Mingyi’s expression subtly changed, but she remained silent.
Situ Ling also said nothing as he carried Mingyi out of the courtyard step by step. In the distance, he could see Ji Bozai charging towards them with his entourage.
“From now on, I won’t write to you about my well-being, Sister,” he said softly, looking ahead. “If you ever want to write, you can have someone deliver it to me.”
He heard the pearl curtain behind him rustle, perhaps as she nodded.
Situ Ling had no chance to say anything more. In the blink of an eye, Ji Bozai rushed up to them. Fan Yao quickly laid a carpet on the ground, and Ji Bozai took Mingyi from Situ Ling’s back.
“Yi’er, hold on tight!” He grinned from ear to ear. “Zhou Zihong is furious and coming to stop us. We must hurry!”
Mingyi smiled at his words, knowing he must have used some trick to break through the door. But as a bride couldn’t speak to the groom before the ceremony, she simply gripped his shoulder tightly.
Then she felt him leap into the air, riding a large red flying sword engraved with the character for “double happiness.” They soared over the crowd trying to block them, Ji Bozai laughing heartily as they burst out of the gate.
“Who uses a flying sword to fetch a bride? You’re cheating!” The people below shouted angrily.
Ji Bozai paid them no mind. Once outside, he placed Mingyi in the bridal sedan chair, which then swayed its way toward the palace, brimming with joy.
Zhang Tai and Xiu Yun stood at the old city manor gate, watching. Zhang Tai sighed with emotion: “This time, Mingyi will get what she wants, right?”
Xiu Yun, having heard much from Zheng Tiao, nodded immediately: “Forget about what she wants. Now, if she so much as glances at the stars in the sky twice, our Emperor would go and pluck them for her.”
They were past their most impetuous years, no longer the passionate youths they once were. With love and hatred buried over time, Xiu Yun thought people would only be left with the inertia of survival.
But not Ji Bozai.
It seemed his life was only truly beginning today.
…
The entire Qingyun celebrated with fireworks for a full fortnight and reduced taxes by ten percent. From top to bottom, everyone was overjoyed, sincerely wishing the Emperor and City Lord Ming a loving and harmonious marriage.
However, from the day of the grand wedding, Ji Bozai had been holding Mingyi without letting go. It had been five days now.
She was quite exasperated: “Your Majesty, court sessions resume today.”
“Oh.” Ji Bozai, eyes twinkling, moved to carry her out.
Mingyi held back as long as she could, but finally couldn’t resist giving him two solid punches.
Who goes to court while being carried? Was he not satisfied with his reputation as a tyrant and wanted to add the title of a befuddled ruler?
Ji Bozai reluctantly let her go, his eyes reddening: “I keep feeling this isn’t real, that you’ll disappear if I let go.”
Mingyi smiled wryly: “It’s been five days. Don’t you want to change your excuse?”
On the first day, she had felt sympathetic hearing this. By the second day, she was struggling to cope – this man’s energy was too abundant. By the third and fourth days… she just felt he was an insatiable lecher!
She wouldn’t disappear, but if he kept holding her like this, she might vanish into thin air.
Glaring at him fiercely, Mingyi went to get ready, changing into her City Lord’s court robes.
Fortunately, Ji Bozai didn’t act affectionately with her in front of so many people in court. They even still argued when their political views differed.
Song Lanzhi was quite pleased. It seemed their Emperor hadn’t lost his head over a woman. Others called him a tyrant, but Song Lanzhi and her colleagues believed Ji Bozai would go down in Qingyun’s history as a wise ruler.
However…
Just as she finished praising him, she went to report to the Imperial Study. At the door, she heard Ji Bozai’s voice: “I was wrong, truly wrong. I didn’t mean it that way earlier, and I didn’t mean to raise my voice… Please don’t make me sleep on the floor, wah!”
Song Lanzhi:?
After announcing herself and entering, she saw the Emperor sitting majestically in his seat, reading memorials, while Mingyi gently ground ink beside him.
“Beloved Minister Song, you’ve come at the right time. There were some matters concerning Xincao City earlier. Please elaborate now,” he said seriously.
As if what she had heard earlier was all an illusion.
A smile touched Song Lanzhi’s eyes.
Her lover had passed away. Though she had no intention of remaining a widow, she was unwilling to settle for someone she didn’t love and had lost all expectation for matters of the heart.
But seeing the Emperor and Empress so harmonious was a blessing for the realm.
History records that ten years after the Great Ming era, Qingyun entered a golden age. The Emperor and Empress set an example for all couples in the realm, loving and harmonious. Under City Lord Ming’s counsel, the Primal Ancestor also changed his previously cruel and violent ways, beginning to love all under heaven equally.
People’s evaluation of Ji Bozai gradually changed from “cunning and devious” to “mature and steady” and “possessing the ability of a wise ruler.”
However, whenever Mingyi saw these praises on memorials, she would look doubtfully at the man beside her.
“They all have handkerchiefs embroidered by their wives. Only I don’t have one,” Ji Bozai complained pitifully. “I want one too.”
Mingyi narrowed her eyes: “I can’t embroider.”
“Wuwuwu.”
“…”
Who knows where he learned it, but he would act coy with her at the slightest provocation. To others, he was elegant and lofty, but in front of her, he had no dignity at all.
And they dare call this mature and steady.
Mingyi heaved a long sigh.
Later, during a busy interval, she embroidered a handkerchief for him. Not knowing any patterns, she just stitched a straight line. From afar it looked rough, and up close – well, it was indeed rough.
She just wanted to appease him so he’d stop fussing. However, when Ji Bozai received it, he treasured it like a priceless artifact. He hung it on his lapel every day, and if she hadn’t stopped him, he would have hung it on his imperial crown.
“Hanging it here is conspicuous. Everyone can see you embroidered a handkerchief for me. Luo Jiaoyang and the others won’t dare tease me anymore!” he said righteously.
She couldn’t help but pinch him: “You’re usually quite clever. Why do you act so foolish with me? Can you hang a handkerchief there? Ah!”
Pained by her pinch, he took the opportunity to pull her into his arms, his chin nuzzling her cheek, eyes full of mirth: “I have plenty of cleverness to use on others. With you, what’s wrong with being a bit foolish? I’m handsome anyway, you won’t reject me.”
“Serving others with looks alone won’t last long!” Mingyi lamented.
He smiled, his thin lips covering hers, full of affection: “When my looks fade, I’ll still have power. When power is gone, I’ll still have money. When money is gone, I’ll still have my heart. In this life, in this world, I want to be good to you forever.”
Mingyi stared at him, stunned.
At their first meeting at the banquet years ago, she had seen teasing and playfulness in his eyes. Now, looking again, those eyes held only her reflection. An overwhelming tide of emotion surged forth, seeming to envelop her with its warmth.
A person’s life is full of missed opportunities – missing a flying beast carriage, missing a chance for promotion, missing the moment when the other person happens to love you.
But there are always good things waiting ahead. As long as one can live on, as long as one knows what one wants, the morning sun will rise as usual every day.
(End of Main Story)