Mingyi quickly mobilized her Essence Power, but her Meridians needed the time it takes to burn an incense stick to fully replenish. For now, she could only rely on the Divine Tool, using scattered remnants of Essence Power as a temporary defense.
Blocking the frontal attacks wasn’t difficult, but as she deflected them, she keenly sensed an ambush striking from the side in coordination.
The Essence Power behind this sneak attack was twice as strong as the frontal assaults. The surrounding guards hadn’t even reacted yet. Her heart sank as she silently cursed, swiftly calculating her options before deciding to twist her body at an angle—even if she got injured, it wouldn’t be fatal.
But before she could complete the turn, a surge of potent Essence Power enveloped her from above, shielding her entirely.
The attacks clanged loudly against the Shield. Blinking, Mingyi looked up to see Ji Bozhai shielding her with one hand while his other hand clenched midair, yanking the ambusher into the open space where they crashed down, immediately breaking their front teeth.
"How audacious," he murmured, his lowered gaze tinged with menace. "A citizen of Sunspire City, daring to raise a hand against your own city lord?"
The person on the ground groaned through a mouthful of blood, unable to speak.
Yet, for some reason, Bozhai grew angrier the more he thought about it. "If not for her, Sunspire City might very well be in ruins by now. How could you even have the chance to pull such stunts? Not an ounce of gratitude for your city lord, yet you bite the hand that feeds you—a dog turning on its master!"
With that, he raised his hand and then pressed down sharply. The assailant was lifted and slammed back onto the ground with brutal force.
Everyone nearby could hear the sickening crunch of bones breaking—a dull, rigid sound that set teeth on edge.
Mingyi hastily raised a hand to intervene. "Your Majesty, if he’s guilty, let the Ministry of Justice handle it."
Beating someone to death in the streets was far too brutal—bad for reputation.
Bozhai shot her a glare, pressed his lips together, and withdrew his hand.
Mingyi forced an awkward laugh and quickly ordered the guards to take the injured man away to Situ Ling. She also instructed them to capture the fleeing assailants. Then Bozhai commanded, "Lock this Azure Snow citizen in the palace dungeons."
If Mingyi had handled it, the lord of Azure Snow City would likely come to argue. But with Bozhai taking charge and imprisoning the culprit in the palace, Azure Snow would have no grounds for protest.
The two of them dealt with their respective sides without exchanging a single word of discussion, yet their coordination was seamless, as if they had rehearsed it.
Zhou Zihong stood behind them, his fingers tightening slightly.
Mingyi and Bozhai stood shoulder to shoulder, a picture-perfect pair, like immortals in love. The sight was painfully dazzling, but there was nothing he could do. He couldn’t accomplish what Bozhai could—he couldn’t even shield Mingyi with Essence Power.
For a fleeting moment, Zihong felt a pang of frustration. Why had he only ever studied books instead of mastering Essence Power?
Once Mingyi had settled the matters at hand and arranged for the rescued women to be escorted home, she turned to find Zihong standing silently to the side, his eyes downcast, radiating dejection.
Curious, she approached him. "Are you alright?"
"It’s nothing," he replied, taking a deep breath before looking up. "Perhaps we could have dinner—"
"Minister Zhou is quite the homemaker," Bozhai interjected coolly. "But you’re speaking too soon. With such a major incident at the Ferry, if it isn’t handled properly, it could lead to a rift between Azure Snow and Facing Sun. Your Minister Superior won’t have time for dinner."
Zihong froze, turning to Mingyi, who scratched her temple sheepishly. "He’s right. There’s a legal conflict between us and Azure Snow—we need to find a resolution."
"So the Minister Superior and His Majesty are going to discuss matters?" His eyes dimmed once more.Mingyi patted his shoulder. "I'll come find you once I'm done with my work."
"Alright." Forcing a smile, he looked up and watched as Mingyi boarded the beast-drawn carriage alongside Ji Bozhai.
Mingyi entered the carriage first, while Ji Bozhai stood on the footboard, holding the door. Before stepping in, he turned back and cast a glance at Zhou Zihong.
That glance was filled with disdain, arrogance, and a condescending pity.
Zhou Zihong's expression darkened.
He hadn’t been truly angered before, but this time, he was furious—and utterly powerless.
Mingyi was no ordinary woman. She might have taken a liking to him for a time, but when it came to matching her strength, he could never compare to Ji Bozhai.
What could he even do?
The beast-drawn carriage rumbled away, leaving him standing at the ferry, lost in thought as he watched the bustling crowd.
Mingyi studied the map of Azure Snow City and mused, "Strictly speaking, we never actually conquered Azure Snow City. It was because of your prior agreement with their Minister Superior that we reached a consensus."
"Given the circumstances at the time, it was the most advantageous choice, so it’s understandable they refused complete submission."
As she scrutinized the map, Ji Bozhai watched her, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "A pity. I have no interest in war now, but otherwise, launching another attack on Azure Snow City would be the best move."
Mingyi frowned at him. "I thought Your Majesty’s ceasefire was merely a temporary tactic."
Ji Bozhai remained silent.
It was a temporary tactic. After conquering so many cities in succession, his forces had suffered losses. Coupled with the repeated demands for withdrawal from Star Yearn City’s Minister Superior and the wavering morale in the later stages, he had no choice but to halt the war.
Now, with the Six Cities unified, all he needed was to reorganize his troops before launching another campaign. This time, with the combined forces of three cities at his disposal, how could he possibly fail against Azure Snow?
And yet...
He sighed deeply and lowered his gaze. "I often wonder—what do I even want this realm for?"
Mingyi’s lips twitched. "Supreme status, absolute power—isn’t that what all men desire?"
"But having it doesn’t feel particularly meaningful." Leaning back, he rested his hands behind his neck. "I’m not like you. You have grand ambitions—equality for women and men, peace and prosperity for the people. I want nothing. Sitting on the throne just means decades of indulgence before passing it on to the next person."
Mingyi gave him a disdainful look. Such formidable Essence Power wasted on someone so world-weary—what a shame.
But there was nothing she could say. The throne was his by conquest, and the realm was now in his hands. Its rise or fall rested entirely on his whims.
"If you were the one sitting on this throne, what would you do?" he suddenly asked.
Mingyi answered without hesitation, "Attack Azure Snow, fully unify the Six Cities, then establish clear laws, prioritize agriculture and commerce, and ensure men and women live as equals."
After a pause, she added with a frown, "They are equals to begin with—just with different roles. There’s no inherent superiority or inferiority."
Her determination was palpable. Ji Bozhai lazily observed her before chuckling softly. "Good."
"What’s good?" she asked, puzzled.
"I mean, let’s do as you say." He straightened, resting his hands on his knees. "I have no desires of my own, so I might as well help you accomplish yours."
Mingyi was stunned.
In her memory, Ji Bozhai was never this generous. Following her suggestion—attacking Azure Snow? He’d have to don his armor and return to the battlefield. What benefit could that possibly bring him?Azure Snow's resources? That is indeed a benefit, but what else?
Her brows furrowed slightly as she sat in the swaying beast-drawn carriage, staring at the smiling person before her, momentarily puzzled.
OpenNovel