It’s often said that only men truly understand other men. Ming Yi knew at a glance that Ji Bozai wasn’t one to be swayed by force; she had to act, the more delicate and weaker she appeared, the better. He fell for it every time.
Sure enough, seeing her like this, he looked guilty and gently took her hand, saying, “I won’t do this again.”
Ming Yi seized the moment, softening and leaning into his embrace. If she had any official status, she could have played hard to get, but she didn’t, so this was enough.
Just as she was about to act coy again, Ji Bozai suddenly asked, “This room is on the second floor, why did you go to the third?”
Ming Yi lowered her eyes and murmured, “I went to change clothes, but the servant leading me got the location wrong. I was a bit dizzy and didn’t notice, so I took the wrong path.”
He raised an eyebrow at this but said nothing more. Seeing her flushed face, he tugged at her tightly bound collar to let some air in.
However, as soon as his hand touched her, Ming Yi quickly grabbed his wrist. The sudden movement startled them both.
“Sir~” Ming Yi was the first to react, slipping her fingers between his and twisting her body. “This is outside, it’s not appropriate…”
“What do you have hidden in your chest?” he interrupted her coyness with a calm voice.
Cold sweat broke out on Ming Yi’s back. She had forgotten to destroy the scraps of paper hidden in her chest. Although they were torn, they could still be pieced together to reveal words.
She couldn’t let him find out.
With a resolute heart, Ming Yi clutched her collar along with the scraps and pulled it down slightly, feigning confusion. “What thing?”
Ji Bozai squinted, trying to pry her hand away, but the maids and old women sleeping at the table were startled awake by their serious tone.
Nanny Xun was the first to rise, giving Ji Bozai a surprised look before half-kneeling in salute. “This old servant was out of line.”
As she woke, the other lazy maids also gradually came to. Seeing this, Ming Yi quickly pretended to be shy, covering her collar and standing up from his embrace.
Ji Bozai’s hand was left empty, and he frowned at Nanny Xun. “Why are you here drinking?”
Nanny Xun lowered her head. “We originally went to the cloth shop to look at clothes, but we encountered Lord Meng on the way, which frightened the young lady. This old servant brought her here to have some wine to calm her nerves.”
So it wasn’t her idea to come here?
His expression relaxed slightly, and he asked, “Meng Yangqiu? How did he frighten her?”
“Lord Meng was perhaps investigating a case and lifted the carriage curtain without warning.”
That was strange. Although Meng Yangqiu was young, he was never reckless. Why would he lift the curtain of a lady’s carriage?
He turned to look at Ming Yi.
The young girl thought he was holding her accountable, and her legs gave way as she knelt, panicking. “I covered it with my sleeve, so it wasn’t too disrespectful. It’s just that Lord Meng’s actions were a bit heavy-handed.”
She pouted, giving him a pitiful glance before retracting her gaze, hanging her head as if waiting for his reprimand.
Anyone who didn’t know better would think he was some unreasonable tyrant.
Ji Bozai smirked slightly, pulling her up and handing her to Nanny Xun. “It’s not safe outside lately. You should return early with her.”
“Yes,” Nanny Xun replied.
He gently caressed her cheek before stepping out, presumably to continue the unfinished banquet.
Ming Yi didn’t linger either, obediently following Nanny Xun out.
As soon as they left, Ji Bozai had Bu Xiu bring a few maids and servants for questioning. It turned out Ming Yi hadn’t lied; she was indeed drunk and needed to relieve herself, and she was indeed led the wrong way back.
Perhaps there was nothing hidden in her chest, and he was just being overly suspicious.
Shaking his head, he returned to his seat.
The wine server beside him tried to lean in, but Ji Bozai raised a hand to stop her. “There’s someone at home who gets jealous easily. I can’t have the scent of rouge on me, I hope you understand.”
He smiled gracefully, making it hard for anyone to be upset even when he refused.
The people at the table couldn’t help but tease, “What’s this? Ji Bozai has finally settled down?”
“Can’t blame him. The common women here can’t compare to his Miss Ming, who shines like the moon.”
Ji Bozai just smiled, sipping his wine.
“Speaking of which, we should avoid getting involved with women at banquets for now. I heard from the judge that Prince Ping’s death was suspicious and might be related to a dancer he met at a banquet.”
“Another dancer?”
“Who knows? Prince Ping ate and drank the same as the poison-testing eunuch beside him, and they were in the same place. The only variable was the dancer by his side. But the judge has interrogated her twice, and she either claims to know nothing or accuses others, saying she wasn’t the one by Prince Ping’s side.”
“No wonder the Grand Secretary ordered the dispersal of the musicians from the Music Bureau.”
“Well, does dancing matter more than life?”
The group laughed and pulled Ji Bozai into drinking with them.
Ji Bozai, however, was deep in thought. This might lead to an investigation into Ming Yi.
He finished the banquet without showing any emotion.
Back at the residence, he called for Nanny Xun, intending to help Ming Yi cover her tracks. To his surprise, Nanny Xun said, “Miss Ming is meticulous. Not only did she avoid entering the inner court through the usual routes, but she also had the inner court steward cover for her.”
“I investigated. Her sister in the palace, Zhangtai, has a private relationship with the inner court steward and is pregnant. She didn’t want to be punished for escaping the banquet, so no matter how the prisoners accused Miss Ming, Zhangtai insisted they were jealous and that she attended the banquet alone, unrelated to Miss Ming.”
“Judge Zhao checked the entry and exit records twice and summoned the eunuch and steward who recorded the dancers’ names. All records bore Zhangtai’s name.”
Only then did she understand why Ming Yi insisted on sending a message first and then going to the inner court herself.
Ji Bozai’s eyes were deep. “She’s quite the planner.”
“I’m also surprised,” Nanny Xun nodded. “To have such means at her age, she’s no ordinary person.”
“So today, it was you who suggested going to Hua Biezhi?” he asked.
“Indeed,” Nanny Xun nodded. “In that area, I’m only familiar with Hua Biezhi. Is there something wrong with that?”
Shaking his head lightly, Ji Bozai propped his chin on his hand, musing, “I’m just wondering if one day she’ll deceive me as well.”
Nanny Xun understood. Her master had grown up in a harsh environment, trusting only himself and a few others. It was normal for him to be wary of unfamiliar people, but…
She smiled. “Miss Ming is already yours. She might even bear your children in the future. What good would betray you do her?”
Who knows?
Switching hands to support his chin, he gazed at the bright moon outside, squinting. He resolved never to fully trust her.
Absolutely not.