It was the Cyan Tile Courtyard again.
Mingyi pretended not to care. "Just a rundown courtyard. What's so special about going in? It's probably full of junk."
"Don't you find it strange, Lord Ming? Ji Bozhai is so wealthy he can accompany you shopping on Changrong Street without batting an eye, yet he can't spare the money to fix up this dilapidated courtyard in his own estate?"
"Maybe he just likes it the way it is."
Dan Er chuckled. "He does like it, but not because it's old. It's because someone from his past once lived there."
Her heart skipped a beat, and Mingyi perked up her ears.
But the cunning man didn't elaborate further. He simply rolled up the map and said, "Our deal is complete, Lord Ming. Your secret is safe with me."
"What do you plan to do with this?" Mingyi couldn't help asking.
Dan Er shrugged. "What if I told you I liked the look of his estate and wanted to build one just like it? Would you believe me?"
"...Do I look like an idiot to you?"
He laughed heartily, disappearing through the hidden door back to the neighboring room and sealing the mechanism behind him.
Mingyi rolled her eyes at his retreating figure.
The man was truly irritating, but he was also true to his word. As long as he didn't expose her identity, she could investigate the rest herself.
Lately, Ji Bozhai had been busy selecting companions for his journey and often didn't return until late at night. It wouldn't be difficult to slip away during the noon nap by sending Granny Xun on an errand.
Mingyi had planned everything perfectly.
But when she chose an auspicious day and snuck into the Cyan Tile Courtyard at the appointed hour, she realized things weren't so simple.
Ji Bozhai had actually set up an Essence Power array in such a shabby courtyard!
A delicate web of Essence Power enveloped the entire courtyard where the sun-facing willow stood. The threads were thin and glistening, and the slightest carelessness would result in touching them and leaving traces of one's own aura.
Mingyi gritted her teeth in frustration.
What a waste of Essence Power! It would take ages to replenish that much—any Fighter would wince at the sight.
Still, it proved that Situ Ling and Dan Er hadn't lied to her. There was indeed a secret here.
After scanning her surroundings to ensure no one was nearby, Mingyi quietly pinched her fingers, summoning two wisps of Essence Power to hook onto the web and pry open a small gap. Holding her breath, she slowly slipped inside.
The courtyard wasn't large—just a main hall with two side rooms and a small front yard where the willow tree stood, its fresh green branches swaying gently.
Mingyi surveyed the scene briefly before heading toward the willow tree, intending to dig up the vanity case Situ Ling had mentioned.
But the moment she took a step, her sharp ears caught a sound. She immediately darted into one of the side rooms, leaping onto a roof beam.
Someone was staggering toward the courtyard, breathing heavily and erratically. The person entered the courtyard and headed straight for the side room. A gust of wind carried a faint, coppery sweetness through the air.
Mingyi's face paled in alarm.
Seriously? She hid here, and he just had to choose this exact spot?
The door creaked as he yanked it open, bouncing slightly against the frame and partially blocking the light outside. The man slumped into the pristine Grand Tutor Chair, sitting dazed for a long moment.
Incense burned in the side room, and a spirit tablet rested on the altar, its golden characters faintly glowing.
Staring at it, he suddenly spoke in a hoarse voice, "I'm sorry."
Mingyi's pupils constricted.
That was Ji Bozhai's voice.
Why was he here, covered in injuries, in the middle of the day when he was supposed to be overseeing the selection process?If it were anyone else, she might have been able to hide, but with his skills, once he calmed down, he would surely notice someone else in the room.
She was doomed.
Her mind in chaos, Mingyi bit her finger, unsure what to do. Closing her eyes and steeling herself, she suddenly let out a yelp and slid down.
Ji Bozhai was seething with rage. Hearing the noise, he didn’t hesitate—his palm shot backward with lethal intent, aimed straight for her vital point.
But when their eyes met, a flicker of shock crossed his gaze. His face darkened as he forcibly retracted the strike and caught her instead.
“What are you doing?!” Overwhelmed with fury, he spat another mouthful of blood.
Trembling in fear, Mingyi wiped the blood from his face with her sleeve, her voice quivering. “I-I came to look for something. I didn’t expect you to be here… My lord, what’s wrong? Are you alright? Why is there so much blood?!”
Only now did she realize his robes were soaked in blood, and crimson still trickled from the corner of his mouth.
The sight was horrifying, especially with him glaring at her like she was already dead.
But for some reason, her mind went blank, and she blurted out, “Is your mouth… on its period?”
Ji Bozhai: “…”
He really wanted to strangle her.
Taking a deep breath, he coughed violently and set her down on the floor.
Mingyi looked down and saw her pale pink dress stained with blood. She quickly knelt to pat his back. “Who could have hurt you like this?!”
“Why… are you here?” He coughed up more blood, his gaze piercing as he questioned her.
Kneeling properly, Mingyi put on her most earnest expression. “A few days ago, I ran into Young Master Situ outside. He told me to come here and look for some makeup case. I was curious about his motives, but you’ve been so busy lately—by the time I fell asleep, you still hadn’t returned, and when I woke up, you were already gone. I had no chance to ask you, so I came to look for it myself, planning to tell you once I found it.”
She blinked innocently. “What, is this place off-limits? It’s just an old courtyard, isn’t it?”
Ji Bozhai’s hands trembled with anger as he gripped the back of her neck. “Don’t you dare lie to me.”
“How could I?” Mingyi feigned terror, tears welling up instantly. “Granny Xun was here today too. You can ask her.”
Weakness washed over him, and Ji Bozhai half-closed his eyes. “If you’re lying to me… if you’re lying to me…”
“My lord?” Mingyi hurriedly steadied him and turned to shout outside, “Someone! Help—”
But the courtyard was deserted, with even Buxiu nowhere in sight. Her voice grew hoarse from shouting, yet no one answered.
Gritting her teeth, Mingyi struggled to hoist him onto her back. “I’ll take you to a physician.”
“Let go…”
“What’s the point of acting tough now?” she muttered under her breath, straining as she carried him out.
The girl who could barely take two steps while carrying him earlier now sobbed as she sprinted out of Cyan Tile Courtyard with him on her back. She kept adjusting her grip, holding him close until her strength gave out. Half-dragging him, she collapsed by the path, crying, “Someone, please! Waaah!”
Ji Bozhai didn’t know whether to laugh or rage. He’d never seen Mingyi so disheveled—her dress splotched with blood, limbs shaking from exhaustion, yet stubbornly refusing to abandon him, determined to drag him to safety.Actually, he really wanted to say that she could just leave him there and go call for help herself. But he was too exhausted to speak, so he could only think helplessly, "Fine, women in love have no brains."
Drag him if she must—at least his clothes were made of thick fabric.
"Sir? Miss Ming?" Buxiu's voice finally sounded in the distance.
Ji Bozhai breathed a sigh of relief before darkness overtook his vision and he lost consciousness.
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