Yan Xiao was a child of the Yan clan, but his Yuan Power talent was mediocre. From a young age, his parents held no expectations for him, so he lived carelessly, following a wandering physician.
The physician had no children and, at around fifty years old, had no hobbies except practicing medicine and saving lives. Initially, he didn’t want to take Yan Xiao as a student due to his wealthy appearance. But when Yan Xiao brought him wine on New Year’s Eve, the physician softened and began teaching him to identify herbs and read pulses.
All of Yan Xiao’s medical skills came from him. When he fell ill or got injured, his family ignored him, but the physician would grumble while treating him. So Yan Xiao regarded him as a father figure.
When Yan Xiao was ten, the physician saved a household’s concubine, angering the first wife. He was soon falsely accused of selling fake medicine and causing deaths. Yan Xiao watched helplessly as guards took him away and could only rush home for help.
However, his parents were busy attending to his younger brother, who was born with purple meridians. They ignored Yan Xiao kneeling outside for half an hour.
That’s when Ming An appeared. He had come to see the child with purple meridians and noticed Yan Xiao kneeling outside. He asked what was wrong.
Yan Xiao tearfully explained the physician’s situation, without much hope. In his family’s eyes, a wandering physician was lower than grass and not worth the trouble. But Ming An listened and took him to the magistrate’s office to seek justice.
The case lasted nearly half a year. Ming An exerted his utmost effort and spent considerable money before finally freeing the physician.
Yan Xiao kowtowed to Ming An, saying, “I’m too young to repay you now, but when I’m older, please command me as you wish.”
So at twenty-three, when Ji Bozai left Mu Xing’s slave camp, Yan Xiao was sent to Mu Xing City.
Ming An’s instructions were simple: first, look after Ming Yi and ensure her safety; second, report Ji Bozai’s movements to him monthly.
That’s why at the banquet, when Yan Xiao first saw Ming Yi, he warned her that Ji Bozai wasn’t someone to be trifled with. He even considered taking Ming Yi back to care for her himself. But this girl had her ideas and insisted on approaching Ji Bozai.
Ji Bozai was Yan Xiao’s first friend in Mu Xing City and the one he got along with best. Naturally, he didn’t want to harm him. So when Ji Bozai poisoned Prince Ping, Yan Xiao pretended not to know and allowed him to frame Ming Yi.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to protect Ming Yi, but he knew that with Ji Bozai’s methods, he would certainly keep her safe. Even if he didn’t want to, Yan Xiao had a backup plan to save Ming Yi.
Years of wandering experience made him believe his disguise was flawless, and all his actions seemed reasonable without revealing his true identity.
Recently, when he went to see Ming An at the slave camp, Ming An told him his debt was repaid and he no longer needed to work for him. Yan Xiao felt immensely relieved and returned happily, planning to play chess with Ji Bozai, but unexpectedly…
Looking at the person beside him, Yan Xiao took a deep breath: “Do you also have something you want me to do?”
Ji Bozai, feeling the cold wind, squinted and said, “Yes.”
No choice, Yan Xiao thought glumly, the debt repayment wasn’t over, he had to keep trying.
“Tell me,” he said reluctantly, “As long as it’s not murder or arson, I’ll agree to anything else.”
Ji Bozai looked at him seriously and held up one finger.
Yan Xiao nervously swallowed, fearing he might ask for a mansion. But he saw Ji Bozai turn his wrist, pointing the fingertip at himself, and say seriously, “Clean me up.”
“…”
The tense atmosphere suddenly dissipated. Yan Xiao leaned back on his hands and smiled helplessly, “You’d better ask me to commit murder or arson instead.”
Even for a close friend, he had to say that some things couldn’t be cleaned no matter what. He couldn’t do anything about it.
Ji Bozai pouted and closed his eyes, leaning back.
Yan Xiao quickly supported him: “Your Majesty, there’s no soft couch behind you. You’ll fall.”
The man didn’t respond, seemingly drunk and falling asleep.
Yan Xiao had no choice but to help him down from the roof and hand him over to Bu Xiu. He then prescribed two doses of medicine and asked Nanny Xun to brew them.
The ill Ji Bozai truly had skin like mutton fat jade, eyes containing frost mist, fragile thin lips, and a willow-like waist. Yan Xiao thought that if Ming Yi looked at him a few more times, she might soften her heart. After all, she liked handsome people too much, and Ji Bozai’s beauty could indeed topple a city.
Unfortunately, Ming Yi now had someone else.
After Zhou Zihong served in her bedchamber, he was immediately promoted to Noble Consort, angering Si Tu Ling so much that his lips could hang an oil bottle. Early in the morning, he gazed pitifully at Ming Yi, making her feel guilty: “This is congee made with pigeon soup. You’re still growing, eat more.”
Si Tu Ling shook his head: “Sister, will you stay at my place tonight? I want a promotion too.”
Ming Yi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry: “The ranks in the back palace aren’t official positions. Besides, your position in the court is much higher than Zihong’s.”
“You even call him Zihong!” Si Tu Ling was more upset, “Why don’t you call me Tu Ling?”
“My Lord,” Fu Yue reminded him, unable to bear it anymore, “Your ‘Si Tu’ is a compound surname.”
‘Tu Ling’ doesn’t sound right.
“I don’t care!” Si Tu Ling kicked his legs, “Before, I was the only Noble Consort, which made me special. Now someone is suddenly equal to me, I don’t want that.”
He seemed to be throwing a tantrum, but he controlled it well, appearing pitiful and cute, with three parts anger and seven parts coquetry, his eyes wide and round.
Ming Yi was amused by him and rested her chin on her hand: “Who was it this morning who seriously remonstrated in court and argued with me for three rounds?”
“It was me!” Si Tu Ling puffed out his chest righteously, “Trade is what Chaoyang City is best at, so the ferry port for dealings with Cangxue City should naturally be built early. There’s no argument about that. Sister also said that entering the back palace doesn’t count previous court disputes. I’m not Si Tu Ling, the Chief of the Ministry of Justice now, I’m Noble Consort Si Tu.”
Ming Yi sighed and looked at the ceiling beams: “Alright, Noble Consort Si Tu, I’ll stay at your place tonight.”
Si Tu Ling beamed and immediately waved to those behind him: “Did you all hear that? The Empress will favor me tonight. Those who should prepare hot water, prepare it; those who should burn incense, burn it. Whatever procedures Zhou Zihong had, I should have them all, not one less.”
“Yes!” The attendants held back their laughter and agreed, filing out to make preparations.
Ming Yi felt quite emotional. So this is how it feels to be the one others are jealous of? How to put it… She didn’t find them detestable but rather felt quite cared for.
No wonder city lords throughout history liked to have many wives and concubines, and no wonder even though the original Noble Consort Meng was vicious, Ming Li only turned a blind eye.
As long as the malice wasn’t directed at him, why would someone sitting securely in a high position care about these trivial matters?