Bu Xiu lowered his head, not daring to respond. Ji Bozai realized – she wanted to fill her inner court.
A woman, openly selecting male companions?
It was too absurd. Who could accept a woman with multiple partners? Let alone him, which men would be willing to participate in such a selection?
“And those civil and military officials around her agreed to this?” he asked in disbelief.
Bu Xiu became animated at this topic, smiling as he said, “Of course, they didn’t agree. They caused an uproar at the court meeting, with over seventy people surrounding Lady Ming to lecture her about propriety and shame. Guess what Lady Ming did? She directly issued a challenge, saying that since all the court officials got their positions through their strong Yuan Power, she’d let anyone who wanted to object face her in combat.”
“She said that since ancient times, the strong have always had priority in mating. Whoever could defeat her would receive ten thousand taels of gold. But if no one could win against her, she would have the right to freely choose her partners.”
Ji Bozai: “…”
Comparing Yuan Power with those pampered officials, she was truly taking advantage of them.
The outcome didn’t need to be asked. Besides him, who could easily defeat her?
“Lady Ming is unlike previous City Lords who forcibly selected women for their inner courts. She truly goes out to court men herself. If she likes a young man, she asks if he’s willing to enter the inner court. If they’re willing, she brings them back. If not, she doesn’t force them.”
In other words, during the days he was ill, she had been out looking for men.
Good, very good.
His chest heaving, Ji Bozai laughed in extreme anger: “So, did anyone go back to her inner court?”
Bu Xiu counted on his fingers: “It seems there are twelve people already.”
“…Those who rely on a woman’s power can’t be anything good,” he narrowed his eyes.
Bu Xiu sighed: “You wouldn’t believe it, but among those twelve are Chaoyang City’s Confucian scholars, young men with Yuan Power strong enough to enter the Yuan Academy, and even people from Muxing City. They all have quite impressive backgrounds and are all handsome.”
Lady Ming truly liked good-looking people. The men she chose were all uniquely handsome. Though they might not match Your Majesty’s elegant demeanor, they weren’t far behind.
Taking a deep breath, Ji Bozai began to cough.
Bu Xiu quickly helped him catch his breath, saying, “Lord Yan said your illness is due to overwork. You need to rest well, for at least half a month.”
Half a month? In another half month, horses could run on his head.
Wrapping himself in his robe, Ji Bozai stumbled out of bed, washed his face, and carefully examined himself in the bronze mirror.
He didn’t believe anyone could be more handsome than him. Her reckless search for those men was nothing but fish eyes compared to pearls. When compared to him, they would all pale in comparison.
Chaoyang City seemed much livelier than before, with many more women walking on the streets. Everyone excitedly whispered about Mingyi’s next target.
On the first day, people still considered it shameful to be chosen by her, thinking that living off a woman was not what a real man should do. But after the second day, some people began to intentionally or unintentionally appear on Mingyi’s usual routes.
After all, who wouldn’t like a fair-skinned, beautiful woman who was as rich as a nation and knew how to please people?
Take the Confucian scholar Zhou Zihong, for example. A disciple of a great scholar, talented in governance, usually cold and distant. Yet after meeting Mingyi just three times, he followed her into the palace.
When his master angrily questioned him why, Zhou Zihong only knelt and cupped his hands: “She needs me.”
At first, he also thought it was absurd for a young woman to go around seeking men, hardly befitting a noble family. But when she truly sat across from him, her eyes brimming with autumn waves as she asked why he didn’t smile, Zhou Zihong heard his heartbeat.
She was beautiful, but not like a delicate flower. Her beauty had backbone and poise. Even when he rejected her the first time, she didn’t feel embarrassed, only gracefully telling him, “If you find me annoying, just say so, and I won’t come tomorrow.”
Was she annoying? Of course not. Even with her intention of bringing him into the inner court, he couldn’t dislike her. He only felt troubled – if he followed her, he would have no future in officialdom, which was truly a pity.
Mingyi looked at him and said, “I’m not afraid of the inner court interfering in politics. We can attend court during the day and enjoy spring nights together, each discussing our matters.”
Zhou Zihong blushed at her words, seriously saying her speech was absurd, yet when she stood to leave, he grabbed her sleeve.
“I’ll go with you,” he said.
Mingyi smiled happily, pulled him up, and gently hugged him: “I won’t mistreat you.”
“But you’ll have other men, won’t you?” he asked.
“I’ll only keep you for a year,” Mingyi tilted her head to look at him. “After a year, if you’re willing to stay by my side, then stay. If not, you can marry someone else. I won’t hold you back.”
In other words, she would have other men, but she also didn’t mind if he had other women in the future.
Zhou Zihong suddenly felt annoyed: “Then you don’t love me, you just like me.”
Mingyi smoothed his furrowed brow, smiling lightly: “If you have the ability, you can make me love you too.”
Her fingertips brushed past his face like a gentle breeze. She picked up her skirt, turned around, and waved to him: “Go wait for me in the inner court. I’ll come find you in a few days.”
Zhou Zihong was unwilling, and it was this unwillingness that made him immediately move to the inner court.
“Sister Ming is truly captivating,” Situ Ling rested his chin on his hand, watching Mingyi approach from the window, sighing with admiration.
Fu Yue’s expression was complex: “This isn’t a reason for you to enter Chaoyang’s inner court.”
“If they can, why can’t I?” Situ Ling raised an eyebrow. “Compared to others, I think Sister Ming likes me more.”
“She doesn’t like you, she treats you like a younger brother. She knows you don’t want to return to Muxing, so she’s using this as a way to keep you here,” Fu Yue revealed bluntly, expressionless.
Situ Ling’s face fell: “You’re still so unlikable.”
“My Lord,” Fu Yue sighed.
Situ Ling waved his hand, unwilling to say more, and bounced off to open the door for Mingyi.
As soon as Mingyi entered, she poured herself a cup of tea, then smiled at Situ Ling: “Have you packed everything?”
“All packed, I can go back with Sister right now,” Situ Ling smiled, showing two little tiger teeth. “But, everyone in the inner court has a title. What title does Sister plan to give me?”
Mingyi smiled: “Everyone starts as a talented scholar, but Sister will make an exception for you. How about starting directly as a Noble Consort?”
“Thank you for Sister’s favor,” Situ Ling performed an inner court bow in a seemingly proper manner.
Mingyi laughed for a moment, and then her expression became serious: “Since you’re unwilling to return to Muxing, are you willing to help me in Chaoyang? My Ministry of Justice is short-staffed, and I dare not use strangers.”
“Since Sister has asked, how can I refuse?” Situ Ling thought for a moment. “But, there are still many of his people in the court, right? If they try to trip me up, Sister must help me.”
“Don’t worry, just go and do it. Sister will have your back,” Mingyi patted his shoulder.
Situ Ling smiled happily and reached out to hug her.
This gesture would have been considered disrespectful before, but Mingyi had gotten used to it recently and didn’t find it strange. She casually patted his head and took him to ride the beast carriage back to the inner court.