriate. Out of goodwill, she reported back to Ji Bozai, telling him to put a bit more thought into it next time.
Receiving such a message, Ji Bozai immediately put his mind to it. In the fourth year, he proposed in front of all the civil and military officials during the morning court, but Ming Yi rejected him because private matters shouldn’t be discussed in court. In the fifth year, he proposed after suppressing a rebellion, but Ming Yi was severely injured at the time and couldn’t hear clearly what he was saying.
In the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth years, there were always various accidents.
After so many failures, a palace maid who had briefly gained prominence came to him and said, “A woman who truly wants to marry you wouldn’t need to be pursued for so many years. Miss Ming just wants to keep your favor while not giving up her position as City Lord.”
Her words seemed reasonable, and Ji Bozai immediately had her dragged out and beheaded.
Ming Yi wouldn’t care about his favor; it was he who insisted on giving it to her. Who were others to meddle?
However, this was already the tenth year, and Ji Bozai was very troubled. What kind of proposal would make Ming Yi nod in agreement?
Just as he was thinking, he heard someone announce: “Zhou Zihong has arrived at the palace.”
Ji Bozai’s expression tightened, and he immediately stood up.
It was almost Ming Yi’s 30th birthday. She had asked him earlier if she could invite some friends to the palace to celebrate, as she couldn’t leave due to the many affairs of the state.
He naturally agreed, but he didn’t expect her to invite Zhou Zihong as well.
Zhou Zihong was already married. He had married a noble lady in the third year of the Great Ming Dynasty. It was said that the couple was quite affectionate, and he had even generously rewarded Zhou’s wife at the time. But how was it that upon hearing about Ming Yi’s birthday celebration, he was the first to arrive?
Ji Bozai felt that being jealous would make him seem petty, but he couldn’t help feeling uneasy.
If he hadn’t forcibly kept Ming Yi in the palace back then, she would still be on good terms with Zhou Zihong.
“Have the Ministry of Internal Affairs send over the newly made clothes for me to see,” he said, pressing his lips together.
Nanny Xun smiled when she heard this: “Your Majesty has the bearing of a dragon and the appearance of a phoenix. Why would you need to dress up deliberately?”
“That may be so, but whether it’s sachets, hairpins, boots, or robes, I don’t want to be inferior to him in any aspect,” Ji Bozai replied.
One was the emperor, the other a subject. If Zhou Zihong surpassed him, it would be considered insubordination.
But Ji Bozai was anxious. He immediately washed up, got dressed, and changed into new clothes. Then, pretending to be casual, he went to intercept Ming Yi, who was about to go out to greet the guests, on the palace path.
“What a coincidence. Shall we go together?” he smiled.
Ming Yi looked him up and down, her eyes brightening slightly: “Your Majesty has dressed up today.”
“What do you mean, dressed up?” he feigned ignorance. “The Ministry of Internal Affairs insisted on sending new clothes, so I could only casually choose one to wear.”
Ming Yi nodded: “That’s good. Zhou Zihong and his wife have arrived. Come with me to meet them.”
“A mere official from Chaoyang, and you’re personally going to greet him?” he couldn’t help but mutter.
“Your Majesty, I am the City Lord of Chaoyang, and he is Chaoyang’s Prime Minister. He’s also coming to celebrate my birthday. Why shouldn’t I greet him?” Ming Yi replied.
Ji Bozai fell silent, only secretly adjusting his angle towards Ming Yi, striving to show her his best side.
Sure enough, Ming Yi frequently turned her head to look at him, her eyes quite bright.
Ji Bozai was very satisfied.
However, as soon as he saw Zhou Zihong, his face fell again.
After many years, Zhou Zihong’s appearance hadn’t diminished. He wore a long robe of bamboo-gray brocade, with a jade hairpin holding up his black hair. His features were handsome, and his demeanor was elegant.
He stepped forward to look at Ming Yi, somewhat excitedly bowing: “Greetings, My Lord.”
Then, he reluctantly turned to bow to Ji Bozai: “Paying respects to Your Majesty.”
Ji Bozai snorted with laughter. Zhou’s wife was right beside him, yet he was so perfunctory. Was he afraid others wouldn’t notice his special regard for Ming Yi?
“No need for formalities,” Ming Yi smiled, making a gesture to support him, then placed her hand on Ji Bozai’s arm.
Ji Bozai paused, his expression immediately brightening again.
“We were just talking about you two,” he said with a smile. “I heard your esteemed wife is expecting recently.”
“It took seven years of marriage to have any news. It’s truly embarrassing,” Zhou Zihong said flatly.
Ming Yi looked to his side and saw a graceful and dignified woman with an arm veil, smiling and bowing to her: “This humble wife is surnamed Xu. I’ve long heard of the City Lord’s reputation, but only today do I have the honor to meet you. I regret not meeting you earlier.”
She was poised and beautiful, a good girl.
Ming Yi smiled and nodded: “Please come in quickly. The wind is strong out here.”
Zhou Zihong glanced at her hand on Ji Bozai’s arm, his expression slightly melancholic. Seeing this, Madam Xu immediately took his hand as well. As they walked in, she said, “My husband never told me he was so close to the City Lord. To have the City Lord and Your Majesty personally come to greet us, this humble wife feels overwhelmed.”