As soon as Ji Bozai arrived in Feihua City, rumors spread throughout the inner court. The officials were alarmed: “Why has His Majesty come in person?”
Their panic was understandable. The fate of Cangxue City had been too brutal, and unaware of the inside story, they assumed the Emperor’s conquering spirit remained unquenched. Any city not fully submitting risked being attacked again.
Feihua City had avoided destruction through Zheng Tiao’s congratulatory letter. Ji Bozai had never attacked their capital. What if he suddenly took interest…
Seated at the head, Zheng Tiao sighed at the chaos below: “Cangxue fell for defying imperial orders and inciting conflict. What crime has Feihua committed?”
“My lord, you don’t understand. Once Ji Bozai’s bloodlust is roused, he’ll find any excuse to condemn us.”
“Indeed, everyone knows he’s accustomed to acting arbitrarily—”
The rest was mumbled too quietly to hear, but it was unfavorable.
Zheng Tiao lowered his eyes, thinking that excessive bloodshed indeed led to a poor reputation. In these people’s eyes, Ji Bozai had become a merciless god of slaughter.
Sighing softly, he said, “His Majesty is only here to observe the ceremony.”
His wedding was imminent, and his chosen bride was an unremarkable girl from a common background. The court disapproved, and many noble families were dissatisfied.
Making a craftsman’s merchant daughter their Mistress? Who would enter the inner court to be beneath her? Wouldn’t it force entire clans to bow to merchants?
Impossible, utterly impossible.
The officials protested. Noble ladies disregarded Xiu Yun, excluding her from gatherings and avoiding her without offering proper greetings.
Yet they couldn’t sway their lord’s determination to marry her. In his words, women were superfluous; he was marrying one simply because he truly liked her. If they had so many opinions, they should go marry whomever they thought suitable and not bother him.
Thus, for the Mistress’s investiture ceremony two days hence, court officials showed little regard. Over ten had already claimed illness to avoid attending, and the ceremonial procedures were being neglected.
But now their lord suddenly announced that His Majesty would attend?
The officials panicked. Their lord was easy to handle, absorbed in cultivating high-level duelists and disregarding trivial matters of etiquette. But His Majesty was different. If he saw Feihua’s people scattered and undisciplined, wouldn’t he be more inclined to attack?
With only two days left, the hall erupted in chaos. Heedless of propriety, they bowed and retreated, rushing out while calling to each other:
“Lord Liu, informing them about preparing ceremonial robes is your responsibility!”
“Lord Zhang, quickly review the protocols again!”
“I’ll have my wife pay respects to the future Mistress immediately!”
With that, they scattered like birds and beasts.
Xiu Yun remained dejected in the inner court.
Preparing for the ceremony, she couldn’t go meet Ming Yi. The inner court people didn’t treat her well either, refusing even to relay messages. She could only practice tea brewing and receiving guests with her instructor in the small courtyard.
Just as she was feeling gloomy, she saw Madam Tianguan, usually most at odds with her, stride in. The Madam dismissed the instructor with a wave and glared at Xiu Yun.
Startled, Xiu Yun instinctively raised a protective barrier around herself.
However, instead of her usual barbs, Madam Tianguan struggled for words before reluctantly bowing to her.
Xiu Yun frowned in confusion: “What is it?”
“That instructor doesn’t understand protocol. I’ve sent more experienced ones,” she said stiffly. “If you wish to know outside news, just ask them.”
“I was ignorant before. I hope you won’t hold it against us in the future.” Her head lowered further, as if about to cry.
Was it raining red from the sky? Why such kindness? Xiu Yun couldn’t understand and asked directly: “What happened?”
Madam Tianguan tried to restrain herself but couldn’t hold back her resentment: “You’re something else, inviting His Majesty to attend. My husband returned and berated me severely, nearly striking me for slighting you before.”
Xiu Yun frowned: “What do you mean I invited His Majesty? I only asked Miss Ming to come.”
“It’s precisely your Miss Ming,” Madam Tianguan said dejectedly, sitting down. Knowing Xiu Yun wouldn’t easily forgive her, she spoke frankly: “As soon as she arrived in Feihua, His Majesty rushed to buy her several shops. Cartloads of gold and silver jewelry followed her. You should have seen it—truly befitting royalty.”
“His Majesty truly cherishes her like the apple of his eye. If she comes to observe your ceremony, how could His Majesty not come? If she cares about you, how could His Majesty not care? Soon, everyone in Feihua City will be kneeling at your feet. Are you happy now?”
Xiu Yun was stunned for a moment, her eyes reddening slightly.
It seemed Ming Yi could always protect her, both in the past and now.
She grinned and nodded at Madam Tianguan: “You’re right. I truly am happy.”
Madam Tianguan choked, turning away dejectedly.
Xiu Yun wanted to go out and look, but she held back.
Ming Yi treated her so well; that she couldn’t embarrass her. She had to learn all the proper etiquette.
Taking a deep breath, she picked up the ceremonial scepter and continued learning the protocols with the new instructors.
***
The streets of Feihua City were bustling. The ladies drinking tea glanced out the window and saw a handsome man buying flatbread at a small stall.
He was extraordinary—unadorned yet exuding nobility, his expression cold and aloof, but his features strikingly clear and strong. His pale fingers accepted the bread from the vendor, casually giving a small piece of gold in return.
The vendor was stunned, as were the watching ladies.
Which heavenly god had descended to the mortal realm?
Even the most reserved ladies couldn’t help but send servants to intercept him.
“Young master, our mistress wishes to make your acquaintance. Please, step this way.”
Ji Bozai frowned and turned his head, seeing a lady’s silhouette on the second floor of the teahouse.
Uninterested, he looked away: “No.”
The servant’s face fell. Glancing at his young mistress, he hurriedly pursued Ji Bozai, pressing a handkerchief into his hand: “My mistress is from the Earl’s manor, of noble birth. Please do us the honor.”
Ji Bozai looked back at him: “Which Earl’s manor?”
The servant, thinking he had a chance, quickly lowered his voice: “The Protector Earl’s manor, the highest-ranking noble house in Feihua City.”
Ji Bozai nodded but continued walking.
The servant stood dumbfounded, growing angry: “Don’t be so arrogant!”
A commoner boy, merely good-looking, what was he so proud of?
Ji Bozai ignored the comment, but his guards silently stepped forward and apprehended the servant, taking him away.