Ji Bozhai sneezed inexplicably.
Yan Xiao, sitting across from him, fanned himself and remarked, "Has your philandering turned into a cold?"
"Jinx," Ji Bozhai retorted irritably. "If I were you, I'd pray nothing happens to me. Otherwise, this mess would land in your lap—let's see how you'd handle it then."
At the mention of this, Yan Xiao couldn't laugh anymore and sighed helplessly. "What rotten luck. Just when I was about to enjoy a three-day break, two out of the three physicians at the Hall of Herbs died."
"Perfect timing, isn't it? With the two old physicians gone, you can immediately take their place. Your motive for murder is even stronger than those dancing girls'."
The fan in Yan Xiao's hand paused mid-swing. He leaped up to cover Ji Bozhai's mouth, both angry and amused. "Just because that little beauty favored me slightly more yesterday, you're already slandering me without evidence!"
Ji Bozhai pushed him away, his expression cold. "Who said she favored you? She's in my courtyard now."
"You might keep her person, but not her heart," Yan Xiao lamented. "I can already imagine how that beauty must be weeping her heart out in your courtyard."
Ji Bozhai made as if to leave.
"Hey, hey, good brother, let's not talk about that," Yan Xiao quickly pulled him back. "I'm skilled in medicine, but I'm nowhere near as knowledgeable as you when it comes to poisons. The Adjudicator insists I identify this toxin—help me out."
Last night, the chopsticks of the deceased at the banquet had been coated with poison. The toxin didn't dissolve in water, was pale purple, and odorless. Yan Xiao had scoured countless medical texts but found no record of it.
Ji Bozhai lazily took the silver tray from him and glanced at the purple powder on it. "This is just Carefree Grass."
Yan Xiao was stunned. "You can tell at a glance?"
"No wonder you're a quack," Ji Bozhai scoffed. "I was studying poisons while you were still swindling people on the streets."
With the mystery solved, Yan Xiao didn't bother arguing over petty insults. He immediately sent someone to report to the Adjudicator.
"Carefree Grass is only found in the palace. The culprit must be one of the dancing girls at the banquet—only they could move freely among the guests without raising suspicion," Yan Xiao mused. "But most dancing girls are trained by Da Si. Why would Da Si resort to such methods to kill those powerless old officials? Wouldn't it be easier to just order their execution?"
"You're a physician, not the Adjudicator. Why overthink it?" Ji Bozhai stood up. "If there's nothing else, I'll head back."
Still deep in thought, Yan Xiao merely waved him off.
Muttering a curse under his breath, Ji Bozhai left the inner courtyard alone.
Due to the murders, security had tightened in both the inner courtyard and the streets. Everywhere he went, he was subjected to interrogations. Growing impatient, he returned to his villa early.
The moment he stepped inside, Ji Bozhai raised an eyebrow slightly.
Mingyi was dressed in a jade-colored Mist Silk Skirt, its hem spread across the couch like blooming petals, the lines cinching abruptly at the waist with a lotus-pink silk ribbon that accentuated her slender figure. The Mist Water Blouse she wore hugged her curves perfectly—neither too tight nor too loose.
She was engrossed in a book. Even as evening fell, her delicate brows and red lips remained immaculately adorned, her eyes sparkling, cheeks faintly flushed. The candlelight beside her cast a warm glow, adding just the right touch of gentleness to her demeanor.
Hearing the door, she looked up, her eyes lighting up with just the right mix of delight and shyness. "You're back, my lord?"
Having seen countless women, Ji Bozhai found it easy to see through her little schemes—like how her makeup had clearly been recently touched up, or how the drape of her skirt had been deliberately arranged.Yet, he still found it quite pleasing—no man disliked a beauty going out of her way to please him.
So he casually pulled her into his embrace: "Missed me?"
Mingyi blushed and nestled obediently against him: "My lord is busy with important matters. How could this servant be so willful as to disturb you?"
She was certainly sensible, but it still felt like something was missing.
Ji Bozhai sat down and gently lifted her chin: "Still thinking about that third-rank official of yours?"
Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly shook her head: "H-how could I? Since I’ve returned with my lord, my heart belongs only to you."
"Liar," he narrowed his eyes.
Scratching her brow awkwardly, Mingyi muttered guiltily, "You must give this servant some time to adjust..."
"Perfect timing," he said. "There’s been a murder in the inner court. They’re interrogating the Dancing Girls. Why don’t I send you back? You can assist with the investigation while adjusting."
"A murder?" She paled in shock. "Who was it?"
"The physician from the Hall of Herbs." He eyed her sideways. "Did you know him?"
Mingyi waved her hands frantically. "No, not at all."
Then she blinked hesitantly. "Why would they suspect the Dancing Girls?"
"The two died right under Da Si’s nose without a sound. No explanation but poison from the Dancing Girls." He played idly with her sash. "You were there yesterday. They might summon you soon."
"Please don’t," she pleaded, her face falling. "This servant clearly doesn’t have the heart to kill. My lord must see that."
When nervous, her nose turned pink, and her eyes grew watery—utterly easy to tease.
Ji Bozhai smirked at her. "If you didn’t kill anyone, why are you afraid?"
Mingyi looked on the verge of tears, clutching his collar as she shook her head desperately. "This servant fears the Black Prison—filthy, dark, crawling with vermin and rats. A single visit would be torture. Please, my lord, show mercy."
Ji Bozhai watched her leisurely, waiting until she was truly on the brink of tears before pulling her onto his lap. He hooked a finger under her chin provocatively. "With me here, what’s there to fear?"
Relieved, Mingyi melted against him, nuzzling his neck like a spoiled kitten. "You frightened me..."
That was precisely the point.
A seasoned connoisseur of women, Ji Bozhai understood human nature well. This girl had been clueless before, unsure whom to rely on—she needed a good scare.
And now? She nestled obediently against him, neither resisting nor avoiding, her delicate arms looped around his neck as if afraid he’d leave.
Still, intimacy aside, he later summoned Granny Xun alone.
As usual, Granny Xun reported, "The girl hasn’t contacted outsiders or acted out of line. Her background is clean, and her origins verifiable. She’s just a bit talkative."
Ji Bozhai only cared about the first few points. As for her talkativeness—it wouldn’t matter in a few days. Once his interest waned, her words would fall on deaf ears.
So he simply asked, "Any preferences?"
Granny Xun pursed her lips. "Gold, silver, jade—she likes it all."
Greed for wealth wasn’t unusual in women, but one as brazen as her was a first for Ji Bozhai. Others at least pretended to disdain money, masking their desires. But this one? She flaunted it openly, as if afraid others wouldn’t know.
Fine. A straightforward transaction suited him. He could afford it—as long as she didn’t cling later, all was well.So the question is, how much silver does this young lady think is enough for a night of pleasure?
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