“Report—”
The resounding announcement echoed throughout the great hall. “This year’s top scholar hails from Zhuyue City, with Chaoyang City following closely behind. The third-place winner is from Xincao City.”
The gold-rimmed jade cups froze midair, and the dazzling dance skirts awkwardly fell. The officials who had been chatting merrily on the dais all stiffened, exchanging slightly embarrassed glances. Their Muxing City had once again failed to secure a place in the top three.
After a long silence, the Grand Minister on the main seat spoke up. “Our Muxing has long been in decline. Understandably, we couldn’t outperform these great cities.” He paused before continuing, “But no matter. There will be opportunities next year. It’s a festive occasion, so let’s not dwell on trifles. Raise your cups!”
With his words, the hall immediately sprang back to life. As if to cover up their earlier discomfort, the sounds of toasts and jests grew even louder than before.
The Grand Minister turned his head, his gaze inadvertently falling on the person seated to the left of the great hall.
That man slightly tilted his head, revealing fine brows and eyes, his gaze captivating. He wore a thin, pale yellow gauze robe, his eyes gleaming with amber light.
He seemed utterly unconcerned about any “opportunities for next year,” simply sitting with his legs folded, drinking. He tilted his head back, the last drops of wine wetting half of his lotus-root silk collar.
Having drunk his fill, he waved away the dancing girls who had been accompanying him earlier and began to survey the bejeweled skirts twirling in the hall once more.
Young and vigorous, he was indeed a romantic at heart.
The Grand Minister smiled and shook his head, withdrawing his gaze.
As the imposing gaze disappeared, Ji Bozai’s shoulders relaxed slightly. He swept his eyes over the ladies in front, just about to casually select another, when suddenly a wine cup came flying from across the hall.
Dodging it with a slight turn of his head, he frowned and looked towards its source. Just then, he caught sight of a bamboo-mist-colored silk skirt unfurling like a flower, revealing the slender, snow-white ankles of its owner beneath.
“Mercy, my lord.” As the skirt fell, the person knelt on the ground, her waist trembling like a willow, her voice as crisp as an oriole’s song.
Ji Bozai’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
What a delightfully graceful figure.
The skirt fell wide, and the goose-yellow waistband was cinched so tight it could barely be grasped. Her bosom was full, yet her shoulders were slender and delicate. Her double-looped bun was as sleek as lacquer, her nose tip as white as powdered jade. Her small, delicate mouth quivered as she repeatedly offered apologies.
Standing before her was Left Minister of Revenue Qian Li. Already naturally rotund, his anger had caused his entire face to scrunch up, looming over her like a mountain.
“Go pick it up for me right now!” he bellowed.
“Yes, please calm your anger, my lord.”
She stumbled to her feet and tottered in his direction.
The golden cup had struck the stone pillar behind him and fallen right by his feet.
Ji Bozai watched her approach with interest, hoping to catch her eye. However, the young lady seemed too frightened to raise her head. She merely muttered, “Excuse me,” before bending down to retrieve the cup.
He clicked his tongue softly and placed his foot on the cup’s rim.
The young lady hesitated, then looked up at him with some trepidation, her misty black eyes gazing softly into his. “My lord?”
Her voice was truly pleasing to the ear.
Ji Bozai smiled. “Keep me company for a drink, and I’ll give it to you.”
Panic immediately flooded her eyes. “But… I… Minister Qian summoned me to his side first…”
“He won’t take you away. He has a terrifyingly fierce wife at home. Forget about concubines, he doesn’t even have a single maid in his back courtyard,” he said, gently pinching her chin, his mood greatly improved. “I, on the other hand, might just take you back to my residence.”
Before the young lady could react to his words, the man drinking beside them suddenly spat out his wine.
“You said the same thing to the last dancing girl,” Yan Xiao choked out, exposing him. “Can’t you come up with something new?”
Casting a sidelong glance at him, Ji Bozai snorted with amusement. “Mind your drink.”
“Young lady, don’t be fooled by his handsome face and believe his nonsense,” Yan Xiao turned to her seriously. “This man’s home is as bare as can be, yet he’s dallied with countless flowers of spring. If you truly wish to follow someone home, you’d be better off with me. At least I keep my word.”
The young lady turned to look at him, her gaze falling on the official insignia on his sleeve. She straightened up and said, “My lord, my name is Ming Yi. Ming as in ‘bright moon,’ and Yi as in ‘sweetheart.'”
Ji Bozai: “…”
She adapted faster than a rudder in a storm.
Yan Xiao clapped his hands. “Bright Moon Sweetheart, what a lovely name! Come over here.”
She rose happily, then glanced at Ji Bozai, her eyes filled with an attempt to please, an apology, and a hint of regret.
That hint of regret, while not deeply hurtful, was extremely insulting. It was as if he were a beautiful porcelain vase that she had discovered had a tiny flaw, forcing her to give up on it.
“Explain yourself clearly,” Ji Bozai said with amused anger, gripping her wrist and pulling her close. “What’s wrong with me?”
Ming Yi was taken aback and shook her head frantically. “How could a lowly servant like me dare to say anything is wrong with my lord, who sits in such an esteemed position?”
“Then why do you want to go with him?”
Fidgeting with her fingers nervously, she smiled awkwardly. “My lord, you are… good, of course, but you don’t yet hold an official position. This lord is different. His insignia indicates he’s at least a third-rank official.”
High-ranking officials were good indeed. They had large mansions and hefty monthly stipends. If she could be taken back by one, she could live a life of luxury.
Ming Yi’s eyes brightened at the thought.
Yan Xiao was stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter. “Haha! Good, good! This girl is amusing and quite perceptive!”
Ji Bozai’s face darkened. He waved Yan Xiao away dismissively and pulled Ming Yi onto his lap, stuffing a piece of jade from the table into her hand. “Here’s a reward for you.”
Feeling the coolness in her palm, Ming Yi looked down and gasped, her small mouth forming a perfect circle. “This is top-grade mutton-fat jade. It’s so precious!”
Ji Bozai said nonchalantly, “It was just awarded by the Grand Minister. I’m the only one among the Three Departments and Six Ministries to receive one.”
“Wow,” she blinked. “Then my lord must be truly remarkable.”
“It’s nothing special, just slightly better than this third-rank official next to me,” he raised an eyebrow slightly. “I’ll give you one more chance. Who do you choose?”
Ming Yi caressed the jade in her arms, her eyes blinking rapidly. “Well, if I choose him, will my lord take back the jade?”
“Yes,” Ji Bozai nodded without hesitation.
To his surprise, even knowing this, the little thing only stroked the mutton-fat jade reluctantly before returning it to him.
“What he said makes sense. Someone of my lord’s stature surely wouldn’t bring someone back to his residence. I fear it would be an empty joy, so I’d rather seek peace of mind,” Ming Yi pointed at Yan Xiao. “I wish to go with this lord. Please grant me this, my lord.”
“…”
In his twenty-some years of life, Ji Bozai had never been so infuriated.
He smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes, his thumb lightly brushing her lips. “I can’t grant that. Among all the dancing girls in the hall tonight, you’re the only one I fancy.”
Yan Xiao raised an eyebrow. “You also said that earlier…”
“Shut up.”
“Oh.”