Mingyi quickly replayed the scene in her mind.
She had been somewhat rude by retorting to Zhao Si Pan, but someone like Ji Bozhai wouldn’t fuss over etiquette. In fact, he’d likely be pleased she had the audacity to lean on his authority. Surely that wasn’t the reason for his displeasure.
Was it because she’d spoken too much, appearing insufficiently demure?
Unlikely. Zhao Si Pan had apologized to her, and Gong Wang had even sent gifts—she’d gained plenty of face. He ought to be happy about that.
Tilting her head in puzzlement, she couldn’t figure it out.
Ji Bozhai glanced at the gifts from Gong Wang, then at the woman beside him who was staring at him in a daze. He couldn’t help but murmur a reminder, “Aren’t you going to thank His Highness?”
Snapping back to attention, Mingyi hurriedly bowed. “Many thanks for Your Highness’s generous gifts.”
“No need for formalities. Take your seat and enjoy the feast. I went to great lengths to hire these chefs—today’s dishes are exceptional.” Gong Wang casually settled into the empty seat at the head of their table and signaled for the servants to serve the food.
“Your Highness isn’t going to accompany the Princess Consort?” Liang Xiuyuan, who had some familial ties to the Gong Wang’s wife, teased lightly. “Her eyes have been fixed on you—she’s practically willing you over.”
Gong Wang waved a hand dismissively. “She’s frail, doesn’t drink, and isn’t much for conversation. Sitting with her would leave me with nothing to talk about over wine.”
Mingyi’s brow furrowed briefly before smoothing over. Her gaze flickered subtly toward the Princess Consort.
Seated alone at the main table with the young heir’s cradle beside her, the Princess Consort maintained a poised demeanor, but the strain in her smile was unmistakable. Her eyes kept darting toward Gong Wang, resentment simmering beneath her composed expression.
Childbirth was a woman’s Gates of Hell, but being scorned by one’s husband afterward was even more harrowing.
Mingyi sighed inwardly. If even a noble princess consort suffered such a fate, she could only imagine the plight of ordinary women.
Gong Wang continued engaging her in conversation. “I’ve heard people often lose their lives harvesting ginseng in Yuàn County?”
She turned back and forced a smile. “Indeed. The cliffs tower into the clouds, and the blood ginseng seems to favor the most perilous spots.”
She offered no further elaboration, lowering her head to arrange dishes for Ji Bozhai instead.
Ji Bozhai sipped his wine, quietly observing her.
This girl didn’t seem as timid as she appeared.
Zhao Si Pan’s face was dark and fearsome—most women would tremble at the sight of him. Yet she not only faced him head-on but even dared to talk back. And when she did, her words struck precisely where it hurt.
He couldn’t tell whether it was accidental or deliberate.
“My lord.” Buxiu approached from behind, crouching beside him and speaking softly.
Ji Bozhai lowered his gaze, then turned to Gong Wang. “Your Highness, I must excuse myself briefly on urgent business.”
“Very well.” Gong Wang nodded.
Mingyi made to rise when he did, but for some reason, Ji Bozhai showed no intention of bringing her along. In a few strides, he was gone.
Halfway out of her seat, she froze, blinking in bewilderment before settling back down.
Lately, he had been so close to her, discussing matters both trivial and significant without reservation. She’d thought he already saw her as one of his own. Evidently, there were still places she couldn’t reach.
Pursing her lips, Mingyi averted her gaze and returned to entertaining the even more talkative Gong Wang.
“The remaining individuals have been dealt with,” Buxiu murmured as they walked along the corridor. “We initially thought the investigation wouldn’t reach that far, so we spared a few out of mercy. That was my oversight.”"No wonder you didn't know," Ji Bozhai scoffed. "Who could have guessed that a random choice from my banquet would turn out to be so sharp-witted, even surpassing Zhao Si Pan in cleverness."
His tone was indifferent, laced with a hint of irritation.
Buxiu tensed.
The master detested trouble above all else. Bringing a Dancing Girl from the inner court was to avoid the hassle of Da Si's arranged marriage, and favoring her exclusively was to sidestep Gong Wang's attempts at alliance. Yet now, this girl had instead brought trouble upon the master—what fate awaited her?
As the music began, Gong Wang, thoroughly enjoying his wine, leaned toward Mingyi and said, "This melody is newly composed. Why not take it as inspiration and perform a dance?"
Mingyi smiled politely, thinking to herself, Of all the people here, why call on me? She couldn't dance at all.
What could she do? She was utterly desperate—maybe she could just play dead.
"Miss Ming, the ladies have set up a stage in the rear courtyard. Her Highness the Princess Consort has sent me to invite you to join them for the performance," a servant approached and bowed.
Eyes lighting up, Mingyi quickly rose and bowed to Qi. "Since Her Highness has extended the invitation, this humble girl will take her leave."
Qi frowned in displeasure, but with so many eyes watching, he could say nothing and merely waved his hand dismissively.
Mingyi cheerfully followed the servant away from the banquet.
The Gong Wang residence was vast, with lush gardens. Once they left the banquet courtyard, the surroundings grew quiet. She sighed in relief and smiled at the maid ahead. "Thank you."
The maid neither turned nor acknowledged her, merely leading her swiftly forward.
As they walked, Mingyi began to feel something was amiss.
The winding path led deeper into seclusion—ahead was clearly not the lively stage she'd been promised.
"Are you sure you're not lost?" She stopped in her tracks.
The maid turned impatiently. "The residence is large. I know it better than you."
Mingyi narrowed her eyes. "I have quite the temper myself. If you don't explain clearly, do you really think I'll follow you?"
Perhaps unused to the previously delicate and demure beauty suddenly speaking so boldly, the maid glanced back and curled her lip. "Born a Dancing Girl, you wouldn't understand the rules of noble households. Our stage is far from here. If you don't follow, you'll surely get lost."
It sounded plausible enough, and Mingyi laughed. "A lowly Dancing Girl like me probably wouldn't appreciate the performances favored by nobility. I might as well skip it. I can find my way back."
The maid clearly hadn't expected this response and grew flustered. "You dare refuse Her Highness's invitation?"
"Yes," she nodded.
After all, if the sky fell, Ji Bozhai would bear the weight. She was neither a proper wife nor a frequent visitor—dealing with the Princess Consort wasn't her responsibility.
With that, she turned and walked away.
Before long, several shadowy figures began creeping up behind her.
Mingyi grew alert, but unfamiliar with the surroundings, she hesitated to act rashly and quickened her pace instead. Yet the pursuers were skilled—in a few strides, they closed in, and a burlap sack came hurtling toward her head.
There was no choice now. She pushed off the ground, sliding backward between two assailants, then steadied herself against a flowering branch.
The attackers moved swiftly, clearly confident in their ambush, but their faces registered shock when they realized she knew martial arts. Meeting her probing gaze, they panicked and, seeing no alternative, closed in on her again.Mingyi sighed, "Brothers, why go to such lengths? We're all just trying to make a living. Why pick on a weak—"
Before she could finish her sentence, someone lunged at her. Mingyi lifted her skirt and delivered a powerful kick, sending the assailant flying. Then she continued with a sigh, "Why pick on a weak woman like me."
The burly men: ?
With legs as strong as an ox, what kind of weak woman was this?
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