Cuckoo birds usually call in late spring or early summer, but it was only early spring.
Nanny Xun paused for a moment, quickly lowered her eyes, and said to Ming Yi, “I still need to check the herbs in the back courtyard, so I won’t be able to keep you company. Take care of yourself.” She emphasized the last two words as a token of gratitude for the meal.
However, Ming Yi, the carefree and naive girl, was staring wide-eyed at the enormous expenses in the accounts. She only mumbled a vague response and continued muttering, “What kind of rouge costs thirty taels of silver? Even if it were made of gold, it wouldn’t be this expensive. The master must have been swindled.”
“The clothes made for me cost two hundred taels? Oh my, I shouldn’t wear them; they should wear me.”
“Drinking wine costs five hundred taels? Did they drink the entire tavern?”
She chattered on, completely unguarded.
Nanny Xun shook her head and quietly left, closing the door behind her.
The room was left with only Ming Yi’s murmurs and the rising sound of the wind.
It seemed like it was going to rain. The wind made the paper windows rustle. After reading a few pages of the ledger, Ming Yi rubbed her neck and muttered, “Why is the window open?”
She stood up, her skirt embroidered with golden magpies sweeping the floor, and reached out to pull the thin wooden rod supporting the window.
In that instant, a needle as fine as a cow’s hair grazed her hand and flew into the room, piercing the eye of a lady in the wall painting with deadly precision.
Ming Yi paused, bewildered, and looked down, “Did something fall?”
She quickly checked her hairpin and jade bracelet, relieved to find them intact.
She showed no instinctive reaction typical of a martial artist.
The surroundings fell silent for a moment, and Ming Yi closed the window.
Calmly, she returned to her desk, ready to continue with the accounts, when she noticed a man in black had appeared in the room.
With a black headscarf, black robe, and dark eyes, he stood not far from her desk, staring at her without moving.
“Ah!!!” Ming Yi screamed, her face pale with fright, and she jumped up, scrambling to hide behind the chair.
The man in black drew his sword, unceremoniously thrusting it toward her.
She stared at the sword tip, seemingly petrified, forgetting to dodge. The blade grazed past her face, and only then did the murderous aura make her neck tingle with fear.
“You, you,” she stammered, slowly moving her neck away, “Who are you?”
Such a foolish question could only be asked in a panic.
The man in black smirked slightly. This girl clearly couldn’t fight. Why was he sent here? Could Ji Bozai, with his sharp eyes, not see that?
He sheathed his sword and leaped out the window.
Ming Yi sat on the floor, stunned for a long time before she remembered to call out, “Someone, help!”
Nanny Xun arrived at the sound, helping her up, “What happened, my lady?”
“There was an assassin!” She gestured excitedly, “A man in black just walked in like it was nothing and almost killed me!”
Nanny Xun lowered her eyes, “How could that be? The courtyard is heavily guarded. You must have been seeing things.”
“No, he had a long sword!” Ming Yi shook her head repeatedly, “This won’t do. There must be a security breach in the courtyard. It’s one thing if I get hurt, but the master mustn’t be harmed. Nanny, you should hire more guards.”
Nanny Xun hesitated, “Well…”
“The master gave me gold bars. I can pay for them myself.” She was on the verge of tears, “The master is formidable, but at home, he might be caught off guard. What if someone takes the opportunity to harm him?”
She turned and hurried back to her room, pulling out one of her precious gold bars. “This should be enough to hire three or four more guards, right? Please check the people in the courtyard, and I’ll find someone to buy them.”
“My lady…” Seeing her so frightened yet still concerned for the master’s safety, Nanny Xun felt a pang of sympathy.
The master was too much, using such a frightening method to test her.
She patted Ming Yi’s back, “Don’t worry, I’ll have someone investigate. As for hiring guards, the master must decide.”
Ming Yi was still trembling. When Nanny Xun leaned in, she clung to her like a chick finding its mother hen, shivering.
Nanny Xun sighed, ordered some soup to be made, and poured Ming Yi a cup of hot tea.
It took Ming Yi a full hour to finally burst into tears.
“I didn’t even notice when he entered the room. It was terrifying…”
“I don’t know if he was a thief or a bandit, but he didn’t take anything.”
“He left through the window. What if he’s still hiding in the mansion?”
Nanny Xun hurriedly handed her a handkerchief, “We’ve checked everywhere. There’s no one. Rest assured.”
Ming Yi nodded obediently, but she couldn’t shake the lingering fear.
When Ji Bozai returned to the courtyard, Nanny Xun glared at him.
Having served him for a long time, this was the first time Nanny Xun had ever glared at him. Ji Bozai was puzzled, but before he could speak, Nanny Xun pulled him toward Ming Yi’s courtyard.
“You caused this, so come and comfort her.”
Ji Bozai was taken aback, “Is she hurt?”
“No, but she’s been crying non-stop and even said she wants to buy more guards for you.”
Such a timid girl.
He had planned to check on Prince Gong’s men in the back courtyard first, but remembering how she had trembled at their first meeting, Ji Bozai’s heart softened. He quickly followed Nanny Xun inside.
As soon as he entered, he was enveloped in a warm, soft embrace.
“Nanny doesn’t believe there was an assassin, but I saw him. I’m worried about you,” Ming Yi said, her eyes brimming with tears, her long lashes wet and fluttering against his palm. “Please be careful.”
Ji Bozai looked up at the sky, feeling guilty, “It’s alright. I’m not afraid.”
“But I’m afraid you’ll get hurt.” She looked up, scanning him from head to toe, then hugged his waist tightly.
The strength of her grip showed just how terrified she was of losing him.
His heart softened, and he sighed, holding her close, “Alright, I’ll have more guards added tomorrow.”
She nodded, then pulled out a gold bar from her sleeve, “Do you have enough money? I still have some.”
Her small hand clutched it tightly, her knuckles white, yet she slowly offered the gold bar to him.
Ji Bozai laughed, “Are you willing to part with it?”
“I looked at the accounts today. The courtyard’s expenses are huge, and it pains me,” she pouted. “Since you gave it to me, you can spend it.”
Laughing heartily, he wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her, spinning her around.
Her porcelain-colored skirt flared like a blooming flower. She gasped, her soft hands clutching his wrist, and after a spin, she fell dizzily onto his lap.
Sitting in the grand chair, Ji Bozai scratched her chin with satisfaction, “You truly please me.”
With no martial skills, yet obedient and gentle, she didn’t throw tantrums when jealous. Most importantly, her looks and figure were top-notch, making her utterly delightful.
Ming Yi whimpered, leaning against him like a boneless enchantress.