Meng Yangqiu, being well-acquainted with him, naturally knew of his romantic escapades. Upon hearing this, his expression relaxed: "In that case, I'll just have them go through the motions."
"Good."
As the two strolled through the courtyard, Meng Yangqiu, seeing no one around, couldn't help but lower his voice: "Star Yearn City has been quite eventful lately. You should be careful. Those women at the banquet—it's not wise to bring them home."
Ji Bozhai remained indifferent: "Women are inherently delicate—willowy waists, graceful necks—how could they possibly do anything lethal?"
Meng Yangqiu shot him a sidelong glance: "Beware of capsizing in a shallow ditch."
"Thanks for the warning," he yawned drowsily. "Truth be told, I’d welcome a devastatingly beautiful enchantress to captivate me wholly and spare others."
"You’re incorrigible."
After a round of laughter and teasing, the guards withdrew from his private residence.
Ji Bozhai lingered in the courtyard for a while before returning indoors.
Incense curled lazily from the burner, and the beauty lay fast asleep with her eyes closed. He gazed at her for a moment, in no hurry for the Luan Feng's dance. Instead, he took her hand, idly tracing the slightly rough pads of her fingers.
Mingyi slept soundly through the entire night.
Lulled by the lingering scent of wine, she slumbered blissfully until noon the next day, when she finally groaned and sat up, clutching her head.
The room was empty. Golden gauze curtains hung low, the rosewood bed was spacious, and the silk quilt carried the unfamiliar scent of a man.
Startled, Mingyi quickly knelt upright, scrambling to recall the events of the previous night.
She remembered following Lord Ji back to his residence.
But what happened after that?
"You’re quite fortunate, miss. The world outside is in chaos, yet you’ve slept in," remarked an elderly maid as she drew back the bed curtains.
Mingyi whirled around, pressing her back against the bedpost, staring at her uncertainly.
Granny Xun smirked faintly at her reaction. "This one’s as timid as a mouse."
Efficiently, she tidied the disheveled bedding before yanking Mingyi off the bed. "The master left early for the inner courtyard and won’t be back for lunch, but he’ll return by evening. You ought to freshen up."
Mingyi stumbled from the abrupt pull, her knee striking the bed frame. Pain whitened her face, but unsure of the maid’s standing, she dared not protest and obediently sat at the vanity.
The sight before her jolted her awake.
A row of treasures awaited her selection: ruby droplet earrings, black-gold vine hairpins, a sapphire-peacock gold crown, jade double-ring pendants... Each piece was exquisite and undoubtedly valuable.
Granny Xun’s expression darkened at her awestruck greed. "These are items you may wear."
The implication was clear—they weren’t hers to keep, merely to borrow.
Mingyi’s shoulders slumped.
Of course. She was just a plaything, a decorative vase, hardly worth such riches.
Summoning her composure, she began her toilette.
As a Dancing Girl, presenting herself with exquisite makeup and alluring attire was her duty. On her first day here, she needed to leave a favorable impression.
From what she’d observed last night, Ji Bozhai lived up to his reputation—a connoisseur of beauty, particularly fond of delicate, winsome maidens. Without hesitation, Mingyi selected dainty, understated jewelry, applied a light touch to her brows, and dabbed her cheeks with rouge, transforming into a vision of youthful grace.
Noticing the bookshelf, she lifted her skirts delicately and picked out the most worn volume. Then, reclining on the divan where she’d be immediately visible upon entry, she held the book in one hand and idly twirled incense with the other.Granny Xun swept and cleaned the room, passing by her with a huff. "It's upside down."
Mingyi stiffened slightly, then nonchalantly flipped the book right side up, continuing her pretense of deep immersion.
"Don't waste your effort. Our master's interest only lasts two or three days at most. Better ask him for more reward money while he's still fond of you—it'll serve you well later."
Mingyi understood. This granny had been by Ji Bozhai's side for years. Her heart wasn't unkind, but she'd seen too many women come and go in these rooms and couldn't be bothered to engage.
With a faint smile, Mingyi replied, "Reward money is naturally a must. I just want the master to give it more happily."
Surprised she'd responded, Granny Xun paused, then rolled her eyes again. "No sense of shame whatsoever."
Such words might wound others, but to Mingyi, shame had been discarded along with her old clothes the moment she entered the inner court as a Dancing Girl. It no longer mattered.
So she carefully arranged the incense and cheerfully asked, "Granny, does the master prefer strong or mild flavors? Does he like women more refined or martial?"
"None of your business."
"Then, Granny, do you prefer sweet or savory? There are cashews here—can you eat them?"
"You talk too much. My master dislikes noisy people."
"...Oh." She obediently pinched her lips shut with her fingers.
Yet, before the incense had even burned halfway, Mingyi spoke again. "Granny, where did you buy this fabric? The pattern is lovely. I'd like to make a dress for my mother."
Granny Xun's temples throbbed from her chatter, her eyelids twitching in irritation.
She had seen all kinds of women for the master, but never one so incessantly talkative—like a parrot turned spirit. How the master, with his preference for quiet, had chosen her was beyond comprehension.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Mingyi glancing around pitifully, as if bored out of her mind with no one else to talk to. Granny Xun's heart softened for a moment, and she answered, "This fabric isn't for sale. It's a reward from the inner court."
That reply was a mistake. The girl's eyes instantly lit up as if grasping a lifeline, tugging at her sleeve. "Then are these cashews also from the inner court? They seem tastier than the ones in the Dancing Girls' quarters."
"This courtyard is so flat! I wonder how many somersaults it'd take to get from the back gate to the front."
"That golden gauze curtain is beautiful—with those hidden embroidered patterns. Must've taken a lot of effort."
"Granny, want some cashews? I'll peel them for you. I'm good at this. Back when I was chosen as a Dancing Girl..."
Granny Xun realized she never should have opened her mouth.
Once this girl started chattering, there was no end to it. In a single afternoon, she nearly recounted her entire life story—from how she became a Dancing Girl to how she attended palace banquets.
Rubbing her ears, Granny Xun looked toward the door, praying for the first time that her master would return soon and take this nuisance off her hands.
OpenNovel