Situ Ling's face fell immediately upon hearing this. "What do you mean by a proper wife? Isn't elder sister my proper wife now?"
Mingyi laughed and waved her hand dismissively. "I only took you in back then to help you establish yourself quickly in Sunspire City. I never had any other intentions. You're different from all the men in my courtyard—they have to stay for a year before they can leave, but you, you're free to live your own life anytime."
She thought Situ Ling would be quite happy about this. After all, he was at that spirited age of youth, full of lofty ambitions and boundless prospects. Why would he want to stay in this much-criticized rear courtyard forever?
Yet, there wasn't a trace of joy in the young man's eyes before her. His shoulders slumped slightly, and he looked somewhat resigned.
"Elder Sister Ming," he sighed, "I'm already seventeen this year."
Mingyi nodded. "Yes, in other households, that's already the age for marriage discussions."
"So when I entered your rear courtyard, it wasn't just to establish myself." He pressed his tongue against the roof of his mouth, narrowing his eyes. "Not everyone is like Ji Bozhai, calculating every single move they make."
"I came here because I liked you, elder sister. From the very beginning."
Mingyi looked up in astonishment.
Situ Ling, with his handsome features and tall, straight figure like a pine tree, had indeed grown into a man. But... liking her?
Liking her?!
She instinctively shook her head. How could this be possible? They had always treated each other as siblings, with Situ Ling being a full four years younger than her. What was there to like?
Yet, the depth and sincerity in his gaze didn't seem like a lie.
Mingyi took a step back.
This retreat made Situ Ling's expression dim. "In elder sister's eyes, am I forever just a child?"
"There are no children as capable as you in this world. Those major cases that had been stalled for five or six years—you gave me the closing arguments within a month." She shook her head. "But I've always seen you as a younger brother. Hearing you say such things feels... awkward."
His brows relaxing, Situ Ling smiled. "So elder sister doesn't dislike me—she's just not used to this change."
Mingyi: "..." That wasn't exactly what she meant.
"Since elder sister isn't used to it, then I'll just stick to you more often, so you can get properly accustomed."
Mingyi: "..." Truly a prodigy in solving cases—his way of thinking was just so different from ordinary people.
Before she could say anything more, Situ Ling took her hand and strode toward the inner courtyard. "We'll be discussing matters at the Diligence Hall these next few days. If elder sister is going, then so am I. It's a good chance to spend more time together."
Pulled along by him, Mingyi found herself nearly running to keep up with his long, quick strides, her skirt clutched in her hands.
But after a few steps, Situ Ling slowed his pace and reached out to steady her.
Mingyi's heart raced, noticing how cool and firm his hand felt.
"There's one fundamental difference between me and Ji Bozhai," Situ Ling said quietly as they approached the Diligence Hall. "I will never abandon you, elder sister, nor will I ever seek to use you for anything else. When I say I like you, it's purely that—just liking you."
His words rang with conviction, mingling with the rapid pounding of her heart, making Mingyi feel for a moment as though she might truly be moved.
But she quickly composed herself.
Situ Ling felt gratitude toward her for saving him in his youth. Gratitude and affection could easily be confused. Perhaps he simply hadn't met other good women yet—it might not be genuine devotion to her.
After the discussions were over, she would take him to meet more young ladies, she decided.Ji Bozhai had already taken his seat at the head of the long table. Mingyi entered and, following protocol, sat to his right.
However, he glanced at the person beside her and narrowed his eyes. "Lord Situ holds a second-rank position. Though talented for his age, does he truly belong here?"
Sunspire City had no shortage of first-rank officials and elders. What right did this upstart have?
Situ Ling blinked innocently. "Sister Mingyi is frail. Which of these esteemed lords can properly attend to her? Naturally, I'm the most suitable to sit here."
Frail? She had just strolled the city walls with him earlier—he hadn't noticed any frailty.
But Situ Ling had already taken his seat, and the other officials showed no objection as they settled in one by one. Ji Bozhai swallowed his irritation.
Annoying.
He'd just gotten rid of Zhou Zihong, and now here came Situ Ling. No matter how he looked at it, this arrangement grated on him.
"Today we convene to discuss the legal codes of the Six Cities. These are the overlapping statutes from each city—review them briefly and voice any objections," Ji Bozhai stated gravely.
The dozen or so attendees began flipping through the documents, discussing each point.
This portion was straightforward, as the statutes were already aligned. Within two hours, all dozens of articles were ratified.
Next came the contentious laws where the cities diverged.
The moment Ji Bozhai finished introducing this segment, a delegate from Azure Snow City slammed the table and stood. "Our city already suffers from a scarcity of women, and now you forbid intercity marriages? Do you intend for Azure Snow to die out?!"
Situ Ling glanced at him. "Which statute prohibits intercity marriages?"
"'Those who trade women shall face execution without pardon'—who drafted this?" the Azure Snow delegate fumed. "Women are assets in our city, hence the trade. If buying and selling women warrants death, how are our men to marry women from other cities?"
Mingyi couldn't help but laugh. "By that logic, women from the other five cities should flock to Azure Snow to be traded as commodities?"
The delegate glowered at her. "I said from the start this council was a farce! A place where women sit at the table can't be serious—nothing but absurdities here!"
With that, he shoved his chair back to leave.
From the head seat, Ji Bozhai offered a humorless smile. "Lord Qin seems to disregard my authority."
Qin Zongyou stiffened, reluctantly resuming his seat but still defiant. "Azure Snow's dwindling female population threatens our lineages. This is our foremost crisis—I won't tolerate a chit spouting nonsense about it."
"And why does Azure Snow lack women? Precisely because you treat them as tradable goods," Mingyi countered, sipping her tea. "I'm trying to save your city, yet you hurl insults?"
"Bull—nonsense!" Qin Zongyou bristled. "Our female shortage stems from natural selection—what does trade have to do with it?"
Mingyi tapped the table lightly, suppressing her temper. "Natural selection? Can you swear every drowned infant girl would have grown weaker than your men?"
"Women are inherently inferior—what's untrue about that?!" Qin Zongyou bellowed, smacking the table.
Expressionless, Ji Bozhai stood and shifted his chair aside.
Qin Shangwu puzzled at the movement—until She Tianlin also edged away, tugging him along. "Make room."Without knowing why, Qin Shangwu stepped aside. Before he could ask what was happening, a pure white Nether Domain descended.
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