Ji Shiyou tasked Junhui with investigating Mingyue, while Mingyue, separated by a wall, was also on the phone.
"Young lady, why are you investigating a bastard? Did this Ji Shigong offend you? I'll immediately send someone to take care of him. daring to offend the young lady of Wushang is truly seeking death."
As soon as Mingyue instructed him to investigate Ji Shigong, Zhecheng on the other end of the line started rambling incessantly.
"Zhecheng, can you let me finish speaking? If not, I'll find someone else."
Zhecheng was capable, but he was too long-winded. Mingyue regretted choosing him and had a headache, wanting to switch.
"No, no, no, young lady, please speak. I won't interrupt again. If I speak too much, you can hand me over to that pervert Yingyang."
Yingyang was Wushang's protector, in charge of punishments. Those who fell into his hands would either die or be stripped to the bone. Hearing Zhecheng say this, Mingyue stopped herself from hanging up and instructed Zhecheng.
Do not alert Ji Shigong. Investigate secretly, including Zhao Xinning and He Ling. She wanted all their information, but specifically instructed not to disturb Ji Shiyou and Old Mrs. Ji. Mingyue was a woman of her word; her promise to protect Ji Shiyou was not just talk. To deal with Ji Shigong and his mother, she needed to know her enemy. Zhecheng, stationed in the imperial capital for years, would find it easier to investigate.
"Young lady, you're investigating people from the Ji family in the imperial capital, aren't you? Why are you interested in them? It's not that I'm being nosy, but the head of the Ji family is..."
"I am now married into the Ji family and am Ji Shiyou's wife. Do you understand now? Don't drag your feet about the Ji family matters. Just do what I've asked. Remember, don't let anyone from the Ji family know my identity. Don't say things you shouldn't, or I'll have Yingyang come to the imperial capital."
Mingyue knew Zhecheng could ramble on endlessly, so she immediately cut him off. She even revealed her new identity to prevent Zhecheng from overthinking. She also used Yingyang to threaten Zhecheng, wanting to prevent the gossipy Zhecheng from paying too much attention to her marriage and Ji Shiyou's marriage. If they couldn't even talk about it, she would be driven mad.
In fact, Zhecheng wanted to remind Mingyue that Ji Shiyou was the Yama of the Nine Netherworlds, but he was immediately stunned by Mingyue's marriage. By the time he reacted, Mingyue had already hung up. He began to process what Mingyue had just said. Logically, Mingyue's marriage was news that could shake the world. But now, Mingyue had married quietly, and no one knew. It seemed Mingyue intended to conceal her identity. She appeared to want to marry as an ordinary person, which was why she specifically instructed him not to gossip. Mingyue likely knew Ji Shiyou's identity, but Ji Shiyou probably didn't know Mingyue's. It seemed their young lady didn't want to put too much pressure on Ji Shiyou, which was why she acted this way. Zhecheng naturally thought this way and stopped talking, arranging for people to investigate Ji Shigong's family of three.
The two people in their respective rooms, after arranging their subordinates, went to bed. They both slept soundly. The next day, Mingyue was awakened from her deep sleep by a rich aroma. Following the scent, Mingyue sleepwalked out of her room and straight to the dining table.
"You're awake. Wash your face and brush your teeth, then get ready to eat."
Ji Shiyou, wearing an apron, walked out of the kitchen holding a plate of shrimp dumplings. Seeing Mingyue's eager eyes on the food, he placed the dumplings on the table and gently pushed Mingyue towards the bathroom. It was as natural as a couple who had been together for many years, and Mingyue didn't feel anything out of place. Her mind was filled with the delicacies on the table: xiaolongbao, pork rib congee, tiger skin chicken feet, pan-fried dumplings, crisp pickled cucumbers, and the shrimp dumplings in Ji Shiyou's hands – all her favorites.
"Ji Shiyou, did you make all this? It looks delicious. How early did you get up to make so much? You've worked so hard. Mmm, delicious!"
Mingyue, eager for the food, quickly washed up and rushed back to the table, popping a shrimp dumpling into her mouth. Mmm, springy, tender, crystal clear, so delicious. Mingyue had eaten and seen much, but eating these foods inexplicably made her feel close. Her words also became more numerous. Especially after eating a piece of sweet and sour pork ribs, she inexplicably felt like crying. A blurry smiling face would also appear in her mind, its features unclear, but she felt a sense of familiarity.
"He didn't work hard, but I did. I was kicked out to buy ingredients at four in the morning."
Suddenly, Junhui's voice sounded from the side, startling Mingyue.
"When did you get here?"
Mingyue quickly swallowed the shrimp dumpling in her mouth and looked at Junhui as if he were a ghost. Had he seen her in that state? She had thought it was just her and Ji Shiyou in the room, but there was an outsider. Thinking of her eating posture just now, Mingyue felt she had lost face completely. She didn't realize that she had unconsciously begun to regard Ji Shiyou as one of her own. In front of Ji Shiyou, she could disregard her image and act as she pleased.
"What do you mean? I've been here all along. You completely ignored me, and now you're blaming me? While you're eating these things, which Ji Shiyou made, whether it's the fresh shrimp, ribs, chicken feet, or meat filling, I bought them one by one at four in the morning. Sister-in-law shouldn't just thank him alone. If you don't thank me, it's quite ungracious. It truly disheartens me."
Junhui, looking tired with dark circles under his eyes, defended himself. He had been busy investigating Mingyue's origins all night. Just as he was about to sleep, Ji Shiyou sent him out to buy groceries again. Upon his return, he reported his findings while Ji Shiyou was making breakfast. He had mobilized all of Nine Nether's intelligence personnel and only found that Mingyue was not bought from the countryside by Old Mrs. Ji, but was brought back from Seven Star Mountain. Mingyue was the sole disciple of the renowned Master Qinglan of China. As for anything else, her background, family relationships, he knew nothing. Ji Shiyou had called him useless, and he was still angry. Mingyue hadn't even noticed him. This was blatant disregard, and Junhui felt deeply wronged. These two were not good people; they only knew how to bully him. He decided to turn his grief into appetite and eat a good meal. He picked up his chopsticks and reached for the pan-fried dumplings he had been craving. He had tasted Ji Shiyou's cooking before, but this guy was too lazy to cook. The only reason he obediently went to buy groceries this time was because he was thinking of his favorite pan-fried dumplings. The last time he ate them was in college; he had been craving them ever since. However, when the pan-fried dumplings were ready, Ji Shiyou wouldn't let him touch them, saying he was waiting for Mingyue. Now that Mingyue had started eating, he had to eat his fill and satisfy his craving.
"Why are you still here? These are all for Mingyue; there's none for you!"
Ji Shiyou came out of the kitchen holding a bowl of wontons. Seeing Junhui reach for the food, he said heartlessly.
"You're bullying me too much!"
Junhui felt hurt. These two, one ignored him, and the other directly chased him away. Grievously, he slammed his chopsticks on the table with a crack, stood up in anger, walked to the door, then turned back, grabbed the plate of pan-fried dumplings, and ran off faster than a rabbit.
"I have something to discuss with you."
After Junhui left, Mingyue relaxed and enjoyed her meal, pulling the plate of sweet and sour pork ribs towards her and said to Ji Shiyou.