He no longer looked at her, merely encircling her in his arms. His broad palm smoothed along the curve of her waist while his other hand picked up a wine cup, slowly pouring.
Mingyi felt somewhat at a loss. She tried to slip out of his embrace, but the moment she moved, he tightened his hold.
“Do you want a drink too?” he asked.
She shook her head like a rattle-drum, yet the man acted as if he didn’t see it, bringing the cup to her lips. “You’re so considerate, knowing I can’t drink anymore.”
If you can’t drink, then why pour?
She grumbled inwardly, wrinkling her nose as she sniffed before reluctantly taking a small sip.
So strong.
Her grip on the cup faltered, and wine spilled, soaking half her robe. The thin silk clung to her skin, releasing a warm, fragrant mist.
Ji Bozhai glanced down to find her cheeks flushed like sunset clouds, her eyes hazy. She resembled a piece of pink jade soaked in water—translucent and glowing.
She can’t hold her liquor.
He watched her for a moment longer before tilting the cup to her lips again, feeding her a few more sips.
As the wine took effect, Mingyi’s eyes reddened at the corners, and she mumbled, nestling against his chest. “No more.”
She rubbed against him like a kitten, her fair, delicate hands instinctively wrapping around his waist, clinging tightly as if he were driftwood in water.
Ji Bozhai was thoroughly pleased. With one arm draped over her shoulder, he cheerfully picked up a bite of food and fed it to her.
Yan Xiao watched in amazement. “You’re really planning to take her back?”
He shot him a sidelong glance. “What of it?”
“This isn’t like you.” Yan Xiao shook his head. “None of the previous dancing girls stayed with you. Don’t act impulsively out of spite, only to abandon her later. Everyone at this banquet is pitiable.”
So damn nagging.
Ji Bozhai couldn’t be bothered to argue. Noticing the dazed look in the girl’s eyes, he stood. “You handle things with Qian Li. I’m leaving first.”
“You sure know how to delegate.” Yan Xiao huffed.
With a light hum, Ji Bozhai steadied the soft jade in his arms and turned to leave through the side door without even bidding farewell to Da Si at the head table.
“This man…” The celestial official beside Da Si watched Ji Bozhai’s retreating figure and shook his head slightly. “Skilled, but lacking in restraint.”
Da Si chuckled. “Fighters are rare. It’s good that he has something he likes—better than being indifferent to everything.”
“Minister Superior is wise.”
The music in the hall continued as Ji Bozhai stepped through the moon gate of the inner courtyard and onto the imperial path paved with bluestone.
“It’s so shaky,” the girl in his arms mumbled.
Ji Bozhai smirked meaningfully. “It’ll get shakier later.”
Hearing this, she immediately covered her forehead in alarm. “If it shakes any more, I’ll spill!”
Her breath carried the scent of wine, tipsy yet utterly adorable.
Unable to resist, he asked, “What’s going to spill?”
“Me.”
“What are you?”
“I’m a golden cup,” she answered foolishly, still covering her forehead as she looked up with misty eyes. “Just filled with wine—can’t spill.”
He chuckled lowly, leaning in to press a kiss to the back of her hand. Teasing, he said, “If you drink it, it won’t spill.”
She pondered this for a long moment before deciding it made sense. Letting go of her forehead, she offered it to his lips. “Drink a little, just a little is fine.”
Unable to hold back, he burst into laughter, lifting her up. His lips brushed past her forehead and instead captured her murmuring little mouth.
Mingyi’s pupils contracted slightly before quickly clouding over again.She whimpered, wanting to resist, but his movements were practiced and gentle, not the least bit uncomfortable—almost soothing, in fact—and before she knew it, she had lost all strength to struggle.
The sky was filled with countless stars, scattered near and far across the night, some even larger than the moon. Icy blue, deep violet, pale yellow, they floated in the darkness with glowing halos, surreal and magnificent.
She gazed at them until her eyelids grew heavy, heavier and heavier, until she could no longer keep them open.
Ji Bozhai carried her into the beast-drawn carriage, his gaze tender.
The driver couldn’t help but ask, “My lord, straight back to the manor?”
“No, to the eastern villa.”
“Understood.”
Mingyi lay against his lap, sleeping peacefully and quietly. He idly twirled a lock of her hair between his fingers, then glanced at her hands.
The backs were smooth and fair, but her fingertips felt rough, as if calloused.
He lowered his eyes, pretending not to notice, and continued stroking her cheek.
When they arrived at the villa, he instructed the driver, “Tell Buxiu to bring my things here.”
The driver hurried off, while the maids and matrons in the courtyard rushed out to receive them.
They were experienced—taking Mingyi straight to be bathed and changed, while also inspecting her body.
Ji Bozhai was particular. He wouldn’t keep anyone with scars or who wasn’t clean.
Fortunately, the matron emerged with a pleased smile, nodding at him without a word.
He acknowledged her with a slight tilt of his head, changed his clothes, and went to her room.
Mingyi was fast asleep, showing no signs of waking. When he reached out, she even let out a soft murmur and nuzzled against his hand.
What a waste of a fine night.
Uncharacteristically patient, Ji Bozhai lifted the embroidered quilt and lay down, pulling her on top of him.
Her dark hair cascaded around her, softer and more alluring than it had been at the banquet. Her cheeks were still flushed, but the rest of her skin was snow-white. Pressed against him, he could see the delicate curve of her collarbones and the lush swell beneath.
His throat tightened slightly as he raised a hand—
“My lord… this lowly one deserves death for disturbing you, but you must come to the front at once! Something’s happened!” An untimely voice suddenly called from outside.
Ji Bozhai irritably flicked the bed curtains shut. “Tomorrow.”
“But the imperial guards are here—right outside the gates—demanding to see you.”
The imperial guards were reserved for the inner palace. They wouldn’t mobilize without good reason.
His expression sharpened. He set Mingyi back on the pillow, then rose, threw on his robe, and opened the door.
“What’s happened?”
“I don’t know, but everyone who entered the inner palace tonight is being questioned.”
For such a commotion, it must be serious.
He strode out and ran straight into the captain of the guards, who saluted solemnly. “Lord Ji, a murder has occurred in the inner palace. We’ve been ordered to search the premises. Please forgive the intrusion.”
Ji Bozhai arched a brow. “That serious?”
Meng Yangqiu first gestured for his men to begin their search before stepping aside with him. “To be honest, even I find it strange. The victims were sitting at the banquet—dead in plain sight. Everyone thought they’d simply drunk themselves unconscious. It wasn’t until the eunuchs tried to rouse them after the event that they realized they’d been dead for some time.”
To kill someone right under Da Si’s nose—that took nerve.
Ji Bozhai asked, “With skill like that, what do you expect to find?”"There was blood under one victim's fingernails. The Adjudicator suspects he scratched the killer before death, so Da Si sent us to search attendees of today's banquet, fearing the evidence might disappear in a few days," Meng Yangqiu answered truthfully.
Hearing this, he waved his hand dismissively with a smile: "Then you won't find anything in my residence. As you know, I'm quite particular - the dancing girls I just brought back don't even have scars, let alone an extra mole."
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