The guards holding the Golden Crow Halberds at the gate couldn't help but frown at the approaching figure. With hair dark as clouds and features delicate as the moon, the girl was as tender as a newly bloomed flower. Anywhere else, she would surely have drawn a crowd of admirers.
But this was the main gate of Sunspire City—what place did a woman have here? After a moment's hesitation, they blocked the group's path.
"Female attendants must enter through the eastern side gate."
"I've walked through this gate for nineteen years, and this is the first time anyone's told me to use a side entrance." Mingyi smiled faintly, lifting her gaze to them. "Though it's only been half a year, your eyesight seems to have worsened considerably."
The guards froze, studying her carefully before their expressions changed. "Your Highness?"
The guard captain rushed over, slapping their helmets angrily. "What 'Highness'? Ming Xian is dead—the inner court has already held the mourning rites. The only remaining prince is Yong Wang—do you not recognize him? How dare you address a woman as 'Highness'? This is a grave offense!"
With that, he glanced at their group and declared, "Women are not permitted through the main gate. Move along."
This captain was one of Empress Si Hou's people, so his obstruction was no surprise. Mingyi checked the time, then turned just as Yong Wang's entourage approached.
"How bold of you to block honored guests from Star Yearn City," Dan Er said from Yong Wang's side, eyeing Mingyi with amusement. "Don't let them think Sunspire City lacks hospitality."
"There is no precedent for women entering through the main gate," the captain said stiffly, his face pale. "I guard this post, and I must uphold its rules."
"Oh, but there is precedent." Dan Er grinned wider, pointing at Mingyi. "She's walked through this gate at least eight hundred times, if not a thousand. If you think the rules are broken, why not accompany us to see Minister Superior Da Si?"
As the captain hesitated, Yong Wang's lieutenant stepped forward to confront the guards. Seizing the moment, Dan Er gestured to Mingyi. "After you."
If anyone wanted Mingyi to enter the inner court most, it was Yong Wang and the Meng clan. They had been waiting here since receiving word, and the inner court was already packed with spectators eager to witness the spectacle.
Ming Li, Minister Superior of Sunspire City, was puzzled by the unusually early arrivals when Empress Si Hou suddenly rushed in, weeping. She knelt beside him and pleaded, "I beg Minister Superior to grant me justice!"
With so many eyes watching, Ming Li hesitated. "This is hardly the place. Whatever it is, it can wait until after we've received Sunspire City's guests."
By then, it would be too late. The Empress clenched her teeth.
She never imagined Mingyi would dare to stride into the inner court in a Hairpin Skirt, flaunting her defiance. The guards had failed to stop her, and if she didn't plead her case now, she'd lose her chance to speak.
This Mingyi—after just one trip outside, she'd transformed into someone bold enough to defy her!
Taking a deep breath, the Empress hurriedly said, "Yesterday, a foolish maid of mine mistakenly took a bowl of bird's nest meant for Meng Guifei. I thought it a trivial matter and sent someone to apologize, but who knew my sister would hold a grudge? She vowed to make me pay today. With the arrival of Fighters from another city, I feared such petty quarrels might disrupt your important affairs, so I came to speak first."
Since when were harem squabbles worth bringing here? Ming Li glared at her. "You've always been composed—what's gotten into you today—"
"Minister Superior, the Fighters from Star Yearn City have arrived."With no time to reprimand Consort Si further, Ming Li turned his gaze toward the entrance.
A single glance froze him in place.
Qin Shangwu entered with five Fighters in tow. Ji Bozhai, Luo Jiaoyang, and the others—they had gathered information on their distinguishing features and naturally recognized them. But... the Fighter walking in the center was actually a woman?
Her embroidered skirt trailed along the ground, hair ornaments swaying gently as she followed her mentor into the hall. Under the scrutiny of countless eyes, she performed a woman's curtsy: "Greetings to the Minister Superior of Facing Sun."
The entire hall fell silent. Not a single voice could be heard. The gazes directed at her ranged from astonishment to disgust and even mockery.
Truly, Star Yearn City lived up to its reputation as one of the lower three cities—utterly ignorant of propriety. To bring a woman to such a grand occasion!
She Tianlin, seated closest to the Minister Superior, only had to tilt his head to see the disbelief in the latter's eyes.
"Young lady..." Ming Li rose to his feet. "Whose family do you belong to?"
Mingyi took two steps forward, raising her hand to her forehead. "This humble girl bears the surname Ming."
Ming?
Ming was indeed a prominent surname, but could it really be such a coincidence? To resemble Ming Xian so strikingly in features and also share the same surname?
Ming Li studied her for a long moment before suddenly turning to Consort Si with a laugh. "If not for Star Yearn City's people, I'd truly think you'd secretly borne me a daughter."
Consort Si's face turned ashen, her head remaining bowed.
Mingyi lowered her saluting hand and lifted her gaze to meet his. "This humble girl is not from Star Yearn City. She was born in Sunspire City."
Ming Li sensed something amiss and narrowed his eyes slightly. "Where in Sunspire City?"
"The inner palace grounds—Zhaoyang Palace."
The crowd erupted in murmurs, all eyes shifting to Consort Si.
Zhaoyang Palace—the residence of Consort Yan Si.
Consort Yan's fingers trembled. After a deep breath, she lifted her head with a cold expression and snapped, "What sorceress dares spout such nonsense! Is this how Star Yearn City presents itself before the Minister Superior of Facing Sun?"
Qin Shangwu clasped his hands in apology. "Consort Si, please forgive us. Mingyi—or rather, Ming Xian—has shed blood and sweat for your Sunspire City. Now gravely injured and repeatedly hunted down, she had no choice but to follow us into these inner halls today. Star Yearn City owes her a debt; this is merely a small favor in return."
The moment the name Ming Xian was uttered, the murmurs swelled into an uproar. Some even leaped to their feet in outrage, shouting, "Ming Xian is a man—the heir of Sunspire City! What vile scheme is this, presenting a woman as his impostor!"
"Exactly! Ming Xian is already dead. The inner palace held funeral rites not long ago—we're still observing mourning, abstaining from meat and music!"
"Ming Xian is dead?" Dan Er asked with a smile. "Does the coffin enshrined in the inner palace contain a corpse?"
"Dan Er, how dare you!" Consort Yan roared. "The heir of Sunspire City—do you presume to open his coffin for inspection?"
"I believe it is Consort Si who presumes too much." Meng Guifei arrived belatedly, entering through a side door and gliding gracefully toward the seat beside the Minister Superior.
Ming Li frowned at her. "At a time like this, surely you're not here to vie for favor."
"Minister Superior, be assured this humble consort seeks only to prevent your deception, not to compete for affection." Meng Guifei saluted him, then pointed a vermilion-tipped finger at Mingyi. "She is Ming Xian. Ming Xian has been a woman since birth. It was Consort Si who deliberately deceived the Minister Superior, repeatedly blocking physicians from examining her, orchestrating this grand deception that led to today's predicament!"
The inner palace of Sunspire City erupted into chaos as nobles and ministers broke into heated arguments.How could Ming Xian be a girl? She had been designated as the heir from birth because of her Crimson Meridians. If she were a girl...
If she were a girl, even with the Crimson Meridians, she wouldn't be taken seriously.
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