Mingyi blinked innocently with doe eyes: "This servant already belongs to you, my lord. How could I possibly return to visit family at such a critical time before the banquet?"
"You always find a way." He affectionately stroked her cheek. "Granny Xun hasn't returned to the main residence for quite some time. If all goes well this time, I'll let you go back with her."
Her nose twitched slightly as Mingyi caught a whiff of something unusual.
The clan banquet wouldn't have any external officials attending, and Ji Bozhai wouldn't be going either. Why insist on sending her? Moreover, offering her the benefit of visiting the main residence surely meant he wanted her to do something.
Noticing the wariness in her eyes, Ji Bozhai chuckled and smoothed her hair. "My Yi'er is perfect in every way, except perhaps too clever."
Mingyi: "...Guh guh."
She was just a simpleton, not clever at all. All she wanted was to stay home and sleep in.
His hands gently kneaded her stiffened waist. "I'll prepare the most beautiful dress for you—you'll love it. When the banquet ends, I'll send someone to fetch you immediately. You won't need to do anything."
Could it really be this good?
She eyed him suspiciously, hesitating slightly.
Ji Bozhai smiled faintly. "Five extra gold bars."
"My lord, when should this servant depart? Is it just for visiting family? Would you like me to take a stroll around the banquet?" Her tail wagged eagerly.
He laughed softly, his eyes glimmering. "If Yi'er wishes to broaden her horizons, I certainly won't stand in your way."
Understood. Everything would be by her own volition—she wanted to visit family, she wanted to attend the banquet.
Mingyi nodded and immediately got up to prepare.
Ji Bozhai adored this quick-wittedness of hers—it made things so convenient.
But since it was already late, he didn't want to exhaust her. After watching her pick out clothes and accessories and draft the family visit request, he carried her back to bed.
Mingyi felt somewhat resentful. Other women only needed to act coy to enjoy life's pleasures—why did she have to work double shifts? Was it just because she was beautiful, charming, and utterly delightful?
Still, Ji Bozhai's waist was truly exceptional—lean yet powerful, with impeccable technique. It wasn't a bad deal, considering how much it would cost to hire someone like him.
Completely unaware that he'd been appraised mid-passion, Lord Ji gazed at her jade-like skin beneath him and couldn't help murmuring, "Be careful out there. Don't get hurt."
He prized flawlessness in women—like fine porcelain. Any blemish would ruin everything.
Mingyi cursed inwardly. If he didn't want her injured, why send her out at all? Expecting her to complete tasks while staying unharmed—he'd monopolized all the pretty words.
Outwardly, she cooed sweetly, "This servant understands."
Though their thoughts diverged, their bodies fit together perfectly. For a fleeting moment, Ji Bozhai even considered holding her like this forever.
But the night breeze quickly scattered such impulses.
With countless women in the world, none could remain unchanged forever. He only needed to keep her by his side while she remained desirable—a whim was too fleeting, a lifetime too long.
At dawn, Granny Xun drew back the bed curtains.
Ji Bozhai had already left. Mingyi hovered between sleep and wakefulness, her raven hair cascading over the bedside, phoenix eyes drowsy with lingering sleep. A pale wrist tugged at Granny Xun's sleeve, causing the silk to slide down to her elbow.
She yawned coquettishly, "Just one more incense stick's worth of sleep..."
Granny Xun shook her head helplessly. "Today you must try on and alter your dress, and submit the family visit request to the inner court. We can't afford any more delays."Mingyi whimpered a couple of times, rolled around on the bed, then mustered the strength to get up and followed Granny Xun to wash up and change.
The moment she saw the dress Ji Bozhai had prepared, she was instantly wide awake.
A snow-brocade embroidered skirt in Mulan Qing—this was a rare color that ordinary families couldn’t afford, paired with such fine fabric and exquisite embroidery. It truly dazzled the eyes.
She cheered and hurried to put it on.
The waistline fit perfectly, and the wide sleeves were light and airy. Mingyi twirled in front of the bronze mirror and nodded in satisfaction. "The master has excellent taste."
Granny Xun also thought it looked beautiful. Mingyi was the most adept at dressing she had ever seen—no matter what clothes she wore, they always suited her perfectly.
Granny Xun styled her hair into a bun, then watched as Mingyi meticulously applied her makeup: darkening her willow-leaf brows, dusting rouge at the corners of her eyes. Though it took a full hour, the result was delightful—pearly teeth gleaming, delicate brows furrowed slightly. Anyone who saw this face would surely pause for a second look.
Mingyi was quite pleased with herself. Cupping her cheeks, she sighed, "This bronze mirror is so lucky to reflect a beauty like me."
Granny Xun had been about to praise her, but this self-admiration made her choke back a laugh. "Young lady, you ought to learn some modesty."
"There’s only you and me here, Granny. Who am I being modest for?" She pouted playfully. "I just think I’m beautiful. If I weren’t, why would the master have brought me back?"
It was the truth. The only reason Ji Bozhai could tolerate her chatter was because of this face—it accounted for ninety percent of her worth.
"I have only one good sister in the inner court, named Zhang Tai," Mingyi said, handing the visitation request to Granny Xun. "She’s frail and favored by the inner court’s steward. If I request to visit her, it’s sure to be approved. But Granny, don’t go through the usual channels—slip some silver to a eunuch to deliver it instead."
Ji Bozhai wanted to distance himself, so naturally, the request couldn’t go through his influence. Normally, visits required a summons from the inner court, not something outsiders could arrange. Granny Xun had assumed Mingyi would be at a loss and had already prepared a way for her.
Unexpectedly, she had a plan of her own.
Skeptical but willing to try, Granny Xun took the letter and followed her instructions.
By noon, a reply had already arrived from the inner court.
"The inner court steward summons the young lady for a visit. You may depart tonight."
Mingyi nodded, then immediately clutched Granny Xun’s hand nervously. "While I’m gone, Granny, you must keep an eye on the master. Don’t let some little vixen steal him away."
Granny Xun was both amused and exasperated, nodding repeatedly.
Though she had some favor with the master, she was still just a servant—how could she possibly keep him in check? But this girl truly cared for him, and her adorable antics softened Granny’s heart.
With a girl like this by his side, how could the master even glance at anyone else?
Ji Bozhai sat by the chessboard with a maidservant in his lap. Just as he placed a piece, he sneezed.
"Still suffering from that cold?" Yan Xiao teased.
He waved it off, accepting a handkerchief from the maidservant. "I never had a cold to begin with."
"You’d be better off if you did," Yan Xiao sighed. "How could you mistake Bloodwither for Carefree Grass?"
Carefree Grass was a poison only found in the palace, but Bloodwither wasn’t—the two looked nearly identical, but Bloodwither could be bought at any apothecary outside the palace.
Ji Bozhai lowered his gaze. "A momentary oversight.""Lucky it's you. Anyone else would have been suspected by Adjudicator Zhao as the murderer." Yan Xiao shook his head. "But this way, the case has truly become unsolved. Be careful—that impulsive young master from the Yan family will likely cause trouble for you."
"No matter." He replied. "That bit of Essence Power isn't worth my concern."
"True. The only one who ever caught your attention was that legitimate son of the Ming family from Sunspire City." Yan Xiao still felt a pang of regret at the memory. "Who knows where he's wandered off to now."
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