The relocation of Sunspire City progressed rapidly under Ji Bozhai's relentless supervision. As soon as the new inner court was completed on the Floating Island, he ordered all its residents to move immediately.
"Your Majesty," Buxiu reported, "Zhou Zihong refuses to relocate and requests an audience with the Minister Superior."
The hand holding the Six Cities' memorial tightened instinctively as Ji Bozhai glanced toward the figure in the room.
Mingyi sat at the table reviewing Sunspire City documents, her expression neutral. Yet at these words, her gaze lifted toward him.
These past days, he'd kept her in the main palace—daring not to share quarters, merely standing guard outside. Her mood had remained stable: eating, taking walks, occasionally attempting to disrupt his Essence Power Net.
But Zhou Zihong's name had instantly revived her spirits.
Of course. Zhou Zihong was her rightfully wedded city lord's son-in-law. Their affection ran deep. Had Ji Bozhai not forcibly brought her back, they'd likely be enjoying moonlit romance and domestic bliss.
Ji Bozhai wished he could generously permit their reunion. But he knew—he'd only retained her through force. Letting her meet others meant losing everything.
Pulling the memorial up to block her gaze, he muttered, "Today... isn't suitable for visitors. You should rest."
"I've been 'resting' since returning from Azure Snow over a month ago," Mingyi arched a brow. "How much more rest do I need?"
Ji Bozhai fell silent.
From Mingyi's vantage, his grip on the documents trembled slightly.
How novel, she thought. The fearless Ji Bozhai now seemed... ill. Ah yes—Yan Xiao had mentioned his two-month insomnia, headaches plaguing ten out of twelve daily hours. Yet still he refused sleep.
Each night as she drifted off, she sensed him standing guard outside. Each dawn upon waking, his presence remained.
When she'd attempted calm discussion, he'd preempted her with: "I won't let you leave."
As if her wedding had broken something in him.
Sighing softly, Mingyi propped her chin on her hand, eyeing the memorial's cover. "Are you truly so afraid of losing me?"
Ji Bozhai stiffened, lips pressing tight.
Silence thickened the chamber. Just as Mingyi assumed no answer would come, he pressed the documents against his face and mumbled, "Mn."
"What?" The sound had been too muffled.
Drawing a shaky breath, he fought for composure, but his voice emerged ragged: "I'm... afraid... of losing you again."
"..." Her heart gave a peculiar thump. Mingyi laughed.
"Well now," she marveled, switching chin-propping hands to study him further. "The mighty Six Cities' Lord lowering his head to me—doesn't that wound your pride?"
Compared to nightly torments of her with another, Ji Bozhai currently found pride remarkably insignificant.
Coughing twice, he pressed fingers to his throbbing temple. "Regardless... don't see him."
"Not even a glance?"
"Not... one glance." He groaned, cradling his head.
Mingyi observed him awhile before finally rising and approaching.
Ji Bozhai tensed at her movement, dark eyes darting up in alarm—only to see her settle beside him and reach toward his forehead.
"You're exhausted," she said simply. "Sleep."
Warm fingertips soothed his skin. Stunned, Ji Bozhai stared into her eyes, and for one fleeting moment, the pain truly seemed to ease.Yet, he still shook his head. "You want to sneak off to see him while I'm asleep? Impossible."
Mingyi rolled her eyes.
Irritated, she retorted, "Didn't I break your Essence Power Net the day before yesterday?"
He tightened his grip and nodded.
"If I really wanted to run, I had several chances to escape then. Why didn’t I?"
His mind muddled over the question, and Ji Bozhai remained dazed for a long moment.
"Sleep," she said impatiently, pulling him down to rest his head on her lap. "Now I can’t run, can I?"
Seeing her annoyance, Bo Zhai instinctively closed his eyes.
The moment he did, overwhelming exhaustion surged over him like rolling waves, dragging him into the abyss.
He dreamed of his own grand wedding and Mingyi’s as well. He saw their bridal carriages passing each other, each heading down paths that would never cross again.
He dreamed of Mingyi with an adorable daughter, her features identical to Zhou Zihong’s.
He also dreamed of Mingyi staring coldly at him, declaring that Zhou Zihong was a thousand, no, ten thousand times better than him.
And then, he could no longer find her. He searched all over Sunspire City and Star Yearn City, scoured Flying Blossom City and Azure Snow City, but her figure was nowhere to be seen.
The dream stretched endlessly, so long that he grew exhausted from running. Sitting on a frigid cliff, he lost his strength and slipped—
Someone caught him.
Warm hands gripped his as Mingyi’s voice dripped with disdain. "And you call yourself the top physician of the Six Cities? Helpless against insomnia and nightmares?"
Yan Xiao sighed helplessly. "My lady, this is a matter of the heart. What can I do?"
"You should’ve just drugged him with a sleeping draught to give him proper rest."
Yan Xiao twitched. "Who in all of Azure Cloud could force him to drink medicine? None of us dare, nor do we have the ability."
Mingyi shook her head, taking the medicine bowl beside him, ready to pour it down the delirious Ji Bozhai’s throat.
But when she turned, she met his slightly opened eyes.
Bozhai gazed at her, his fingers lightly squeezing hers, as if the dream had finally ended and he had found her at last.
Expressionless, Mingyi ordered, "Open your mouth."
Obediently, he parted his lips, not even questioning what was in the bowl. As long as she offered it, he drank it down in large gulps.
Once the sleeping draught was finished, he gave her hand a light squeeze and closed his eyes again.
Mingyi turned to the stunned Yan Xiao. "Was that so hard?"
Yan Xiao: "..."
Setting the bowl aside, she stood, stretching lazily as she headed for the door.
Yan Xiao broke into a cold sweat and hurried to block her. "My lady, you can’t leave now. If he wakes and you’re gone, we’re all doomed."
"Relax, I won’t go far," Mingyi waved him off. "My master is outside the main palace. It seems he wants to see me."
Yan Xiao hesitated, watching her.
"I’ll be back in half an hour," Mingyi brushed past him, waving carelessly.
She Tianlin had deliberately released his Essence Power outside the main palace—a clear signal that he wished to see her.
Mingyi slipped out through a corner Bozhai had long overlooked, dusting herself off before greeting the worried man. "Master."
She Tianlin rushed forward, scrutinizing her. "I came as soon as I sensed his Essence Power weakening. Are you alright?"
Mingyi spun in a circle before him, grinning. "Perfectly fine."
Her demeanor didn’t resemble that of a captive but rather someone leisurely touring the main palace.She Tianlin raised an eyebrow. "You don't want to return to Sunspire City?"
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