Chapter 33:The Midnight Performance

 

Granny Xun didn't quite understand what was so interesting about this spectacle. If people saw her, they'd only gossip about her falling out of favor.

But Mingyi was insistent. After dressing meticulously, she went to wait at the intersection.

Today, the mansion had caught fire, and the surrounding area was already abuzz with chatter. When passersby spotted a celestial beauty standing there, they couldn't help pulling others aside to ask.

"Who is that?"

"Probably the beautiful concubine from Lord Ji's household. Perhaps she's waiting to plead for mercy since the fire might be blamed on her."

"How pitiful. If a family has daughters, it's better not to let them become concubines."

Though they said this, everyone still couldn't resist stealing glances at her.

A beauty like jade, a beauty like snow—standing there so delicately, waiting with anticipation. Who could bear not to look back?

Ji Bozhai could.

He stood on the balcony of the Flower Full Tower, adorned with golden lanterns, holding the courtesan's hand as he tossed handfuls of shell coins down to the street below.

The yellow-white shell coins, tied with slender red threads, were celebratory gifts for the courtesan's special night.

The vendors and laborers below scrambled for them, then gazed up enviously at the nobleman above.

The courtesan, both shy and proud, leaned against Ji Bozhai's chest, tracing circles with her fingers. "My lord is so generous~"

He chuckled softly, entwining his fingers with hers. "Since I've won the bid tonight, I won't let you down."

With that, he scattered several more pouches of shell coins below.

Normally, common folk avoided such spectacles—after all, celebratory money from pleasure quarters wasn't exactly clean. But Ji Bozhai gave away so much that even passersby couldn't resist picking up a few.

Thus, the news of Lord Ji winning the courtesan's favor spread far and wide.

"My lord, the fire in the mansion has been extinguished, and the losses are being tallied," Buxiu approached from behind, asking quietly, "Would you like to return and check?"

Ji Bozhai tapped the railing, humming a tune carelessly. "No need. Send some masonry sorcerers to repair it. I'll return once it's done."

Even the courtesan Qingli glanced at him. "My lord, your mansion..."

"It's fine." He lifted her chin. "Right now, you're what matters most."

Blushing, Qingli lowered her eyes and playfully pushed him away. "This servant will go bathe and change first."

Ji Bozhai stepped aside, watching her sway away, her gauzy sleeves brushing his palm, sending a tingling sensation through him.

He chuckled, his eyes cool and indifferent.

The wind was strong on the balcony. After the crowd below dispersed with their shell coins, the street grew much quieter. In the distance, faint lights flickered in the direction of Erjiu Street, too dim to make out clearly.

Ji Bozhai suddenly asked, "Did she say anything?"

Buxiu bowed. "Ming Guniang said the fabric chests gifted by Gong Wang's residence were all burned, so we needn't worry."

Though arson was a crude method, it was the most effective one at the moment.

A hint of amusement flickered in his eyes. "How did she set the fire?"

Situ Ling had already visited the mansion, making it difficult to start a fire unnoticed. Moreover, deliberate arson usually required oil or alcohol, leaving traces easily discovered after the fire was extinguished. Yet, even now, there was no news of any findings.

Buxiu shook his head. "This servant arrived late and didn't witness it. Granny Xun said she didn't know how it started either. Everyone was in the front courtyard when the storeroom suddenly caught fire. No arsonist was caught, and after the fire, the Hall of Judgment inspected it but found no signs of foul play. In the end, they blamed it on the heat."

The storeroom was built in a dark, dry place—how could it catch fire just because of the heat? She must have set up some small mechanism.

But how did she know Gong Wang's box of rewards was going to be inspected?

A hint of doubt flickered in his eyes, but it was overshadowed by delight.

He liked clever people, especially clever people who were good-looking, and even more so those who were clever, good-looking, and kept him in their hearts.

"Did she say anything else?"

Buxiu was puzzled. "About what?"

He clicked his tongue. "If I'm not going back, didn't she have any words for me?"

Surely, she would have asked him plaintively why he wasn't returning, or if there was someone else.

Buxiu replied flatly, "No."

Ji Bozhai's expression froze. "?"

He couldn't understand. "Why not?"

Whether he returned or not was one thing, but whether she missed him was another.

Buxiu shook his head. "I don't know, but Ming Guniang still went to wait for you at the crossroads. There were many people on that road today—she's bound to be gossiped about."

His tone carried a note of confusion, much like Granny Xun's, as if he didn't see the point. But for some reason, Ji Bozhai paused briefly upon hearing this, then burst into laughter.

"My lord?" Buxiu was baffled.

Leaning against the railing, Ji Bozhai laughed for a long while, his eyes sparkling like stars. "I really picked up a treasure at that banquet—who knew I'd bring her back?"

