Sun Liao, having gained power overnight, became utterly arrogant. Even clad in the Azure Mist Robe, he lacked the demeanor befitting a member of the Academicians' Court. His first act upon leaving the court wasn't to return home to craft divine tools, but to deliberately walk to Changrong Street, where he waited for hours to intercept an official sedan chair.
By protocol, those in sedan chairs should alight to exchange pleasantries and yield the way when encountering someone in the Azure Mist Robe. But the occupant froze upon seeing Sun Liao and made no move to step out.
"What's this? Does the esteemed lord intend to confront our Academicians' Court from the comfort of his sedan chair?" Sun Liao sneered.
Qian Li gritted his teeth and spat, "How did a wretch like you obtain such a robe?"
Sun Liao lifted his chin and kicked the sedan door. "Qin Shangwu begged me to wear this robe. If you doubt it, go confront him yourself. Now, aren't you going to get out and pay your respects?"
Gripping the sedan curtain, Qian Li retorted angrily, "Yielding to the Academicians' Court is courtesy, not obligation. Someone like you, even in an Azure Mist Robe, isn't worthy of my respect."
"You—!" Sun Liao's anger flared but he suppressed it quickly, nodding instead. "Fine, fine. As the Left Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, Lord Qian holds Star Yearn City's finances in his grasp—naturally, you can afford to disregard the Academicians' Court. I'll report this to Headmaster Qin and advise him to steer clear of the Ministry of Revenue's people from now on!"
With that, he turned to leave.
Qian Li panicked and hastily ordered his attendants, "Stop him!"
As they moved forward, Sun Liao immediately engaged them in a scuffle. Amid the chaos, he cried out and fell to the ground, his Sky-blue Mist Rain robe smeared with mud.
...
Upon returning from the inner courtyard, Qin Shangwu hurried to the Sun residence.
Sun Liao lay in bed, his limbs wrapped in thick white bandages. Seeing Qin Shangwu, he smiled bitterly. "I'm afraid I won't be able to craft divine tools for the next few days."
"Focus on recovering first," Qin Shangwu said urgently. "As for Qian Li, I've already reported the matter to Da Si. He will be severely punished."
Injuring their only remaining artifact smith was no small offense—punishment could range from three months of political exile to outright demotion to a sinecure.
Satisfied, Sun Liao closed his eyes. "Once I recover, I'll deliver the divine tool."
"Good." After offering a few more words of concern, Qin Shangwu stepped out.
"Headmaster, aren't you going to ask how the fight started?" Situ Ling, as if passing by, inquired with a smile.
Qin Shangwu waved a hand. "It doesn't matter how it started. The dignity of our Academicians' Court cannot be insulted."
"But what if this Sun fellow provoked it himself?"
Qin Shangwu paused, considering. "That's unlikely. He doesn't seem the type to stir trouble."
Situ Ling said no more, bowing to Qin Shangwu before returning to his carriage.
When he arrived at Mingyi's courtyard, she and Xiuyun were still fervently crafting divine tools.
Xiuyun proved far more talented than expected, her meridians even faintly glowing red. Yet, having never trained, she couldn't wield Essence Power and could only assist as an apprentice.
Spotting him, Mingyi waved. "Young lord, take a seat. We're almost done here."
After examining the divine tool on the crafting table, Situ Ling smiled. "Sister Ming, you're truly remarkable."
Flustered by the praise, Mingyi chuckled. "Just a way to make a living."
"To you, these might merely bring wealth. But in others' hands, they could bring ruin to entire families."
Mingyi froze and looked at him. "What do you mean by that?"Situ Ling sat by the stone table in the courtyard and sighed, "The man who bought your Divine Tool originally had his eye on Qian Li's eldest daughter and wanted to marry her. However, the Sun family abandoned commerce for officialdom, and Sun Liao is a violent and cruel man who often mistreats his concubines, so Qian Li refused."
She had met Qian Li at a banquet before and had used him to get close to Ji Bozhai.
Mingyi blinked, put down her work, and moved closer. "And then?"
"Then Sun Liao climbed over the walls, violated the young lady of the Qian family, and drove her nearly to suicide. Afterward, he went to their house again, demanding to take her as his concubine. Qian Li was furious and had him beaten out of the mansion, declaring that his daughter would remain unmarried at home rather than enter the Sun household. Sun Liao has held a grudge against Qian Li ever since."
"How despicable!" Xiuyun stomped her feet in anger. "He's the one who committed such evil—how dare he resent others?"
"The Sun family grew wealthy through commerce and bought their way into officialdom. Having never faced setbacks, they developed this domineering nature." Situ Ling looked at Mingyi. "Now, thanks to the Divine Tool his sister made, he's entered the Academicians' Court and plans to ruin Qian Li's family before taking his daughter as a servant."
Mingyi narrowed her eyes. "Using my Divine Tool to enter the Academicians' Court?"
"Star Yearn City is desperately short of Artifact Smiths. Qin Shangwu was grasping at straws—he only saw the Divine Tool Sun Liao presented and gave him an Azure Mist Robe."
Situ Ling sighed. "I saw Qian Li at the Hall of Judgment when he came to accuse Sun Liao, but there wasn't enough evidence to arrest him. Now, with the Academicians' Court backing him, Sun Liao is squeezing Qian Li out of his position. I had to come and tell you, sister."
Mingyi pondered for a moment before looking up. "I already agreed to make the Divine Tool he ordered and took his money. I can't break the contract."
Situ Ling was taken aback, remembering then how much his elder sister Ming loved money. Justice was one thing, but he couldn't cut off her income.
He lowered his eyes. "In that case, then—"
"Today, I need to deliver the goods. Please take Xiuyun back to your residence first, young master." She smiled. "It's not safe for her to stay here alone."
What could be unsafe about this courtyard? Though puzzled, Situ Ling nodded.
Mingyi quickly stood up, finished her work at the crafting table, tucked the newly completed Divine Tool into her robe, and left.
The moment he heard someone with the surname Ming had come to deliver something, Sun Liao forgot all about pretending to be ill. He scrambled to the back gate and immediately began berating her. "Didn't we agree I'd come to pick it up? Why did you bring it here? What if someone sees—"
Mingyi looked around innocently. "But you'll have to use this Divine Tool eventually, and once you do, people will see it anyway, won't they?"
"That's different." Sun Liao glanced at the Divine Tool in her hand, his anger subsiding slightly. "Fine, since you've already brought it."
Then he looked at Mingyi. "Master Ming, you've worked hard. Why not stay for some tea?"
"Gladly!" Mingyi put on the air of someone who'd never seen the world, marveling at the exotic plants in his residence. "Your home is truly magnificent, my lord."
"Hmph, these were all transported from Newgrass City—extremely valuable. You won't find them anywhere else."
His gaze darkened as he spoke, and soon he asked Mingyi, "If I were to order another Divine Tool in the future, how much would it cost?"Mingyi, like a petty merchant, rubbed his hands together with a sly grin. "How much more can it be? The purple ones will cost you two hundred fifty thousand, and the higher grades remain at a million each."
Sun Liao gave a noncommittal hum, subtly curling his lip, then pushed open a guest room door. "Go ahead and sit inside for now. I'll have someone bring tea."
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