"I had everything arranged before leaving. Matters concerning the city's foundations would still be sent to me via memorials, but ordinary affairs would be handled by the Six Ministries, with Situ Ling overseeing the city and Zhou Zihong assisting," Mingyi said with emotion. "I'm truly fortunate—both of them are exceptional talents in governance."
Was it luck, or had she deliberately sought out virtuous men from the start?
She Tianlin suddenly realized that when this woman had gone to propose marriage to those men, though most were from humble backgrounds, they were all renowned scholars—especially Zhou Zihong, a direct disciple of the Confucian academy, who had been barred from officialdom due to a feud with the former Yan Shi clan.
After Yan Shi fell, senior court officials had tried to recruit him, but he had lost interest in politics and refused to get involved again.
Yet Mingyi had her way—she brought him into her inner court, gave him an official position, and entrusted him with the city, leaving him no choice but to take on the responsibility.
"You're quite the schemer, child. I worried for nothing," She Tianlin sighed in relief, then glanced at the towering palace walls. "So what are your plans now?"
Mingyi smiled. "To live a little more freely."
How could she live freely when Ji Bozhai had confined her to the main palace?
She Tianlin was baffled, but seeing his disciple so self-assured, he decided not to press further.
Before leaving, he asked one last question: "What's the deal with Twenty-Seven? He told me to relay a message: 'Everything has been reorganized and is ready for your use at any time'—what is it?"
Mingyi's eyes curved. "Something good."
When Azure Snow was conquered, Twenty-Seven came to see her.
He said, "Aren't you curious, my lady, why I never told you the truth back then?"
At Ji Bozhai's wedding, Twenty-Seven had known everything. He had even visited her but said nothing.
It was then that Mingyi suddenly calmed down.
Twenty-Seven was the last person in the world who would betray her. So if he had kept silent, Ji Bozhai must have paid a price.
But she never expected that price to be command over 130,000 troops.
"Ji Bozhai swore to me that if he ever wronged you or caused you sorrow, these 130,000 troops would be handed over to you once the Six Cities were unified," he said. "I've calculated—with 130,000 soldiers, you could storm his palace and besiege him."
Mingyi's lips twitched. "Where did he get the confidence to think he could hide this from me?"
Twenty-Seven shook his head. "Perhaps he never intended to hide it. Maybe he thought that as long as he gave you the empress's throne, you wouldn't hold it against him."
"In his dreams," she scoffed.
"So he lost. Those 130,000 troops are now entirely yours."
Mingyi found it absurd. Any emperor with half a brain would never relinquish such military power. Yet here he was, handing it over to her right after conquering Azure Snow, as if unafraid she might usurp the throne.
Or perhaps unifying the Six Cities had always been meant for her?
Mingyi recalled how, before the campaign, he had asked her about her wishes. He had said he had none left—only hers to fulfill.
She used to think Ji Bozhai was a master schemer, his motives inscrutable, and she dared not open her heart to him again, fearing she might become another tool in his hands.
But in that moment, Mingyi suddenly realized—it seemed he wanted nothing else.
Nothing else, except her.
When she showed no signs of rebellion, his first instinct was to forcibly bring her back to the main palace. His sleepless nights were spent treating each day as if it were his last.It was at that moment Mingyi suddenly softened her heart.
However, she had no intention of telling Ji Bozhai she had forgiven him. After all the twists and turns between them, she had yet to truly experience the feeling of being favored.
She wanted to stay here and savor it properly.
Seeing that the time was about right, Mingyi escorted She Tianlin out before returning to the main palace and sitting back down by Ji Bozhai’s bedside.
Drugged into a deep slumber, Ji Bozhai slept soundly and peacefully. When he woke again, it was already evening the next day.
Dazed, he opened his eyes, and his first instinct was to immediately prop himself up to look beside him.
But his movements were too abrupt—the moment he sat up, he collided with Mingyi, who had just leaned down to check on him.
"Ouch!" Mingyi cried out in pain, clutching her forehead.
Seeing that she was still there, Ji Bozhai felt a wave of relief, only to panic again as he hurriedly pulled her hand away to inspect her forehead. "Did I hurt you?"
A red mark stood out starkly against her fair skin.
Pressing his lips together, he quickly rubbed it for her, only to make it hurt more. Mingyi glared at him. "Let go."
His fingers flinched, and he slowly withdrew his hand, staring at her helplessly.
With an exasperated huff, Mingyi plopped down on the edge of the bed. "See? You woke up. Did I run away?"
A flicker of joy lit up his eyes, but he glanced outside and murmured, "The Essence Power Net is sturdy."
She stayed because the net was unbreakable—not because she couldn’t bear to leave him.
Mingyi rolled her eyes at the ceiling. "Yes, very sturdy. I couldn’t break it."
Noticing that it was already dinnertime yet there was no food on the table, Ji Bozhai frowned and called coldly toward the door, "Buxiu!"
Why was he so gentle with Ming Guniang but so harsh with him?
Buxiu shuffled in pitifully and bowed. "Your servant is here."
"Where’s dinner?"
"Ming Guniang said to wait until you woke up to eat together. It’s still simmering in the kitchen."
She waited for him to eat?
Ji Bozhai’s eyes brightened as he turned to look at Mingyi, only to find her already seated at the pearwood round table, her back elegantly straight, her head slightly tilted as she gestured to the empty seat beside her with her chin.
He immediately got up, wiped his face, rinsed his mouth, threw on his outer robe, and sat down next to her.
Having slept for so long, his head was still a bit foggy. Yan Xiao had instructed that he should be fed by a servant, but before Buxiu could even lift a hand, his master had already picked up his chopsticks and served Mingyi a bite of food, frowning as he did so. "Why is the food so bland?"
Mingyi ate indifferently. "My tastes have been light lately."
Ji Bozhai frowned. "Are you sick?"
She choked slightly, giving him a complicated look. "Your Majesty, between the two of us, who’s sick—do you really not know?"
So… she was accommodating him?
Ji Bozhai finally understood, and his eyes instantly sparkled like stars.
Truthfully, he had just woken up and had little appetite, especially with such plain dishes. But with Mingyi watching him, he managed to eat two bowls of plain congee and half a table’s worth of side dishes.
All the while, he stared at her without looking away.
Mingyi couldn’t take it anymore and sighed. "Do I have flowers on my face?"
This is what they call 'beauty that feasts the eyes.'
Ji Bozhai nearly blurted it out, but remembering it was something he’d once said flirtatiously to others, he swallowed the words and simply nodded before finishing the congee in his bowl.
Seeing his good appetite, Mingyi’s expression softened. She got up to continue reviewing memorials, pointing at the bed. "Go lie back down."
Ji Bozhai hesitated, wanting to say something, but in the end, he obediently went to lie down.Within sight, Mingyi picked up the Sunspire City dossier from behind the candlestick and continued reading, her profile as gentle as jade, with long lashes and full cherry lips.
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