Love in the Clouds (Ru Qing Yun)

To think he's so sensible at such a young age. Mingyi nodded approvingly: "You're quite the fine young man."

Situ Ling smiled and slowly turned toward the not-so-fine young man: "Oh, Minister Ji is here too?"

Ji Bozhai smirked meaningfully: "What a coincidence. I was just about to return to the Academicians' Court with Yi'er. Seems I'm interrupting your reunion with your sister."

"No interruption at all. It's been ages since I last saw Minister Ji." Situ Ling curved his lips, "Half a year apart, yet your charm remains undiminished. No wonder the city is full of maidens who admire you."

"You flatter me, young master."

Still smiling with narrowed eyes, Situ Ling turned back to Mingyi: "Though having too many flowers around isn't necessarily good. For a stable life, one should choose someone more settled."

Ji Bozhai: "..."

He glanced at Luo Jiaoyang and noticed their expressions remained normal, as if they found nothing improper in Situ Ling's words. Could it be his own prejudice was too deep?

Then Situ Ling continued: "Sister, you've grown thinner. It pains my heart to see. If I could freely enter the Academicians' Court, I'd surely prepare proper meals for you."

The corner of the low table in his grip cracked audibly. Ji Bozhai glared at Situ Ling through narrowed eyes.

It wasn't his imagination—this man's words were clearly aimed at him. As if he hadn't been feeding Mingyi properly at the Academicians' Court? He'd been sending meals from Flower Branch Pavilion all this time. What could he do if she had a small appetite?

And this so-called reunion—was the man hard of hearing that he needed to speak so close to her?

Speaking was one thing, but those frequent side glances—what, was he in the way?

Too bad if he was. Hmph.

The beast-drawn carriage rolled onward as Mingyi and Situ Ling conversed cheerfully. When it came time to disembark, Situ Ling glanced back at Ji Bozhai and paled in fright: "Minister Ji, you... have I been discourteous in some way?"

Mingyi paused and followed his gaze to see the man in the carriage with a stern face, exuding palpable hostility.

While this expression seemed perfectly normal to her, Situ Ling, lacking Essence Power, couldn't help but be intimidated. She spoke softly: "My lord?"

Now she was scolding him for someone else's sake? Furious beyond words, Ji Bozhai let out a bitter laugh, pushed past them to exit the carriage, and strode into the Academicians' Court, his robe nearly whipping Situ Ling's face.

Luo Jiaoyang and the others were startled by his sudden temper. Following hastily, they exchanged confused looks: "What's going on?"

"Nothing happened just now, did it?"

Situ Ling waved it off: "Don't trouble yourself over it, Sister Ming. Minister Ji has disliked me for quite some time."

"Who does he actually like?" Mingyi waved dismissively. "You should head back now."

"Call for me whenever you're free, sister." Situ Ling flashed his canine teeth in a grin. "I'll always be available when you need me."

"Alright." She smiled as she watched him board the carriage behind them.

Ji Bozhai sat alone in the room, silent, his gloomy back making others hesitant to approach.

Mingyi entered and called out: "My lord?"

"What brings you here?" he muttered. "Finished your reunion already? It's still early—half an hour is hardly enough time."

The sourness in his tone could rival Fuling's freshly pickled vegetables.

Mingyi tapped on the carved door, patiently reminding him: "This is my room."

If he wanted to sulk, he should do it in his own courtyard. What was the point of coming here?

His back stiffened before he turned around. His usually indifferent eyes now held a trace of resentment: "My mistake. I came here out of habit."With that, he grew annoyed again: "Then why don't you ever come to my courtyard on your own? Clearly, you can see how angry I am."

"What are you angry about?" Mingyi sat down calmly. "Angry that Situ Ling is more sensible than you, or that he's more considerate?"

"I'm angry that you're gentle with him, even smiling at him, but the moment you see me, it's always this indifferent expression." He grabbed the bronze mirror and placed it angrily in front of her. "Look at yourself. Is this the same woman who was all smiles and laughter just now?"

Mingyi was momentarily speechless and pushed the mirror away. "He's my sworn brother."

Sworn brother, my foot. That wasn't the look a man gave his sister.

Taking a deep breath, Ji Bozhai met her gaze. "You can't be gentle with everyone and only cold and distant with me."

Let him get close? Mingyi lowered her eyes.

Before, she would have dared—after all, why not take what was freely offered? It would have been just another experience in life. But now...

Ji Bozhai was too clingy. Whenever she was around, his eyes were always on her. When they were alone, she could feel the tension in his veins as he struggled to restrain himself from getting closer. Every day, he sent things to her courtyard—from gold and jewels to meals and snacks.

She had never been treated like this before and found it hard to resist. Even though she knew these were his usual tactics with women, she couldn't help wondering—what if, this time, he truly meant it? What if he was serious about her?

Especially now, with this jealous look of his—urgent and aggrieved—he really seemed like a young man experiencing love for the first time.

Mingyi didn't dare look at him. Not because she didn't want to, but because she was afraid of being fooled. That would make her even more foolish than those other deceived women—they hadn't known about the trap, but she would be jumping in despite knowing it was there.

Ji Bozhai suddenly sneezed.

Mingyi snapped out of her thoughts and realized he had taken off his cloak at some point, leaving only a thin Sky-blue Mist Rain robe underneath.

She didn’t want to care—unlike Situ Ling, he had Essence Power and could shield himself from the cold.

But today was especially chilly. Even wrapped in fox fur, her fingertips were cold. If he fell ill, his training would be delayed for days.

After hesitating for a long while, she finally stood and fetched a cloak from the cabinet for him.

But the moment she reached out, he seized her wrist and pulled, sending her tumbling forward.

Warm breath brushed her ear as Ji Bozhai sighed, his throat bobbing like a parched man finally tasting water. "You do care about me, don't you?"

Her heart sank. Mingyi tried to push him away, but his arms, though not tightly restraining her, were too strong to break free from. "The poison in your body is cold-natured—winter is the worst for it. If that's the case, why keep refusing me?"

"Does my lord not know the reason?" She suddenly bit her lip, frowning slightly.

Ji Bozhai stroked her long hair gently, over and over. "Mingyi, trust me just once. I won't let you down."

"..."

"Yi'er, trust me."

The dazzling starlight spilled through the window, casting a faint glow on the embroidered flowers of the brocade quilt.

Mingyi opened her eyes to find Ji Bozhai's arm still wrapped firmly around her, as if afraid she might slip away in the night.

Compared to the first time they had been together, the Ji Bozhai now seemed more like a man in love than a lord merely using her.

The poison in her body had been neutralized—her life would likely be longer. Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone by her side for the rest of it?Turning to look at the sleeping face beside her, Mingyi's eyes gradually brightened.