Cuckoo birds usually called in late spring or early summer—yet it was only early spring.
Nanny Xun froze for a brief moment, then quickly lowered her gaze. “I still need to check the herbs in the back courtyard,” she said softly. “So I won’t be able to keep you company. Take care of yourself.”
Her last words carried a touch of gratitude for the meal they’d shared.
But Ming Yi, lost in the thick ledger before her, barely heard. Her brows furrowed as she muttered, “What kind of rouge costs thirty taels of silver? Even if it were made of gold, it shouldn’t be this expensive. The master must have been swindled.”
She flipped another page, gasping. “The clothes made for me cost two hundred taels? Oh my, I shouldn’t wear them—they should wear me!”
Her voice rose in disbelief. “Drinking wine costs five hundred taels? Did they drink the entire tavern?”
She kept chattering, completely unguarded, unaware of how her lively voice filled the quiet room.
Nanny Xun only shook her head with a helpless smile and quietly left, closing the door behind her.
Now, only Ming Yi’s murmurs remained—soft, bright, and soon overtaken by the sound of the rising wind.
The sky darkened. The paper windows rattled as the gusts grew stronger.
After flipping through a few more pages, Ming Yi rubbed her neck and mumbled, “Why is the window open again?”
She stood, her skirt embroidered with golden magpies brushing the floor, and reached for the thin wooden rod to close it.
In that instant, a needle fine as a strand of hair flashed through the air, grazing her hand and embedding itself into the wall painting—right through the painted lady’s eye.
Ming Yi blinked in confusion. “Huh? Did something fall?”
She checked her jade bracelet and hairpin, relieved to find them intact. There was no sign of alertness, no instinctive reaction—a true sign of someone untrained in martial arts.
The room grew still again.
Unbothered, she shut the window and turned back toward her desk.
But when she looked up, a man in black was already standing there.
His head and face were covered by a black scarf, his robe blending with the shadows. Only his eyes gleamed—cold and sharp.
“Ah!!!” Ming Yi screamed. Her face drained of color as she stumbled backward, hiding behind the chair.
The man drew his sword without hesitation and thrust forward.
The steel glinted—swift, merciless.
Ming Yi froze, her breath caught in terror. The blade grazed past her cheek; the wind of it stung her skin.
“You, you—who are you?” she stammered, her voice trembling.
The man in black smirked. This girl clearly couldn’t fight. Why send him here? Could Ji Bozai truly not tell?
He sheathed his sword, leaped out the window, and vanished.
For a long moment, Ming Yi sat on the floor, stunned into silence. Then she finally cried out, “Someone, help!”
Nanny Xun came rushing in, helping her up. “What happened, my lady?”
“There was an assassin!” Ming Yi gestured wildly. “A man in black! He just appeared out of nowhere and almost killed me!”
Nanny Xun lowered her eyes. “That’s impossible. The courtyard is heavily guarded. You must have imagined it.”
“No! He had a sword!” Ming Yi shook her head, panic written all over her face. “This won’t do. There’s a breach in security. It’s one thing if I get hurt—but if the master’s harmed…”
Her voice cracked. “Nanny, we need more guards!”
Nanny Xun hesitated.
“The master gave me gold bars,” Ming Yi continued, rushing to her chest of treasures. “I can pay for them myself.”
Her hands trembled as she pulled one out. “This should be enough to hire three or four guards, right? Please, check the people in the courtyard. I’ll find someone reliable.”
Nanny Xun’s heart softened. Such a frightened little girl—yet still worried for someone else’s safety.
“My lady,” she said gently, patting her back, “don’t worry. I’ll investigate. But the master must decide on hiring more guards.”
Ming Yi nodded faintly but couldn’t stop trembling. When Nanny Xun leaned closer, she instinctively clung to her, shivering like a frightened bird.
Nanny Xun sighed, ordered soup, and poured her a cup of hot tea. It took Ming Yi nearly an hour before she finally burst into tears.
“I didn’t even see him come in. It was terrifying… I don’t know if he was a thief or a bandit, but he didn’t take anything. What if he’s still hiding somewhere?”
“Shh.” Nanny Xun handed her a handkerchief. “We’ve searched everywhere. There’s no one. You’re safe now.”
Ming Yi nodded weakly, but the fear clung to her like a shadow.
When Ji Bozai returned, Nanny Xun’s glare was waiting.
In all his years, no one—least of all Nanny Xun—had ever looked at him that way. He frowned, but she grabbed his sleeve before he could speak.
“You caused this,” she said, dragging him toward Ming Yi’s courtyard. “So you’ll be the one to comfort her.”
Ji Bozai blinked. “Is she hurt?”
“No, but she’s been crying for hours—and even said she wants to hire guards to protect you.”
Such a timid girl.
He’d planned to inspect Prince Gong’s men in the back courtyard first, but remembering the way she’d trembled at their first meeting, something in him softened. He followed without another word.
As soon as he stepped inside, he was met with a warm, desperate embrace.
“Nanny doesn’t believe me, but I saw him!” Ming Yi sobbed. “A man in black—he almost killed me! I was so scared… I just kept thinking, what if he came for you?”
Her tearful eyes shimmered under the lamplight, her long lashes damp and trembling against his palm.
Ji Bozai sighed. “It’s alright. I’m not afraid.”
“But I am,” she whispered. “I’m afraid you’ll get hurt.”
Her arms tightened around his waist, trembling as though she could protect him through sheer will.
His heart softened completely. “Alright,” he murmured. “I’ll add more guards tomorrow.”
Ming Yi nodded, then pulled a gold bar from her sleeve. “Do you have enough money? I still have some.”
Ji Bozai laughed, caught between amusement and affection. “Are you really willing to part with it?”
“I saw today’s accounts,” she pouted. “The expenses are ridiculous. But since you gave it to me, it’s yours to spend.”
Her voice, soft and stubborn, made him laugh aloud.
He wrapped an arm around her waist, lifted her effortlessly, and spun her once through the air. Her white skirt flared like a flower in bloom.
She gasped, clutching his wrist as he caught her and pulled her onto his lap.
Scratching her chin lightly, he smiled. “You truly please me.”
No martial skills, no scheming—only warmth and obedience. Jealous, yet gentle. Beautiful enough to make a man forget the world.
Ming Yi whimpered faintly, melting against him like a boneless enchantress, her heartbeat soft against his chest.
Previous/Next
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
