"Madam!"
The medicine bottle was still in her hand, and the guard immediately wanted to chase after her.
However, Ji Bozhai impatiently called him back: "No one is to interfere. That temper of hers needs to be tempered properly."
The guard: "..."
How was he supposed to explain to these two esteemed individuals that he really just wanted to see what was inside the medicine bottle, not mediate their quarrel?
But since the madam had dared to pour it into her mouth, it definitely wasn’t poison. If it wasn’t poison, then it probably wasn’t that urgent.
Watching as Mingyi dashed past the street corner and disappeared from sight, the guard, deterred by Ji Bozhai, didn’t pursue her further. Instead, he left the items from the carriage to be carefully examined by the summoned physician.
Three incense sticks later, the beast-drawn carriage was back on the official road. After turning a corner, it pulled to the side and stopped.
Mingyi stood by a pillar under the eaves, the surroundings deserted. She lifted her eyes to look at him, silk sleeves covering her lips as she smiled like a cunning little fox.
He lifted half of the carriage curtain, admiring her for a moment before lightly crooking his finger: "Come here."
A wave of vibrant gauze fluttered through the air as she leaped toward him, landing softly in his arms.
Ji Bozhai caught her with a laugh, tenderly rubbing her waist. "You’ve worked hard, Yi’er."
She let out a soft hum, gathering her skirts as she settled into the carriage. "Since I belong to you, my lord, it’s only right that I think of you first."
He adored this dutiful side of her.
Ji Bozhai lowered his head to kiss her, and Mingyi let out a delicate moan, wrapping her arms around his neck. The sandalwood-scented beast-drawn carriage swayed gently as it passed through a stretch of drab, ordinary residences, slowly making its way toward a grand mansion ablaze with lanterns.
Behind the carriage, the inner courtyards of the main city gradually erupted in chaos.
"Who in the world dares to act so brazenly under my very nose, time and time again?!"
A porcelain cup shattered violently on the ground. Da Si glanced at the lifeless body of Qi Bai lying nearby and felt dizzy with rage.
This was his only younger brother. Even if he had withdrawn from affairs in recent years, he had once supported Da Si’s rise to power. Da Si had long resolved to provide him with a life of luxury until old age—who could have imagined he would be murdered so suddenly?
After taking several heavy breaths, he suddenly slumped back into his throne, exhausted, and murmured to the attendant beside him, "Tell me… have vengeful spirits returned to claim my life?"
The attendant dropped to his knees in terror. "Why would you say such a thing, Minister Superior? You are chosen by heaven, your actions guided by divine will. There can be no such thing as vengeful spirits."
Da Si closed his eyes, lips trembling as he rubbed his temples. "Adjudicator Zhao."
"Your servant is here."
"Have you found anything?"
Zhao Si Pan had already led the examination of the body. Steeling himself, he replied, "Though the fall caused fatal injuries, the prince was likely poisoned beforehand, which caused dizziness and unsteadiness, leading to the fall."
"What kind of poison?" Da Si sat up straight, furious. "Poison again?"
Qi Bai had lived in seclusion for two years, returning only once annually. The only opportunity to harm him would have been during the royal family’s private banquet. And with the banquet’s security so tight, poisoning was the only feasible method of assassination.
However, this poison was different from the last. Out of respect for the prince’s noble status, his immortal body could not be damaged, and the coroner had been unable to identify the poison by scent alone.
"I will spare no effort in investigating this," Zhao Si Pan said, bowing stiffly.
He said it, but deep down, he had a feeling this case would end up like the last—with no resolution in sight.The eunuch who tested Qi Bai's food was still unharmed, and the prince's body couldn't be dissected to examine what exactly he had eaten. There was simply no way to investigate.
They had no choice but to arrest and interrogate everyone who had been around the prince.
Adjudicator Zhao Si Pan walked out of the inner courtyard with heavy steps, standing on the official road and looking up at the moon with a deep sigh.
When it was just a physician who died before, having no leads was one thing. But this time, it was a prince. How was he supposed to report this?
Come to think of it, who would have such a grudge against a prince?
Under the bright moon, several servants rushed over with footstools to the beast-drawn carriage.
The curtain lifted, and Ji Bozhai stepped out slowly, carrying the sleeping Mingyi in his arms.
A smile played on his lips as he glanced at the moon overhead.
Many years ago, on a similarly clear and starry night, someone had embraced a beauty in the bushes, passionately promising to stay together for life.
If they were meant to stay together, they should have died together, never parting even in the underworld. Yet he had made her wait all these years.
What a joke.
The night breeze was chilly, and the person in his arms, dressed lightly, instinctively snuggled closer to his chest.
Ji Bozhai snapped out of his thoughts and looked down at Mingyi's peaceful little face, his smile softening slightly in his eyes.
To be with him, she was even willing to become a murderer without fear, not even asking what grudge he held against Qi Bai. Now she slept so soundly in his arms, like a kitten.
Did she trust him that much?
"Master." Buxiu came forward to greet him with a bow.
At just that sound, Mingyi stirred awake, lifting her head groggily to look around.
Ji Bozhai stopped in his tracks, his tone slightly sharp. "Why are you so loud in the middle of the night?"
Buxiu: "..."
This was an unjust calamity. He had always spoken at this volume, and his master had never complained before.
"Are we here?" She yawned cutely, her voice soft and sweet.
Ji Bozhai hummed in affirmation and continued walking with her in his arms. "The courtyard is quite large, and your dance shoes are thin. I'll carry you."
Mingyi smiled brightly, nuzzling affectionately against his chest. "Okay."
A moment later, she suddenly jolted awake, her eyes widening nervously. "We're here? Should this servant go greet anyone?"
"Greet who?"
"Your concubines or side wives—aren't they in the residence?"
Ji Bozhai found it amusing. "Where did you hear I have concubines or side wives?"
Mingyi froze for a second, then her gaze at him carried a hint of reproach.
Playing around without commitment—what a heartless rake.
But that was fine. It meant she wouldn’t need a divorce letter or other troublesome formalities when she eventually left him.
Mingyi rested her head back against his chest.
Ji Bozhai, misreading her reaction, thought she wanted a formal status. The smile on his face faded slightly. "I dislike unnecessary formalities."
No matter how much he liked a woman, he wouldn’t keep her at home to complicate things.
"This servant dislikes them too," Mingyi replied offhandedly, not seeing his expression. "Someone of my status isn’t fit to enter the main hall anyway."
She meant it sincerely, but to Ji Bozhai, it sounded somewhat resentful.
He felt irritated but couldn’t bring himself to let her go, so he stayed silent.
Mingyi leaned against him and fell asleep again. By the time he laid her down in the main bedroom’s canopy bed, her face bore two faint marks from the embroidery on his robe.
Ji Bozhai watched her for a while, his anger dissipating without a trace.Forget it, he thought. What woman doesn't like to chatter a bit? She's just made a contribution—it wouldn't hurt to indulge her this once.
Buxiu stood behind him, somewhat taken aback by the shifting expressions on his face.
At first, he had thought this girl wouldn't last long. But not only had she survived, she even seemed to be... affecting their master's mood?
OpenNovel