Lady Xu had seen the Guanyin statue Zhou Zihong had carved. It had a solemn and divine appearance, with eyes full of wisdom.
Initially, she had praised it, saying her husband’s carving of Guanyin had a unique appearance and a special aura. But after seeing Ming Yi today, Lady Xu realized that Zhou Zihong hadn’t carved Guanyin, but Ming Yi herself. A subject coveting the emperor’s woman was too improper, so he had simply carved her as a deity to avoid punishment.
Such deep love, truly such deep love.
Lady Xu couldn’t understand. If he loved Ming Yi so much, why had he lived with her for seven years? During this time, they had shared intimate moments and romantic outings. If he truly couldn’t forget Ming Yi, why didn’t he erect a chastity arch for himself and never touch another woman?
Some might say, “Men inevitably need women for release.” But aren’t women born as stone statues, without desires? If so many women can live behind a chastity arch for decades, why can’t men do the same?
Lady Xu loved the scent of books and ink on Zhou Zihong. She loved his composure in difficult situations and the occasional flush of emotion on his usually distant face.
But all of this was based on the premise that she had liked him from the beginning.
Now, she suddenly found him somewhat uninteresting.
He should have either not married her at all – she wouldn’t have minded, given her family background, she could have lived comfortably without marrying – or treated her well after marrying her. Those bowls of contraceptive medicine she had drunk were truly bitter to the heart.
She felt like a joke, traveling so far to be a witness to his deep love for another.
Lady Xu said no more, letting Zhou Zihong tend to his Guanyin statue while she went to the inner chamber to prepare the bed for rest.
Ming Yi had planned to celebrate her birthday with a few close friends, originally intending to have just one table. But as word spread, more and more people came.
“When you two came to observe our ceremony years ago, my wife and I had just become a couple,” Zheng Tiao sighed, looking at Ji Bozai. “In the blink of an eye, nine years have passed. My son is already eight, and my daughter is six. How come you’re still not married?”
Ji Bozai’s smile stiffened.
He gritted his teeth and squeezed out the words: “If you don’t speak, no one will take you for a mute.”
Zheng Tiao shook his head. After sparring with him in the courtyard and discovering that his skills had improved to an alarming degree, he completely gave up on the idea of defeating him and instead said, “Do you want me to give you some advice?”
“You? Back then, you didn’t even know what love was and were so troubled you had to drink with me for comfort,” Ji Bozai scoffed. “Now you dare to give me advice?”
Zheng Tiao raised an eyebrow: “Indeed, Your Majesty was once a renowned playboy, having dealt with more women than I’ve faced opponents. How is it that you still can’t succeed now?”
A battle between masters, each strike hitting the vital points.
Ji Bozai pressed his tongue against the roof of his mouth and snorted: “I won’t use those tactics to deal with her anymore.”
She wanted sincerity, and he wanted to give her sincerity. But without all the flashy techniques, his true feelings seemed too clumsy to present to her. He had mustered the courage to offer them a few times, but she hadn’t accepted.
Their current life was quite good. They lived in separate palaces, worked together, dealt with court officials together, planned for the Six Cities together, occasionally dined together, and sometimes took walks together.
Their relationship was comfortable.
But Ji Bozai still wanted to hold her.
He wanted to openly ward off all the “interested parties” around her.
He wanted to see her as soon as he opened his eyes.
He wanted to occupy even a small place in her heart.
Whenever he had these wishes, he would find his portrait from his younger days, hang it on the wall, and punch it hard several times.
Serves you right for being young and foolish! Serves you right for not seizing the opportunity! Serves you right for not cherishing what was right in front of you!
Now, even if he wanted to marry her so badly it tore at his heart, Ming Yi wouldn’t easily agree.
He had planned to propose to Ming Yi today. It was her birthday, and all her friends were present. Proposing in front of these people would be better than in front of the Six City Lords.
However, before he could find the opportunity, these people started plying him with drinks.
“It’s rare to share a table with Your Majesty. This humble woman would like to offer a toast,” Zhang Tai sighed, looking at him. “Back then, I thought Your Majesty would end up with Ming Yi. I never imagined that I’d be married while you two still haven’t made any progress. Come, let’s drink to Your Majesty’s wishes coming true.”
Ji Bozai drank a full cup.
Then Meng Yangqiu came: “Thanks to Your Majesty’s care, I’ve been able to ascend to the position of Muxing City Lord. This toast is to Your Majesty and also to Lady Ming.”
He could have just toasted him, but he had to include Ming Yi, and his eyes kept darting towards her. Please, his child was already three years old.
Ji Bozai snorted, blocking his line of sight, and drank another cup.
Xiu Yun didn’t sit with Zheng Tiao but had a separate seat. When it was her turn, she held Ming Yi’s hand and frowned: “It’s more freeing to be unmarried. Now I have two children calling me ‘Mother Empress’ and a husband nagging me.”
Hearing this, Ji Bozai drained his cup in one go, then asked her to be seated: “Next.”
Next in line were Fan Yao and Chu He. In recent years, these two, along with Luo Jiaoyang, had formed the most stable shield around Ji Bozai. No matter who used what tactics, they had never betrayed Ji Bozai. Thus, Ji Bozai was generous with them, downing a cup of wine without hesitation.
Drinking too quickly is ill-advised; even the best tolerance can’t withstand such consumption.
So when Ji Bozai leaned his head over, Ming Yi wasn’t surprised at all. She let him rest against her shoulder, not even turning her head as she continued to deal with the others on his behalf.
“Pay attention to me,” he mumbled.
Ming Yi finished drinking with Luo Jiaoyang and responded perfunctorily, “Mm.”
He rested his chin on her shoulder bone, his eyes glistening, and murmured earnestly and tenderly: “They asked me to build an imperial mausoleum. I reserved a place for you in it, right next to me, sharing the same burial chamber.”
Ming Yi paused slightly and turned to look at him.
“I know you resent me. You don’t want to marry me now, but I want to be with you, together in life and death,” he said, feeling extremely wronged. “Last time, when I proposed in front of all the generals, you asked if I wanted to take back the command of those 130,000 troops – I don’t. I’ve amassed command of another 150,000 troops, all for you.”
The palace hall was filled with the clinking of cups and lively chatter. Below, Luo Jiaoyang and Meng Yangqiu were encouraging others to ply General Qin and General She with drinks, momentarily distracting everyone’s attention from them.
Ji Bozai, still swaying, tried to stand up, wanting to call them over as witnesses, but he ended up falling back onto Ming Yi’s shoulder.
“I want, I want to descend to the Yellow Springs with you,” he stammered.
Ming Yi laughed: “Is this a marriage proposal or a death wish?”