The incident had been so sudden, yet she had managed to be in perfect sync with him from afar. Ordinary women didn't have such quick wits. Only she could think to distance herself from him, pretending to have fallen out of favor, just to weather this storm.

The reason they kept investigating Mingyi was simply because they suspected he had instigated her to harm the royal relatives. If the two of them appeared estranged, even if the case were brought before Da Si in the future, it would only be a matter of a dancing girl committing murder—nothing that could implicate him. And if they couldn't implicate him, they'd have no way to discern her motive, making it impossible to convict her.

The logic was simple, but most women were delicate and pitiful—who wouldn't be heartbroken if suddenly abandoned?

Mingyi could. Not only could she, but she actively cooperated with him, putting her own humiliation on full display.

The wind brushed past the golden lanterns hanging by the terrace, their carved copper pieces tinkling softly.

Ji Bozhai gazed at the patterns with a smile, suddenly wanting to take one back for Mingyi. But according to the plan, he wouldn't be returning for half a month.

"My lord, Miss Qingli is ready," a maid announced.

Withdrawing his gaze, Ji Bozhai acknowledged her and took a few steps toward the room before suddenly feeling listless. "Buxiu, I'm tired."

Buxiu immediately understood and said miserably, "My lord, I'm afraid this courtesan's blessing is beyond my humble capacity to enjoy."

"It's just two eyes and one mouth," Ji Bozhai clicked his tongue. "Just don't raise suspicion."

Reluctantly, Buxiu agreed.

Though his lord was a romantic, he wasn't a libertine. Besides, indulging in bedchamber affairs hindered cultivation—he only took part when in high spirits. The rest of the time, Buxiu was left to cover for him.

But this time, Buxiu couldn't understand. Since they were already out here and not planning to return anytime soon, why abstain night after night?

Ji Bozhai didn't quite understand himself either. The expensive delicacies he'd bought now tasted bland for the first time. Qingli's charms were all the same, nowhere near Mingyi's allure.

Taking a break would have been fine, but Qingli's room had too strong a scent of rouge. Just stepping inside would leave traces of it, and if he returned early, wouldn't that unnecessarily upset the one in the courtyard for nothing?

Such thoughts had never crossed his mind before. Who cared if someone was heartbroken or not? He could always meet another girl—one who wasn't heartbroken, one who was passionate, eagerly awaiting him, filled with endless admiration for him.

But after the fire broke out in the mansion, Ji Bozhai suddenly realized that someone like Mingyi truly couldn't be replaced anytime soon. Forget finding anyone as charming and adorable as her—even if such a person existed, they certainly wouldn't have her cunning.

He had been somewhat agitated earlier, distressed at the thought of her going to the Hall of Judgment. But now it seemed she must have had her own plans all along.

Night fell, and Star Yearn City was awash with stars. The Flower Full Tower was alive with flirtatious laughter and song, while not far from the Ji residence, a lone beauty stood trembling, tears in her eyes, her slender waist swaying faintly.

"Young lady, you should go back," Granny Xun said, steadying her. "The master won't be returning tonight."

"I don't believe it. He promised he'd come back every night to be with me," Mingyi sobbed, wiping her tears. "This is his main residence—where else would he go?"

A few nosy servants from nearby officials' households, eager for gossip, chimed in from a distance, "He's at the Flower Full Tower. Just won over the courtesan's favor and tossed out handfuls of celebratory coins to the people on the street."

Mingyi froze, her gaze snapping toward the speaker before Granny Xun could stop her. "Which Flower Full Tower?" she demanded loudly.

The servant shrank back, hesitant to stir trouble, but mumbled, "There's only one Flower Full Tower in the main city."

A fire ignited in her eyes. Mingyi grabbed Granny Xun. "Take me there."

Granny Xun frowned deeply. "That's a den of vice—a place no proper lady should go."

"We're dancing girls—hardly any different from those women in status. Why shouldn't I go?" Mingyi fumed, raising her voice. "I want to see what kind of seductress could make him forget his own home is burning!"

"Young lady, young lady!" Granny Xun pleaded, unable to dissuade her. She watched helplessly as Mingyi grabbed a horse to mount, then quickly swapped it for a steadier beast-drawn carriage, accompanying her on the journey.

The spectacle drew even more onlookers. Several servants who loved poking into others' affairs trailed behind the carriage, laughing and jeering, drawing curious stares from passersby on both sides of the road.

By midnight, the Flower Full Tower had quieted down. Ji Bozhai, settling into sleep in a guest room, was abruptly roused by a piercing cry tearing through the night:

"Ji Bozhai, you heartless scoundrel—!"

He sat up, silent for a moment, wondering if he'd imagined it. After all, in all his years of dalliances, he'd always treated the ladies well—never once had he been cursed like this.

