Ji Bozai’s reputation soared after the recent welcoming banquet. As soon as the feast ended, praises for him spread far and wide.
“Those two treasures are extraordinary. One can forge the world’s finest divine weapon, while the other can cultivate supreme Yuan Power. Ji Bozai outshone everyone to obtain these treasures, not only bringing glory to Muxing but also keeping the hope of winning next year’s competition in our city.”
“Muxing City has been in decline for years. If we can return to the top three cities, halve the harsh taxes, and greatly improve the river embankments, Lord Ji will be a great hero.”
The storyteller slapped the table and exclaimed, “Good days are coming for all of you!”
“Excellent!” The teahouse erupted in applause.
At the main gate of the Ji residence, rewards and congratulatory gifts from the Grand Minister poured in endlessly. At the side entrance, numerous red silk packages from private senders arrived. Even handkerchiefs and medicinal ointments from young ladies piled up like small mountains.
Bu Xiu and Matron Xun couldn’t stop smiling, but the injured man resting in bed wore a gloomy expression, showing no signs of happiness.
Bu Xiu asked, puzzled, “Didn’t you say earlier that it doesn’t hurt anymore?”
“It doesn’t hurt.”
Then why such an expression?
Bu Xiu scratched his head and brought over a pile of gifts to show him. “This proves how impressive you are, my lord. Even the daughter of Censor Liu, whom you praised before, has sent a handkerchief with a poem.”
“Miss Zhao is thoughtful. She sent freshly brewed tonic soup made with premium ingredients.”
“Young Lady Li is generous. She provided high-quality ointment, saying it won’t leave scars. She especially sought it out for you.”
Ji Bozai listened expressionlessly as Bu Xiu listed over a dozen items. Then he asked, “Is that all?”
Bu Xiu blinked. “My lord, there are only so many unmarried noble ladies in the capital. So many have risked their reputations to send gifts. Aren’t you satisfied?”
Indeed, so many well-bred young ladies could disregard their reputations to send gifts, but what about the one in his household? Were the stones in the courtyard too uncomfortable to walk on, or was the sun too scorching? It had been a full day and seven hours, yet she hadn’t come to check on him even once.
Ji Bozai sneered and waved his hand. “Send all these to Liu Zhaojun.”
Bu Xiu’s mouth twitched. “My lord, that doesn’t seem appropriate.”
“Just do as I say.”
“Yes, sir.”
Bu Xiu left with the gifts, scratching his head and ears in confusion. He thought his master wasn’t usually so insensitive. Regifting items from admiring ladies was one thing, but giving them to Miss Ming? Wasn’t that going to hurt her feelings? This behavior seemed beneath his master’s dignity.
Feeling quite embarrassed, he knocked on Liu Zhaojun’s door, planning to find an acceptable explanation for Miss Ming.
However, Ming Yi merely glanced at the items he brought, commented that they were quite valuable, and then showed no further interest. She only asked him, “How long has it been? Is Twenty-seven still not allowed out?”
Bu Xiu forced a smile. “Don’t worry, Miss Ming. He’s well-fed and housed in the separate courtyard. Apart from not being allowed to leave, there’s nothing amiss.”
Thinking it wasn’t right to keep someone confined indefinitely, Ming Yi sighed. “If the lord is truly worried about him, why not hand him over to the envoys from Chaoyang City to be taken back there?”
“That’s not for me to decide,” Bu Xiu pondered for a moment. “Why don’t you ask the lord yourself, Miss?”
Better not, she thought. Going to see him would inevitably involve changing his dressings and feeding him. She didn’t have the patience for that right now.
Waving her hand, Ming Yi returned to the courtyard to sigh.
Bu Xiu followed her a few steps and lowered his voice. “Miss, let me give you some advice. The lord is quite easy to please. If you just bring him a bowl of soup and say a few kind words, he might not refuse your request.”
Ming Yi’s face was full of dismay. Ji Bozai was truly deep and cunning, even deceiving his close attendants. How could he be so easily pleased? When it came to his interests, it wouldn’t matter if she brought him soup or even dragon meat.
Better to find someone else to help.
Her eyes lit up as she lightly tapped her forehead. “I now have a maiden family. It’s not too much to visit them, is it?”
Bu Xiu was taken aback. “You want to… visit your maiden family now?”
“Is there a specific day I should choose for visiting my family?”
“Well, no, but…” Bu Xiu sighed. “Miss, how did things come to this between you and the lord?”
They used to get along so well and seemed like a good match. Miss Ming even risked her life to check on the lord’s injuries. How could things change so much in such a short time that she wouldn’t even ask about his condition?
Ming Yi understood what he meant and smiled with curved eyes. “A path is walked by two people together. I have my faults, and so does he. I don’t intend to change, and neither does he. From the beginning, we were destined to reach this point. There’s nothing to regret.”
With that, she turned to find Matron Xun to arrange her visit to her maiden family.
This “maiden family” was designated by the Grand Minister. With countless eyes on the Ji residence, Ji Bozai couldn’t openly confine her. He could only grit his teeth and smile. “Well done, her.”
“My lord, please don’t be angry. It’s bad for your health,” Bu Xiu hurriedly advised.
“I’m not angry. Why should I be? She’s just an ordinary dancer, a nobody who can be found anywhere. Let her go wherever she pleases.” He pulled the blanket over his head and said coldly, “I want to rest. Don’t disturb me unless it’s important.”
“Yes, sir.”
Ming Yi was assigned ten maids before she was allowed to leave.
Outsiders envied her grand treatment, saying her good days had arrived and she had risen in status. But Ming Yi couldn’t bring herself to smile. These maids followed her so closely that they even accompanied her to the toilet, making it extremely difficult to find a chance to speak with Situ Ling alone.
However, as soon as she entered the main gate of the Situ residence, Ming Yi detected a strange scent.
She covered her nose and mouth with her sleeve, pretending to cough.
Situ Ling, while guiding her, smiled and said, “Sister is truly perceptive.”
The maids following behind didn’t understand where this praise came from, but as they walked, their heads began to feel fuzzy, and they soon collapsed.
The servants nearby, seemingly prepared for this, stepped forward wearing face coverings and took the maids away to settle them.
Past the corridor, the air became fresh again. Ming Yi lowered her sleeve and sighed, “Young lord, your methods…”
Situ Ling spread his hands innocently. “I dislike having extra ears around. Surely, sister, you don’t enjoy it either?”
“I don’t,” Ming Yi paused. “I mean, you could have had someone use clothes to knock them out one by one. It would have been much more cost-effective than filling the entire courtyard with incense.”
What a waste, she thought. Such a large amount of smoke must have cost a fortune!
Situ Ling was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. “Sister, you come from a wealthy family. How can you be so concerned about money?”
Ming Yi shook her head ruefully. “It’s precisely because I come from wealth that I understand the importance of money when one falls on hard times.”
She had lied to Ji Bozai about many things, but when she told him earlier that she had been begging on the streets to survive, that wasn’t a lie.