Ji Bozhai listened and gradually felt something was amiss.
All these men in Mingyi's house actually held official positions? She really had the audacity to allow her harem to interfere in politics. A simple greeting from the harem had turned into something resembling a court assembly.
But it was only for a moment. Soon, the men reverted to their jealous bickering—one complaining that the Minister Superior hadn’t visited him in a long time, another lamenting how favored Lord Zhou was.
Zhou Zihong stepped beside Mingyi and stood there calmly, remarking, "Where there are many people, there is much gossip."
Mingyi chuckled and patted his arm before turning to Ji Bozhai. "I haven’t formally introduced him yet. This is Zhou Zihong, my man."
Ji Bozhai’s fingers curled slightly on the armrest.
Lifting his lazy gaze to meet Zhou Zihong’s slightly prickly stare, he gave a faint scoff. "I’ve long heard of your name."
Zhou Zihong cupped his hands in return and nodded. "The Minister Superior is busy with affairs. If Your Majesty has any matters, you may also command this servant to handle them."
There was no need to drag her to Qingming Hall for talks every day.
"A servant is still a servant. There are many things your Minister Superior can handle that you cannot."
"True." Zhou Zihong smirked. "Who would dare disobey Your Majesty’s orders?"
Indeed, he could only rely on orders to make her see him. Otherwise, the Minister Superior wouldn’t spare him a glance.
Ji Bozhai caught his implication, his lips pressing into a thin line.
"It’s getting late. Everyone, after paying respects, please return to your duties." Mingyi stood and waved dismissively before bowing to Ji Bozhai. "Recently, there have been frequent trade disputes between Azure Snow and Facing Sun. This servant must attend to official matters."
For most, this would be a polite excuse to leave, but Ji Bozhai insisted on asking, "What disputes?"
Mingyi hesitated briefly before answering, "Merchants from Azure Snow violated the ban by smuggling women hidden in cargo shipments. They were caught red-handed, leading to a conflict at the Ferry."
His eyes darkening, Ji Bozhai rose. "I’ll go with you."
"Your Majesty’s exalted status makes travel inconvenient. This servant will accompany the Minister Superior," Zhou Zihong interjected. "Such incidents are not the first. I’m already well-versed in handling them."
With that, he took Mingyi’s hand and led her out.
Ji Bozhai narrowed his eyes at the sight of Zhou Zihong’s hand on Mingyi’s wrist.
Don’t get angry. Don’t lose composure. He didn’t even have the right to be angry—he could only endure it.
Taking a deep breath, he followed, instructing Buxiu to bring the carriage behind them no matter how fast the two walked ahead.
As Zhou Zihong had said, this wasn’t the first time such an incident had occurred, especially after the new laws were enacted. It was as if these people were deliberately provoking Sunspire City—this shipment alone had concealed over two hundred women.
Mingyi trembled with fury upon arriving at the Ferry. Many of these women had clearly been abducted, their expensive clothes contrasting with their wrists, mangled and bloody from struggling against the ropes.
The detained merchant remained defiant, shouting, "By what right does Facing Sun’s law punish us, people of Azure Snow?"
Mingyi strode forward and punched him, knocking out two teeth and sending him sprawling.
"Minister Superior!" Zhou Zihong quickly stopped her, shaking his head slightly. "You mustn’t."
The man wasn’t wrong—Facing Sun’s laws couldn’t prosecute Azure Snow’s people. Their usual approach was to secretly rescue the women, leaving the merchants to swallow their losses. Making it public would only complicate matters."Beating people? You, the esteemed lord of Sunspire City, bullying a mere merchant from Azure Snow?" The man scrambled to his feet, blood dribbling from his mouth as he raised his hand and shouted, "Merchants of Azure Snow, take note! Sunspire City refuses to trade with us, and we Azure Snow folk are being beaten here for no reason!"
Azure Snow was a major trade city, as was Sunspire. The difference was that Sunspire thrived on merchants profiting from price differences, while Azure Snow relied on the actual goods produced within their city. Without trade from Azure Snow, many in Sunspire would suffer losses.
The surrounding Azure Snow merchants grew indignant. Mingyi sneered, "For no reason? You abduct the wives and daughters of Sunspire’s people, turning over two hundred lives into mere commodities, and you call that 'no reason'? If you dare say 'yes,' I’ll immediately drive to your Azure Snow City, haul away your uncles, nephews, and brothers, and sell them off to Star Yearn City’s Slave Arena as laborers."
The Sunspire crowd erupted in curses: "Kidnapping wives and daughters deserves divine punishment!"
"Were you not born of a mother? Do you not see women as human?"
"If you claim Sunspire’s laws don’t apply to you, fine. But the law protects Sunspire’s people. You’ve imprisoned innocent citizens, and I have the right to free them." Mingyi waved her hand, and her guards rushed forward, untying the bound women in the carriage one by one.
The Azure Snow merchant roared in fury, "Trade involves buying and selling! I paid for these—they’re my property! How dare you take them? I’ll report you! I’ll have our Minister Superior petition Your Majesty against you!"
"No need to go through all that trouble—I’m right here." A soft voice carried clearly across the ferry, cutting through the noise.
The crowd turned in surprise to see the Six Cities' Lord standing lazily on the footboard of a beast-drawn carriage, waving at the Azure Snow merchant.
This was the legendary God of War. Even now, draped in opulent brocade, his imposing aura was undeniable.
The commoners knelt in reverence, while Mingyi and Zhou Zihong clasped their hands and stepped aside to make way.
Ji Bozhai descended and approached them, smiling at the now-frightened Azure Snow merchant. "During the council, your envoy pleaded endlessly, so I allowed Azure Snow to maintain its old laws within its borders. But it seems your envoy failed to uphold his promise to me."
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty—she was the one who—"
"When in Rome, do as the Romans. In any place, you must abide by its rules. The lord of Sunspire City has done no wrong. Even if your own lord were here, you’d still be in the wrong." His tone remained gentle. "Let me plead for leniency on your behalf—no death penalty, just two years in prison. Let that settle the matter. How does that sound?"
The merchant was aghast. "I have to go to prison?"
"That’s already mercy beyond the law. If we catch the Sunspire citizens who sold these people to you, they’ll lose their heads on the spot."
As he spoke, his gaze swept leisurely over the surrounding crowd, lingering a moment longer on a few who looked particularly uneasy.
Merely a few glances, yet those individuals panicked and tried to flee.
"Seize them," Mingyi ordered coldly.
The guards moved like lightning, capturing them instantly. But those who engaged in such crimes were ruthless. Cornered, they brandished Divine Tools without hesitation, hurling them straight at Mingyi.Zhou Zihong stood right behind Mingyi, but he didn't possess Essence Power and momentarily didn't know how to react. He could only watch helplessly as that beam of light flew toward the Minister Superior.
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