Before she could figure it out, the window beside her opened. Ji Bozhai leaned his elbow on the sill, looking at her with an amused smile. "What's on your mind?"
Mingyi snapped out of her thoughts and shrugged. "Thinking about how to leave this place."
"Must you leave?"
She shot him a glance. "What mischief are you plotting now?"
Others might be fooled by his earnest expression, but she could see right through him—this man was full of schemes, all brewing to be poured in one direction.
He chuckled, reaching out to hook an arm around her waist and pulling her upper body closer across the windowsill. "That's exactly why I want to keep you by my side. If word gets out again, I might lose my life."
He was sold out over a mere Flying Beast Cart—was he really that cheap?
Mingyi snorted. "You clearly had designs on Meng Guifei long ago. Otherwise, why would she suddenly ask me about your relationship with Meng Shi? I merely played along and told her. Instead of thanking me, you want to blame me?"
He raised an eyebrow. "What designs?"
"The kind that involve killing," she said firmly, staring at him. "You had the same look in your eyes when you wanted to kill Prince Ping."
Ji Bozhai touched his eyelid in surprise. Others often said they couldn't read him, but in front of her, he felt as exposed as if he were naked.
"I don't know why you'd have the heart to move against Meng Shi, but I know all this is because you want to leave Sunspire City," Mingyi said, watching him. "I'll just give you one piece of advice: don't underestimate Meng Shi."
A great family's inner court defenses weren't so easily breached.
Ji Bozhai smiled, his thumb gently brushing the tip of her ear. "Then will you help me?"
"No."
"Hmm?"
"..." Mingyi dodged his teasing hand, annoyed. "I still owe a debt. Isn't it redundant for you to ask, my lord?"She was far more captivating when angry than when feigning smiles—her brows furrowed in anger, her lips slightly pouting like a child's."
Unable to resist teasing her, Ji Bozhai said, "What if helping me means we have to engage in Luan Feng—"
Mingyi slammed the window shut, nearly hitting his face.
"How cold," he muttered, rubbing his nose with a hint of grievance. "You seemed quite happy during our last Luan Feng."
"..." The tightly shut window was violently rattled again.
As the paper panes trembled, Ji Bozhai burst into laughter.
Mingyi's ears burned red as she grumbled and went to fetch dinner. She used to not care about such things—Luan Feng was nothing to be ashamed of, just a natural human act. But the way he said it made it impossible not to recall certain details, making her want to shut him up.
How shameless, to tease her right after winning her favor!
Stomping her way to the door to receive the dinner brought by the attendant, Mingyi waited a while. The attendant arrived later than usual and in a hurry, thrusting the food box into her hands and leaving before she could even see his face.
Weighing the box in her hands, Mingyi sighed. She wasn't foolish—having grown up in the inner court, she knew better than to let her guard down. Who would dare eat food delivered like this?
Still, she couldn't let it all go to waste. She brought it back and laid out the dishes on the table, sitting with Ji Bozhai to wait.
Ten zhang away, Yan Shuang's footsteps sounded.Mingyi cleared her throat and immediately slammed her palm on the edge of the table. "You think you can just decide not to go back? I don’t like Sunspire City—I don’t want to stay here!"
Ji Bozhai yawned, his expression instantly shifting into a cold glare. "I’m not saying these things to seek your approval. I’m merely informing you so you can relay it to Qin Shangwu."
"You’re truly ungrateful. Star Yearn City nurtured you for years—"
"And what about you? Sunspire City nurtured you for years too, yet you’re ready to leave without hesitation," Bozhai sneered. "As for me, it’s not like I’m betraying the city for no reason. My parents and family are here—where else would I go? Even if I returned to Star Yearn, would I still be valued?"
"You clearly don’t care about blood ties!"
"Words are just words. But Sunspire City is far better than Star Yearn. Since I have a reason to stay, and might even become the heir, why would I refuse?"
"Fine, fine!" Mingyi swept the dishes off the table in frustration, sending them crashing to the floor. "Stay if you want! I’m leaving no matter what!"
With that, she strode forward and yanked open the tightly shut door.
Yan Shuang, standing outside, jumped in surprise and quickly stepped aside, casting a startled glance at her. Mingyi didn’t even look at her as she stormed out of the main hall toward her own small quarters.
Amid the mess, Ji Bozhai sat at the table with a sigh.
Yan Shuang understood the situation. She entered, first presenting him with the deployment map she had brought, then offered some advice. "Everyone has their own ambitions, my lord. Why must you insist on dealing with her?"
"You’re right, but I still need to use her to handle certain matters for me." He rubbed his temples and opened the deployment map, only to close it again, his irritation still evident. "I originally intended to spare her life, but it seems I was being overly sentimental."
The sudden surge of killing intent around him startled Yan Shuang, but he quickly regained his composure and spoke to her gently. "Yan Niangniang’s birthday is coming up. I have a grand gift for her—if only she could cooperate a little."
Yan Shuang immediately leaned closer. "My lord, you need only tell this servant, and I will relay your words."
Bozhai smirked and motioned for her to come even nearer.
The security in Sunspire City’s inner court was indeed tight. Even Qin Shangwu, attempting to slip out, was caught and brought back after barely a hundred paces.
"What do we do now?" Chu He fretted. "There’s no way out."
"Force won’t work—we’ll have to think of another way." Fan Yao pondered for a moment before deflating. "But with Bo Zhai and Mingyi gone, even if we could escape, what about them?"
"Do you really think Ji Bozhai still wants to return to our Star Yearn City?" Luo Jiaoyang scoffed. "Our little city has neither status nor resources. Now that he can become Sunspire’s heir—"
Before he could finish, Qin Shangwu rapped him on the head.
"Bozhai is a man of loyalty," he said firmly. "Once he agreed to become my disciple, he would never abandon Star Yearn City."
Ji Bozhai, loyal? The group exchanged glances, each seeing blatant disbelief in the others’ eyes.
The man’s Essence Power was formidable, sure, but loyalty? After working together for so long, they hadn’t even managed basic camaraderie. And as for his so-called affection toward his parents in Sunspire—no one had seen any trace of that either. Where their mentor had gotten the idea that Bozhai was loyal, no one could fathom.As they were speaking, the door suddenly knocked. Luo Jiaoyang went to open it and saw a palace attendant bowing to them: "The Flying Beast Cart that Her Ladyship promised to send for Ming Guniang has already been placed at the Facing Sun dock. You may take it with you when it's time to leave."
Mingyi had requested the Flying Beast Cart? Luo Jiaoyang didn't understand and wanted to say something, but was stopped by Qin Shangwu.
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