Ming Yi was riding her horse along Er Jiu Street, dressed in a long gray dress with an openwork corset, her face hidden by a silk conical hat. From her shaking body and drooping shoulders, it was clear she was still crying.
How could a woman with Yuan power, betrayed to this extent, not feel resentful?
After watching for a while, Si Tu Ling waved his hand, and the tall guard behind him went down on his orders to invite Ming Yi up.
Ming Yi was initially startled, but when she saw Si Tu Ling sitting in the carriage, her expression softened: “Greetings, young lord.”
Si Tu Ling handed her a candy figurine, smiling: “I just bought it on the street. Seeing Sister Ming crying so sadly, I wanted to share one with you.”
Ming Yi took it and found it was a figurine of Chang’e, with flowing sleeves and gentle features.
She sighed: “If only I were a figurine, forever beautiful, never to be abandoned.”
“What are you saying, Sister Ming? You are still beautiful now, unchanged,” Si Tu Ling smiled, showing his little tiger teeth. “It’s others who are unfaithful. How is that your fault?”
He was wearing a soft, shimmering sapphire blue casual outfit today, his hair tied with pearls, his lips like red tassels. Looking up at the moon, his eyes were round and bright, endearing to all who saw him.
Ming Yi wanted to pinch his cheeks, but remembering he was the young lord, she restrained herself and just smiled: “The young lord is so good with words, it makes one happy just to hear them.”
“If Sister Ming prefers to be with me, I could ask Lord Ji to let you come to me. It wouldn’t be a problem,” he winked.
Slightly startled, Ming Yi’s eyes filled with sorrow again: “This slave has already followed Lord Ji, and I’ve embarrassed him in public. He probably wouldn’t let me leave even if I died in his mansion.”
Si Tu Ling frowned: “How could that be?”
“It’s just my fate,” Ming Yi wiped her eyes and sniffled. “I’ve decided to accept it.”
As the waiter brought some snacks, Si Tu Ling placed them in front of Ming Yi while saying: “If there’s anything I can do to help, Sister Ming, just say the word.”
Ming Yi sensed something wasn’t quite right.
She was just a little dancer after all. Even if she was pretty, Si Tu Ling was still just a child. He couldn’t have any intentions towards her, could he? Yet he kept offering to help her.
Why?
Remembering how he had caught her using Yuan power before, and Twenty-Seven’s warning, Ming Yi became more cautious. She nodded in response while reaching for the snacks with her chopsticks.
There were three plates of snacks: one of deep-fried yellow croaker coated in thick chili; one of steamed cabbage in a clear broth with two goji berries; and one of osmanthus honey cake.
Whether by coincidence or not, each dish represented the flavors of one of the three major cities in the Qing Yun realm.
Her chopsticks hesitated for just a moment before Ming Yi picked up a piece of honey cake.
Si Tu Ling lowered his eyes, not looking at her directly, but Ming Yi could feel his sidelong glance fixed on her chopsticks.
So after finishing the honey cake, she ate the fried fish and the cabbage too, consuming everything on all three plates.
If Si Tu Ling’s eyes showed contemplation when she ate the first dish, by the time she finished all three, they held only shock.
“A dancer… can eat so much?”
Weren’t they supposed to maintain a slim waist and never indulge?
“Please forgive me, young lord. I’ve been troubled lately and haven’t been able to eat. I didn’t expect to feel so at ease with you, so I ate a bit more,” Ming Yi said gracefully as she wiped her lips, her eyes smiling.
Si Tu Ling was a bit bewildered.
He had wanted to observe Ming Yi’s eating habits, but she had cleaned every plate. What was there to see now?
“Is Sister Ming full?” he asked with difficulty. “Would you like a few more dishes?”
“The young lord is too kind. This slave is already full,” she smiled innocently. “If the young lord still wants to eat, shall I bring you some more?”
“That won’t be necessary,” Si Tu Ling paused, then calmly changed the subject. “If Sister Ming can’t leave the Ji mansion, I do have some ideas that could make your life there better.”
“Oh?” Ming Yi became interested and quickly poured him more tea. “Please, enlighten me, my lord.”
“The people of Zhu Yue City are skilled in curses and poisons. There’s a love curse with a mother and child pair. If we feed the child curse to Lord Ji, he will fall deeply in love with Sister Ming and never abandon you again.”
Si Tu Ling seemed to be joking, but his expression was somewhat serious: “If you want it, I can get it for you.”
Zhu Yue City was indeed famous for its curses and poisons, but they wouldn’t let them leave the city to protect ordinary people in other cities.
Ming Yi didn’t know whether to be more shocked that he could obtain such a curse or that he was suggesting she use it on Ji Bozai.
Si Tu Ling’s expression seemed genuinely sincere in wanting to help her, but it felt strange no matter how she looked at it.
While her mind was churning, her face showed an expression of great anticipation: “Does that thing work?”
“Of course, it works, but Lord Ji is extremely cautious. Sister Ming might not succeed, but it’s worth a try.”
“Oh yes, yes!” Ming Yi nodded without hesitation. “As long as it can make my lord change his mind, this slave is willing to try anything.”
Si Tu Ling turned to look at the tall guard behind him. The guard hesitated for a moment, then bowed and left.
So half an hour later, a black curse container with red entangled patterns drawn in blood was placed in front of Ming Yi.
A shiver ran down her arm as she swallowed: “Does this curse bite?”
Si Tu Ling shook his head and used two thin pieces of wood to divide the container into two parts in front of her. “This is the mother curse. Sister Ming must keep it carefully hidden. This is the child curse, it’s very small. It’s best to mix it in tea for someone to drink, then water, and lastly wine.”
Ming Yi gratefully accepted these things, but couldn’t help asking: “It won’t harm his life, will it?”
“Unless he has murderous intentions towards you, it won’t harm his life.”
To be honest, this curse seemed quite good.
Ming Yi blinked and suddenly asked: “Why is the young lord so kind to this slave?”
Si Tu Ling swung his legs and smiled: “I’ve been frail since childhood and not qualified to cultivate Yuan power. When I saw Sister Ming’s impressive skills that day, I thought you were amazing to have cultivated such Yuan power as a woman.”
“It’s just some trivial skills,” Ming Yi laughed dryly. “There was a fighter in our village who liked to teach us a few moves when he was bored. You know, village girls have no manners, running around learning things. It’s nothing impressive.”
“I see,” Si Tu Ling marveled. “But Sister Ming is still more capable than me.”
How could that be? She certainly couldn’t conjure curses out of thin air in Mu Xing City.
Laughing foolishly a couple of times, Ming Yi put on an eager expression and stood up: “Then this slave will go back and prepare. If it succeeds, I will surely thank the young lord properly.”