But the ensuing uproar outside yanked him back to reality. He sprang out of bed and, under cover of darkness, slipped into the neighboring room of the courtesan to swap places with Buxiu. Only then did he step to the window to look down.

Mingyi stood atop the carriage in the middle of the road. When she spotted him, her eyes reddened. "Why must you treat me this way, my lord?"

Still groggy, he wasn't quick enough to play along before she collapsed onto the carriage roof, wailing as if her heart were breaking. "When you took me in, you swore I'd be the only one! Yet now, after so little time, you've gone and bought a courtesan!"

Qingli, startled awake, threw on a robe and joined Ji Bozhai at the window, clinging to his arm as she peered down.

Her appearance was the final straw. Mingyi's sobs grew even more hysterical, her voice cracking with despair. "My lord... you don't want me anymore..."

Ji Bozhai took a moment to process the situation before coldly slapping the windowsill. "What disgraceful behavior!"

Mingyi trembled at his shout, collapsing weakly onto the carriage roof, sobbing pitifully. "My lord promised me, you promised me..."

The spectacle was too riveting—not only did it rouse those still awake in the brothels and taverns, but even those who had already fallen asleep were shaken awake by their companions to witness the commotion.

Soon, windows along the entire row of lofts began to creak open one after another, sounding like a string of firecrackers.

Encouraged by the audience, Mingyi wept even more dramatically. "There was a fire in the residence today, and I was so frightened, hoping my lord would return to comfort me. But who knew my lord had already found a new love? I might as well have burned to death in that house—it would be better than suffering like this now!"

"Granny Xun!" Ji Bozhai roared in fury. "Take her back at once!"

Granny Xun hastily complied, urging the beast-drawn carriage forward. The sudden movement sent Mingyi stumbling, her body sliding perilously close to the edge of the roof.

His heart clenched at the sight, and he instinctively raised a hand to steady her before forcing himself to stop, his body stiffening slightly.

"My lord?" Qingli looked at him in confusion.

"Out of sight, out of mind," he muttered, pulling the window shut and guiding her back to the bedside. "Go rest."

"But this public scene is so humiliating. By tomorrow, the gossip will be unbearable." Qingli's eyes brimmed with tears. "I've brought trouble upon you."

Ji Bozhai shook his head, suppressing his anger. "It's not your fault."

He shot another glare out the window. "I detest unreasonable tantrums the most."

"My lord..." Qingli leaned against him, her voice trembling with hurt.

Outside, the sobbing gradually faded. Ji Bozhai gently urged her to sleep while he sat stiffly at the table, feigning anger.

Afraid of provoking him further, Qingli dared not move, watching his back until she drifted off to sleep.

By dawn, the entire city was abuzz with the previous night's scandal. The tale spread like wildfire, and by the time Ji Bozhai entered the inner courtyard, Liang Xiuyuan, Shu Zhonglin, and others had already gathered around him with worried expressions.

"Bozhai, are you alright? We heard it got quite heated last night."

Ji Bozhai found it amusing. "She made a scene, but what does that have to do with me?"

"You don't understand," Liang Xiuyuan sighed. "Wasn't Xu Lan the one who, after being caught with a new lover by his woman, stormed off to the Hall of Judgment to expose everything in a fit of rage?"

"Only if there's something to expose." Ji Bozhai glanced at Zhao Si Pan, who was eavesdropping nearby, and scoffed. "My conscience is clear."

Reassured, the others began teasing him. "Who knew Ming Guniang had such a fiery temperament?"

"Bozhai, you're too heartless. How could you let Ming Guniang find out about your dalliances? After treating her so well, suddenly changing your heart—who could endure that?"

"Ah, hasn't Bozhai always been like this? He loses interest after half a month. It was about time anyway."

Zhao Si Pan observed from the side, thinking Ji Bozhai truly had a heart of stone. Laughing and joking, he showed not a shred of concern for Mingyi—worse even than Xu Lan.

At least Xu Lan was in the Hall of Judgment, begging Zhang Tai to forgive him and retract his testimony. But Ji Bozhai, with his high status and power, seemed utterly unbothered.

Could it be that Prince Ping's matter truly had nothing to do with him?

Puzzled, Zhao Si Pan turned and hurried toward the Hall of Judgment.

Mingyi was already seated inside, facing Zhang Tai, whose eyes were swollen from crying. Kneeling beside Zhang Tai was Xu Lan.

As if she had been crying all night, Zhang Tai's tears had dried up. She just sat there in a daze, silent. On the contrary, it was Xu Lan who kept chattering incessantly: "That was just a distant relative my mother forced me to marry. You're the only one in my heart. Once the child in your belly is born, I'll give you your rightful status. Didn't we agree on this?"