Ji Bozai’s brow furrowed as she sat in the swaying beast cart, looking at the smiling man before her, momentarily confused. The old Ming Yi would have naively believed in Ji Bozai’s sincerity, thinking his sudden decisions might be because he cared for her.
But now, she wouldn’t be so presumptuous. She analyzed everything from the perspective of interests. If it aligned with Ji Bozai’s interests, she’d consider whether to help based on her benefits. If it didn’t align with his interests…
Then she simply hadn’t thought it through thoroughly enough.
Ming Yi quickly regained her composure. Since attacking Cang Xue was also something she wanted to do, traveling with him for a while wouldn’t hurt.
The man in the carriage suddenly seemed very happy, his face brightening. Ming Yi glanced at him repeatedly, finally unable to resist asking, “What joyous news does Your Majesty have recently?”
“The palace was burned, and we’re about to go to war. What joy could there be?” he replied.
Despite his words, he was smiling far too cheerfully. Ming Yi was perplexed but didn’t press further. She returned to the inner court with him, consulted with Si Tuling and others, and then went to organize Chaoyang City’s troops.
War isn’t something you can start overnight. To avoid alerting the enemy, Ji Bozai only said that someone with ill intentions had attempted assassination multiple times. Suspecting a plot to usurp the throne, he transferred Mu Xing City’s troops to Chaoyang City.
Ming Yi also gathered Chaoyang’s forces under the pretext of supporting the king.
While this didn’t alarm Cang Xue, rumors quickly spread through the six cities that Ming Yi was plotting to usurp the throne.
“I see His Majesty and the Judicial Minister often clash, always arguing. Last time they even fought in Qingming Hall.”
“It’s true! I saw it too. They were fighting fiercely. When Minister Zhou tried to intervene, he was injured. Minister Si Tu promptly closed the doors of Qingming Hall.”
Zhou Zihong passed by the buzzing garden carrying a ginseng soup, his face expressionless as he scoffed.
Rumors truly become more outrageous as they spread.
He wished those two would fight and never reconcile, but unfortunately, Ming Yi had been in Qingming Hall for recent discussions. Though they argued, it was mostly back-and-forth debates, never physical.
If it ever came to blows, it would be the Judicial Minister losing her temper and striking the Emperor’s arm. But the Emperor never retaliated. Instead, he’d smile, step back with a wave of his hand, and continue to the next topic.
Thinking of how Ji Bozai looked at Ming Yi, Zhou Zihong felt uneasy. Yet Ming Yi no longer believed this man had any true feelings for her, treating it all as an act. Though she didn’t respond, she didn’t avoid him either.
He had tried to warn her, saying Ji Bozai harbored ill intentions.
Ming Yi just smiled, not taking it seriously at all.
Who would believe that someone who had repeatedly toyed with her would still have designs on her? Even if he did, she wouldn’t fall for it again.
Consolidating troops took quite some time. By summer, as Ming Yi watched a lotus bud emerge from the pond, she suddenly said to Zhou Zihong, “We’ve known each other for a long time and understand each other well. Would you be willing to marry me?”
Zhou Zihong was stunned.
The day before yesterday, the inner court had received ten bolts of top-quality dragon and phoenix red silk. Ji Bozai had jokingly asked her, “Want to wear it with me?”
Ming Yi smiled then and said, “Sure.”
Listening nearby, his heart had sunk, thinking the Judicial Minister had truly forgiven him.
But now, how could she suddenly want to marry him?
“Judicial Minister?” he asked, confused.
Ming Yi chuckled softly. “When His Majesty joked with me the other day, I realized it’s been half a year, and I still haven’t had the wedding ceremony I wanted.”
“In the entire rear court, I favor you the most. This might seem sudden to you, but if I want a grand wedding, I think you’d be the best choice.”
Zhou Zihong’s eyes lit up, momentarily too delighted to speak.
Ming Yi didn’t look at him. Seeing he hadn’t responded for a while, she quickly added, “This is my selfish wish to fulfill a dream. If you’re worried about remarrying after a year, I’ll have the ritual officials omit your name and title. We’ll just go through the ceremony.”
His joy was quickly doused, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him.
Zhou Zihong could hardly believe it. “Just going through the motions?”
Ming Yi, embarrassed by his sudden anger, hurriedly explained, “I’m not insisting on this. I just feel one should experience everything in life, so I wanted to find someone to marry. Besides you, others in the rear court might not be so willing.”
In other words, she chose him only because he never pressured her to consummate the marriage or forced her to do anything, never making demands of her. Otherwise, anyone would do it?
Stepping back, Zhou Zihong took a deep breath and then laughed bitterly. “Hasn’t the Judicial Minister considered that I might be unwilling too?”
Ming Yi thought she had misheard, blinking at him. “What?”
“To marry you but only go through the motions – I’d be unwilling too.” Zhou Zihong pressed his lips together, looking at her intently. “If I didn’t have feelings for you, I wouldn’t have entered this rear court.”
Since he had come, it was because he wanted her. If they could have a grand wedding, why couldn’t they become true husband and wife?
Ming Yi’s heart skipped a beat.
She tilted her head, belatedly realizing, “You mean, you want to be with me forever?”
“You don’t particularly like anyone else in the courtyard. Why not release them and keep just me?” Zhou Zihong nervously looked at the ground. “You said before you didn’t want to get involved with anyone easily, but it’s been half a year now. You know what kind of person I am. Are you still unwilling to be with me?”
She thought he had a point. Zhou Zihong was indeed a good man. Though she might not like him the most, she did like him very much. If they truly married and shared a bed, it would be reasonable.
As long as Zhou Zihong was willing, she had no objections.
After brief consideration, Ming Yi nodded. “Then let’s be true husband and wife.”
Zhou Zihong’s eyes instantly brightened. He quickly stepped forward and took her hand. “Really? You’re not deceiving me?”
“I only deceive those who have deceived me. I never harm the innocent,” she smiled, then frowned slightly. “But the others in the courtyard… it’s not that I want to have my cake and eat it too, but many have ties to court factions. It wouldn’t be wise to send them all away at once. We might have to wait until after we take down Cang Xue to deal with them.”
“That’s fine,” Zhou Zihong said with a smile. “As long as I have a place in your heart, I can continue to wait.”
He truly was a man of excellent temperament. Sometimes Ming Yi felt almost embarrassed – how did such a good man end up with her?
People can always navigate situations skillfully when their hearts are calm, just like her attitude toward Zhou Zihong. Perhaps this was how Ji Bozai had once felt about her, watching her slowly fall while he stood clear-headed on the shore.
However, she wouldn’t be as heartless as Ji Bozai. Having agreed to marry Zhou Zihong, she would certainly treat him well.