Mingyi felt inexplicably wronged: "I had barely begun when everyone rushed to speak upon seeing Lord Ji's face—how is that my fault? Did I explicitly state that Lord Ji had any connection with Empress Yan?"
"Then you—"
"When I left Sunspire City years ago, someone told me I wasn't Empress Yan's biological child," Mingyi said calmly. "They also said I should seek out Ji Bozhai, that he could save me—even help me return to Sunspire City."
"With those two statements together, it was hard not to draw certain conclusions, especially after seeing Lord Ji's face. That suspicion only grew stronger." Mingyi chuckled lightly. "But at the time, it was merely speculation. Bringing it up today was only to await Empress Yan's explanation."
"What explanation should I give? I was kept in the dark too!" Empress Yan spat bitterly. "I didn’t know where the child I bore was sent—"
"How dare Your Majesty claim ignorance?" A voice interjected from the side door, laced with amusement.
Everyone turned to see Ming An, battered and bruised, clutching his arm as he limped into the grand hall.
"Greetings, Minister Superior," he knelt, bowing slowly.
Mingyi's pupils contracted. Instinctively, she took two steps forward and whispered, "You were tortured?"
Ming An gave a pained smile. "Falling into Empress Yan's hands, how could one emerge unscathed? Minor injuries—pay them no mind."
He turned to the Minister Superior, cupping his hands respectfully. "When Empress Yan was eight months pregnant, she was scouring the land for infants with Crimson Meridians. Coincidentally, my late wife had just given birth to such a child. When her clan elders learned of it, they immediately sent her to Empress Yan's palace."
"I told the clan leader it was a girl. But he said Crimson Meridians were rare—if it were a girl, she’d have no future. But if she could become Empress Yan's son, she’d live a life of luxury." Ming An sighed. "My late wife adored her maternal clan. Without hesitation, she handed over the child and even urged me to stay silent, to never acknowledge her."
"Later, Empress Yan went into premature labor. The child she bore lacked Crimson Meridians. After a single glance at its wrist, she shoved the infant into my hands and ordered me to 'dispose of it cleanly.'"
Gasps filled the room. Empress Yan snapped, "Lies! That was my flesh and blood—how could I have told you to—"
"As I carried the child out of the inner courtyard, my movements were noticed. Empress Yan, ruthless as ever, demanded I leave no trace, no evidence to follow." Ming An ignored her, continuing, "It was my own reluctance that led me to take the infant to Star Yearn City during the welcoming banquet."
His gaze shifted to Ji Bozhai. After a pause, he lowered his head slowly. "You were innocent. But Empress Yan’s cruelty never spared my daughter even a shred of kindness. When she was nine, I was ordered to find 'Sky of Eternal Regret' to control her. The hatred festered in me, but I was powerless. So I bribed the overseer of your slave arena to test the poison."
The slave arena was the perfect testing ground. Empress Yan never imagined the poison she sought would be tested on her own flesh and blood.
This was true retribution—not divine will, but man-made.
Mingyi stiffened, frowning at Ming An. "You knew about Ji Bozhai's circumstances all along?"Ming An lowered his eyes. "I deliberately placed him in the Slave Arena—cruel, dark, no different from the circumstances you subjected Mingyi to by your side. All these years, I’ve kept tabs on how he grew up, what he became."
"You—you vile-hearted wretch!" Yan Si Hou pointed at him, her voice dripping with venom. "You never told me Ming Xian was your daughter!"
Had she known, she would never have entrusted so many tasks to Ming An!
"If I had told you, would I have survived?" Ming An coughed lightly, his gaze icy as he glared at her. "After all these years by your side, how could I not know your nature? Anything—anyone—you perceive as a threat, you eliminate without hesitation. Even the clan leader who helped you find your child back then—his grave is now overgrown with grass taller than a man."
"Don’t spout nonsense! The previous clan leader died of natural causes—it was inevitable!"
"Indeed. Had I told you Ming Xian was my child, my fate would have been just as 'inevitable.'" Ming An sneered. "So I didn’t. Not only that, but every cruelty you inflicted on Ming Xian over the years, I made sure was repaid upon your son."
Gasps filled the room. Yan Si Hou lunged at Ming An like a madwoman, clawing at him. "You beast! What fault lies with the child? He knew nothing of this!"
"And what of Ming Xian? What was her crime?!" Ming An shoved her away, roaring. "She was a child you insisted on taking in, yet from the age of three, you forced her to train in Combat Skills far beyond her years, leaving her battered and broken! You berated her, humiliated her—all to break her into absolute submission, to make you her god!"
"You’re a mother yourself! How dare you claim your child is innocent while treating another’s as worthless?!"
Mingyi’s fingers trembled slightly as she lowered her gaze.
She could feel Ji Bozhai’s eyes on her but refused to meet them. She could guess what they held—anger, resentment. Not only had she stolen his identity, but his own father had heaped suffering upon him.
This was why she had always known—there could never be a happy ending for the two of them.
A cold wind swept through the hall, chilling hearts and minds alike. Mingyi steadied herself and turned to the throne. "The truth is now clear. I’ve wronged Sunspire City in no way over these years. All I ask is for Da Si to spare one life—is that too much?"
"You wish to spare Ming An?" Da Si’s voice was heavy with fury. "But his crimes are unforgivable."
Since Ji Bozhai was his blood, Ming Li naturally wanted him back. And to reclaim him, the one who had wronged Ji Bozhai could not be let off lightly.
"Today’s farce has brought shame upon Sunspire," he declared. "The grudges of nineteen years must end here."
"Ming Xian," he continued, "in light of your years of service, I will overlook your identity and crimes. But Ming An must stay to face his due punishment."
"Ji Bozhai." He turned, eyes alight with joy. "Though raised in the Slave Arena, testimonies and witnesses confirm you are of Sunspire blood. As such, I will hold a ceremony to welcome you back to our lineage."
Thus, Sunspire would lose Ming Xian but gain Ji Bozhai—hardly a significant loss.
Beaming, he awaited Ji Bozhai’s grateful acknowledgment.Yet Ji Bozhai stood beside Qin Shangwu, maintaining an air of complete detachment from start to finish, his eyes colder than the wind blowing in from outside.
"Sunspire City truly lives up to its name—accustomed to acting arbitrarily." He lifted his eyelids slightly. "All this fuss just means Ming Xian was poisoned and became inconvenient to use, so now you've set your sights on me."
"How can you speak like that, child!" Yan Si Hou quickly interjected. "This isn't about convenience—you're my own flesh and blood!"
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