“Madam!” The medicine bottle was still in her hand, and the guard immediately wanted to chase after her. However, Ji Bozai impatiently stopped him, “No one is to interfere. Her temperament needs to be tempered.”
The guard was speechless. How could he explain to these two nobles that he merely wanted to see what was inside the medicine bottle, not to mediate a quarrel? However, since the Madam dared to drink it, it certainly wasn’t poison. If it wasn’t poison, it shouldn’t be too urgent.
Watching as Mingyi ran past the street corner and disappeared, the guard, constrained by Ji Bozai, did not pursue her. He left the pile of items on the carriage for the summoned physician to examine carefully.
After the time it takes to burn three sticks of incense, the carriage resumed its journey on the official road, turned a corner, and stopped by the roadside. Mingyi stood by a pillar under the eaves, alone. She looked up at him, her gauzy sleeve covering her lips, smiling like a cunning little fox.
He lifted half of the carriage curtain, admired her for a moment, then gently beckoned, “Come here.” The colorful gauze fluttered in the air, and she leaped over, softly landing in his arms.
Ji Bozai caught her with a smile, tenderly rubbing her waist, “You’ve worked hard, Yi’er.” She hummed softly, curling up her skirt as she sat in the carriage, “Since I am your person, I naturally have to think for you.”
He truly loved her for her understanding nature. Ji Bozai lowered his head to kiss her, and Mingyi let out a soft moan, reaching up to hook her arms around his neck. The sandalwood carriage swayed as it passed through a cluster of ordinary gray houses, slowly heading towards a grand mansion brightly lit with lamps.
Behind the carriage, the main city courtyard gradually came to life. “Who dares to act under my very nose so many times!” A porcelain lamp crashed to the ground, shattering. The Grand Minister glanced at the corpse of Qi Bai lying nearby, feeling dizzy.
He had only one brother, and even though he was not very involved in affairs now, he had supported him. He had planned to provide him with a life of luxury, but who would have thought he would be suddenly murdered?
After taking a few deep breaths, he wearily sank back into his throne, asking the attendant beside him in a low voice, “Do you think a vengeful spirit has come to claim my life?” The attendant knelt in fear, “Why would you say that, my lord? You are a man of destiny, all your actions are divinely inspired, how could there be talk of vengeful spirits?”
The Grand Minister closed his eyes, trembling lips rubbing his brow, “Zhao Sipan.” “I am here.” “Have you found anything?” Zhao Sipan, who had already examined the body, replied with trepidation, “Although the fall injuries were fatal, the prince was likely poisoned beforehand, which caused dizziness and instability, leading to the fall.”
“What poison?” The Grand Minister sat up in anger, “Poison again?” Qi Bai had been in seclusion for two years, returning only once a year. To target him, it could only be during the clan banquet. This time, the banquet was heavily guarded, and besides poisoning, there was no other way to kill.
However, this poison was different from the last. Due to the prince’s noble status, his body could not be damaged, and the coroner could not identify the poison by smell alone. “I will do my utmost to investigate,” Zhao Sipan promised, though he felt this case might end like the last, unresolved.
The eunuch who tested the poison for Qi Bai was fine, and the prince’s body could not be dissected to examine what he had ingested, making it impossible to investigate. They could only interrogate those who had been around the prince.
Zhao Sipan walked heavily out of the inner courtyard, looking at the moon above, and sighed deeply. The previous death was of a physician, and it was acceptable that it was unsolvable, but this time it was a prince. How could he report back? Who would hold such a grudge against a prince?
Under the bright moon, several servants ran to the carriage with footstools. The curtain lifted, and Ji Bozai, carrying the sleeping Mingyi, walked down slowly. He smiled, glancing at the moon above.
Many years ago, on such a starry night, someone embraced a beloved in the bushes, promising to stay together for life. If they were to stay together, they should die together, never parting even in the afterlife. How could he have kept her waiting for so many years? What a joke.
The night wind was a bit chilly, and the person in his arms, dressed lightly, instinctively snuggled closer to his chest. Ji Bozai returned to his senses, looking at Mingyi’s serene face, a smile reaching his eyes.
She was willing to become a murderer just to be with him, not even asking what grudge he had with Qi Bai, yet she slept so peacefully in his arms, like a cat. Did she trust him that much?
“Master,” Buxiu greeted him, bowing. Just this one word woke Mingyi, who sleepily lifted her head and looked around. Ji Bozai stopped, his tone slightly heavier, “Why are you so loud at night?”
Buxiu was speechless. This unexpected scolding—he had always spoken at this volume, and the master had never minded before. “Are we there?” Mingyi asked in a sleepy, childlike voice. Ji Bozai replied with a soft “Mm,” continuing to carry her, “This courtyard is large, and your dance shoes are thin. I’ll carry you over.”
Mingyi smiled brightly, affectionately nuzzling his chest, “Okay.” After a moment, she suddenly awoke, eyes wide with concern, “Are we there? Should I go pay respects somewhere?”
“Pay respects to whom?” “Your concubines or aunts, aren’t they at the residence?” Ji Bozai found it amusing, “Where did you hear I have concubines or aunts?” Mingyi was momentarily confused, then looked at him with a hint of reproach.
Playing around without marrying—what a heartless rogue. But it was also good; this way, even if she left him, there wouldn’t be the hassle of a divorce letter. Mingyi rested her head back on his chest.
Ji Bozai, seeing her reaction, thought she wanted a formal status, and his smile faded slightly, “I don’t care for formalities.” No matter how much he liked a woman, he wouldn’t keep her at home to be a nuisance.
“Neither do I,” Mingyi replied without seeing his expression, “With my status, I’m not fit to enter the main house.” She spoke her true thoughts, but to Ji Bozai, it sounded like she was sulking.
He felt a bit annoyed but couldn’t bear to let go, so he remained silent. Mingyi leaned against him and fell asleep again. When he placed her in the main room’s canopy bed, her face bore two marks matching the pattern of his robe.
Ji Bozai watched her for a while, his anger dissipating. Never mind, he thought. What woman doesn’t like to nag a bit? She had just accomplished something significant; forgiving her was no big deal.
Buxiu stood behind him, somewhat astonished at his changing expressions. Initially, he thought this girl wouldn’t live long, but now, not only had she survived, she seemed to have… affected the master’s mood.