The door to the private room opened as someone entered to deliver wine.
Mingyi was lost in thought when she suddenly felt a chill on her head—wine had spilled, soaking half her face. A startled "Oh no!" followed as someone stepped on their long skirt and tumbled straight into Ji Bozhai's lap right in front of her.
The commotion was loud enough to draw everyone's attention. Qingli, flushed with embarrassment, sat awkwardly on Ji Bozhai's lap. "My lord, I—I tripped over something. I didn’t mean to offend."
Wine had spilled from Ji Bozhai's cup, its strong, fiery aroma filling the air, mingling with the presence of the beauty before him—a perfect atmosphere.
Yet, his first reaction wasn’t to embrace the beauty but to glance sideways.
Mingyi’s hair was drenched in wine, her seat pushed aside, and now her man was being clung to by another woman. Any one of these should have angered her. He half-expected her to stand up and yank the intruder away.
But she didn’t.
Mingyi simply sat there, stunned, looking at him and Qingli before slowly lowering her gaze and quietly shifting further aside.
Ji Bozhai’s chest tightened. He motioned for Buxiu to take Qingli away and pulled Mingyi back to her original spot.
"Where did it spill?" he asked.
She looked at him in surprise, her phoenix eyes gradually lighting up with amusement as she tentatively pointed to her hairpin. "Here."
Ji Bozhai frowned, using his sleeve to wipe it. "You’re usually so sharp. Why didn’t you dodge just now?"
"She moved too fast. I couldn’t react in time," Mingyi murmured, obediently letting him adjust the ornaments in her hair.
Qingli, still dazed as Buxiu helped her aside, turned and saw the intimate scene between the two. Furious, she stood up. "My lord, she tripped me on purpose! That’s why I lost my balance."
Ji Bozhai didn’t even lift his eyelids. "Understood. You may leave."
Staring at his back in disbelief, Qingli shook her head slightly. "My lord, you weren’t like this before. Are you still upset about my earlier transgression? I’ve already repented. These days, I’ve refused all guests except you, waiting for your return to Flower Full Tower so I could explain myself. Yet when you finally came, you brought someone to torment me."
She staggered, as if muttering to herself, "I have nothing but this body, which I’ve already given to you. What more do you want from me? Just tell me, and I’ll give it willingly."
Mingyi frowned.
Even the esteemed Courtesan had fallen so deeply for Ji Bozhai. With her beauty and likely decent talents, why would she waste herself on a man who wouldn’t buy her freedom?
And Ji Bozhai—if he was just using her as cover, money alone would suffice. Why sweet-talk her into heartbreak?
Truly, a dog can’t stop eating dirt.
Noticing her expression, Ji Bozhai finally felt somewhat relieved.
He’d thought this little girl was too used to enduring everything, incapable of jealousy. But perhaps she’d just lacked confidence earlier, afraid he wouldn’t side with her.
As if he wouldn’t.
"Buxiu," he tilted his chin slightly. "The lady Qingli is drunk. Escort her out and hand her over to the manager to sober up."
"Yes."Buxiu stepped forward a few paces. Qingli still wanted to struggle, but when he drew near, she froze momentarily before lifting her eyes to him in disbelief.
"This way, miss," he said expressionlessly.
Qingli was pulled out of the chamber as if in a daze. Only after a long while did the sound of her heart-wrenching sobs reach them.
Those present were all fair-weather friends who had come for the spectacle. Seeing the show end so abruptly, they couldn’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment.
Yan Xiao fanned himself teasingly. "Lord Ji truly knows how to draw a clear line between love and hate."
"Flattery undeserved," Ji Bozhai replied, glancing down at Mingyi. "A treasure hard-won must not be allowed to feel hurt."
Hurt was hardly the case. Mingyi smiled faintly. She simply found it lamentable how women in the Azure Cloud Realm had to rely on men for survival—once deceived or abandoned, their world would collapse. Even a cultivated Courtesan like Qingli was no exception, let alone those from impoverished families.
If only one day, women could also train from childhood, or even become Fighters if they had the talent.
"I’m only like this with people I dislike," Ji Bozhai added after noticing her prolonged silence, fingers tracing the rim of his wine cup. "Not with you."
Mingyi lowered her gaze before smiling again. "To earn your favor is this humble one’s honor."
One feigned affection, the other feigned belief—their seamless act made for a pleasing sight.
"You two should tone it down. No need to rub it in for those of us still searching for true love," Shu Zhonglin grumbled.
"Exactly," Yan Xiao chimed in.
Liang Xiuyuan paused at this, then interjected, "Ah, don’t include me in this 'us.'"
"Hmm?" The table’s occupants turned to him in unison.
Ji Bozhai raised a brow. "Since when? You never mentioned it."
"Indeed, which family’s lady is it? Bring her out for us to meet."
Liang Xiuyuan chuckled softly, his eyes tender. "She’s busy. She’ll only have time once the Fighters begin their training."
Yan Xiao tilted his head. "A lady who’s earned the Phoenix Tail Flower?"
"Yes," Liang Xiuyuan nodded. "But she’s different from the rest. She doesn’t crave wealth, nor does she cling to a Fighter’s prospects. She simply does what she must. The day I met her, she was organizing the venue—that commanding presence was something I’ve never seen in any other woman."
His eyes sparkled as he spoke, piquing everyone’s curiosity further. "What’s her name?"
Liang Xiuyuan shot Ji Bozhai a wary glance. "If I say it, don’t you go setting your sights on her."
Ji Bozhai scoffed. "I’ve no time for that."
"Good," Liang Xiuyuan said. "Her name is Tianji, the third daughter of the Xu family."
Xu Tianji? Mingyi blinked in surprise. "Which Xu family?"
"What other Xu family could it be but the one with Fighter merits?" Noticing her stunned expression, Liang Xiuyuan grew curious. "Ming Guniang, do you know Tianji?"
Know her? They might as well be sworn enemies.
Mingyi recalled Liang Xiuyuan’s praise for her, then thought back to the words Xu Tianji had spat on the street that day. With a gentle shake of her head, she replied, "No, I don’t."
She had no intention of enlightening a lovestruck man—he wouldn’t appreciate her honesty, only suspect her of ill intent.
All she wanted was to be a beautiful yet utterly impractical vase."The Xu family, huh? That could work. I heard their daughters all attend Fighter lectures as observers. Compared to ordinary girls, they must understand us better," Shu Zhonglin nodded. "Bring her out someday to show us what she's like when strategizing—let's see how your girl commands the situation."
"You'll get your chance soon," Liang Xiuyuan said. "When the Academicians' Court opens its doors, she'll be going too."
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