Granny Xun didn’t quite understand what was so interesting about this spectacle. If people saw her, they’d only gossip about her falling out of favor.
But Mingyi was insistent. After dressing meticulously, she went to wait at the intersection.
Today, the mansion had caught fire, and the surrounding area was already abuzz with chatter. When passersby spotted a celestial beauty standing there, they couldn’t help but pull others aside to ask.
“Who is that?”
“Probably the beautiful concubine from Lord Ji’s household. Maybe she’s waiting to plead for mercy since the fire might be blamed on her.”
“How pitiful. If a family has daughters, it’s better not to let them become concubines.”
Though they said this, everyone still couldn’t resist stealing glances at her.
A beauty like jade, a beauty like snow—standing there so delicately, waiting with anticipation. Who could bear not to look back?
—Ji Bozhai could.
He stood on the balcony of the Flower Full Tower, adorned with golden lanterns, holding the courtesan’s hand as he tossed handfuls of shell coins down to the street below.
The yellow-white shell coins, tied with slender red threads, were celebratory gifts for the courtesan’s **.
The vendors and laborers below scrambled for them, then gazed up enviously at the nobleman above.
The courtesan, both shy and proud, leaned against Ji Bozhai’s chest, tracing circles with her fingers. “My lord is so generous~”
He chuckled softly, entwining his fingers with hers. “Since I’ve won the bid tonight, I won’t let you down.”
With that, he scattered several more pouches of shell coins below.
Normally, common folk avoided such spectacles—after all, celebratory money from pleasure quarters wasn’t exactly clean. But Ji Bozhai gave away so much that even passersby couldn’t resist picking up a few.
Thus, the news of Lord Ji winning the courtesan’s ** spread far and wide.
“My lord, the fire in the mansion has been put out, and the losses are being tallied,” Buxiu approached him from behind and asked quietly, “Would you like to return and check?”
Ji Bozhai tapped the railing, humming a tune carelessly. “No need. Send some masonry sorcerers to repair it. I’ll return once it’s done.”
Even the courtesan Qingli glanced at him. “My lord, your mansion…”
“It’s fine.” He lifted her chin. “Right now, you’re what matters most.”
Blushing, Qingli lowered her eyes and playfully pushed him away. “This servant will go bathe and change first.”
Ji Bozhai stepped aside, watching her sway away, her gauzy sleeves brushing his palm, sending a tingling sensation through him.
He chuckled, his eyes cool and indifferent.
The wind was strong on the balcony. After the crowd below dispersed with their shell coins, the street grew much quieter. In the distance, faint lights flickered in the direction of Erjiu Street, too dim to make out clearly.
Ji Bozhai suddenly asked, “Did she say anything?”
Buxiu bowed. “Ming Guniang said the fabric chests gifted by Gong Wang’s residence were all burned, so we needn’t worry.”
Though arson was a crude method, it was the most effective one at the moment.
A hint of amusement flickered in his eyes. “How did she set the fire?”
Situ Ling had already visited the mansion, making it difficult to start a fire unnoticed. Moreover, deliberate arson usually required oil or alcohol, leaving traces easily discovered after the fire was extinguished. Yet, even now, there was no news of any findings.
Buxiu shook his head. “This servant arrived late and didn’t see it. Granny Xun said she didn’t know how it started either. Everyone was in the front courtyard when the storeroom suddenly caught fire. No arsonist was caught, and after the fire, the Hall of Judgment inspected it but found no signs of foul play. In the end, they blamed it on the heat.”The storeroom was built in a dark, dry place—how could it catch fire just because of the heat? She must have set up some small mechanism.
But how did she know Gong Wang’s box of rewards was going to be inspected?
A hint of doubt flickered in his eyes, but it was overshadowed by delight.
He liked clever people, especially clever people who were good-looking, and even more so those who were clever, good-looking, and kept him in their hearts.
"Did she say anything else?"
Buxiu was puzzled. "About what?"
He clicked his tongue. "If I’m not going back, didn’t she have any words for me?"
Surely, she would have asked him plaintively why he wasn’t returning, or if there was someone else.
Buxiu: "No."
Ji Bozhai: ?
He couldn’t understand. "Why not?"
Whether he returned or not was one thing, but whether she missed him was another.
Buxiu shook his head. "I don’t know, but Ming Guniang still went to wait for you at the crossroads. There were many people on that road today—she’s bound to be gossiped about."
His tone carried a note of confusion, much like Granny Xun’s, as if he didn’t see the point. But for some reason, Ji Bozhai paused briefly upon hearing this, then burst into laughter.
"My lord?" Buxiu was baffled.
Leaning against the railing, Ji Bozhai laughed for a long while, his eyes sparkling like stars. "I really picked up a treasure at that banquet—who knew I’d bring her back?"
The incident had been so sudden, yet she had managed to be in perfect sync with him from afar. Ordinary women didn’t have such quick wits. Only she could think to distance herself from him, pretending to have fallen out of favor, just to weather this storm.
The reason they kept investigating Mingyi was simply because they suspected he had instigated her to harm the royal relatives. If the two of them appeared estranged, even if the case were brought before Da Si in the future, it would only be a matter of a Dancing Girl committing murder—nothing that could implicate him. And if they couldn’t implicate him, they’d have no way to discern her motive, making it impossible to convict her.
The logic was simple, but most women were delicate and pitiful—who wouldn’t be heartbroken if suddenly abandoned?
Mingyi could. Not only could she, but she actively cooperated with him, putting her own humiliation on full display.
The wind brushed past the golden lanterns hanging by the terrace, their carved copper pieces tinkling softly.
Ji Bozhai gazed at the patterns with a smile, suddenly wanting to take one back for Mingyi. But according to the plan, he wouldn’t be returning for half a month.
"My lord, Miss Qingli is ready," a maid announced.
Withdrawing his gaze, Ji Bozhai acknowledged her and took a few steps toward the room before suddenly feeling listless. "Buxiu, I’m tired."
Buxiu immediately understood and said miserably, "My lord, I’m afraid this Courtesan’s blessing is beyond my humble capacity to enjoy."
"It’s just two eyes and one mouth," Ji Bozhai clicked his tongue. "Just don’t raise suspicion."
Reluctantly, Buxiu agreed.
Though his lord was a romantic, he wasn’t a libertine. Besides, indulging in bedchamber affairs hindered cultivation—he only took part when in high spirits. The rest of the time, Buxiu was left to cover for him.
But this time, Buxiu couldn’t understand. Since they were already out here and not planning to return anytime soon, why abstain night after night?
Ji Bozhai didn’t quite understand himself either. The expensive delicacies he’d bought now tasted bland for the first time. Qingli’s charms were all the same, nowhere near Mingyi’s allure.Taking a break would have been fine, but Qingli's room had too strong a scent of rouge. Just stepping inside would leave traces of it, and if I returned early, wouldn't that just unnecessarily upset the one in the courtyard for nothing?
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