Chapter 4: An Honest Little Dancer

Ji Bozai sneezed for no reason.

Sitting across from him, Yan Xiao fanned himself and said: “Did the philanderer catch a chill?”

“You’ve jinxed it,” Ji Bozai said irritably. “If I were you, I would pray nothing happens to me. Otherwise this mess lands on your head, and we will see how you wrap it up.”

At the mention of it, Yan Xiao lost all his good cheer and sighed helplessly: “What kind of luck is this? I was about to get three days off, and two of the three physician officials of the Baicao Hall died.”

“Isn’t that convenient? Once the two old physicians are dead, you can step right into their place. Your motive for murder is bigger than those dancers’.”

The fan stopped. Yan Xiao jumped up and clapped a hand over his mouth, half angry and half laughing: “All I did yesterday was win a little more of that beauty’s favor, and you slander me with nothing to back it up!”

Ji Bozai shoved him away and said coldly: “Who says you won more of her favor? She is in my courtyard right now.”

“You may keep her person, but you cannot keep her heart,” Yan Xiao said with a sigh. “I can already picture that beauty washing her face with tears in your courtyard.”

Ji Bozai made to head for the door.

“Hey, hey, good brother, let’s not talk about that anymore.” Yan Xiao hurriedly pressed him back into his seat. “I am skilled in medicine, but I am nowhere near as well versed in poisons as you. The magistrate insists I find out what this poison is, so help me out.”

The chopsticks of the dead men at last night’s banquet were all smeared with poison. It did not dissolve in water, it was pale purple, and it had no smell. Yan Xiao went through many medical texts and found no record of it.

Ji Bozai lazily took his silver tray and glanced twice at the purple powder on it: “Isn’t this just wuyou grass?”

Yan Xiao was stunned: “You can tell at a glance?”

“Why else would I call you a quack?” Ji Bozai snorted. “When I was already identifying poisons, you were still wandering the rivers and lakes swindling people.”

With the riddle solved, Yan Xiao did not argue over this small verbal advantage. He immediately sent someone to report to the magistrate.

“Wuyou grass exists only in the palace, so the culprit can only be a dancer from the banquet. Only they could move among the tables without standing out,” Yan Xiao mused. “But most of the dancers are raised by the grand overseer. Why would the grand overseer use this method to kill those powerless old officials? Wouldn’t it be far easier to simply order their deaths?”

“You are a physician, not a magistrate. Why think so much?” Ji Bozai stood. “If there is nothing else, I am heading back.”

Yan Xiao was still deep in thought and only waved a hand at his words.

Cursing him under his breath, Ji Bozai left the inner court alone.

Because of the murders, both the inner court and the streets were under martial law, and he was questioned wherever he went. Growing impatient, he returned to the villa early.

The moment he stepped into the room, Ji Bozai raised a brow slightly.

Ming Yi wore a jade-colored misty gauze skirt, its hem spread across the couch like a blooming flower. The lines drew in sharply at the waist, where a lotus-pink silk ribbon bound her slender waist tightly, and the mist-and-water camisole above held her soft curves exactly, not a bit too much and not a bit too little.

She was reading intently. Even though it was already evening, her moth brows and red lips were exquisite and neat, her watery eyes were bright, and her cheeks were tinged with pink. The candlelight beside her fell just right, adding a touch of gentle charm.

Hearing the sound at the door, she looked up, her eyes showing just the right amount of surprise and shyness: “My lord, you are back?”

Having seen many women, Ji Bozai found it easy to see through her little schemes. Her makeup, for one, had surely just been retouched. The curve of her skirt hem had surely been arranged on purpose.

Even so, he found it very pleasing. No man dislikes a beauty who goes to great lengths to please him.

So he casually pulled her into his arms: “Did you miss me?”

Ming Yi blushed and nestled obediently against him: “My lord is busy. How could this servant be so willful as to disturb you?”

She was sensible, it was true, but he felt something was missing.

Ji Bozai sat down and gently lifted her chin: “Are you still thinking about your third-rank high official?”

Panic seized her heart, and she quickly shook her head: “H-How could I? Since I followed you back, this servant will have only you, my lord, in her heart.”

“Liar.” He narrowed his eyes.

Awkwardly scratching the tip of her eyebrow, Ming Yi muttered guiltily: “You must give this servant some time to adjust…”

“Perfect,” he said. “A murder happened in the inner court, and they are going to interrogate all the dancers. Why don’t I send you back? You could help with the case, and you would adjust as well.”

“A murder?” She was startled, and her face paled a shade. “Who died?”

“The physicians of the Baicao Hall.” He eyed her sidelong. “Do you know them?”

Ming Yi waved her hands repeatedly: “No, I do not.”

Then she blinked hesitantly: “Why would suspicion fall on the dancers?”

“The two men died right under the grand overseer’s nose without a sound. Apart from a dancer poisoning them, there is no other explanation.” He idly toyed with her sash. “You were there yesterday too. They may summon you at any moment.”

“Don’t do that.” Her face fell. “Anyone can see this servant does not have the heart to kill. Please see the truth, my lord.”

When this girl got nervous, the tip of her nose turned pink and her eyes grew watery. She looked very easy to bully.

Ji Bozai looked at her with a half smile: “If you killed no one, what are you afraid of?”

Ming Yi wanted to cry but had no tears. Her slender fingers clutched his collar as she shook her head desperately: “This servant fears the dark prison. It is dirty and dark, with crawling bugs and rats. Even one visit would be suffering. Please be merciful, my lord.”

Ji Bozai watched her at leisure, and only when she was truly about to cry did he reach out, pull her onto his lap, and lightly tease her chin with a flick of his finger: “With me here, what is there to fear?”

Ming Yi relaxed. Only then did she lean softly against him, nuzzling the tip of her nose against his neck in a coaxing way: “You frightened this servant…”

Frightening her was exactly the point.

Ji Bozai had roamed the world of romance for many years and understood people well. This girl did not yet know whom to rely on, so she needed a few more scares.

And look, now she nestled obediently against him, neither struggling nor shrinking away, her slender hands even looped around his neck for fear he would run off.

Still, however intimate they were, afterward he summoned Nanny Xun alone.

As usual, Nanny Xun reported to him: “This girl has had no contact with the outside and has made no improper moves. Her background is clean, and her origins can be checked. She just talks a bit much.”

Ji Bozai cared only about the first few points. As for whether she talked much, it was only for these few days. Once his novelty wore off, she could say whatever she liked and he would not hear it.

So he only asked: “What does she like?”

Nanny Xun curled her lip: “Gold, silver, jade, and gems. She likes them all.”

A woman being greedy for money was not strange, but one this blatant was a first for Ji Bozai. Others all knew wealth was vulgar and hid their liking for it even when they had one. This one was something else, looking perfectly open about it, afraid no one would know.

That was fine. A clean exchange of silver and goods, and he could afford it. As long as she did not cling to him afterward, everything was negotiable.

So the question was, how much silver did this little girl think was enough for one night of pleasure?