Yet another failed confession. Ji Bozai didn’t understand why his usually nimble tongue became so clumsy and inarticulate at this moment. Feeling dejected and tipsy, he rested his head on Ming Yi’s lap, his eyes reddening. “I’m not good with words.”
“Your Majesty is being modest. If you can’t speak well, who in this world would dare claim to be silver-tongued?” Ming Yi replied.
“But, I just want to tell you that I truly like you. I’m willing to give my life for you, and I’m also willing to buy you scallion pancakes. I want to be your shield, and I’m willing to worship you as a deity. If we marry as equals, I promise I won’t let you down again—but my tongue, it just won’t cooperate.”
The man known as the tyrant was now lying in her arms, on the verge of tears.
Ming Yi smiled gently, her fingertips lightly wiping the corners of his eyes. “Alright, I heard you.”
Ji Bozai looked up in confusion, his eyes clouded with alcohol. “What did you hear?”
“I heard Your Majesty proposing to me.”
“Then, then do you accept or not?” He gazed at her expectantly.
Ming Yi’s lips curled into a smile, her eyes twinkling. She parted her cherry lips and uttered two words, but Ji Bozai’s head was too heavy. It felt as if a stone was tied to his forehead, and before he could hear those two words clearly, his head drooped down.
Bo Yuankui was about to look for Ji Bozai to drink together when he saw him sleeping drunkenly on Ming Yi’s lap. He couldn’t help but chuckle, “Even His Majesty has moments of such indecorum.”
Ming Yi reached out to prevent him from sliding off, laughing softly, “Doesn’t Lord Bo find His Majesty utterly adorable like this?”
Bo Yuankui:?
Who in their right mind would find a tyrant adorable? That’s practically insane.
He looked at Ming Yi, unable to comprehend, but saw her gently patting the person in her arms, as if soothing a child. There was no reverence or taking advantage of the situation; she simply wanted to wait for the banquet to end and take him back to sleep.
“I remember you telling me that what you wanted to do was difficult and might take all your remaining energy,” Xiu Yun sat beside Ming Yi and said, “But now, in less than ten years, the world is peaceful, people live in harmony, and women can live normal lives. So what do you plan to do next?”
Ming Yi raised an eyebrow. “Naturally, to maintain this wonderful state of affairs.”
“What about yourself?” Xiu Yun glanced at the person in her arms.
Ming Yi looked at her deeply. “Next year, you’ll help me with my hair.”
Only those with happy marriages were asked to help with the bride’s hair.
Xiu Yun’s eyes lit up, and she patted Ming Yi’s hand. “Alright.”
Whether they married or not, as long as it made her happy, it was a good thing.
Ming Yi had initially lived for her father, mother, and city. Later, she lived for the world. Now, she finally had a chance to live for herself.
Her eyes moistened, but Xiu Yun didn’t want to cry in front of her. She turned and went to Zheng Tiao’s side.
Zheng Tiao had been drinking, but when he saw tears in his wife’s eyes, he thought he had done something wrong. He hurriedly put down his cup and embraced her. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I’m just happy.”
“Crying because you’re happy?” He used his sleeve to wipe the tears from her face. “Don’t cry. I’ll take care of both children tonight. You rest well, alright?”
Taking care of children was exhausting work, especially since the couple liked to do it themselves. They would often get up in the middle of the night to check if the children were sleeping well, making it difficult for them to sleep soundly.
Originally, they had agreed to take turns watching over the children each night. Seeing his wife in tears, Zheng Tiao felt helpless and could only offer to take care of the children for an extra night as a gesture of comfort.
Xiu Yun remained silent.
She truly was crying tears of joy, but now she felt there was no need to explain it to him.
Having a husband who might not be good at comforting but cared deeply wasn’t so bad after all.
Lady Xu and Zhang Tai sat together, drinking cup after cup.
Zhang Tai initially thought it was because of her bold personality, but seeing the worry in her brow and her frequent glances towards the man beside her, she realized there was something on her mind.
Beside her sat Zhou Zihong. Zhou Zihong didn’t usually drink, but he wanted to personally give the jade Guanyin to Ming Yi and needed some courage. So, he had a couple of cups.
After two cups, feeling more confident, he stood up with the box and went to Ming Yi.
Lady Xu remained seated, watching his back.
She watched as he opened the brocade box containing the jade Guanyin in front of Ming Yi, nervously observing her reaction.
She saw Ming Yi’s expression change from joy to confusion, then to guilt and refusal.
She watched him dejectedly close the box and place it on the ground beside Ming Yi’s table.
She saw him stumble back to his seat and continue drinking with his head down.
Lady Xu was drunk. She smiled and asked Zhang Tai, “What kind of person is your husband?”
On this topic, Zhang Tai had much to say. Her husband was also a businessman. They had met through a quarrel. He had a hot temper and was rough around the edges, but he treated her well. On their wedding day, he even cried and refused to let go of her when helping her out of the bridal sedan.
But after talking for a while, Zhang Tai stopped and simply said, “He’s a man who loves me very much.”
As a married couple, they should love each other. If there was no love, why get married?
Lady Xu turned her head and, emboldened by alcohol, patted Zhou Zihong’s shoulder. “Hey.”
“Hmm?” He turned to face her.
Lady Xu smiled at him and said softly, “Let’s go home and get a divorce.”
His heart clenched, and Zhou Zihong’s face darkened. “Why?”
“I think I’m a good girl. I’m virtuous, can manage a household, can forge weapons. I should marry someone who loves me, not waste my years on you.”
The alcohol had given her courage too. She clapped her hands and smiled as brightly as a flower, her tongue a bit thick as she said, “That Song boy might be a scoundrel, but at least he knows that if he has someone he loves, he shouldn’t marry another. You don’t know that. Not only do you not know, but you married me and then hurt me.”
Pointing at her own heart, Lady Xu said, “I’m very sad. In these seven years, except for our moments of intimacy, I’ve never felt that I was in your heart.”
She paused, then smiled again. “Even during those intimate moments, I might not have been in your heart. You might have been thinking of someone else.”
Although the surroundings were noisy, no one could hear what she was saying. But such words were ultimately too explicit. Zhou Zihong reached out and covered her mouth, his fingertips trembling inexplicably.
“You’re drunk,” he said. “Go home and sober up. I can pretend you never said any of this.”
Lady Xu shook her head. “I want a divorce. Let’s write the divorce papers when we get back.”
“I won’t write them.”
“Then I’ll write them.” Lady Xu stretched out her hand. “I’ve always hated learning to write since I was little. Later, it was because of you that I practiced calligraphy day and night, hoping you would look at me with approval.”
“Now I know, when you like someone, you like everything they do. When you don’t like someone, everything they do is irrelevant to you.”
“At least I learned how to write. I can write the divorce papers myself. I suppose that’s something I gained.”