For a fleeting moment, Mingyi even sensed a trace of affection within this Essence Power.
After all, he was a Fighter. If not for love, why would he be so generous?
However, she quickly snapped out of it, hurriedly gathering the remnants of Essence Power within her body to avoid detection.
Fortunately, Ji Bozhai was only concerned with warming her up and didn’t probe her Meridians further. Yet, the black Essence Power coiled around her snow-white skin, making her appear even more radiant and translucent.
As he warmed her, his thoughts began to wander elsewhere.
"My lord," she grasped his hand, both amused and exasperated.
Ji Bozhai paid her no heed. Biting her earlobe, he pulled her into the bed curtains.
Only then did Mingyi realize that Ji Bozhai had been restrained before. When truly aroused, he was nothing short of a wolf or tiger.
By the time dawn approached, she hadn’t gotten a moment’s rest.
Granny Xun initially guarded their door, but eventually, even she couldn’t bear the sounds and retreated far away, dismissing all the nearby maids and servants. The next day, she didn’t wake them early, only instructing the kitchen to prepare a lavish lunch for the two and distributing rewards to the curious servants, saying it was given by the lord in his joy.
Thus, the entire household was immersed in a festive atmosphere.
"How wonderful," Zhang Tai remarked enviously, watching the maids around her benefit from the rewards. "Mingyi truly married well."
Her maid lowered her head and whispered, "This servant believes our mistress married even better."
Thinking of Xu Lan, Zhang Tai brightened and quickly asked, "Has he replied to my last letter? Did he mention when he’d come for me?"
The maid shook her head. "The lord must be very busy lately. There’s been no reply yet."
The Dancing Girls of the Music Bureau had all been dismissed, leaving only the more manageable musicians. What could he possibly be busy with?
A flicker of doubt arose in Zhang Tai’s heart, but she soothed herself by touching her belly.
Though Xu Lan was already married, he had no children after five years. He would surely cherish the child in her womb and would never abandon her. If he said he was busy, then he must truly be occupied.
Just as she was thinking this, news arrived from outside: "Miss Zhang, Lord Xu says he’s found an excellent medicinal cuisine restaurant for nurturing pregnancies and wishes to take you there."
Zhang Tai’s eyes lit up, and she quickly stood. "So that’s what he’s been doing for me!"
The messenger kept his head bowed, his face obscured, and said, "Miss need only follow this servant to the back kitchen’s side gate. A carriage will come to fetch you."
"Alright," Zhang Tai nodded, then turned to her maid. "Go inform Mingyi, so she doesn’t worry when she wakes and can’t find me."
As the maid was about to leave, the messenger stopped her.
"Miss Ming was exhausted last night and won’t rise until afternoon. Miss need only go ahead. Once Miss Ming wakes, this servant will deliver the message for you."
Hearing this, Zhang Tai nodded, happily dressing up before following the messenger to the back kitchen.
Perhaps the servants were all off drinking with their rewards, for she encountered no one along the way.
Quietly leaving the manor and boarding the carriage, Zhang Tai prepared a multitude of words to share with Xu Lan.
Yet, when the carriage stopped, what she saw was Xu Lan half-embracing another woman as they exited a tavern.
The pair had been drinking and didn’t notice the carriage by the roadside. Xu Lan leaned in to kiss the green-clad woman, who twisted away and chided, "Save the affection for when we’re home. What would people think if they saw us here?"Xu Lan chuckled, "Whether at home or outside, you are my newly taken concubine. Why can't I be affectionate?"
Pupils contracting sharply, Zhang Tai clenched his fists abruptly.
A newly taken concubine? A newly taken concubine!
He had clearly told her that his wife at home was jealous and wouldn't allow him to take concubines, hence the delay in giving her status. How could he have taken a concubine in the blink of an eye?
Both of them still wore peach-colored ornaments at their waists, indicating the concubine had been taken recently, likely within the past couple of days.
So sending her to Mingyi wasn't for her to reunite with her sister and enjoy a few happy days, but to keep her away while he took a concubine?
What did that make her? A tool for bearing his child, to be discarded afterward?
Her chest heaved violently as Zhang Tai gripped the seat cushion tightly, forcing down the sob in her throat.
The attendant leading the way probably hadn't expected this either, awkwardly saying, "Perhaps it's a misunderstanding."
What misunderstanding could there be?
After watching for a moment, Zhang Tai suddenly got out of the carriage and chased after the two.
When Mingyi woke up, Ji Bozhai, unusually, hadn't left. He was sitting by the bed cultivating Essence Power.
His Essence Power coiled into a black dragon, flying out from between his brows to gather spiritual energy before returning to his abdomen.
This was the most flashy and impractical cultivation method, only suitable for impressing young girls.
But coincidentally, she was now the young girl being impressed.
Taking a deep breath, she sat up with an exaggerated "Wow!": "My lord is so amazing!"
Ji Bozhai glanced back, the corners of his eyes tinged with pride as he asked nonchalantly, "Awake?"
Rubbing her sore waist, Mingyi let out a languid hum before weakly getting out of bed to sit at the dressing table.
The evening light filtered through the latticed window, casting a floral-shaped shadow on her forehead.
Ji Bozhai's gaze flickered. He stood up and moved behind her, picking up a fine brush for applying lip color from the dressing table. Dipping it into the gold powder from a porcelain box, he dabbed it lightly on her forehead.
The face in the bronze mirror had vermilion lips that shone brightly, pearly teeth peeking through, cheeks like fragrant snow, and autumn-like eyes brimming with charm. The touch of gold at her forehead added an air of nobility.
Mingyi smiled at him through the mirror: "How rare for my lord to be in such an artistic mood."
With a satisfied smile, he tossed aside the fine brush and lightly kissed her hair bun: "With Yi'er by my side, I'm always in an artistic mood."
As he spoke, he picked her up, wrapping his arms tightly around her waist.
Mingyi blushed: "My lord, I just did my makeup."
"It's already dusk. Who are you putting on makeup for?"
"..." That was actually quite reasonable.
As candlelight flickered and bed curtains opened and closed, Mingyi felt there was something she'd forgotten to do, but under his kisses and caresses, that matter slipped her mind.
Until the next morning, after Ji Bozhai had gone to the inner courtyard, someone avoided Granny Xun who had gone to fetch breakfast and knelt outside her windowsill.
"My lady," he whispered, "something has happened."
Mingyi froze, her expression turning serious.
The High Priest had few duties—mainly overseeing some clan affairs that required his presence to verify procedures—so Ji Bozhai only needed to visit the inner courtyard every few mornings and could spend his afternoons leisurely.
But on this day, the moment he entered the inner courtyard, he encountered Zhao Si Pan.
Zhao Si Pan had already screened all the major and minor cloth shops in the main city, finding only one that had Mulan Qing fabric in stock. However, it was merely kept in storage, never sold publicly, and had no connection whatsoever to the Ji residence.
Despite this, he still blocked Ji Bozhai's path.Ji Bozhai's expression was indifferent, showing a hint of impatience, but Zhao Si Pan smiled and said, "I never expected that Lord Ji also favors Mulan Qing."
"What makes you say that, Lord Zhao?"
"Lord Ji, being a man of importance, must have forgotten. At the beginning of the year, when Lord Ji first rose to prominence and won the favor of Gong Wang, didn't Gong Wang gift you several crates of fabric?" Zhao Si Pan stared intently into his eyes. "I wonder which garment you made from that particular bolt of Mulan Qing?"
OpenNovel