"I don't understand what you're saying." Ji Bozhai turned his head away. "I just woke up early and found the morning scenery pleasant, so I lingered a while longer—just in time to see you off."
"Oh, is that so?" Yan Xiao nodded. "Then I won't waste my breath. The person inside is fine anyway."
Ji Bozhai maintained an indifferent expression, calmly accompanying him for a stretch of the walk.
Yan Xiao silently counted in his mind. Sure enough, as they passed the moon gate of the study, the man beside him spoke up: "No unusual symptoms?"
Chuckling softly, Yan Xiao gazed at the brilliant morning sun in the distance, playing dumb. "Who are you referring to?"
Ji Bozhai remained silent, merely pressing his fingers together lightly, sending an invisible pressure bearing down on Yan Xiao's head.
"Alright, alright, I'll stop teasing you," Yan Xiao quickly surrendered. "Ming Guniang is in excellent health, no symptoms at all."
Ji Bozhai's eyelashes fluttered slightly as he lowered his gaze. "Oh."
"You almost sound disappointed. She's such a lovely girl—you can't possibly wish for her to fall ill."
"I don't."
The cool morning breeze swept past as he took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "I'm not wishing for anything."
"Then let's go for a drink," Yan Xiao clapped him on the shoulder. "From what I hear in the inner court, Prince Ping's case is nearly concluded, and the restrictions in the inner court will soon be lifted. Isn't that worth celebrating with a few cups?"
Their circle held nominal positions, drew salaries, and spent their days indulging in drinking—their greatest pastime. Ji Bozhai, with his excellent alcohol tolerance and good rapport, was naturally a fixture at all such gatherings.
Yet now, he said, "No, I'm not in the mood."
Yan Xiao's mouth fell open in astonishment.
Ji Bozhai knew he'd be surprised—he was surprised himself. If he wasn't even interested in drinking parties, what joy was left in life?
But right now, more than drinking, he wanted to know: if Mingyi wasn't ill, then why was she so averse to him?
After much deliberation, Situ Ling seemed the most likely culprit.
Mingyi was someone who'd sell her soul for money, and Situ Ling had given her such an expensive Love Curse. Who knew how grateful she might feel toward him? Even though Ji Bozhai himself was the superior choice, it didn't stop her from thinking highly of that brat.
Not that he was biased, but Situ Ling had climbed to the position of Patrol Inspector at such a young age—he was no innocent. Mingyi was simply naive and too easily deceived.
Distractedly seeing Yan Xiao off, Ji Bozhai stood by the side gate, lost in thought for a moment before summoning Buxiu.
Thus, when Mingyi woke up, she found her reflection in the bronze mirror adorned with hairpins and jewels, her makeup impeccably done.
"This..." She blinked in confusion. "What's all this for?"
"Congratulations on regaining favor, miss. The master just ordered that he'll take you for a stroll on Changrong Street today."
Mingyi had been half-asleep, but at the mention of Changrong Street, her eyes instantly lit up. "Quick, don't keep the master waiting!"
The most extravagant street in all of Star Yearn City was Changrong Street, lined with century-old shops selling luxurious clothing and jewelry—so exorbitantly priced that only those with mountains of gold and silver dared to browse. Rarely was Ji Bozhai so generous, and Mingyi was eager to build up her own savings.
When she stepped into the carriage, even Ji Bozhai seemed unusually agreeable today. "Greetings, my lord."
Ji Bozhai's expression remained cool. "Since you're under the Love Curse, I ought to make some gesture."Recalling this, Mingyi quickly understood his meaning and promptly sat down beside him with a smile. "Thank you, my lord."
She sat close, her warmth seeping through the fabric of their clothes, carrying a faint fragrance of beauty.
This didn’t seem like the behavior of someone who disliked him.
Ji Bozhai was puzzled. He tried leaning in closer, but she raised her round fan to cover her face, revealing only a pair of autumn-water eyes gazing at him. "My lord?"
Ji Bozhai realized then—she was upset because he had spent too much time at Flower Full Tower and didn’t want to be intimate with him.
Annoyed yet amused, he said, "I already told you, I didn’t touch Qingli."
"Ah?" Mingyi blinked in surprise.
"I didn’t touch her. Buxiu has been taking her out to buy clothes and jewelry these past days. At night, when the lights went out, it was Buxiu who slept with her. I stayed alone in a separate guest room to handle official matters."
Mingyi forced a smile. "How diligent of you, my lord."
Handling official matters at Flower Full Tower? That was like playing tricks in a graveyard—utter nonsense.
"Qingli isn’t as beautiful as you, nor as interesting. Why would I pass up fine meat for plain vegetables?"
That was quite convincing. Mingyi wavered slightly.
"Besides, why would I lie to you?" He frowned. "Even if something had happened, it wouldn’t be unusual. Why would I go out of my way to explain myself to you?"
"Then why are you explaining now, my lord?" She tilted her head.
"Because you’re foolish," he gritted his teeth, glancing outside the beast-drawn carriage. "If I didn’t make it clear, you’d sulk."
She wasn’t the one sulking—someone else clearly was.
Still, Mingyi felt somewhat relieved. Good, he was clean. She could still use him.
So when he leaned in again, she didn’t pull away.
Ji Bozhai knew full well that Mingyi’s mindset was crossing a line. As a woman, she was inherently in a weaker position and had no right to demand a man remain chaste for her—that was absurd. But just as he was about to lecture her, he swallowed his words.
Who didn’t understand the rules? But when a woman truly loved someone, she became possessive and selfish. Why bother correcting that?
Shaking his head, he playfully bit her lower lip as punishment.
Mingyi winced and glared at him softly. Ji Bozhai watched her, his heart lightening. The gloom from yesterday vanished, and he laughed heartily, pulling her into an embrace to indulge in their closeness.
The beast-drawn carriage arrived noisily at Changrong Street. Mingyi had initially thought she’d be lucky to buy a few hairpins, but to her surprise, Ji Bozhai said, "Take whatever you like."
Mingyi’s eyes lit up like the North Star at night, shining brilliantly.
"My lord isn’t afraid I’ll take too much?" She swallowed hard.
Ji Bozhai lazily snorted. "Let me see what you’re capable of."
With that permission, Mingyi didn’t hold back.
While taking gold would have been the most practical choice, it would have been tasteless and dull. Instead, she decided to browse shop by shop, picking up two or three items from each—clothes, jewelry, vanity tables, and cosmetic cases.
The commotion soon drew the attention of other nobles on the street.
"Isn’t that Ji Bozhai?" Adjudicator Zhao tugged at Situ Ling beside him. "Weren’t we told that dancing girl had fallen out of favor?"
Situ Ling glanced over and shrugged. "Perhaps Sister Ming used some clever tricks."
"But that means Prince Ping’s case still has leads to investigate," Adjudicator Zhao frowned. "One coincidence is just that, but multiple coincidences are undoubtedly deliberate."Situ Ling shook his head: "The lord has already reported the case details to Da Si today. There's no need to stir up more trouble."
Indeed, at his age, preserving his reputation and retiring honorably was what mattered most.
From a distance, Zhao Si Pan couldn't help but mutter as he glanced at Mingyi: "Such a fine young lady, how did she end up in Ji Bozhai's hands?"
Situ Ling also watched them, but with a smile: "Who's ended up in whose hands isn't certain yet."
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