The man had sharp features, slightly graying hair, and wore a golden ceremonial robe adorned with precious jewels. In his hand, he held a string of deep green prayer beads. He appeared to be in his forties, yet his expression was as passionate as a young man’s.
Intuition told Mingyi that the person Ji Bozai wanted her to meet was likely this man.
He was the Grand Minister’s younger brother, Prince Qi Bai.
This man rarely appeared at banquets, and only the annual family gathering could draw him out. What did Ji Bozai want her to do?
Before she could ponder further, Qi Bai gently touched the hem of her skirt. “Everyone tries to imitate Mulan Green, but ever since the Bureau of Weaving changed its staff, it’s rare to see such a true color.”
He looked up at Mingyi’s face, his expression slightly dazed. “What is your name?”
Was he thinking of taking her in?
Mingyi’s heart tightened. She quickly knelt down and respectfully said, “I am called Zhangtai. I am still recovering from a cold and cannot serve wine. I beg your pardon, Your Highness.”
Dancers at banquets were generally not allowed to refuse, especially not to a prince. But Mingyi couldn’t care about that now. Refusing might not cost her life, but if her identity were discovered, Ji Bozai would surely silence her.
Unexpectedly, Qi Bai was not angry. He patted the cushion beside him. “You can sit here without drinking.”
Mingyi blinked and hesitantly knelt beside him.
The banquet began. Today’s dancers were vibrant and colorful, and no one paid attention to who went where. Thus, Qi Bai’s near-obsessive gaze on her went unnoticed.
But Mingyi quickly realized something.
Qi Bai’s initial interest wasn’t in her appearance but in her dress, which Ji Bozai had specifically prepared for her.
This color had been popular in the Six Cities three years ago when Lady Meng of Muxing City attended the Six Cities Conference in a Mulan Green dress, exuding elegance and grace, prompting many to imitate her. After Lady Meng’s incident, Mulan Green gradually fell out of favor among the nobility.
How did Ji Bozai know Qi Bai still liked this color?
“Your Highness, it’s time for your medicine,” a eunuch reminded him.
Qi Bai snapped back to reality, glanced at the poison tester beside him, and seeing no reaction, took the medicine bowl and drank it in one go.
The medicinal aroma was strong, and Mingyi suddenly felt dizzy.
She glanced at her dress and seemed to understand something. Her eyes flickered, and she quickly pulled out a handkerchief, pretending to cough as she covered her mouth and nose.
“Your Highness, I am truly unwell,” she said weakly. “You are still taking medicine, and I fear… Please allow me to withdraw.”
Qi Bai frowned slightly, set down the medicine bowl, and touched her skirt again, sighing, “You have a kind heart, just like her.”
For some reason, Mingyi seemed to understand who “she” was.
She smiled sweetly without revealing her thoughts, then stood up, submitted to a body search by the eunuch, and returned to the dancers’ group.
“I wondered who it was, and it turns out to be you,” said Rongxin, a dancer standing next to her. “I thought Zhangtai had such skills to catch the prince’s eye, but it was you. What, did Lord Ji kick you out so soon?”
As she spoke, the surrounding dancers turned their attention to Mingyi.
Rongxin was known for her jealousy and love of stirring trouble. Mingyi decided not to engage, smiling it off.
However, Rongxin seemed particularly provoked today and continued, “I thought you had climbed high, causing a city-wide stir, but you’re back here serving wine like us.”
“What did you say to the prince? Tell us,” she taunted.
“Why aren’t you speaking? Can you only smile seductively at men?”
She muttered, pushing and shoving, and even pinched Mingyi with her long, sharp nails.
Caught off guard, Mingyi yelped in pain, looking down to see a bloody mark on her wrist.
She suddenly grew angry. “What are you doing?”
Rongxin was startled but then raised her voice, “Why show off here? Go shout in the main hall if you dare!”
“If you have the guts, go pinch someone in the main hall,” Mingyi said with a calm face. “You didn’t fight for yourself there, and now you’re taking it out on me. What kind of person are you?”
“You!” Rongxin’s face darkened.
She had often bullied Mingyi and Zhangtai, even throwing their blankets into the well in early spring. Mingyi had never fought back, clearly timid and afraid of trouble.
Now, just because she caught a noble’s eye, she dared speak to her like this. This sudden arrogance was infuriating.
“Do you think the noble in the hall will back you up?” she snapped. “I think the prince was only looking at your dress. If I wore it, I could sit in the hall too!”
This seemed to remind her that Mingyi’s advantage wasn’t her face. Many had pretty faces; she just benefited from the dress.
With a cunning thought, she signaled to the dancers loyal to her.
Mingyi sensed trouble. “What are you planning?”
“Today, I’m the lead dancer for the inner banquet. I should wear the best color. Your dancing is poor, and you stand on the side. Wearing such a dress is inappropriate,” Rongxin smiled. “Let’s switch.”
Mingyi frowned and stepped back. “Today’s rule is to wear our dresses.”
Rongxin was done talking. They were in a small garden outside the main hall, waiting for the Grand Minister to arrive before re-entering to dance. No one would come here or know what they were doing.
“Take off her dress!”
They were well-practiced in bullying. Some blocked the outside while others reached for her sash.
Mingyi laughed in anger, waving her hand. “I’ll do it myself. This fabric is expensive. If it’s torn, no one can wear it.”
The dancers paused, looking at Rongxin, who sneered, “Don’t try any tricks.”
What tricks could she play? If someone was so eager to seek trouble, could she stop them?
Mingyi swiftly removed her outer dress and tossed it to her, reminding her, “This dress isn’t easy to wear.”
Rongxin thought she was mocking her for never wearing expensive dresses and immediately threw her outer dress at Mingyi’s face. “If you can wear it, why can’t I?”
After changing, Mingyi said no more, blending into the dancers’ group as usual, entering the hall to dance haphazardly, and then retreating with the others.
As they exited, Rongxin deliberately fell in front of Qi Bai’s seat, exclaiming loudly, very deliberately.
Qi Bai, perhaps tipsy, was holding his head uncomfortably. Seeing a flash of Mulan Green fall before him, he was startled and quickly had the eunuch help her to a seat.
Rongxin was overjoyed, glaring triumphantly at Mingyi.
See, wearing this dress, she too could sit beside the prince.
Mingyi paid no mind. She only glanced at Qi Bai’s slightly pale lips before quickly lowering her head and following the others out.