“Eh? Ji Yingying, you’re actually here…” A sudden voice interrupted Ji Yingying’s meal.
【Hmm?】 Ji Yingying looked up to see a round, flat face that looked familiar.
“You are…”
“Ji Yingying, I never expected a country bumpkin like you to make it to the capital. What’s the matter? Don’t you remember me?”
Hearing that mocking tone, Ji Yingying frowned and asked, “Are you Zhou Kai?”
“So you still remember me, your big brother!”
“Of course I remember…” Ji Yingying glanced at him disdainfully: 【I was wondering which drake was squawking, turns out it’s a landlubber duck like you who can’t even swim. Calling you a duck would be giving you too much credit, yet you dare have designs on me?】
【Host, Zhou Kai has some juicy gossip. Want to hear it?】
【Wait, let me guess what dirt Zhou Kai has.】
“Ji Yingying…” Zhou Kai flew into a rage and shouted. Cao Gonggong was about to scold him when the Emperor stopped him. As if Ji Yingying could be bullied—ha! She’s a tyrant herself. They should be grateful if she doesn’t bully others.
Besides, with all of them present, they could always step in if she really got bullied. No reason to miss out on the gossip.
【I bet he got played—by the guy next to him. Otherwise, his face wouldn’t be so sour.】
【Oh my, Host, you’re something else, finding logic even in gossip.】
【Haha, of course! I’m the Melon Queen. If I claim second place, who dares claim first? Come on, Xiangxiang, spill the tea.】
【Tsk tsk~ So after coming to the capital to study, he felt lonely and cold. Since he couldn’t visit brothels or drink with courtesans, he got involved with his roommate. Little did he know, this scholar already preferred men and had been manipulating Zhou Kai all along. But Zhou Kai’s no fool either. His family doesn’t give him much money, so he pretends to be disgusted while swindling his friend’s funds.】
【This friend isn’t short on money anyway. His family’s already a mess, so these petty schemes mean nothing to him. Both of them are just playing dumb. Whatever, since ancient times, loyalty often comes from the humble, while the most heartless are often scholars.】
【Anyway, he and I… Wait, this scoundrel actually wants to propose to me after seeing me today? He’s insane, absolutely mad! How dare someone like him even dream about me? I hold an official position now—I could have him killed! Wait, he came to the capital to rely on his fiancée’s family. Is he planning something shady?】
Zhou Kai and his friend’s faces turned from red to green and back to red. The friend knew the court had recently appointed a female official—a formidable one who could hear inner thoughts.
He never expected it to be her!
“This humble scholar pays respects to Little Ji.” The friend immediately bowed respectfully. No matter what, it was best to make a good impression first.
Zhou Kai’s face looked as if he’d eaten something foul. He wanted to confront her but didn’t dare. As a child, he’d often met The Great Ancestor because of Ji Yingying—he wouldn’t risk it!
【Oh ho~ Zhou Kai’s fiancée is also dining here today. I wonder if she knows he’s hooked a male fish? Would she be furious? I remember this fiancée is quite pitiful, stuck with a scoundrel like Zhou Kai.】
【While others’ wives support their husbands through studies, she as a fiancée supported her betrothed through his education, only to be abandoned once he became a high official. Not only did this scumbag waste her prime years, he even falsely accused her of being improper. If it were me, could I tolerate this? No no no, I’d make him meet the Grand-matriarch – a living Grand-matriarch.】
“Ji Yingying, you’re insane, completely insane…” Zhou Kai cried and cursed, yet dared not strike back. He was afraid – every confrontation with Ji Yingying ended in his defeat. If not for her, he wouldn’t have had to leave his hometown and come alone to the capital.
“Tsk~ You’re still the same as when we were children, crying at the drop of a hat with those pear-blossom-tears. Are you trying to seduce men or what?”
The entire crowd burst into laughter. The next moment, Zhou Kai was beaten up by a young girl.
【Oh ho~ This fiancée has spirit, actually taking action! But what does she know?】
“I didn’t believe it when people said you were eating and sleeping with another man, but today I’ve seen it with my own eyes. Zhou Kai, just wait – when I get home I’ll tell my parents to break off our engagement. Let’s see who else besides my family would support your studies, who’d dare take you in!”
The hot-tempered girl cursed a few more times, kicked him several times, spat twice, and left.
【When we were young and I heard about Zhou Kai’s affairs, I just thought he was useless. Never imagined it would come to this. Such people, even if they do become officials, won’t rise high unless someone keeps them in check. At most, they’ll be ninth-rank petty officials like my father. Though my father actually does real work – who knows if Zhou Kai would?】
【This… Xiangxiang doesn’t know. Xiangxiang can only share gossip about things that have happened or will happen within three years. For more, Host needs to level up!】 Xiangxiang even rolled her eyes while saying this, making Ji Yingying truly want to scold her.
“This student won’t disturb Teacher Ji’s meal anymore. I take my leave.” The classmate hurried away. Though his family situation was complicated, he couldn’t afford to offend Little Lord Ji. Rumor had it that offending her could lead to confiscation of property and execution.
They say those previously executed families all offended Little Lord Ji. Too terrifying – better leave.
“Go ahead!”
All the classmates left, and Zhou Kai followed too. After all, he couldn’t afford to eat here, and he needed to go placate his fiancée. If he got kicked out, what would he do?
【Haha… Zhou Kai, this old fool always provokes me but always slinks away in defeat. Isn’t he just asking for it?】
【He really is quite pathetic. Host doesn’t want to hear about that classmate’s gossip?】
【Next time. I’ve had too much today, I’m sleepy and want to go back to sleep.】 Feeling drowsy after eating and drinking – such human nature!
“Have my ministers eaten their fill?” The Emperor spoke, and everyone put down their chopsticks, replying: “We’re full!”
【Hah~ Do you really need to monitor whether people are full or not? Such a dog.】
Emperor: … Didn’t you say you were sleepy? Shouldn’t we return then?
“Since everyone is full, let’s disperse and return.”
Upon hearing they could leave, Ji Yingying was the first to bolt, not even waiting for her father. She disappeared with rocket-like speed – whoosh – vanishing without a trace.
This left Ji Cailiang sitting beside the Crown Prince so embarrassed he wanted to dig a one-bedroom apartment with his toenails.
“Ahem… Your Majesty, please forgive, my daughter she…”
“Enough, you may go.”
The crowd had dispersed, and Ji Yingying had returned home. After arriving, she even sent someone to the tavern to buy extra pork meatballs to enjoy while reading her vernacular storybook!
…………
Early the next morning
For once, Ji Yingying wasn’t woken up by Nanny Xia. Instead, she slept straight through until the afternoon. If not for her hunger, she could have slept even longer.
[Ah~ Could I just die in this bed in this lifetime? I don’t want to get up.]
Stepping out of her bedroom, she found only a few people in the courtyard, so Ji Yingying had to go to the kitchen herself to find something to eat.
[Xiangxiang, where is everyone in our household?]