People all have their flaws. When you go to any place and people rush to serve you tea and water, smiling and fawning over you for favors, Zhou Zihong's cold demeanor is like a lotus unstained by the mud, pure and untainted by the world.
Mingyi couldn't help but lean over to see what he was writing. On the pristine rice paper, bold strokes of ink flowed like soaring geese over the sea, vivid and full of life. The brush paused, forming the character "Ji"—Ji Bozhai's "Ji."
Mingyi forced a laugh and clapped her hands. "Minister, your calligraphy is truly remarkable. Perhaps one day you could write a plaque to hang above my imperial chamber."
Zhou Zihong looked up at her, pointing meaningfully at the rice paper on the table. "Does the Minister Superior think this piece is good?"
"Of course," Mingyi nodded, averting her gaze.
Zhou Zihong smiled. "Then let this piece be engraved and placed at the entrance of your imperial chamber."
"..."
Taking a deep breath, Mingyi turned back and tapped the edge of his desk helplessly. "Why must you provoke him like this?"
The entire piece was a rebuttal of the arguments made by Ji Bozhai's subordinates. Though not a single line directly named Ji Bozhai, it was clear that every word was a veiled attack. If this were truly engraved and placed at her chamber's entrance, Ji Bozhai would come knocking the very next day.
"Does the Minister Superior truly believe it is I who is provoking him?" Zhou Zihong frowned slightly.
Even a beauty's furrowed brows could stir pity.
Mingyi sighed and sat down, smoothing her robes. "You're right, of course. Half of Sunspire City is still in Ji Bozhai's hands, and many in the court outwardly obey me while secretly serving him. It's not that I don't want to purge them, but this isn't something that can be done overnight."
Zhou Zihong pressed his lips together, glancing at the faint shadows under her tired eyes. Eventually, he pulled out a fresh sheet of rice paper to cover what he had written, then slowly walked over to her. Kneeling before her, he met her gaze evenly and asked softly, "Haven't you been resting well these past few days?"
Mingyi gave a dry laugh.
She would love to rest well, but the court's affairs were endless. Just when she thought she could relax in the imperial harem, a fire broke out in one of the concubine's courtyards, keeping her up most of the night before she had to return to court without sleep.
Today, she had guards stationed everywhere along her route, still on high alert outside, fearing another fire.
A trace of tenderness flickered in the man's eyes.
Mingyi raised a brow. "Are you worried about me?"
"The Minister Superior has an entire imperial harem. Why would it be my place to worry?" Zhou Zihong stood and went to the bed, smoothing the blankets before sitting down. "Rest early."
Mingyi happily followed him.
Zhou Zihong's room carried a refined scent of books—something Ji Bozhai would never have—soothing and comforting.
She lay down on the inner side of the bed, while he sat at the edge for a moment, seemingly hesitating.
But soon, Zhou Zihong sighed softly and lay down beside her, still clothed.
Mingyi yawned. She had meant to ask what was on his mind, but her eyelids were too heavy, and she drifted off before she could speak.
She was exhausted but slept lightly. Moments later, she felt Zhou Zihong's hand gently rest on her back, patting her rhythmically.
Is he treating me like a child? she thought wryly.
But it worked. Though she had only been dozing, within a few pats, she fell deeply asleep.Zhou Zihong sat beside her, quietly watching her with his head lowered, unable to suppress the thought—how could a girl live such a hard life? Even in sleep, her entire body was shielded, and a trace of worry slowly surfaced between her brows, completely unlike the smiling face she wore when awake.
Was Ji Bozhai, someone so formidable, never able to make her feel at ease?
An inexplicable ache swelled in his chest. He raised his hand, intending to brush away a stray lock of hair caught in her lips.
But suddenly, someone outside shouted, "Talented Lady, Minister Superior, there's a fire out here!"
Mingyi practically bolted upright, her tense nerves sending a sharp pain through her temples.
Zhou Zihong's first instinct was to cover her ears with both hands.
The warmth of his palms soothed her pain and muffled the clamor outside. Mingyi blinked groggily, only to see Zhou Zihong mouthing the words silently to her: "Sleep."
How could she sleep with a fire raging outside? She shook her head, but he pressed her back onto the bed, pulling the quilt over her before calmly calling, "Siqi."
His personal attendant entered promptly, cupping his hands in salute. "It was arson. The culprit and the fire have both been dealt with. Master and Minister Superior may rest easy."
"Take away the one who was shouting loudly too. Investigate their background," Zhou Zihong ordered.
"Yes."
The door opened and closed, and silence returned outside. Mingyi blinked, leaning against him as she whispered hoarsely, "You're just a scholar without even a trace of Essence Power. How are you so reliable?"
"Sleep," he replied, avoiding the question as he massaged her temples.
The perfect pressure, the warmth and gentleness of his fingertips—Mingyi sighed, suddenly understanding Ji Bozhai a little better.
There were countless men in this world, each with their own merits. Since she had the ability to attract so many, why should she settle for loving just one? They would all grow old one day, and when that time came, she would simply find younger men who resembled them.
Love never truly disappeared—it merely continued in another form.
How wonderful.
Applauding herself inwardly, Mingyi nestled against Zhou Zihong and gradually drifted back to sleep.
Ji Bozhai sat in the courtyard, draped in an outer robe, playing chess with Qin Shangwu.
Qin Shangwu yawned repeatedly. "It's so late. Aren't you tired?"
"Perhaps I slept too much during the day. I'm not tired."
You might not be tired, but others certainly are! Qin Shangwu wanted to say it outright—he wanted to go to bed! But seeing his disciple's pallid face, he couldn't bring himself to be harsh. "You're the Six Cities' Lord now. Is there anything you can't have? Why torment yourself like this?"
Anything he couldn't have? What could he possibly want? Women? Wealth?
How utterly dull.
He had eradicated everyone responsible for Bo Shi's death and enshrined her memorial tablet in the newly built Clan Temple. Yet, after fulfilling all his wishes, he felt an overwhelming emptiness. Even the news of Da Si of Muxing City's death brought him no joy.
He had lived for revenge. His life had been saved by Bo Shi, and in repayment, he had given everything he could.
But what now? What was left to do?
He lifted his gaze northward. The inner courtyard of Muxing City's main palace was only ten li from his own. A beast-drawn carriage would take merely the time it took for an incense stick to burn, while walking would take half a shichen. If he rode a flying sword, it would be even faster—just half the time of an incense stick.
And yet, he lacked the courage to make the trip.
"Your Majesty," Buxiu hurried over, casting a glance at Qin Shangwu.His back stiffened slightly as Ji Bozhai pressed his lips together. "You didn't stop them?"
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