At this year’s family banquet, the relatives gathered to envision a bright future for Muxing City and praised the Grand Minister’s diligent governance. The event concluded with everyone in high spirits.
However, as they were leaving, Qi Bai stumbled, his complexion turning from pale to a sickly blue.
“Careful on the steps, Your Highness,” Rongxin said cheerfully, supporting him, her mind filled with dreams of future glory, completely oblivious to Qi Bai’s condition.
So when Qi Bai missed a step and fell, she didn’t react in time to hold him up and was instead pulled down, landing on the steps with a yelp.
Qi Bai seemed to faint, tumbling down the steps, causing those nearby to cry out in alarm.
“Your Highness! Help the prince!”
“Your Highness!”
Seven or eight eunuchs rushed down after him, but by the time they reached him, Qi Bai lay motionless on the ground, blood oozing from a wound on his head, seeping into the pale stone tiles.
Rongxin watched, her lips trembling, and after a moment, she screamed, “Ah—”
Her scream pierced the night, echoing through the courtyard walls, faintly drifting over the top of the swaying beast-drawn carriage outside.
Inside the carriage, Mingyi lazily examined her fingers.
“The Lord is truly generous,” she said with a half-smile. “For such a small matter, he rewarded me with five gold bars.”
Ji Bozai, sitting in the carriage, knew she was upset and reached out to hook her fingers. “If you think it’s not enough, I can add more.”
“This isn’t about the money,” she said, lowering her eyes. “I just want to know, if I hadn’t realized the dress reacted with Qi Bai’s medicine and hadn’t swapped it, how would you have saved me?”
The striking Mulan Green was dyed with non-toxic Mulan herbs, naturally fragrant, making the wearer feel as if they were in a field of flowers. But something in Qi Bai’s medicine reacted with it, turning it poisonous.
It was a clever way to kill; even if discovered, the blame could be shifted, as no one knew what medicine Qi Bai was taking.
However, what concerned her was that Ji Bozai hadn’t considered her safety at all.
What if she had been poisoned too? What if someone traced the problem back to the dress and implicated her?
With her phoenix eyes half-closed, Mingyi withdrew her hand from his grasp, her expression indifferent.
Ji Bozai pulled her close, speaking soothingly, “Why do you think I came to pick you up personally?”
He took out a small bottle and placed it in front of her, sighing, “I had already prepared an antidote for you and was ready to get you out. Why don’t you trust me?”
Mingyi raised her hand, gently wiping away the unfamiliar rouge on his collar, which smudged.
“You just came from Lord Yan’s place, happened to pass by, and heard I completed the task smoothly, so you picked me up on the way, right?” She wiped the red from her fingertip, sighing softly. “Everyone says the lord is unparalleled in beauty, but who would guess that when you hurt someone, it’s like a knife without blood.”
She seemed genuinely hurt, her nose reddening, tears welling in her eyes. She turned her head away, refusing to look at him.
In the past, Ji Bozai wouldn’t have bothered to coax her. So what if there was rouge on him? It was willingly applied by someone who threw themselves into his arms.
But seeing Mingyi’s aggrieved look now, he suddenly found the maid from Yan’s household with her scheming ways unappealing. Why smear rouge in such an obvious place? It was likely intentional.
He gently pulled her back, speaking softly, “I only passed by there, and had a cup of tea because it was early. Today, I came specifically to pick you up. Everything is packed; we’re not going back to the villa. I’m taking you straight to the main residence.”
Mingyi finally lifted her eyelids. “The main residence?”
“I promised you, and I keep my word.” He pinched her cheek. “Your gold bars are all locked in a box by Nanny Xun, not a single one missing, and I’ve added two more to calm your nerves.”
Her expression softened, and she tugged at his sleeve, still feeling wronged. “As long as you still care about me, my lord.”
More money would be even better.
Ji Bozai chuckled, leaning down to kiss her. “You’re so capable and clever in your work, yet you always act coy and weak with me.”
Today’s task was executed perfectly. Qi Bai was gone, and she was completely uninvolved. Even Judge Zhao wouldn’t suspect him.
The person in his arms whimpered, “How can it be the same outside and in front of you, my lord? No matter how sharp a knife I am, I must present the soft handle to you.”
But she was curious. What deep-seated hatred did Qi Bai have with him to warrant such a deadly move?
Previously, Ji Bozai said that the Meng family had been kind to him, and he killed those two physicians to avenge his benefactor. But Qi Bai had no conflict with the Meng family. He seemed to like them, even loving the Mulan Green color. Why did Ji Bozai want him dead?
Her mind was full of questions, but before she could think further, a voice came from outside: “Stop the carriage!”
Mingyi was startled, instinctively shrinking into Ji Bozai’s embrace, but he seemed to have anticipated it, calmly asking, “Why are we being stopped here?”
Hearing his voice, the person outside immediately softened their tone. “Forgive us, Lord Ji. The inner court has ordered a strict inspection of all beast-drawn carriages entering and exiting.”
Ji Bozai nodded, calmly leading Mingyi out, casually slipping the small bottle with the antidote into her hand.
Mingyi reacted quickly, immediately grasping the bottle in her palm.
Several guards began searching the carriage, taking out items like sachets and wine cups for inspection.
Sensing the situation was not favorable, Mingyi suddenly coughed twice, leaning weakly against Ji Bozai. He caught her, asking with concern, “Are you still unwell?”
“Yes,” she murmured, holding her forehead and groaning softly. “I need to follow Lord Yan’s instructions and take my medicine.”
With that, she quickly opened the small bottle and poured it into her mouth.
A nearby guard sensed something was amiss and stepped forward to stop her, but as soon as he reached out, the girl seemed startled, bending over sharply, “Cough, cough, cough—”
Her fair skin flushed with a rosy hue from coughing, tears welling in her eyes. She looked at the guard with a pitiful expression.
Blushing, the guard awkwardly saluted, “Madam, please forgive me.”
“Just some cold medicine. Do you suspect that too?” she said, coughing and frowning as she handed him the bottle. “Then check it as well!”
The guard hesitated, reaching for the bottle, but Ji Bozai pressed her hand back down. “We’re outside; don’t be petty.”
“I’m just afraid of implicating you,” Mingyi suddenly burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably. “You only blame me for being petty.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You have someone else in your heart, trying to get rid of me,” she cried, wiping her eyes, “You used to care for me so much. If I had known, I should have gone with Lord Yan~”
“Think whatever you want,” Ji Bozai said, annoyed, and got back into the carriage.
The guards stood stiffly, watching them, still wanting to take the medicine bottle, but Mingyi stomped her foot and ran out crying.