Ji Bozhai used to think there were countless beauties in the world, each with their own unique charm. But now, it suddenly struck him that others merely had noses and eyes, while Mingyi was perfection in every detail—so flawless that no one else could compare.
He had once been able to share intimate moments with her, basking in that perfection all to himself. But he hadn’t treasured it.
His chest ached with regret. After lying still for a while, he finally got up and walked over to Mingyi, grinding ink for her.
Mingyi was reviewing a proposal regarding the establishment of a Divine Tool Trade Bureau in Sunspire City.
Though the Floating Island now had arable land, relying solely on crops would make rebuilding the city difficult. Fortunately, the female Artifact Smiths Mingyi had trained had achieved remarkable success. Not only could they produce enough Divine Tools for Sunspire City’s own use, but they even had surplus to sell to other cities.
Thus, after relocating the city, Zhou Zihong planned to focus on agriculture and Artifact Crafting, submitting a memorial to inform her.
However, since the two hadn’t met in person, he couldn’t resist adding at the end of the document: "May I inquire after the Minister Superior’s well-being?"
Mingyi smiled when she saw those words.
Their grand wedding that day had never actually taken place. The moment the bridal carriage passed through the inner courtyard gates, Zhou Zihong had stepped out, clasped his hands, and said, "This subject does not wish to force the Minister Superior. Unless I am the only one you refuse to marry, please reconsider."
To the outside world, they pretended the ceremony had been completed, but in private, they remained as they were before.
Mingyi, however, had no intention of telling Ji Bozhai this. In fact, she planned to boast about Zhou Zihong’s stamina—just to spite him.
If he couldn’t handle it, then they might as well part ways.
Noticing her smile, Ji Bozhai was puzzled and glanced sideways at the document, catching sight of those final words.
So it was Zhou Zihong’s memorial.
A sharp "crack" sounded. Mingyi looked up to see the inkstick in Ji Bozhai’s hand snapped in two.
She frowned. "You’re ruining things."
He snapped out of his daze, loosening his grip, slightly embarrassed. "I’ll have Buxiu fetch another."
"No need. Leave it." She waved dismissively, then frowned again. "Why are you up? Go lie down."
Ji Bozhai lowered his gaze and suddenly asked, "Do you really want to see him?"
It wasn’t that she really wanted to—Zhou Zihong just wanted to bid her farewell. But seeing Ji Bozhai’s conflicted, pained expression, she tilted her head and answered with a wicked grin, "Yes, I miss him terribly."
His lips paled further. Ji Bozhai wanted to agree, to let her go, but after an internal struggle, the words refused to leave his mouth.
Mingyi blinked. "They say if you love someone, you should be willing to give up everything for them—even letting them go."
"Giving everything is one thing, but those who willingly let their beloved walk away don’t love deeply enough." He pressed his lips together. "If you truly love someone beyond reason, how could you bear to let them leave? Even if it means clinging to them in the most wretched way."
Having said that, he straightened his back as if resolved. "No matter how much you miss him, I won’t let you see him."
She’d have to step over his corpse first.
Mingyi feigned sorrow with a long, exaggerated sigh, the sound curling at the end.
Ji Bozhai’s composure shattered again.
That night, when it was time to rest, Mingyi didn’t make him guard the door. Instead, she gave him the bed while she slept on the small couch beside it.
Even so, Ji Bozhai couldn’t sleep.
He lay there, staring at Mingyi’s sleeping face, utterly tormented.Yan Xiao once said that heart ailments are the hardest to cure. Would she develop one if she continued like this? What if she really fell ill?
Perhaps she should let Zhou Zihong come for a visit?
So the next day, when Mingyi woke up, she saw a haggard face staring at her.
Startled, she sat up clutching her chest and frowned at him. "Your Majesty, where is even half of your former charm now?"
Ji Bozhai froze, then glanced at himself in the bronze mirror as she got up.
He looked too gaunt—it really wasn’t a good sight.
Mingyi liked handsome men. This wouldn’t do.
In a flurry, he bathed, changed clothes, and replenished his energy with red dates and ginseng. Watching her stroll in the courtyard and then return to revise memorials, he suddenly said, "Zheng Tiao is marrying Xiuyun. I thought you might want to attend, so I had a Flying Beast Cart prepared."
Mingyi perked up. "He’s marrying Xiuyun?"
Weddings were something Ji Bozhai never wished to witness again, but if it could lift her spirits, it was worth the trip.
"Xiuyun sent an invitation. I left it on your desk."
Mingyi hurried over to open it. A letter was enclosed.
Xiuyun wrote how much she missed her and mentioned that the money Mingyi had left behind had been well managed—not only intact but doubled. They could stay in their old residence when they arrived.
Mingyi closed the letter and hesitated. "Can I go?"
"I’ll accompany you," he said softly. "Our masters are overseeing matters in the Six Cities."
"Alright." Mingyi finally smiled and happily went to pack.
Seeing the curve of her brows, Ji Bozhai felt some relief at last.
He used to think pleasing a woman was simple, but now he found himself at a loss. Mingyi often wore an indifferent expression, neither happy nor sad, leaving him to guess what she might like.
So when Mingyi smiled at the rolling clouds, the Flying Beast Cart circled them three extra times. When she lingered over roadside flower stalls in Flying Blossom City, Buxiu promptly pushed the entire cart to follow them.
Sensing mischief, she raised a brow and smirked at a nearby gold jewelry shop.
Without hesitation, Ji Bozhai ordered Buxiu to haul out every piece of jewelry and pile them onto the flower cart.
The commotion of Buxiu and the attendants hauling the goods drew a growing crowd. At first, people thought it was a robbery—until they realized everything had been bought outright.
The shop’s inventory was worth at least thousands in gold, yet the young master standing nearby didn’t bat an eye. The woman beside him, however, flushed deeper by the second.
"This is too conspicuous," she muttered. "Who parades this much gold in the streets?"
"I’ll guard it for you," he smirked. "If anyone so much as touches it, I lose."
Mingyi: "..."
Admittedly, he was reliable. Though some onlookers had been tempted, the moment a dark Essence Power Shield descended, they not only withdrew their hands but even stepped back five paces.
"How many in Azure Cloud possess dark Essence Power?"
"Just one..."
"Then this must be—?"
The crowd fell silent, staring at Ji Bozhai with awe.
The man who unified the Six Cities before thirty was nothing short of a legend.Yet, this legendary figure didn't seem so aloof after all, even acting somewhat cautiously around the woman beside him: "There's a stall selling cakes over there, wait for me here."
Mingyi stood where she was, flowers cradled in her arms and the newly bought golden hairpin adorning her hair, watching him stride purposefully toward that humble little stall.
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