He raised an eyebrow and glanced around the room, about to call for someone when a soft moan came from behind the bed curtains.

"Has my lord returned?" she asked drowsily.

The curtains parted, revealing the beauty nestled in warm slumber, as if just roused from a spring dream, her cheeks flushed and chest heaving rapidly.

With an amused smirk, he sat by the bed, eyeing her shoes. "Granny Xun said you were already up?"

She lowered her gaze. "I felt unwell, so I lay back down for a while."

"Oh? Then why are you sweating?" He reached out, pressing a concerned hand to her forehead. "Are you ill?"

After running so frantically just moments ago, it’d be stranger if she weren’t sweating.

Mingyi panted lightly, nuzzling against his hand with a whimper. "I had a nightmare... I dreamed my lord took a new favorite and cast me aside."

Ji Bozhai chuckled. "How could that be? My Yi’er is utterly captivating. Who could please me more than you?"

Had she not just witnessed the scene in his study with her own eyes, she might’ve believed his sweet lies.

Discreetly wiping the sweat from her brow, she smiled innocently. "I knew my lord was the best."

Ji Bozhai watched her, thoroughly entertained.

This little thing clearly knew martial arts, yet played the delicate maiden in front of him. Her background was spotless, yet her behavior was so peculiar—it was impossible not to think of that person in the inner court.

Was there something in his private study that even Da Si coveted?

Masking his thoughts, he exhaled wine-laden breath into her face. "If you don’t wish to rise, then sleep a while longer."

The alcohol carried traces of an unfamiliar rouge, invading her senses.

Mingyi frowned briefly before softening, pleading sweetly, "I ache all over—all because of my lord. I can’t sleep now. Let this servant rise and attend to your bath."

Her small hands pressed against his chest, her revulsion barely concealed.

Realizing her slip, she scrambled to recover—only for him to glance down at her hands, not angered but instead letting out a low laugh. "I used to think jealous women were the least charming. Now I see it depends on the person."

A chill ran down her spine. Mingyi stiffened.

What did he mean? Jealous of whom ? That woman in the study? Had Ji Bozhai noticed her intrusion?

Her eyes darted to her embroidered shoes by the bed, inevitably smudged with grimy moss from the rooftops.

Damn it.

Caught by the details.

Pale-faced, she wondered—would he kill her? With his formidable skills, crushing her skull would be child’s play.

Yet the man before her smiled gently, even fondly, showing no trace of anger.

What was this? A man of his stature discovering his study breached—and he didn’t even suspect anything?

Or... did he not know why she’d gone there?

Thoughts racing, Mingyi steeled herself and covered her face with a sob. "My lord... I tried my best."

Pitiful and broken, her voice hitched before she burst into tears—not theatrically, but with raw despair.

Ji Bozhai blinked. "Tried what? Why cry so suddenly?"

"I knew my lord disliked jealous women. I prepared endlessly before coming, vowing never to resent anything I saw. But... but I never realized jealousy is something you simply can’t hide."She released her grip, her face already streaked with tears, eyes brimming with endless grievances: "This servant was but a roadside flower casually plucked by my lord, with no other delusions. I only wished to linger with my lord for a few days, leaving some memories to sustain me in my remaining years. Never did I imagine that in just one day, my lord would already have a new favorite."

"This servant wanted to pretend not to know, but my lord... just now I heard you had returned to the manor and went to the study, so I deliberately went to wait for you there. Who would have thought I would witness... witness..."

She covered her face and wept bitterly, her shoulders trembling like slender grass in the rain.

Ji Bozhai gently patted her back: "If you went to the study, how come Granny Xun didn’t know?"

"My lord is of noble status, the study is an important place. Ordinarily, the grannies don’t allow anyone near. This servant, having just received your favor, was momentarily overjoyed and sneaked over, hoping to surprise my lord, wuu..."

"You sneaked over—where did you hide?"

"On the rafters. This servant learned to climb and gather herbs from childhood. The study has a long desk and stacked antique shelves, making it easy to climb, wuu..."

She sobbed intermittently, then glared up at him: "Even now, my lord asks where I hid. Clearly, my lord has no regard for this servant at all!"

Her glare was bold and unapologetic, tinged with a maiden’s petulance, leaving Ji Bozhai momentarily bewildered.

Could he have truly misjudged her?

Glancing at her palms, he asked, "Did you scrape the calluses off here?"

Mentioning this only made her cry harder: "Of course I had to scrape them! Back home, I cut grass and chopped firewood, leaving my palms covered in calluses. The inner court grannies said such hands wouldn’t please noblemen, so they made me scrape them off little by little with a knife. It was agony! And after all that, I still didn’t win any nobleman’s favor, wuu..."

Her crying was utterly unrestrained, her brows and eyes scrunched together, looking as pitiful as could be. Anyone soft-hearted would have wept along with her.

Ji Bozhai pondered for a moment, then softened his expression: "Alright, no more crying. My lord likes you."

"If my lord likes me, why bring someone else back? Has it even been that long?" Her eyes reddened, brimming with grievance. "This servant never expected forever, but couldn’t you at least wait a month or two?"

After her outburst, she remembered she’d been paid and had no right to complain, her head drooping. "In the end, it’s all my lord’s decision. My lord may favor whomever he pleases."

With that, she turned her back, pressing her head against the wall, her silhouette radiating indignation.

Amused, Ji Bozhai chuckled and pulled her back into his arms: "It was merely a performance. Why take it to heart? That woman belongs to Gong Wang—I had no choice but to take her in. But in this courtyard, there are only you and her. She won’t dare bully you."

What a piece of work , Mingyi thought, rolling her eyes inwardly. Men who want to philander will find ten thousand excuses.

Outwardly, she could only gaze at him pitifully: "Really? My lord only brought her back and won’t sleep with her?"

"My lord only sleeps with you," he teased, stroking her hair and tilting her chin up.

Mingyi felt ticklish and squirmed away, sniffling: "My lord mustn’t break this servant’s heart like this again. You can’t imagine—when that door opened, my heart nearly shattered."

Nearly shattered from fright , she thought, clutching her chest in retrospect.

Fortunately, Ji Bozhai was lustful enough to question her further. Had he been more suspicious and dragged her down to beat her to death on the spot, she truly would have had no recourse."Your heart is broken? Let me soothe it for you." He chuckled, coaxing her softly without pressing further.

It wasn't that Ji Bozhai was careless, but this villa wasn't his main residence and truly didn't contain anything important. If Mingyi had any mission, she wouldn't be rummaging through the study here.

Right now, he was only curious about one thing—was her claim of not knowing martial arts true or false?